Dry Feb

I will probably do better on my finals if I don’t party as much

victoria baht

s&h writer

Hey there, Carillon readers! Happy month of February. I want you to take a second and think to yourself about what the month of February entails. Is it the month of love? Is it the coldest month of the year? How about the shortest month of the year? What about “Dry February?” Well, all of those are correct, but today in the Sports & Health section, we are going to talk about what “Dry February” is and why you should partake in it. “Dry February” is a fundraiser for cancer that encourages people to go alcohol-free for a month.

“Why the month of February?” you may ask (and no, the answer is not because it is the shortest month so it’s easier to abstain). It is because February 4 is World Cancer Day! Here is a brief explanation of what cancer is: cancer is a disease that occurs and changes normal cells inside of your body. It can lead to uncontrolled growth of cells, which can progress into a tumour. If these cells do not get treatment, they can spread to other cells inside of the body by using your circulatory systems. Cancer affects many Canadians, and I am sure you know someone who has been affected by the disease, or you have been affected yourself.

“Dry February” is a fundraiser that is run by The Canadian Cancer Society. Not only do you avoid alcohol for the month, but you can raise money for cancer treatment! There is a reason why the Canadian Cancer society uses alcohol abstinence as a fundraiser. Did you know any type of alcohol increases your risk of head, neck, breast, stomach, pancreatic, colorectal and liver cancers? Now you do! So, there is a fun fact for you and a reason why you should partake in “Dry February.”

Why else should you or your friends partake in “Dry February?” The reason may be because cancer has affected or affects someone you know. Maybe you have chosen to see what health benefits there are to giving up alcohol for a month. There are some benefits to partaking in “Dry February.” Some people may experience improvement in their sleep patterns (and really, who doesn’t need that?). They may feel they are hydrated, which means not only are they maintaining more water in their daily intake, but being more hydrated can influence physical performance and give you more energy. Another reason to not drink is to improve blood pressure rates.

Now, what is a benefit that is not for your health? The most obvious is to save money! If you partake in “Dry February,” not only can you fundraise money for cancer research and patients, but maybe you can save money that you would have spent on alcohol on a trip, family event, or a fitness journey.

So why should you partake in “Dry February?” The answers are endless. Why not join in? Start now and you help raise money for cancer and gain benefits for your own health! Partake by yourself or with a group of friends. Share this article with them and get a whole group to partake in “Dry February” together!

Kevin Kelly via Unsplash Which wine pairs best with these chicken nuggets?

NBA 75th all-star lineup is announced

We’re gonna shake it into overtime

amkir said contributor

The all-star game has always been one of the National Basketball Association’s most popular events, and this year’s might be the most important and highly-anticipated one in recent history. From marking a significant anniversary to having some of the biggest names in the sport’s record, this game is set to make history.

This year’s game commemorates the 75th anniversary of the NBA, a major milestone in the history of one of the most influential athletic organizations in the world. While the game itself is the 71st edition of the event, it still commemorates the league’s anniversary and is expected to provide an unforgettable spectacle. Fun fact: the game is being held in Cleveland, Ohio, where the NBA’s 50th anniversary game was held in 1997.

As a quick summary for the selection process of all-star players, NBA players from the western and eastern conference teams get chosen to be part of the starting roster through a voting process consisting of fan, media, and player votes. The player with the most votes in each of the two conferences is also appointed captain and gets to draft his team from the roster. The same players tend to get voted in during consecutive years, with these typically being household names like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. However, this year’s event has a couple of exciting new picks that will be making their all-star debut.

The starting lineups of the Western and Eastern conferences were announced on January 27, with the inclusion of some names being very predictable and some rather surprising. The list is as follows:

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, with this being his 18th time being picked as an allstar player. (western, captain)

Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets, 12th. (eastern, captain)

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, 8th. (western)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, 6th. (eastern)

DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls, 5th. (eastern)

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers, 5th. (eastern)

Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets, 4th. (western)

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, 2nd. (eastern)

Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, 1st. (western)

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies, 1st. (western)

Wiggins and Morant have been selected for the first time in their careers after both being named Rookie of the Year in the 2014-15 and 2019-20 seasons respectively. As the only Canadian on the all-star roster, and the third Canadian ever selected as an allstar, hopefully Wiggins will make us proud!

As of this article being written, the reserves have yet to be announced. As another quick refresher, after the starters are selected, the reserves are selected to fill in the remaining spots on both teams. However, unlike the democratic selection process of the starting roster in which fans and the media are directly involved in picking players, the reserves are selected by the NBA’s head coaches.

As I have no idea who will be selected for the reserves, I’ve jotted down a few predictions:

Luka Dončić: scoring and ball-handling expert; one of the best offensive players in the league right now. (Dallas Mavericks)

Klay Thompson: incredibly talented shooter, with his and Stephen Curry’s chemistry being some of the strongest in the league and instrumental to the team’s recent success. (Golden State Warriors)

LaMelo Ball: exceptionally talented rookie with phenomenal scoring power for his age. (Charlotte Hornets)

Fred VanVleet: all-around excellent defender and teammate; in all honesty, this is just wishful thinking from a diehard Raptors fan…

This game will be the second one to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is unclear as to how many restrictions will be in place this year. Regardless, for those of us (including me, unfortunately) who can’t make it to Cleveland this February, the game will be televised live as always. Who will win, Team James or Team Durant? Will Curry make physics-defying shots with or without Thompson? Will the Raptors get some love this year? Find out at the 2022 NBA all-star game.

