I was recently invited and attended the grand opening of Cyclebar Leaside which is a premium indoor cycling facility. They recently opened their doors here in Toronto.

What is extra unique about the studio is that you can access their "cycle star's" aka instructors playlists from your rides. http://leaside.cyclebar.com/cyclebeats-lists/ <- I love this feature since I do a lot of cardio and am always looking for something new to listen to and I just so happen to have spotify anyway.

The class was fun, energetic and unique. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun way to spice up their cardio outside of the norm.

I have a youtube video going up that includes my experience with the class on March 17, 2017 5:30 AM. So go subscribe to my youtube channel now so you don't miss it:

www.youtube.com/trainitright

Lastly as she started the cool down I got an instant email with my cycle stats and placing in the class. A disappointing 12th hahaha. Check it out below:

Tetley Tea Talks - #TetleyFindYourBalance

Recently Tetley Tea hosted a Tea Talk Event in Toronto which I got to attend. Think about Ted Talks but for tea. They had healthy snacks, tea samples and talks on Ayurvedic and tea topics. This was a unique one of a kind experience and I learned a lot about Tea Ayurveda that I did not know. The new line is divided into the 3 categories called Dosha's : vata, pitta and kapha. To find out your dosa click here.

They sent me home with a care package that includes all three of the teas from their new line. I love them all but the cool pitta is my fav! Let me know if you pick them up and give them a try! Trust me when I say they will help you find your balance and that they are delicious as well!

I was luck enough to attend an event put on by Clif Bar for National Organic Week. It was a launch dinner at Café Belong restaurant, located at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto.

There was a great group of people with diverse backgrounds who attended. I had the chance to meet some wonderful people in the community. Renowned Chef and Food Network star, Brad Long designed a special local and organic menu. COTA provided guests with the latest news about their important work and the organic industry in Canada, including a preview of new national data about Canadian organic consumers. Clif Bar’s Matthew Dillon was n hand to share Clif Bar’s organic journey and the important role of organic farming in helping create a healthier, more just and sustainable food system.

Chase the Gear

Ever wish you could join Gary Roberts for your summer training?

Next Friday, August 19, Sport Chek will launch a live sporting event that will unite Canadians both online and offline – similar to the way that the Olympic Games unites the world.

'Chase The Gear' is essentially a game of live chase, in which Gary Roberts, 23-year NHL veteran, beloved Toronto Maple Leaf player and Stanley Cup winner, will run through Toronto's High Park - participants will be able to “chase” him down to receive gear from Sport Chek as prizing.

The entire chase will be broadcast on Facebook Live and online viewers will also have an opportunity to win prizes by unlocking power-ups for the runner by reacting to and sharing the Live video.

Gary Roberts is one of the most sought after trainers for high profile athletes and he is challenging Canadians to show they have #WhatItTakes. Roberts knows that whether you're competing on a world stage or in any hometown game, athletes must acknowledge and recognize the effort that goes into getting them ready to compete.

For more info and contest rules, please visit: http://sportchek.ca/chasethegear

CYC Fitness / SxSxS & Natalie Uhling Teamed Up For a Good Cause

On the night of October 21st, cancer awareness entered a whole new arena, with CYC Fitness, Sweat x Sound x Senses (Victorine NYC), and F*ck Cancer organization to build awareness around living a healthy lifestyle. New Yorkers gathers in Midtown to cycle for a cause.

Instagram fitness gurus and cancer survivors together raised awareness about early cancer detection and the importance of a fitness, healthy eating and holistic lifestyle. The event was in partnership with Natalie Uhling. An Under Armour athlete, and legendary creator of CYC Fitness; Keoni Hudoba had rider sweating, and working hard.

After riding for a cause, all attendee enjoyed a champagne toast, as well as sampled  of Victorine NYC’s renowned 100% pure essential oil fragrances; Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Looks like it was fun! Check out the photos below:

Complete minimally to perform maximally

Guest Blog by Steve Morley

It’s marathon season. Adult distance runners are a funny lot. They’ll declare sometime in the year “I’m going to run a fall marathon”. They may even commit to a training plan. What happens though is that they are like a dog that sees a squirrel. They focus on the squirrel. Then another squirrel goes by, and then that’s all they see.

For a distance runner the squirrel might be a local 5k race that happens the week before. It could be some event that happens like a corporate relay fitness challenge, or a charity 15k run. These are all great things to do, and can be incorporated into the training plan. That’s the key. If you get a training plan from an online source, and you print it off and put it on the fridge that’s good. What happens when life gets in the way? You have to drive the kids to track practice, or they have to stay late and band, you have a conference to go to, all these things can make you modify your training plan. You should modify it.

