Lululemon's "Happy" Movie Premier in Calgary

This saturday, February 11 Lululemon is holding an exclusive screening of the documentary 'Happy" at Hot Yoga on 17th! 6:00 pm Fun times, an inspiring movie, and snacks! Click on the link below to see the trailer and learn more!!


http://worldhappyday.com/

A little Green Fun at Hot Yoga on 17th

I've yet to be disappointed by a class at Hot Yoga on 17th. The teachers are fun, energetic, and great people: Elmira, Shaima, Caitlin, and Jilaine (just to name a few) rank among the top instructors in the city of Calgary. The classes are always buzzing with positive energy and people who are happy to be there. It only makes sense that such an admirable group of instructors would attract such an enthusiastic and fun group of students from Calgary. Hot Yoga on 17th is beyond just a studio; it's a studio that really cares. Their website includes parking tips for the students, which is absolutely great because 17th ave is a nightmare to park on. They are also an eco-aware space. Firstly, the studio has a 'HVAC' system. A 'HVAC' system allows fresh oxygen from outside to be brought into the studio at least 12 times per hour. In a studio heated to 105 degrees, 50% humidity, and packed full of 30 or so students sweating their weeks out onto their mats, it makes an immense difference to the air you are breathing in deeply through your ujjayi breathing. But it doesn't stop there. The studio walls are 100% natural, consisting of natural clay that help maintain a dense molecular structure and shape, giving it the capacity to produce a self-generated negative charge upon hydration. So...what does this matter to your yoga practice? Here's a little tidbit from the studio, "Negative ions are proven to produce positive biochemical reactions in humans. A negative charge in a space acts on our capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen, making us feel energized. Negative ions also increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our feelings of well-being." With an abnormal environment created in hot yoga studios (abnormal to Calgary that is), at Hot Yoga on 17th you can relax knowing you're practicing without potentially toxic heated substances whizzing past you. 
Nervous about trying hot yoga for your first time?? Watch first times Marc and Fuzzy from Vibe 98.5 attempt it at Hot Yoga on 17th! Marc & Fuzzy Try Hot Yoga on 17th
Hot Yoga on 17th has an affiliate studio in Crowfoot if this one just isn't in your neighborhood. 16$ for a drop-in class and 14$ for a student- and great package rates!! 


http://hotyogaon17th.com/welcome/about-us

Final Update for AthLEAN-X with Shay Dodds

First off, let me start this final review off by reminding everyone that I am not a physical trainer, nor do I have any formal training in physical conditioning.  I am however, like most people that read this blog, a person who likes to keep healthy and someone who can provide an unbiased opinion.  It was my girlfriend who first introduced this program to me when she randomly stumbled upon it searching for exercise programs on her iPhone.  I saw the simplicity and fun within this program and decided to give it a shot.  For the $2.99 I spent in order to purchase the app, I definitely got my money’s worth!  If you’re like me and are really bored with your current abdominal exercises, or just want to spice things up, Athlean-X will not disappoint.

As mentioned throughout these reviews the program starts off fairly simple with no additional equipment required, just your own weight to combat.  Lots of isometric type exercises are incorporated, mixed with burst speed, high target heart rate ones.  This mixture is what makes this program really fun for me; one second you’re doing a plank and the next you’re doing rapid fire mountain climbers that target the same muscle group, but in an entirely different manner.  Each workout lasts between 5-7.5 minutes, consisting of 6-12 exercises that can range from 30 second durations to one minute.  However, past week 1-2 of this program you will need to buy additionally equipment to continue following along.  I will go on a side tangent here very quickly though, before following the natural course of this review.

I want to take a quick second to mention here, that like many things in life, you do not need to follow a precise outline in order to get results.  What I mean is you do not need to follow this program exactly and run out and buy resistance bands, plyometric balls or a hanging bar in order to improve your core strength.  You can use this program to simply reshape you’re current workouts and get more well-rounded ab exercises by using whatever you have available.  Incorporate what pushes you personally and repeat the workouts you think work best for your level.

Continuing on with the review, the following weeks present more of a challenge, for me anyway, since they focus more on the strength side of things.  By introducing unique, fun exercises that really target the various muscle groups in your trunk. With these workouts you can stay entertained, while looking forward to your workout each day.  Near the end of the program it blends lots of the workouts together, but requires a bar in order to hang from.  If you’re at the gym then this is easy, however if you’re 6’3, 190lbs like me doing this in your house, it may not be so easy.  I worked around this by taking my own advice and swapping out exercises that I couldn’t do and replacing them with ones that challenged me and targeted the same muscle groups.

I think I’ve mentioned enough that this program is a great “bang for your buck.”  It offers fresh, innovative ways of working out your core, it’s quick and easy to follow, can be implemented into current work out programs, and requires very little space and equipment.  The app allows you to use your own music and tells you when to change work outs, while giving you time remaining in the exercise while tracking your progress with a built in schedule.  The most important question though is, does it really work?

