Sweat Equity Magazine Nov/Dec 2012

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wanderlust whistler Festival Spirit FUNCTIONAL FITNESS THE NEW BUZZWORD

art+ yoga

Through the Lens of Robert Sturman

good giving Our 2012 Gift Guide

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Improve your run Brendan Brazier Shows You How

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Contents

nov/dec 2012

the art of yoga 48

Robert Sturman’s Portfolio

wanderlust whistler 34 Festival Spirit

functional fitness 39

The New Buzzword

good giving 42

Photo: Robert Sturman Photography, Model: Jen Warakomski

Our 2012 Gift Guide

Cover Photo: Robert Sturman Photography, cover Model: Noelle Beaugureau nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Contents nov/dec 2012

in every issue 8 Publishers Note / contributors 10 sweatequitymagazine.com 12 stretch in the city 14 community sweat 16 om news 20 sweat science 22 fuel 24 spirit junkie 26 be yoga 73 raw ambition 79 En-Lighten Up 80 sweat etiquette

28 AMBASSADOR LOVE

Featuring Suzanne Slocum-Gori

29 enjoy responsibly

Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

32 finding your life mission Eoin Finn’s Blissology Project

55 Winter beauty secrets 56 do yoga

Hip Openers with Amica Hilton

61 3 Postures to Change Your Day

features 70 the flexitarian Nettie Cornish

74 go touch down travel South Africa Abounds

62 strength training

Brendan Brazier’s Work Out

65 delicious living

Andrew Muto Brings the Holiday Flavour

69 the ingredient Persimmon

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Volume 3, Issue 1

Great Sex?

PUBLISHER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fred Antwi fred@sweatequitymagazine.com contributing editor Mairead Walsh editor@sweatequitymagazine.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/PROMOTION MANAGER Debra Antwi debra@sweatequitymagazine.com Food eDItor Andrew Muto ART DIRECTION Erik Mohr/Bungalow PRODUCTION MANAGER/STAFF WRITER Sarah Lichtman production@sweatequitymagazine.com COPY EDITOR / CONTRIBUTOR Eryn Kirkwood

Contai

ns

Damian

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CONTRIBUTORS Gabrielle Bernstein, Bee Bosnak, Brendan Brazier, Charlene Brooke, Patricia D’Amato, Colin J. DeFrance, Eoin Finn, Amica Hilton, Ella Isakov, Sara Elizabeth Ivanhoe, Jordan Junck, Jen Kirsch, Nadia Link, Liana Louzon, Bonnie Lynch, Kristen Ma, Doug McNish, Mary Luz Mejia, Mark Millar, Erin Moraghan, Deborah Peniuk, Dina Rich, Suzanne Slocum-Gori, Robert Sturman, Kat Tancock, Grace Van Berkum SALES ACCOUNT MANAGERS Leslie Best, Beryl Wong sales@sweatequitymagazine.com CIRCULATION circulation@sweatequitymagazine.com

Contain

s

While every effort has been made to ensure that advertisements and articles appear correctly, Sweat Equity Lifestyle Media Group cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of this publication. All material is intended for information purposes only. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editors.

oat G y n r Ho Weed

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.

TM

Owned and published by Sweat Equity Lifestyle Media Group 6-1500 Upper Middle Road West, #118 Oakville, Ontario L6M 0C2 info@sweatequitymagazine.com Sweat Equity Magazine is published 6 times a year: Sept/Oct; Nov/Dec; Jan/Feb; March/April; May/June; July/Aug

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For advertising/sales inquiries please contact: sales@sweatequitymagazine.com Printed in Canada on paper from a sustainable source using vegetable-based inks.

CONTACT US Readers are invited to contribute comments, views and photos. Please send article submissions and photography to: editor@sweatequitymagazine.com MODEL/PROFILE SUBMISSION To be considered for a model/trainer/teacher profile, please email: editor@sweatequitymagazine.com

YTT YTT

YTT

Publisher’s Note

Celebrating Courage “Courage doesn’t always roar.” ~Mary Anne Radmacher

Fred Antwi, Publisher

of nature. Gabrielle Bernstein, author of Spirit Junkie, gives us a lesson on having the courage to choose forgiveness in order to experience the

Who hasn’t felt it—the knotted gut, the dry mouth, the weak knees?—

miracles of love and gratitude. Our Bucket List trip contest winner shares

all calling cards of fear. And it doesn’t seem to matter whether the

some insights from her journey to South Africa where courage abounds in

object of our dread is a tidal wave or simply a flood of raw emotion; the

nature and in the people. We explore the world of Ryan “The Lion” Leier,

sensations it stirs up are the same. Heroes on the silver screen seem

whose courageous leadership brought the innovative Vinyasa Yoga for

immune to it, but as real-life heroes like Nelson Mandela know, true

Youth organization to life. When you’ve finished these stories and you’re

courage is “not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” This issue

feeling properly pumped up with courage and inspiration, you won’t have

celebrates courage—not the movie star variety that stomps over fear

far to go for opportunities to change the world: our gift guide features

without pausing to see its face— but the quiet willingness to waltz up

charities and other worthy organizations ready to receive your support.

to the edge of fear, admit we’re afraid, and ask it to dance anyway. We

And to quote the balance of Mary Anne Radmacher’s thoughts on cour-

feature Robert Sturman’s extraordinary photographic profiles, which

age, “Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says

capture the “courageous vulnerability” of incarcerated yogis and the

I’ll try again tomorrow.” So cue the waltz music; courage is just a dance

fragile beauty of asana against the wild and tempestuous backdrop

away!

Contributors

andrew muto is a true foodie and pas-

robert sturman

A dedicated yoga practitioner himself, Sturman’s work has increasingly focused on capturing the timeless grace and embodied mindfulness of asana. His portraits, whether set in the lively streets of Manhattan, the expansiveness of Malibu’s beaches and canyons, the timeless elegance of Walden’s New England, or the bleakness of San Quentin penitentiary, remind us that there is beauty everywhere. In Sturman’s own words “I often think of Rumi: ‘I can’t stop pointing to the beauty.’ That feels right to me.” robertsturmanstudio.com

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WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

sionate about eating for good health. “I’m always considering ways to bring traditional, comfort foods into the realm of health without compromising taste and authenticity.” 25 years of cooking has nurtured that desire and kept Andrew on purpose – to help people from all walks of life enjoy healthy foods that are simple and easy, incorporating local fare and organic where possible! Andrew accomplishes this education through articles, personal food demonstrations, recipe resurrection and healthy private/corporate catering services. createhealthyfood.com

kat tancock writes about health, fitness, travel and food for publications including Reader’s Digest, the Globe and Mail and Fresh Juice. She’s also the new media editor at Food & Drink and a contributor to Vitamin Daily - and sometimes teaches yoga, too.

ROOTS ACTIVE ATHLETICS

Laurie Campbell - Director, Roots Yoga

Roots Yoga Studio - roots.com/yoga

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Good Giving

@sweatequitymag

T’is the season of giving, so we encourage you to take inventory of all that you have been given. This issue we give to you an incredible gift guide that showcases some fantastic things AND - features the best gifts of all - some wonderful charities and organizations that you can give to - a donation, or your time. Go online, visit their sites, find out how you can get involved and give your support. Thank you and cheers to good giving!

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Stretch in the City

TWO STUDIOS WITH HEART Felicia Ross and Jennifer Maagendans put the Yoga in Yuletide!

By Charlene Brooke

The Yoga Beat

Centre Luna

It’s an unfortunate reality that yoga classes can be cost-prohibitive for many people. So last February, Felicia Ross, owner of two Moksha Yoga locations, decided to do something about it. When she wasn’t parenting, running her centres, or practicing yoga, Felicia was planning to open Toronto’s first pay-what-you-can studio, The Yoga Beat.

It all began when Felicia met with Bill Coleman and Laurence Lemieux, the husband and wife co-directors of the dance troupe Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie. After moving from Montreal, Coleman and Lemieux renovated the former 1912 Salvation Army Citadel in Regent Park to run their troupe. Thanks to the trio’s combined inspiration, the first floor of this historic gem is now home to The Yoga Beat.

It’s not just the cost structure that makes this studio inclusive.

The Yoga Beat provides an environment that is safe and open to all; it doesn’t matter where you come from, who you know, or what you wear. Everyone from the Regent Park community and beyond is welcome to enjoy the same high-quality yoga classes that can be found in other centres. While the first year hasn’t been without its challenges, Felicia celebrates every success, including partnering up with New Leaf Yoga Foundation to provide classes for at-risk youths from Regent Park High School. This is just the beginning of what she hopes will be more community outreach programs, which will extend the accessibility of this practice we love even further!

The concept of yoga means different things to different people.

For Jennifer Maagendans, co-owner of Centre Luna, it means helping people to reconnect with the earth, their surroundings, and each other. After completing a geography degree that focused on human environment relations, Jennifer set out to explore this idea of connection by opening her own yoga studio in 2003 with co-manager and life partner, Jason Kent. Set in Old Montreal, Centre Luna started as a small “mom and pop” studio, brought to life by helpful hands from friends and family and a compromise with the landlord who agreed to lay down new floors and pay for paint. If he hadn’t, this former photography studio on St. Paul St. might never have been transformed into the bustling centre that it is today.

With a focus on Jivamukti, a style of yoga that combines physical, ethical, and spiritual elements, every class begins by setting an intention. A physically demanding practice follows, punctuated with yogic philosophy and a reminder to stay focused on the moment. When students aren’t doing traditional classes, they’re yoga-ing to live music or taking a composting workshop. Some have been known to pick up a broom or the occasional paintbrush when the need arises. Outside the studio, you can find Luna instructors teaching in office spaces and elsewhere in the community. Nine years after opening, Centre Luna still emphasizes the need to stay grounded and connect with the people around them.

304 Parliament St., Toronto, ON, theyogabeat.ca

231 St. Paul West, Suite 200, Montreal, QC, centrelunayoga.com

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Photo: left courtesy of the yoga beat ; right courtesy of centre luna yoga

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Upcoming special events

November 23, 2012

Sony presents Shaolin Warriors Nine years since their last sold-out appearances in Toronto, at the former Hummingbird Centre, China’s SHAOLIN WARRIORS will make their triumphant return to the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts on Friday, November 23 at 7:30pm.

The Kung-Fu Masters of the SHAOLIN WARRIORS will perform a theatrical choreography which portrays a typical day in their lives, from dawn to dusk, including the serenity of morning meditation and chants, daily exercises, and the dazzling synchronized fighting rituals that employ an array of traditional Shaolin weaponry.

Get your tickets by phone 1-855-872-SONY (7669) or online at sonycentre.ca

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Sweating for a great cause? We wanna know so we can spread the good word . Email us - community@ sweatequitymagazine.com

January 1 2013

Courage Polar Bear Dip Coronation Park, Oakville, Ontario 12:30pm – 3pm (Dip at 2pm sharp) Ring in the New Year with a million dollar splash! Join more than 700 dippers and 5000 spectators at Coronation Park in Oakville for Canada’s Largest Polar Bear Dip for Charity. The 28th annual event will raise funds for clean water projects in Rwanda through World Vision Canada.

Live music, costume contests, prize draws, and celebrity guests will ensure fun for the whole family and on January 1 2013 total funds will surpass $1,000,000 raised for World Vision making this a Million Dollar Dip! Free to attend, $25 to dip Full event and registration details visit polarbeardip.ca

February 23, 2013

Peace of Minds Yogathon

It’s time to roll out your mats for the 8th annual Peace of Minds Yogathon for schizophrenia and psychotic illnesses.

Help create Peace of Minds for the over 130,000 individuals in Ontario who are living with schizophrenia and psychosis by participating in a fun, yoga-filled day. Join us in raising funds and awareness for the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario s Peace of Minds youth outreach and education programs.

This year’s event is bigger and better than ever. Get involved in the signature events in Toronto and Oakville, attend a class at a participating yoga studio throughout the province or new this year participate virtually through online streaming. By participating in the Peace of Minds Yogathon in person, using the web, or by practicing at home and making an online donation to the SSO, you will help the organization provide vital support services and programs while continuing to make a positive difference to individuals, families and communities impacted by schizophrenia and psychosis.

Visit yogathon.ca for registration, location, studio and donation information!

WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

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Om News

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“Is it art or can I sit on it?” At first glance, I know that’s what

you’re thinking. Yes, this futuristic artistic rendering of a chair is actually functional. Not only is the minimalist design a work of art, but you can sit on it . . . for hours! No more slouching over your computer; this Canadian-made vegan-friendly contemporary chair allows you to sit comfortably in a cross-legged yoga pose (sukhasana) at your desk, eating dinner, watching TV, or anywhere else you’d want to grab a seat.

Sukhasana inspires people to rethink the way they sit; it promotes perfect spinal alignment, allowing the body to achieve physical and mental harmony—hence the yoga posture after which it’s named.

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/ starting at $1,800

Tag, You’re It! Get involved in the Yoga-Recess campaign

By Ella Isakov Kids’ yoga is all about having fun while exploring yoga poses, playing games, and

learning valuable mindfulness skills with breath work and meditation. Classes help kids to develop balance, flexibility, concentration, self-expression, compassion, and a more calm body and mind. Rainbow breath, time travel, animal poses, partner yoga, and yoga tag are just a few examples of what children can enjoy in their practice.

