on​It's that time of year again that I take a pause on all things work and take some time away from the computer. Or at least try! Be sure to read to the end of this email to hear some brief updates and housekeeping items I'd like to share before I go…

With not being in your inbox until later into August, I wanted to share with you some links, videos and articles of interest. Feel free to peruse them over the next few weeks. 


I'm seeing more published research on mask wearing and exercise. Dive into the details here:

The impact of face masks on performance and physiological outcomes during exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis 😷


I don't know lots about Tai Chi but one day I think I'd like to try. Here is a webinar on the benefits of Tai Chi:

Webinar Replay: Combating Stress with Tai Chi  ☯️


ParticipACTION is 50 years old! Watch some of their iconic commercials and access all of their resources here:

50 never looked better! 📺


Know someone that lives with Parkinson's Disease? Check out this article on the newest exercise recommendations here:

Recommendations on Weekly Exercise and Physical Activity Routines for Patients With Parkinson Disease 👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏻


Are you thinking of icing sidewalks? I'm sure not! But in preparation for unstable sidewalks, roads and surfaces, best to get a head start on your balance training. Check out this article with some great exercise recommendations here:
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10 exercises to improve your balance, prevent falls, and stave off injury ⚖️


Housekeeping notes for you:
I'm over a year in with a weekly email newsletters to you. Thanks for letting me be in your inbox week after week! Please know that I consider it a privilege to be there.

Yet, it is still a work in progress and I thought best to share with you that I haven't completely figured it all out. Long story short, I've been bouncing between two platforms to share my regular weekly newsletter and on the first of the month using an automated service to send you an article round up email that includes great articles, videos and recipes. And guess what?! It hasn't been working as smoothly as I'd like (who would have thought trying two platforms would be an issue?!). 

Some people get all the emails and some people are not getting them all (mostly the first of the month emails). With that being said, I am going to take some time to transfer to one platform (mostly for my sanity!) and try to keep the first of the month newsletter but it will look a little different. All the same content but coming from me directly not the automated service. Make sense? On August 1, you may receive two copies of the article roundup. I apologize for any inconvenience. 

My goal is to have my newsletter in your inbox on Sunday morning and the article round up arrive on the first of each month. You can also think of me as your fairy godmother for when you feel confused about all things physical activity, exercise and moving your body!

If you enjoy my content and want to make sure that you see these emails, you can drag them from your promotions folder to your inbox or add [email protected] to your address book.


Wishing you a wonderful August!

Stay well and happy moving, 
Lisa

P.S. Believe it or not, I'm building my Fall schedule right NOW! And it includes offering Yoga Therapy! Into August, I'll have the booking system up and running. Learn more about the details on my website now!

​I'm really glad I am part of not one but two book clubs. The books we read are ones that I may not normally pick up and they tend to be fiction which I rarely read on my own.

What I do read on my own is non-fiction, evidenced based books mostly on exercise (surprise!) but also business, psychology and biographies. 

This month I completed my book club books already so I "released" a book from being on hold at the library. It's been on my hold list for months and I purposely kept it there until I knew I could dive in with my full attention. 

The book is called Burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski. I heard them on a podcast months back and what they shared was enlightening to me about stress. 

As you can guess, they talk about physical activity. Not exercise per se but moving your body. And how it is the single most efficient strategy for completing the stress cycle. 

I know!

Woot Woot! You can imagine me cheering.

Not to say I'm not learning anything from this book because that is simply not true. But what it has helped reinforce is the idea of physical activity's power over the past 16 months. 

Physical activity can no longer be looked at only as a "weight loss tool" or something that builds strength. It is much more than that!

Think about it... 

Have you looked at moving your body as something to do when dealing with stress? Has the impact of a world wide pandemic changed your opinion of moving your body?

If you haven't thought about it, I'd encourage you to do so now. Moving gives us space to not only improve our physical health but also our mental, emotional and spiritual health. 

And if you are like me, this has been essential in 2020 and 2021.

Now reading this book couldn't have been at a better time.

This past week I received some heart retching news. A high school friend and former water polo teammate of mine passed away. I can't tell you how much this has hurt my heart. He was 41 years young.

The day I found out I luckily had a swimming lane booked and it seemed so fitting that with bouts of crying and sadness, I was able to move my body through the water and help complete the stress cycle - grief.

Grief isn't a one day thing by any means but that swim was EXACTLY what I needed to move through the immense emotion.

It was even more fitting as our friendship grew at the pool. My swim felt freeing and smooth with the rush of the water after each flip turn and push off from the wall being releasing. 

No other way to honour my friend…and myself.

This week's event has been challenging - on many levels than I care to admit. Yet what I want you to consider is now you have the opportunity too to use physical activity to deal with whatever stress comes your way.

Want to learn more about the Burnout book? Check out this TED Talk with the authors. 

Stay well & happy stress relieving moving, 
Lisa

P.S. Believe it or not, I'm building my Fall schedule right now! And it includes offering Yoga Therapy! Into August, I'll have the booking system up and running. Learn more about the details on my website!


P.P.S. If you are new here, you can read previous newsletters here. This newsletter content isn't something I share anywhere else (it's not even accessible without this link). I try and give my newsletter subscribers the best of the best! I hope you enjoy the content as it keeps your week focused on moving your body…whatever is the best way for you! 

​As we are full swing into summer, I can only imagine that you are seeing many people outside enjoying the sunshine and warm (maybe too warm) days!

Summer is my favourite time of year and I frequently remind myself that I must get outside EVERYDAY! And what is the result? I tack on more movement each day because of it. Watering my flowers and plants, walking around the block to see the construction (I currently have no sidewalks and lots of orange pylons out front) and/or taking a stroll down to a local park. 

The people I see are equally enjoying the fresh air and blue skies.

I encourage you to take the time to look for a certain part of our population.

It’s the KIDS!

They have so much to teach us. So much so that I made a video for The Why I Move Project about how my son who was 3.5 years at the time, inspired me to try something new!

Insight into action:

How can you encourage yourself to be outside more this week? Who knows how much more you'll move if you do!

Watch for the kids. On their bikes. At the park. Riding a skateboard. Running in a green space. And if you are fortunate to live with one or two or interact with a child regularly, ask them what adventure outside they are enjoying lately!

Stay well and happy moving, 
Lisa


P.S., I practice what I preach. This weekend I'm out in the woods. Well, maybe not too deep into the woods. But I will be spending some time camping and enjoying the great outdoors even more! Flashlight in hand and my kids in tow to push the limit of exploring outdoors!