To answer that question you must be willing to ask yourself are you really going to follow the program, and more importantly, are you eating correctly in order to promote the development of lean muscle.  Personally, I noticed a difference after two weeks of using this program.  My abs were on fire after each session and definitely more defined after a couple weeks.  My running has even improved because my core strength has improved so much that I actually changed my running position and posture.  I suffer from ITBS (Iliotibial band syndrome) and now I barely notice any lateral knee pain while running- although this is also a result of hip strengthening exercises that I perform as well.  Aside from following the workout precisely for about the first 5 weeks, I also followed the meal plan.  I completely changed the way I eat and although I still indulge in a couple meals out a month, and a dessert here and there, my main meals are all derived from this program.   Eating is such a huge part of staying in shape and many people forget that.  The trap is often, “Well I worked out today so I earned myself this cheesecake, or this donut, or whatever that desire may be.”  I have nearly cut all carbs out of my diet, as well as fats and that’s why I think this worked so well.  If you think you are willing to try a new diet out, then this program can certainly change the way your core looks and feels, helping you achieve that oh so desirable 6 pack.

Inspirational Health/Fitness Enthusiast of February

Links:


Sound Advice website and facebook group:
http://www.soundadvicenightlife.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/169922274060/

Spread Love Not Dislike Buttons:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/285304577910/

Eclectronica Vol. 2: Lost & Found
http://www.soundadvicenightlife.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=192%3Aeclectronica-vol-2&catid=44%3Amix-downloads&Itemid=92

Scott's Recipes:

Moroccan Chickpea Stew Ingredients
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 small piece of ginger, minced (or 1/2 tsp ground ginger)*
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin*
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric*
• 1/4 tsp paprika*
• 1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable stock or water
• pinch saffron (optional), soaked in 1 Tbsp hot water
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 apple or pear, chopped
• 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 1/2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas (about 2 14 oz cans, or 1 1/2 19 oz cans)
• 2 Tbsp minced fresh mint and/or parsley
• 2 Tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
*If you don't have individual spices, you can use 1 tsp Indian Spice Mix - Homemade spice mixes, or your favorite curry powder, along with the 1/2 tsp of cinnamon.
Moroccan Chickpea Stew Directions
1. Heat a large soup pot over medium heat until hot. Add the oil and onion, and saute until softened, then add the ginger (if you're using ground ginger, add it with the spices later). Add the carrot and zucchini, stir and cook for 2 minutes, or until they've just started to sweat.
2. Add the cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, and pepper and saute for a minute or two. Stir in the tomatoes, stock or water, saffron, salt, apple or pear, apricots, lemon zest and juice, and chickpeas. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. You can also saute the vegetables in a small pan, then transfer to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Turn to high heat until the stew gets to a simmer, then turn to low and leave for about 4 hours.
4. Just before serving, stir in the mint or parsley, spoon into bowls and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili
Shopping List: 2 bell peppers, 3 cans black beans, 1 chipotle chile, cilantro, 1 bottle of beer, 1 can tomatoes, 1 pound sweet potatoesPantry Items: Olive Oil, Onion, Garlic, Salt, Cumin, Chili PowderTotal Cost (for 4 portions): $12
Ingredients
yield: 4
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 orange pepper, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
• Three 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 small chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce, minced
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro stems
• Kosher salt
• 1 bottle dark beer
• 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 1/2 lime (optional)
• sour cream (optional)
Procedures
1. Heat oil in large Dutch oven or heavy-lidded saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion and peppers until soft and beginning to caramelize, 5-8 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and chili powder and continue to sauté until very fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans, chipotle, cilantro stems, and 1 teaspoon salt. Turn heat to high, and pour in beer. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add sweet potatoes.
2. Continue to simmer until potatoes are tender, but not falling apart, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Spoon chili into bowls and garnish with cilantro leaves, a squeeze of lime, and a dollop of sour cream. Serve with corn bread.

Vary your practice and try it for the lowest cost in Calgary

Yoga Passage, located in the heart of downtown, is a great way for any downtown-worker to stay and shape and incorporate some relaxation through yoga into their lives. No excuses when the studio is minutes away from your work. Besides great location, Yoga Passage also offers the lowest cost for drop-in fees in the city- 10$ for students, seniors and under 18 years of age and 14-16$ depending on the length of class. A lot of studios charge one fee regardless of the length of class, so at Yoga Passage you are really getting the best deal.

There is two spacious studios at Yoga Passage so the classes can include a lot of people. However, with the larger size and the big area and pillars, I found it a bit tricky to see the instructor and know exactly what to be doing at all times. But, this makes great incentive for improving your own practice as to not have to look to others and also be savvy about where you place your mat in the room.

I have heard a similar issue from yogi to yogi that hot classes just aren't for them. At Yoga Passage however, the hot class they offer is about 10 degrees lower than some of the notoriously hot studios such as Calgary  Hot Yoga, Hot Yoga on 17th, and Hot Yoga on Crowfoot. So, it is a great place to ease into hot classes before attempting the hottest of the hot at 108 degrees - which you will soon become addicted to with time. Or, a place where you can handle the heat and still enjoy your practice if ultra-heat is just not for you!!
Yoga Passage offers 15 styles of yoga, prenatal yoga, private and group sessions and massage! (YES!)

http://www.yogapassage.ca/#