Posts Tagged ‘Toronto’

Celebrate summer with free day of yoga at Om T.O.

- May 28th, 2013
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Upward dog (Photo credit: Patrick Kerney)

Yogis in the Toronto area won’t want to miss this …

Yogis unite for inaugural Om T.O. in Toronto’s 
 Distillery District

Participants celebrate summer solstice with a full day of continuous outdoor yoga inspired by Mind Over Madness in Times Square

OmTOTORONTO – Yoga enthusiasts from across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will celebrate the longest day of the year with Om T.O., a full day of free outdoor yoga in celebration of the summer solstice. Taking place on Friday, June 21 in the historic Distillery District, people of all skill levels are invited to take part in any or all of the 11 specially themed outdoor yoga classes taught by some of the most sought-after instructors from the top yoga studios in the city. The 40-minute classes will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.



Everybody, at any skill level, is welcome to participate, for free, as long as they bring their own mat. For a small donation on the day of the event ($10 suggested contribution, or P.W.Y.C.), participants can rent yoga mats on-site. For those who wish to make a larger pledge, corporate teams, families, groups and individuals can reserve a mat in advance: $300 for the morning (five classes from 10 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.), $400 for the afternoon (six classes from 1:35 p.m. to 6 p.m.) or $600 for the whole day (11 classes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Teams who reserve their mat for the whole day are able to keep it; other mats will be raffled off to attendees. Mats are donated by Lululemon Stores in the GTA. All proceeds will go to Colon Cancer Canada.

“Originally, the inception of Om T.O. was inspired by Mind Over Madness, an event where thousands of people come to practice yoga in New York City’s Times Square on June 21,” said Casey Soer, owner of Spynga Inc., one of the participating studios and co-creator of Om T.O. “Our mission was to bring this gift of practicing yoga in an urban setting to the Distillery District in Toronto, in honour of a day that reminds us to unite and restore within our diverse yoga community.”

Throughout history, many cultures have associated the summer solstice with a renewal of mind, body and strength, and a celebration of creative expression. Om T.O. was created to bring all walks of life together with Toronto’s best yoga teachers to celebrate the longest day of the year through yoga, a practice that combines these elements.

“It was a personal decision on my part to include Colon Cancer Canada as the charity partner for Om T.O,” said Jamie Bussin, founder and publisher of Tonic Magazine and co-creator of Om T.O. “Before becoming the publisher of Tonic, I worked alongside my father as a commercial litigation lawyer. After he suffered through many illnesses including colon cancer, my father told me to fix my poor health before it was too late. It was then that I decided to become fit; I lost over 50 pounds, changed my lifestyle and started the magazine, through which I support Colon Cancer Canada in memory and in honour of my father.”

To reserve a mat in advance or to make a donation to Colon Cancer Canada please visit the Om T.O. website. For a full schedule of classes please visit http://www.omto.ca/schedule.pdf.

In addition to gift bags filled with samples and valuable coupons, attendees will receive free beverages and will have the opportunity to peruse on-site vendors offering a variety of goods reflecting the yoga lifestyle. A selection of participating vendors include: Studio 2 Yoga, Eve’s Leaves, Rosedale Wellness Centre, Yogaga and MWL Jewelry.

About OM T.O:

Om T.O. celebrates the summer solstice with a full day of continuous outdoor yoga classes led by the most dynamic and popular instructors from the top studios in Toronto. Hundreds of yogis from across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area are invited to partake in this free, one-of-a-kind yoga experience and practice featuring unique themed classes, in a beautiful and historic outdoor venue. For more information, please visit omto.ca.

Participating studios include:

889 Yoga and Wellness Spa

Bikram Yoga Centre & Wellness Clinic

Chopra Yoga Center

Downward Dog Yoga Centre

Moksha Yoga North York

Octopus Garden Holistic Yoga Centre

Roots Yoga

Spynga Yoga and Cycling Studio

The Yoga Sanctuary

Village Yoga Studio and Healing Therapies

Yogavita

Sponsors include: Tonic Magazine, Car 2 Go, A. Vogel, canfitpro, Rise Kombucha, and BioCore Food Science.

