Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support my blog and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!
Hereâs what Stu Hart taught me about failure, pain, and the game of healing.
When I was 19, my friend Jody and I dreamed of becoming professional wrestlers. Iâd been watching wrestling on T.V. since I was a little girlâStampede Wrestling, the drama, the thunderous entrances, the spectacle of it all. It felt like a calling. Stampede Wrestling was a prominent Canadian wrestling promotion founded by Stu Hart in Calgary, Alberta, in 1948. It operated for decades and was a major developmental territory for future WWE and WCW stars, including Bret Hart and Owen Hart.
Jodyâs neighbour just so happened to be Stu Hart, a titan in the wrestling world. We were told not to be afraid of him, even if we heard screams from his house, because he trained wrestlers. Their families knew each other, so one sunny afternoon, we boldly walked across the lawn.
When he answered the door, he looked every inch the classic brawler: grey shirt, salt and pepper hair, and a torso that couldâve double as a life-sized barrel.
I was brimming with confidenceâback then, as now, I didnât often let a challenge sit unanswered. Jody and I launched into our pitch, all passion and ambition. Stu listened, his massive frame filling the doorway like a living barricade. Then, he laughedâdeep, booming, and in our faces. âNo,â he said.
But Iâve never been one to fold easily. I stood there, 5â6â or maybe 5â7â (depending on my hair height, honestly), weighing 127 pounds, and insisted. What did I know? I figured wrestling on T.V. looked easy, right?
Eventually, he caved and brought us down to his basement gym. The walls were lined with well-used machines, weight machines even nestled in the corners. In the back sat what could only be described as a Viking torture device: a lat pulldown machine reimagined featuring a spangenhelm designed helmetâconstructed from four top iron bars riveted together to a circle base. Then to form a rounded bowl helmet at the end of the chain. Looked like the electric chair skull cap before the colander design.
The bench sat off to the right, lit by a single beam of sunlight streaming in through the tiny basement window above and off to the left. I am serious. It looked as if the Good Lord himself were sending a ray through that little pane, and the light opened up, bathing and illuminating the left side of the pullâdown machine. If you were perched on the bench, your right side would be lit by the beam. If youâd just walked into the space and stood still in the dark, your left side would be lit. It was a piece of functional art, âcause the moon would also throw its glow on the machine.
Conceptual Statement: Time and the bodyâs relationship with machinery.
Interactive Elements: The chain used to create kinetic sculpture that moves with the userâs motion, turning the sun and moon neck exercises into performance art.
Aesthetic Integration: The machine had built gods and looked the part, mounted on a minimalist frame, combined with sun lighting to highlight its movement.
Sunlight heals.
Heâd built a workoutâmachine sundial.
A sundial is a device that tells time by using a spot of light or a shadow cast by the Sunâs position on a reference scale. As the Earth spins on its axis, the Sun appears to travel across the sky from east to west, rising at sunrise from beneath the horizon, reaching its zenith at midday, then sinking again at sunset. Both the azimuth (direction) and the altitude (height) can be used to create timeâkeeping devices. Sundials have popped up independently in every major culture and became more accurate and sophisticated as societies grew. Jody stood there to the left, silent and confident. The rest of the room was dark, yet I could see the red bricks of the houseâs foundation through the sunlight filtering in.
From the bench he stared into my eyes and smiled. I smiled back.
Iâll never forget it. While staring into my soul, Stu slung the helmet over his head, and lifted the entire weight stack with his NECK, multiple times. Bellow after bellow, grinning wide, all teeth. His neck muscles were GIGANTIC. Me and Jody cheering. We all three started laughing. I have always been impressed by displays of strength, both physical and character wise. Next, Jodyâ6 feet tall, blonde, and built like a Viking herselfâgave it a shot. The chain screamed, the weights didnât budge, and we all laughed.
Then it was my turn. I channeled memories of my Olympic dreams swimming training days, hopped on the bench, and nothing. The helmet and the weights stayed put. Like trying to lift 30 gold bricks with your forehead. My face mustâve been a comic book of shock. The Hart father laughed, Jody laughed, I laughed. Even the weight machines seemed to giggle.
Me and Jody and our skinny necks.
As we left, Stu leaned in and whispered only to me, âYou wonât be the next wrestler, but Jody⌠yes.â It was his company, his choice, and he was right. Jody had a giftâher height, her strength, her charisma. I didnât mind one bit. Instead she later chose a different adventureâraising babies, bless herâand that was just fine too.
