Lifestyle — Our Journal and Blog on Health and Wellness — Blended Athletics

Posts in Lifestyle

Darryl's Stress Management Techniques

Darryl's Stress Management Techniques

If Humanity was a kid in the school yard, this Covid ordeal is the bully that's smacked us right in the face repeatedly day after day, week after week and month after month. We're stressed; more so now than any other time in most of our lives, and stressed about so many different things it's hard to fathom just how we can make it through to the next month. While the challenges of this year are seemingly endless, there are ways that you can RIDE these "Waves of Change", instead of sinking, or worse yet, drowning.

Lifestyle, HealthDarryl CouncilAugust 7, 2020stress, lifestyle Comment

Invest in Yourself.

Invest in Yourself.

If you are sick and tired of seeing other people having more success than you, then keep reading.

The idea of pursuing excellence is to give you and your family a better lifestyle.

It’s about taking care of your parents.

It’s about donating, giving to and supporting the causes that you believe in.

It’s about providing your kids with a better childhood than you had.

THAT’S WHY YOU SHOULD PURSUE EXCELLENCE...

LifestyleDavid RafuseJuly 10, 2020mindset, lifestyle, you

Continuing your Training from Home

Continuing your Training from Home

Prepare Your Workout Space

Begin by cleaning up the area that you intend to exercise in. If you have children and/or dogs, instruct them to stay out of this area, then tell them 300 more times. Don’t stress though! They won’t listen to you anyway.

Lifestyle, trainingJoel MillerJuly 3, 2020home, health, experience

Do you Know How to Listen?

Do you Know How to Listen?

At this very moment, every square inch of your body that has functioning nerves is communicating with you.

Are you listening?

Do you know how to listen?

LifestyleDarryl CouncilJune 29, 2020lifestyle, meditation, mindfulness

Individual Barbecued Pizzas w/ Recipe

Individual Barbecued Pizzas w/ Recipe

Who doesn’t love pizza! Exactly. Everyone loves pizza. The great thing about pizza is the endless variaties you can make. Veggie, donair, barbecue, greek and of course Hawaiian, because I’m team pineapple when it comes to the age old debate as to whether or not it belongs on pizza.

Lifestyle, Health, nutritionJulie-annJune 22, 2020food, nutrition, pizza

Back to Training: Post Lockdown!

Back to Training: Post Lockdown!

I'll be training every 2-3 days, depending on my recovery between sessions. The majority of my training will consist of the squat, bench press, deadlift and overhead press, along with a handful of accessory movements for muscular balance. I'll be focusing most of my accessory work on my upper back and hamstrings, as those are weaknesses for me.

training, LifestyleCody BlanchardJune 17, 2020training, StrengthComment

WHY?

WHY?

I was recently asked three questions for a publication.
How do I make workouts fun for me?
For clients?
And what is the most important thing for building healthy habits?

I can answer these three questions with one word….WHY!

One of the things I learned early on in my career was that there was no amount of external motivation I could give to someone to help them achieve their goals. Ultimately to help people create lasting success I realized I had to help them discover the fundamental purpose behind not only what they wanted but more importantly why they wanted it.

Lifestyle, ExperienceGuest UserApril 29, 2020lifestyle, growth, mindset, excellence Comment

Overuse Injuries - Low Back

Overuse Injuries - Low Back

This is part of a series where we’re talking about overuse injuries. Today specifically the issue surrounding low back pain! Low back pain is the most common issue we see come through the doors at our clinic, let’s dive in to some of the details surrounding our low back.

Health, LifestyleChad AndersonApril 16, 2020lifestyle, injury prevention, back pain

Mindful Eating Amidst the Chaos

Mindful Eating Amidst the Chaos

Imagine this:

It’s 2020; you are either off work or working from home because there is a global pandemic. You went to the grocery store and bought storm chips and ice cream, because, stress. Each night, you find yourself on the couch eating all the snacks because there is nothing else to do. Now, we are only a week or two into this, which is why, I want to introduce you to the concept of mindful eating, in hopes of saving a few people from the Corona15 (aka the new freshman 15).

