Beyond Robson: Health & Fitness Feed

Saddle Up! Bike to Work Week Starts Monday

dave — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:06:55 -0800

Ask any cyclist who commutes to work and they'll tell you the ride is often the best part of their day. Think about it. A great wakeup in the morning, fresh air, exercise, you can even have a coffee while you ride (the seawall that is). Coming home from work, you get that great buffer that takes you from work mode back to real life. Ah, the sweet life on two wheels. I've been doing it for eight years now and even on those damp morns, everything is still alright a few minutes into the ride.

The Lower Mainland's second annual Bike to Work Week begins this Monday, May 26. Organized by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC), the point is to get more bums onto bike seats, and they have the goods to get you sorted. From "rush hour" commuter stations (check this handy map) to afternoon BBQs, bike-a-day giveaways and themed rides about town, both new and experienced cyclists will find more fun and support than imagined.

It's a simple step with complex repercussions. Do it for any number of reasons: eliminating carbon emissions, combating high gas prices, fine tuning your health and fitness, relieving stress, or, my fave, the sheer fun of cycling our city's greenways and bike routes.

The Kind of PMS Everyone Can Handle

Anna — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:21:55 -0800

Summer. For girls, that usually means coming out of shaving hibernation, and perhaps paying a visit to the spa for a pedicure. In celebration of some recent summer shoe purchases, I decided to turn to the services of the newly-opened Pink Mobile Spa. Their concept is simple: instead of you coming to the spa for a treatment, they will come and pretty you up in the comfort of your home. I must admit that I was skeptical of the idea at first. For me, an integral part of the whole pampering experience is flipping through cheezy magazines, people-watching, and getting away from the house. Plus, having a stranger interact with the space you call 'house' ('home'?) can be daunting. I decided to give the services a try anyways, and hoped that the sight of my feet wouldn't scare the esthetician too much.

Although PMS prides itself on the facials, I thought that this would be just a little too easy. Women do facials at home all the time, and the mess is minimal. A pedicure would be a little more of a challenge to pull off at home, since water and nail polish can make for easy accidents...

Vancouver, B.C. Becoming A Parkour Place

Karl — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:45:14 -0800

The first time I saw something Parkour-related was when I watched Casino Royale and Daniel Craig (James Bond) chased a villain through a construction site, up a frame of a building and across steel girders.

But just what is Parkour? A discipline that originates from France says Parkour instructor Rene Scavington.

Derived from the French term for obstacle course, "parcours du combatant", Parkour was pretty much started by a man named David Belle.

Dying to be Thin: Anorexia on Film

Jon — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:55:00 -0800

We live in an image obsessed culture. Turn on the TV, open a newspaper, browse the magazine aisle at chapters, or even log on to yahoo and you're bound to be assaulted by the shallowness of contemporary media. Profile comparisons of celebrities pre and post Atkins, diet ads galore, and twig-figure women left, right, and center. An alien visitor could be easily forgiven for assuming our entire system of mass media is devoted to keeping the population up-to-date on a) how our favourite celebrities look and b) how we should.

Hollywood is one of the worst offenders; if we aren't fawning over the waif-like Keira Knightley or Nicole Kidman, we're gabbing with friends about how much we admire Christian Bale or Renee Zellweger for dropping/gaining 70 pounds between movies. The modern movie theatre has become, to a large extent, a breeding ground for depression, perception issues, and eating disorders.

In a small break in programming from Canada's Top Ten, the Pacific Cinematheque offers an antidote to cinema-inspired anorexia as they screen THIN, the recent, highly praised American documentary which follows the lives of four women with anorexia nervosa. Admission is by donation only, and will be followed up by a post-screening discussion with Dr. Samantha Keller of St. Paul's Hospital. If you've dealt with disordered eating yourself, have a loved one who has, or are simply intrigued by its all too pertinent subject matter, the film is bound to be compelling, and is only showing on Wednesday night at 7:30. More after the jump...

Dance Battle: Compete at People's Court, Round 8

Jark — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:17:37 -0800

Here's another battle y'all gotta go to. Dancers must perform a 1-2 minute choreographed routine or freestyle that best suite the music given. All forms of dance are welcome, just as long as you can perform to the music selected by our DJ. But note, it will be HIP HOP songs/beats. So 'Bring It On': bboys/bgirls, krumpers, poppers/lockers, jazz, salsa, tap-dancers and Hip Hop Heads! Lets see who is gonna get 'Served'! Here's a recording of one of the last ones, just for you.

Care to see Lil'C live in Vancouver? What you don't know who he is? Well, first off, he's a choreographer who is, in part, responsible for choreographing a bunch of things for So You Think You Can Dance, where he was introduced as one of the creators of 'krumping'. This has occurred on three occasions: during Season 3, where he choreographed a routine for Sara Von Gillern and Jesús Solorio in thetop 16, as well as for Lauren Gottlieb and Dominic Sandoval in the top8, and in Season 2, where he choreographed a routine for season runnerup Travis Wall and Martha Nichols. Lil' C gets his credit for being acreator of krump from being featured in the film, RIZE.

