You know you should do it but there’s work to do and activities to get the kids to, home improvements and taxes that need your attention, snow to shovel (again…c’mon spring!), and you don’t even want to know what the cat did in the corner.
Forget being a priority—me time isn’t even on the list. But in just an hour a week, you can recharge and be prepared to do battle with whatever life throws your way. Here are a few suggestions that you can find in the Spring/Summer Leisure Guide from the Town of Huntsville that we tried out on your behalf (you’re welcome).
Ohmmmm my goodness, this feels good
You take a deep breath and move into a new position. The surface under your feet holds, belying what your eyes want to tell you. You settle in and feel the stretch. You even close your eyes for a moment, trusting your feet to stay rooted where they are. There is no accompanying splash to indicate you’ve lost your balance and you smile. This feels good.
Welcome to aqua yoga.
Taking to the water for a few asanas isn’t quite the same as what you’ll experience in a yoga studio. The poses are familiar but thanks to the slight imbalance created by being on the water, you’ll work your core in a whole new way.
An aqua mat is like a firm air mattress, anchored to the lane ropes in the pool so that it doesn’t skitter away from you. It’s stable, unlike the inflatables you’d relax on during a vacation, but still cushy enough to sink into at the end of a satisfying yoga session. Falling in is a possibility, of course, but it’s not as likely as you might think.
Some poses you will find more challenging, primarily because your core muscles have to work harder to help you maintain your balance. But you might find you can do things you can’t do on land—instructor Monica Larade usually struggles with wheel pose (a backbend) but on an aqua mat has no trouble getting into and holding the position.
Larade also says that she’s found her joint strength has improved since starting aqua yoga, and that she always feels wonderful afterward. Judging from the reaction at the end of the class—a chorus of ‘that was great!’—she’s not alone.
The Town’s aqua yoga classes run Saturday mornings from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Centennial Pool. You can sign up for the remaining classes at a pro-rated fee or drop in for $6.50 per class. Sessions will move to the lake in the summer and return to the pool in the fall.
Learn more and register here.
And a one, and a two…
A balanced life also leaves room for play. But when life gets busy, sometimes you have to multitask. You need to exercise, but who says you can’t make your exercise fun?
At DrumFIT, you can expect toe-tapping tunes, a thumping beat and lots of laughter. Combining drumsticks with exercise balls, DrumFIT lets you unleash your inner rockstar and Tigger all at the same time. And DrumFIT instructor Sandy Inkster will put the bounce back in your step whether you’re 14, 40, or 75.
How? First, drumming feels good. The vibrations are like an energizing mini-massage for your entire body and, if you’ve had a stressful day, whacking on something is sure to make you feel better.
Add some feel-good music to the mix and you’ll be “Walking on Sunshine” in no time.
Also, it helps improve your co-ordination but if you’ve got no rhythm, don’t worry—this is one place where you can march to the beat of your own drum…literally. (That’s where some of the laughter comes in—just about everyone feels uncoordinated at times.)
DrumFit is accessible for everyone—all you need is an indoor pair of running shoes. It runs Friday nights from 7-8 p.m. at the Active Living Centre. Learn more and register here.
Make it your own and take it home
Everyone has an inner artist—express yours in the Maker Series where art is in the eye of the beholder (that’s you!) and you get the satisfaction of being able to say, “I made this.” Plus, there are treats. Everything is better with treats.
You can make a succulent garden that would be equally at home outdoors or in. “But I’m not a gardener!” you say? No fear, here—succulents are drought-resistant and low-maintenance beauties that even the least green thumb can care for.
You can create beautiful, expressive art (yes, you…really) like a colourful painting that celebrates bicycle month or an abstract painting that suggests a landscape or anything else you want it to, even if that’s nothing in particular at all. No experience is required (yes, really…you can do this) and all materials are provided.
There’s much more than this available, of course, for both adults and youth. Check out the full slate of activities to see how you could give yourself the gift of a little me time here.
This is a sponsored story paid for by the featured advertiser
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