Innovative music-based cardiac recovery device will play music for the heart

The Virtual Music Instrument addresses limitations by providing children with an interface that enables them to play music without having to hold or manipulate an instrument. The VMI is non-invasive and translated physical gestures and movements into music, even the smallest movement of an eyebrow! Brining the therapeutic benefits of music to children with disabilities.

The VMI was designed and engineered by Tom Chau and the PRISM Lab in the Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto. It was originally conceived to be used as a tool for occupational therapists to use to encourage disabled children to be more physically active.

In November 2011, the VMI was operated  for the first time in a public concert setting. A disabled performer performed onstage along side  a professional chamber orchestra. The disabled performer activated the software by moving his head in order for him to perform the cello part of Pachabel’s canon! The concert was successful and gave way to another big push for these assistive technologies and musical based integration into our rehabilitation programs. Recently, our very own Dr. David Alter was published along with other prominent researchers in this field in Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice with a paper entitled Disability and artistic performance: Reconsidering rehabilitation and assistive technology

More access to the paper to come soon! Stay tuned!

Read more about the VMI here

Each year we can’t wait to attend to much anticipated CNE! The CNE (Canadian National Exhibition)  is Canada’s largest annual community event. It will take place this year between August 17th and September 3rd. The CNE offers a wide variety of entertainment and events including Bandshell concerts, celebrity chef demonstrations, an aerial acrobatics and ice skating show, a dog show, a working farm, parades and a three-day Air Show. Over the course of its 18 day run, the CNE attracts more than 1.3 million people each year !  The CNE is a great way to get outside, experience music and the arts, and get active. However, BEWARE, the CNE is filled with unhealthy foods to tempt you and get your blood pressure spiking!

At a media preview yesterday, chowed down on pork products used as everything from garnish to main ingredient, with the most audacious offerings coming from the Bacon Nation booth. Other caloric foods offered include deep-fried butter, a pork roll stuffed with bacon bits and covered with a bacon weave and a Jack Daniel’s glaze, sliced and served on a bun (!!), a beer-battered and bacon-wrapped deep fried hot dog, a BLT that includes both regular and Canadian bacon and Nutella, bacon-spiked baked potatoes, bacon sundaes, Krispy Kremes, etc.. So what are us health conscious folk to do?

- Visit everything, walking around will help burn calories and strengthen your muscles to ensure you have room for lunch/dinner.

- While the caloric food steals the show, make sure you check out all the health food that is also making an appearance. Many venders will be offering healthy, raw, vegan, gluten-free mains and desserts. At a media preview Wednesday, there was a raw banana cream-pomegranate tart was a surprise standout with its dehydrated coconut base, banana cashew cream filling and pomegranate garnish, yum!

- Prepare yourself, you’ve been warned! Enjoy the CNE and all it has to offer without letting your health-filled week go to waste!

In light of my recent frustrations and feeling the need to organize everything in my life, I’m trying to get back on track with the d

Besides the fact that going to see a new artist or one of your old favorites is a very exhilarating activity and that live music gives an uplifting feeling that is good for physical and emotional well being; heading to a concert is good for your physical health! Many outdoor concerts and concert venues require you to stand during the show and when you add a bit of dancing and bopping around with friends, this can burn up to 422 calories per hour, and you wouldn’t even know it!

Ever go to a concert where the person next to you isn’t dancing? This happens far too often. If you’re at a show, let yourself go – get into the music and move your body.

Concert going is a great activity that doesn’t have to put a dent in your wallet or time of day. Skip the gym and get grooving at one of Toronto’s upcoming concerts!

Complete Toronto Concert Listings (all genres!)

Whatever your fitness level  there will be benefits!

Power walking is a style of walking performed at a steady, quickened pace. Power walking consists of pronounced arm movements and brisk, wide footsteps. Power walking requires little equipment, just some comfortable shoes and a joy of the outdoors!

Power walking is an effective way to help manage your weight. Since it works lots of large and small muscles using quick, exaggerated movement of the arms and feet, it is an efficient method for burning calories. Walking at a brisk pace of 6.5 kph burns anywhere from 236 to 345 calories per hour depending on your level of effort.

Power walking will also help reduce stress, improve body strength, and best of all, it’s convenient, cost-free and time-effective!

Grab a buddy or an ipod and get walking!

