Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Time: 1pm. 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: $45 for one baby and 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, March 26, 2010. Please note pre-registration and payment is required.

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, then click on ‘Event’ in the top menu, then click the arrow to choose ‘March’ (if needed), then click on the ‘Infant Massage Class’ link that appears on the 30th.

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 8. 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.

*There is special pricing for twins – please contact me for details.

Please note this course is not designed as an infant massage instructor’s course. Skills learned in this class are to be used on your own children or the children of family or friends only.

MP Olivia Chow and Friends of Christie Pits Park are having their yearly Family Day skating party. There will be games, activities for kids, free hot chocolate and pizza, and of course lots of skating! It’s from 1-3pm.

If you go, enjoy it!

Melissa Melnitzer, our physician who specializes in psychotherapy, has started a new blog called Oprah and Beyond. She was inspired by both O Magazine and Oprah’s announced departure from television, and wanted to have a place to post light and fun reflections with a bit of a pop culture twist, complementing the concept she has developed with her 15 minute beginnings blog.

Tiina Veer, our yoga instructor and fellow RMT, will be continuing to teach her Yoga for Round Bodies class in the new year. She is likely going to offer it as a weekly class starting in January. All the details will be available on Halcyon’s website in the new year.

Tiina and Melissa will also be doing a one day self-care retreat on Saturday, January 30th. This workshop involves both reflective writing and guided relaxation and helps you work towards personal well-being for 2010! All the details are available here.

And finally, Halcyon now has a variety of yoga classes available to you, including Iyengar and Restorative.

Hope you all enjoy your New Year’s holiday plans and hope to see you in 2010!

Date: Thursday, January 14th
Time: 11am. 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: $45 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: Tuesday, January 12th.

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, then click on ‘Event’ in the top menu, then click the arrow to choose ‘January’ (if needed), then click on the ‘Infant Massage Class’ link that appears on the 14th.

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.

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!

6-week introductory course with Kari Romaniuk

Tuesdays, 6:15-7:30pm
November 3 – December 8
$90 for the 6-class series

“Iyengar Yoga is a precise, systematic method of Yoga as developed by BKS Iyengar of Pune, India. The primary focus is on concentrated movements to fine tune the body and to increase mobility, stability, strength and alignment. The intense concentration draws the attention inward, quieting and integrating the mind and body. Iyengar Yoga is yoga for health. It involves techniques for the well-being of both body and mind.”
~Yoga Centre Toronto, www.yogacentretoronto.ca

“Iyengar Yoga is characterized by great attention to detail and precise focus on body alignment. [B.K.S.] Iyengar pioneered the use of “props” such as cushions, benches, blocks, straps, and even sand bags, which function as aids allowing beginners to experience asanas more easily and fully than might otherwise be possible without several years of practice… Standing poses are emphasized in Iyengar Yoga. They are said to build strong legs, increase general vitality, and improve circulation, coordination and balance… Iyengar teachers complete at least two years of rigorous training for the introductory certificate. They may complete subsequent… levels of certification, potentially entailing a decade or more of training.”
~www.wikipedia.org

Come and experience Iyengar yoga for your health and well-being, and welcome Kari to Halcyon!

Click here to register – choose ‘Classes and workshops’, go to the November calendar, then choose ‘Iyengar Yoga – 6 week intro – KARI’.

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.

Esther Myers Yoga is offering several workshops, including one on Yoga for Health and Well-Being. For details on that and other classes, please see their website.

Octopus Garden also has several upcoming workshops. One that caught my eye takes place on October 31st, on proper alignment during yoga. For further details, check out their website.

On the theme of yoga, Passport to Prana is back again this year. For $30 you get a pass that gives you a single free class at a large variety of studios here in Toronto. If you are looking for a new yoga studio, or you just like the chance to try a bunch of them, this pass is a great idea for you!

Some locations of The Running Room still have their popular running classes going. If this interests you, there may still be time to register – check their website for details.

Whatever you do this month, have fun!

Hello,
I’d like to inform you of a one-day Physician’s Wellness Retreat that I am delighted to be participating in, on Saturday, October 24th at beautiful Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, in Cambridge, Ontario. The retreat includes the main theme workshop, “15-minute beginnings,” an approach to self-care and the brainchild of my colleague here at Halcyon, Dr. Melissa Melnitzer. Melissa, myself and Dr. Heidi Walk will be presenting the morning and afternoon break-out sessions: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Heidi Walk), Deep Restoration (Tiina Veer), Relief through Writing (Melissa Melnitzer).

This new and innovative offering is supported by the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), in response to the mounting evidence of high stress levels among physicians, and the overwhelming positive response to a 15-minute beginnings pilot project with physicians across the province in April 2009. The hope for this project is to gain wider support and be offered within other health care provider communities eventually, as well.

If you are a physician, I invite you to join us for a relaxing and informative day of experiential learning and sumptuous lunch in a beautiful and relaxed environment. A wellness retreat for you–for your own self-care–that offers “…a dedicated day to begin to experience new ideas and practices that you can choose from to take back into your daily life and work. This takes place in a country spa resort setting so that if you wish you can round out your stay with spa treatments, local walks,” an extended stay, or as you like. See the attached brochure for details on workshop and break-outs. Approved for CME’s. Please pass along to your colleagues and networks. With enough interest, these retreats may become regular offerings.

If you are not a physician, I have cast a wide net with this email in the hopes that some of you will consider championing this with me by disseminating this email and attachment to physicians you may know, or within hospital/community health or related networks you are associated with.

I will be sending a shorter version of this out to my broader email list, as well… apologies if you receive this twice!

Thank you very much for your help spreading this exciting news,
Tiina

Note that versions of this workshop/retreat can be offered within a variety of contexts, please contact us if you are interested in discussing the possibility of offering this work within your organization.

Contact information for both Melissa and Tiina is available on Halcyon Health’s website.

Esther Myers Yoga Studio has a weekend course coming up next month (October 24/25) which explores yoga and its health benefits. They mention it is not only good for yoga students (new and more advanced) but also good for yoga instructors, health professionals, and meditation teachers.

As mentioned previously, Flow! Yoga has now gone to a completely pre-registered class format. They still offer a variety of yoga classes, plus Nia and Pilates.

Octopus Garden yoga has several upcoming special classes, including another class with Danny Paradise. As well, they have three yoga retreats planned over the next year – two in Mexico, one in Tuscany!

The Toronto Bike Union will be hosting a bike tour of Toronto’s French forts on September 19th. It sounds like fun, especially if you’re interested in Canadian history, and it’s free!

The Running Room is still running their various clinics throughout the fall. Some of them start over the next few weeks. If you think running might be something you want to try this fall, the Running Room’s programs are a great way to do that.

Tango classes with Leeliana are back. Looks like most have already started, but some start this month. Her website has some details if learning to tango sounds like fun.

Registration for the various classes offered at the MNJCC has already begun, but chances are there are still spaces in many of their classes. Most classes don’t start for another few weeks. For the adult classes, see here and for the kids’ classes, see here.

Best Body Boot Camp has another session starting up on September 14th. This session will still be held in Christie Pits Park – a good way to get fit while enjoying the outdoors while those last days of summer are still here!

Registration for fall Pilates classes begins today at Body Harmonics. This is a great Pilates studio with a wide variety of classes, including a Post-Natal class on Tuesday afternoons (babies welcome!).

And finally, Halcyon’s own Tiina Veer is holding her Yoga for Round Bodies bi-weekly series again this fall. Classes start in October and are designed for any body at any level of fitness or yoga knowledge.

Whatever you do this fall, enjoy it!