Jennifer Denys Physio

Gratitude spilling over today!

Celebrating 4 years of my own practice - already?!?

Thank you to every patient who has ever trusted me with your care.

Thank you to everyone in my entire life who has ever supported any part of my professional or entrepreneurial journey.

This year is a special anniversary in that I have a free “hot off the press” gift of a new poster for you.

A little context:

See, I am simultaneously celebrating 10 years since organically co-founding the BE CALM protocol.

Ten years ago, Biochemist Rebecca Dietzel and I co-founded the revolutionary BE CALM Protocol for injury first aid. This protocol is a replacement for the traditional (and problematic) RICE protocol, which its founder publicly abandoned in 2014 but people continue to use.

To empower everyone, we created a free, user-friendly reference poster for all to use in the case of injury.

The initial 48 hours post-injury are pivotal, laying the foundation for the entire healing process. Knowing how to act during this period is crucial. The BE CALM protocol ensures you work in harmony with the healing process rather than over-using ice, pushing through the pain, or moving too little, any of which counteract it. It also helps you sort through if you may be dealing with a bone fracture and what BE CALM actions would apply in that case.

Right after an injury, your body dispatches cells and chemicals to the affected area via your bloodstream in a process known as inflammation. Our actions can obstruct their intended beneficial arrival or partner with their assistance.

We invite you to play an active role in your body’s healing process using the BE CALM Protocol.

You can get a sneak peek of the gift here, as a photo, then download the free poster on my website (link in bio) by scrolling to the bottom of the homepage - and you’ll see a button to download the poster.

Visit www.becalmprotocol.info to better understand how and why the BE CALM protocol works and why actions like over-icing, too much movement, or too little movement hinder healing.

Grateful indeed!

❤️

Happy International Dance Day 2024!

Celebrating now with photos of incredible people I have had the pleasure of helping them return to our shared love of dance!

I am always so proud of all of my patients who at some point were distressingly sidelined by injury, BUT, did the all important work together to get back to this and similar deep levels of enjoyment.

A big thank you to these WONDERFUL dancers of mine who were willing to share photos celebrating their recoveries. And a huge CONGRATULATIONS to each of you, and to all those behind the scenes, on a rehab job well done!

Now what you don't see is the emotional anguish, inconvenience, and disappointment of any injury and also the perseverance and incremental rewards that are all part of the journey back to class and to the stage. You also don't see the commitment, time, and effort of the incredible parents, families and teachers behind all of these dancers.

The sheer love of dance and the love of movement is enough to carry this journey forward for all of us - to these glorious kinds of moments becoming possible again!!

Happy dancing everyone!!!
(Never tried? It’s never too late to try. Even from your chair right now - you can begin with simply tapping those toes to your favorite music!🎶)

Celebrating YOU on International Dance Day, April 29 -

Celebrating YOU on International Dance Day, April 29 Reaching out to you to see if you want to help me celebrate the gift of dance, including the joy of working together to help you recover the freedom to move and dance again! I am so proud of my entire community of people who embark on a physio journey - whether just beginning, or half way there, o...

What are your favorite ways to leap in this 2024 leap year?

Let me know in the comments below!

About leaps - here’s an interesting fact: did you know that when you physically leap, your body experiences approximately 2-3 times your body weight in forces upon the landing?

That’s why it’s SO important to continue the physio journey long past the point of pain being resolved. To keep working together to get the strength, endurance, power, technique, and balance back to truly leap (and land!) with joy - and sustainable, confident joy at that.

Here for you to help get you happily leaping in 2024!

Happy leap year everyone!

20 years?!?!

Way back when, I was trembling across the great divide between student life and professional life. And now 20 years later, I’m still absolutely loving what I get to do in helping people this way, and am happily owning my own physio business for 3.5 of those 20 years.

Throwing back to where I began seeing my first clients as a brand new regulated health professional.

It was January 4, 2004 when I drove from Ontario to Alberta with a dear friend - specifically to re-engage my dance passion in joining Calgary’s company, while simultaneously launching my Physio career wherever I could find a good job in Calgary.

