Uxbridge Personal Trainer Earns FMS Certification

TRAIN MOVEMENTS NOT MUSCLES

It seems more and more of today’s individuals are working harder to become stronger and healthier. These individuals are constantly working to improve their activities by increasing their flexibility, strength, endurance, and power.  However, very few if any begin strength and conditioning or rehabilitative programs by determining if they have adequate movement patterns.

The innovation of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a proactive approach for determining who is at risk for injury, and then assigns corrective exercises to increase movement efficiency, and hopefully improve performance while decreasing injury potential.  In recent years, the FMS has been used with many organizations, including the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Blue Jays, Indianapolis Colts, and even the United States Military, just to name a few.  According to physical preparation coach Dale Andrew, one of fewer than 100 FMS certified specialists in Canada, the purpose of the Functional Movement Screen is:

1. Safety: Identify individuals at risk, who are attempting to maintain or increase activity level.
2. Evaluation: Provide systematic tool to monitor progress and movement pattern development in the presences of changing fitness levels.
3. Corrective Strategies: Assist in program design by systematically using corrective exercise to normalize or improve fundamental movement patterns.
4. Standardization: Create a functional movement baseline which will allow rating and ranking movement for statistical observation.

For young and old alike, it adds another perspective of human movement that could potentially help clarify problems as well as improve performance and resistance to injury.  And, as Coach Dale says, “More is not always better.  Better is better.  And, superior programming will always produce superior results.”

Whether you are just beginning an exercise program, or whether you’re an avid exerciser, or athlete and you would like to be movement screened, contact dale@bodyfit.ca.  (Special group rates apply for teams and organizations.)

The Best Before and After Pictures of the Year!

One of Body Fit’s core values is Kaizen.   It’s a Japanese word meaning constant steady improvement.  I adopted this word from someone else and I would encourage you to use it when you set your goals.

Every year we try to do just a little better than the previous year.   Since Scott Campsall from Okami Kai brought us on board with the Knock Out Hunger Project,  we have accomplished just that.

I am proud to say that this year has been the best yet.  Despite our economic climate that cast a big gray cloud over the majority of the year, I think that this Christmas will be a good one at the Food Bank.

I know for sure that with your help we have brought in more food than in the past 11 years without question.  So I wanted to share our before and after pictures with you.

The tree on the right really exemplifies the true spirit of giving.  Thank you for your contributions.  Keep in mind that you can keep bringing in donations until December 24th.

Our next before and after shots represent the cash contributions by way of raffle tickets.  There are over 100 on the right….resulting in a $500 cheque going to the food bank.

So now it’s time to reward you for doing such a great job.  It’s our annual 12 days of Christmas GIVE AWAY!!  There are 12 great prizes with a combined value of over $2300.  All you have to do is come into the gym and fill out a ballot.

Good Luck!

Andy Luukkonen

Owner, Body Fit Health Club

Loaves and Fishes Need Our Help

I had a great talk with Gerry Cresswell from the Loaves and Fishes food bank.  As you may already know, we are hosting the 11th annual Knock Out Hunger Night next Monday night at 6:00 PM. click here for more info.  I wanted to find out how things were going and what they needed most this year.

They are down by 16% from last year!

I wanted to help try and get the word out and so a press release was prepared and sent to the local papers.  In the event that it doesn’t get printed or you don’t get the paper, here it is:

Uxbridge, ON – For most of this calendar year, media coverage has inundated us with news of a struggling economy from far away places like Wall Street or Parliament Hill.  While the spotlight has been on numbers and banks, scant attention has been given to the people most affected in our own community.  “There has been a 16% increase in clients requiring emergency food supplies and a decrease in food donations,” according to Gerry Cresswell, Director of Uxbridge Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.

Now in its 20^th year, Uxbridge Loaves and Fishes Food Bank is a charitable, non-profit organization that supplies non-perishable items to clients of all ages living in the Township of Uxbridge.  The most needed items are dry pasta, macaroni and cheese, pasta sauce, pancake mix, canned tomatoes, hamburger helper, tuna helper, cold or hot cereal, pork and beans, and toiletries.  However, it is critical that you check best before dates before making your donation.  Just last month, the volunteers at the food bank had to throw out 400 pounds of expired food, prompting Cresswell to say, “It’s not about cleaning out your cupboards.  But, adding an item or two to the shopping cart would go a long way.”

Depending on community support and donations, Cresswell is pleased to once again find allies in Scott Campsall of Okami Kai and Andy Luukkonen of Body Fit Health Club.

Now in its 11^th year, the Knock Out Hunger Open House starts Monday December 7^th at 6pm at 141 Reach St in Uxbridge (Body Fit Health Club).  “While the event takes place on one evening, the collection takes place over a few weeks,” says Campsall.  “Donating is as easy as bringing in a food item to Body Fit Health Club and putting it under the Christmas tree.”

Now in its 11^th year, the Knock Out Hunger Open House starts Monday December 7^th at 6pm at 141 Reach St in Uxbridge (Body Fit Health Club).  “While the event takes place on one evening, the collection takes place over a few weeks,” says Campsall.  “Donating is as easy as bringing in a food item to Body Fit Health Club and putting it under the Christmas tree.”