Another lesson I took from Mr. Hart that day was this: even if I couldn't move that weight stack with my own strength, by using my head and having the guts to try, I could lift any amount, a limitless number of times, all while smiling and not even breaking a sweat. And you know what? I do.
Using your smarts and having a good plan will always beat raw power.
This brings me to now. A wrestler once told me that the sport takes a toll: some stars limp down stairs backwards, knees all shot. Two years ago, my knees were in such pain from rebuilding my body from the cellular level up, I worried Iâd lose them entirelyâwheelchair, anyone? Nope! Instead, I tried red-light therapy, the kind with a handheld wand.
Iâd run it over my knees, joints, tendons, and let me tell youâit hurt in the good way. Like when a bruise finally starts to fade. Now? My legs still get a workout, but I do lunges up staircases two steps at a time, and the painâs gone.
If youâre a wrestler, an athlete, or just someone battling knee trouble, give red-light therapy a try. Thirty minutes a day, every day, for a year. It might just give you back your legsâand maybe a little bit of your childhood, too.
Hereâs the thing about dreams: sometimes they shift, and thatâs okay. Jodyâs a mom now, and Iâm⌠well, Iâm still laughing at my humbling experience. But we both got more than we asked for: a lesson in grit, a story worth telling, and the kind of memory that sticks with you like a backstage pass to a world that never stops surprising.
Canada in it, eh?
P.S.
Jody was a dead ringer for the legendary lady âHoneyâ.
Kala Therapy Wand
https://kalaredlight.com/NATALIEMASSIAH
The Kala Therapy Wand is a compact, medical-grade device designed to deliver gentle red and blue light therapy directly where you need it most.
With dual wavelengths (630 nm red and 415 nm blue), it supports skin rejuvenation, reduces breakouts, and helps calm inflammation all in just minutes a day.
Lightweight and travel-friendly, it fits easily in your hand or bag, so effective skincare is always within reach.
#KalaTherapy
Kala is the pioneer in high-performance red and near-infrared light therapy, trusted worldwide for its proven power, precision, and results. Proudly designed in Canada, Kala is committed to delivering medical grade quality products. Trusted by Team Canada athletesâ¨and elite competitors worldwide.
Targeted therapy, effortless routine.
Kala Red Light Hat delivers professional-grade red light therapy designed specifically for scalp and hair support.
Using a focused red light 650nm wavelength helps stimulate hair follicles, improve scalp circulation, and support healthier-looking hair growth in just minutes a day. Lightweight, wearable, and cordless, its premium design allows you to continue daily activities while treating, making it ideal for consistent, everyday use at home or on the go.
Long Locks: A Symbol of Warrior Spirit
From the wilds of the Pacific Northwest to the rugged cliffs of Newfoundland, the image of a warrior with flowing hair has been woven into the fabric of our cultural myths. Long hair isnât just a fashion statement; itâs a living banner of vitality, resilience and honour. When a fighter lets his mane billow in the wind, heâs shouting to the world: I am strong, I am healthy.
The Ancient Roots
Take a look back at the stories of Samson, the biblical champion whose hair was his source of extraordinary power. In many Indigenous legends across Canada, the heroâs hair is likened to the boughs of a mighty spruceâflexible enough to bend but strong enough to bear the weight of the world. The extra length is a visible cue that the bearer respects the natural cycle of growth, nourishment, and renewal. A healthy scalp, a balanced diet of berries, fish and bannock, and plenty of fresh air all contribute to a glossy, sturdy mane that mirrors the health of the whole body.
The RingâSide Rumble
Modern wrestlers have taken that same visual cue and run with it, literally. Think of the iconic 1990s star âThe Big Showâ who often wore his hair long for the sheer spectacle of it, or of the Japanese strongâman Kazuchika whose braid swings like a whip each time he steps into the squared circle. In the Canadian wrestling scene, many upâandâcoming athletes keep their hair long as a tribute to those ancient warriors. The extra length becomes a personal talisman, a reminder that every drop of sweat and every rep at the gym is a step toward mastering both body and mind.
Long hair on a wrestler also serves a practical purpose. It signals to opponents that the athlete is disciplined enough to care for something that can be a liability if neglected. A wellâkept mane tells the crowd, âIâve got the patience to tend to the small things, and Iâve got the grit to stand tall when the chips are down.â
The LongâHaired Hero
If you flip through a Harlequin paperback on a rainy Tuesday, youâll often find the leading man sporting a cascade of curls that catch the light in the same way a sunrise does over the Rockies. Those novels arenât just about swoony love scenes; they tap into a deepâseated belief that a man who can grow his hair long is also growing his intellect, compassion and stamina.