A few weeks later, I was relieved and thankful to secure a physio job at Canadian Sport Rehabilitation (the “Then” photo) which happened to share space with Hockey Canada. I got to serve so many wonderful clients in this supportive environment and meet many of the “then” hockey athletes of Hockey Canada, especially the resident Women’s Team Canada. It was an incredible 1.5 years there before I decided to put some more roots down in my home province of Ontario.

Fast Forward 20 years (and it truly does feel fast!!!) and I’ve had the privilege and honor of journeying alongside thousands of clients in private practice, Canada’s National Ballet school, and lately in my own business.

While many moments in a physio journey are laden with understandable angst and heavy emotion, it’s always deeply fulfilling to witness the healing process unfold in a human being and celebrate as they gradually get the movement back that adds meaningful joy and quality back into their life. Thank you to each and every client who has trusted me with your care.

Now about the friendly skeletons - I have particular passions about the wonder of human bodies and love helping you understand your own body, and how to get better, so these particular skeletons have been part of many many teaching moments! Oh the stories they could tell!

Finally, thank you to all my family, friends and colleagues for supporting me through all the ups and downs of a 20 year professional adventure so far.

Hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season! Clinic re-opens tomorrow, January 2, 2024 for all your physio needs. Happy New Year!!!

Wishing everyone’s holidays off to a good start, including for anyone who celebrated Christmas today! See you all anytime after January 2!!!

Wishing you and your loved ones a holiday filled with love, joy, and peace!

Please note that the clinic will be closed from now through to January 1 and I look forward to catching up with you and your goals as of January 2, 2024.

🩰Happy World Ballet Day!!🩰 Celebrating now with TWO photo collages of incredible dancers I have had the pleasure of working with.

What a joy to help get my patients back to the movements they love - including these WONDERFUL ballet dancers of mine who were willing to share photos celebrating their recoveries and in celebration of our shared love of ballet.

CONGRATULATIONS 👏👏👏to each of you on a rehab job well done and also to everyone celebrating behind the scenes!

Now what you don’t see is the emotional anguish, inconvenience, and disappointment of any injury😢, and also the perseverance and incremental rewards that are all part of the journey back to class and to the stage. You also don’t see the parents/families and teachers behind all of these dancers.

But - the love of dance is enough to carry this journey forward for all of us - to these glorious moments becoming possible again.

Oh BALLET, here’s some words of love❤️:

The storytelling, the inspiration and visualization of music, the satisfaction of working hard and experiencing improvement, the beauty, the grace, the joy, connecting with an audience and evoking soul-stirring feelings, being connected to a beloved long-standing art form beyond oneself, the heart/soul/mind/body unity in expression, the feeling of blood pumping from your heart all the way out to the tips of every limb, having specific intention and purpose for every single bone of the skeleton, the lifelong friendships…so much to love and more.

Happy World Ballet Day indeed - to everyone who’s ever danced it at any level, to all the professional artists sharing their work today, and to everyone who’s ever been moved watching it.

(🗒️A little note to any of my dancer patients/parents past or present: if you missed being part of these collages, I’ll be making another round of collages on International Dance Day in April, and if you want to be on a “to be reminded” list just DM me and I will remind you to send in your chosen photo closer to that date!)

Mascot Monsieur Squelette and I wish everyone a safe and fun night filled with groovin’ peace, love and happiness!

Feelin’ grateful to my entire Jennifer Denys Physio community! Celebrating you pumpkin-style!

Thank you to every one of you who has ever come to me for care over the last 20 years.

Thank to every parent who has juggled all kinds of things to bring one of their children to me for each and every appointment.

Thank you to my entire community of friends, family, colleagues and teachers who have supported me as a human, a physio, and lately the owning and running of my own practice (currently3.5 years:)

I am here for YOU and thankful for YOU!
YOU inspire me to do what I do!

