Obesity is a growing concern among children and adults despite the informational resources available on how to get fit and stay fit. To combat this, the fitness industry’s  latest trend in personal training is “wellness coaching”according to Jacqueline Stenson, a contributing writer for  MSNBC. Why? Personal Trainers are discovering that their clients, seeking support to become physically fit, don’t achieve their desired results by just being told “eat healthy foods” and “be sure to exercise daily.” Wellness coaches are taking aim at their clients’ lifestyle issues: from smoking to food choices, to job factors that induce stress, to time management and even to personal relationships. By focusing their efforts on all areas that impact on their clients’ overall health, wellness coaches hope to increase their clients’ success in achieving true wellness. Tackling the obstacles to fitness from a broader wellness approach is an excellent idea because each individual has unique needs and demands that may be limiting their success. One adult may have career demands while another may have family responsibilities. One child may not be athletically inclined, while another may be preoccupied with electronic companionship, such as computer or video games. There are many forces that can challenge an individual’s ability to lead a healthy life-style and each needs to be addressed and overcome to achieve overall wellness. This wellness approach is already employed and enjoyed by millions of martial arts practitioners. Martial arts have long been regarded as a complete workout for the “Mind, Body, Emotions and Soul.” Most importantly, what sets the martial arts apart, and makes it more effective than a wellness coaching system, is that it provides each individual with the tools that are needed for long-term success. A coach isn’t always going to be there for support. The martial arts prepares its students to rely on their own will through personal discipline and self confidence. These are key benefits of martial arts training. In a way, martial arts prepare you to be your own wellness coach. Baby boomers bent on getting back into shape may want to give their love handles a karate chop: A new study finds the martial arts to be  safe, effective exercise for 40- and 50-somethings. "If you want to do something that's fun, different and good for self-defense -- and good for long-term self-defense against disease -- do the martial arts," says study author and physical therapist Dr. Peter Douris, of the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, N.Y. His findings appear in the March 25 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. For most people, the decision to get fit usually means buying a gym membership or shelling out money for expensive home-exercise equipment. But what about alternative methods, such as practicing the martial arts? In their study, Douris' team examined the overall fitness of 18 individuals between 40 and 60 years of age. Nine of the study participants had been practicing martial arts for about three years. The other nine participants maintained a more or less "couch potato" lifestyle. Overall, the martial arts devotees "were much more flexible, had more leg strength, less body fat, better aerobic conditioning and better balance"  compared to the sedentary study subjects, Douris reports.The martial art  practitioners had an average 12 percent less body fat than the non-exercisers,  the researchers report. They also seemed much stronger -- while sedentary types could only muster up 37 sit-ups in a row on average, the martial arts practitioners averaged 66 sit-ups before exhaustion set in. The martial arts  group also displayed more than double the balancing power of non-exercisers and outperformed the sedentary types when it came to flexibility. The study did not compare the benefits of the martial arts to that of gym workouts, running or other fitness options. However, Douris estimates that the  average martial arts class raises students' metabolic level -- a measurement of changes in the metabolic rate -- to about a 10-15, a level equal to that of jogging or running. And he believes that older individuals, especially women,  needn't be put off by fears they will be injured trying out karate-like sports. "It's not like judo, where you're doing a lot of flips and throws," Douris explains. "There isn't that much of that in karate. You do fall down when you're 'free-sparring,' but there are people in the classes that are 60 years old -- they get right back up. There are plenty of women in these classes, too." Dr. Douglas McKeag, a sports medicine expert at Indiana University in Indianapolis,  believes the martial arts "are a perfectly acceptable way to boost fitness, certainly in middle age it makes a great deal of sense. The sport is capable of delivering the  type of stimulus that the body needs to get in shape." But he cautions that, as with any new sport, beginners "have to come at it relatively slowly and intelligently." Douris, 47, has been practicing the martial arts since he was a teenager and says he routinely beats competitors half his age in tournaments. He calls the sport "self–defense against aging."  CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE Mr. Doyle is a 30 year veteran of the martial arts. He has been teaching and educating men, women and children of Mississauga since 1986.  He is married and he and his wife, Lesa (also a black belt) , and have two children, Charles (12) and Alexsandra (8).