In kid’s yoga, we worry less about form and alignment of postures and more about cocreation, allowing each moment to be led with imagination. Children are natural yogis; their hips, hearts, and minds are open and ready to learn. Yoga asanas (or poses) are used to explore music, dance, storytelling, and art; they’re the foundation for developing creativity, independent thought, and inner happiness. They help children to grow in selfrespect and become mindful of how they treat others and the environment.

According to the University of Indiana’s Sound Medicine, children who practice yoga often have healthier sleep patterns, which allow them to be more relaxed throughout their day. A study conducted by the Journal of Attention Disorders found that children with ADHD who do yoga are more likely to remain focused and are less hyperactive, which reduces the incidents of emotional outbursts and oppositional behaviour at school and at home—a benefit for all involved. Additionally, yoga allows children with asthma to maintain a healthy lifestyle without an asthma attack induced by highintensity exercise.

The Yoga Health Foundation is a grassroots organization that coordinates the YogaRecess in Schools campaign. Their initiative is to bring yoga-based health education into the classrooms, providing free resources and videos for teachers to incorporate yoga and fitness into kids’ school life. Yoga-Recess is starting this initiative with a national awareness day on January 25. Their goal is to have at least 1,000 school teachers integrate Yoga-Recess into their classrooms. “Since we started Yoga-Recess 2 years ago, over 10,000 school teachers expressed interest in bringing yoga into their classroom. With the new Yoga-Recess in School campaign we encourage school teachers to integrate breathing, stretching and other short yoga exercises into their daily class schedule.” says Johannes R. Fisslinger, president of the Yoga Health Foundation.

Support the Yoga-Recess Challenge by registering a team to raise funds, sponsoring a participant or team in the challenge, or by promoting the event in the media. Let’s get the word out for Yoga-Recess Day! For more information visit yoga-recess.org

Ella Isakov is a yoga teacher, writer, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, and yoga-preneur. Ella left her career as a school teacher and established Stellar Kids Yoga to bring kids’ yoga to more schools and daycares. She also established Prana Retreats, raw food yoga retreats. stellarkidsyoga.com

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Exhibiting at the Fall 2012

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WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

Eating Teacher’s by the Story Book

Call of the Wild

Ryan Leier Spreads his Message of Love

By Eryn Kirkwood, MA, RYT200

Photo: Darby Macgill

“I try not to take myself tooooo seri-

ously; it’s only my LIFE!!” chuckles Ryan Leier, when asked how he views his discipline. For Ryan, “The practice is about being kind and being real.” And this is one teacher who walks the talk.

It’s clear from his advanced practice that yoga’s far more than child’s play, for Ryan.

Primarily a student of the Krishnamacharya lineage, he continues to study under Father Joe Pereira and trains with yoga moguls like Baron Baptiste, Danny Paradise, and Srivatsa Ramaswami, to name a few. Where discipline is involved, there’s no shortage here.

Ryan the Lion (a nickname since childhood) has stuck, and it’s easy to see why.

With disheveled strawberry blonde hair and a beard that extends long enough to graze his chest, he’s reminiscent of an ancient sage as much as he is a King of the Kingdom.

No wonder he’s popular with the kids!

His dynamic enthusiasm for the practice

captures the hearts of all who are within his reach.

When asked to comment on the state of yoga today, as he sees it, Ryan says “I know so many practitioners who have become judgmental and rigid rather than tolerant and flexible . . . [but at the same time], sometimes yogis take things a little too lightly.

Their lifestyle is not in accordance with the ‘yogi’s code’ and they use the practice to justify things they really shouldn’t be doing.”

It seems this yogi has found the perfect balance between confidence and humility, tradition and creativity, individuality and collectivity.

Ryan’s most inspiring project to date involves his work with kids and adolescents aged 5 to 22. He explains, “I feel all youth are ‘at-risk,’ because our society is a little bit disconnected and injurious to children’s creativity, individuality, and their ability to empathize and be compassionate.” Vinyasa

Yoga for Youth (VYFY) is defined as “an innovative non-profit organization designed to meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of youth.” The program uses yoga to “help discipline the body and mind and lead youth towards healthier life choices, an enhanced capacity for love and compassion, and ultimately a more meaningful life experience.”

Through his dynamic approach to postures, breathing, and collective movement, Ryan helps teach the kids who might feel superior that we’re all connected, we’re all the same, and to encourage the ones who feel inferior to find the strength and courage to be who they truly are. To find, in a sense, the “grace, nobility, calm strength, and courage” that he considers characteristics of his iconic beast, the lion. I think that’s a lesson from which we all could benefit!

To learn more about Ryan and his projects, go to ryanleier.com.

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Sweat Science

How Sweet It Is! The Truth About Sugar

By Colin J. DeFrance, HBsc, CPT Sugar consumption is considered a leading cause of rising obesity rates in North America and is often viewed as the nemesis of anyone looking to lose weight. But before you write off this sweet powder as poison, it’s important to understand just what sugar is and how our bodies process it .

For most of us, sugar refers to the white granular substance that we add to our coffee and use to make desserts, donuts, candies, and a host of other treats that are the bane of sweet-toothed aficionados alike. The sugar in this case is sucrose–a disaccharide made from two monosaccharides–glucose and fructose. Many types of sugars are found in nature, and all of them are made by plants, with one exception–lactose, which is a disaccharide found in mammalian milk. Glucose has a glycemic index (GI) of 100, whereas sucrose, fructose, and lactose have a GI of 65, 55, and 46, respectively. The glycemic index is an indicator of how quickly a particular carbohydrate (relative to glucose) tends to raise one’s blood glucose level. Generally speaking, the bulk of one’s diet should consist of moderate- to low-GI carbohydrates (55 and lower). All sugars, as well as most other carbohydrates, are converted into glucose in the body, which is then metabolized for immediate energy production or stored either as the carbohydrate glycogen (in muscles and in the liver) or in adipose tissue as fat.

Our bodies store only about 3,000 calories as carbohydrates compared to about 100,000 calories as fat, which is why the real problem—consuming too much sugar—can lead to obesity. In this case, the amount of sugar consumed over a period of time (glycemic load) exceeds both the body’s immediate energy demands and its carbohydrate storage capacity.

Carbohydrate is the only nutrient that can be metabolized anaerobically (without oxygen) for use in energy production. This becomes critical in fight-or-flight scenarios, when high-output energy is required for survival.

Interestingly, our bodies shift to fight-or-flight mode when we engage in high-intensity exercise or sports. As such, the body suppresses fat production and favours using carbohydrate as a fuel source to produce the energy needed to support the increased exercise demand. The point is, sugar consumption during high-intensity fitness activity is less of a concern with respect to weight gain and is sometimes even beneficial as a means of sustaining exercise performance.

Consuming a 5 gram piece of candy or a square of chocolate is not a problem. It will barely register as a “blip” on the blood glucose radar screen.

So long as you engage in regular physical activity and eat a varied, balanced diet (preferably from fresh, organic, whole food sources) you need not be afraid of the word sugar ever again. Live a little!

Glycemic index

100 Glucose

65 sucrose

55 fructose

46 lactose

Colin J. De France combined his education and decades of experience in the food industry with his passion for nutrition and created Inbalance Nutrition®—a company which specializes in marketing a line of all natural and organic ‘lifestyle’ food products. Colin shares his Balance Your Lifestyle!® tips at public speaking engagements. inbalancenutrition.ca

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glycogen or fat?

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Spirit Junkie

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein

Choose Love

How to Live a Miraculous Life By Gabrielle Bernstein Many of us long for a life of happiness and peace, but we don’t believe we

teaches that the only thing missing in any situation is love, and where there

can achieve it. The great paradox is that our lack of faith in love and miracles

is fear there is no love. Therefore, living with an open heart and embracing

is what blocks us from receiving just that!

love as our true purpose is essential to living a miraculous life.

If we want to live a miraculous life, we must raise the volume on the loving voice within and turn down the volume on our fear.

The first step in choosing love over fear is to understand your fear. As

The payoff for sticking to these principles is that the more you choose forgiveness, gratitude, and love, the more miracles you experience. If you’re wondering what I mean by “miracle,” it’s simple: a miracle is a shift

a student of A Course in Miracles, I learned to observe my fear-based

in perspective from fear to love. It can be the moment you choose to

thoughts. Each time I feel fear set in, I step outside my thoughts and actions

forgive your ex, or the moment you recognize that losing your job was an

and witness my behaviour. When you witness your fears, you can see how

opportunity to follow your true calling.

delusional they actually are.

Once you’ve gained clarity about your fears, the next step is willingness.A

My dedication to living this way has changed every area of my life. I’ve let go of addictions. I can choose forgiveness over resentment. Fear of

Course in Miracles says that the slightest willingness is all you need to

financial insecurity has lifted. Today I see obstacles as opportunities and

receive the guidance to change. Willingness raises your consciousness of

know that the Universe has my back. Most importantly, I feel certain that

new possibilities and ignites what I call your “~ing” (your inner guide). Your

there is a power greater than myself supporting my every move.

~ing is the voice of love; it is your inspiration and your intuition.

This guidance will come in different forms: intuition, inspiration, and even synchronicities. We can experience intuition as a strong inner knowing that

Want to achieve these results? Join me on a journey of new

perceptions! My latest book, May Cause Miracles: A 40-Day Guidebook of

offers us guidance. Inspiration can be a feeling of flow and excitement that

Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness, invites you to

comes through in moments when our thoughts and actions are aligned

commit to a powerful inward journey towards living a miraculous life. As

with love. Then there are moments of synchronicity, which are really cool—

2013 approaches, think BIG. Make this the year in which you start living a life

like when you’re thinking about your mom and she calls.

full of miracles. I’ll help you do it!

The three other key components to living a miraculous life are gratitude, forgiveness, and love. Forgiveness guides us to cleanse ourselves of fear and shines light on the darkness of our worries, doubts, and suspicions.

Instead of seeing ourselves as victims, we can forgive and be set free.

Then comes gratitude. Gratitude is the only attitude for the miracle

Gabrielle Bernstein is a motivational speaker, author of

Add More –ing to Your Life and Spirit Junkie, and founder of HerFuture.com, a social network to inspire, empower and

worker. Living a grateful life creates more abundance, acceptance, and

connect women. She hosts a weekly show on Hay House

appreciation.

Radio and can be seen riding around the East Village on a

And finally, there is love—the crucial ingredient. A Course in Miracles

24

WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

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Be Yoga examines what it means to be spiritual, both on and off the mat, the ups and downs and highs and lows of a 30-something exparty girl committed to the yogic path; a young woman bold enough to explore the questions that few dare to ask.

Be Yoga

Spiritual Ruler How do YOU Measure Up? By Eryn Kirkwood , MA Few things help to determine one’s current spiritual condition faster than a new roommate. Early morning dog walks used to be the measuring stick with which I gauged my tolerance towards others, in this case, a rather slow-moving, stubborn-as-hell bulldog named Georgia. But those were the pre-roommate days.

Driven by the almighty dollar and a tendency towards near fatal binges at Lululemon and Chapters, my less than thrifty conscience convinced me that leasing out the second bedroom would be a good idea (you know, rather than lessen the frequency of my shopping sprees). I often invoke a small part of my brain, which I’ve come to recognize as legal counsel, to justify what I know full well to be wrong.

Like a cheetah waiting to pounce, the defense team rushes to the frontal lobe of my brain, pushing out all other reasoning capacities to hurriedly reassure me that with the extra income, I’ll plunk down great sums of money on my mortgage, support a second child from Rwanda, have gas cash to deliver food to the needy, work less and volunteer more. Just imagine the good that could be done, if I just rented out the second bedroom.

When Kelly moved in, there’s no question the funds were put to use, though the above-noted dropped way down the list of priorities.

Some might call it karma . . .

The first week she moved in, I was thrilled to have the company.

So when I bounced home from class, bedecked in Lulu from head to toe, bounded upstairs to the kitchen and opened the freezer door for my banana smoothie, when five headless chicken carcasses lunged towards me, all butt holes and wrinkled skin—you can imagine how quickly my thoughts turned from nice to naughty! Some might call this karma: one who’s compelled to buy several one-hundred dollar hoodies must easily have the storage for multiple dead chickens!

Fumbling in horror, I juggled the frozen birds like the Muppet’s Swedish Chef, slammed the cold coop door and leaned against the fridge, breathless and muted by the weight of what I’d done. A shadow of fear loomed over, “What kind of monster had I invited into my home?!”

Others would say I lead a sheltered life.

My freezer was a carcass virgin. It had never served as the grave for

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a once-living being, not its wings, nor its legs, breast, or any other body part. And I’ll be honest: I liked it that way. One shelf for bananas and one for raspberries, space for spinach and baggies of kale. The world was in harmony. That’s what freezers were for.

And yet, my roommate felt otherwise.

In the course of a week I learned many interesting things about Kelly. She had travelled through Thailand, seen unspeakable tragedies as an officer in the North, didn’t drink or do drugs, and believed in a minimalist lifestyle. She was curious about yoga and meditation and raw foods. She posted my flyers at her gym and--the clincher--bought rawhide for my dog. Would I really let five bald chickens erase all that was clearly so good about my new mate? She was a kindred spirit with the heart of a saint; perhaps she was simply “misguided.”