Gym review series: Wheelhouse Cycle Club

I may not be able to ride away from my problems, but at least the music is good

victoria baht

s&h writer

If you have been following along for the month of January, you know about my gym review series. If you have not, do not feel discouraged; we will tell you what is going on and what you have missed. I have been going around to gyms in Regina and doing a review and an interview with a trainer or instructor. You have heard of my experience on a yoga mat at Oxygen Yoga, on a ballerina bar at Fit Project, on an exercise mat at Kettlebell Kickboxing, and now I will be on a stationary bike at Wheelhouse Cycle Club.

There are two locations of Wheelhouse Cycle Club in Regina: the “central” location on 1735 7th Avenue, and the “east” location on 2005 Prince of Wales Drive. So, now that you know where to go, what is the experience like? At both locations you are greeted by staff who help you check in. How you check in is based on an iPad system: you check the iPad and look for your name, and it will tell you what bike you are on. Before you go and find what bike you are on, you need to get a pair of shoes. The bikes Wheelhouse Cycle Club use involve a special shoe where they use a “clip and lock” technique. Your foot clicks directly into the foot pedal of the bike. That way your foot does not fall off. Grab those shoes, go find your bike, then click yourself in.

Once you’re clicked in, get a feel for the bike and make sure that you feel comfortable. If you look down in front of you there will be a screen. This can help guide how far you have biked and how many calories you have burned, if you are interested in that (although, note that these numbers are just an estimation). Just below the screen there is a tightening dial that you can twist left or right to change the resistance. There are three handrails for you to grab onto: two directly in front of you that are basically shoulder width apart like a normal bike, and an inner one closer to the screen, as well two bottom ones under the connection. All of these handrails are good and used for you to grab onto once you are

moving and dancing in the class. If you look and feel just below your seat, you will notice that there are weights there that you can use in the class when instructed.

Now that you know where all the equipment is and you have a feel for the bike, let’s start the class! This biking class is music based. To each beat of the music is a stroke with your leg to help you stay on beat. Once you have a hang of the music, the instructor will guide you through different movements to do. You can put your hands in different positions, you can move and up down, lean to the left and right or back and forth, as well stay in one constant spot. It is really unique to think about, and once you have the hang of it, it is hard to lose the flow. Having your legs move to the beat and moving your upper body as well is super unique. It is easy to get into the music even if you are not a music driven person.

Once you have the cycling down pat (or maybe you don’t – just more reason to come back) you can add weight. About halfway through the class I was wondering to myself, “I have not used those

weights, when will I use them?” I should not have asked that question! The Wheelhouse does a couple of minutes of just arm work, and trust me it is deadly.

Wheelhouse Cycle Club is a unique gym where you get a great cardio workout by trying to keep up with the beat. It is a great leg workout as you tighten up the resistance on your legs. It is also a great ab workout as you move through movements on your bike and maintain balance – plus a killer arm workout that only lasts a few minutes. Now that you know my thoughts, let’s get some information from an expert. If you attend Wheelhouse, I have a feeling you definitely know Jenna Kress, as she is amazing at what she does and she makes her classes lots of fun!

What do you like about teaching classes?

Overall, it’s the people and the energy that we create in such an empowering, fun, and nurturing space. We are free to explore, challenge ourselves through the choices we make, and we get to ride to loud music that we choose. We also have Virtual Wheelhouse Live

platform that allows us to connect with new people globally!

What keeps you motivated to be a fitness instructor?

Exercise is a tool for me to help me feel good internally; it keeps me sane, so I’m always doing some type of movement daily. Exercise is a great way for us to experience how we can tap into our greatest potentials and how we can conquer our struggles; it allows us to experience how strong we really are.

“Exercise is a great way for us to experience how we can tap into our greatest potentials and how we can conquer our struggles.

– Jenna Krass

What is some advice you would give someone who is wanting to try your gym for the first time?

Come with no expectation and just try to experiment and do your best where you are at. Also ask questions if you need help with anything!

We all know January is the month for “new year, new me.” What are some suggestions you have for people to not only have a new me, but to improve their healthy habits and lifestyle?

“New year, new me” isn’t something I personally connect with. I believe incorporating healthy habits or making positive changes in a lifestyle helps you actually be you, and you can make change at any point of time when you are motivated to do so, but in saying that, the new year can definitely be a good motivating factor.

Does the gym have any special promotions going on right now? If so, can you explain them?

Your first ride is free. There are also student discounts and a variety of ride packages. We film live rides of our Wheelhouse Live Platform and those are also free – we just ask you bring the energy.

There you go, Carillon readers. Now you have heard my experience of four different gyms to go to in Regina, and what it takes to get into the gym. If these articles did not get you motivated to try out a gym, maybe you can check out some I didn’t talk about. Good luck, readers! I would also like to shout out and say thank you to all the gyms for partaking in this fun series.