Fruit Flies Get Owned by My Electric Flyswatter

Peter — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:19:52 -0800

Gum, bubble wrap, zits, fruit flies. In case you haven't made the connection yet, these are all things that bring sweet satisfaction when you pop them. It may be the last item that threw you off, since popping fruit flies requires the aid of what has become my favourite device in the midst of a fermenting garbage strike: the electric flyswatter (Thanks, China!).

There's nothing quite like executing a smooth, sweeping backhand that culminates in a pop pop pop and a light show in your own kitchen. And not only does it zap fruit flies, but a whole myriad of unwanted guests: mosquitoes, moths, hornets (watch out for noxious smoke!), black flies, and that pothead that's been living on the couch for 3 weeks.

Mmmm, Dirty Electricity: Are You Allergic to Electric Currents, and How Do You Know You're Not?

Jark — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:12:58 -0800

Electricity is everywhere, even when you rub something against something else do you create friction energy and your hair rises like nothing. Now think of something on a far far greater scale -- that's what this article is about. I read a couple of WHO (World Health Organization) articles on the effects electricity has on people. Both articles seemed strange and cool enough to share with y'all since, well, we're all a a relatively well-informed bunch and, in my opinion, will happily eat up what I have to share. ;)

The two articles I speak of are: "Dirty Electricity and "WHO Calls For Measures To Deal With Electromagnetic Waves".

Apparently, high- and low-frequency electromagnetic waves (EMFs) from powerlines and low-frequency tech-toys like radios, stereos, cell-phones, hair-dryers, electric shavers, vacuum cleaners, kitchen microwaves, electric lawnmowers, motorbikes, etc. could have effects on people with weak immune systems. How is this possible? Well, most of these devices, especially TVs and microwaves, emit *minimimal microtesla" (a measure of a type of magnetic field surrounding electric charges such as those in electric currents). Now we have an unlimited electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays and, suffice it to say, these have tremendous effects on the body. And I bet you'd want to find out what these little suckers can do to you? So click on...

Sexifying Fitness

Sara — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 09:20:27 -0800

Photo Credit: imagewerx.ca

Continuing my mission to find some alternative fitness beyond the usual yoga, seawall and mountains this week I began with 'sexy fitness.' After my dive in to lap dancing, I felt I was more than ready to take on Burlesque Aerobics.

I imagined a class of clothes peeling, nipple tassel-ing, and fan dancing. I was right only on one account- I got a fan! The first instruction Melody Mangler of Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society, gave the class was to find fans and grab a feather boa. It was then that I knew this was going to be my kind of a class.

Fitness Challenge Begins at Sexy

Sara — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:03:23 -0800

I'm bored with Vancouver. I'm bored with the places, bored with some faces and I'm sick of my disinterest. To cure this I have proscribed myself a challenge; I will find cool things to do in this city, so help me, or I'm moving to Toronto.

Being summer and all, the first step in this adventure is to get moving before the gloom of the rainy season sets in. Vancouver prides itself on being a highly active community, but I've done the yoga thing, done the biking around the seawall thing, I've hiked the Grind (and I love it!). I'm looking for some heart rate rising activities that aren't offered at a Fitness Underworld.

First up: Tantra Fitness
Class: Lap Dance

Exceptions: Unusual Stuff This Weekend Your Momma Didn't Want You to Know

Jark — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:47:33 -0800

It's not unusual to come across things in the media that are strange enough to want to write about. It's also not unusual to find more than one of these things, and to find an excuse to write about 'em. So here's a list of what isn't quite mainstream and doesn't get adequate coverage anywhere else except on BR? It's something that makes yet another issue of "Vancouver exceptions". Enjoy:

Sat, July 28, 2007. Go Kart Racing! Be A Man or a Woman, Do the Right Thing @ Richmond Go Cart (map), 1:00-2:00PM. Tix. $10.

It's summer, lets go kart! The track is out door and located in richmond. I know, I know, why can't we have one of these in Vancouver -- my answer is, why NOT. What's stopping us! For now, richmond it is, if you get more than 10 people we can do a group buy and get 20% off. It'll have to do until Vancouver gets one of these. Here are some directions. Have a good one.

Sun, July 29, 2007. Yoga in the Park, Victoria & 5th @ McSpadden Park (map), 9:00AM-10:30AM. Tix. No Fee$ were Mentioned.

Try your tree pose with your toes rooted in real earth, reach high for the sky in Mountain pose, and enjoy breathing in the fresh morning air, with a group of other keeners! Join them this Sunday @ 9:30 a.m. for Yoga in the Park! The eager beavers meet at Unity Yoga at 9 a.m. (10th and Commercial right by Broadway Skytrain Station) and head over together...