In fact, wasn’t I too “misguided” once? Didn’t I once make wishes on v-shaped bird bones and hang white rabbit toes from key chains?

I hadn’t always dehydrated kale into chips and blended spinach into smoothies. How conveniently we forget.

In Sanskrit, pratipaksha bhavana refers to training the mind to “cultivate the opposite.” So when Bon Jovi is blasting while I’m writing an article, or the sink is warping from unwashed dishes, when my yoga mat goes missing or I’m emptying the trash for the tenth time that week, I pause and halt the knee-jerk reaction; I breathe. I remind myself of the good, and funnily enough, a great peace and calm wash over me.

A great vow of yoga is to abstain from anger. Love and tolerance is my code today.

What about you? How do you measure up?

Be Yoga examines what it means to be spiritual, both on and off the mat, the ups and downs, highs and lows, of a 30-something ex-party girl committed to the yogic path; a young woman bold enough to explore the questions that few dare to ask.

Eryn Kirkwood, MA, E-RYT, is the owner and director of Barrhaven Yoga where she offers workshops and classes for students of all levels of ability. Writing for Eryn is a hobby and passion that began at age 8 with her first journal. BarrhavenYoga.com.

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mmunity is an Connecting to co Sweat Equity e th of rt pa integral ilds community bu on em mandate. Lulul or program, ad ss ba through their Am pick a Lululemon we so each season, who profile–someone eat Ambassador to me gr so s ha d an ion shares this pass fashion sense!

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Eating by the Book

Suzanne SlocumGori Community Cultivator Extraordinaire

Former gymnast, triathlete, and marathon runner Suzanne Slocum-Gori encourages students to celebrate courage: “It

that vision has become a reality.

But her reach doesn’t stop there. Suzanne has designed yoga

requires a great deal of strength to remove the armor that prevents

programs to suit the specific needs of homeless people, cancer

us from opening up to life’s possibilities, both the sweet and the

patients, and at-risk adolescents. No one is left out.

sour.” She invites students to open their hearts, as vulnerable as it

As a principal investigator in research trials testing the benefits of yoga for people with chronic illness, a Ph.D. graduate in Educational

may feel, to connect with each other and our planet.

It’s evident in her work with Lululemon, hosting charity and

and Counselling Psychology, and a certified yoga teacher across

fundraising events that promote empowerment among youth,

Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Anusara lineages, when Suzanne speaks

that Suzanne is passionate about cultivating community through

about the power of this practice, we take note!

yoga. After several years working with at-risk populations, Suzanne

Although she’s passionate about yoga, her gratitude and love are

yearned for a space that welcomed everyone. And as the co-founder

most evident when sharing about her two children, family, friends,

of One Yoga for the People, a donation-based studio in Vancouver,

nature, food, and the simple things that life has to offer.

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29

Vibrant Health

enjoy responsibly

8 HEALTHY HOLIDAY SURVIVAL TIPS

By Grace Van Berkum, R.H.N.

T’is the season to party and celebrate with friends and family! The

enjoy calorie-free talk with friends. Stand far away from the buffet

holidays don’t have to mean weight gain! Here are some tips to keep on

table. I repeat, stand far away from the buffet table!

track while out at parties, and when hosting your own gatherings as well.

4. Moderation and Balance 1. Don’t go to a party hungry

If you overeat at 1 meal, go light on the next. It takes 500 calories per

This is number one! Before leaving for a party I like to have a nutrient

day (or 3500 calories per week) above your normal consumption to

dense, antioxidant rich smoothie high in plant based protein. This will

gain 1 pound. It is impossible to gain weight over 1 piece of pie. Don’t

ensure that my blood sugar doesn’t dip and deters over- indulging.

get uptight if you have something you don’t normally have...it’s not

Arriving to an event hungry makes staying on track difficult.

worth the stress that affects body, mind and slows digestion! Just go lighter at your next meal and focus on vegetables.

5. Watch out for high caloric beverages

need for water is actually confused for hunger. Drink water before you

Remember alcohol is packed with calories. A holiday sized mixed

arrive and make sure to drink 1-2 cups of water before you start eating.

drink can have up to 500 calories. Alcohol slows down metabolism,

Wait at least 15-30 minutes and then assess your hunger levels.

makes the body more acidic, spikes blood sugar, and can also lead to overeating throughout an event. Even non-alcoholic beverages can be

3. Party with a plan

full of calories and sugar.

Check out the spread first, and then decide what and how much you will eat. I suggest only one trip to the buffet so choose foods

6. Stick with your workout and yoga routine

that will nourish you. Base your meal around lean, quality protein

Exercise can help burn off extra calories, prevent holiday weight gain

and vegetables. Make sure to have raw veggies on your plate so the

and make you feel good about yourself. Exercise also reduces the

enzymes help speed up digestion and the fibre fills you up faster. Once

stress of social events and family get-togethers. Stay connected to

you’ve chosen your healthy plate of food, go into another room and

your body and what it needs to feel amazing.

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Photo: recipe image Grace Van Berkum

2. Stay hydrated Dehydration not only slows metabolism but often times the body’s

Vibrant Health

Raw, Vegan Chocolate Truffles

By Grace Van Berkum, R.H.N.

Healthy, nutritious, anti-oxidant rich, easyto-make and delicious!

Ingredients: 1 cup raw cacao powder 1-2 tsp organic coconut oil 3 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp fresh ground flax seeds Mix into a paste with bowl and fork, or with a food processor. The consistency should be like playdough and easy to roll into balls without getting chocolate mixture all over your hands. If too dry add just a few more drops of coconut oil or maple syrup (test for sweetness). If too wet, add a little more powder or ground up flax seeds.

Roll into little balls. Then roll into different toppings such as shredded, unsweetened coconut, and different types of seeds and chopped nuts. Store in freezer.

Guaranteed crowd pleaser! Who doesn’t enjoy healthy, decadent, guilt-free

7. Bring a dish

chocolate made with love! Happy Holidays!

Contribute your own favourite, delicious dish to a holiday gathering. I ALWAYS bring my own food to parties to ensure that I have a healthy option (plus the host always loves contributions!) If you’re vegan, bring a yummy bean dish for protein. If you’re raw, bring a decadent raw dessert. If you’re gluten intolerant, bring a scrumptious whole grain salad.

This is your chance to wow people who are curious about how you eat!

8. Bring digestive enzymes with you My friends always know that I’m going to pull out a bottle of vitamins when eating at a party or restaurant! Good quality digestive enzymes taken with or just before meals will help facilitate digestion, assimilation of nutrients, and help prevent any gastrointestinal distress.

They help the body breakdown, fats, carbs, proteins, sugars, and fibers and are great for heavier meals or cooked foods. You can find them at your local health food store.

Balanced, healthy eating should always be fun! If it’s not, then it’s not worth it. Enjoy your healthy holiday season!

Grace Van Berkum is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Yoga Teacher, and Personal Trainer. She runs her own Gracious Living Yoga Nutrition Adventure Retreats in Nicaragua that focus on detoxification of body and mind, while having fun surfing and volcano hiking in a beautiful, unique country. She also runs life changing, supervised 10 Day Juice Fasts and Food Cleansing Retreats in the beautiful Bahamas 3 times a year. gracevanberkum.com

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Vibrant Health

What Is Your Life Mission?

Lessons from Eoin Finn’s Blissology Project By Eoin Finn What is Blissology?

force that lights us up and makes us feel connected to the concerns of

Blissology is the art of living a full life by awakening to the joy deep inside

other people, other beings, and all other aspects of life. I describe this

of us and using it to build harmonious relationships with our body and

force as Love. My mission is to be a conduit for the force of Love, allowing

mind, friends and family, communities, and with nature.

it to be expressed in as many of my interactions as possible, from how I talk to a small child, to teaching yoga classes, and even in how I order a

What is My Life Mission?

Knowing my life mission has been the greatest blessing. It is both

coffee.

something that sets me free and that anchors me. I am able to see the

Discovering and Determining Your Life Mission

deepest calling of my heart manifested in the world. When I let all other

Step one is to find your life mission. To use an old analogy, without a life

forces in life (social pressures, economic pressures, and competitiveness)

mission, we are just drifting at sea like a cork, with currents pulling us this

fall silent, what remains is my life mission, the central reason why I’m here.

way and that. This isn’t the best way to move through life. As a surfer,

My life mission propels me. It is my ultimate guide. It is the compass

I often remind myself of the following saying: “Why bob around in life,

that monitors my actions, signalling when I’m off track or misguided so

when you can surf?” As important as a life mission is, of the thousands

I can readjust my course. Whether I succeed or fail in the eyes of others

of people I meet every year, I am always amazed at how few have

doesn’t matter. What matters is bringing this mission into the world. At

determined theirs.

the end of my life, in those fleeting seconds when all that has happened passes before my eyes, I’ll have a smile on my face, knowing that I tried wholeheartedly to bring my inner vision to the world.

So, what is my life mission? It is to tune into this vast and powerful

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Distinguishing Short- or Long-Term Goals from a Life Mission: Goals are important. Every New Year’s Eve since I was a teenager, I have

Vibrant Health

an example of what I mean. On one of our YES (Yoga Ecology Surf) retreats, we sat in a circle and asked the 20 intelligent and conscious people in the group, “Who here knows their life mission?”

Only one person answered. “I want to have a farm, not in the country, but in L.A. County where I can have two guesthouses for my friends to stay and we can have a table where we can share great food and dinner conversations.” This is a good start. If you were to hear this person speak, you could taste the inspiration in his words. Yet it was too specific. Was the farm in L.A. really the point? Or the two guesthouses? These details are perfect for realizing goals, but after careful analysis, after dropping the most trivial and specific details of the vision, this person could see that his life mission was really “Friends and family mean everything to me, and I want to create as much quality time and space to be with them as I can.”

Now there is a powerful life mission! If this person were on an airplane that was about to crash, in whatever calm space he could find under the fear, he would experience a deep inner smile from creating a life that was in line with this mission. It will be there each day of his life, animating him.

Besides inspiration, a life mission also provides focus. If the day-to-day chores of a farm or guesthouses were really running him ragged and not allowing for quality time with his loved ones, he could adjust his goals and vision accordingly. Maybe being in the same city as them and having dinner with them every night would be enough. Still, the major decisions in his life would be drawn by the gravity of this life mission like a planet revolving around a star. It seems simple but may require some wrestling to pinpoint your mission exactly.

Life Mission Questions When you’re very relaxed and still, perhaps during savasana, meditation, or even when you wake up in the morning, your life mission can often pop into your head. For others, it may be a more systematic process.

Regardless, here are some questions to get the wheels turning. Enjoy the ride!

1. Imagine yourself on your death bed. Looking back on your life, what written down my resolutions. This has proven to be hugely valuable in

matters the most to you? Make a mental list or write it down. Then sort

guiding how I spend my time; but when I look closely at most of these

through the list and cross off what isn’t of utmost importance; feel free to

goals, they’re actually manifestations of a bigger desire, or of things

retool the words.

that I want to see happen in my, life like a trip to Peru or teaching yoga to

2. What lights you up?

professional surfers.

Keep making those goals or resolutions, and if you haven’t done so

Remember:

yet, then start now. Amongst this list, which is the kingpin? What is the

Don’t give up.

ultimate reason you’re here on this planet? What is your life really about?

Don’t be afraid to modify.

This is probably the biggest question we can ask ourselves.

Feel the power of your own inspiration and creativity.

Photo: Robin O’Neill

A Life Mission Needs to Be: 1. The ultimate goal, your raison d’etre. If you can think of one other reason

Eoin Finn is a yogi, surfer, and blissologist who teaches his unique and transforma-

for being alive that is more important than what you wrote down, then

tive approach to Yoga and Blissology across the world. His passion for spreading

keep digging. I’m talking about the truest expression of your life’s purpose.

his vision of body and mind coexisting in harmony with nature and community

2. Broad in scope. Keep it general. Long- and short-term goals tend to

ultimately informs all of his teachings.

be very specific, but a life mission is more general. Try to avoid dates and

times.

the force that makes us feel connected to each other and to the planet; it is the art

3. Whatever is aching to come out of you and be articulated. When you

of using this force to guide the achievement of our own goals while minimizing our

know yours, it will seem like there’s so much freshness in your life. Here’s

impact on the web of life.

In 2001 he founded a movement called Blissology that is the art of tuning into

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

33

Breathe In

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WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

Breathe In

sitars ring– Are Ya Listenin’?

Walkin’ In A Whistler Wanderlust

By Kat Tancock

I’m lying in the grass in Whistler’s Olympic Plaza, trying to relax as yoga teacher Chris Chavez applies pressure to my psoas. This impromptu massage wasn’t part of my itinerary at Wanderlust, the yoga and music festival that made its Canadian debut this August. But it’s symbolic of the event as a whole, a coming together of bodies and minds that leads to mental, spiritual, and physical growth—and new diagnoses of old problems.

I’d just done Chavez’s Lotus workshop about an hour earlier, my progress impeded by a slowly healing knee injury (and other boring issues), when I ran into him en route to my interview with musician MC Yogi. He not only remembered the injury I’d mentioned in a class packed with about 100 students, but he cared enough to follow-up on his time off.

