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Many people have been helped, even been given a new lease on their physical life, with the regular or medical fitness training at Bon Fysio. The staff of medically trained professionals is generous with its time and care; the exercise machines are state-of-the-art and safe.
But now there's even more. Annemiek le Noble, a physical therapist who is a specialist in back and pelvic instability and pelvic floor problems, will be giving classes to small groups or individuals, both inside the Bon Fysio center as well as outside. Annemiek has worked in rehabilitation of patients with pelvic and back instability. She's also an aerobic and fitness instructor and personal trainer with studies in nutrition, breathing, relaxation exercises and cardio rehabilitation. 
"We'll be doing all aspects of fitness, and everyone can join," Annemiek says, "but it will be fun too. We want to do it safely but get somewhere! We'll do warm ups, circuit training, floor work, stretching, breathing and relaxing exercises. There will be special classes for  the '50 Plusers,' pregnancy and post-partum women and those with back-pelvic instability and pelvic floor problems, each group having its own particular exercises. As well, there will be groups for people without special needs who'd like to work out in small groups under professional guidance."
To make it even more interesting Annemiek will have classes for walking or jogging twice a week. "We'll do warming up and strengthening exercises and lots of different walking movements like speed walking, slow walking, crossovers, big steps, walking backwards-different things to work on different muscles."
People can make up their own groups of four to six or join an existing one. Or work  with Annemiek as your personal trainer. Come in for a free introductory visit. Call them at 717-7030 or 717-7850. BonFysio's evening hours are now extended to 9 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and the walking or jogging groups will start out in the cool of the mornings at 6 am. Cost for a month of two classes a week is NAƒ140. L.D.

Back and Pelvic Instability-What is it?
It shows up as back and groin pain and is often mistakenly thought to be arthritis. It causes problems with walking, sitting or standing for a long time. The back-pelvic area, the "core" of our body, goes from the base of the spine, the sacrum, around both sides to the two pelvic bones that come together in the front at the pubis bones. It's made up of the pelvic floor muscles, the transverse abdominal (deepest stomach) muscles and the deepest and lowest part of the back muscles. These muscles always work together and automatically. They contract just a fragment of a second before every movement you make, providing the stabilization to the center of your body. That's why you  have a solid but flexible base which can transfer every force made by all body movements. This pelvis area or "core"of the body determines whether the spine can function the way it should. In fact, every movement we make affects the pelvic area.
Back and pelvic instability can appear in pregnant, post-partum or post menopausal women. Or it may appear in women or men who have fallen or had car or motorcycle accidents or overused their muscles, causing trauma to the area.  It's been found all over the world where people have chronic back pain. If the base of the spine isn't good the spine cannot function the way it should. When there's been a trauma to the pelvic or lower back area, causing pain, there won't be normal movement. After the pelvic or back tissue heals there isn't an automatic return to pelvic-back stabilization. That's why back problems can become so chronic.
But now the good news is that there are special but simple tests to determine whether this instability is present. And there are specific exercises to stabilize the area. As specialist Annemiek le Noble says, "Instead of trying to get rid of the pain with massage or medication, we look for the cause and try to treat it. We work with subtle exercises to stabilize the deep tension muscles. It's good to work your 'movement' muscles, but you also need to work on those stabilizing muscles too." She continues, "Fitness is important to keep the bones strong and strength exercises are particularly important for older people."
L.D.

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