Live heathy and active in your older years, so you can continue doing the things you love or trying new things you've always wanted to try!
OLDER ADULT EXERCISE THERAPY
Get results now!
As a certified and insured Exercise Therapist/Personal Trainer serving clients since 2009, I offer services by travelling to you with equipment! I specialize in senior fitness, rehabilitation exercises and oncology exercises as well as healthy nutrition and weight management.  I’ve helped hundreds of clients achieve their goals and become healthier. I look forward to helping you!
ABOUT KRISTY BELANGER
I practice what IÂ preach!
I am extremely passionate about helping seniors get out of pain, have more energy, and do things they never thought possible! Not having grandparents growing up, I'm so fortunate to have what seems like, is many now! Ill never forget my first senior client in 2009, I had Mary E, whom I'm still in contact with today, almost 15 years later. She is a retired veteran nurse who had many interesting experiences to share. What really drew me to her and seniors in general, was their goals are focused on improving necessary quality of wellbeing and life rather than their looks which I experienced with the younger crowd. Playing with grandchildren, carrying groceries home, getting up and down stairs, in and out of bathtub or car to name a few are essential for our day to day living and quality of life. Being well and fit enough for travel is also very important for most seniors. When I'm not working with my clients you will find me outside in nature, being active, with my son, family and friends as it just feels good to keep my body moving and challenging myself physically!
Credentials:
-Certified and Insured Personal Trainer since 2009-CFP
-Certfiied Exercise Therapist level 1 and 2-ETA
-Certified Older Adult Specialist-CFP
-Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist-CETI
-Certified Functional Movement Systems level 1 and 2-FMS
Certified Nutritionist-YMCA
Certified First Aid, CPR and AED-Lifesaving Society
Heartwise Exercise Trainer-Heart Institiute at U of Ottawa
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CONTACT ME
Get in touch and start your fitness journey today.
Toronto, ON, Canada
SERVICES
Holistic Training for Holistic Health!
An in depth senior assessment is performed including, biometrics testing including body fat and hydration, manual muscle testing, cardio testing, postural testing, balance testing, functional strength testing, flexibility/mobility testing, healthy eating and overall lifestyle is discussed in order for me to deliver customized holistic programming to meet your goals. Upon completion of the assessment we will discuss results and review goals. Then I can confidently design for you, easy to follow professional exercise programs on a professional software platform including video and pictures with directions. You will also receive a non digital paper copy for your reference.
Muscle not Momentum!
As we age our muscle atrophy's after age 45 by 6-7 pounds of muscle per decade. We also produce less collagen, so our joints become less shock absorbing and stable and our strength becomes weaker over time leading to frailty and injuries. Strength training helps reduce frailty and stimulate our metabolism to produce more human growth hormone which is essential for soft tissues to heal and grow. Strength and stability training promote healthy joints. Our bone density decreases after 35, 1-2% per year. Strength training helps us maintain our bone density from decreasing leading to osteoporosis or potentially fractures.
Use it or Lose it!
After the age of 30 we start to lose flexibility. Our body adapts to the movements we do on a regular basis. If we never or rarely reach overhead we lose the ability to do so once we need to as our upper body posture may have developed upper crossed syndrome. As muscles atrophy, thick tight connective tissues begin to replace the deconditioned elastic like muscles resulting in less flexibility. Tight muscles also don't promote good circulation of  blood and oxygen through the body. Stiff joints become arthritic from lack of movement.
Motion is Lotion!
As we age we lose the fast twitch and fine muscular control/coordination, stamina, and anaerobic/vo2 max. Our heart wall becomes thicker, blood vessels become more rigid and smaller, our max heart rate decreases, our resting heart rate takes longer to return to rest after exercise and our blood pressure increases. It becomes 5% harder to breath each year. To combat these custom programing consisting of endurance training, speed training and interval training are the 3 pillars of a good cardiovascular program.