I’m not just at Wanderlust for fun, though that’s certainly part of it; I’m on assignment for Sweat Equity, looking deeper than the surface-level Luon and Buddha statues to determine what’s really pushing the growth of the festival. So when MC Yogi appears, it feels natural to invite Chavez to join the conversation.

“The ethos of Wanderlust is to go someplace new, to experience different cultures and kind of be in awe,” says MC Yogi, a Wanderlust veteran for whom 2012 is his fourth year and Whistler his fourth festival in 2012. “For me, it’s been amazing. I’m a yoga teacher too, so I feel so nourished and fed when I get to practice with other teachers. It informs my practice and teaching. It’s a great sort of sharing.”

“It’s about yoga but also about spirit,” comments Chavez, on his first Wanderlust experience.

“The thing I get from this festival is about being in spirit. Just seeing this guy walking around . . . his spirit is going to come through. That’s yoga; it doesn’t have to be on the mats.”

Photo: Ali Kaukas

We are fortunate to have Sean Hoess join in the conversation. Hoess is a co-founder of Wanderlust and gives us some insight into where the concept of the festival originated. “It was mind-blowing for me,” says Hoess of his first yoga retreat in Costa Rica back in the ‘90s. The retreat was, “mostly a bunch of young women who were serious about their practice but also eating good food, spending time with friends, being healthy.” Hoess says, “I was expecting to

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

35

feel out of place, but at night it was a dance party and a hell of a lot of

established warm-season clientele. “We’ve learned more and more

fun.” Also at the retreat were good friends and Wanderlust co-creators

that there is a very burgeoning and strong scene for yoga everywhere,”

Jeff Krasno and Schuyler Grant (now a husband and wife team, too);

says Hoess. “In some ways we feel like the development of these

Hoess explains that for all three, “the wheels started spinning,” and

events is meeting a cultural demand for what’s already out there.”

the group began brainstorming a way to scale up the retreat ethos to festival size.

And the concept worked. Since its first incarnation in California in

What is out there, it seems, is a need to make yoga more playful, to build it into our lives rather than keeping it in the studio. “I was a little skeptical,” says American yoga teacher Tiffany Cruikshank, when I chat

2009, Wanderlust has grown to become the must-visit yoga event of

with her after a class about Wanderlust. “I wasn’t that into the music,

the year, with its blend of yoga classes for all levels, concerts, lectures,

and people talked about it as more of a party scene.” But when fellow

hikes, and even farm-to-table dinners, all in mountain locations that let

teacher and friend Kathryn Budig suggested she accept an invite to

attendees escape to enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings. In

teach, Cruikshank did and was a major draw at Whistler, now her third

2012, festivals were held in Vermont, Colorado, California, and Canada,

festival.

plus city events in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin.

Cruikshank, whose yogic foundation is Ashtanga, sees Wanderlust

Although details have yet to be announced, 2013 promises to be just as

as representative of the times. “In the past five or so years, yoga has

jam-packed.

definitely become more playful and fun, which is good,” she says. “The

At previous locations, Wanderlust has basically taken over ski villages with quiet summer seasons, packing the place almost exclusively with mat-toting attendees. But Whistler, says Hoess, is a completely different scene–a community in its own right with an

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WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

beauty of a festival is that we can dissect things and get brainy, but it’s hard not to have fun.”

For Chavez, a musician himself, the music played in class and during events is an integral part of the festival spirit and adds a necessary

Photo: Kat Tancock, Ali Kaukas (Sean Hoess photo Mario Covic)

Breathe In

Breathe In

“This energy moving into communities is magnetic,” he says.”It’s going to draw people in and you have the opportunity to transform people’s lives.” dimension to the practice. “It brings a

For Williamson, a key strength of Wanderlust and similar events is

harmony to everything,” he says. MC Yogi

the communion of like-minded people with positive intent. “We are

agrees, recalling a “cosmic” moment

creating a morphic field of divine alignment, as it were,” she says. “This

he experienced when live sitar player,

is important,” she adds, “because we’re not at an easy or safe place in

Mohamed Assani, played during Savasana:

human history. And in order to improve things, we have to become as

“It was so peaceful and great.”

intentional and courageous with our love as some are with their hate.”

Part of the potential of Wanderlust, says Hoess, is in discovery. “A lot

Williamson praises many yogis, including Seane Corn and her Off

of people who come here will hear a speaker or lecturer and discover

the Mat and Into the World program, for using their practice to improve

something about themselves,” he says. Chavez, for instance, points

the earth and human society; she hopes others will follow their path.

out the many observers around the ring of Olympic Park. “This energy

“Sometimes people say, ‘If I look into the world, I get into anger,

moving into communities is magnetic,” he comments.”It’s going to

cynicism, and despair, so I don’t want to be in that negativity.’ But the

draw people in and you have the opportunity to transform lives.”

complacency is what’s negative,” says Williamson. “This should be a

One who had a strong impact in Whistler is author and spiritual activist Marianne Williamson, whose latest book is A Course in Weight Loss: 21 Spiritual Lessons for Surrendering Your Weight Forever. When I

voice in the world, not a voice that calls us to exit our peace but which calls us to speak from our peace.”

Ultimately the success of Wanderlust is proof of the yoga

speak with her, Williamson shares that a gathering like Wanderlust is a

community’s far-reaching influence —and its potential to do more.

prime place for people to open up to new ideas, even if they have come

“The community is pretty powerful and positive,” Chavez says. “In a

to yoga as a physical practice. “A lot of people are understandably

time where we all look for positivity, it’s nice to see it on such a big

more open to hear about healing their body,” she says.”Then as they

scale.” MC Yogi agrees. “Everyone is pretty healthy and happy for the

progress on their path, partly because of yoga, they become more

most part, just coming together in the spirit of humanity,” he says.

open to healing the mind.”

“When we come to these places and meet other yogis, it’s an instant

Williamson believes that when a student of yoga is ready, the right teachings will come. “I think when your heart is open and that’s what you want, books follow your feet,” she says. “Whether East, West,

feeling that it’s easy to connect.”

“You keep walking,” says Chavez, “and wherever you end up is where you’re supposed to be.”

esoteric, or academic, my books, or anybody else’s.”

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Work Out

TimeTested & True to Form Functional Fitness By Nadia Link

Functional strength has become a fitness buzzword over

the past few years and can still be a confusing concept. Functional fitness describes working out in a way that will help you to get by with greater ease in your daily life. It’s comparable to an athlete doing sport-specific training. The objective is to improve your strength and endurance for the unique demands of your day, be they recreation-, work-, or life-related. It’s about more than just a nice physique.

Baby boomers provide a strong drive in promoting functional training because it’s meaningful to them. Functional programs use integrated exercises that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously, making them very time-efficient, a trait that everyone can appreciate. This approach to exercise focuses on developing practical strength that enables people to continue doing the activities and sports they enjoy. It also helps to improve posture and prevent injury. This population does not want age to slow them down!

What does a functional workout look like?

Functional fitness programs are tailor-made. Instead of repeatedly doing the same cardio and traditional resistance training, exercises reflect your own personal needs, including whether you prefer to work out at the gym or at home.

Athletes benefit from this type of training by increasing Photo: letusgophoto.ca Model: Anne-Marie Blinco

stability and muscular control with finer motor movements while offsetting imbalances created by sports that are either repetitive by nature or one-side dominant. But anyone of any age or fitness level can benefit from functional exercises. They’re great for new participants because they can be less intimidating than traditional workouts and can be done in the comfort of your own home. For more experienced participants, functional workouts add a new challenge, along with some variety and fun.

TIP Start slowly. As with any new activity, it’s best to start with simple movements and intensify gradually. Incorporating a balance component increases the challenge, much like adding weight to an exercise.

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Work Out

01.

01. Battle Ropes Train for full-body strength and conditioning with one piece of equipment: battle ropes. The ropes facilitate a form of velocity training that forces you to produce and maintain power at a high level of intensity over a long period of time.

You create a wave effect through the length of each rope, increasing both strength and stamina.

02. Box Jumps Implement box jumps into a training program to develop lower body power or into a circuit program to elevate your heart rate. A series of box jump exercises provides a near total body workout, no matter what your level of fitness. It’s an excellent way to jump to the next level of athletic ability.

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02.

Work Out

03.

03. Med Ball Slams The medicine ball slam is a wholebody power and conditioning exercise that raises your heart rate.

For maximum benefit, perform this exercise with a low- or no-bounce medicine ball. The balls come in various sizes and weights, ranging from 1 lb to over 50. Medicine ball exercises can be adapted to meet your level of fitness and are a great way to develop overall body strength.

04.

04. Kettlebell Swings The kettlebell swing is likely the simplest and most effective tool for training the entire body for multiple fitness qualities. When done for a high volume of reps, you’ll sweat and huff and puff–thus getting leaner at the same time. The highrep kettlebell swing burns tons of calories, trains your heart and lungs, and is one of the most effective exercises for working the posterior chain.

05. Weighted Overhead Lunges This variation of a basic lunge works the entire body and has tremendous benefits for most athletes. By holding weight overhead while lunging, you build upper and lower body strength, specifically in the quads, hamstrings, and glutes; you increase power and speed in your legs and improve core strength, all while training balance.

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Gift Guide

Indulge!

The Spirit of Giving

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By Patricia D’Amato

Gift Guide

The holidays can leave us feeling frazzled.

Take a moment, breathe, and while you’re enjoying good times and great food, remember to reserve some time to perform a selfless act of kindness. It’s especially important to think of others during this season, and there are many ways to give back to your community. Whether you’re donating your time, money, or expertise, you can make a difference that will touch the hearts of those who need it most. Our guide offers cool gift ideas and a list of Canadian charities that will help you to indulge in the spirit of giving.

Beaver Canoe Long Johns Stay warm head-to-toe this winter in these comfy long johns. Layered under your winter wardrobe or just worn fireside, they are sure to do the trick. Available in red and grey, at Roots stores across Canada.

$74.00

roots.com

The Soak This bath wonder is multi-purpose!

The combination of the magnesium sulfate and essential oils provides an effect on the body unmatched by other products. The Soak not only draws out toxins, but also replenishes fatigued muscles with minerals and nutrients that create rapid recovery. The unique formula alleviates stress and gives you peace of mind that your body will not fail on your next training day.

$34.99

soakfitness.com

Second Harvest

Established in 1985, this progressive organization saw a need to rescue excess quality food before it spoiled. Second Harvest collaborates with hotels, restaurants, food manufacturers, and retailers to provide fresh food to a network of over 200 social service agencies across Toronto and has delivered over 80 million pounds of food to date. You can get involved by donating your time, funds, or food! Visit secondharvest.ca to learn how you can be a part of the good food movement.

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Brisk Run Gloves Slim fitting

Power of Movement

Power of Movement began in 2005 to support the 4.6 million Canadians living with arthritis. They’ve since raised over $1.3 million as one of the Arthritis Research Foundation’s signature annual events. Using yoga as a tool for inner healing and restoring musculoskeletal health, the foundation hopes to raise an additional $400,000 from its 2013 campaign. You can donate or pledge your funds to a specific team or participant at powerofmovement.ca

gloves help keep the feeling in your fingers during early morning runs.

The four-way stretch Rulu™ fabric is inherently wicking. X-STATIC®, The Silver Fiber®, panelled fingertips make it easy to tweet, talk and text #yourewelcome.

X-STATIC®, The Silver Fiber® inhibits the growth of odour-causing bacteria on the garment.

$28.00

lululemon.com

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Breakfast for Learning

Jade harmony Yoga mats Harmony brings together 100% natural rubber from the Far East and Western technology to form a mat that is perfect for your yoga practice. Harmony has exceptional non-slip properties, resilience, unmatched “compression-set resistance” and incomparable cushioning. Jade mats contain no PVC, synthetic plastics or ozone depleting substances and are made in the US where we can ensure compliance with environmental, labour and consumer safety laws. Through our partnerships with Trees for the Future, the Water Project and Tropical Rainforest Coalition, JadeYoga gives back to the earth with every mat sold.

$69.95

jadeyogamats.ca

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It’s common knowledge that nutrition is essential to a child’s development. Breakfast for Learning, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing nutrition programs in schools Canada-wide, ensures children aren’t going to class hungry. The charity has over 30,000 volunteers, and since its inception in 1992, has helped sustain over 2,380 nutrition programs across Canada. In addition to volunteering or making a donation, you can help the charity by planning your own fundraising event. breakfastforlearning.ca

Gift Guide

Ronald McDonald House Canada

More than 10,000 families stay at a Ronald McDonald House each year.

The coast-to-coast charity provides a home away from home for families whose child has been diagnosed with a debilitating condition and are staying at a nearby hospital. There are 14 houses nationwide and by 2014, Ronald McDonald House Canada will be able to accommodate more than double the occupancy of what was available in 2010! It’s easy to get involved. Show some love on their Facebook Smile Gallery; buy a happy meal (10 cents goes to Ronald McDonald House). or volunteer at one of their houses. rmhccanada.com

Enso Pearl Enso, which means circle in Japanese, symbolizes enlightenment, elegance, and the universe. The Enso Pearl was designed to be the ultimate timer. Use it for your meditation, yoga, or reiki session or during therapy, teaching or traveling. At a glance you can see the relative amount of time that has elapsed, eliminating the distraction of focusing on the exact numerical time that remains. At the end of each interval or timer, one of several available soothing chimes is played.

Chimes are recorded from Tibetan and Japanese singing bowls as used in traditional meditation sessions. Using the latest audio technology, the Enso Pearl’s reproduction of the singing bowl chimes is virtually indistinguishable from the original. Salubrion’s Enso Pearl can also be used as an Alarm Clock and includes a convenient carrying case with a cleaning cloth that protects and polishes.

Sink Shower Travel Kit We designed this kit to carry all your beauty needs – no one wants to look like they showered in the sink. Three sided zipper allows kit to open fully and the hook makes it easy to hang from a gym locker or bathroom door. Two removable pouches keep shower essentials and sink essentials separate. The ‘Get Clean Kit’ and ‘Get Glamorous Kit’ are made of water-resistant fabric, wipes clean and are perfect for makeup (not that you need it)!

$68.00

lululemon.com

$99.00 salubrion.com

Evergreen

What the Fluff Scarf Stay cozy after a cold-weather run with this down-filled scarf.

Made with 800-fill-power premium goose down for weightless warmth and loft retention. The Rulu™ lining is breathable and inherently wicking.

Hidden zipper pocket lets you store a phone, keys or cash.

$68.00

lululemon.com

Founded in 1991, Evergreen sets out to solve today’s environmental issues by bringing together an eco-friendly group of Canadians who inspire each other with ideas for collective action. Largely supported by government agencies and corporations, in addition to hundreds of “green” Canadians, members act to preserve, sustain, and build healthier cities. Nurture the program by planting a tree in someone’s name, become a volunteer, or contribute a monetary donation. evergreen.ca

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Gift Guide

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Yoga Outreach Society

The power of yoga takes on new meaning with Yoga Outreach Society. Founded in 1996 by a group of Vancouver-based yoga instructors, the society seeks to promote inner healing by implementing yoga programs to people residing in shelters, treatment facilities, and correctional institutions. To become a volunteer yoga instructor or learn how to benefit the cause in other ways, visit yogaoutreach.com

three minute egg Finally, an ergonomically designed Yoga and Pilates prop that comfortably fits the body’s contours! Three Minute Eggs will enhance your practice by adding comfort, protection and support in a variety of dynamic and restorative postures. New to yoga and working on flexibility and alignment? The Eggs will help you to safely and comfortably bridge the gap. Find protection and support as you transition to more challenging core-strength building and weight-bearing postures, and minimize the risk of injury by alleviating pressure on sensitive areas, such as the wrists. The curved shape also makes them uniquely suited to restorative postures

$44.00

win

threeminuteegg.ca

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YogaDudes ornament This porcelain ornament features the lotus YogaDude wearing a Santa hat with the Namaste greeting. The ornament measures 3” and hangs from a red satin ribbon. It makes the perfect stocking stuffer for any yogi and can be hung anywhere in the home or office when not adorning a Christmas tree.

$14.99

yogadudes.com

comfort & joy holiday bath & body set blends Cake Beauty’s ultra rich and nourishing bath & body formulas, with a limited edition holiday scent – baked sugar cookie. These decadent bath bubbles and body lotion contain lots of natural nutrients without any parabens, petroleum or phthalates. Perfect for a little holiday pampering!

$30.00

cakebeauty.com

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Gift Guide

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Children’s Miracle Network

Since its inception in 1983, Children’s Miracle Network has grown exponentially over the years.

The Network was founded with two primary goals in mind: to raise funds for children’s hospitals and to keep those funds in the community in which they were raised. With over 17 million children treated each year, The Children’s Miracle Network Champions Program honours extraordinary kids who have overcome life-altering medical conditions. You can contribute to the cause by making a secure donation via their website, sharing a child’s story through your social media networks, or by organizing a fundraiser. childrensmiraclenetwork.ca

YogaChick Glass Pendant Necklace This glass tile pendant features YogaDude’s most popular Yoga Chick design. It is such a cute yoga accessory! The glass pendant is completely handmade by the owner of YogaDudes and measures 1”square. It hangs from a 16” rubber cord.

Roots Cowichan Sweater This limited edition sweater is a classic gift for that special someone in your life. Hand-knit from 100% wool, this was proudly made in Canada.

And the best part – it’s unisex! Available at Roots stores across Canada

$250.00 roots.com

$24.99

yogadudes.com

SKETCH

Sketch creates opportunities for underprivileged youth to develop their artistic talents in a crossdiscipline studio environment. How to get involved? Throw your own Sketch Event; make a donation in a friend’s honour, donate arts related items such as paints, canvases, cameras, or video equipment; or volunteer your arts knowledge as a program instructor! sketch.ca nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Model: Michelle Dawson

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R

emember when all yoga fell under the umbrella of a single

his burgeoning interest in spirituality, and eventually made the practice

style, called Hatha? When you had to drive across town

a much larger part of his professional life.

to find a class, or wait for the once-a-month offering at the local community centre? Nowadays, whether you live

in Brandon, Manitoba, or Fargo, North Dakota, there’s a yoga class

practiced behind bars was an experience that stirred him deeply. He

available any day of the week. And what was once known by the

was especially in awe of what he calls the “courageous vulnerability”

generic term Hatha has exploded into countless varieties of yoga;

of the prisoners, allowing their personal practice to be laid out for

for example, there are household names like Iyengar and Ashtanga,

the world to see. As he poignantly describes it, “These men who have

but also Bikram, Jivamukti, and Viniyoga; and don’t forget further

taken the courageous step to come to this thing called yoga, which

spinoffs like aerial, prenatal, hip-hop, laughter yoga, and many more.

is not necessarily viewed as the most masculine recreational activity

To paraphrase one of the world’s great thinkers, Dr. Seuss, “You can

in the prison system, have something inside of them that longs to

do it on a log; you can do it with your dog; you can do it in the heat; you

crumble.”

can do it in your seat.”And in the midst of yoga’s unprecedented growth

Although much of Sturman’s work uses more glamorous-looking

spurt, we can sometimes forget that asana isn’t a flavour of the month;

yogis (flowing hair and gauzy gowns typically replace shaved heads

it’s a way of connecting with the divine.

and prison garb), “courageous vulnerability” is a thread that runs

Robert Sturman is the California-based artist/photographer

Model: Nianna Rose

Just last year, he was invited to visit some prison yoga programs and create an artistic rendering of what he observed. Meeting men who

through nearly every shot. The yogis seem to surrender to, and even

whose work is featured in this issue. Sturman, a 40-something yogi

to ground themselves in, the callousness of their environment. One

whose notable clients include the GRAMMY Awards, the US Olympic

uses the base of a twisted tree branch as a launching pad for an

Committee, B.B. King, and the city of West Hollywood, first approached

advanced arm balance; another practices a side plank variation with

yoga to improve his health. He wanted to rewrite the legacy of artists

hand and foot balanced on rock surfaces of different heights; a third

as self-destructive crash-and-burn types. “I wanted to find strength

stands steadfast in Warrior 2, his bare feet planted on the jumble of

in me to go the direction of health and wellness,” he recalls. “I made

stones on an unpaved path. The vulnerable poses reflect not only an

up my mind to write a new story, because I saw how important artists

attitude of surrender, but a wholehearted embrace of those stormy

are to society.” Having experienced life-enhancing benefits that went

elements—whether outside ourselves or within—that we usually

beyond the physical, Sturman started photographing yogis on the

protect ourselves from with mats, bolsters, raincoats, shoes, or mental

beaches of southern California, travelled to India and Nepal to explore

tricks. Sturman’s skies nearly always seem to be brooding, as though

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Model: Michelle May (bottom), Dice Lida-Klein (top), Liz Arch (facing page), Stephen and Indie Bickle (inset)

the clouds might consume or unleash a torrent upon their vulnerable

and torso, but something that comes from the heart and expresses

subject. Even photos with a sunny day as the backdrop reveal a hint

itself in the body. Sturman recalls an inspiring teacher who had a habit

of looming darkness. In one work titled “Stillness,” a back-bending

of asking the class, “What is it that you’re letting go of?”; he seems

woman balances on a large and imposing rock surrounded by churning

to have internalized the idea that an earnest asana practice can be

ocean water. The low-lying clouds are nearly black in places, becoming

distinguished by what we surrender to, not what we achieve.

indistinguishable from the water at the horizon. It appears as if the

If we allow our vision of yoga to become as narrow as asana, it can

woman, though elegantly poised and unscathed in the moment, could

quickly devolve into a battle that pits our bodies against the forces of

be washed away by the brewing storm. I wondered whether this spoke

nature, a battle that we seek to win against gravity, against tightness,

more to my own anxieties than to Sturman’s

against physical weakness, and any other

intentions, and like all good artists when asked

form of human vulnerability. And it’s our true

to comment on a viewer’s interpretation, he

selves that can become casualties of the war.

dodged the question . . . well . . . masterfully:

But Sturman’s work invites a different attitude,

“There is always projection when it comes to

perhaps one that can inspire us. His models,

experiencing art,” he mused, adding, “I’m not

prisoners and free yogis alike, “are being

sure it is my place to elaborate . . . My work

themselves; and that’s being celebrated in

comes less from thinking and more from

works of art,” he explains. For Sturman the joy

feeling.”

is in creating “art that shows people that they

Going through a few dozen of Sturman’s

are poetry.”

Sturman’s imagery reminds us that yoga

photos, I did find myself focusing less on analysis and more on experiencing the beauty offered up in each

involves the act of offering ourselves up to life, to the divine, to the

composition. Unlike most photos that depict asana for instructional

whole mystery of ever-changing forces that sometimes terrify and

or marketing purposes, these shots don’t invite judgment (“Egads,

sometimes delight us. As he describes it, “The postures of yoga [hold]

her knee is hyperextended!”) or comparison (“I could never do that

such a profound expression of the human experience. It’s quite a

in a million years”); instead, they draw attention to the inner pose.

celebration. There is a lot of ecstasy in the movement. There is a ton

It’s a concept that yoga teachers often struggle to impart to their

of honesty, vulnerability, joy, and sorrow. It’s all right there. And that’s

students—that asana isn’t just something you do with your arms, legs,

what this work is about.”

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Beauty

Winter Beauty 911 4 Rescue Remedies for Your Skin

By Kristen Ma T’is the season for beauty recovery! Although the holidays bring

moves stagnant water retention and keeps the skin around the eyes

families together and encourage us to gorge on guilt-laden treats, the

rejuvenated.

hustle and bustle takes a toll on our skin. This can lead to breakouts, water retention, and dehydration–all of which are worsened by the

Cracked Cuticles

cold, dry weather. It’s a time to connect with friends and family we’ve

Located farthest from the heart, our extremities are the last to receive

missed through the year, so we want to look our best!

blood flow. Because blood nourishes skin tissue, when circulation is

Here are four rescue remedies for the season’s most common

impeded (as it may be in the winter months), our hands are prone to

beauty emergencies:

becoming dry and cracked. Dry hands and brittle nails are not only

unattractive but also uncomfortable.

Stress Breakouts

For 911 therapy, apply circulation-stimulating oils, such as sesame or

Between roasting the perfect turkey and battling the latest gift wars,

mustard seed, to the hands and nail beds daily. Some products come in

it’s easy to stress out! And when we’re stressed, our skin says it all.

a convenient pen dispenser that’s small enough to carry in your purse.

Holiday breakouts can result from the dry climate as well as from

For optimal effect, combine these oils with antibacterial ingredients

internal imbalances caused by emotional distress.

such as neem, peppermint, or rosemary. They guard against nail fungus,

Moisture is the key to preventing blemishes. Stress dehydrates our

which can be aggravated by poor circulation.

bodies, and dehydration causes breakouts. Dry skin results in clogged

pores and a bumpy complexion. Although it might feel strange to

Flaky Skin

treat pimples with oil, a rich cream with a high percentage of natural

Dryness in the winter is a given, but nothing is more embarrassing than a

vegetable oil is just what we need. Slather on a heavy balm at night;

flaky complexion. The first thing we can do is exfoliate! Sloughing away

your skin will lap up the moisture, helping to maintain its clarity and

dead skin cells pushes new and healthy skin to the surface. Pamper

smoothness.

yourself with a professional exfoliating treatment as the season nears. This

Though beneficial, it can be hard to avoid cocktails at this time of year. If your skin is prone to acne, alcohol will aggravate a breakout

will prevent flaky skin from forming and have you glowing for the holidays.

Avoid ingredients that deplete your skin. The talc found in makeup

because it contributes to dehydration and promotes inflammation. Try

products such as eye shadow, blush, and foundation powder, is

to avoid the spiked eggnog and opt for hot apple cider with cinnamon

extremely drying. Use mineral cosmetics instead; they help to keep

instead.

the skin moist and even provide SPF, with all-natural ingredients.

Remember, it’s important to have sun protection year-round, even

Puffy Eyes

during the winter months.

With winter comes water retention (edema), which often shows up as a puffy complexion. According to Eastern medicine, the kidneys regulate our body’s water balance, thus edema is caused by kidney

Kristen Ma is an Ayurvedic practitioner and co-owner of Pure +

depletion. Increasing hydration is essential, so up your water intake,

Simple Inc., an independent chain of holistic spas in Toronto. She’s

and pay special attention to hydration on nights that you drink. A full

the author of Beauty: Pure + Simple and writes the popular blog,

schedule of holiday parties can lead to puffy eyes! In addition, use

holisticvanity.ca. There, she shares her thoughts and knowledge

a good eye cream that stimulates circulation. Increased blood flow

on Ayurveda and its beauty benefits. pureandsimple.ca

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Hip Enough?

