Move More!

Happy New Year, Canada! Have you got your resolutions in order? We do, here at ParticipACTION.

This year, we are not just "talking" to Canadians about physical activity; our staff is challenging each other to meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guideline minimum recommendation of 150 minutes of physical activity each week, and to see just how much physical activity we can fit into our daily lives. We'll be motivating each other through our friendly competition and rewarding the whole team for our efforts to get moving more.

If you need some personal inspiration to make 2012 the year you really get moving, read on. We've included 52 Reasons to be Active in this month's newsletter. Forget what the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend? You are in luck. We've provided a quick refresher to get you back up to speed.

Whatever it takes - a challenge from co-workers, a pact with a friend or a personal commitment - let's all have some physical activity fun this year and make 2012 a year of inspiration and action.

Warmly,

Kelly

52 Reasons To Be Active Throughout 2012

Did you know that more than half of Canadian adults are considered inactive and that only 7% of young people attain the recommended level of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day? Both statistics are sad but true. We can do better! To enhance your own motivation and good reasons to enjoy plenty of physical activity, I've decided to give you an extra 52 reasons to add more physical activity to your life - that's one for each week of 2012!

To obtain my full list, visit our Blog and view my post 52 Reasons To Be Active Throughout 2012.

Wishing you a happy and active new year!

Catherine Cameron

Active Living Ambassador 

Change lives while changing your own lifestyle

If making a resolution to get yourself to the gym seems to be wearing thin year after year, a new approach might be to make a resolution to give back in an active way. Volunteer coaching could be just the ticket to get you moving, stay committed and feel great about making a contribution.

In Canada, there are 1.8 million volunteer coaches, according to Statistics Canada's report, Sport Participation in Canada. And of those volunteers, 95% are coaching at the community level. This large contingent of dedicated and generous individuals is helping to strengthen community ties and build up a generation of healthy, active and happy kids.

Volunteer coaching, especially for younger children, often involves getting right in the thick of the action, demonstrating skills during practices, or helping out on the field or rink during game time to help position young players just learning the game. And once you are committed to helping out, chances are you will not want to let your team down, increasing your stick-to-it-ness.

Not sure where to start or how to get involved? One great place is at the school level. Many schools do not have enough teachers to run intra-murals or field school teams in all sports and welcome parents who step forward to volunteer their time. Local sport organizations also look for volunteer coaches, assistant coaches and trainers.

To feel more confident about stepping up to coach, the Coaching Association of Canada, a not-for-profit amateur sport organization that is dedicated to facilitating quality coaching, offers programs to train volunteer coaches in Canada. Visit www.coach.ca for more information on the National Coaching Certification Program.

Resolutions to get more active so often fall by the wayside. Declaring your intention to become a volunteer coach could be the 2012 resolution that sticks.

Physical activity - time for an attitude adjustment?

One of the biggest mistakes that many of us make is putting physical activity on our "to do" lists, making it a chore to cross off and with it, a feeling of relief that we "got it done." Ironically, when we get our bodies in motion to go out and "play", those are most often the fun and memorable times that make us feel fantastic. Who doesn't remember the great tobogganing, or snow-fort making, afternoon with the kids after a massive snowfall? And just how notable was that last hour spent on Facebook or watching Canadian Idol?

We often tell our kids, when they are grumbling about school or a particular problem, to try a new approach, an attitude adjustment. So why not try it for ourselves. Don't begrudge the time at the gym as something you have to do. This year, find something that makes you light up, and see it as a treat to yourself. Don't put physical activity on the "to do" list, put it on the "WANT to do" list. As Winston Churchill said, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

In fact, if it feels like a chore, maybe it's not the right activity. As a personal assignment for 2012, how about trying a new physical activity this year to find something that speaks to you? If you never skate in the winter, why not dust off your old skates, or rent from a local rink and take some turns on the ice. Try a complementary class for a variety of activities. In January many organizations open their doors to allow people to try a class or two for a particular sport or activity. Hot yoga anyone? Ballroom dancing? Tai chi perhaps. From curling to volunteer dog walking, if you've always wanted to try something new, why not make this January the month that you go for it.

Make this year's resolution to have more fun. This intrinsic reason - because it is fun - is what keeps people who love physical activity coming back for more. A new attitude towards how you fit physical activity into your life might be just what it takes.

Physical Activity Counseling Toolkit now available in French and Punjabi!

This practical toolkit offers ten plain language resources for practitioners to use when working with their clients. The resources have been designed to help facilitate the physical activity counseling process. Practitioners can use these resources as handouts and refer to them online.