Happy happy Thanksgiving everyone! Jen

Truth and reconciliation needed today and every day - in increasing measure. Remembering the children…
🧡 🧡

We’re all well into the new school year where summer meets fall, and I’m so curious how things are evolving for everyone in this transition.

Like this hydrangea flower only just recently went into its blush from white to pink.

What is happening in your body?

Good things that you want Physio help to get to the next level in, or hard things that I can journey with you to get back to your full glory in?

Here to support you!

Jen

A Physio’s reflections on today’s 10:57 AM arrival of the longggest day of the year, Summer Solstice☀️…

Huge congratulations 🥳 are in order to all dancers and athletes and students (and their parents) for showing up for and finishing off another school year, let alone a crazily full June month.

I want to give a shoutout 🙌 to all of my artistic and athletic patients who navigated their injuries and their Physio treatment plans to the point of graduating from physio, being able to safely return to their recitals, competitions, and other performances speckled throughout this latest April to June. 🎶

I feel really proud 👍 of my new patients that are reaching out wanting to work on proactive things over the course of their off-season AKA summer! Can’t wait to get started with you!

I feel really happy 😃 for my patients who are experiencing newfound bladder confidence for a more active summer again, finally!

To all my patients who are currently on a physio recovery journey😰, this upcoming schedule change that summer and holidays offer is a wonderful time to heal, and I’m here for you all the way. 🤗

Whether it’s a new injury or a proactive need like turnout, flexibility, balance, power, jumps, strength, posture, etc - let’s work together to get your body more ready for what September holds. 👋

It is my honor to partner with you to recover and/or improve your abilities while simultaneously reducing your injury or re-injury risk. 💛

Welcome, Summer, indeed!!

☀️ ❤️

3 years?!?!!!

Wow! Finding it hard to believe it’s already been 3 years with my own physio clinic. Just like raising a child, it truly takes a village!

So a BIG thank you to my ENTIRE community.

Thank you to my patients for trusting me with your physio needs. It’s always such a privilege helping you reach your personal “Freedom to Move” goals!

Thank you to everyone who’s ever referred someone to my services. Thank you to my suppliers, colleagues, friends, and family for all the much appreciated ways that you support the happenings here.

Just like my logo dancer communicates - onward and upward we go!

What an incredible time with new colleagues May 26-28 getting our Sport First Responder certifications!!!!

It’s not at all that I seek after emergency scenarios. It’s that in supporting wonderful things like dance, skating, sport, outdoor play, and even things as calm as a hands-on or acupuncture physio treatment, certain health risks exist for the humans involved. Rather than feeling helpless, I like to feel knowledgeable and prepared for whatever may happen in my presence.

After years of recertifying my first aid and CPR since my teenage lifeguarding days, this was the first time I got to do that and more while being taught by an awesome Sport Physio and all among new physio colleagues.

Thank you Susie Renaud Sport PT for teaching us so well and thank you to all my new colleagues for such a great time together.

Thank you also to Mireille Landry Sport PT for letting me know about this “Red Cross meets Sport Physiotherapy Canada” first responder course in the first place!!

What a weekend!!!

So thankful to have been invited by and to share my physio skills in event medical coverage at the 2023 Skate Canada National Championships.

While I’ve been the on-call Physio for a multitude of dance performances and have enjoyed treating dancers, figure skaters and other artistic athletes, this was the first time ever covering a skating event.

I loved connecting with the other volunteers and cross-pollinating our respective knowledge and passions!

Loved having front row seats to incredible skating performances!

Loved also having a behind-the-scenes look at what I normally am glued to during the Olympics, on TV or You Tube.

Was a fun shout out to my little life figure skating lessons and ongoing adult enjoyment of skating outings.

Huge congratulations to every single skater, coach, and choreographer!

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!” Let’s get you feeling as good as possible for these upcoming holidays and beyond. Ready to welcome you with some seasonal sparkles of joy!

Happy World Ballet Day! Whether you are a ballerina, ballet dancer or somebody who just loves the joy of movement, we can all be inspired by what our amazing human bodies are capable of!

As we collectively exhale the latest swell of “back to school”, I wonder what your body thinks of all that has happened lately?

