We’ve all passed Chinese herbal medicine shops and have paused in wonder at all the bins and jars filled with unusual and exotic ingredients. It’s quite an intimidating sight and if you venture inside, it’s like visiting a foreign country (except you don’t have a map or a dictionary). Usually the language barrier hinders our ability to learn more about this curious world so we’re simply left to our own imaginations and wild speculations. But you don’t have to wonder anymore. Dr. Maryam Mahanian from the Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Clinic of Vancouver will give you a rear look inside the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine as we visit the Sunny Day Herbal Store in the heart of Chinatown. That’s coming up on Friday June 22nd so don’t miss it!

Part I: Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Cure for What Ails You
Part II: Traditional Chinese Medicine: Herbal Prescriptions

Ok, I know many of you just got turned off by reading the word “Football,” but hear me out. I went to my very first live football game last night when the BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders met for their pre-season exhibition game (that means it doesn’t count). I had great doubts that I would enjoy it because football is one of those sports that makes absolutely no sense to me and I never had the desire to learn. To me, it just looks like a bunch of large men in tights in a seemingly futile attempt to get a football more than a few yards down a field. They’d never run more than a few feet before ending up at the bottom of a dogpile and seemed to spend more time standing on the sidelines than actually playing a game. Anyhow, I digress. Despite my lack of interest, I let myself be dragged to a game but made sure that I didn’t let my Friday night go to waste. Before the game, Rick Ball, the notable voice for the BC Lions on The TEAM1040, was kind enough to lend me a few minutes of his pre-game prep time to give me a quick rundown of what to expect and how to understand the game and you know what? I actually enjoyed watching it afterwards! Maybe you will too once you read my primer and hear what Rick had to say. Find out what a ‘Down’ is, what I think about the Felions, and how Rick got his coveted Grey Cup ring. It’s all coming up THIS week so stay tuned!

Football Primer

I renewed my yearly gym pass in February and I’ve hauled my ass to class all of three times since then. Does this sound like you? The cacophony of agreement is overwhelming. If you get bored easily and are as lazy as me when it comes to physical activity, this might just be the thing for you. What if I told you you could lose weight and tone those nonexistent muscles just by doing what you do every day? Walking is probably the last thing you would think of to help get rid of those love handles but then again, you probably haven’t heard of Nordic Walking.

Are you envisioning those people that walk madly past you on the seawall with their arms flinging all over the place? That’s a whole other kind of walking. Nordic Walking, also referred to as Pole Walking or Ski Walking, is something that evolved, as you may have deduced by now, from cross-country skiing. In the mid 90′s, competitive skiers in Finland were looking for a way to train in the summer season and realized that this type of exercise served their particular needs. Since then, its popularity has grown dramatically and millions of people all over the world have taking up the poles. The Vancouver Sun Run this year was the first Canadian road race to include Nordic Walking when they teamed up with SportMedBC and Exel to launch an InTraining Program with Nordic Walking clinics. North America is a little late in the game but then again, aren’t we always behind Europe? (why IS that!). Here is Donna Hutchinson of On the Edge Fitness Educators with a quick 101 on Nordic Walking.

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Even though Nordic Walking is a widely accessible sport, there is a proper technique that you have to get used to if you want to reap the physical benefits. Make sure you keep the poles close to your body and take long strides, ensuring that you use your entire foot, from the heel when you step to the toe when you alternate legs. Maintain a good posture and keep your arms straight but not locked. As you plant each pole, make sure to apply pressure to them to create back, core, arm and shoulder resistance. Apparently the biggest mistake people make is using the poles as walking sticks. Instead of swinging them in front of you, the feet (or ‘booties’) should be planted behind you. Watch Donna Hutchinson as she demonstrates.

If you’re interested in learning more about this, contact our very own trainer Donna Hutchinson at:

On the Edge Fitness Educators
1542 Westover Rd
North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 1X5
t: 604.985.7410 or 778.231.7410
e: edgefit@shaw.ca
i: www.edgefit.ca

If you need more incentive, Urban Poling from North Vancouver is offering some FREE demonstrations on June 24th. The space is limited so call 604.733.1173 or email info@ladysport.ca for further details.

For retailers, visit their website here. Exel is the original Nordic Walking brand so if you want a comparison for your shopping, check out their products here.

This is a follow-up to a comment that Angela (no, I’m not talking about myself in the third person) left in the article “Shoe Shopping Hell“:

Angela Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am

All I have to say is piperlime…and the best part is I never leave my house. hahaha I guess that’s the ultimate in laziness though!?

Thank you for your feedback Angela! I had actually never heard of Piperlime so I checked it out. If you guys think the Gap stopped after Banana Republic and Old Navy, think again. Now there is a site from Gap Inc. that features shoes from a great variety of brands (155 to be exact). It actually appeals to pretty much ANYbody so if you are in love with a pair of shoes at a store and they don’t have your size, don’t have a panic attack. Just pop into this site and see if they have it.