• Deciding to be physically active
• Making a physical activity plan
• Setting goals
• What stops you from being physically active?
• Benefits of physical activity
• Physical activity and your blood pressure
• High blood pressure: how to stay safe
• Physical activity and type 2 diabetes
• Diabetes: how to stay safe when active
• Healthy weight and physical activity

To download the resource visits the Centre for active living's website.

January 24, 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST

National

The ParticipACTION Partner Forums are designed to facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing between partners. The theme of the January 2012 webinar focuses on physical activity and Alzheimer's disease, and will allow participants to connect, share insights and potentially collaborate on future initiatives. If you are interested in participating in the upcoming webinar forum, or would like to be a participant/speaker in an upcoming ParticipACTION Forum, please email forum@participACTION.com.

Upcoming Forums:

February 21, 1:00pm - 2:30pm (EST) - Workplace Health

March 21, 1:00pm - 2:30pm (EST) - Physical Activity Policies

Sandbox Project Second Annual Conference - Toronto

Jan 19

Toronto, ON

The Sandbox Project's annual conference brings together current and future academics, industry, not-for-profit and government leaders to work together to address matters of health for children and youth. The morning sessions will feature expert speakers who will provide unique perspectives to attendees. These presentations will stimulate valuable and engaging discussion in our breakout sessions, under the themes of Healthy Weights, Injury Prevention, a Healthy Environment and Mental Health.

For more information, or to register for the conference, visit the Sandbox Project event website.

Recreation Unplugged Conference - Recreation Connections Manitoba

Feb 29 - March 2

Winnipeg, MB

Recreation Connections Manitoba is proud to present "Recreation Unplugged", an annual provincial conference. Participants can look forward to some wonderful presentations during a number of interactive and informative workshops. The sessions promise to be diverse, dealing with a wide range of topics and issues facing today's recreation professionals. Some of the workshops offered are as follows:

• Recreation and Mental Health: It's About Activity
• Major Recreation Facility Planning: Strategies for Success
• Unstructured Play: The Benefits and Precautions
• Accessible Dance for All Ages and Abilities
• Engaging Aboriginal Youth in Their Communities
• Get in the Game of Physical Literacy

For more information on the workshops listed above, additional workshops offered, or to register for the conference visit the Recreations Connections Manitoba website. 

The ParticipACTION Network - Building Strength in Numbers

The ParticipACTION Network (the Network) is a robust national network of organizations dedicated to physical activity and sport participation.

Collectively, through the Network, member organizations can: 

1. Build on and leverage the strengths and resources of the diverse sectors
2. Create a culture of partnership and build a Community of Practice related to physical activity, recreation and sport participation
3. Facilitate the coordination of communications through social marketing, media and public relations initiatives across Canada                                                                                            

Organizations that have physical activity, sport, fitness, recreation and/or active living as a central or connected part of their mandate can register to be a part of the ParticipACTION Network for free. Registered organizations receive a multitude of benefits. See below for a few of the benefits offered:

• Access to other organizations from different sectors with a variety of expertise, resulting in opportunities to learn from one another and collaborate through ParticipACTION Network 'Intranet', webinars, projects, etc.
• Updates on ParticipACTION initiatives and sector-related initiatives through e-newsletters, webinars, etc.
• Access to knowledge tools and research through existing ParticipACTION memberships and channels.
• Access to communications and knowledge exchange materials through the ParticipACTION Tool Kit.
• Access to the ParticipACTION logo and the opportunity to co-brand on campaign. 

To become part of the Network, please submit the following form to ParticipACTION. 

For more information visit the ParticipACTION Network page on our website.

23 and ½ hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

Recently, Dr. Mike Evans illustrated, through his jaw-dropping and inspirational video on YouTube, how physical activity has proven to be the most consistently effective medicine in helping to prevent a wide variety of health problems.

Dr. Mike Evans is an associate professor in Family Medicine & Public Health at the University of Toronto. As a Staff Physician at St. Michael's Hospital and Director of the hospital's Health Design Lab in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Mike brings quality health information and patient education together with traditional and new media.

If you have not yet viewed it, we urge you to watch Dr. Mike's amazing video and learn more about how the simple act of 30 minutes of daily physical activity can successful reduce the effects of chronic disease and improve well-being.

Visit ParticipACTION's You Tube Channel to view 23 and ½ hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

View other Success Stories or submit your own on the ParticipACTION website.