SFU Summer Institute, July 14, 2012

In her keynote, Peggy Patterson touched on a lot of topics that resonated with me. Having attended SFU as an undergrad in Kinesiology, I was that first year student Peggy discussed who was too intimidated to talk to her profs and who just 'didn't get it.' Coming from a high school where my teachers interacted with me and seemed to truly care about teaching, university was a complete culture shock. With 300+ students in my classes, and no real guidance, I quickly realized that I was really just a number, and the grades I achieved in high school were no longer attainable at the university level.

My saving grace was the connection I felt with the campus through friends, participation in sports clubs and intramural sports, and my on-campus jobs. I feel that if I had not gotten involved by joining the SFU Waterpolo team and working for SFU Recreation & Athletics as a lifeguard, fitness instructor and varsity promoter,  I might have not completed my schooling at SFU. Another motivating factor was SFU's international exchange program. Peggy mentioned the benefits of taking part in these kinds of programs, and I feel very fortunate to have experienced a semester abroad in Lund, Sweden.

What I remember most from my university days is not the long hours studying or the lecture rooms with 300+ students, but rather the fun times working at the pool, the roadtrip to the states for a waterpolo tournament, and the friendships I made that remain to this day. 

New SFU Trail Website

http://students.sfu.ca/recreation/trails.html

Active Living: Coal Harbour - The Ideal Location for Active Living

I recently moved to Coal Harbour. Not only is this area stunning with its breathtaking views of the Lions Gate bridge, snowcapped mountains and marina, but it has a physical environment that is so supportive of physical activity, it would be difficult NOT to engage in active living pursuits.

Within the first week of moving into our new place, my boyfriend and I had already been on two walks along the seawall and had used the car less frequently, choosing to walk everywhere instead. Walking everywhere versus driving not only provides fresh air, exercise and a general feeling of vitality, but is also more convenient than driving. Downtown is full of one way streets, no stopping zones and heavy traffic, so I am finding it much more enjoyable to walk versus drive anywhere. My 15 minute walk to the bus stop before work and from the bus stop after work provides me with some time to either gear up for the day or decompress from the day. Going for a walk with my boyfriend is a good time for the both of us to relax, unwind and socialize while doing something good for us physically.

The main enabling condition that allows me to participate in this active living pursuit is location. The location in which I live is very conducive to walking everywhere. Not only is the seawall at my doorstep, all of the streets around my apartment have sidewalks, are well-lit and are generally well-populated, which makes me feel safe to walk around the neighbourhood. Everything from groceries to coffee shops to pubs to transit are also all located within walking distance, from groceries to bars to transit. Another factor that affects my decision to walk everywhere is the influence of other people living in this area. It seems that everyone is either walking or biking, and the seawall is full of runners and joggers at all times of the day. This encourages me to be active even more.  

I realize that not everyone can afford to live in an area that is so conducive to walking everywhere. The suburbs is more affordable, but is contributing to a lifestyle that is automobile dependent due to the lack of accessibility to work, school, and other commercial land. As a result, levels of physical activity for people who live in sprawling neighbourhoods tend to be lower than for those who live in higher density, more compact neighbourhoods. I therefore consider myself lucky to be able to live in a high density, compact neighbourhood like Coal Harbour where bike paths, the ocean and mountains are just outside my door.

The Mane Event

As I walked into the arena, I felt a rush of nostalgia of my first job working at the PNE. From age 16-18, I worked at a restaurant located directly beside the barn where all of the animals were housed. It always seemed cruel to me that we were serving up ham, bacon, sausage and hamburgers to 4Hers who had their pet pig or pet cow in a stall just outside the door.

Memories aside, walking into the Chilliwack Arena was like walking into a different world. The simple attire of cowboy hats, cowboy hats, belt buckles and tight jeans were a nice change from the flashiness of the city (though I did see a lot of bling on some of those girls’ jeans).

I describe the environment because I feel this was an important part of this Med HEAL experience. I feel that ‘escaping’ the city and the classroom is sometimes needed to change perspectives on learning. Not only was this a comfortable learning environment because of the casualness of the setting, but I feel that my cohorts were also more relaxed. I was able to learn more about a few of my classmates that I haven’t yet learned in the classroom together. I realize this wasn’t the purpose of our class attending the Mane Event, but I feel it was a beneficial outcome. 

Okay, now let’s talk horses. I have never been comfortable around horses. I like to be able to control the thing that I am driving, riding, leading; when I get on a horse, I always feel that I am putting my life completely in the horses’ hands (or hooves!). This made the Mane Event particularly interesting for me. To watch these horsemen interact with these big animals that could literally crush them if they so chose to, and be in complete control (most of the time), was unreal.

