treating shoulder pain

Understanding shoulder pain

Fit to Farm: If we don’t move in ways that keep the joint stable, our bodies will tense up to hold it in place

Posture, breathing patterns and body maintenance all affect your risk of shoulder pain, one of the most common complaints we see in the clinic.

Pelvic rocking (yoga mat optional).

Maintain your pelvic floor function

Fit to Farm: These muscles help keep our posture and vital organs where they belong

An often-overlooked source of common complaints like back pain, hip pain and fatigue lies in the hard-to-access soft tissues of our pelvic floor — the soft tissues within the inner bowl of our pelvic bones.


Certain simple non-strenuous activities such as tai chi are known to help improve balance and, according to Harvard Medical School, help people improve their proprioception — that is, their ability to sense the position and movement of the body in a given space — which in turn can help them resist and reduce falls.

Work on stability for your whole-body wellness

Fit to Farm: Practicing to improve your physical balance can be done simply at home

No matter your age or fitness level, your ability to stabilize yourself in various positions has been shown to have a major impact on your overall wellbeing and long-term health outcomes. Your body’s ability to stabilize also directly links to your capacity for joint mobility and tension levels in your tissues. Balance and stability are […] Read more

Intentionally slowing down your usual simple routine movements can help calm your nervous system and dial down a pain response.

Non-surgical options to manage pain

Fit to Farm: Don’t just ignore pain or the clues to its causes

As an athletic therapist, I often work with individuals faced with managing painful conditions in the short and long term. Many conditions or injuries do require surgery to repair underlying issues. That said, many pain-related symptoms do not require surgical intervention to alleviate. Pain and other uncomfortable sensations occur for many reasons, often entirely unrelated […] Read more


carpal tunnel exercises

How to treat carpal tunnel at home

Fit to Farm: Symptoms begin when connective tissue compresses tendons and nerves in an already-busy area

Carpal tunnel is a condition that can affect anyone, anytime, though it’s especially common in those who work with their hands and do manual labour. The carpal tunnel is an anatomical term for the path the tendons in the forearm and wrist take underneath a bridge of connective tissue in the wrist moving into the […] Read more

Tomatoes and a toonie

Tomatoes rise stronger from ashes

Also, bank on beans to boost beneficial bacteria in your bowel

Got a stove or fireplace where you burn wood only? Save those ashes and use them in this summer’s garden to grow some of the finest tomatoes ever. Already I can hear myself singing: “Oh it must be the tomatoes, maybe strawberries and homegrown potatoes, but I still think it must be tomatoes.” Those are […] Read more


A woman digging out her driveway after a big snowstorm

Prevent winter injuries and illnesses

Getting creative with nutrition and maintaining restorative movements can help keep you healthy during the cold months

Winter is notorious for an increase in aches, pains, illnesses and injuries. Some of this stems from colder temperatures and less sunlight, which can take a toll on our bodies and minds even before hazardous conditions such as snow and ice take effect. We can’t control the weather, but there are a few things we […] Read more

a woman blowing her nose in winter

Snuff out the winter sniffles

Some easy movements can help relieve sinus congestion

Winter is a season commonly associated with sniffles. Any way to get sinus relief is beneficial as we go through the coldest months. A common area of congestion is our sinus cavities, which take up space behind our cheekbones and brows. They are often a culprit behind headaches, facial pain, sniffly noses and sometimes even […] Read more


Running somewhere around mile 60 of a 100-mile course in February in Texas. From mile 70 and beyond I was constantly reaching into my “bag of C’s” to find reasons to keep going.

‘Why’ as the deep, burning mantra to keep going

It’s not meant to be crazy, it’s meant to build resilience to overcome the “hard”

To perform constantly and optimally in any passion — whether farming, running, or anything else — takes a deep understanding of the “why.” On the farm we often hear family, land and legacy as deep, value-based guides for “why” some choose life on a farm. For me, soil health and making an environmental contribution to […] Read more