Fix the Foundation before you Build!
Working as an assistant physiotherapist previously has given me the skills to help those with injuries and postural problems get out of pain/discomfort and start feeling better through active rehabilitation stretches and exercises to lay a good foundation to build upon.
In movement, balance is the foundation!
Our reaction time and coordination from signals from our central nervous system decrease with age. Our response rate firing fast twitch fibers to our muscles to respond don't fire as fast. Our posture asymmetries as we age negatively affect our balance.
Oncology Exercises, Specialize with Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
I was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after having my baby. While in treatment I got certified to help myself and others as there’s not a lot of trainers who specialize in oncology. The information from the hospital was to work out for better outcomes during treatments, but not too hard. This vague direction lead me to pursue this path to help myself and others have better outcomes during treatments and in survivorship.
Lets clean up your cupboards!
Older adults are commonly deficient in the following Vitamin B,D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, potassium, Omega 3, Coenzyme. Get your vitamin, mineral and enzyme levels checked by your doctor to find out if your deficient. Certified nutritionist since 2009, I've helped hundreds of clients eat healthier and get their weight and body fat to muscle ratio to a healthy zone.
Peter K
I am 67 years old and have been retired for 8 years as a managerial desk job. I have arthritic knees and was overweight. The thought of a gym didn't appeal to me. I was impressed with Kristy's knowledge and attention to detail. She spent the first few sessions accessing my abilities and devising a plan which i really appreciated. After only 3 months I have lost 15 lbs and 2 inches off my waist. I am able to reach my shoe laces and my knees are in much better condition due to the weight loss and Kristy working key lower body muscles to give me proper support for my knees. We now set new goals and are working towards them. We have been working together now, since 2018.Highly recommend Kristy!
Nick P
I've been working with Kristy since 2018. My initial goal was to lose weight. so far I have lost 31 lbs and a total of 11.5 inches from all over my body. This is all down to Kristy and her vast knowledge of fitness and dietary needs. During this time I have had a couple minor injuries to deal with and Kristy was able to adjust the programming immediately and direct me to the proper professionals to help in my recovery. Looking forward to continuing to work with Kristy!
Diane B
I am 68 years old and have had the pleasure to work with Kristy for the last 6 years, since 2017.I simplified my fitness goal: "you're job is to keep me out of a wheelchair"-we have been working on posture, core strength, cardio and balance and agility. During every training session Kristy is focused on that day's program and vigilant that my form is correct thereby, reducing chance of injury and maximizing the efficacy of the exercises. She is firm and fair in her ability to challenge and prod me to more reps/weight etc. I trust her years of experience working with seniors and know she keeps an eye on our inevitable ageing bodies and what they can do and need to do! Working with Kristy is part of my health budget and I get many compliments on how well and fit I look as a result of our training.
Shelley G
Kristy was a great support and help for me during my recovery from major surgeries and subsequent physical weakness and pain. Her sweet attitude was also a big comfort. I was impressed and felt secure with her knowledge of subtle aspects of working with the human body.
Nathallia B
I am a 54 year old women who has a fair amount of scar tissue from numerous accidents over the years on bikes, horses, ATV, golfing and surgeries. If i don't move I curl up like a pretzel and as time went on, my mobility was beginning to be severely curtailed. Kristy, in conjunction with my physiotherapist/ chiropractor, put together a program over the last 3 months that has allowed me to stand up straighter, walk straighter, and has restored my strength. I am no longer in pain and plagued by all the knots and soon, I will be able to kite surf again. I got further physically with Kristy then in the last 10 years wirth my other therapists. She really knows what shes doing. I have defined arms, legs and mid section again-wuhu!
According to DR Haas MD in the theory of aging, if we all try to eat and live healthy, exercised for about 4 hours a week, we would decrease our chances of developing......
Diabetes by 93%
Heart attack by 81%
Stroke by 50%
Cancer by 36%