Getting Active with Type 1 diabetes: The Connected in Motion team surveyed the community to find out the topics and themes that were top of mind as we launched into 2021. Here are the activities that you said you loved or were interested in, and the themes that helped us schedule the active sessions during Virtual Slipstream 2021.
Calming Things Down
The past year has been a time. Each of us has had to navigate a world of uncertainty, uprooted plans, and isolation. With this has come expected increases in mental health illness and distress.[1] Staying active is now not only a tool for optimal diabetes management but also a strategy to maintain mental health.[2]
The field of Mind-Body Medicine studies the relationship between relaxation activities and health. Mindfulness and Meditation are two of these practices that have shown to have a multitude of mental health benefits.[3]
Mindfulness activities are diverse and include certain forms of yoga and tai chi.[4] It has been shown that individuals with higher levels of ‘dispositional mindfulness’ (that is, an awareness of our own thoughts and feelings) actually have lower A1C levels than those who have little experience with or do not practice mindfulness.[5]
Although it’s always good to get your sweat on, taking the time to slow down is, perhaps, more important now than ever.
Interested in this Getting Active with Type 1 diabetes topic? Check out the following Virtual Slipstream sessions:
Guided Meditation & Mindfulness: A conversation and Practice
With Sam Tullman, Mindfulness Teacher
Friday, April 23rd, 2021 9:00pm ET
Come join the discussion and space-sharing around what mindfulness means to a person with T1D, in what ways it might be valuable, and how to make it awesome. This session will include a guided practice of about 20 minutes.
Low Impact Tai Chi Workout
With Judith Jones Ambrosini, Author & Athlete
Saturday, April 24th, 2021 9:30am ET
We’re keeping it low…low impact, that is! Join us for a workout described as meditation in motion that will calm your mind and leave you feeling refreshed. Judith will combine elements of the ancient Chinese arts of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Suitable for all ability levels.
Yoga of Self
Sydney Fletcher, Yoga Instructor
Sunday, April 25th, 2021 9:30am ET
Take a break from sitting and give your whole body a well-deserved stretch. Join us for a gentle yoga flow and self-discovery through discussion and journaling. This class combines movement and self-discovery. Suitable for all levels.
Getting Strong
Many of our community members lost opportunities to move, hike, climb, and play with teammates over the past year. Although we’ve been spending more time at home, we’ve also seen the doors open to try new, at-home workout activities to keep us strong and ready to hit the trails this summer. And, hey, the benefits of resistance exercise on diabetes are nothing to shrug at![6]
In 2020, you may have found your local gym shutting its doors in the name of safety, and yourself searching your home for replacements for those hand weights that used to be in easy supply. Soup can? Sure! Wine bottle? Give it a try! Bag of rice? Bring it on.
And you know what, home workouts are a great way to try something new. They are often low cost, low commitment, and can be done with items you have at home. We’ve connected with some of our favourite T1D fitness instructors to bring a range of activities to Virtual Slipstream to get you moving and build your strength.
Interested in this Getting Active with Type 1 diabetes topic? Check out the following Virtual Slipstream sessions:
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
With Stephanie Brodie, Les Mills International Group Fitness Instructor
Saturday, April 24th, 2021 9:30am ET
This workout uses your bodyweight only and can be tailored to any fitness level – you work as hard as you want to or is appropriate. Come get active and learn a new at-home workout!
Pilates Intense Interval Training
With Cleona Tsang, Digital & Brand Marketer, PIIT28® Trainer
Sunday, April 25th, 2021 9:30am ET
Welcome to PIIT28! This super fun, fast-paced cardio-pilates-cardio-pilates format workout is a great way to kick off your day. Think of it as pilates moves interwoven between some heart-rate raising bodyweight cardio moves such as high-knees, jumping jacks, and burpees. All fitness levels are welcome as modifications are provided to keep everyone moving and engaged (read: low-impact, no jumping alternatives). We’ll start with a warmup, get right into the workout, and then end with a core burnout and cool down. All you’ll need is a mat, shoes, and plenty of water!
STRONG Nation Workout
Janet Babula, Fitness Instructor
Sunday, April 25th, 2021 9:30am ET
STRONG Nation™ combines body weight, muscle conditioning, cardio and plyometric training moves synced to original music that has been specifically designed to match every single move. Every squat, every lunge, every burpee is driven by the music, helping you make it to that last rep, and maybe even five more.
All Things Yoga
Yoga has long been a part of Connected in Motion’s Slipstream programs. During Slipstream, yoga is a wonderful way to slow down, wake up your body, and enjoy some beautiful scenery. It has some incredible benefits including improving the quality of your sleep, decreasing depression and anxiety, and enhancing feelings of wellbeing.[7]
During a Virtual Slipstream weekend, we highly recommend taking a break from the computer to enjoy one of the many yoga sessions being offered. Even a short yoga break can help improve your concentration and energy levels,[8] setting you up for an even better experience engaging with your peers at the sessions that follow.