Now in its 11^th year, the Knock Out Hunger Open House starts Monday December 7^th at 6pm at 141 Reach St in Uxbridge (Body Fit Health Club).  “While the event takes place on one evening, the collection takes place over a few weeks,” says Campsall.  “Donating is as easy as bringing in a food item to Body Fit Health Club and putting it under the Christmas tree.”

If you are a local business owner and you want to join the effort to Knock Out Hunger, it would be greatly appreciated if you could donate a small prize to be raffled off December 7^th.  All money raised will go to the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.  “Anyone that donates a food item and buys a raffle ticket or any business that donates a raffle prize” explains Luukkonen, “will automatically be entered into a draw for one of two annual memberships at Body Fit Health Club.”  The event is geared towards kids and this year Santa is paying a special visit and will be bringing presents for the first 100!

I hope to see you there!

Andy Luukkonen

Owner, Body Fit Health Club

Guess Who's coming to Body Fit???

Well it seems that Christmas is sneaking up on us again.  I couldn’t  help but notice all the cars parked up and down the streets last weekend for the home tour.  Second Ave. sure seemed busy.  Maybe it’s a good street to get some decorating ideas??  As a matter of fact, Nicole Coulter, a long time member at Body Fit lives on Second and she has one of the keenest eyes for decor.  If you toured her house, you know what I mean.
Anyway, as you have been planning your Christmas shopping and thinking about what to put on the table, I have been helping Scott Campsall from Okami Kai plan the Knock Out Hunger Open House.

It’s now in it’s 11th year and we have successfully been able to donate thousands of dollars and tons of food to the local food bank with the help of our members.

But we need your help!

Although Knock Out Hunger takes place on one evening, the collection takes place over a few weeks.

This year we have added some incentive for you.

Typically we have had local businesses help us out by donating small prizes.  They get raffled off and the money goes to the food bank.

The same will happen this year but I think we can do better with your help.

If you or someone you know has a business that could afford to provide a raffle prize here is what I am going to do.

For the business, we will get you a tax receipt from the food bank acknowledging the donation.  Secondly, the business name  will go into a draw.

This year I will be giving away 2 annual memberships.  That’s a value of almost  $1200.00!!

One for a business and one for a raffle prize winner.

So if you or someone you know can help out with a raffle prize, please have them contact me directly….info below.

So what if you aren’t a business??  How do you win the other membership?

You have to do 2 things…..

1. bring in a food donation to Body Fit
2. buy the raffle ticket

Event Details…..

Starting next week..Monday November 23rd, we will be accepting food donations, raffle donations and selling raffle tickets.

On Monday December 7th starting at 6PM, Body Fit and Okami Kai will be hosting an open house for the event.  The address is 141 Reach Street (at Body Fit Health Club).  Doing things for kids is our main theme.  Here are a few things we have planned and yes they are all FREE!!

• Kid Fit Cardio class demo
• Martial Arts Demo
• Face Painting
• Subway is providing snacks
• Balloons and balloon animals
• AND SANTA WILL BE THERE!!!

That’s right…I just spoke to the jolly old elf the other day.  He cleared his schedule and gave me the thumbs up.  So skip the mall line and come to Body Fit.  The first 100 kids will get a present and a photo with Santa!  He also told me he plays  a little guitar and wants to sing Christmas carols with the kids too!  What an awesome guy!

I look forward to surpassing our old record of three pick-up trucks full of food.  I know we can do it.  Oh, and for every dollar collected for the food bank through raffle tickets, I will personally match it so we can double the contribution.

Stay tuned for more!

Andy Luukkonen

Owner, Body Fit Health Club

andy@bodyfit.ca or 905-852-6175

Bad Habits Your Kids Need To Break Now

Even if you don’t have kids, these might still apply to you. Read on and see for yourself…

Too much T.V. and video games – It’s recommended that kids shouldn’t be on front of a screen for more than 2 hours per day. Cutting the time spent inside watching T.V. and playing video games means more time out with their friends, playing football, climbing trees – doing active things that keep them healthy.

Junk Food – The first thing kids do when they get home from school is raid the cabinets. Naturally they’ll go for the candy or the potato chips. But if you’re not buying these foods, then they won’t be there for your kids. A simple one to solve.

Copying negative role models – In short you need to practice what you preach. Telling your kids to live a healthy life is sending a mixed message if you don’t do the same. Lead by example.

Obviously, as a parent it’s up to you to help your kids break these bad health habits. The earlier you start, the easier it will be. So start today!

Still looking for something that your child may be interested in doing?  If you’re kids are like mine, you’ll understand how hard it is to get them involved.  We’ve tried all the typical sports like hockey and soccer but it just wasn’t for them.

Our oldest loves baseball but it’s only keeping him active in the summer.

We’ve also offered lacrosse, skiing, mountain biking and still…they just want to play and do different activities, not just one.  They get bored doing the same week after week.

So I did some searching and  I think I may have found what we’ve been looking for.  Kid Fit Cardio is a program created just for kids!  It’s non-competitive, non-sports-specific, full of different acitivities and designed to help kids learn while they are keeping active …….AND it’s coming to Body Fit.

