Kevin Mills
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With the beginning of fall we get ready for a new season and reflect on the summer we just had. One of the highlights of this past summer must be the excitement from Toronto hosting the 2015 Parapan Am and Pan Am Games. The Parapan Am games were a great stage to demonstrate the abilities and talents of paraplegic and quadriplegic athletes from around the world. The Parapan Am games are a fantastic example of how different impairments, skill sets and competencies can be the winning combination for podium-placing performance. I think it’s fair to say that seeing athletes of all different abilities competing in many different sports caused a bit of “panamania” here at Walk It Off. From Canada placing second in overall medal count and our very own Anita Kaiser in the PanAm torch relay to Kevin Mills being asked to participate in the Parapan Am torch relay and complete a handcycling demonstration at McMaster University, it’s hard to not get excited about it!
The purpose of this blog is to bring home the message that no matter what your ability level, paraplegic, quadriplegic, or other, there are options for you to get moving! If you find yourself drawn to independent sports, such as handcycling or archery, or team sports, such as sledge hockey or rugby, there are facilities and organizations to make your participation possible. At Walk It Off, we believe that engaging in physical activity is great for mental, physical and emotional well-being; a healthy body leads to a healthy mind and a healthy life.
Now we appreciate that not everyone will be looking to jump right into Parapan Am and Paralympic level competition but there are many other facilities and organizations that will help get you started at a beginner or entry-level. Some resources you may want to check out are:
There are many more local facilities and organizations you can find by searching keywords such as “adapted” or “modified” and the sport of your choice and location. For example, the Newmarket Shredders sledge hockey organization or the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling club. Another terrific guide to sport programs available to you is on the ParaSport Ontario Club Directory.
At Walk It Off, many of our clients participate in sports and recreational activities outside of the clinic. Walk It Off clients practice recreational sports, such as sit-skiing and horseback riding, and some of our clients compete on provincial and national teams in sports such as curling and sledge hockey. No matter what your competition level, leisure, recreational or competitive, we are able to design work out sessions tailored to your sport or activity to help you excel in whichever physical activity you like!
What activities do you enjoy participating in? We’d love your feedback and your questions! You can connect with us by email or telephone or leave a comment right here on the site. Check out our Facebook and Twitter pages and our YouTube Channel too and join in the conversation!
Until next time,
Rebecca
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