Monday, May 25, 2009
A Weekend of Yoga
Other than one semester of yoga in Grade 9 P.E. class, I hadn't done any yoga before. I knew I really "should", but with an overwhelming number of styles and studios I just haven't. Last weekend that all changed. Yoga Outreach is a Vancouver-based organization that brings yoga to places where it isn't otherwise accessible, such as transition houses, prisons, treatment centres, etc. So my husband signed us up for their fundraiser weekend and off we went to lovely Brackendale. I got to try all kinds of yoga, eat yummy food, meet new people and enjoy nature - what more can a person ask for? The last session, I joined the laughter yoga people (my husband is an LY teacher, and was helping out), and we laughed our butts off. What a wonderful weekend. Now, I'm looking forward to trying out yoga locally at one of the supporting groups like Open Door on Commercial Drive. And I really hope to go to the retreat again next year.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
What a way to spend a short holiday!
Take a deep breath, and let it go right down deep into your toes. Now exhale slowly and feel the tension release from your body. That feeling of release is what it’s like to go to the Oasis Rejuvenation Centre and Retreat in Mission. Even after me being a pain by emailing a myriad of questions and giving a ridiculously long list of foods we couldn’t eat, Teresa nevertheless greeted us warmly with a big smile and a welcoming hug. After settling in our upgraded room, we each sat down with her to talk about the next few days. From our arrival on Saturday to our departure on Tuesday, we were fed magnificently by Bonnie and Rob (Teresa’s husband), massaged and pampered by Teresa, and, in the end, felt like we were a part of the Oasis family. Each gave of themselves and their many talents, and their puppy Sancho bounded into our hearts too. There was a night of Karaoke in their big games/play/fun room that Rob hosted with ourselves and another guest, which was a blast (Chris of course beat us all at foosball)! Will we go back? You had better believe it! Besides all of the obvious spa reasons, we want to see all the beauty of the place that was hiding under the snow!Monday, December 01, 2008
Christmas 2008
Five minutes was all it took to go "Christmas shopping" this year, but I'm hoping our family and friends are happy with the results. Usually we cherry pick charities to give to for each person, matching the gift to the recipient. This year, we decided to give our donation to only one organization; family and friends this year helped pay for shares in a community well through the Canadian Feed the Children's "Best Gift Ever" program. The Western World spends a ridiculous amount of money and resources on bottled water, despite having the cleanest and most accessible water in the world. Yet, many people around the world have little access to clean water, and often women and girls have to walk miles to carry it home to their families. This means girls are not able to go to school and instead have to do back-breaking labour. Our hope is that a village will be able to not only have access to clean drinking water, but that it will also allow the girls to go to school and women to better provide for themselves and their families. Merry Christmas everyone!Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Atira's 25th Anniversary Celebration
Enjoying being a bit different, Atira (where I work) chose to honour 25 women at its 25th anniversary celebration (on October 25th, cost was $25). Atira was celebrating 25 years of supporting, encouraging and believing in women! We have been proudly serving, embracing and loving this community for 25 years and showed our gratitude to the women who have made our work possible. An appeal was made to nominate any woman who has touched your heart, mind, spirit or soul... any woman who has made you laugh, taught you something or supported your tears... any woman who has loved, lost or learned... any woman at all. Check out who they are and what was said about them. It was a magical night and I felt honoured to be part of such a creative and amazing group of women.Labels: Atira, celebration, feminism, feminist, women
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
We have no excuse for drinking bottled water...
It's official. Vancouver has some of the tastiest tap water around. No more excuses for drinking bottled water, which is often tap water from other municipalities! See the article here.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Astute Cartoon
Very astute cartoon here about the nature of PE teachers. I think this guy must have had some of the same as I did in junior high!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Have a Coke and a...
... brain meltdown. I haven’t had any Coke in a very long time; it has been so long that I don’t even remember how many years ago it was that I last “enjoyed” a glass of the stuff. Today, I foolishly had a glass of Coke and afterwards it was an interesting experience, to say the very least.
First, my head got all fuzzy as the sugar rushed straight to my veins and into my poor defenseless brain. Once the fuzziness started to quell, it hit the rest of me like a runaway freight train. The explosion of sugar and chemicals, mixed with caffeine (of which I rarely indulge), was like a supersonic magic potion of Asterix proportions. To say I’m currently a little hyper would be so understated as to be ludicrous.
It’s now time for a 5km run just to get me back halfway to “normal.” I wonder if I’ll sleep at all this weekend?
First, my head got all fuzzy as the sugar rushed straight to my veins and into my poor defenseless brain. Once the fuzziness started to quell, it hit the rest of me like a runaway freight train. The explosion of sugar and chemicals, mixed with caffeine (of which I rarely indulge), was like a supersonic magic potion of Asterix proportions. To say I’m currently a little hyper would be so understated as to be ludicrous.
It’s now time for a 5km run just to get me back halfway to “normal.” I wonder if I’ll sleep at all this weekend?