Over the next few weeks we will be putting out information for parents.  Our instructors are super excited, as am I, because this is the coolest program I have ever seen for kids.  In the mean time, you can check out the program here: Kid Fit Cardio

If you want more information and to become eligible for a special discount on the program, make sure you put your contact information into the form after clicking the above link.

Uxbridge Trainer Takes On The Heavy Events

Recently, I volunteered at the Heavy Events at the Highland Games of Durham at Uxbridge’s Elgin Park.

This really raised my pulse.  As “fun” as retrieving a 56lb weight or standing up a 20 foot caber (telephone pole!) can be, I wanted to try my hand at throwing.

Rick Blair, one of our great Uxbridge gym members, told me about a Heavy Events school (the only of its kind…more on that later) in Fergus.  It would cost me some money, but I’d learn the events from Warren Trask and Kevin Fast — legends in Highland Games and strongman circles.

I was sold.  And it was well worth it.  In my first competition, I finished 8th, and qualified to throw as an amateur on Sunday at Fergus.  What a ride!  And, it’s just getting started.

Obviously in a week, you can’t perfect technique in 7 unique events.  After the first day, Warren Trask, who placed second in the World Championships in Scotland this year, and a veteran of over 800 Highland Games asked me what I thought about yesterday – I said, “I learned a lot, but I’ve still got a lot to learn.”

Hopefully you can learn, as I did, from his response: “That’s why some of us live a long time.” 

Are you still learning?  I hope so.  This fall, you may just have an opportunity to learn the Heavy Events right here in Uxbridge…so stay tuned.

3 Things I Want You To Know About

Want to get into the Highland Games for FREE??   Rick Blair and myself have been hard at work to help organize the Heavy Events (Caber Toss, Stone Throw etc.) for the Games this coming weekend.  It would be our pleasure to provide you with a wrist band that will grant you FREE access to the park in exchange for a few hours of your help.  Yup…volunteers.  We still need about 5 or 6 people to help out with measuring, setting up and taking down some of the equipment for the Heavy Events.  You’ll get a cool shirt, liquid refreshments and of course a park pass for the day.   If you are interested, simply reply to this e-mail and I’ll give you more details.  For those of you interested in just experiencing the Games this weekend, you can check out the website here:   http://www.highlandsofdurhamgames.com     Have You Checked Your Locker Lately?   We have posted a few notes on lockers that have locks on them.  Basically, we are doing a locker inventory and have noticed that some locks have been left on permanently but we have no record of that particular locker being rented.   To clear up any miscommunication about locker use, here is how it works: Most of the lockers are strictly day use lockers.  We encourage you to use them when you are here and even lock your stuff if you wish.  When you are done your workout, just remove your lock and take your stuff with you so the next person can use the locker.   There are a few designated lockers (ones with black numbers on the top) that are rental lockers.  Members who wish to have the added convenience of having the same locker available to them on a month to month basis can choose to rent them for a nominal fee of $10 per month.   Those who have placed locks on lockers and haven’t requested a rental are asked to remove your lock by Friday July 31st at 9:00PM.  Locks that remain will be cut, property removed  and sold to the highest bidder.  Just kidding, we’ll put it in bags behind the counter to be claimed.  If it’s not claimed within a reasonable amount of time we will either discard it or give it to charity.   After July 31st we will do regular lock to locker checks and cut locks without notice.  There are only so many lockers to go around and we appreciate your consideration and attention.     Who Wants to Join Us For A Fun Evening At   Medieval Times?   On Saturday August 8th, I cordially invite you to join us for an evening of awesome entertainment.  I have rented a bus to take up to 40 people down to Toronto and back and got a sweet all inclusive price that includes the Medieval Times Dinner Theatre.    Only $48…Tax included !   That’s it….$48 bucks for a return trip and Medieval Times.  But there are only a few spots left…15 to be exact.  I opened it up to the staff and their significant others first and they jumped all over it.  But I’d love for you to join us too.  A chance to socialize outside the gym and take in one of the most entertaining shows I’ve seen.  I’ve been 3 times and I’d go 3 more.   Just so you know, there will be alcohol served (at an additional cost) and so it may not be appropriate for those under 19 unless accompanied by a parent.   You can sign up and pay at the front desk.  Cash, Cheque, Visa or M/C.    But Hurry!  I know these spots will go quickly.  We need to submit the final head count by Friday July 31st.   If you want more information about the show click here:   Medieval Times Event Information

So that’s it for now.  I hope you are enjoying your summer holidays and look forward to seeing you at Medieval Times if you can make it.   Sincerely,   Andy Luukkonen Body Fit

Uxbridge Fitness Blog is Up and Running!

This is the first post of many to come on the Uxbridge Fitness Blog.

Check in regularly for exercise tips, exercise videos, humour, motivation, nutrition, and even healthy recipes from Uxbridge’s leading fitness experts.

If you are passionate about your health and fitness, you’ll find people who share your passion at Body Fit Health Club and right here on the Uxbridge Fitness Blog.