In recent years, we've been asked many times about the usefulness of historic warm-up methods for sports performance. While the general principles surrounding the need to warm-up remain valid, new methods have been introduced. A well structured sports specific warm-up should be implemented to serve the following purposes: Mental Readiness, Physical Readiness, Injury Prevention, and Performance Enhancement.

Consistent with a year ago, I've been thinking a lot about...the power of gratitude. Many scientific studies suggest gratitude can reduce stress, improve sleep, make you happier, and even increase your motivation to exercise. As practicing gratitude purportedly also increases your energy and ability to overcome challenges, one could even surmise that gratitude will help you get awesome results from your exercise, as you'll tend to work harder and longer... Do you need more reasons to be grateful?!

For some reason, Pilates is often seen as a class you should "avoid if you don't know what you're doing" - but we couldn't disagree with this more. Sure, the first time you enter one of our Pilates studios, it can be intimidating. There are reformers - which you may not have ever seen before - and exercises that we guarantee you've never heard of before (I mean...what IS "The Hundred"?!?)

Are you sitting down right now? What if I told you that you could burn up to 8-10 times more energy than sitting with 1 easy exercise? And what if I told you that you could do this without needing any extra training or special equipment? The best part of all is that you can actually add this in ON THE WAY to and from the Club.

I've been thinking a lot about...stress and exercise. Exercise makes people feel better. Among other things, it experientially and physiologically lowers our stress levels. Peculiar thing about exercise: most of us know it's good for us. And many of us exercise less than we plan to/would like to/feel we should.

Has anyone ever asked you about your body composition? Maybe you heard it from a doctor at a recent physical, maybe your personal trainer mentioned it during your latest workout, maybe you read the term in a recent article about getting fit for fall. But do you know what it really means? Have you ever asked yourself: What exactly is body composition?

Is it really that time of year again? Where did the summer go? The kids have gone back to school, the CNE has come and gone, and we're all trying to squeeze in the last few days of holidays before officially getting back into our routine. And while I have to admit that I've let my daily routine slide somewhat this summer, it's now time for us to switch gears and get focused again.

In September 2017, Meagan Brown joined Canadian National Alpine Skier, Ali Nullmeyer's team, traveling with Team Nullmeyer on the World Cup Circuit. Unfortunately, Ali's season came to an abrupt end when she suffered a season ending injury just four weeks into her training. After a long offseason of recovery, Team Nullmeyer decided to begin their quest to compete at the World Cup again in October 2018.

Earlier this year, the Adelaide Spa added Kaitlyn Swartz to their team. Kaitlyn is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) and Certified Athletic Therapist - the first athletic therapist to join the Spa. She focuses on a holistic approach to finding and treating the root cause of her clients' conditions and pain, and not just temporarily reducing the signs and symptoms associated with their pain and condition.

I've been thinking a lot about...tempo. In the 5 minutes we have today, let me focus on how tempo affects our ability to perform better during sport and physical activity. Runners and cyclists, this beat's for you!

Fascia is a term used to identify a large fabric of connective tissue that surrounds all muscle, ligaments, and bone. It is made up of collagen, elastin, and a liquid component called ground substance. This gives structure to our muscle; each and every muscle cell in our body is connected to the other by fascia. Our muscle is essentially nothing more than tissue in a Myofascial "sack".

Over the last few months, the interest in the Theragun has exploded, in large part due to slow motion videos of athletes using the tool on Instagarm, and its appearance at large sporting events like this year's MLB Home Run Derby. At the Toronto Athletic Club, Barclay and Chris Broadhurst, the Sport Medicine Clinic's Director, are once again at the leading edge, having already brought the Theragun to the TAC, introducing it to our personal trainers, the team at the Clinic, and our Members.

A little over a month ago, the Toronto Raptors brought basketball fans across Toronto and all of Canada to their feet, winning their first ever NBA Championship and bringing the Larry O'Brien trophy home. In the weeks since, we've continued to bask in the glow of being Champions - with very few days passing without seeing Raptors and Championship apparel around the city. And while we think we had a prime seat to witness history, our view was nothing like that of the Sport Medicine Clinic's Zahra Hashwani.

Two of the clinicians at the Sport Medicine Clinic, Andrea Lilley (Athletic Therapist) and Briana Bradstreet (Physiotherapist), are now offering biomechanical running assessments. Biomechanical running assessments are for runners of all levels: from novice, to marathon runners and triathletes. During a recent course, they learned: how to assess running biomechanics, how to properly assess and treat injuries when they occur, and how to know when a runner should consider changing their shoes to those with less support using the minimalist shoe index.

Ah summer - patios, sun, fun, and, of course, VACATION!!!! Just because you have some time off doesn't mean you should throw your workout routine out the window. You don't want all your hard work over the last few months to be compromised just because you may not have a gym or the right equipment available to you.

I've been thinking a lot lately about...the power of positive thinking. There is no perfect, no 100%, no "I have to" or "should" in exercise and diet. There are lots of choices. Some of them will support your fitness and health goals and some won't. But, at the end of the day, the important thing is that you keep making the positive choices that shift the needle in the right direction.

Earlier this year, John Frederick, a member at the Cambridge Club, became the first Canadian to run 34 consecutive Boston Marathons. He completed his 34th running of the event in 5:09:32 this April. Frederick says he started running marathons because he didn't have as much time to play squash, which had previously been his main sport.

I believe yoga deserves a day of recognition because of what it has brought to my own life. Yoga not only helps with flexibility, but it also teaches breathing, core activation, and strength and stability all at once.

It is estimated that more than 50% of women experience some degree of pain with their period. The pain ranges from tolerable cramping to excruciating pain requiring the use of over-the-counter drugs such as Advil, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen. Symptoms are often accompanied by headaches, diarrhea/constipation, nausea, and fatigue, just to name a few.

When Karen Malone moved to Canada from Ireland in 1989, she had a high school diploma. But the CFO of the Cambridge Group of Clubs also had grit, determination, and a desire to learn. She continued adding to her education and experience (and her exercise routine) to get her to where she is today. Here's what she learned.