Weird workout

One thing that I think really highlights our tendency to breakout of our comfort zone and let loose is how much we seem to enjoy trying new workouts. I don't what it is about exercising but whenever a weird way to burn calories catches on everyone wants to try it, no matter how bizarre it may be.

This week, I decided to check out Winnipeg's only indoor trampoline park, Sky Zone.

Why is repeatedly bouncing up and down so cathartic? Maybe it has something to do with an evoked sense of carefree, childlike pleasure. Whatever it is, I have never enjoyed a work-out more in my life.

Sky Zone offers all sorts of trampoline based programming including dodge ball leagues, exercise classes and jump times for all ages. Because it was my first visit, I opted out of taking an actual class and decided to just bounce around for two straight hours. During my next visit, which there will definitely be many of, I plan on taking a "sky robics" class (a drop in visit is on $12).

 

So if you're looking for a fun, unconventional way to work out over the holidays, check out Sky Zone, located at 200-400 Fort Whyte Way.

 

 

Risk takers

I've always been fascinated by people who start their own businesses; what a risk! Check out my article in this week's issue of the Projector about a young Winnipeg couple who recently opened their own stationary supply store in the Exchange District. There's a lot of paths to go down in life, Danika and Drex are definitely on the one less traveled.

http://theprojector.ca/stories/view/beyond-loose-leaf

A Hat for Thought

Fashion trends are the most fickle of all trends: plume sauce-braised pork belly will live longer on the menus of trendy restaurants than leather body suits will hang in the windows of American Apparel. One reason, food is more of a personal experience, hate or love decision based on our automatic assessments of the message sent out by our taste buds. Clothing choices on the other hand, rely too heavily on the opinions of our fab friends. You’ve got to step outside of your comfort zone and be brave enough to rock the leopard print tutu that you saw Kate Moss wearing in this Month’s issue of Vanity Fair, to live up to the latest standards of cool.

And even then, fabsters like Ms. Moss aren’t the most accurate representation of what looks good on everyone. It really is difficult to gage what fashion trends are in, and what clothing pieces you should probably just burn.

But maybe there is some value in this fickleness.

Fashion trends are a great place to experiment (even if your tutu attempts go horribly wrong). For women, the world of fashion has historically been an access point to expressions of individuality. Even today, women employ the ever-changing trends of fashion to assert their presence in the male-dominated public sphere.

For example, girls and young women have recently been rocking the backwards baseball cap. Different patterns, colours and logos give a female twist to this typically male accessory. Without reading too much into a fashion trend that probably won't even last as long as your overly priced serving of plum sauce-braised pork belly, it's worth considering the larger implication of this style choice. 

It goes along with a growing number of androgynous fashion choices that speak towards a coming together of masculine and feminine style. And even if this trend dies out quickly, it's important to note that the backwards baseball cap played a role in altering the way we think of these two gender binaries.  

In the end, fickle fashion trends have more impact than Miley Cyrus' new sledge hammer accessory, and are worth the second look if you manage to catch a glimpse before they zoom by on a wrecking ball. 

Rob Ford: still a person

I know that everyone is probably sick of hearing about Rob Ford and his “stupors” (even though it’s kind of hard to get bored of someone when they out-stupid themselves everyday) but I think it’s important to talk about what makes this controversial figure so interesting to Canadians and to the rest of the world. 

In light of a video released today of the mayor drunkenly ranting about killing some unknown person, what parts of this whole Rob Ford ordeal should we really be focusing on? 

The fact that he probably has some addiction problems definitely means that he should step down as mayor of Canada’s largest city but it also indicates that he is a sick person, in need of  help. 

I’m not advocating that Rob Ford and the serious allegations against him should be treated lightly but I think this issue sheds light on certain, perhaps unfavorable elements of human nature. 

