News at Vintage Fitness

Program targets fitness and education to alleviate menopausal symptoms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Take the Pause out of Menopause 

TORONTO, ON (November 16, 2010) – By 2016, there will be more than 6.9 million women over the age of 50 coping with the effects of menopause. Vintage Fitness, a Toronto-based company that specializes in fitness for people over 50 and PhysioPlus Health Group, a multidisciplinary group of health practitioners, has teamed up to offer a six week exercise and educational program to help women cope with menopause and live a more active and healthy life.

Take the Pause out of Menopause is a multifaceted program to treat all of the symptoms of menopause, not just the physical ones. The series includes a physiotherapist approved exercise program to help women ease menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and fatigue, lose weight, reduce the risk of osteoporosis and improve strength, balance and flexibility. Participants will also receive a six-week eating plan to help them stay on track and attend a lecture series to discuss hot topics related to menopause.

Lecture Series:

• “Sex: Getting your groove back”, Camille Lawson, RN, Sexuality Consultant & Educator
• “Nutrition: Eating plan to drop the muffin top”, Alexandra Szabos, Holistic Nutritionist, PhysioPlus Health Group
• “Exploring natural treatment options”, Dr. Christine Dychangco, Naturopathic Doctor, PhysioPlus Health Group
• “Fitness: Most effective way to train your abdominals”, Carly Murdock, Personal Trainer, Vintage Fitness
• “Menopause: Understanding the Change” Michelle DeMarchi, Physiotherapist, Osteopath & Founder, PhysioPlus Health Group
• “Medical treatment options: Understanding hormone replacement therapy”, Dr. Jenny Clement, Physician, PhysioPlus Health Group

Many women begin to experience hormone fluctuations in their 40s as hormone production in the ovaries starts to slow down. Menopause occurs typically around age 50 for the average women and brings with it a host of unpleasant and challenging symptoms such as: hot flashes, mood swings and irritability, low energy, weight gain, loss of libido, night sweats, difficulty concentrating, irregular periods and sleeplessness.

“There are a number of ways to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause,” says Erin Billowits, founder of Vintage Fitness. “Moderate daily exercise, including strength training and stretching, combined with a healthy diet, will help women manage weight gain, reduce stress and better cope with the changes in their bodies. I believe that this program has the power to transform women’s lives. My hope is that they finish the program stronger, leaner, happier and more knowledgeable than when they started.”

According to a 2006 Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada clinical practice guideline for the treatment of menopausal women, 50 per cent of women age 45 to 64 are overweight or obese. Peri-menopausal women gain an average of two to four kilograms caused by a decreased metabolic rate and a shift from more lean to fat body composition. Menopausal women can experience hot flashes for as long as four years and even up to 10 years. A high body mass index increases the incidence of hot flashes. Stress incontinence also increases with age partly due to hormone changes in menopause and can be improved by doing pelvic floor exercises.

“Many women are suffering from the wide array of symptoms related to menopause who are discouraged by the conflicting information from various health professionals on how best to treat their symptoms,” says Michelle DeMarchi, Physiotherapist, Osteopath, Founder and Director, PhysioPlus Health Group. “The goal of this program is to provide women with a cohesive approach across many health disciplines to address menopause and allow women to manage their symptoms more effectively. We want to provide them with the tools and information they need to stay healthy and happy.”

When: Tuesday Nights for 9 weeks starting January 25th-2011
7:30-8:30PM
Where: PhysioPlus Health Group, 2489 Bloor Street West, Suite 102
Cost: $225+ HST

About PhysioPlus Health Group www.physioplushealth.com
Established in 2001, the practice includes a team of multidisciplinary health practitioners who work together as a team to help clients feel better, and stay better. The group addresses all aspects of the patient’s health issue so they experience a more complete recovery and longer lasting results. PhysioPlus focuses on overall health, integrating injury treatment, education on prevention, nutrition and lifestyle counseling, and exercise prescription and advice. www.physioplushealth.com

About Vintage Fitness
Established in 2005, Vintage Fitness is a Toronto-based company specializing in fitness for people over the age of 50. Vintage Fitness offers personal training with ‘older adult fitness specialized’ personal trainers across the GTA and group exercise classes focused on improving balance, strength, flexibility and cardiovascular health. Released in 2008, Vintage Fitness produced a home strength and training program on DVD, Strength and Balance, to improve the strength and balance of Canadian boomers. www.vintagefitness.ca

For more information, please contact:

• Erin Billowits, Vintage Fitness
  • Email: erin@vintagefitness.ca
• Michelle DeMarchi, PhysioPlus Health Group
  • Email: info@physioplushealth.com
  • Tel: 416-760-8280