Baby it’s…warm…outside: giving your body some love this winter

What a spectacular time to be alive! I had the pleasure of giving my beautiful friend a beginner ski lesson the other day at Lakeridge Ski Resort and was ecstatic to be able to hit the slopes in jeans and only a couple of thin layers. I can’t be the only one loving this warm streak, not to mention all the sun. We had a blast and I was reminded of how much a girl can enjoy winter. So, since I can’t imagine we’ve seen the last of winter just yet, I thought I’d highlight some of the many things to do on campus as well as in and around Toronto to keep your body moving and enjoy this so-far-mild winter! FREE Stuff

• Drop-in skating on campus! I visited Varsity Centre with a friend recently for one of the drop-in skating times and was really impressed to see the number of people that came out, and the absolutely stellar moves of one older gentleman. You’ll find all the information you need on KPE’s skating page. Skating is totally free if you have your own skates and your T-Card with you. If you need to rent, it’s only $3 + tax.
• Skating at Nathan Phillips Square: I’ve made this an annual tradition for the U of T Jiu Jitsu Club and highly recommend making it part of your winter semester routine. Skating is 100 per cent free if you come prepared, if you need skates the rental costs $10 (cash) and you’ll need to leave a piece of government-issue photo ID as collateral. This is a fantastic, simple night out with friends!

  

• With the weather this nice, I’m happy to catch some “fresh” air by going for a stroll downtown. On a cold day I really just want to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, but lately it’s actually been quite pleasant and I’ve been perfectly happy to take a longer route.

Other Ideas

• Did you know U of T has a ski and snowboard club? The club was at Mont Tremblant this week but also takes regular local trips throughout the season. Check out their website for information as to how to get involved!
• Want to save on the slopes? Groupon.com often features deals at ski resorts this time of year and is worth taking a look at now and then.
• So this is technically in Vaughan, but it’s really cool! Axis Freestyle Academy is an indoor freestyle skiing/snowboarding training facility. They have dry slopes (essentially carpet that mimics snow) and terrain park elements so you can practice your moves indoors. They also have trampolines and a pit to help develop awareness in the air before trying to land the real thing on snow and skis/board. What I probably like most is they’re described as a super inclusive and positive space with little tolerance for negativity. Gender-neutral washrooms and inspiring quotes from champs like Muhammad Ali are just a couple of ways Axis supports this environment.