Ok ok, you’ve got me – this isn’t really a weekly feature anymore. After almost a year of doing the posts I had trouble finding enough content to do it weekly, so consider this a ‘weekly or maybe not’ feature.

This week I do have some fitness stuff for you all, though:

Esther Myers Yoga has a yoga and ravine hike coming up in July. Outdoor yoga and hiking, that sounds lovely! For information, check out their website.

Octopus Garden Yoga has a 10-Day Asana Intensive taking place at the end of July and into early August. For details and pricing, check out their website.

The MNJCC has some summer fitness classes coming up, including Zumba, Osteofit, and some kids summer camps (which have some fitness stuff in them). For details, just go to their website.

Registrations just started at Body Harmonics for their summer schedule. Classes on the schedule start the week of July 6th. Contact them directly for more details.

Yoga Therapy Toronto has a variety of classes and workshops available, but what caught my eye is a prenatal yoga class. It’s already started for this session, but you may be able to join in a few weeks late, or you may be able to sign up for whenever their next session starts. If you’re interested, just check out the details on their website.

And finally, Flow Yoga, which I’ve mention many times before, is undergoing some changes in late August/early September. They will no longer have drop-in classes and will also have a grand ‘re-opening’ at that time, which will include free classes. For full details, check out their news page. I know it’s a few months away, but I thought I’d mention it anyhow.

Sorry for not writing in my blog for the last few weeks – things have been a bit nutty, but I’m back now and updating you all with a quick fitness post.

As always, Octopus Garden Yoga has several events going on, but what I really wanted to highlight was their weekend yoga retreat coming up in July. The retreat takes place at Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre, just north of Barrie. This is the fourth year they’ve done this retreat, so it probably sells out fairly quickly. If you might be interested, check out the info on their website.

The Toronto Cyclist Union will be hosting ‘Bike First Fridays’ starting this Friday, June 5th. The idea is to meet for breakfast and then head off to work on your bike from there, in the hopes of promoting cycling as both transportation and fitness. For details, visit their website.

The Running Room has several of their running clinics starting soon. If you’ve ever wanted to learn to run, or wanted to improve on your distance/time, these clinics are very helpful. For details and locations, just take a look at their website.

Axe Capoeira has another beginner session starting towards the end of June. Their beginner classes seem to sell out early, so if you’ve wanted to try Capoeira, now is a good time to sign up. Details are over here on their website.

For those who are looking for a core strengthening program, Body Harmonics Pilates has a new class called ‘Core Essentials’, available on Tuesdays and Thursdays at a variety of times. Just check out their website if you’re interested.

Whatever you do, have fun!

Here’s another workshop offered by one of the other practitioners at my office. Questions, comments or requests to register should be directed to them.

Yoga for Round Bodies with Tiina Veer, RMT & Yoga Instructor

A 4-class exploration of simple yoga and mindful movement created specifically with the rounder body in mind. Suitable for any level, including absolute beginner.

Classes will include restoration (relaxation) practices and gentle yoga. Leave classes feeling relaxed and energized, with tools to practice between classes for those who wish to begin or experience a home practice.

Classes take place every second Saturday from 10:00am to 11:45am: May 2, May 16, May 30, June 13. The class size will be kept small. Cost is $120 for the 4 classes.

Pre-registration required via Tiina’s online booking system. If you are not able to register with the online system, you can contact Tiina at tiinaveer@gmail.com or (416) 530-9613.

Pilates is something I recommend to some clients who are in need of core strengthening. Many are aware of Pilates but are not aware of what exactly it is or how it works, so here are some basic details for you.

Pilates is a system developed in the early 20th century by a German athlete named Joseph Pilates. It was based on yogic postures and aerobics, and was designed to help soldiers during the first world war rehabilitate from injuries. The system works on posture, breathing, concentration, and core strength.

I am often asked what the difference between yoga and Pilates is. In North America, the differences are not huge in terms of physical fitness gains^*. While I am not an expert on the subject, my take is that the difference is more in application and not in how ‘fit’ you might become. Both help build core strength, flexibility, and work on the mind-body link. So choose the system that is more comfortable for you.

Places where you can take Pilates near(ish) to us include:

Body Harmonics (right across the street, Dupont and Christie)
Flow Yoga (Dupont near Spadina)
Shas Yoga and Pilates (St George and Dupont)
Also, many gyms offer Pilates classes as part of their membership fees.

* Remember that yoga is actually an ancient practice, so what we do in North America for yoga is actually quite different from yoga of Indian origins. When comparing yoga and Pilates, I’m talking about the actual physical activity parts.

Now that spring has officially arrived, people are starting to get their bikes tuned up and ready for spring riding. Or, they’re out shopping for a new bike, taking advantage of those early season sales.

If you’re looking for a place to take your bike in for a tune-up, or you want to buy a new bike, there are several in our neighbourhood, including:

Dave Fix My Bike – Just south of us on Christie. Tune-ups, repairs and some sales. Call ahead, as they aren’t open every day of the week.
Cyclemania – At Bloor and Ossington. Tune-ups, repairs and sales.
The Bike Joint – At Harbord and Manning. Tune-ups, repairs, used bikes and some accessories.
Curbside Cycle – Bloor near Brunswick. Tune-ups, repairs, bikes and accessories. A lot of higher-end stuff.

The Toronto Cyclists Union has a bunch of resources on their website, including a great map of bike shops in the city, which lists many more places for you to check out.

If you want to do your spring tune-up yourself, here’s a checklist of things to look for. I really do advise doing a tune-up before you head out, as you never know what might have come loose or broken while your bike was in storage over the winter (assuming, of course, you aren’t a winter rider!).

And last but not least, the city of Toronto has a cycling section of its website. It give information on bike lanes and routes, bike safety, bike parking, and other important things to know as you ride around the city.

Have a great week, everyone!