This has been the question I’ve been asking myself daily, sometimes multiple times a day. I’m sure you’ve been wondering too.

I hope you are well. I hope you are finding your way through this wild and bumpy ride. I hope you are finding your equilibrium more often than not. Things are strange and I think we are all cycling through feeling tired, anxious, feeling productive – and then not. I know I cycle through these feelings (and more) on a regular basis.

I’ve sat down to write to you many times over the past weeks only to have some new information come to light that makes my comments out of date. The future is hard to discern but it’s there waiting for us.

Here is what I know:

1. I will be re-opening.
2. I will be operating from Vitality Wellness Centre in Newmarket.
3. Your health and wellbeing is important to me!

Let me tell you a little more….
I hope to be open in July in a very limited way. That is currently my target date but factors like PPE availability, infection statistics, facility management, and government & regulatory bodies are all part of the equation. I will re-open gradually when the time comes.

You will love the array of services at Vitality Wellness Centre! We are all holistically minded and share a passion for alternative therapies. You will find lymph drainage, cranial sacral therapy, acupuncture, osteopathy, massage, chiropractic, and natural medicine in one place. There is also a direct billing option available. Vitality uses JANE, the same online booking system as I do so there is no new learning curve!

There will be some changes. The most obvious will be the use of PPE. Clients will be required to wear a mask. Therapists will wear a full face shield, mask, and possibly other protective gear to ensure that everyone remains safe. Naturally, hand sanitizing and health screening will happen at every session. I have always sanitized the table and the space we work in and that will continue.

Fees will change. I’ve been under-priced for several years and I’ve been able to do that by keeping my overhead low. Going forward into a commercial space I’ll be adopting the Physiotherapy Fee Guideline established by the Ontario Physiotherapy Association.

New Rates:
60-minute initial visit (please complete intake form before arrival) $110
60-minute manual therapy session $110
45-minute manual therapy session $85
30-minute manual therapy session (suggested for children’s visits or single area treatment) $75

Typical sessions focus on hands-on treatment techniques. Acupuncture, electrotherapy(IFC), and ultrasound treatments are available to add to your session if you wish, at no additional charge, provided they occur within the time slot you have booked.

Please refer to www.vitalitywellnesscentre.ca for their cancellation policy.

We miss you! And I’ll be here for you when we can safely resume.

Don’t forget, I’m still here if you have questions or concerns text or call me at 416-254-6420

Anita (& Lily)

There is so much going on in the world right now that’s it hard to know where to begin. Can I just say that I miss you all (so does Lily!)? We’re all fine here – just a little stir crazy.

Let me start by letting you know that the clinic will remain closed until Ontario’s State of Emergency is lifted. No one knows exactly when this will be. I’ll be in touch with an email newsletter as soon as I know its safe to resume manual therapy.

When I re-open, it will be in a new commercial location. I’m just hammering out the final details and will be sending out an announcement next week. It’s going to be great!

In the meantime, I will be available for telephone consults on Wednesdays between 10-1. Text me at 416-254-6420 if you’d like to set something up. If there is demand I’ll extend the appointment window.

Finally, you are always welcome to stay in touch with me! Reach out through social media, text or email. I miss our chats and the community here at Alternative Physio. Each of you is important to me! Please stay home and stay well.

Warmly,

Anita

PS: It would be really helpful if you could sign up for the newsletter so I can keep you up to date.

Hello

Things are changing a bit around here. After one failed attempt at online booking systems, I’m trying another. It looks promising! You will be prompted to set up your user password if you have been a client before. If you are brand new – then welcome! – you’ll need to create an account.

Don’t worry because it is super easy. You can book online, on your phone or tablet and see what’s available and when. You can get a list of your previous appointments, move your appointment around and get reminders.

Most of you will be selecting Physiotherapy Session from my list of services but you will see that there are options for Cranial Sacral sessions and other special special services.

I need a bit more time to get to know you the first time I meet you (or to get reacquainted if its been more than a year), so please choose the Initial Assessment so that we have enough time.

Thanks for sticking with me through the growing pains that come with any new technology! Know that if all else fails you can call or text me at 416-254-6420 and we can sort it out.

Anita

Alternative Physio is now located at 59 Kane Crescent in Aurora. Our usual hours of operation are 11-6 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; Friday 10-1. Our number remains the same: 905-727-2929.

Join Anita at the beautiful Loretto Maryholme on Tuesday Sept. 17th from 5-9 PM for a conversation exploring how body and spirit are essential for healthy living. Organic Spirituality: Coming To Our Senses is $25 and includes dinner. Register at http:// www.lorettomaryholme.ca

A lot has been said in recent years about the connection between our thoughts and our health. Each of us has had the experience of thinking about a stressful event and feeling our heart beat faster, our palms start to sweat and noticing our breath getting faster. This is a perfect example of how closely link the mind and body are.

Less has been said in main stream research about how body and spirit relate, and yet we instincitvely know that the triad of mind, body and spirit are essential to wholehearted living. Without a physical container (our body), it is very difficult to exerience a connection to spirit. We need our five senses to appreciate the wonder of a sunset, the beauty of music and the many other blissful experiences that bring us closer to a sense of wonderment. In those moments we feel connected to something greater than ourselves. These experiences may include religion but are universal enough to transcend any fixed culture or religious afflitaion – they are part of our humanity.

So how do we return to our senses? How do we deepen our connection to spirit and ensure that we a enjoying the balance of health embodied by the triad of mind, body and spirit? It begins with paying attention to the sensory information in our bodies. We are often too busy to notice the many signs and clues that our body provides and it is not until something physical breaks down that we finally pay attention. I observe this in my physiotherapy practice daily. The signs of impending injury were often there for a long time before a client is finally forced to slow down and respond.

True health and wholeness is a refelection of the health of the mind, the body and the spirit. If you would like to disover more about how mind and spirit are linked, I will be teaching an evening workshop at Loretto Maryholme on September 17 called Organic Spirituality : Coming To Our Senses. Cost is $25 for dinner and an evening spent exploring this topic on the beautiful screened porch overlooking Lake Simcoe. To register contact Lorretto Maryholme directly.