Page 15 - 2020 Spring CMTA Report

CosySoles Heated Slippers

Warm Feet and Hearts

A
BY AMANDA KOTACK

y dad, Allan Kotack,
had no intention of
Mstarting a business
25 years ago. His only
concern was finding a
B solution to the problem
closest to his heart—my
mother’s CMT.
Back then, their only
solution was to immerse
her feet in hot water,
which restricted her in
C many ways. Determined
to develop a product that CosySoles is a proud supporter of CMTA and donates 50 cents for
was warm and comfortable every pair of CosySoles sold to the organization. In addition, the
control in returning my feet to and allowed for mobility, company is offering 10 percent off to readers of The CMTA Report
the starting point. Dad single-handedly (enter code CMTA at checkout on www.cosysoles.com).
The other change involved stitched the very first pair
my daily stretching regimen. The of CosySoles. The microwave-heated, grain-filled booties provide a direct heat source and
twisting and turning of my feet enclose the entire surface of the foot, providing a more efficient heat distribution. The slip-
throws my whole body out of pers are designed to allow the freedom to walk around without losing the heat source.
alignment. Yoga generally—and The slippers were life-changing for my mom, Patricia Kotack, and before long our par-
the triangle and half-moon poses ents realized that CosySoles could help others. The discovery of a wide array of disorders
in particular—helps me coax that caused cold feet led to the decision to share the warmth of CosySoles with the rest of
everything from my feet to my the world.
hips and buttocks back into In 2009, my whole family appeared on Canadian Broadcasting Company’s Dragon’s
proper position. In this weakened Den, which led to further exposure and an investment deal with Brett Wilson. The
state, though, my yoga practice response from the episode was amazing and we were grateful, humbled and thrilled with
was accentuating the hyperexten- the resulting increase in demand.
sion of the fascia in my ankles. Our parents kept the business going strong for years. It became a true passion into
So, I stopped going to classes and which they poured their hearts and souls. My siblings and I witnessed their tireless dedica-
began a full yoga practice at home tion to manufacture and market a high-quality therapeutic product that would have a
in my SMOs (supra-malleolar major impact on many lives.
orthoses), which support the leg Sadly, Dad passed away in 2013 after battling and eventually losing to cancer. This
just above the ankle bones. unimaginable loss left our family in despair. There is no recovering from this loss, but after
Stretching while wearing the some time, it is the moments of light and the memories of our Dad that help us stay strong.
SMOs enables me to do the full The torch has now been passed along to us “kids.” After years of pursuing our own
poses without further aggravating careers and experiencing the ups and downs of life, we’re ready to spread the warmth a
the hyperextension of the fascia. little further. We hold with us the lessons and
The program is working. qualities of our Dad and remain humble to
I am pain free and standing well where we began. We remain true to creating a
after only a month. My annual quality Canadian-made product that helps
visit to the CMT clinic in Iowa warm the soles and the soul. h
City in February confirmed that
my ankles are stronger than they
The Kotack family—Jordan,
were at my previous visit last Amanda, Patricia and Melissa
May. h

SPRING 2020 THE CMTA REPORT 15