class and clinic highlights
Begin to Run Clinic starts Wednesday, June 6th, 6:30 pm (8 weeks)
This walk / run clinic is perfect for the absolute beginner. Our friendly running Instructors will be there every step of the way to help you reach the clinic goal of running continuously for 25 minutes. No running experience necessary to join. $75.00 plus HST.
Half/Full Marathon starts Saturday, June 16th , 8:00 am (16 weeks)
This 16 week clinic will prepare runners to race in the Toronto International Marathon on May 6th. We will build endurance with our long runs and build strength with speed work and hill training. Our experienced clinic leaders will also prepare you mentally for race day by sharing their race day tips with you! An 8 K & 10 K running base is needed to join. $75.00 plus HST
Yin Yoga Series - 4 week series - Sundays from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, starts May 27th
A slower, deep stretch practice targeting the connective tissue of the hips, pelvis & lower spine. Yin postures are held longer allowing you to explore new depths of postures & deeper ranges of motion. Suitable for all abilities, the next 4 week series starts on May 27th, Sundays 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. No experience needed. $65 - advanced sign-up is required.
Pre-natal Yoga - 6 week series - Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:15 pm, starts May 30th
This special series is made up of safe, gentle stretches appropriate for pregnancy. Practicing yoga during this special time will help to bring calmness through breath and awareness as well as keep the body strong and supple. Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:15 pm space is limited so sign-up to reserve a spot. Cost is $75 + HST.
PeeWee Yoga/Pilates (mom & baby) - Wednesdays 2:00 to 3:00 pm, starts May 9th
Get your body back faster with yogalates! This 4 week series will target your core muscles as well as stretch out tight muscles using pilates circles, thera-bands, blocks & bolsters. We will incorporate baby as well! Cost is $55 + HST - advanced sign-up required.
Kettlebell Mornings - 3 classes Saturday mornings: Weekends were made for kettlebells! Every Saturday morning we offer a choice of kettlebel class start times, one of which will be sure to fit your schedule. you can start lifting at 8:00 am, 9:00 am or 10:00 am.
NEW indian club workshop - sat may 26th Do you suffer from shoulder tightness or lack of mobility? Have you had a shoulder injury that has never fully repaired? Do you suffer from shoulder or back pain? This Indian Club workshop with Jon may be for you!
Indian Clubs are one to two pound clubs that are used in different swinging movements. The light weight is just enough to provide some joint traction and momentum while moving through the shoulder’s full range of motion.
Once the movements are learned it only takes a regular practice of 15 minutes a day to make real change. Gain shoulder and upper body mobility and stability, break down scar tissue, relieve shoulder and back pain and improve your posture.
This 90 minute workshop will teach you all the core movements needed for a varied Indian Club practice. Participants will also receive a 15% discount on a new set of Indian Clubs (regularly $89). This clinic will be held in Riverdale Park from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon – weather permitting otherwise a make-up date will be chosen. Limited to just 8 participants - $30.
kettlebell korner
Team Energia at the Canadian National Kettlebell Sport Championship
On Saturday April 28th Team Energia competed in the first ever Canadian National Kettlebell Championships held right here in Toronto.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
We managed to field a super strong team of 15 participants, and everyone had fun, performed well and brought home medals in their respective categories. It's fun and motivating to train for a goal, and I think the team would agree that these competitions are fun, relaxed and full of encouragement and camaraderie.
Would you like to compete? Drop in to our Kettlebell Sport class with Boris on Sundays at 12 noon to start learning the technical aspects of this fun and challenging sport. Also Jon and Lea are both certified Kettlebell Sport coaches with the recognized world leading Kettlebell Sport organization IKSFA, so talk to us about getting some one-on-one coaching & training program design.
news
victoria day weekend classes & store hours
FRIDAY, MAY 18TH
All regular classes - store open
SATURDAY, MAY 19TH
All regular classes and clinics - store open
SUNDAY, MAY 20TH
All regular classes - store open
MONDAY, MAY 21ST
Closed - all classes cancelled
intro special - $20 unlimited spinning, yoga and kettlebell for 1 week!
