Fall is here. Time to take a break and reflect on the sport and fitness goals you’ve accomplished this summer (or those you didn’t).
Don’t navel-gaze too long, though.
It’s time to switch gears; time to transition; time to get ready for your winter sport of choice.
This is often a difficult time for a Yukon athlete.
The weather is crappy. You might feel so good, you don’t want to switch gears. Alternately, you may not be motivated to keep active as the days get darker and colder.
Focus on the big picture here: you are in this for the long run, right?
Use the transition period to do something different for your body. Try some pilates or yoga.  Belly dance, maybe?  Increase the fun factor right about now.
Something didn’t feel quite right in your elbow last summer during that baseball swing?  Felt a little tight in your low back getting off the bike? Get it checked out. Now is the time to let those nagging aches and pains heal.
Something as simple as taking a spinning class before the first old-timers’ hockey game or heading to the gym to do some upper-body and core strengthening, before cross-country ski season starts, can significantly reduce the transition blues. You’ll also reduce your risk of injury and increase the fun you have the first time you head out.
Winter is coming, and this year you’ll be ready with a great transition to your favourite sport.

Shelley Gellatly has been involved in sport at every level. She works as an athletic therapist out of Physio Plus, at the Canada Games Centre, providing training, coaching, fitness testing, sport first-aid services, injury assessment and rehabilitation services. Contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .