Mindbody Pain Clinics

11/06/2024

Farewell

After 19 years of providing OHIP funded group therapy sessions for chronic pain and 40 years of medical practice, I have decided to give up my license to practice medicine. Mindbody Pain Clinics will shut down in November 2024 along with our website. Our page will become inactive.

For me, everyone who has signed up to receive our Factoids or attend a session, is a hero, someone who has decided to learn or meditate or exercise, or all of these, despite carrying a heavy burden of pain. I’ve learned much from you all, much more, I think, than I was ever able to teach. Thank you. Running the group has been the greatest pleasure of my medical career.

I am not going to stop teaching, however. As many of you know, most of the physical and mental exercises that I teach in the pain group sessions are derived from a traditional Chinese internal art called Nine Dragon Baguazhang. On Thursday, Dec. 5 2024 at 6:00 PM, I will be starting a new in person class focusing on traditional meditation, qigong, and related health practices.

It will be 50 minutes long and you are welcome to try a session for free. All you have to do is show up on a Thursday at the Glebe Road United Church, 20 Glebe Rd. East, just off Yonge Street, only a couple of blocks north of the Davisville – Yonge subway station.

For those of you who were only able to attend the pain group sessions online, I will teach a virtual class every Saturday morning beginning on Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 AM.

If you want to try a virtual class for free or just want to learn more about our school, click on the link below and submit your email address. I will send instructions on how to join online. In addition, you will also start to receive regular emails containing information about Nine Dragon Baguazhang and internal arts in general. I hope you will find them as informative and entertaining as our chronic pain Factoids were.
https://mindbody-training.aweb.page/bagua

Please note: there will be no class on Saturday December 21.

The cost of attending one class a week will be $60.00 monthly for those aged 60 and above; $100.00 monthly for everyone else. If you want to attend both health classes weekly, the cost will be $95.00 with the senior’s discount and $160.00 otherwise.

Regardless, I hope Mindbody Pain Clinics has helped you with the work of building a better life. Please remember, today is the best day to do something that reduces your pain, lifts your mood, or makes you stronger. Again, many thanks. May you and your loved ones always keep well.

To reflect my new life, I’ve changed how I’m signing off as follows:

Dr. Jan Carstoniu, Instructor
Jiulong Baguazhang
Toronto

07/30/2024

Important Notice: We are taking a break from August 16 to September 6

Like many people, I try to get the most out of our short Canadian summers by taking time off. Apart from mosquitoes and black flies, it’s a great time to be outside without having to wear a dozen layers of clothing while worrying about slipping on ice.

This year we will be on holiday for 3 weeks. There will be no in person or virtual group sessions between August 19 and September 6. The regular schedule will resume with a virtual session on Tuesday, September 10.

We will be sending out our weekly factoids as usual. I will also respond to your emails and telephone calls although there may be a delay if I’m out in a canoe. I hope you all have a chance to enjoy the season. Please keep well.

Jan Carstoniu MD FRCPC

05/13/2024

An invitation to our OHIP funded pain management groups.

01/08/2024

Our former instructor has this great advice. (ok, maybe not so great. In fact, we may take his closing comment seriously!) 😁

As we get older, it becomes more important to keep the body functioning. Working out at home has become the best option these days. Fortunately, spending money on expensive equipment is not necessary.

There are tools one can use that may be lying in wait. A friend sent me these simple instructions using potato bags.

Always consult a physician before starting a new exercise program.

1. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room on each side.

2. With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax.

3. Each day you will find you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

4. After a couple weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Then try 50-lb. bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand holding your arms straight for more than a full minute.

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag. 🙂

I will understand if you never listen to me again.

01/05/2024

https://mindbodypainclinics.aweb.page/ontariosignup

12/12/2023

Please note! Our schedule is changing in 2024

I hope you've been keeping well and warm this winter. Here are some announcements about our pain group sessions. Please get in touch if you have questions.

There will NO virtual or in-person pain group sessions on December 26, 27,and 28, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

Starting the first week of January 2024 there will be a schedule change. There will be a virtual group session at 10:30 AM every Wednesday morning starting on January 3, 2024. If you are already registered, you will start getting emails with a link to the session every Wednesday just before 10:30 AM. Tuesday virtual sessions will continue at 1:00 PM as usual.

Beginning on January 4, 2024, in-person group sessions will be held at 10:30 AM every Thursday morning. The location remains the same: the Northern District Branch of the Toronto Public Library, 40 Orchard View Blvd, just to the east of Yonge Street and 1 block north of the Yonge-Eglinton subway station. There are parking lots and paid street parking in the neighbourhood.

I wish you and yours the best for the season and hope the new year brings you what you need the most.

Jan Carstoniu MD FRCPC