Women across the countryâwhether theyâre sipping a doubleâdouble at Tim Hortons or taking a break from a night shift at the hospitalâhave confessed that theyâre drawn to a partner who looks the part of a protector as well as a thinker. The reason is simple: a thick, healthy head of hair suggests good circulation, balanced hormones and a lifestyle that respects the bodyâs needs. In the same way a wellâcooked poutine is a sign that the chef knows how to blend flavours, a wellâkept mane is a sign that the man knows how to blend strength with sensibility.
đ˛ 1. Botanical Therapeutic Tree Essence Shampoo & Body Wash
What it does:
A daily moisturizing shampoo and body wash thatâs packed with certified organic plant, vegetable, flower and tree extracts. It works to calm itchy scalps, soothe eczema, and keep psoriasis from stealing the spotlight.
Why youâll love it:
- Cortisoneâfree & steroidâfree â no harsh chemicals stealing the show.
- Hypoallergenic, vegan & crueltyâfree â kind to you and the planet.
- 100âŻ% biodegradable â safe for our rivers, lakes and oceans (and the beavers).
- Soy, gluten, dye & paraben free â pure as a fresh snowfall.
How to use:
Wet hair, massage a generous amount into scalp, let it sit for about 30âŻseconds, then rinse. For the body, work into a creamy lather on a sponge and rinse clean. If any irritation pops up, stop using it â weâre all about listening to your body.
Key ingredients youâll recognize:
Filtered aqua, coconut and palmâderived surfactants, pine extract, olive fruit oil, alfalfa leaf, chamomile flower, echinacea, nettle, clover, and a splash of appleâcider vinegar.
đ˛ 2. Botanical Therapeutic Tree Essence Moisturizing Conditioner
What it does:
An unscented, daily conditioner that drenches dry, flaky scalps in nutrients. Your hair will feel soft, smooth, shiny and easier to manage â perfect for those who want their locks to flow like a championship belt.
The good stuff:
- Syntheticâfree, cortisoneâfree, steroidâfree â nothing that messes with your natural balance.
- Hypoallergenic, crueltyâfree, 100âŻ% biodegradable â as gentle as a friendly âhowâs it goinâ?â on a cold January night.
- Soy, gluten, dye & paraben free â clean as a freshâcut whistle.
How to use:
After shampoo, apply to wet hair, massage into scalp, leave for 30âŻseconds, then rinse thoroughly.
Ingredient highlights:
Coconut oil, pine extract, alfalfa leaf, chamomile, echinacea, nettle, clover, appleâcider vinegar, olive oil, linseed seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil and locally sourced organic beeswax.
đ˛ 3. Botanical Therapeutic Tree Essence Moisturizing Skin Cream
What it does:
An unscented, daily skin cream that hydrates and restores skin thatâs been battered by the elements â think windâblown prairie or the afterâeffects of a hardâhitting match. It helps bring back natural pigment and moisture levels for folks dealing with psoriasis, eczema or any stubborn dry patches.
Why itâs a winner:
- 100âŻ% natural, crueltyâfree, vegan â no animal testing, no animal products.
- Free of cortisone, steroids, synthetic fragrances, dyes and harsh sulfates â the cleanest choice for your skin.
How to use:
Slather generously onto skin or scalp and massage in. For best results, apply at least six times a day (yes, weâre serious). If a rash appears, discontinue use.
Core ingredients:
Aqua, palm oil, coconut oil, pine extract, alfalfa leaf, chamomile, echinacea, nettle, clover, appleâcider vinegar, olive oil, linseed seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil and beeswax.
đ Why Carinaâs products feel like a championship belt for your body
Since 1972, Carina has been handâcrafting these cleanâasâair formulas on the North Shore of Vancouver. Their aim? To strip away the synthetic junk that most beauty aisles are stacked with â no cortisone, steroids, DEA, sulfates, sodium chloride, propylene glycol, aluminium, synthetic fragrances or dyes.
All the botanicals are handâselected from the Pacific Northwestâs forests and farms, then blended into a formula thatâs as gentle as a whisper but as effective as a piledriver.
Supporting Canadian businesses isnât just a feelâgood line; itâs a commitment to local growers, to sustainable harvesting, and to keeping our ecosystems thriving. When you buy Carina, youâre backing Canadianâmade, ecoâfriendly products that respect the land we love.
