Edit as of December 18th: There are no appointments left for the remainder of 2009. However, I am taking a waiting list – if interested, please email candice@candicermt.ca or call 416-828-7647 and let me know what days and times you would be interested in. I will contact you if something opens up. Thanks!

Now that we’re only a month away from the holidays, I thought I should post what my office hours will be like during late December and early January.

My office will be closed the following days:

December 24, 25, 26 & 27
December 31 & January 1st

I am available for appointments the following days and times during the week between Christmas and New Year’s:

Monday December 28th: 1 – 5:30pm
Tuesday December 29th: 1 – 7pm
Wednesday December 30th: 1 – 7pm

For those looking to book appointments during that week, I advise you to book early – that week tends to be very popular for bookings!

I will also be off on vacation the first week of January: from January 4th to January 10th inclusive.

Have a wonderful holiday season, no matter what you celebrate!

This class has been cancelled, but the next class will take place Thursday, January 14th at 11am. Further details will be posted later. If you are interested in the January date, please do let me know!

I will be offering my Infant Massage class one last time for 2009. Please note there will be a slight price increase for 2010, so this is the last chance to take this class at the current rate.

Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009
Time: 10:30am. Class will be 1-1.5 hours in length, depending on the number of registrants and the mood of the babies.
Location: Right here at Halcyon Health, 677 Dupont, 2nd Floor.
Cost: $35 per family (baby plus up to two adults)*.
Supplies you’ll need: Just your standard ‘out and about with baby’ stuff – extra diapers, a changing pad, receiving blankets if you use them, etc. Comfortable mats, pillows, oil (canola) and sheets will be provided. You may wish to bring clothing/blankets for your baby that you don’t mind getting a little oil on.
Registration deadline: Friday, November 13, 2009.

This is a great class for parents and their baby (aged newborn to crawling), but it’s also fun for other caregivers – grandparents, aunts and uncles, close friends, etc. If you are a single parent or your partner doesn’t want to attend, you are welcome to bring one other adult who is important in your baby’s life!

Benefits of massage for infants and children include increased bonding, reducing stress and increasing relaxation, stimulation of the systems of the body, helping with colic and gas, and helping regulate sleeping patterns.

If you are currently pregnant and would like to take the class before having your baby, that is possible too – we’ll just teach you using a doll or a teddy bear. Just let me know when you register so I can make sure I have a doll for you (or you can bring you own if you prefer).

The cost includes the price of an infant massage booklet, which is yours to keep and refer to at home. Payment must be sent at the time of registration in order to hold your spot in the class. You can either arrange a time with me to pay in person (Visa, Mastercard, Debit, cash or cheque are all ok), mail me a cheque, or send me an Interac email money transfer for the class fee.

To register, either email me, or self-register with my online booking. Please click here to access my online booking for this class.

Please note: Due to space limitations, we cannot accommodate large strollers. Because the clinic is located up a flight of stairs, I recommend just bringing your car seat, or a sling or other ‘baby wearing’ device.

If you have questions about this class, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

This class requires a minimum of 2 registrations, maximum of 6. If the minimum is not met by the registration deadline, the class will be cancelled, and anyone who has registered will receive a full refund.

*If you have twins, please contact me for class cost details.

The next date I’ll be offering my infant massage class is as follows:

Date: Monday, September 21st
Time: Noon – 1:30. Exact length of the class will vary slightly depending on both the mood of the babies and how quickly the adults pick up the techniques, but 90 minutes is the average.
Location: Right here at Halcyon Health, 677 Dupont, 2nd Floor.
Cost: $35 per family (baby plus up to two adults)^*.
Supplies you’ll need: Just your standard ‘out and about with baby’ stuff – extra diapers, a changing pad, receiving blankets if you use them, etc. Comfortable mats, pillows, oil (canola) and sheets will be provided. You may wish to bring clothing/blankets for your baby that you don’t mind getting a little oil on.

This is a great class for parents and their baby (aged newborn to crawling), but it’s also fun for other caregivers – grandparents, aunts and uncles, close friends, etc. If you are a single parent or your partner doesn’t want to attend, you are welcome to bring one other adult who is important in your baby’s life!