I was originally skeptical about how interesting the Trainer’s Challenge would be. I thought it was just going to be a guy making a horse run around. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be so much more than this. I found myself completely engaged and wanting the horse to succeed, thinking “Come on horse, step on that bridge, you can do it!” The two trainers both had different, yet effective styles in handling the horse. Steve was an entertainer as well as the “Horseteacher” that he is described as in his bio. Kade was so gentle and seemed to really want to become friends with the horse, calling him “partner” and encouraging him on.

Watching Jonathan’s clinic and seeing those horses galloping around the arena was quite breathtaking. The combination of these majestic creatures and a slow song from U2 got at least a few of the spectators wiping their eyes. He demonstrated that you can give the horse freedom but can still be in control.  I found it so impressive that with just a look or simple gesture, the horses would understand what Jonathan was asking of them.

I want to thank Stephen for allowing us to experience something that none of us would have likely experienced otherwise. The relation of this event to the teachings in our course, the team building that occurred amongst my fellow cohorts and the general positive atmosphere made for a great day of learning!

Thank you!

Active Living: Yoga - No Smiling Allowed?

I love yoga. I have tried Hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, yoga flow, hot yoga and power yoga. Depending on the instructor, the setting, and what I was looking to get out of the class, I have enjoyed the majority of these styles. I find yoga helps me focus on stretching, breathing, and pushing my muscles to do things they don't normally do.
The thing about yoga is, I find that this active living practice comes with attitude and intimidation. Before you take offense fellow HEALers and Yoga lovers, just hear me out... 

I recently took a yoga class up here at SFU. The demographic was similar to most Yoga classes I've attended; 90% lululemon wearing 20 year olds or older folk with harder bodies than I'll ever hope to achieve. The studio consisted of 3/4 windows. Not exactly an ideal location for any beginner Yogi who may feel intimidated by the huge potential for curious passerbys. The last thing a self concious Yoga participant needs is to have someone stare at them while they are posed in the not-so-flattering down dog position.

Those intimidation factors aside, I was excited to be taking a Yoga class after not having done so in a few months. It was a Power Yoga class, my favourite. I consider myself in relatively okay shape, and I've taught basic Yoga before, so I wasn't worried about not being able to keep up with the class. It turns out my confidence was premature.

Within 20 minutes of the class, we were already practicing handstands. I'm not sure it you've ever tried these in your adult years, but it is a very different experience than when we were kids doing this in gym class. I've tried doing handstands in Yoga a couple of times, so thought I would just go for it even though it's probably been over a year since my last attempt. I soon found myself toppling over and whacking the 20 yr old perfect bodied girl beside me in the head. 'Sorry!' I whispered as I tried to untangle myself from the pretzled mass I had become on the floor. Unlike another fitness setting where someone might have laughed and said 'It's okay, don't worry about it,' I instead got a cool stare that basically said 'You made me lose my zen place...amateur.' Hmm, the last I checked, Yoga was supposed to be an active living practice that develops the mind, body & spirit and will lead you to a sense of peace and well being. If this is the case, why does it always seem that smiling in a Yoga class is a faux pas? Is the serious attitude in Yoga classes really that necessary?

I am not trying to take away from this important mental, spiritual and physical discipline. It just seems to me that this practice has strayed so far from it's original intention; what used to be a personal practice where the goal was attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility has turned into groups of 30 plus people who care more about telling their friends that they 'do yoga' than actually doing Yoga.

There are more than a few downsides to this shift in attitude. Not only does this practice become more of a yoga attire fashion show and parade of hard bodies, but the safety of the participants is also compromised. How can one instructor safely teach a class to 45 participants with a variety of experience, injuries and limitations? What are the risks when people follow fads like 'Bikram's Yoga' without having ever exercised? And how is a beginner to fitness supposed to feel comfortable and safe in this environment?


Saying all of this, I thoroughly enjoyed my power Yoga class last week and will be returning tomorrow - I'm just going to ensure I have my lululemon pants and that I won't be attempting any more handstands :) 

Active Living: Rec Team - Bump, Set, Spike!

Purpose


Playing volleyball with my staff is not only an active living pursuit; it is also a positive atmosphere for building relationships amongst my staff team. It is always refreshing to see coworkers in a different light than the work environment. The purpose of this practice is to relax, have fun and ‘play’ with each other.

Applications to other Practices and Pursuits

The wider purpose and meaning of staff volleyball is not only to team build, but to walk the walk as a department. We work in Recreation, so should be participating in recreational pursuits ourselves. All too often, this is not the case. We are Recreation Coordinators, but in the end, we work in typical managerial jobs, with meetings, deadlines and pressing matters. All too often, those of us working in Recreation don’t even participate in the activities we are programming. Participating in volleyball once a week together shows our students and staff that we actually believe in what we are promoting.


Enabling conditions


1) Vball is free for me because I work in Recreation


2) My supervisor supports it because it is team building


3) The gym is a 2 minute walk from my office.