đŻ
- Canadian made shampoo â organic, cortisoneâfree, vegan
- Natural hair care Canada â conditioner for dry scalp, wrestlersâ hair, hair growth support
- Organic skin cream Canada â eczema relief, psoriasis support, biodegradable
- Crueltyâfree hair products â ethically produced, Canadianâsourced
- Vegan body wash Canada â safe for rivers, lakes and oceans
Whether youâre a wrestling fan who needs that extra edge of confidence, a busy parent juggling work and the kids, or someone who simply wants to treat their scalp and skin with the respect it deserves, Carinaâs Botanical Therapeutic line is the tagâteam partner youâve been waiting for.
Give your hair the kind of care that makes you feel like you just stepped out of the locker room after a victorious match. Let your skin glow like the northern lights after a cold night on the ice. And remember â every bottle you buy helps keep Canadian craftsmanship alive and kicking.
So, grab a bottle (or three), support homeâgrown goodness, and let your natural beauty shine brighter than a championship belt under the arena lights.
Stay strong, stay kind.
Feel free to click the link below to learn more and snag these clean, Canadianâcrafted essentials. Your scalp, your skin, and your wallet will thank you.
Botanical Therapeutic
A Call to All Canadians: Wear Your Crown Proudly
Whether youâre a wrestler stepping onto the mat in Winnipeg, a poet reciting verses in Altona, or a teenager strolling the streets of St. Jean Baptiste with a fresh cut, remember that your hair is more than a styleâitâs a living emblem of who you are.
- Respect the growth â Feed your body the good stuff: salmon, mapleâsyrupâglazed carrots, wild blueberries.
- Mind the maintenance â A gentle shampoo, occasional oil treatment, and a careful comb keep the strands strong.
Fabio
Fabio became a romance novel cover model primarily because his iconic lookâlong, flowing blonde hair, chiseled physique, and European accentâperfectly embodied the idealized fantasy that resonated with readers. His image, often featuring him shirtless with wind-blown hair and a woman clinging to him, became synonymous with the genreâs "clinch cover" style in the 1980s and 1990s. While his hair was a major draw, it was the combination of his looks, aura, and the fantasy he represented that made him a cultural phenomenon.
He appeared on over 1,300 romance novel covers, a career launchpad that led to fame in fashion, film, and product endorsements. Despite his fame, Fabio didnât realize his impact until fans recognized him at a Miami nightclub in 1987, when three women approached him saying he looked like the man on their books.
Though his career has evolved, Fabio remains a pop culture icon, and his legacy endures as a symbol of romance novel escapism, even inspiring characters in modern films like The Lost City.
The OldâSchool ToughâLove Playbook
Back in the 1970â80s, Stampede wasnât just a promotion; it was a school of hardâknocks. Young wrestlers learned that a single hold could bring a titan to the mat, but more importantly they learned how to read a crowd, how to plan a matchâflow and how to respect the code of honour that governed the territory.
That same philosophy is alive today in the local gym culture that sprouted from those rings. When you step into a community centre in Winkler, a basement gym in Steinbach or a repurposed warehouse in Winnipeg, youâll see members swapping stories about their favourite Stampede bouts while they log presses, pullâups and plyometrics.
The Science of Smarts
Hereâs where the modern side gets its footing. Biohackers in Toronto are tracking heartârate variability, athletes in Edmonton are fineâtuning macronutrient timing, and physiotherapists in Montreal are using evidenceâbased techniques to keep shoulders healthy for the next set of overhead presses. Yet, the core lesson rings as true as ever: using your smarts and having a good plan will always beat raw power.
Think of a classic Stampede match. The same calculation happens when you decide whether to sprint a 5K, add a mobility circuit or spend an extra ten minutes on recovery. Knowledge plus a clear plan turns sheer muscle into strategic advantage.
Crafting Your Own Path â No Quick Fixes
If youâre a fan of the oldâschool grit, a budding biohacker, or simply someone who likes to feel the pulse of Canadian sport, hereâs a practical takeâaway that respects both the Stampede legacy and todayâs wellness research:
Chart the MatchâFlow â Write down the key moves you want to achieve in the next month. Whether itâs increasing your squat by five kilos, mastering a new yoga pose, or improving sleep consistency, give each goal a clear, stepâbyâstep outline.
Analyze the Opponent â Your opponent is fatigue, injury risk, and distraction. Use a simple log (paper or app) to track how you feel each day. Spot patterns, just like a trainer watches an opponentâs breathing to predict the next strike.
Deploy the Right Move â Choose the technique that matches your current state. On a highâenergy day, go for a heavy compound lift. On a lowâenergy day, opt for mobility work and active recovery. The plan, not raw force, decides the outcome.
Designed for precision, the Kala Red Light Neck Rejuvenator delivers advanced red and near-infrared light therapy directly to the neck and upper chest.