Website: www.omto.ca

Hashtag: #omto

About Colon Cancer Canada:


Colon Cancer Canada is a national organization dedicated to saving lives through increasing public awareness of colorectal cancer and access to screening, funding research initiatives and providing colorectal cancer patient support. For more information, please visit coloncancercanada.ca.

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It’s CRUNCH time! Bikini-worthy abs in just a few weeks

- May 23rd, 2013
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Sammie Kennedy

Got a little soft over the long winter? Wanna tighten and tone up that tummy for summer?

Sammie Kennedy, creator of Femme Fitale, offers Keeping Fit blog readers the following nutrition and exercise tips to do just that …

It’s CRUNCH time!

Get bikini-worthy abs in just a few weeks

Toronto — Tuesday (May 21) officially marked one month until summer begins! It’s time to head up to cottage country, lay on the dock in a bikini and soak up the summer sun. Many of us have spent winter working on sculpting a beach body, but what about the procrastinators who’ve left it ‘til the last minute? Sammie Kennedy, creator and CEO of Femme Fitale, has food and exercise tips that will help sculpt firm abdominals in just a few weeks!

“I’ve struggled with creating my own set of ideal abdominals over the last year,” shares Sammie, “but I’ve learned some tips and tricks along the way that I want to share with people so they can save themselves the time that I had to spend precisely figuring out! The best part is there’s no more counting calories or overtraining. An adjustment in attitude and approach is all that’s needed.”

The old adage tells us ‘You are what you eat’ so beginning with an examination of diet will help to create a toned tummy:

Just Eat Real Food. The hashtag ‘#jerf’ is gaining momentum on Twitter and Instagram! Eating true, unadulterated food that is nutrient dense, and comes from a variety of colours if the first step to leaning out. #AbsAreMadeInTheKitchen

“I don’t worry about “fat content” “carbs” or “ratios”, notes Sammie. “Eating real food, giving your body what it NEEDS to function and survive optimally and living positively are the keys to being healthy and fit.” Sammie also doesn’t stress about a little cheat food now and then (i.e. weekly.) Your viewers don’t have to abandon their favourite indulgent foods for life!

Next, comes movement. “Working out with a partner gives you added motivation and accountability,” says Sammie. “Grabbing a girlfriend and teaming up will absolutely increase your likelihood to succeed at your fitness goals.” Recruit a friend to do these moves:

Boxer Sit-Ups. With Partner A laying in a supine position, Partner B kneels above providing a target to make contact with. Partner A does a sit up, using a jab and cross motion to hit the pads before returning to the start position. Complete 3 sets of 12 reps before switching.

Boxer Sit-Ups

Boxer Sit-Ups

Standing Knee-Ups.  You can get off the floor to work that core! Both partners stand with Partner B providing a target a little higher than hip-level. Partner A drives her knees upwards (alternating knees) to make contact with the target. This can be done one-at-a-time or with a running, plyometric movement for an added cardio burst. Complete 3 sets of 12 reps before switching.

Standing Knee-Ups

Standing Knee-Ups

About Sammie Kennedy

Sammie (Samantha) Kennedy is the creator and CEO of both Femme Fitale (women’s-only kickboxing and MMA conditioning) and Booty Camp Fitness, Inc. (Canada’s largest provider of women’s-only boot camps). In five years she expanded her business from two locations in the downtown core of Toronto to nearly 100 locations nation-wide. Check out Sammie’s own abs transformation on Instagram: http://instagram.com/p/ZIjRksrvCn/

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GoodLife Fitness landing at Toronto Pearson this fall

- May 14th, 2013
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Coming in September: GoodLife Fitness at Pearson International.

Fitness-conscious travellers who frequent Toronto are going to love this: Canada’s largest gym chain is setting up shop at Canada’s largest airport!

Here’s the press release:

GoodLife Fitness Lands at Toronto Pearson International Airport in September 2013

Toronto, ON: Frequent flyers and occasional travellers alike will be able to take advantage of the custom-designed GoodLife Fitness Club arriving in Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson International Airport this September, the first ever in-airport location for GoodLife.

