It is week four of term and I am already missing the chocolate-consuming, snuggled in comfy clothing, social function-filled days of the winter break. Not to mention that I am frozen to my core. Yes I know, it was way worse last year, but a late start to the winter lulled me into a false sense of security and now I am finding my warm bed and cranked heat more attractive than ever.
There is so much to look forward to and do over the next few days and weeks though, and I’d love to impart it all to you so we can enjoy the fun and frivolity and embrace the winter chill together. Winterfest and Frost Week might be over, but that doesn’t put fun to an end.
Get Warm with Exercise
Did you know that the
Varsity Center has free skating and pick-up hockey scheduled all term? You can even rent skates! If you’re into outdoor skating, try
Nathan Phillips's Square, where you can also rent skates and a helmet for $10 for two-hour use.
For indoor exercise, don’t forget the drop-In classes at
Hart House or the
Athletic Center (AC). Registered classes at
Hart House and the
AC began this week, but I think you can still sign up for them if you’re looking for things like dancing (of all sorts), Pilates, various martial arts, swimming, , or archery (though you might want to leave the
Mockingjay pin at home).
Relaxation and Rejuvenation for your Mind and Body
After all that exercise, you might want a massage, and Hart House delivers free mini Shiatsu massages every Monday in the chapel from 12:00 to 3:00 PM.
There are also regular
mindfulness opportunities throughout the week to help you get centered and re-energized.
Get Creative
For those of you who appreciate self-expression through the written word, try
Write Now!, a weekly drop-in session run by peer mentors. It’s offered three times weekly: at The
Multi-Faith Centre on Tuesdays, on Thursdays at Hart House (room locations change so check the link above for specifics), and the Koffler Student Services Centre on Fridays.
Get Crafty! at Hart House returns this term. You’ll have the opportunity to make everything from lip balms to buttons to aromatherapy sprays (among other cool things), so don’t miss it.
Hart House also hosts tons of
creative classes, where you can learn everything from clowning to film-making. Why not learn a new skill this term?
Theatre, Art and Music
There are so many great shows this term! Free weekly
jazz nights at Hart House, Jesus Christ Superstar and other great plays at
Hart House Theatre, and free concerts galore from student groups - you can review the listing of all Hart House
musical groups and their respective concert dates above. There are also a ton of events listed at
UofTtix.
Feeling your inner performer needs to be unleashed? Hart House’s got you covered with monthly
open mic nights.
Last but certainly not least, for those into visual art, there are several exhibitions open at the
UofT Art Centre and the
Justina M. Barnicke Gallery.
But wait, there’s [probably] more
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it should be enough to get you started towards beating the winter blahs. Have any other events to look forward to that you think everyone should know about? Let me know in the comments!
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