Ok, I can hear you asking already. You can’t buy something you can’t try! Sure you can! Not only can you buy a pair of comfy sandals without leaving your home, Piperlime also offers FREE shipping and FREE returns. It really can’t get much better than that people! The online shop will drop your order at your doorstep within four to seven business days. They come with a prepaid return label that you can use within 60 days of your purchase.

Alright, yes I hear your next question as well. The prices are actually not too bad. I can’t really see you paying a whole lot less in store. That is of course very subjective but just check it out for yourself. You’ll see a range of prices. The designer stuff is obviously still not going to come at a bargain but the normal stuff is available at standard prices. Piperlime lays out their site in a very dangerous way – easy to navigate! You can choose to see selections by brand, by designer, by style, by sex and if that fails, you can always just type in a search. Oy…maybe it’s better to keep this site under wraps!

Ok, WHO doesn’t love a good sample sale?! It’s time to indulge your inner shopaholic without the guilt! In fact, you’ll deserve a good pat on the back for spending money on clothes. Here’s the scoop on what’s happening THIS weekend guys and gals!

Starting tomorrow (Friday, June 15th), two fabulous local clothing lines will be featured in a sample sale: Twice Shy (ethical clothing for men and women) and Fig (ethical clothing for children), both of which carry clothing that is made from organic and sustainable fabric.

Here are the details:

When:
Friday June 15th: 4 PM – 9 PM
Saturday June 16th: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday June 17th: 12 PM – 4 PM

Where:
62 W. 4th Ave. (corner of 4th and Manitoba), Vancouver

As if this wasn’t enough, here are more brands at the sale:

Kairos, which offers gorgeous handmade bags
Soulflower, a line of sterling silver jewelry to complete that perfect look

This notice is courtesy of IloveSampleSales.com, a local company launched by Amy Lowry, who merged her love of fashion and finding a great deal into an innovative website (actually, it’s surprising no one has done this before!). Get the whole story

Appendix to the Article: “Look Great AND Help the Environment: A Sample Sale for the Whole Family!”

Here are some great tips for making the most out of sample sales, courtesy of Amy Lowry, Co-founder of ILoveSampleSales.com.

1. Go early if you can – but even when you can’t, you should still go because as with many sales, new stock is put out daily

2. Wear a long snug-fitting tank top as sometimes the change rooms are shared – you can wear this under clothes as you try them on

3. Sometimes there are a few sales on the same day so wear comfy shoes so you can visit them all Get the whole story

In this first of a series of video demos, noted makeup artist Beau Nelson of Beauté Cosmetics shares tips most women don’t know about makeup application to make them look amazing. This is a rare opportunity for you to learn some of the secrets behind the most beautiful images in the fashion and beauty industry. Are you ready to be a cover girl?

Featured in today’s entry is a lesson on how to apply the perfect bronzer. Achieve that natural sun-kissed look with these very quick and simple steps. As Beau demonstrates, the trick is the “Big 3.” For this and other secrets, click on the image above!

For details on what tools to use, read on…

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Have you met your sexy side? Pole dancing isn’t reserved for exotic dancers anymore. Housewives, lawyers, students…women from all walks of life are signing up for one of these challenging classes. We were at Aradia Fitness today to check out one of the advanced levels and you’ll get to see what such a class is able to achieve on a pole. Get the virtual experience with Instructor Caroline MacGillivray as she breaks down all the moves and techniques that make up each jaw-dropping routine. It may seem like a graceful, sensuous and effortless form of dance, but pole dancing can take months, even years to perfect, which is why students keep coming back for more. How many workouts can tone those abs AND make you feel sexy while doing it!

Mark your calendars and check out the video on Monday, June 18th!

Pole Dancing: A Workout Like Nothing Else

Nordic walking – also commonly referred to as pole walking or ski walking – is essentially a fitness option that employs the use of ski poles when walking. The sport originated in Finland and for decades has provided effective dry land traning for competitive skiers in the off-season.

Although regular ski poles can be used for this form of exercise, specialized ones are available which cater to the specific needs of a Nordic walker. Custom features include an ergonomic handle and comfortable straps, a rubber “bootie,” and height adjustability. With proper technique, pole walking can be quite the workout.

This is a fantastic option for those who have trouble with high impact sports such as running. It may not sound like you’re doing much but you’d be surprised. Pole walking is likened to cross-country skiing in the full body exercise that it provides. You can burn 28% or more calories when walking by simply adding the poles to your routine and you also release the pressure on your back and lower joints when you transfer part of your weight to the equipment.

Tune in THIS Friday, May 15th when Donna Hutchinson of On The Edge Fitness Educators introduces the sport of Nordic Walking:

Part I: The Key is a Good Bootie!: Nordic Walking
Part II: Nordic Walking: Technique