Lifestyle, HealthChelsea WeinkaufMarch 29, 2020eating, mindfulness, covid19

The Uncontrollable Setbacks of your Fitness Journey

The Uncontrollable Setbacks of your Fitness Journey

I recently had a client while on antibiotics and puffers with a lung infection write me to say: “I feel that every minute I am not there (the gym), I am falling behind.”

Picture this, for the past 6 weeks; 6 months or perhaps even 6 years, you have been working hard in the gym; you’re not missing more than a few days of training, and now you are sick or hurt! Frustrating… YES!!!

Lifestyle, Health, medicalDavid RafuseMarch 26, 2020lifestyle, health, medical, injury prevention

Fit at (Almost…) Forty

Fit at (Almost…) Forty

My first time into the gym I nearly had a panic attack.

I disguised it as laughter, but there was real trepidation as I was being led around and introduced to coaching staff. To this day, the hardest thing I’ve ever done at the gym was walk into it for the first time.

LifestyleJoel MillerMarch 11, 2020fitness, lifestyle

Women and Strength

Women and Strength

When I sit back and think of how far we still have to go in North America and all over the world to improve women’s equality and parity in business, I have to admit that when I look at my own experience in business I am beyond fortunate to say that I have it pretty good! I have worked at Blended Athletics for the past 6 years as a coach, programmer and head of staff development. I am a part of a team of senior managers in which 50% of us are women. There is NO discrepancy at Blended as far as what the women earn compared to the men. At Blended there is a daily discussion around how we can make our gym a more welcoming place for women, how to program in a way that allows for men AND women to reach their training goals, and what can we do to make the women in our gym feel empowered. It’s not just our job to help women feel empowered while they are at the gym, it is our MISSION for the women at our gym to take that feeling of empowerment and to carry it with them when they go back to their jobs, their homes, back into society.

training, LifestyleMel Clark March 3, 2020International Womens Day, fitness, Strength, Mental Health Comment

What my Daughter Taught me about the Blended Community!

What my Daughter Taught me about the Blended Community!

“Having a baby is hard.” This is usually my response when people ask me what it is like having a newborn at home. “It is also one of the most beautiful and rewarding things that has happened to me and has brought a newfound perspective and appreciation to my life!” Read more about my journey…

LifestyleGuest UserFebruary 20, 2020family, health

Staying Healthy While Traveling for Work

Staying Healthy While Traveling for Work

Travelling for work can be really fun at first, but gets old fast. If you find that you are constantly travelling and you are getting sick of feeling like crap because you aren’t working out, don’t have a routine, are eating out for every meal and not sleeping, try some of these tips out. You are never going to find a “perfect” time to make a change so might as well implement small changes that are easy for you to achieve and will make you feel better throughout the week.

Lifestyle, HealthChelsea WeinkaufFebruary 6, 2020travel, lifestyle, eating, work, hydration

Technology is Changing the Fitness Industry

Technology is Changing the Fitness Industry

Let's face it. Technology today is changing pretty much every industry. The fitness industry is no different. From apps, unique and innovative fitness machinery, to wearable gadgets. However… research performed by the Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that 64% of Canadian adults over the age of 18 are overweight or obese. That stat continues to rise. The problem with most of the technology available to us is that it still doesn’t fix the core problems humans have with being able to look after their health/fitness.

LifestyleDavid RafuseJanuary 23, 2020lifestyle, technology

Start with Sleep

Start with Sleep

Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer.

It enhances your memory and makes you more creative.

It makes you look/feel more attractive.

It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings.

It protects you from cancer and dementia.

It wards off colds and the flu.

It lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke, not to mention diabetes.

You’ll even feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. Are you interested?

LifestyleDavid RafuseJanuary 16, 2020Sleep, lifestyle

Is Alcohol Killing your Gains!?

Is Alcohol Killing your Gains!?

It’s no secret that consuming alcohol is fundamentally not healthy. It can effect concentration, reduce energy levels, increase depression and has been shown to effect long-term cardiovascular health. Here are three positive changes you’ll see from giving up alcohol.

LifestyleDavid RafuseJanuary 8, 2020lifestyle, food/drink