Using dual wavelengths (633 nm red and 830 nm near-infrared), it helps support collagen production, improve skin tone, and smooth fine lines.
Lightweight and easy to use, it turns daily skincare into an effective rejuvenation ritual.
Folks often ask why the necks on those Stampede Wrestling alumni from the â60s and â70s look like sturdy cedar fence posts. It wasnât a gym routine; it was life. It was weeks of head-to-head pushing in the ring, the constant, grinding torque of hand-fighting. That daily, gritty work built a brute-force armour. They called it âtaking your lumps,â and it was just part of the territory.
Now, pull up a stool beside a young fighter taping their wrists. Theyâre talking about cervical spine integrity, about hyperextension and rotational forces not as folklore, but as precise biomechanical stresses. Theyâll mention studies on neck strengthening reducing head accelerationâthat old-timerâs instinct for a strong neck being a buffer, now wrapped in data. The science is fascinating: how repetitive strain, from a chokehold to a striking impact, can compress vessels and nerves, affecting blood flow to the brain. Dizziness, that fogâitâs not just âgetting your bell rungâ; itâs a vascular event. The wisdom is in the recognition: what felt like toughness yesterday, we understand today as a delicate system needing support, not just endurance.
Hereâs the beautiful bridge, eh? The tough-love philosophy of the territories didnât just create tough necks; it created tough minds. It taught you to listen to your body in a language of pain and recovery. That same listening is what the modern wellness space calls âinteroceptionâ or âmindful recovery.â The old-school guy whoâd say, âWalk it off,â mightâve also been the one telling a rookie to ice a tweaked neck and not to train the next day. It was wisdom carved from experience, not a textbook.
When you step into a neighbourhood gym in a small prairie town, you can almost hear the echo of a bygone era: the cheers that rose over the Stampede arena, the clatter of boots on the wooden ring, and the steady drum of a crowd that loved a good âtoughâloveâ lesson. Those same walls now hum with the lowâbeat of a rowing machine, the clang of freeâweights, and the focused breathing of folks who are as serious about their health as they are about their love for a good mapleâsyrupâdrizzled poutine.
It isnât a coincidence that the oldâschool wrestling culture and todayâs wellness science sit sideâbyâside in so many Canadian fitness spaces. Both demand respect for the body, a willingness to push past comfort zones, and a deepâseated belief that true strength stems from balance â mental, emotional and physical. In the old Stampede territories, a coach might have barked, âKeep your chin up, kid!â â a call that was as much about confidence as about neck posture. Today, that same mantra finds its home in discussions of cervical spine integrity, the unsung hero that keeps a wrestlerâs head steady, a cyclistâs eyes forward, and a deskâbound bioâhacker alert.
Back in the day, wrestlers learned to listen to the ring floor, to trust the feel of a suplex and to respect the limits of their bodies. The lessons were straightforward: if your spine gave out, the match was over. That raw, noânonsense attitude carved out a culture where âhard workâ meant more than a badge on a locker; it was a badge of honour.
Fast forward to a modern training centre in Vancouver, where a trainer might pair a kettlebell swing with a mobility drill that targets the upper neck. The goal isnât simply to lift heavier; itâs to protect the cervical spine so every rep, every jump, every pivot can be executed without compromise. The oldâschool âtoughâloveâ ethos lives on, only now itâs backed by evidenceâbased practices: dynamic stretching, neuroâmuscular activation, and smart recovery protocols.
DENTIST
The gritty glamour of the dental world, where precision meets artistry
https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/dentist-1
Discover the Power of Your Dual Destiny.
You believe in precision. You demand excellence. But what happens when the exacting world of the operatory meets the vibrant stage of your hidden life?
In the vast, demanding landscape of modern dentistry, a quiet secret echoes: the heartbeat of a performer, the soul of a singer, the script of an actor, all practicing under the guise of an "Architect of Grace." You are a professional dedicated to health and structure, yet your greatest masterpieceâyour authentic selfâremains compartmentalized, waiting in the wings.
This is the central conflict for every brilliant mind who has ever sung "The Hydroxyapatite Anthem" in their heart, while designing an "Immortal Smile" in the chair. You donât need balance; you need Synergy.
Unlock the Secret World
Just as Harry discovered Platform 9 ž, DENTIST reveals the hidden gateway where your professional craft and artistic passion do not merely coexist, but magnify each other. This is the definitive narrative and performance toolkit for the dental community, forging the desire for authenticity into powerful, celebrated action.