So a new year is upon us, and with it comes new adventures, new beginnings….and new worries.  This year will be the year your child celebrates their first birthday.  Or it’ll be their 11th birthday.  How do you make it special?  Should you make this year’s birthday party more extravagant than last year? The kind of birthday party you throw depends on finances, space, and personal preferences.  Larger families will end up paying more than the smaller families.  You also need to have space to hold a large family gathering, plus your birthday child’s friends as well. If you have a small family, a home birthday party is great, especially if it’s during the winter.  You can save yourself the expense of paying for a place.  Make the birthday feast a family affair!  Have family members bring some food to contribute.  Mom and Dad can make the birthday cake, or buy a great cake at your local bakery.  You can order pizza and watch a favorite movie together.  You can even go out to a favorite restaurant and celebrate your child’s birthday there, complete with sparklers on the cake for desert! Those large families, oh the stress!  You know what I’m talking about.  When you have the grandparents, the aunts, uncles, and cousins, and cousin’s cousins, all wanting to come and celebrate your child’s birthday.  In this situation, it’s definitely appropriate to do a potluck.  Catering is also an option, if one can afford it.  Chuck E. Cheese’s is a popular venue for large parties.  It’s noisy and active, so kids will love it, but make sure the adults bring lots of headache medicine.  There are also several businesses that now offer at-home parties, where they provide the activities and some food and entertain in your home.  A great business that does this is Simply Delightful in Streetsville.  We used them for my daughter’s 3rd birthday and she LOVED it.  Her favorite Disney Princess came to her house and hosted the party.  Cinderella came all dressed in her ball gown, and brought a princess Barbie cake, as well as activities and music for the kids.  Both the girls and the boys really enjoyed it. However you decide to celebrate your child’s birthday, do make sure that it’s enjoyable for you as well.  Parents shouldn’t have to feel stressed out when planning a birthday party.  Split the preparations with the spouse, siblings, grandparents and you’ll find that you’ll actually enjoy the party while sipping a glass of wine. Enjoy!

MOMS OF MISSISSAUGA IS A YEAR OLD LET’S CELEBRATE !

 

MOM’S NIGHT OUT -  JOIN US FOR  A FUN NIGHT OUT WITH JUST THE MOMS Email us at momsnight@momsofmississauga.com for more details.

 

LE LECHE LEAGUE CANADA - (Mississauga Group) Mother to Mother breastfeeding support every 2nd Saturday of the month. For more details call (416) 483-3368.

MOMS TIME OUT - Clarkson & Meadowvale - A chance to get out of the house and meet other moms in the area. Childcare available. Email: Momstime@sympatico.ca

MOCHA MOMS - Port Credit - Need a break. Moms group meets every Wednesday.  Babysitting available. Email for more details h.m.r@sympatico.ca

ROUNDABOUT FAMILY CENTRE  -  Parenting & Baby Groups - Monday mornings 9:30am—11:30am(Free), Parent & Baby Music Tuesday mornings 10:00am to 11:00am (Free) Breastfeeding Mother’s Group - Friday afternoons 12pm—2pm (Free) Call (905) 274-9561 for more details.

ADJUSTMENTS AFTER BIRTH PROGRAM a service offered by the Mississauga Parent Child Resource Centres and supported by Peel Health can provide you with support and services to help you find your way. Peer support group to help you difficult times. Postpartum depression affects 1 in 5 women. You're not alone! Mississauga West location is held at Meadowvale Town Centre in the Ontario Early Years Centre. They meet weekly on Wed from 1 - 3pm. Group facilitators and babysitting available. Call (905) 567-4156 for more details. Mississauga South location is held in the Ontario Early Years Centre at Turtle Creek Plaza, Clarkson. 1801 Lakeshore Rd W. They meet weekly on Thurs. from 1 - 3pm. Group facilitators and babysitting available. Call (905) 822-1114 for more details.

DROP IN -  STREETSVILLE - Ontario Early Years Centre -  Adults with children from birth to 6 years of age are welcome to join us during our regular drop in hours. Mon   9:00 am - 12:00 pm &  2:30  pm -  4:00 pm Tues   9:00 am - 12:00 pm &  2:30  pm -  4:00 pm Wed   9:00 am - 10:00 am &   2:30  pm - 4:00  pm Thurs 9:00 am - 12:00 pm &  1:00  pm -  4:00 pm Fri      9:00 am - 10:00 am  For more info on our program schedule call (905) 826-5411

The Mississauga Parent Child Resource Centre operates the Ontario Early Years Centres in the south at Turtle Creek Plaza in Clarkson, Byngmount School, Port Credit High school and Sheridan Villa Nursing Home. We offer drop in as well as many programs for parents/caregivers and children 0-6 years. Visit our website www.mpcrc.ca or call us at 905-891-7621 for more information about our programs. The drop in and all our programs are FREE. One very important program we would like to highlight is our support group for women having difficulties with postpartum adjustment. Share your feelings and experiences in a safe and supportive environment and learn strategies to help you cope during this challenging time of adjustment. If you are experiencing any of the following : restlessness, sadness, loss of interest, extreme irritability or anger, crying for no apparent reason, overwhelmed, join us Thursday 1-3 pm. No registration required. Just drop in. You are not alone.

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