Got the February blahs? Try these.
Canadians know how challenging the month of February is. March is not much better. After months of low light, shoveling snow and enduring frigid temperatures (unless you live in Vancouver, in that case, stick it!), we start to get cabin fever from hibernating.
Something I have noticed in my own life is that after hanging up my downhill skiis more than a decade ago, I stopped enjoying winter. I tend to stay in more and by the end of February I’m going squirrelly. For exercise, I do walk my dog several times a day and jog on the days when my lungs and face won’t hurt, but it is not enough. Going outside is a big effort. By now, I need an attitude adjustment. My guess is that others do, too.
Here are some ways to get over the February blahs and cabin fever, as we go into the last stretch of winter.
- When it’s cold outside, be warm and sunny from the inside: Go into your heart more. Do the things that warm your heart and make your light shine and radiate. Maybe it is helping out at a soup kitchen, or cooking a meal for your elderly neighbours, or a random act of kindness.
- Create an inspiring space: Our environment directly impacts our creativity and productivity. Low light tends to create lower moods. So brighten up your interior, both literally and figuratively. Create an inspiring space where you do your creative work. Colour plays a huge role. Paint your walls vibrant colours such as red, yellow or orange – or calming ones like baby blue. Enhance your space in a way that is inspiring to you — and maybe it will inspire others.
- Buy new art: If you already collect art, take stock of what you have. Consider trading or buy new art. Start a new collection of artifacts or other items that have meaning to you and place them in your creative space. Perhaps it is from your travels. Or make your own art to hang on the wall.
- Listen to music to lift your spirits: Listen to the kinds of music that pick up your energy, spirit and mood. Music impacts our energy level. I personally love opera and, this weekend I, fought the snow to see the Canadian Opera Company’s production Don Giovanni, at the Four Seasons Centre. The way the music made me feel was worth fighting the snow to get there.
- Get outside to play: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! I write this at the risk of being pelted with snowballs…Even if you are not athletic, get outside to play as much as possible. Go for walks, even if they are short. Play winter sports. Go tobogganing. Remember the fun you had as a kid and try to re-create that feeling.
- Take a class: As a forever student, I am always taking a course of some sort. Taking courses forces us to get out of our spaces, meet new people, we learn something new – and it keeps us engaged. Consider taking a photography, cooking or language course.
- Get some sunshine: We all crave fleeing from the Canadian cold into warmer, sunnier climates. So find a travel deal and go somewhere new, whether it is basking on a beach or a wellness retreat, or taking a course, such as Spanish, in a place that inspires you.
Photo credit: Andreas Krappweis
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning inspirational speaker, writer, and host and producer of the television and online series www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com.
This article was originally published at HuffingtonPost.com.
Season 3, Episode 4 airs tonight on Extraordinary Women TV on Rogers TV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2014 – Season 3, episode four, of Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner airs tonight featuring special coverage and interviews from the Canadian Beauty Innovation Awards. Shannon speaks with Natalie Lewis, founder, Canadian Beauty Innovation Awards; Linda Leatherdale, VP Marketing and Business Development, Cambria and financial columnist; Mary Tripi, hair stylist icon and entrepreneur; and Academy Award-nominated actress and wellness advocate, Mariel Hemingway. Also featured are interviews with founder and executive director, Re-Think Breast Cancer, MJ DeCoteau; and renowned Toronto artist, Beverley Jenkins.
The show airs tonight at 7pm ET on Rogers TV Cable 10/63 in Toronto/Scarborough.
The show aims to empower women get their dreams into action by providing the tips and tools from some of today’s most extraordinary women. This season, Shannon goes on-location around the city of Toronto to speak with women from a range of pursuits about their passions and challenges — and how they overcome them.
Now in its third season on Rogers TV, the television series began as a live web TV talk show for women in Canada, and has grown into an inspirational, relevant and informative resource for women who want to follow their hearts and dreams, and live extraordinary lives. In January 2013, the show began airing on Rogers TV in Toronto/Scarborough, with 46 episodes being produced and aired over the first two seasons. The show has also aired in several other Rogers’ Ontario markets. And last season featured the “Woman to Watch” regular segment.
Shannon’s guests are women from all walks of life and industries, including: arts and entertainment, business, charities, media, sports, experts – and more. Some past notable guests include: entrepreneur Debbie Travis; singers Jully Black and Sarah Slean; philanthropist, The Hon. Margaret McCain; dean of law faculty at the U of T, Mayo Moran; fashion designer and Canadian icon, Linda Lundstrom; president/CEO, ROM, Janet Carding; Rebecca MacDonald, founder, Just Energy; actress Sarena Parmar; Plan Canada’s president/CEO, Rosemary McCarney; among many others.
Nearly 300 episodes have been posted and archived on the web for public access since its inception in September 2010, when it began as a live web TV series, and 52 episodes have been produced to-date for Rogers TV. Extraordinary Women TV is produced and owned by Shannon Skinner and Comfy Chair Productions Inc., and is filmed in Toronto.
Rogers TV Toronto’s full scheduling information: click here.