Toronto Pearson is Canada’s leading airport with many passengers who desire an exceptional travel experience. This innovative partnership between Canada’s largest fitness company and Canada’s largest airport demonstrates an incredible investment in the health and well-being of individuals travelling in and out of Toronto.

“I travel back and forth across the country on almost a weekly basis, visiting our over 300 Clubs from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia,” said David “Patch” Patchell-Evans, GoodLife Founder & CEO. “Since we have over 80 Clubs in the Greater Toronto Area, I land at Toronto Pearson most of the time and I kept thinking that it would be amazing to have one of our clubs in the Terminal so that I could workout while I was waiting for my flight. I knew that this would be great for other travellers and our Members too. Luckily, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) Team agreed!”

“This new facility will offer an enhanced travel experience for passengers,” said Howard Eng, President and CEO for the GTAA.  “We’re also pleased to be able to provide airport employees access to the facility and support a healthy living lifestyle.  We could not think of a better way to provide a healthy and positive environment at Toronto Pearson than through the partnership with GoodLife Fitness.”

Many travellers reflect that they want to be productive while they are travelling and continue to lead active lives. Working out while travelling has many incredible benefits such as, reducing stress; improving the flight experience by ensuring that your muscles are relaxed and energized; and combating fatigue and jet lag.

“Working out before or after your flight can have a tremendous impact on how you feel both physically and mentally when you reach your final destination,” said Patch. “Our vision is to give every Canadian the opportunity to live a fit and healthy good life. Providing a club at Toronto Pearson is another great way that we can work toward this vision.”

GoodLife Fitness Toronto Pearson Club 

Location: Terminal 1, Arrivals level.
The Club is located in front of an expansive bank of windows so that passengers and community members can complete their workouts in a refreshing and uplifting environment.

Forget Anything? Workout apparel will be available for sale at the Club.

Luggage Storage is available at the Club for free.

Amenities: Cardiovascular Equipment with Personal Viewing Screens; Strength Training Equipment and Free Weights; Luggage Storage; Lounge Area with Massage Chairs; Modern Change Rooms with Private Showers and Lockers; and Towel Service.

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Photos: Jillian Michaels visits GoodLife Fitness

- February 19th, 2013
Jillian

Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels visited GoodLife Fitness headquarters in downtown Toronto last week to launch JILLIAN MICHAELS BODYSHRED™.

The Biggest Loser trainer’s new workout program is being offered exclusively in Canada at GoodLife and she was at the club at 137 Yonge St., on Feb. 11 to lead a special 30-minute class.

Sadly, I was unable to make it. Sigh.

However, the good folks at GoodLife were kind enough to send the following photos from the event:

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That’s Maureen Hagan, GoodLife VP of operations and head of group exercise, in the last pic.

For more information, visit GoodLifeFitness.com.

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Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com/author/cary-castagna

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keeping-Fit-with-Cary-Castagna/106367266730

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Working out NHL-style with Reebok

- January 30th, 2013

I’m off to Toronto for tomorrow’s launch of Reebok’s new men’s training apparel and footwear collection.

The major media event will feature an NHL-inspired pre-season workout led by George Savard, owner of Reebok CrossFit FirePower.

Former NHLers P.J. Stock and Scott Thornton are also expected to be in attendance.

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P.J. Stock looks slightly less menacing during his appearances on Hockey Night In Canada.

Scott_Thornton_LA_Kings

Scott Thornton, cousin of current San Jose Shark star Joe Thornton, keeps fit post-retirement with CrossFit.

Check back to see how I make out.

In the meantime, here’s another really cool announcement from Reebok …

Reebok_Spartan_Race_logo

The Reebok Spartan Race series

Reebok and Spartan Race announce groundbreaking global partnership 

Brands launch new collaboration with “Reebok Spartan Race Times Square Challenge” in NYC; a celebration of America’s newest sport: obstacle racing

TORONTO — Reebok, the global fitness brand, and Spartan Race, the world’s leading obstacle racing series, and Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012, have announced a multi-year partnership. The collaboration marks Reebok’s commitment to one of the world’s newest and fastest growing sports — obstacle racing.

