Skip to content
John Swart

John Swart

After three decades co-owning various southern Ontario small businesses with his wife, Els, John Swart has enjoyed 15 years in retirement volunteering, bicycling the world, and feature writing. At the Voice of Pelham he won the George Cadogan Memorial Outstanding Columnist Award, and Outstanding Columnist in the Canadian Community Newspaper Awards. His column The Balanced Life appears weekly on PelhamToday.

Recent Work by John

THE BALANCED LIFE: Functional Fitness could be for you

THE BALANCED LIFE: Functional Fitness could be for you

Real-world exercises that benefit all ages
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE | Getting set for cold-weather fitness

THE BALANCED LIFE | Getting set for cold-weather fitness

Our mild Niagara winters offer abundant possibilities
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE | Uh-oh. Hitting 100 not so common after all

THE BALANCED LIFE | Uh-oh. Hitting 100 not so common after all

Magical 'Blue Zones' stuffed with centenarians may be more about pension fraud than healthy diets
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE: What you need to know about Dead Butt Syndrome

THE BALANCED LIFE: What you need to know about Dead Butt Syndrome

Otherwise known as Gluteal Amnesia, and you definitely don't want it
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE: Smiles and laughter

THE BALANCED LIFE: Smiles and laughter

They really are life’s best medicine
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE: Health and Wellness trends

THE BALANCED LIFE: Health and Wellness trends

Where we're headed in 2025 and beyond
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE: The best activity to maintain physical and cognitive function may surprise you

THE BALANCED LIFE: The best activity to maintain physical and cognitive function may surprise you

It's better than swimming, it's better than jogging, it's better than bicycling
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE | Total absorption is the key to 'Flow'

THE BALANCED LIFE | Total absorption is the key to 'Flow'

Call it 'in the zone' or 'in the groove,' flow means no holding back
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE | Is your happy place on a walking trail?

THE BALANCED LIFE | Is your happy place on a walking trail?

The correlation between physical activity and happiness is genuine
Read more >
THE BALANCED LIFE | Spud and Mojo, a shaggy dog story

THE BALANCED LIFE | Spud and Mojo, a shaggy dog story

Every day is a new adventure with a six-month-old pup
Read more >
More work by John >