JUST DO IT | Marathon walking is a pretty big deal right now, and it’s getting bigger because fitness fanatics who’ve been jogging their shins off are finding that while finishing a 42-km race may be an accomplishment, it isn’t necessarily the best thing for the body. Get the whole story
THE TURN ON: There are many reasons why people knit. In Zen and the Art of Knitting, author Bernadette Murphy cites feeding the soul, resting the mind, ripening the intellect and nurturing the urge to create as tops among them. Whatever your reason for knitting or your skill level, experts and mentors will inevitably be a part of your journey.
WHAT’S THE DEAL: For $65 annually, the Knit & Stitch Shoppe in West Vancouver offers unlimited access to their infinitely patient staff who will teach you to knit from scratch or, if you are an advanced knitter, help you unravel the mysteries of complex patterns and intricate stitches. This expert assistance is available all day everyday, and you can drop in as often as you like to join them on their comfy couches to knit and chat.
WHY WE’RE EXCITED: This is a viable alternative to individual knitting classes. If you struggle with any aspect of a knitting project, these seriously talented knitters can help you out of your jam.
HOW LONG WILL THE PLEASURE LAST: The Stitch & Knit Shoppe, which has been in business for 39 years, has offered this service for the past 16 years, and they have no plans to stop.
WHERE’S THE F SPOT!: The Knit & Stitch Shoppe is located at 2460 Marine Drive in West Vancouver (604-922-1023). For more about the Stitch & Knit Shoppe visit www.knit-n-stitch.biz
—Submitted by Roxana Palcu
One of the most fruitful areas for a new yoga practitioner to explore is something I call television yoga. It’s not a formal practice. You don’t have to put on special clothes, roll out a mat or light a candle. And if you watch TV, talk on the phone or sit and listen to music, you don’t even have to make time for it. You just have to be willing to devote some of your sitting-down time to gentle, intelligent work with your body. Any seated hip opener will do. But if you’d like to stretch your front thighs, it’s hard to beat the half-hero pose. Get the whole story
Most of what we do, including typing, cooking, driving, reading and gardening, encourages us to lift our shoulder blades, jut our heads forward and round our backs. Don’t get stuck there. Instead, reverse the curve with a chest-opening pose. You’ll make more space for your lungs, bring your shoulders back into place, relieve upper back tension and stretch your front chest muscles. Even five minutes a day makes a difference—as long as it’s every day. Get the whole story
FITTER BY THE MINUTE It is well known that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among Canadians. But a recent study was shocked to find that going to the gym does not make up for all the sedentary time we spend. This is bad news for professional sitters (i.e., those of us who sit at desk to make a living). A recent New York Times article indicated that even if we live reasonably healthy lives but sit for more than 23 hours a week, we are 64 percent more likely to die from heart disease. According to the study, even for those who have nixed cream and go jogging, it is not enough to counteract the effects of all of that sitting. So unless you are planning on a career change to bike courier or rickshaw driver, insert a bit of activity into your office hours by giving your daily grind some heart.
This simple active routine will boost your heart rate (not to mention your popularity and productivity). Get the whole story
FIT FOR LESS | Anyone addicted to personal training can rattle off the benefits: great personal trainers keep you motivated and driving hard toward a level of fitness that always feels just out of reach; PTs teach proper strength training techniques, then push you like you would never push yourself to perform exercises correctly and with intent; ongoing work with a trainer means your abs will ripple but your tush will not (or not much anyway), that whatever health conditions, body image issues or training goals brought you there in the first place will be studiously addressed. So personal training is a good thing, and if you have been doing it, you probably don’t want to stop even when it starts to feel like the black dog of recession is nipping at your wallet. Get the whole story
FITTER RIGHT NOW Let’s face it, like anything good for us, fitness routines can get boring after a while. Plus results from even the most fantastic regime will eventually plateau. Here are three fun ways to shake up your routine, or get back into one, and keep you engaged body, mind and soul. And with these great deals, you can’t afford not to give them a try. Get the whole story
The turn on: We get a kick (literally) out of drinking Emergen-C’s energy boosting powder-blend packets of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that are made to be stirred into common tap water. More convenient than popping vitamin pills, this fizzy drink product is a great way to ward off a cold. It is also the perfect pick-me-up water-bottle drink for during or after a workout. Once drunk, twice addicted is all we can say.
What’s the deal: $7.99 for a box of a 30 packets.
Why we’re excited: More like stunned, really. But hey, ours is not to question why this product costs $20.99 (this is the sale price; it is regularly $22.99) at Whole Foods in Vancouver and only $7.99 at Trader Joes in Bellingham; ours is but to buy in bulk on our next trip south.
How long will the pleasure last: Always. This is the regular price a Trader Joes.
Where’s The F Spot: In Bellingham, take exit 255 to Trader Joes, 2410 James Street, (360) 734-5166; open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
— Submitted by M. Phelps