As part of the multi-year collaboration, Reebok will be the title sponsor for the global race series, and the official apparel, footwear and accessories supplier for the Reebok Spartan Race series. In addition, the Reebok Spartan Race will be featured in the brand’s upcoming global marketing campaign — the first time obstacle racing has been featured in a major campaign. Reebok also plans to develop a range of products specifically created for the demands of Reebok Spartan Race athletes, which will be available in fall 2013.

The partnership was launched with a traffic-stopping live event in New York — The Reebok Spartan Race Times Square Challenge. Times Square’s first ever extreme obstacle race saw hundreds of contestants take part including actress/model Brooklyn Decker; former NY Giants All-Pro Tiki Barber; Spartan Race Champion Hobie Call; and Spencer Hendel, winner of the Obstacle Course event at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. The Times Square course featured a 7 ft. wall climb, a mud crawl with barbed wire, a 10 ft. high Hercules Hoist, a 75 ft. sandbag carry, and other obstacles.

The tie-up between the two brands is built on shared values about the future of fitness. Reebok’s mission is to change the way people perceive, experience and define fitness and empower them to be physically, socially and mentally fit for life. Spartan Race is the perfect partner to help spread this message. Founded in 2010, the race series expects to attract 500,000 athletes in 2013, up from 350,000 in 2012, many of whom are people looking for a new alternative to more traditional forms of fitness. Spartan Race currently has more than 2.3 million “likes” on Facebook and is one of the fastest growing series in the sport of obstacle racing.

Spartan is a timed event series featuring races at three escalating distances in locations worldwide. The series culminates in a world championship finale with a prize fund of over $500,000. As well as the competitive elite heats, Spartan Races are set up for all levels and ages of athlete to take part and engage in a new form of fitness.

“At Reebok, we recognize that the fitness landscape is changing. More and more, people are beginning to see fitness as part of their lifestyle rather than simply an activity”, said Matt O’Toole, chief marketing officer at Reebok. “Spartan Race is at the forefront of this movement. It enables people to come together to experience fitness with a community of like-minded people – to take part in something that is challenging and daunting, but at the same time, inspiring and fun. This is what makes it so rewarding, and is a large part of what is fueling the incredible growth of the sport.”

Adds Spartan Race founder Joe De Sena, “Reebok shares our vision — they think, act, and live exactly like we do down to the last detail. Both organizations believe that through fitness, ordinary people can realize their full potential and reap benefits throughout their lives. Reebok will help us expand globally, pursue our goals of making obstacle racing an Olympic sport, share the healthy living we promote, and rip people off their couches and do what human beings were made to do: run, jump, sweat and climb.”

About Reebok:

Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Canton, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied heritage in running, training and fitness. A subsidiary of the adidas Group, Reebok operates under the multiple divisions of the Reebok brand, Reebok-CCM Hockey and the Sports Licensed Division. Reebok is the exclusive outfitter of CrossFit and the Reebok CrossFit Games and main event partner and official apparel and footwear supplier for the 2013 Red Bull X-Alps. For more information, visit Reebok at www.reebok.com. Or, discover Reebok at the following locations: http://reesha.re/plus; http://facebook.com/reebok; http://twitter.com/reebok; and http://youtube.com/reebok

About Reebok Spartan Race:

Reebok Spartan Race, voted Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012, is the world’s leading obstacle racing series and the first of its kind to have global rankings. With 350,000 participants in 2012 and 60 events planned for 2013, Reebok Spartan Race is making this one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Reebok Spartan Race is a timed event series featuring races at four escalating distances in locations worldwide that culminate in a World Championship Finale with cash and prizes for the champions — with a half-million dollars in cash and prizes awarded in 2012 alone. While featuring competitive elite heats, Reebok Spartan Races are for athletes of all levels and abilities and are geared toward ripping people off their couches and into the outdoors.

You’ll Know at the Finish Line — A Spartan Guide to the Sport of Obstacle Racing, a new e-book from Spartan Race co-founders Joe De Sena and Andy Weinberg that inspires readers to find and unleash their inner warrior, is available for free on the company’s website.

Go to http://www.spartanrace.com/ for more information, a schedule of events or to register for a Reebok Spartan Race. For videos, please visit www.spartanrace.tv.

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Website:http://www.edmontonsun.com/author/cary-castagna

Facebook:

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