Horseshoe Resort’s Fit Chicks fitness retreat
SHANNON’S TRAVEL BAG: Travel Tips for Women
Shannon Skinner takes in Horseshoe Resort’s Fit Chicks fitness retreat.
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This Spring, I officially became a “chick” — not a term I would associate myself with since, well, when I was sporting short skirts and Dr. Martens boots many moons ago. That all changed when I joined dozens of women at Horseshoe Resort’s Fit Chicks fitness retreat, organized by Fit Chicks, a Toronto-based, women’s-only fitness and healthy lifestyle company, which took place on March 21-23, 2014. The participants, or “chicks” as we would be called, came from across Ontario and were of all ages, shapes and sizes. From enthusiastic marathon runners to career women to stay-at-home moms, we all became chicks on a journey of health and wellness.
“What inspired us to create weekend health retreats was that there was nothing like this out there,” says Amanda Quinn, co-founder of Fit Chicks, which she founded in 2008 with friend, Laura Jackson. “There are plenty of weekend yoga retreats, but no weekend getaways focused on overall health and wellness for women that encompass a variety of fitness classes, or nutrition workshops and wellness aspects including meditation and yoga. We know from our own experiences that without embracing all areas of wellness, you be left off-balance and not able to fully reach your potential and goals.”
The Horseshoe Resort’s Fit Chicks’ fitness retreat package included: a Zumba fitness party, an outdoor fitness challenge, a guided snowshoe hike, a range of indoor fitness classes such as interval-training, yoga, workshops on nutrition and meditation workshops, healthy “Fit Chicks-certified” meals and snacks, and two-nights accommodations at Horseshoe Resort. At a package cost of $499 (per person), the Horseshoe Resort’s Fit Chicks fitness retreat is great value.
Beyond the retreat, Horseshoe Resort offers adventurous activities such as treetop trekking, Yamaha riding and Segway adventures, Hummer tours, skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and horseback and pony rides. As well, its Adventure Park offers family-friendly activities like a rock climbing wall, a Ogo run (like zorbing), bungy and a zip line, and more.
Says Horseshoe Resort’s General Manager, Sean Billing, a man who speaks passionately about his job and lifestyle choice: “Fit Chicks’ retreats not only align perfectly with the healthy, active life-style that the resort promotes, it exposes our products and services to key decision-makers. The ‘chicks’ who participate bring family, friends and meetings to the resort.”
“Our overall vision for Fit Chicks is to spread our healthy love around the world,” says Jackson, who has been preparing for her first fitness bikini competition. “We want to help every woman feel excited and empowered to take control of their healthy journey.
I had the opportunity to speak with several ‘chicks’ about their experiences. Some came to lose weight; others to get back their fitness mojo after the long winter. Such as Lisa Purves, a 40-year old insurance industry professional and avid marathon runner who lives in Toronto with her husband. This was Purves’s fourth Fit Chicks’ retreat. “I loved the idea of a weekend devoted to fitness, healthy food and wellness, and I had never been to Horseshoe Resort before,” says Purves. “It’s been a great way for me to try some winter activities I hadn’t tried before, like snowshoeing. Although I know a lot of the attendees come for a girls getaway, I look forward to these retreats as the perfect ‘me’ weekend.”
Grace Lang, a Beamsville, Ontario resident who works in Toronto as a chartered accountant, was searching for a fitness retreat when she came across Fit Chicks’ website. For Lang, the highlight of the retreat was the outdoor challenge. “I’ll never forget the ‘building a snow chick’ challenge where one of my teammates used her bra for it. That was teamwork — and we won.”
To complete my fitness weekend, I experienced another gem of Horseshoe Resort: Shizen Spa, the signature spa brand of the resort’s owners, Skyline Hotels and Resorts (all four properties have a Shizen Spa, the name inspired by the Japanese word for nature). I had the spa’s signature pedicure that included exfoliating my skin with a lotion that contained raspberry seeds, a massage with hot stones, followed by dunking my feet in warm, squishy paraffin wax. Sitting in a chair overlooking the resort’s indoor swimming pool area, it was a super relaxing 75 minutes. It is great value for $80 and the perfect ending for a fitness weekend, leaving me with happy feet indeed.
If you are interested in attending a women’s fitness retreat, be sure to check-out Horseshoe Resort’s website for the upcoming Fit Chicks’ summer retreat in June 2014.
About Horseshoe Resort: Horseshoe Resort is an inviting Ontario destination offering four seasons of fun for thrill-seekers and adventurers alike, comprising 29 slopes and 35 km of groomed Nordic trails, two award-winning golf courses, a full-service Shizen Spa, 140 guest rooms, two restaurants, and 13,000 square feet of meeting space. Owned by Skyline Hotels and Resorts, it is conveniently located just an hour north of Toronto, and has newly renovated guest suites, eclectic dining options and outstanding outdoor activities.
Shannon Skinner is the Executive Producer and Host of Extraordinary Women TV, an author, speaker and media consultant, and writes the occasional series of travel articles for women.
* photos of Horseshoe Resort courtesy of Horseshoe Resort; all other photos courtesy of Fit Chicks