Hip Openers for Emotional Release

By Amica Hilton I love hip opening! There’s something about getting into those really

You can work any pose in stages, using modifications to achieve

tight areas and moving out stagnant energy that feels great. In yoga, hip

satisfying results. When I incorporate hip opening into the sequences I

openers often coincide with emotional release because the hips are said

teach, I encourage my students to move slowly and intelligently as we

to store strong emotions of anxiety, sadness, and depression.

deepen the stretch.

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Photo: Dave Gillespie Clothing Provided By Lululemon Athletica

Do Yoga

Do Yoga

01.

Find balance, flexibility, strength, and . . . oh, breath! Visvamitrasana is also known as Flying Warrior. Although it might seem like the legs are reaching in opposite directions, the action is to draw the legs in towards centre, deepening the work in the hip joint of the back leg.

02.

Finding stability in a lunge while squaring the hips in this pose draws the hips deeply into their sockets. For a deeper expression, drop your head downwards and lower further into the lunge, feeling the bent-leg hip move further back. Maintain your stability and breathe while the hips slowly open.

03.

This simple hip-opener, sometimes referred to as Cradle Pose, is easy to teach and a great way to prepare for deeper asanas. Keeping the foot flexed helps to stabilize the ankle and ensure that no pressure is going into the knee.

Sit upright with a long spine; this might make it more difficult to bring the leg in towards your chest, but it’s an important action that actually allows you to work harder in the pose with greater stability.Â

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Do Yoga

04.

This is a good preparatory pose for students beginning to work towards Eka Pada Sirsasana (Foot-Behindthe-Head-Pose). The hamstrings are a key component of drawing the leg down the back body, thus it’s important they be sufficiently warmed up.

05.

06.

Once you can do Eka Pada Sirsasana with one foot at a time, try both together. To come into this posture, I sit up and put my feet back behind my head, one at a time. Then I lengthen the spine and ease myself forward into Supta Kurmasana. Gravity deepens the stretch once my forehead and sitting bones are resting on the floor.

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Eka Pada Sirsasana is a challenging pose and a deep hip opener. It’s important that you feel ready to draw your foot behind your head; don’t force anything. Once the hips are open enough and you have the strength to support your spine, tuck the leg back and work it down off your neck. This is a liberating feeling! Your hamstrings engage to keep the leg in place, while the core is held strong to support the spine.

DVD In str u ction a l Ser ies thaimassagetoronto.com

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Toronto • Mississauga

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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All the essentials.

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15g

PROTEIN

FIBRE

Same as 2.7 eggs

Same as 3.2 slices of whole wheat bread

GREENS

PROBIOTICS

1

billion

OMEGA-3

3

servings

Same as 3 servings of vegetables

Same as 1 yogurt cup (100g)

1.5g

6g

ANTIOXIDANTS

2.7 cups

Same as 2.7 cups of blueberries

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50%

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VITAMINS & MINERALS

Made exclusively from plant-based whole food ingredients, just one serving of Vega One provides all the complete foundational nutrition your body needs to build your day on. Great tasting with absolutely no preservatives, added sugar, or artificial flavours or colours, Vega One is also dairy, soy and gluten free.

Everything you need, nothing you don’t.

myvega.com

Do Yoga

calm, cool & collected 3 Postures to Reverse the Effects of Your Day

By Charlene Brooke

1.

2.

Gravity isn’t our friend. It exerts a downward pull on the body and

letting the knees splay apart. Instead, align the knees over the ankles,

lends its stealthy hand to the aging process. Thanks to the combined

with the feet about hip-width distance.

effects of gravity and poor posture, muscles and ligaments around our spinal column work overtime just to keep us upright. No wonder we

02. Supported Twist

collapse into bed at the end of the day!

Lie with your arms extended out to the sides. Place a long pillow or

Although many restorative postures help to mobilize the spine and

Photo: Dave Theodoropoulos Model: Charlene Brooke

3.

bolster parallel to your body. Hug one knee into your chest and place

release built-up tension, Supported Backbend, Supported Twist, and

the opposite hand on the knee. Slowly draw the knee across the body

Legs-Up-the-Wall pose are particularly good antidotes to a hunched

until it rests on the bolster. Release the opposite shoulder towards the

posture. Backbends expand the chest and lungs. Twists relieve stress

floor to open the chest. Keep your knee roughly at a 90 degree angle

in your back and intercostal muscles, stimulate circulation, and have a

so that it’s on the same plane as the hip and in line with the foot. Both

cleansing effect on the abdominal organs. Inversions improve blood flow

the foot and knee should be supported by the bolster. To enhance the

to the brain, heart, and lungs. They have a calming effect on the mind.

twist, gently press the knee downwards with your hand.

When done in the evening, all three postures help to prepare the body for a good night’s sleep. Additionally, they require few props and

03. Legs-Up-the-Wall

can be practiced by virtually anyone.

Sit with your left or right hip touching the wall, knees bent. Roll back

01. Supported Backbend

and swing your legs up the wall. Once in position, ensure that your lower back isn’t rounded and your tailbone and buttocks aren’t lifting

Lie with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Keep a block nearby.

off the floor. If they are, move away from the wall until your lower back

Press into your feet to lift your hips and buttocks off the mat. Place

rests on the mat. Keep the legs straight but relaxed. If you have tingling

the block beneath your lower back, so that your sacrum (the large flat

or numbness in the feet, slightly bend your knees. The same might

bone at the base of your spine) rests on it with ease. If you can feel

happen with the arms out to the sides, in which case you can also

the edges of the block, shift it around until you’re comfortable. Avoid

bend the elbows.

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Work Out

Strength = Endurance Improve Your Run With Strength Training

By Brendan Brazier

A few decades ago, endurance athletes where encouraged to avoid “gym

be reworked to make bulk-less strength gains, gym workouts for endurance

training” for fear they would develop heavy, bulky muscles. The reasoning?

athletes were revisited.

Extra mass without function will inhibit endurance performance. This makes

Marathon running is clearly an endurance event, not a strength sport. At

sense; however, “gym training” was adamantly shunned by the endurance

least traditional wisdom state says so. But is it correct? For a marathoner,

culture primarily due to it being lumped together with bodybuilding. Of

what advantage is there to being able to lift more weight? As it turns out, the

course the main reason bodybuilders lift weights is to build bulk. They also

benefit can actually be significant.

weight train for symmetry and definition, but most of their time spent training is to get bigger.

If two runners are completely equal in every respect except for muscular strength, the stronger will be faster over any distance. The lower percentage

In the early eighties, some endurance athletes began supplementing

of maximum strength needed for each stride will translate into improved

their regular endurance training with weight training in hopes of improved

efficacy and therefore greater endurance. If, for example, one runner can

endurance. The results where mixed. While the athletes generally gained

squat 10% more weight than another, his muscles will not have to work as

some strength, they also gained weight. Therefore their strength-to-weight-

hard to move the body forward, which can translate to significant endurance

ratio showed only modest improvements and not enough to justify the

gains. When muscles don’t need to work as hard, they also don’t require

energy expenditure in performing the extra workout. In other cases, strength-

as much oxygen or circulating blood and therefore will not put as much

to-weight-ratio dropped. Why? The problem was these endurance athletes

demand on the heart, which in turn will lower the rate at which it beats. A

were doing bodybuilding-style workouts, designed to grow muscle size with

significant improvement in endurance will result. Greater strength does

little or no improvement in functional strength. This resulted in a reduction in

equal greater endurance. Now commonly referred to as functional strength,

their most valued attribute: strength-to-weight ratio.

properly structured gym workouts have been embraced by most high-level

When it was realized that various training principals and techniques could

endurance athletes.

This workout is for functional strength gain. It keeps you lean and improves strengthto-weight-ratio; thus efficiency, endurance, and running performance as a whole improve.

Medicine Ball Squat This good all-round exercise helps develop the stabilizer muscles, which is particularly important if you ever run on uneven ground. It serves as a good warm-up and strengthens the shoulders

Photo: gliving.com

without building bulk.

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Work Out

Medicine Ball Double Crunch Strengthens your core and thus helps improve posture, form, and the ability to take in more oxygen with each breath.

Medicine Ball Push-up Reduces oxygen usage of the upper body while running, thus lowering heart rate and improving endurance. Also helps to maintain proper and efficient form, even once fatigue has set in.

Workout specifics: This is a circuit. Perform 20 reps of each exercise, going straight from one into the other, starting with the medicine ball squats.

Brendan Brazier is a former professional Ironman triathlete, international bestselling

Complete the circuit 6 times, 3 times a

author of The Thrive Diet, creator of the award-winning VEGA line of whole food

week on non-consecutive days.

products, and developer of the ZoN Thrive Fitness program. He’s also a two-time Canadian 50 km Ultra Marathon Champion. brendanbrazier.com

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simply beyond

Beyond Pain Relief ∞back pain ∞neck pain ∞foot pain ∞hip pain ∞knee pain

∞shoulder pain ∞soft tissue pain ∞overtraining ∞injury rehab ∞surgery rehab

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Delicious Living

Cinnamon: Cinnamon’s one of the most used spices in our pantry. Don’t be content with the ground stuff that may have lost its true flavour, scent, and essential oil. Buy the whole quills and grate a fresh pinch wherever it’s required. Choose the sweeter cinnamon quills from Sri Lanka; you’ll be amazed at the difference!

Chestnuts:

Making Memories A Recipe Worth Sharing

Photos and recipes by Andrew Muto It was 6:00 in the Evening and the dark had already embraced the

neighbourhood. Through the slight crack in the living room window pane, I heard the wind blowing strong in my young ears. There was a snow storm raging outside. I peeped out through the letter slot in the front door; the street light was swaying wildly, desperately trying to shine its light through the thick snow fall. What a beautiful memory of winter!

But what I remember most as a child is the table my mom set for our family and friends. There were almonds, walnuts, dried figs, lupini beans, fresh pomegranates, grapes, persimmons, homemade olives, preserves, marinades, wine, and gasossa (Italian 7 Up)!

Regardless of what you celebrate, this is the season when most of us will spend time with family and friends. One of the greatest joys is breaking bread together and nourishing relationships.

Here’s a handful of offerings that will help add to the holiday spirit and cultivate good memories.

“Peanuts! Popcorn! Chestnuts!” I still remember the sound of the man calling us as we scurried out of the cold and into Honest Ed’s Bargain Emporium on Bathurst and Bloor. Roasted chestnuts bring great comfort on cold winter days. Make a slit across the middle and pop them into the oven for 25 minutes. Peel them hot and enjoy them warm to heat you up inside!

TIP: simmer cooked and peeled chestnuts in sherry or marsala until the liquid thickens.

Pour over vanilla pudding, sliced panettone, sweet bread, or even roasted fruit.

Fresh Marjoram: The Romans used this herb to scent their baths; the Greeks considered it a symbol of peace. I use floral herb on lamb, chicken, roasted eggplant, mushroom sautés, and even fresh fruit! It’s nutritional value and medicinal properties are outstanding!

Fennel: Crunchy, sweet and so refreshing – what a fantastic comfort food to combat the cold of winter. Fennel possesses unique health benefits that are worth making it part of your meals. Our family eats it regularly before or after a meal. I stuff chicken with fennel, use it with blood or ruby oranges in a salad or simply cut it into wedges. It feels good and warm in the belly!

Gifts: “There’s no greater gift than life itself… there’s no greater love, than living life with you!” Remember that when you’re sharing time with those that are precious to you!

And for all we are, take time - be thankful for what’s been shared with you!

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Delicious Living

Royalty Roost

Medieval Fennel Chicken

By Andrew Muto I’m always looking for authentic recipes, never being content with faux contributions. One day during one of my more extensive searches, digging for hours looking for a traditional English recipe for chicken, I found a tattered book from 1752, full of illegible notes. It was the personal chef to King George II’s cookbook! I had to decipher the poor spelling from a time of illiteracy, but had no problem seeing the genius behind this man’s creativity. It was the paste he used to flavour the chicken: brilliant! It makes a fantastic marinade for this season; the flavours and scents fill the house with warmth and comfort.

Medieval Paste: 15 cinnamon quills 1 tbsp cloves 2 tbsp fennel seeds 1 2” piece of fresh ginger (peeled) pinch of saffron 1 cup of white wine Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until thickened.

Chicken: 1 fennel bulb cut into strips 1 cup white wine 1 whole orange cut into wedges Medieval Paste Method: Take sliced fennel and stuff the chicken. With your hand, rub the paste all over the chicken; try to get under the skin where possible. Be generous. Place the bird in a baking pan, and pour in some white wine. Surround the bird with some remaining fennel and orange wedges.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to just over an hour (depending on the size). Use a thermometer to determine a safe temperature for serving.

When fully cooked, remove from heat and let cool. Cut the chicken into pieces, combining the stuffing and chicken together. Enjoy!