This offer is for those who are new to Energia - Sign up for one week of unlimited spinning, yoga and kettlebell! Call 416.406.6664 for details.
intro to meditation - 4 week series starts may 27th -
50% off for members & monthly passholders
Meditation is the practice of quietening the mind so that we can think more clearly and go about our daily activities with less angst and more ease and joy. In this special 4 week series we will practice some techniques to help us do just that. Lea has spent the last 5 years studying & participating in several meditation programs both locally and internationally to come up with a suite of styles and techniques, one or more of which will be sure to connect with every participant. In this series we will explore the following: breath awareness, walking meditation, mantra meditation, contemplation and chakra meditation. No meditation experience necessary. Sundays from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm $55.00 plus HST.
high intensity outdoor bootcamps may 8th
Our next outdoor bootcamp series with Chrissy starts on Tuesday May 8th. These high intensity sessions in Riverdale Park are a combination of bodyweight and plyometric exercises, running, skipping, hill work and more! It's challenging and fun, and the consistency of two times per week will really fire up your metabolism leading to strength building and weight loss. This is a 4 week series with two sessions per week happening Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can sign up for the early morning series which happens at 6:30 am, or the evening sessions at 6:30 pm. Come out and enjoy the warm summer weather and get a great workout! Advanced sign-up is necessary - $120 for all 8 sessions - NEW - only $60 for members & monthly pass-holders!
nutritionist corner with Dayna Fradette
Fresh Spring Farmers Market Finds
One of the fastest ways to increase the fresh, nutritious, whole foods in your diet is to shop at your local farmer's market. The fruits and vegetables you buy at farmers markets are the freshest and tastiest available. They are allowed to ripen in the field and brought directly to you - no long-distance shipping, no chemicals to quicken the ripening process, & no sitting for weeks in storage. This food is as real as it gets - food fresh from the farm. The fresh produce you do find in grocery stores is often grown using pesticides and genetic modification. In many cases it has been irradiated or waxed. The food you buy at farmers markets are seasonal and fresh. Check out Toronto's local Farmers Market's each week and buy your produce directly from the farmer who grew it for you. In most cases it was picked that morning and is still warm from the sun!
These super healthy Spring finds are particularly high in nutritional value and offer loads of health promoting vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds which help maintain a healthy diet.
Rhubarb is actually a vegetable that thinks it's a fruit. Rhubarb contains vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium and calcium, but is particularly high in dietary fibre. Many people make the mistake of trying to hide the tart taste of rhubarb with huge quantities of sugar. I would recommend that you try to refrain from doing this and instead attempt to combine it with flavours that make the tartness more enjoyable. Rhubarb is delicious with fresh herbs like sage & lavender. Or try it in a fresh fruit crumble topped with toasted almonds, maple syrup and chia seeds- just go easy on the sugar!
Spring Greens or Collard Greens are the very first cabbages of the year, & when you eat them in season they offer 4 times the amount of calcium than at other times of the year. They contain compounds that help to protect against cancers, notably cancer of the colon. Steam your greens until they are tender, toss with garlic, olive oil, add a little sea salt & freshly ground pepper or a little crushed chilli flakes for a little kick.
Green Garlic look very similar to a green onion or leeks, but the foliage is more flat and ends with blunt square tips. The flavor is milder and than regular garlic and can be used in ways similar to green onions. With its mild garlic flavor they are at their best when simply chopped up and added to salads, salsas, relishes or otherwise used as you might use a green onion or scallion.
Watercress contains super high levels of vitamins C, B1, B6, E and K, as well as lots of important minerals including zinc, calcium & iron. Watercress is liver cleansing, so it is an excellent food for a spring detox. It's best eaten raw in salads or added to a sandwich. Try making a watercress pesto, swapping basil for watercress.
Asparagus is loaded with vitamins like beta-carotene, vitamin C and folate. They also contain the minerals zinc and potassium that help flush toxins from the body. Asparagus also has the naturally occurring anti-oxidant glutathione known for lowering the risk for both cancer and heart disease. Blanch the spears for 2 minutes in boiling water, lift them out, rinse with cold water, drain and drizzle them with olive oil, lemon zest, sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Dayna Fradette, Registered Holistic Nutritionist