On social media and on certain local and international news outlets, a lot of the discussion surrounding the Toronto Mayor is focused on making fun of his drunken misconducts rather than  the implications that these episodes have on Rob Ford’s ability to lead. In Winnipeg and in other cities where we don’t actually have to deal with the mayor on a sociopolitical level, our job should be to inform the situation with facts and not meems that compare the mayor to crack addicted characters on Breaking Bad. 

The more that someone behaves in a way that is inappropriate in the eyes of society’s norms and social morays, the more that person is going to receive attention. It is easy to poke fun at failure and difference. “The bigger person” in this situation, are the people that discuss Rob Ford’s obvious problems in terms of his need for help and not through a comedic lens. We should definitely blast Rob Ford for his horrendous behavior over the last few months and for his response to that behavior, but we should be careful about how we discuss these matters. 

The video below was posted by Toronto comedian, Kenny Hotz who you may know for his popular series Kenny vs Spenny. Hotz has openly despised the mayor since his he was elected to office in 2010. This video is an example of the nature of the content circling on the web that make light of Mayor Ford’s serious substance abuse problems. I’ll admit, it’s hard not to laugh at stuff like this but in the end we’re laughing at a man who is sick and needs help. Being a public figure doesn’t give us the license to forget that he’s a human being.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VzLOaeNZEY

This Halloween, Throw Away the Cat Ears!

Halloween is a great excuse to unleash that quirky part of yourself that already dresses up in a wacky costume every other day of the year. People have so many different interests and beliefs and this occasion is the perfect opportunity to make individuality come alive, or dead depending on what your going for. 

Unfortunately, the trend in adult halloween celebration, has shifted away from quirky and towards something a lot more revealing.

It’s not even that young women and girls are using halloween as an opportunity to dress in practically nothing, put a pair of animal ears on their head and call themselves a “cat.” It has more to do with the fact that these costumes are entirely unoriginal and defeat the purpose of what is supposed to be a celebration of fright and creativity, a chance to experiment with that part of ourselves that pushes boundaries and steps out of comfort zones. 

I’ll admit that I have definitely used halloween as an opportunity to look sexy in something tight, but as I’ve matured a bit, I’ve discovered that there are other ways to be cute without shortening the skirts and tying the tops of my friends high school uniforms. 

I have a few friends that make it their mission to be original with their halloween costumes. My aim this year is to refrain from pulling my sister’s old tutu and body suit from her closet and calling myself a ballerina. 

My inspiration? 

1) The belief that I, like everyone, have a creative inclination to be silly and not worry too much about      what other people think

2) My very cool friend's halloween costumes from this year and past years. 

Emily as the U.S government shutdown

Riley as Mitt Romney with his "binders full of women" 

Becky is cute and creative in her "Freudian slip" costume

Emily as "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" 

My Friend is smrt

My good friend, Mike Skwark is one of the funniest people I have ever met. His humour stems from his ability to completely disregard what other people think of him. I envy this quality in my friend and I’m pretty sure that he wouldn’t be the talented rap artist that he is if he actually paid any attention to others’ judgements. 

When Mike’s rapping, he’s not Mike, he’s smrt His rap persona embodies a lesson of being yourself and expressing your thoughts and beliefs, no matter how controversial those ideas may be. 

This is not to say that Mike gets on stage and spits out extremist rhetoric. It’s simply that he makes a conscious effort to remain true to himself. This stance against conformity is reflected in his rapping and whenever I see one of his videos or attend one of his shows I’m always so impressed by his ability to communicate a message of individualism through his lyrics. 

Check out this smrt video and let me know what you think. 

Try Something New!

Trying something new is the best way to brach away from your usual interests and discover new things about yourself. Here's one activity I like to do when I feel grounded in routine:

Every Monday night, the Rose n Bee Pub provides apprehensive Winnipgers with the opportunity to break out of their comfort zone. Karaoke night at the Sherbrook watering hole is a great way to showcase or possibly even discover a hidden singing talent in a relaxed and fun environment. The pub just celebrated their one year anniversary last month so if you haven’t checked it out yet, stop by this Monday night, get in free of charge, take a $3 shot of tequila, and sing your heart out!