Even more after the click...

"Queeruption" Vancouver: 7 Days of Events, Action, Film and Gender F***ing

Jark — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:11:22 -0800

Announcing "Queeruption 10: Vancouver, Canada!", August 1-7 2007. Let's talk about controversy! People getting down and dirty about controversy is my idea of a fun couple days. Almost like a philosopher's Cafe only better! Cuz, come on, what's hotter than a good convo anyways? A bunch of workshops are held around varying venues in Vancouver, which are usually announced just a few days in advance, but the bulk of the gigz taking place at Sunshine Coast (get directions). Why should Vancouverites know about this then? Well, I tell ya, perhaps because most people going to this thing are from urban centres like Vancouver, and prolly because most people there are Vancouverites, or at least are expected to be!

So, you ask: What is Queer? Well, in short, it means different, not only sexually, but also socially. The word queer, according to wikipedia, has traditionally meant "strange" or "unusual," but now is also often used in reference to gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual people. Its usage is controversial and underwent substantial changes over the course of the 20th century. In my opinion, what better reason to get together than controversial things like this. This is a wonderful place and time for hyphenated individuals to get together and network.

HIV & Hepatitis C Fundraiser: Laugh, Learn, Indulge, and Raise Some Bucks for Youth

Jark — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:50:49 -0800

I bet you that almost anyone knows someone with HIV+ or Hepatitis C. Last I was in a lecture hall, many years ago, campus rumor had it that out of all the people sitting around me, at least one individual would test HIV+. I never believed the rumor, but I tell you, it didn't matter, cuz whether one or many are suffering, there's more to learn about what lived experience anyone goes through with any "sickness," "disease," "infection," or immunodeficiency.

This year, YouthCO AIDS Society - our local youth-driven, non-profit organization (NPO), providing education and support to youth around HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C - serves up a night of sultry, stylish and culinary pleasures at this year's titled "Acquired Taste Fundraiser." It is tonight, July 19th, @ The Alibi Room (157 Alexander St.). But this isn't just a lame fundraiser!

Promising an affair of the sensuous variety, the night will celebrate and honor a sampling of YouthCO's sassiest supporters. Turn up the heat with the sexy show stopping performance of Jovainka and friends. Chill out with a blend of cool house by DJ Dickey Doo, recently voted Vancouver's favourite local D.J. in the Georgia Straight.

Rouge et Noir Bicycle Cabaret

shirley — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 07:42:11 -0800

My last spontaneous encounter with bike culture ended a few weeks back, cycling quietly through the 2 am streets with a flotilla of superheros, their shiny, sparkly capes flowing behind cruisers and tall bikes.

I had tagged along on a 'performance ride' earlier that evening and wound up partaking in a superhero tomato fight; experiencing a portable dance party in the woods with a dj booth run on a pedal powered-generator; and witnessing several fabulous bicycle-based performances scattered across abandoned industrial lots and ritzy public plazas throughout the city.

It was a lot of fun. Now some of the folks behind this ride are teaming up to put on Rouge et Noir, a bicycle cabaret at the Western Front. The B:C:Clettes, this city's premier ladies bicycle dance troupe, is heading on tour this summer through Washington, Oregon, and California, ending in Los Angeles. To raise money for their trip, they're hosting three cabaret nights.

Technology in my Food? What's in Your Food, and How Do You Know?

Jark — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:11:05 -0800

What happens if (Shock #1) a Biotech giant (i.e. Monsanto) used incomplete data to obtain approval of its genetically modified foods? Apparently this happens more often than we think! It reminds me of how (Shock #2) the first few million bottles of "pure" water sold in North America were, actually, tap water while nobody seemed to know, care, or rebel against this, in spite of independent reports of such things. I am surprised to hear that (Shock #3) Canada, and BC (by virtue of its vast agricultural industry, aside from the Prairies which mine for uranium and grow GE food!), is one of the largest producers of GE crops in the world and, across the country, up to 70 per cent of processed foods found in grocery stores contain or may contain GE ingredients. The most common GE ingredients come from crops like corn, soy, canola and cotton. So why should you care? And what's it got to do with Vancouver? Click for MORE...

Perverts and Weirdos: Sex on the Town

Jark — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 07:10:21 -0800

Summer is finally here, school's out and tons of Vancouverites are heading to the PNE for a day of fun and games. Some like to play the midway, some like the rollercoasters, and some like to take a bit of time to come up with some sexy games of their own. We at BR happen to be of the third persuasion.

And so, without further ado, here is another installment of the best places to get coy with your sweetie - whether it be a little innocent kissing, some heavy petting, or something a little more indecent. Because we know you've thought of the outdoors as not just a macrocosm for your earthly whims. We know - as publicists, writers, reporters, designers, fashionistas, alike - that sensual urges call on you whenever and, yes, wherever you may be. READ ON...