Category — Trends

Be a ninja for an afternoon

Have you ever wanted to know what it takes to be a ninja? Well, now is your chance. On October 17, Casa Loma is offering a 3 hour Ninja Combat Workshop. In this session people will learn how to move, think and fight like a ninja. On their website they write that you will “discover how to use your shadow as a shield, walk without sound and win without fighting.”

I’m also guessing that this is going to be a pretty intense workout and would also  be the perfect gift for the guy or girl in your life who still remember and heart Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

All skill levels are welcome and people above the age of 14. To learn more all you have to do is email operations@casaloma.org. To register you need to call 416.923.1171 ext 205/215.

This Toronto workout tip is courtesy of my friend and former colleague who also happens to be doing some great work looking at past & present Toronto.

1. H & M and UNICEF have partnered together and launched a very cute reusable tote. This tote is perfect for carrying around some gym clothes (and groceries – now that the 5 cents rule is in effect across the GTA)! Love the fact that 25% of the proceeds benefit the Kenya Girls Scholarship Programme. You can pick this tote up at selected H & Ms.

2. As the recent Time magazine article pointed out exercise alone won’t make you thin. For me, feeling healthy is a combination of exercise and good nutrition. Pick up some healthy and local treats at Culinarium on Mount Pleasant. Culinarium is a fantastic resource for how to eat locally and healthy in the GTA. Join their weekly newsletter and you’ll receive a list of what they have in stock for the week!

3. The pre-beginner ballet classes at DanceTeq. Drop ins welcome and geared toward those of us who may need a little extra help prior to going to a beginner’s class.

Flirty Girl Fitness is offering people the opportunity to find out. Natalli Reznik, one of the top finalists of So You Think You Can Dance, Canada, will be leading a special two-hour workshop that will be sure to spice up your hip hop and latin moves. The workshop will be held on the Saturday, August 15^th at 1 p.m. Spaces can be reserved via phone or email.

Flickr: sun dazed

Boot camps seem to be the ‘in’ thing to do these days and I’m starting to feel a bit left out that I don’t have one to go to. Usually 5-6 weeks in length these boot camps are apparently supposed to make you sweat and lose inches fast.

For those of you looking for some Toronto area boot camp ideas I have scanned the web for a few that sound kind of interesting!

1. Bridal boot camp is for brides looking to tone up for their wedding day. According to their website they have helped 100s of brides achieve their fitness goals and look fabulous on their most special day.
2. Belly boot camp is geared towards “mommies in training” and offers women who are pregnant the opportunity to work out in a group setting with other pregnant ladies. They also offer a “bellies and babes” boot camp for the women looking to get back to their pre-pregnancy shape.
3. Pilates boot camp at Core Studio offers Pilates lovers the opportunity to take their training up a notch with some simple cardio and strength training moves. Their boot camps run throughout the year.
4. Wanting to look bikini ready all-year round (you just never know!) then the Bikini Boot camp is for you. They also seem to offer some free tryout sessions, so you can check out their offerings before committing.
5. Finally, for those of you just wanting a plain old regular whip you into shape boot camp there is something for you – Tara Postnikoff and Dr. Sarah Cohen will be running a fall boot camp that is held twice a week and is guaranteed to help you lose inches.

Yes, there truly is a boot camp for everyone. I wonder if we will every get our own version of the Thank Dog Boot Camp? If I was a betting person I would say that this time next year there will be one. Hey, maybe someone will even invent a boot camp that you can do with your cats?

Extension Method's ballet brunch

Each day I get a newsletter from Sweetspot.ca. which I admit I actually do enjoy – not because of its frequency but because it usually has some good information on what is happening in Toronto.

This week I found out about a ballet brunch event that is happening in early August which I thought was kind of a neat idea. It also sounds like the perfect event to gather up a bunch of girlfriends that you haven’t seen in a while.

So what is involved?

The first part of the event will be a one and half hour Extension Method class. The Extension Method is the brainchild of Jennifer Nichols and “combines classical ballet technique with contemporary athletic conditioning and is designed to impart the strength, posture, ease of movement, and sculpted physique of a dancer” (Extension Method website). According to the event coordinators you do not have to be a ballerina to join in and the class can easily be done by beginners. To learn more about what a class is like check out Canada.com’s recent article.

The next part of the event features guest speaker, spa giveaways and a very delicious sounding organic brunch. Things like a garden vegetable frittata, multigrain blueberry French toast and bowls of fresh berries are on the menu. Delicious!

The event takes place on August 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and costs are $55 if you come alone and $45 if you bring a friend! You can register via email at info@boutiquemarketing.ca

If you can’t make it to the ballet brunch (like I can’t due to marathon training) you can always check out Jennifer’s Extension Method Classes at a variety of locations. She teaches classes at the Yorkville Club Uptown, Lawrence Park Chiropractic and Physiotherapy and at a couple of Extreme Fitness locations.