Benefits of massage for infants and children include increased bonding, reducing stress and increasing relaxation, stimulation of the systems of the body, helping with colic and gas, and helping regulate sleeping patterns.

If you are currently pregnant and would like to take the class before having your baby, that is possible too – we’ll just teach you using a doll or a teddy bear. Just let me know when you register so I can make sure I have a doll for you (or you can bring you own if you prefer).

The cost includes the price of an infant massage booklet, which is yours to keep and refer to at home. Payment must be sent at the time of registration in order to hold your spot in the class. You can either arrange a time with me to pay in person (Visa, Mastercard, Debit, cash or cheque are all ok), mail me a cheque, or send me an Interac email money transfer for the class fee.

To register, either email me, or self-register with my online booking. Just click on ‘Events’ at the top to display the Events calendar, then choose the month (in this case, September), then click on ‘Infant Massage Class’ for the date you want.

Please note: Due to space limitations, we cannot accommodate large strollers. Because the clinic is located up a flight of stairs, I recommend just bringing your car seat, or a sling or other ‘baby wearing’ device.

If you have questions about this class, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

^*If you have twins, please contact me for class cost details.

As previously announced, I will be on vacation the first week of August, from the 3rd to the 7th.

Phone messages and emails will be returned when I am back in the office on Tuesday, August 11th.

If you are in need of care while I am away, please do contact one of my colleagues at Halcyon Health.

Have a great week, everyone!

I know I normally cover ideas for getting up and doing something active, but this week I thought I’d cover a related and very important topic: eating well.

As a Registered Massage Therapist, I don’t council people on nutrition, but I can point you all at resources to help you eat more healthy. So here is a list of some local stores that sell organic or otherwise healthy foods.

Fiesta Farms – Located just south of us at Christie and Essex, they are a local independent grocery store that stocks a lot of locally grown produce, along with a large selection of organic goods.

Organics on Bloor – Located on Bloor a bit east of Bathurst, they concentrate on local and organic produce. They also stock a variety of other local products, like dairy, meat, and boxed foods like cookies, breads and granola.

Bloor/Borden Farmer’s Market & Dufferin Grove Farmer’s Market – There are farmer’s markets all over the city, but these two are located the closest to us. Both offer a selection of produce and other products grown or created by local farmers and bakers. Worth checking out!

Taste of Nature – Located a bit west of Spadina on Bloor, they stock a lot of organic dried goods such as flours, oats, grains and spices. They also have a selection of eco-friendly cleaning and body care products.

Karma Co-op – On Palmerston Ave just north of Barton, they are a co-op, so membership is required. However, you can book a tour of the store to decide if joining the co-op is right for you. Like many of the businesses I’ve listed, they offer a wide range of organic, locally grown products and eco-friendly household cleaners and body care items.

Noah’s – Four locations in the GTA, with the closest to us being at Bloor and Spadina. A small selection of organic produce can be found here, along with a larger selection of other organic products.

Panacea – A 100% vegan shop, but don’t let that stop you from shopping there if you aren’t vegan! There are some great eco-friendly products available here. They don’t stock any produce, but they do have a variety of boxed and canned goods and some frozen meals, ice cream, and that sort of thing.

Toronto Vegetarian Association – Ok, so this one isn’t a store, but I wanted to mention them anyhow. The Toronto Vegetarian Association is a local charity that seeks to promote healthier, greener eating and living through vegetarianism. However, even if you aren’t vegetarian, their resources will still be of use to you! They have a large list of eco-friendly and vegetarian-friendly restaurants and shops in Toronto, and they also sell a vegetarian association membership discount card, which gets you discounts at lots of stores (including restaurants) in the city. Their website is worth checking out even if you just want to eat more veggies and less meat.

And finally, don’t forget that most big grocery store chains offer a decent selection of organic foods. My only word of caution is that many of them have shipped in their organic produce from the United States, so if you’re looking to eat local and sustainable, you may want to look at one of the other options listed.

Have a great week!