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Delicious Living

Persimmon Winter Salad A simple salad for your appetizer entourage Ingredients:

Fig Balsamic

4 fuyu persimmons, washed and sliced into

Reduction Method:

bite-sized moons

2 cups good quality balsamic vinegar

Fresh greens (baby spinach or kale)

2 dried figs

Fresh marjoram sprigs

Pinch of nutmeg

Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Pinch of marjoram

Olive oil

Put balsamic and figs, marjoram and nutmeg

Fig balsamic

in sauce pan and gently stew until it begins to thicken. Cool and use as beautiful condiment on everything!

Fig Balsamic Quick Method: Âź cup of good quality balsamic vinegar

Salad Method:

4 dried figs

Place sliced persimmons in a mixing bowl. Add

Pinch of nutmeg

a few leaves of fresh greens, a drizzle of olive oil

Pinch of marjoram

and fig balsamic. Mix well. On a serving platter,

Put everything in a blender and puree until

place a few more fresh green leaves. Pour

smooth and creamy.

marinated persimmon mixture on top of leaves.

Sprinkle marjoram all over. Drizzle fig balsamic in a decorative manner. Add a few pomegranate seeds to bring out some brilliant red to a phenomenal orange dish!

Good Health to You!

Andrew Muto is a Food Director and Health/Wellness Chef. 25 years of culinary experience has nurtured a passion for food and kept Andrew on purpose – to help people from all walks of life enjoy healthy foods that are simple and easy, incorporating local fare and organic where possible! Find out more at createhealthyfood.com

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Eating by the Book

Complimentary Consultation Offer expires December 31, 2012.

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The Ingredient

Persimmon

By Andrew Muto

The Japanese call it Kaki. The Italians also call it cachi (kaki). It’s a case of Tomato or Tomatoe . . . well, let’s call the whole thing amazing!!

Like all produce that grows in nature, persimmons have their share of good nutrition. They’re a great source of vitamin C and contain plenty of potassium, manganese, copper, and lycopene (the same disease-fighting component found in tomatos).

In late autumn and throughout the winter months, persimmons line the stalls of markets and grocery stores. Most common to us is the hachiya and the fuyu. The hachiya looks like a large orange roma tomato (artistically resembling an orange heart). It has a beautifully rich and luscious texture. Be forewarned, though: you’ll be thoroughly turned off if you attempt to eat it in its unripe state! You’ll feel like you’ve eaten a bucket of sand! The hachiya persimmon will be soft when ripe. There are many theories about how to ripen hachiya. Here’s a clue: persimmons ripen in the cold and frost. The best method I’ve come across is putting one in the freezer overnight and taking it out in the morning. It’s not as perfect as those ripened without haste, but the fruit still retains brilliant tones of its sweet and tasty attributes.

Photo: Andrew Muto

The fuyu persimmon is the most versatile variety and can be eaten like an apple; it’s firm, sweet, and crunchy! Enjoy the fruit alone in its natural state or slice it and use it in a winter salad with fig balsamic; stew the softer variety and use the sauce as a compote to top any of your favourite seasonal desserts. They make custards and sweet breads like pan d’oro and Stollen, extraordinary.

Persimmons have been used for centuries throughout the world in art that has decorated clothing, temples, castles, and simple homes.

Put a bowl of fresh persimmons by the entrance, on the piano, on the kitchen counter, or any place where this beautiful fruit will accentuate and adorn your home!

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Tastemakers

A Recipe for Balance By Mary Luz Mejia

G 70

rowing up in a kosher Jewish home in the heart of Toronto in the 1970s meant that becoming an avowed vegetarian at age 17 would not be supported in Nettie

Cronish’s family. “Our kosher household was very strict. Meat and dairy were served separately, on specific sets of dishes with cutlery to match. There were a lot of rules,” she recalls. She knew it was time to move out when she stopped enjoying the dairy-rich blintzes and kugels of her youth.

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For Cronish, food involved an important ethical component that she couldn’t ignore.

“By taking into account what I was eating, I was looking at food in terms of its consequences. When I eat this piece of meat, am I supporting practices that are cruel to animals? Or that damage the earth? Contribute

Photo: Courtesy of White Cap Books

Fitness, Veg Food, and Love

to climate change? Hurt or abuse people in developing countries?” These are questions she asked and answered herself, even if the answer wasn’t a popular one.

“Nobody around me in the early seventies believed there was anything wrong with eating meat. I would wear my ‘Meat is Murder’ t-shirt all the time,” she says. And although Cronish, now one of Canada’s leading organic vegetarian cookery voices, four- (soon to be five-) time published cookbook author, and culinary instructor, sounds like a die-hard purist, she knew then she could not make decisions for others.

She will admit to a couple of “obnoxious phases” in her youth, but after obtaining a B.A., travelling around the globe, and immersing herself in cultures where a vegetarian diet is, as Cronish says, “a part of the social fabric,” she found herself relaxing into her lifestyle decision and widening her culinary horizons. Her time abroad introduced her to new flavour sensations and ingredients like tempeh, seitan, galangal, and tamarind.

And apart from realizing that we have a lot of choices about what to eat, Cronish began to educate herself in how to prepare flavourful, fragrant vegetarian food, even if this newfound ethical shift wasn’t fully understood by some, including her mother. Until then, Cronish says she ate whatever her mother prepared, but it was taking responsibility for her own meals that truly opened doors and a newly minted career path for her.

“I love to teach because it’s a way to motivate others and give concrete direction for a meat-free path. Let me show you how to prepare delicious food without feeling at a loss,” is Cronish’s mantra. She started by offering classes through an adult education program called The Skills Exchange; word quickly spread about the impassioned teacher who, in her own words, “makes delicious a prerequisite for healthy.” That led to catering gigs and running a deli at a large health food store in the city’s downtown core, where she rented space from which to cater.

Although Cronish loved to cook, she realized, “After cooking every day for two years, I would never open a restaurant.” When the store’s lease wasn’t renewed and shelves weren’t restocked, Cronish needed to store the food she’d already purchased for more catering work. That was the beginning of her frozen food empire, which included a line of eight vegetarian dinners, the most popular being the Mushroom Mousaka. From her new Kensington Market location, Cronish began to expand her business, Vegetarian Gourmet Delights. She then faced another fork in the

road. Should she continue to grow the business or invest in her family by having a baby with her old high school friend, now husband, Jim? She chose the latter, but always kept one wooden spoon in the teaching pot.

Cronish has taught vegetarian cooking classes for 23 years at Toronto’s Big Carrot, as well as other venues including Nella Cuccina, President’s Choice Cooking School at Loblaw’s, Great Cooks on Eight, the LCBO, and Dish Culinary Studio. Her recipes have been featured in Food & Drink, Homemakers Magazine, Chatelaine, Canadian Living, the Toronto Star, and The Globe & Mail to name a few. A hallmark of Cronish’s recipes is accessibility; she wants us to take the time to cook, enjoy what we make, and be inspired to make a dish or meal again. Cooking classes, like her books, Nettie’s Vegetarian Kitchen, New Vegetarian Basics, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Being Vegetarian in Canada, and most recently, Everyday Flexitarian: Recipes for Vegetarians & Meat Lovers Alike, are for Cronish about building community.

That’s why she and some other women started the Women’s Culinary Network in 1990, the brain child of food writer Marilyn Crowley. The concept was to extend a supportive environment to other female culinary professionals–an idea that’s resonated with the over 250 members throughout Canada.

Cronish has mentored numerous women over the years, saying, “Mentoring is the cornerstone of life. I always learn something as well. It’s strange being an elder: you realize all this experience adds up to some wisdom.

Or if you make a mistake, often enough you will recognize a pattern and make a change or two.”

One of those changes came to Cronish through her children. She had raised them on a vegetarian diet, but they discovered meat and chose to continue eating it. “The hardest obstacle I had to face was the fact that my family didn’t want to be veg. Two of my three kids were sneaking meat. The phone calls I got were disturbing, saying one of my children had been at a friend’s home and had eaten meat, so I must be depriving my kids of nutrients,” says Cronish.

Instead of banging heads and world views, Cronish chose to pen Everyday Flexitarian with co-writer Pat Crocker, in which vegetarian recipes can be altered to add protein, because she understood it was time for her kids to explore their own tastes. She also understood that if this is how it was in her family, there had to be other families who were grappling with similar situations. This book keeps the peace in the kitchen, at the

table, and on the plate. In fall 2014, you’ll find a new version of Everyday Flexitarian: Meals in Under 30 Minutes.

Cronish is also a board member of Fair Trade Canada, an organization near and dear to her heart because it “empowers producers to combat poverty, grow sustainable food, and provide a future for themselves and their families. It’s good quality too.” How does Cronish manage it all? “I’m an active member of a health club where I use nautilus machines, free weights, bands, and a step master. Fitness, veg food, and love: my three essential ingredients to staying balanced,” she says with a smile.

Chef’s Survival Kit I can’t get through the day without ...

My cup of freshly roasted fair trade dark roast coffee.

To relax ... I take a walk in a park.

I am currently reading ... Burma, Rivers of Flavour by Naomi Duguid.

My favourite culinary destination is...

New York City, the Red Rooster.

My favourite kitchen tool is ... a stainless steel handheld reamer; the juice flows evenly into my glass without spilling onto the little cuts I have on my hands.

My stranded on a desert island spice is... vanilla bean. I love to grind a solid inch with my coffee beans.

Who is your mentor? My cousin Suzie. She guides me through the labyrinth of family duties with a sense of humour.

Favourite meal of the day... Breakfast.

Fresh fruit, grains, and almond milk, chilled.

Favourite not-for-profit organization. . . Fair Trade Canada.

Superpower you wish you had? To fly like an eagle.

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Tastemakers

Tofu Curry with Shrimp Curry with Lime and Nut Butter Lime and Nut Butter

Serves: 6 | 4 veggie + 2 meat servings (if using shrimp) Two 14 oz (440 g) pkgs firm tofu, rinsed (if using shrimp, use one pkg only) 2 tsp (10 mL) whole fenugreek seeds 1 tsp (5 mL) whole cumin seeds 1 tsp (5 mL) whole coriander seeds 1 Tbsp (15 mL) crushed cinnamon stick 1 Tbsp (15 mL) ground turmeric 2 Tbsp (30 mL) olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp (15 mL) grated fresh ginger 1 tsp (5 mL) red curry paste or 1 dried cayenne pepper, crushed ½ tsp (2 mL) salt One 14 oz (398 mL) can coconut milk ¼ cup (60 mL) peanut butter 2 tsp (10 mL) lime zest 3 Tbsp (45 mL) fresh lime juice 1 Tbsp (15 mL) brown sugar 1 red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch (1 cm) dice 1 cup (250 mL) sliced carrots 1 cup (250 mL) broccoli florets ¼ to 1 cup (60 to 250 mL) water 4 oz (125 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 8 to 12) Drain the tofu in a large colander over a bowl or in the sink. Cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes and set aside.

Heat a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, and then add fenugreek, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. Dry roast the spices, stirring constantly for 2 minutes or until golden and lightly toasted. Remove to a small bowl and let cool. Use a mortar and pestle, or an electric grinder, to grind the toasted spices. Add turmeric, mix well, and set aside. You should have about ¼ cup (60 mL) of curry spice blend.

Heat oil in the same skillet, over mediumhigh heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and

72

The sauce for this curry is outstanding, and like any coconut sauce spiked with red or green Thai curry spices, it’s perfect for firm fish (such as cod, monkfish, or bass), chicken, pork, and seafood, like the shrimp I use here. I love gently cooking shrimp right in the curry sauce, but you can opt to cook them in a separate pan and serve as a garnish or on the side. Note: If adding shrimp, I recommend using only one package of tofu. —Pat

cook, stirring frequently for 3 to 5 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent.

Stir in 1 Tbsp (15 mL) of the curry spice blend, red curry paste, and salt. Cook, stirring constantly for 30 seconds. Add coconut milk and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly.

Add peanut butter, lime zest, lime juice, and brown sugar. Bring back to a simmer, stirring constantly.

Add red pepper, carrots, and broccoli, and bring to a light simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Taste, and add more curry spice blend if desired. Stir in water, ¼ cup (60 mL) at a time, if the sauce appears to be too thick. Transfer 2¼ cups (560 mL) of the vegetables and sauce to a separate saucepan for the shrimp portions.

Add tofu cubes to the skillet and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Bring another saucepan to a gentle simmer over mediumlow heat. Add shrimp and simmer gently, stirring frequently for 3 to 5 minutes or until the shrimp has turned bright pink. Remove from heat and keep warm. (Don’t overcook the shrimp because it will become tough and rubbery.)

Grinding Whole Curry Spices When the toasted spices have cooled, grind them to your preference, whether fine or coarse. This recipe makes about ¼ cup (60 mL) with the addition of the ground turmeric.

In this recipe, use 1 to 2 Tbsp (15 to 30 mL) of the curry spice, according to your taste.

Store the remaining curry blend in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Curry Spice Fresh whole curry spices are blended and toasted for optimum flavour. In the bowl, clockwise from the top, are coriander seeds,

WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

cumin seeds, and fenugreek seeds. In the measuring spoon is a crushed cinnamon stick. Fenugreek is key to the essential curry flavour in curry blends. Ground turmeric (not shown) is also added to the sauce and provides its bright yellow colour.