4) I have the skills to play as I had the means as a child to play volleyball in elementary and high school; something not all children have.

Life Course Factors – Social Determinants


1) Someone is not able to just ‘go play volleyball,’ as they might do for a run. Volleyball is typically an organized sport where someone has to be in charge of getting gym or beach or grass space (depending on where you play), of having a net and ball and ensuring the required tools are there to set this equipment up.


2) Spatial resources are usually limited when it comes to gymnasium sports. There are only so many community centres or high school gyms running drop-in volleyball or organized volleyball leagues. If they do run them, there is usually a cost associated. At Harry Jerome centre in Burnaby, the cost is over $100 per person for eight 1.5 hour sessions.  This is not cheap.


3) If someone does not possess the skill to play volleyball, it may not be an enjoyable active living practice. Unlike walking, where most everyone (except for those with disabilities) knows how to do it, volleyball is a learned sport that is difficult to play unless you have been taught.


I have found that in the summer, Vancouver is a city that encourages people to participate in volleyball:


1) There are at least 4 different organizations that run outdoor volleyball leagues at Kits, Jericho or Spanish Banks beaches, or at Urban Rec beach, a manmade beach made just for summer volleyball.


2) The logs at Jericho beach are designed to enable volleyball nets to be set up. At Spanish Banks, there are posts in the ground meant for someone to set up their volleyball net for no charge. This helps with the issue of limited spatial resources that occurs with the sport of volleyball.


3) The many leagues that run every summer in Vancouver are available for players of all skills and abilities .They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced leagues and have the option of 6 player, 4 player or two player volleyball. This helps to encourage the player who has never played before to go out and have fun and not worry that they don’t quite have the skills down yet.

Volleyball is one of my favourite team sports to play. Not only am I pursuing an active living practice that I love, but I am interacting with others, team building with my fellow players, and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors when playing on the beach in the summer.

Active Living: Hard Core Bod & FitMix

Purpose


Teaching fitness classes at SFU allows me to continue to develop my skills as a fitness professional and help promote healthy, active living to a huge community. I have the opportunity to engage with the SFU community in a way that not a lot of others can.

Applications to other Practices & Pursuits

I feel the wider purpose and meaning is obvious when discussing teaching fitness classes. I am not only walking the walk, I am encouraging others to do the same. When I can be participating in a practice I love, while promoting active living to others; this is the ultimate satisfaction for me. 

Enabling Conditions


1) My workplace allows for cross area work. I work full time in Aquatics, but am also paid to teach fitness classes during my lunch hour.


2) I was able to afford the BCRPA fitness instructor course 10 years ago, something that not everyone can afford.

3) I have the accessibility – the fitness studios are located within 10 minutes of my office.

4) My personality enables me to be comfortable in front of crowds so am okay with leading a large group of people from all different backgrounds, cultures and abilities. Some find it difficult to get past the ‘stage fright’ aspect of teaching fitness classes.

Life Course Factors - Social Determinants

I appreciate the fact that I am teaching to only a select group of people:

1) Fitness classes are not affordable for everyone. Students pay $20 a semester for unlimited group classes and staff or community members pay $55 a semester.

2) These fitness classes are not ideal for those who have injuries or disabilities. They would need more one-on-one support versus a group class of 30 people.

3) If there are language barriers, it might be intimidating for someone to participate in these classes. I remember when I was in Sweden on an exchange program and walked out of a step class crying because I was so confused about what was going on in the class.

4) The classes I teach are not suitable for seniors as the music is rather loud, the rest of the crowd is younger and the exercises are sometimes quite advanced.

SFU has already recognized the need to encourage people to participate in fitness classes and to address some of the limitations that I have mentioned above:

1) To make things more affordable, the SFU Health and Wellness Centre has paired up with SFU Recreation to offer the "FitMix" class I teach. This is completely free for students and offers a different style of class every time.

2) Rather than just offering “Hard Core Bod,” a muscle conditioning class more geared towards the younger or more fit crowd, SFU Recreation offers approximately 45 other classes (eg. Yoga, aquafit, gentle stretch) that would appeal to a more mature, injured, or less fit crowd.

3) In regards to language barriers, as fitness instructors, we are trained to provide more demonstrations rather than describing what to do. I also provide tactile feedback when moving around the class rather than just telling someone how to make a correction to the exercise.  

Teaching fitness classes is an active living practice for which I have a true passion. I have taught all types of fitness classes from Yoga to Aquafit to Zumba to cycling in all kinds of places such as Florida, Mexico, the Bahamas, Japan, Calgary and Vancouver. I have taught in French and English, in the freezing cold and blazing sun, to a class of one student and a class of fifty students, and to 13 year olds and 75 year olds.  With each fitness class I teach, my goal is always to inspire and motivate my students as much as they inspire and motivate me.