As the Olympics have kicked off, I find myself watching these amazing athletes and feeling highly motivated to amp up my exercise/nutrition routine in the hopes of becoming a super-athlete of pure muscle. I set goals for myself that are highly unrealistic and mentally and physically penalize myself for not achieving them on a daily basis. These are symptoms of over-motivation, something we’re all to easily subjected to when beginning our healthy lifestyle programs. So, how to set realistic goals and be just the right amount of motivated?

1) Make sure your goals are realistic and SUSTAINABLE

- Aiming to complete and exercise program each day that is too time consuming and grueling is not feasible.

2) Aim to move at least 60 minutes a day, half of that time being at moderate intensity, that’s enough! 1hr/24hrs, you can do it!

3) Find something that you enjoy doing, don’t force it. If you hate running, don’t make a goal to run 30 minutes for 5 days/week. Instead, join a athletic team, garden, walk, dance..

4) Make a friend. Find someone who is interested in improving their fitness or who is already active. Having to be accountable to someone besides yourself is a great motivator. Moreover, as you guys are talking, exercise time goes by faster!

5) Something is better than nothing. On days when you’re feeling less than motivated, try easy swaps to get in even a little bit of exercise. Try walking after dinner instead of turning on the TV, take the stairs instead of the elevator, get off one bus stop early.. every little bit helps and mastering one part will encourage you to keep going!

Challenge yourself every week and keep at it!

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This summer, head to Nathan Phillips Squre at 100 Queen Street W for Fresh Wednesdays! On Fresh Wednesdays,  enjoy the Farmers’ Market while listening to Canadian music each Wednesday from July 11 – August 29, 2012. The Farmer’s Market will provide you with all your local and nutritional needs (seek out some superfoods a la Monday’s post)!

You can indulge in a cheap, healthy lunch while taking in free concerts, including blues, jazz, world, country, rock, pop, roots and reggae music. For an extra healthy spin to this great Wednesday lunch break, make sure you walk or take the subway to this event!

If you can’t make it every Wednesday, plan around the music: event guide here!

Here are 7 easy (and delicious!) superfoods to integrate into your diet for heart healthy nutrition benefits that’ll have you asking for more.

Almonds: Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all nuts. Almonds charge you with omega-3 fatty acids and protein! These nuts are packed with anti-oxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Avocado: Each serving of creamy, delicious avocado offers nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Often referred to as nature’s butter, avocado is nutritious and very delicious!

Blueberries: Blueberries are the poster children for superfoods. Blueberries are anti-oxidant and vitamin packed and are a great addition to any meal!

Broccoli: The nutritional value of broccoli combined with its low calories make this vegetable a must have on any healthy eating plan. There is strong evidence that broccoli may reduce the risk of heart disease. It is an antioxidant and helps with stress.

Cranberries: Cranberries, like blueberries are very high in antioxidant power. Cranberries, although most often eaten dried or in smoothies, are delicious and help lower bad cholesterol.

Kale: Growing in popularity, kale’s nutrient richness stands out in three particular areas: (1) antioxidant nutrients, (2) anti-inflammatory nutrients, and (3) anti-cancer nutrients. Try these delicious Kale chip recipes for a tasty but healthy dessert option: Recipe (Kale Chips)

Quinoa: Pronounced “Keen-Wah“, quinoa is a complete protein option that contains all non-essential amino acids.  Quinoa is is very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Manganese

With so many superfoods to choose from, there are many ways to integrate them into your diet to reap all of their benefits. Check out all these superfood recipes for new and exciting ways to incorporate them into your day!

Tweet us @vigourprojects  and tell us about your superfood recipes!

Now, for us health conscious folk, how would we fair after a weeklong active commute ? Give it a try! Bicycling 20 kph is a “moderate effort,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Health. When you bicycle 20 kph, you burn about 55 calories per km if you weigh 190 pounds, about 43 calories per mile if you’re 155 pounds and about 36 calories per mile if you’re 130 pounds.  Walking, as a rule of thumb, will burn  90 calories per km for a 180-pound person and 60 for a 120-pound person.

So, why not do your own personal Clean Commute starting next Monday? 5 days of buses, trains, bikes, or walking for a healthier you! If you are interested in implementing a Clean Commute at your company, register here.

Get out there!