Cooking Shrimp in a Stovetop Grill Pan Peel and devein the shrimp. Rinse under cool water in a colander. Drain and pat dry.

Lightly oil a grill pan or skillet. Heat the pan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and place the shrimp in the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the bottom edges start to turn bright pink.

Using tongs, turn the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the flip side, or until the undersides are bright pink. Remove from the grill pan or, if the pan is large enough, move the cooked shrimp to a section that’s not directly over the heat.

Flavour Profile A wide range of flavours are combined in this complex curry. Coconut milk provides a slightly sweet background that balances out the spikes of fresh ginger, grated lime rind, and fresh lime juice. Peanut butter lends richness and a slightly sweet nutty essence.

Spices are toasted whole and ground to a coarse or fine consistency, depending on your preference.

win

a cookbook

Follow us on Tw itte Facebook for det r & ails.

Recipe: Excerpted from Everyday Flexitarian By Nettie Cronish and Pat Crocker White Cap Books www.whitecap.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

The secret behind this recipe lies in toasting the spices.

Fenugreek, cumin, and coriander are a magical trio.

Fenugreek seeds are used in chutneys and Indian pickles. I suggest that you invest in a second coffee bean grinder and use it exclusively for spices. —Nettie

Raw Ambition

Pass the Cookies!

Recipe for a guilt-free holiday treat

By Doug McNish

We all know that time of year, when comments like “pass the

Photo: Doug McNish

gravy” and “I’ll take extra stuffing” are commonplace. For those of us who follow a healthy lifestyle, it’s easy to feel like an outcast because we pass on the deep fried cheesecake pops or turducken (duck stuffed inside of a chicken, stuffed inside a turkey and deep fried) graciously offered by friends or family.

Whatever holiday it is, whether Christmas, New Years, or my birthday, I always make sure to treat myself. I don’t believe in a restrictive diet, counting calories, or going on a weeklong bender and then juice fasting for three days to compensate. Rather, I take the time to enjoy my food and make sure every calorie counts. This means reaching for spelt cookies instead of those made from refined flours, enjoying chocolate avocado frosting instead of stuff that comes in a tin, or devouring a slice of cashew cheesecake instead of one that’s made from tofu and oil.

Although I love kale, blueberries, and avocados, I don’t shy away from sweets. The fact of the matter is, you CAN have your cake (or cookie) and eat it too! My recipe for Cinnamon Ginger Banana Cookies is a crowd pleaser that’s sure to wow even the most staunch junk foodie. It’s easy to put together, requires very little preparation, and as a bonus, it’s vegan, gluten free, free of refined sugar, and requires no cooking!

Holidays are about friends, family, and giving, so please be sure to give yourself some love; you can have your cookies and enjoy them too—guilt free!

Doug McNish has taken healthy, organic, plant-based cuisine to a whole new level. Challenging mainstream thought on diet and ethics, he continues to create inspired dishes using the highest quality ingredients and has just released his new cookbook, Eat

Cinnamon Ginger Banana Cookies

This is one of my favourite recipes for the holiday season. The only equipment you need is a food processor and baking sheet lined with (bleach-free) parchment paper.

Makes 12 to 15 cookies INGREDIENTS: 1 cup raw cashews 1/4-cup whole raw almonds 2 tbsp chopped ginger root 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped banana 1/2 cup melted coconut oil 1/4 cup raw agave nectar 1. In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, process cashews, almonds, ginger, and cinnamon until crumbly but not smooth.

2. Add banana, coconut oil, and agave and pulse just until the mixture comes together.

3. Transfer to a bowl and use a tablespoon to drop 12 to 15 portions of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment.

Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours or until set.

Tips Substitute the agave with an equal amount of coconut nectar or 1/2 cup of chopped, pitted dates.

Raw, Eat Well, under Robert Rose Publications.

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Travel

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Travel

Getting There with Go Touch Down Tours Mother Nature Awaits in Stunning South Africa Story and Photos by Deborah Peniuk

From the moment I get the call, I know I’m in for a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.

Winning an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa from Sweat Equity magazine thanks to Go Touch Down Tours will allow me to cross off another incredible destination from my personal Bucket List. Little did I know that the visit would have an unexpected message for me, too. To make the most of this experience, I’ll kick off my shoes and connect with the earth, close my eyes, and breathe in the heady scent of Africa at its southern tip.

Here we witness Mother Nature’s amazing cast of players who flawlessly put on one of the greatest scenic shows I’ve ever seen, revealing the splendour and diversity of South Africa. The show begins in Mpumalanga (which translates to “the place where the sun rises” in the local dialect), where the arresting scenic beauty and abundant wildlife call me to begin communing with nature.

We stop in the living museum that is the small town of Pilgrim’s Rest, where the past tells a story of the region’s gold rush fever at every turn. The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, with its stunning rock formations, houses the most spectacular of them all–the Bourke’s Luck potholes. Formed by river erosion and the actions of flood waters, this serene pit stop offers sunlit landscapes swirled and impressively carved out of rock.

The Blyde River Canyon itself is a 26 km long gorge that is the world’s third largest canyon and the only green one. The mind-stilling peace I encounter when I climb up to God’s Window is immeasurable. Miles and miles of gently rolling greenery tell a tale of life on our planet often forgotten as we race towards new things instead of appreciating the old.

I share this trip with a dear friend, and our next stop brings us to the lovely town of Dullstroom, specifically the Dunkeld Country Estate, which contains 16 trout lakes, a small wildlife reserve, and an expanding collection

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Travel

of sister properties next door. This area is internationally renowned for its trout and fly fishing and boasts a whiskey bar, micro-brewery, and two lovely art galleries featuring South African artists.

Immersing myself in South Africa has, for me, always included being amongst her creatures. I got my wish in spades. We start off with a night drive and spot a Lioness and her two female cubs, giraffes, kudu, and a few warthogs. The following day, we rise at the break of dawn for a completely different experience: the morning drive. Zebras, antelopes, storks, lions, and water buffalos with their ears flapping like wings swatting at flies; we observe all of these majestic and powerful animals in awe.

Our sundrenched days are spent in our own hushed suspenseful moments, waiting to see what we spot next; our guide Nelson, “not Mandela,” and our tracker Mateo confidently impart information and belly laughs along the way. Nothing, however, could quite prepare me for the respect I feel when we encounter a large herd of elephants, including the adorable pink-mouthed 4-day-old, and the male that felt we were too close and decided to charge our jeep. I was in my glory being near so many giraffes, stunning to watch as they galloped across the hard South African grasslands.

A short flight takes us diagonally across the country and to the breathtaking city of Cape Town. Laid back with a welcoming attitude and a sparkling nightlife, this city is graced by another of nature’s 76

WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

majestic icons: Table Mountain. Here we savoured some of the most delectable dishes on the trip. From the mouthwatering seafood enjoyed at various restaurants at the Victoria and Albert Waterfront, to the perfectly prepared Springbok shank or the melt-in-your-mouth seared Ostrich, it all set the bar high for this avid foodie.

The peacefulness of the ocean and the connection with the history of this place moves me in ways I had not expected. Some of the highlights in and around Cape Town included historic Robben Island, the Old Slave Lodge (now the Iziko Slave Museum), Table Mountain, Cape Point, Boulders Beach, and Simon’s Town–home to SA’s endangered penguin colony. Just outside the city is Hout Bay, one of the 16 big wave spots in the world for surfers, Seal Island home to 75,000 cape fur seals, and Kalk Bay, a town full of great antiquing and fresh fish.

This journey leaves me with a deeper sense of South Africa’s people and the struggles faced on the road to the abolishment of Apartheid.

A new beginning is felt thanks to the actions of great men and women pushing for equality and peaceful ways to come together. I am forever touched by seeing the small cell that Nelson Mandela and so many others endured while imprisoned on Robben Island.

I hope to return soon so that I might visit the many places I missed on such a trip around a country so vast and diverse. I’m left with sounds and images that leave me grounded in Mother Earth’s infinite possibilities.

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Eating En-lighten by the Book Up

Ho, Ho, Omm Twinkling lights and stylish tights, or frugal gear for your holiday cheer? By Bonnie Lynch

Illustration: Jason Horning

There’s a Lululemon where I

live. It sits in the heart of the city’s “tragically hip” section, amid wine bars, shops that sell antique Persian carpets, and purveyors of precious baby dresses, each little frilly frock priced at more than my entire holiday shopping budget.

And although I don’t own any Persian carpets or precious baby dresses, and I prefer microbrews to merlot, I most definitely have shopped at Lululemon. In fact, the flippy-haired logo not only figures prominently in my own yoga wardrobe, it also adorns some of the gifts I’ve purchased for my loved ones this season.

Now, it’s as clear as the yin and yang poster on the studio

wall: some people come to yoga decked out in designer duds from head to toe, while others prefer the anonymous chic of the droopy sweat pant and bargain tank top. But do my high-end choices cast a scarlet letter upon my yogic persona? Would it be a sign of my advancement if I could meditate, unperturbed, on the sensation of the perpetual wedgie I get from my cheap and poorly constructed tights?

Should I be morally vexed by the fact that, in 2011, Lululemon founder Chip Wilson joined the ranks of what I fondly dub the “1 percent,” and has a net worth currently inching its way up to $3 billion? If I rebuff the glamour

tights in favour of sale bin seconds, am I just being Grinchy?

Don’t get me wrong–I also shop at the discount stores. Does this soothe my conscience? Not at all. Scanning the aisles of abundant, cheap athletic wear, I wonder . . . did the company outsource its production to some seedy sweatshop overseas? Is Inspector 4, whose tag is stuck to my capris, some grade-school child who should be learning her times tables instead of working 12 hours a day for slave wages?

Did the drivers who trucked my bargain-basement sports bra to the shiny store enjoy the right to collective bargaining?

In this and every season, being

a conscious consumer means keeping my footprint small and stepping in a place that I’ve chosen with some care. (Think of those tiny reindeer hooves alighting deftly on the rooftops.)

To make a small footprint, I can consciously decide to buy only what I need. To help ensure that I’m choosing the right rooftops to land on, I can educate myself about the companies where I shop. Lululemon and many other companies have easily accessible information about ways that they ensure safe, clean, and fair working conditions for the people who make the goods. When I shop as a conscious consumer, I help to ensure that my hoof prints don’t crash through someone else’s wellbeing. And that feeling beats a cheap-tights wedgie any day.

Here’s to your holidays—may they be merry, bright, and mindful!

nov/dec 2012 | WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Breathe In, Chill Out Living Your Yoga

By Jen Kirsch

So here it is: you’re feeling pretty effing fabulous when

seemingly out of nowhere, you’re triggered. Perhaps your partner is bantering with your nemesis, your co-worker let you down, you saw something on Facebook you wish you hadn’t, or a friend just sent a nasty text message. Whatever it is that gets you into that headspace, the one that has your friends dodging your calls, remember that how

you breathe determines how you’ll respond. This we yogis know for sure, thanks to the friendly reminders of our teachers while enduring torturous poses in class: “Breathe through the pain!”

You see, yoga might increase your level of fitness and it may temporarily uplift your mood, but the long-term benefits of the practice extend far beyond your one hour in the studio. Be mindful of the teachings gleaned while on the mat, and you might fine-tune your responses to people and scenarios in the “real world.”

Dealing with relationships: yoga teaches that nothing is perma-

nent. Our thoughts, our pain, our struggles and worries will all sooner

“The success of yoga does not lie in the ability to perform asanas, but in how it positively changes the way we live our lives.”

— T.K.V. Desikachar

or later pass by. Yet we rarely give ourselves the opportunity to let this occur! By focusing on the breath instead of the story line in our head, we can let go of negative emotions. When you inhale, you breathe in the good: peace, vitality, and love. When you exhale, you let go of the bad: toxic or negative stuff you no longer need. So if your partner sends a triggering text, instead of reacting based on your emotions, wait it out. Focus on your breath, and remember that everything will work out if you don’t meddle. It’s an excellent coping skill!

Dealing with an off-day: in fantasy land, all days are perfect and

what goes up stays up, but in reality that just isn’t the case. It’s easy for an off-day to get us down, but yoga can lift you back up. When you’re down, practice a few sun salutations, wherever you are, or read some inspiring quotes to remind you that this moment will pass if you let it.

Living a healthy life: When I practice yoga, I’ve noticed that I eat

healthier. I’m more aware of the food I put into my body. Instead of reaching for convenience food or popping a pill to cure a headache, pinpoint what you need and fuel your system in a healthy way. With a consistent yoga practice, we become aware of our body and what it’s telling us outside the studio as well.

Hydrate often and eat for fuel rather than pleasure. If you can commit to enjoying a cleaner diet, you’ll find the relationship with yourself and with others begins to change in a healthy way. How you eat affects how you feel.

So sure, go to your class for group motivation and a good sweat, for the reassurance that you’re burning calories and developing a healthier self, but also go because you know that the spiritual time spent will result in a happier and more calm way of being. The practice doesn’t stop at the studio door. In fact, that’s just the beginning.

Jen Kirsch is a relationship columnist and blogger whose quick wit and to the point writing has made her the go-to source for relationship advice. When she’s not writing she can be seen at her yoga studio, a loyal yogi practicing daily.

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WWW.SWEATEQUITYMAGAZINE.COM | nov/dec 2012

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