Interested in this Getting Active with Type 1 diabetes topic? Check out the following Virtual Slipstream sessions:
Yoga for Every Body
With Sarah Petti, Yoga Instructor
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 8:30pm ET
Whether you’re brand new to yoga or you’ve done downward dog more times than you can count, you’re welcome in this class! You will be guided through this accessible hour of yoga, and appropriate modifications will be provided for all experience and ability levels.
Rise & Shine Yoga
With Sarah Petti, Yoga Instructor
Saturday, April 24th, 2021 9:30am ET
Good morning! Postpone the coffee and start your day off with an energizing yoga class instead. Suitable for all levels.
Power Yoga
With Taylor Gardner, Artist & Yogini
Saturday April 24th, 2021 11:30am ET
Fire up those muscles for a power-filled hour of yoga that will challenge your strength and flexibility. Suitable for intermediate to advanced levels.
Yoga of Self
With Sydney Fletcher, Yoga Instructor
Sunday, April 25th, 2021 9:30am ET
Take a break from sitting and give your whole body a well-deserved stretch. Join us for a gentle yoga flow and self-discovery through discussion and journaling. This class combines movement and self-discovery. Suitable for all levels.
Restorative Yoga
With Sydney Fletcher, Yoga Instructor
Sunday, April 25th, 2021 1:30pm ET
Give your body the opportunity to relax and unwind during this gentle restorative yoga class. Suitable for all experience levels.
Kick up that Cardio
Anyone else out there struggling with getting your steps in each day? Are you newly working from home? Have you glanced down at your total daily step count and not quite believed how much the pandemic has kept you glued to your chair? Yep. Us too.
We’re always looking for new ways to get our heart rate up, and to work on our strength and balance. And serious bonus points if we can have some fun while at it!
Interested in this Getting Active with Type 1 diabetes topic? Check out the following Virtual Slipstream sessions:
Barre3 Workout
With Sarah Mann, Fitness Instructor
Saturday, April 24th, 2021 1:30pm EST
Barre3 is a full body balanced workout combining strength training, cardio, and mindfulness. The Barre3 class will leave you feeling balanced in body and empowered from within. Join Instructor Sarah Mann in class welcoming to all levels with no experience necessary. A yoga mat is encouraged if on a harder surface and optional light handheld weights.
Get hands-on but leave the sweat at home
If you’ve been to a Slipstream before, you know that we’re always looking for opportunities to learn in creative, hands-on ways. Although there are always lots of opportunities to be connected in motion (get it?), we work to balance those opportunities with the chance to engage your hands and mind in other ways.
At Virtual Slipstream, we invite you to join us to get creative with a facilitated Paint Night (a simple material list will be sent to you ahead of time) or tune in with your competitive spirit for our group Trivia Night.
Interested in this Activity and T1D topic? Check out the following Virtual Slipstream session:
Paint Night
With Chrissy Keown, Registered Psychotherapist, MEd , RP, CCC
Friday, April 23rd, 2021 9:00pm ET
Hone your art skills during this virtual paint night. No fancy supplies needed. Just grab a brush, plain paper or canvas, and some dollar store paint and let’s get creative.
CIM Trivia Night
With Sarah Melcher, Teacher
Friday, April 23rd, 2021 9:00pm EST
Get ready for some diabetes trivia, with a Connected in Motion twist. We’ll be using Kahoot to brush up on our diabetes, adventure, and outdoor knowledge, along with a few wild cards. For the best experience, you’ll need access to both a computer and a smartphone (your trivia remote!
, plain paper or canvas, and some dollar store paint and let’s get creative.
Getting outside
Are you feeling like you need to get moving and planning now? Why not pull out a local map and find some places you can explore in your backyard. Check out our top reasons to go hiking blog to learn more, and brush up on your camping gear (there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices, right?), here.
It’s hard to know exactly what the summer of 2021 will look like in Canada. Regardless, we have booked some canoe and hiking trips so that, should it be safe, we are ready to be able to get outside and moving in the great outdoors. Much like the calming activities we discussed before, spending time outdoors has been shown to impact a range of health outcomes, including decreasing blood pressure and overall stress, lowering heart rate, and reducing stress hormones circulating in your body.[9]
Interested in joining CIM for a trip this summer? Check out what we have on our calendar, here:
Ontario Hiking Weekend
Aug 13-15, 2021
Algonquin Provincial Park
Annual Canoe Trip
July 8-11, 2021
Algonquin Provincial Park
Support Crew/5.5er Canoe Trip
July 15-18, 2021
Algonquin Provincial Park