What has your body been saying lately but “summer mode” made it difficult to tune in to that?

If your body is actually whining or even screaming - because of some painful movement(s); or is straining - because of some movement weakness; or feels anxious - because of nervously anticipating some upcoming event or plan, I am here for you.

With a proper physio assessment to get to the bottom of what’s going on and then step-by-step physio treatment, we can journey together to get your body “speaking” it’s true joy of movement freedom again!

You can DM me for more info or check out https://jenniferdenys.com to book your complimentary consultation.

I care about you and your own movement joys and so it is my passion and privilege to help you invigorate and/or reinvigorate your freedom to move - whether in recovery from injury or preventing injuries.

I always feel especially happy for people who take the time to proactively learn and embrace how to prevent injury as much as possible.

So I want to publicly recognize Checchetti Canada for their commitment to ongoing learning about proactive dance wellbeing. Thank you Checchetti Canada for having me present a workshop on “Dance Injury Prevention - a ballet teacher’s perspective”, at your National Teachers Conference. I truly enjoyed your interactive engagement and the joy of finally being together live after a series of virtual workshops.

Here’s to an amazing and healthy dance season!

Thank you for the opportunity to provide physio medical coverage backstage at your recent production . It was an absolutely incredible production and deep joy for me to witness it all.

As someone who has followed the Anne story since my childhood, I was so impressed with how you portrayed every emotion and conveyed the story so palpably well through dance.

Congratulations to all the dancers and the entire crew on your simply magnificent
performances!

That FLEW by!! Just like that, this private clinic adventure is 2 years old. Without my incredible patients there would be no business - so I just want to say a humungous thank you to each person who has trusted me with your care. I also want to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey.

Wishing everyone who loves to move a very happy International Dance Day!!!

Done! On April 20, 2022, in what I affectionately call “the year of the Tutu”, I achieved my goal of doing the RAD Advanced 1 exam! Special thanks to .inc for supporting me through this goal.

What a JOY it is to dance and move freely!

I resonate with all of my patients who are back to in-person dance exams and in-person competitions and wishing you all the joy that these experiences can bring!

Here’s to enjoying the freedom to move!

Thank you to the Cecchetti Canada, Ontario Committee for having me teach a virtual workshop today. It was such a delight teaching all of the wonderful teachers about our inner unit core and how to progressively and safely develop core strength and endurance in dancers.

Being virtual, I pre-recorded videos and photos of a logical progression of exercises. You can see a snapshot of some of these here.

I can’t stress enough how critical the proper core activation is to sustain, through every exercise - and not to do harder exercises sooner than a dancer is ready. Otherwise, the proper and helpful core is likely not being strengthened anyhow and there’s a huge risk of back and abdominal injuries.

They were such a joy to teach and I look forward to being together again soon this summer - hopefully in-person next time!

Happy TWO’s Day everyone!!! Twoday is 02/22/2022 on a Twosday and that SQUEALS to me of “Tutu’s” and the perfect opportunity to share that this little dancing Physio has been pursuing a big goal of (re-)doing the RAD Advanced 1 exam this April/May 2022 in what I’m affectionately calling “the year of the tutu”! There’s so many reasons that I’m doing this, including celebrating our shared love for dance and kinaesthetically empathizing with all of my dancer patients who have had their dance training really rocked by this pandemic. So in honour of this unique numeric day, I did the whole Advanced 1 class from the clinic today and this is the sweaty result! Special thanks to .inc for supporting me in achieving this goal while I support you in your physio goals.

Open and here for you despite this very “heavy clouded” time. Whether in person or virtually, let’s work together to make your healing and/or your strengthening goals be one really strong bright light in the midst of everything else! There’s always hope and joy within every dark time and you need not drive the hard road of pain alone.

Merry merry Christmas everyone from my home to yours!!!! May these holidays give everyone the much needed rest for every needed recovery. I also wish everyone safety and fresh perseverance in this latest COVID wave we are all dealing with.

Remembering... 🌺