Join the Resistance!

Resistance bands, also known as fitness bands or exercise bands, come in a variety of sizes, tensions and colour. They are a great exercise tool for the home or office, and are very easy to use and store.

The resistance comes from the rubber tubing, and they are excellent for doing higher repetition and low weight exercises. The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport has recently published a study that suggests this approach to working out is great for building strength and improving standing balance.

The resistance band also provides a unique advantage over dumbbells because they offer constant tension during the concentric and eccentric contraction, but none of the risks associated with using heavy free weights.

For a complete workout routine you can refer to this resources by greatist.com, which has over 30 different exercises you can do with resistance bands:
http://greatist.com/fitness/resistance-band-exercises

To get you started, you don't necessarily need the full routine. The Front Squat, Overhead Press, and Bicep Curl, as demonstrated on the site, will provide you with a good routine to begin with, and you can work up from there. You can find resistance bands almost anywhere: you don't have to pay a lot or got to a specialty fitness store. In fact, you can find them at your local Canadian Tire or London Drugs.

Pagan Festivals, Chocolates & Roses

Did You Know?
Approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas.

Did You Know?
The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Across North America, the UK, France and even downunder, we like to celebrate St. Valentine's Day. Romantics everywhere share a multitude of gestures with their lovers. It could be a simple gesture, or a grand one, but the sentiment is always the expression of love.

So who is this St Valentine and why is there a day of flowers, cards
and candy dedicated to him? Here's a little history lesson behind one
of the biggest card-giving days of the year.

For starters, it hasn't all been roses. We know that February has long
been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day,
as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient
Roman tradition. However, did you know that the Roman Emperor
Claudius II executed Valentine?

The Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers
than those with wives and families, so he outlawed marriage for
young men. Valentine didn't agree, and he continued to perform
marriages for young lovers in secret. Valentine's defiance of Claudius
resulted in decisive action from the emperor. By the Middle Ages,
Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England
and France.

Pope Gelasius the Romantic
The Pagan and Christian celebrations of St.
Valentine's Day went through changes over
the course of a few centuries until the end
of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius
declared February 14 St. Valentine's
Day. Valentine greetings were popular
as far back as the Middle Ages,
though written Valentine's didn't
begin to appear until after 1400.

Valentine's Day began to be popularly
celebrated around the 17th century,
and by 1900 printed cards began to
replace written letters due to
improvements in printing technology.
Today, according to the Greeting
Card Association, there are
about 1 billion Valentine's
Day cards sent each year,
and approximately 85
percent of all valentine
cards are purchased by
women.

A Clear Process

Capital Direct is here to help and to make the process as simple to understand and easy to go through as possible, and that’s what we do time and again.

Every month, Capital Direct helps Canadians just like you to realize their dreams. What about you? Your home equity is something you've worked hard to build, so why not 'let your house lend a hand' © when you need it most! Contact a Capital Direct mortgage specialist to discover your options.

“Manny was thorough, expeditious, and transparent. He assisted us in clarifying everything.”
- Michael M., Oakville, ON.

Happy Valentine’s Day Sudoku

This February 14th why not send a valentine to your loved one?

	5
		2
	4

2		1
	3
7

3	7
8

	7
6
	2	3

		2

9

9	1
		5
	4


		6
	3	7

		6
	8
1		5

	3
2
	8

Click here to view the solution

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