As we head into November, we say goodbye to one holiday and hello to another. The sudden transition from Halloween to Christmas can be overwhelming. Throughout the month of October (or the last week of October for most!) you work tirelessly to perfect this year’s Halloween costume, and in the blink of an eye your costume and decorations are packed away in storage and your local department store has Christmas lights and ornaments on display. Just when you thought you would have a moment of relief; we are already moving into the spirit of another holiday!

The holiday season can be demanding to say the least. From the parties, shopping, entertaining and baking, our schedules seem to fill up during the months of November and December. Along with a busier schedule, the financial worries, the long excruciating lineups, and let’s be honest – the never-ending traffic increases our stress levels which can take its toll on our overall health. To minimize the unavoidable stress that accompanies the holidays it’s important to schedule some you time to relax and take a well needed break. This break is not only beneficial to your health, but it just may be the thing that allows you to fully enjoy the holiday season this year!

From yoga, to running and walking clubs, to fitness centres and swimming pools there is no shortage of activities that offer the benefit of relaxation while also remaining realistic with your schedule.

Spas can be a perfect solution! They offer several health benefits including stress relief, both physical and emotional and require very little of your time. If you are fortunate enough to own your own spa, you have access to it whenever necessary. If not, no worries! Spas are now conveniently located in many fitness centres, hotels and even some residential buildings. For a more economical choice, spas, warm water pools and whirlpools can often be found in many local community centres and sports and recreation facilities. Whether it‘s at your local gym, community centre or in your very own backyard, who wouldn’t love dedicating some time to relaxing in a warm spa with hydrotherapy jet action? Here are some of our favourite spas!

THE BRUCE HOTEL

For many, the Holiday season means some travel. Most hotels now offer indoor aquatic facilities for guest use, and usually they include a spa. The indoor aquatic centre at the stunning Bruce Hotel located in Stratford, Ontario features an indoor aquatic centre with a calming atmosphere for hotel guests to sit back and relax. Staying away from home doesn’t need to be stressful; a visit to the hotel's spa can offer you and your family a place of true relaxation during your stay!

LIFE TIME ATHLETIC

Nowadays fitness centres aren't only built for treadmills, ellipticals and weightlifting. Fitness experts have embraced the health benefits of aquatics including the relaxation benefits found in the use of spas. As a popular fitness centre, Life Time Athletic offers a variety of fitness options including indoor and outdoor spas in most of the aquatic centres found in facilities across North America. Each spa features hydrotherapy jet action, perfect for soothing sore, tense muscles resulting in the highest level of relaxation!

REGENT PARK AQUATIC CENTRE

For those looking for an economical choice, many aquatic facilities found within sports and recreation centres will include a whirlpool, warm water pool, therapy pool or spa. The Regent Park Aquatic Centre, located in Toronto, Ontario, features an indoor lap pool, leisure pool, water slide and an adjoining warm water pool, making it the perfect facility for families. Not only is a visit to this facility less expensive than joining a private fitness club, or a stay in a hotel, but it offers several amenities suited for many different ages. While your children are splashing around in the leisure pool or riding the water slide, why not soak it up in the warm water pool and experience the ultimate relaxation!

As temperatures cool and holiday season’s approach, most of our fitness progress made in the warmer summer months is replaced throughout the fall and winter with growing regret. Whether it's due to the cooler weather, the loss of convenient outdoor exercise or our weakness for delightful holiday foods, throughout the cooler months of the year we would prefer to stay at home, cocooned in a blanket with a piece of pie and a TV series to binge watch than take on the cold and head to a gym. Unfortunately, this change of behaviour can lead to a decline in our overall health.

HEART WORK PAYS OFF

An energy surplus (when you consume more energy than you burn) which can lead to many different health issues including insulin resistance – the very first step to diabetes, and other serious metabolic problems. Committing 30 minutes of physical activity daily can go a long way.

Exercising doesn’t need to be a chore. In fact, many of the activities we enjoy during the summer can now be found indoors as well. Many gyms have tracks and treadmills for those who prefer walking and jogging, bikes, basketball courts and for one of the most effective forms of exercise, swimming pools!

SWIM FOR YOUR LIFE

Swimming is a low impact activity that is mentally and physically beneficial. Unlike many other forms of physical activity, swimming is both cardiovascular and strengthening at the same time. Although swimming is easy on the body, it makes use of all major muscle groups including shoulders, back, abdominals, legs, hips, and glutes. Here is a list of some of the incredible health benefits swimming can offer throughout the entire year.

• Aquatic exercise has been found to improve cardiac function in mild to moderate chronic heart failure.
• Swimming provides a total body workout, as nearly all of your muscles are used during swimming, which can help lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol, and strengthen your heart – all factors which help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Swimming has been recognized as one of the most effective calorie burners. Regular aquatic exercise can help maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart and lungs.
• Swimming reduces the impact on your body, while still providing a complete body workout making aquatic exercise more beneficial to individuals suffering from obesity and osteoarthritis than forms of land-based exercise.
• Swimming and aquatic exercise increase’s muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance.
• Aquatic exercise has been shown to improve respiratory function and provides an opportunity for individuals with asthma to work out in a moist air environment, reducing exercise induced asthma symptoms and improving asthma overall.
• Regular aquatic exercise reduces the risk of diabetes by controlling blood sugar and lowering body weight.
• Exercise is extremely important for individuals with diabetes in order to increase insulin action and keeps blood sugars at a healthy level. Due to the buoyancy of the water, swimming does not put pressure on joints and eases the stress on the body, including feet making swimming ideal for people with diabetes.
• Swimming can evoke relaxation, alleviate stress and improve overall mental health. The stress relieving benefits of swimming are comparable to those found in yoga.
• Swimming improves coordination, balance and posture and improves the quality and quantity of movement for those suffering from joint pain.