Healthy Communities • Healthy Living
How are you protecting your heart this Valentine’s season?
05 February 2016 - by Nicole Meredith
The Risk
Every 7 minutes, a Canadian life is taken by heart disease or stroke. 90% of us have at least one risk factor for these life-threatening conditions.
In 1958, the Heart and Stroke Foundation decided to do something about it.
Heart Month was born, allowing the foundation to awaken millions of Canadians to the dangers of poor heart health. In addition to raising awareness, this campaign offers us a solution: Heart Wise Exercise plans that provide people with different types of exercise at varying levels of intensity, so they can build healthy hearts.
The Solution
YMCA Centres of Community are officially recognized Heart Wise Exercise facilities. Alongside The Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute, The Toronto Rehab Institute, and Toronto Emergency Medical Services, we’re working to provide safe spaces for people with or at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, where they can get the exercise they need under the guidance of trained professionals.
We know that every individual is unique, so their exercise regimes should be too. That’s why we offer a wide range of cardio-intensive workouts: so you can work at the pace and intensity that suits your needs.
Here are just five ways you can start building good heart health:
Everyone has the right to build a healthy heart. Start protecting yours today by exercising your freedom to choose the pulse-quickening activity that suits you best.
Every 7 minutes, a Canadian life is taken by heart disease or stroke. 90% of us have at least one risk factor for these life-threatening conditions.
In 1958, the Heart and Stroke Foundation decided to do something about it.
Heart Month was born, allowing the foundation to awaken millions of Canadians to the dangers of poor heart health. In addition to raising awareness, this campaign offers us a solution: Heart Wise Exercise plans that provide people with different types of exercise at varying levels of intensity, so they can build healthy hearts.
The Solution
YMCA Centres of Community are officially recognized Heart Wise Exercise facilities. Alongside The Cardiac Health Foundation of Canada, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute, The Toronto Rehab Institute, and Toronto Emergency Medical Services, we’re working to provide safe spaces for people with or at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, where they can get the exercise they need under the guidance of trained professionals.
We know that every individual is unique, so their exercise regimes should be too. That’s why we offer a wide range of cardio-intensive workouts: so you can work at the pace and intensity that suits your needs.
Here are just five ways you can start building good heart health:
- AquaFit: a cardio-intensive group fitness class held in the pool, using water to provide resistance.
- BodyFit: enjoy an efficient full-body workout through this series of cardio intervals, muscle conditioning, and agility exercises.
- CardioFit: specifically designed to get your heart rate up, this choreographed workout set to music offers both high and low impact alternatives.
- CycleFit: this intense anaerobic workout on a stationary bike stays exciting by simulating hills and valleys.
- Dance: choose from a variety of styles, including Latin, Line Dancing, Belly Dancing, Ballroom, and Arriba, and get moving with our upbeat song selection and easy-to-learn choreography.
Everyone has the right to build a healthy heart. Start protecting yours today by exercising your freedom to choose the pulse-quickening activity that suits you best.
