The GTA support group has had great success with past meetings focused on relaxation and exercises themes.
Ongoing activities include:
- Relaxation and breathing session from fitness professionals
- Stress reduction seminars
- Toronto Public Health workshops
- Sessions with medical professionals encouraging people with dystonia to do stretch exercises.
- Fitness activities like pole walking
- Art therapy classes
Other fun activities and events are organized too where we meet some new members. Some fun activities held in the past are
- Yacht Parties
- Picnics
- Lunch get-togethers
- Summer BBQ with a live band.
- Christmas party and volunteers appreciations at the end of the year
How we do it:
One of our priority topics for discussion is 'Understanding anxiety and depression, and managing stress'.We hope to reinforce the benefits of exercising physically, reducing anxiety and stress for our mental health.
Keeping these wellness goals in place, we aim to start each meeting with 15 mins of relaxation and stretches. Post that, people mingle over some healthy refreshments, people share their stories, their experiences with dystonia, and any updates/news. For the remaining hour, we carry on with the planned session/topic such as listen to a guest speaker on health talk or subjects of interests seminars.
We are grateful to see many members volunteer in the group. On behalf of the DMRF Canada and Greater Toronto Area support group, we sincerely appreciate all their help, especially those who are affected with dystonia. Our support group wouldn't be a success without any of their efforts!