That’s not what happens though. You’ll do all of those things, and then you’ll try to cram in your marathon pace long run next Sunday. So as a result of juggling a full life you get hurt. Some people will muscle through the injury and they’ll do the workout, and get even more hurt.

Probably very few of these plans mention cross training, like non-impact activities like biking or inline skating, or even cross training by doing hill repeats or the occasional speed session.

The body of an adult distance runner is funny too. Even adults adapt. Those muscles that do the same thing over and over again adapt. They become more efficient and as a result they have to do less work to produce the same output. There is less overall muscle recruitment so therefore you need to change up what you’re doing, to trick your body into working harder.

Stare at the fridge, is your training diet in need of some super charging?

So what are you going to do about it?

You may not do anything – this time. Consider the principle of adaptation again. The training plan says you will do a 25 minute tempo run on Thursday. It’s in your plan, and you know from last Thursday that your tempo pace is X, so therefore this Thursday your pace will be X. What many people fail to consider is that their fitness improves with training. If it didn’t, everyone would perform the same and everyone would arrive at the finish line at the same time.

So given the principle of adaptation, your pace for any given workout throughout that plan your times will change. For the tempo run example, a far better indicator of how to perform, would be perceived level of exertion. In the example of the 25 tempo run it should feel comfortably uncomfortable and you should feel like you could do it at that effort for an hour.

How do you compete minimally to perform maximally when all these squirrels are around? It seems like every weekend brings on a new race, and you could jump into many of them, and while you might be fit and see some great results, if the marathon is your thing, then doing one of these events “out of season” will negatively impact your goal that you have set for yourself. A goal without a plan is just a dream.

Pick your events. A 5k doesn’t really fit, so pass it by. You might say “well I can just do this race as a tempo”. Then the gun goes off and you’re racing it, and then it takes 3 days to recover to get back on your training plan. Then the next weekend is a 10k, or a duathlon, the cycle perpetuates itself and you never get back to your plan, and then when race day comes you are so tired, that you don’t even want to be on the start line.

Remember what’s on the fridge needs to be modified as your life is modified. If you had the greatest of intentions to follow this training plan 100% of the time and life throws you a curve, take yourself off the hook and reboot your goal. Listen to your inner voice and trust what it is saying to you. Have a three tiered goal strategy. Have a goal that you can drive home after the race is done where you aren’t saying things like “I should have done”, or “I wish I had done”. Next have one that is a little more challenging, even if your training didn’t go as planned. Finally have one that is for when all the planets align and everything goes right.

On the day of the race, when you’re warming up, remember what you did to get to the day of the race. If doubts creep in on what you may not have done, refocus back to what you did do. The hay is in the barn. Go have fun.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that the Capture Group and Inside Fitness magazine come together to launch the unparalleled FMF (Fitness Music Fashion) event series. The first event will kick off at Maison Mercer, in Toronto, on April 25, 2015, and will feature a special guest appearance by fitness sensation Michelle Lewin.

From there, these exclusive FMF events will travel across Canada, offering guests the chance to be a part of the first-ever premier lifestyle event series that brings fitness, music, and fashion together in one entertaining occasion. These dynamic events will combine several exciting components, including a VIP cocktail reception, a fitness model competition (featuring 10 male and 10 female competitors), a fitness fashion show, and a full night of dancing to music from one of the country’s hottest DJs.

Each event begins with the exclusive cocktail reception, offering complimentary, premium spirits and specialty cocktails, alongside a delicious range of hors d'oeuvres and canapés from Fuel Foods. This portion of the evening gives guests the opportunity to meet and mingle with other VIP attendees before the night truly begins. Following the reception, guests will witness an authentic, yet unique, fitness model competition where 20 premier applicants will strut their stuff as they try to win guests’ votes for our top model title. After the winners have been announced, attendees will enjoy an exclusive fashion show featuring the latest styles from athletic brands like New Balance and ICE GEAR Fitness Apparel. 

Following the fitness and fashion portions of the evening, guests can dance the night away to the sensational soundtrack provided by one of New York City’s hottest DJ’s, Ross One (Marquee, LIV, One Oak). Anyone attending one of our FMF events can look forward to all of these benefits, and more, as they party until last call and partake in this truly unrivalled, highly anticipated social experience.

Event Dates:

• Toronto, Ontario - April 25, 2015

• Montréal, Québec - May 23, 2015

• Calgary, Alberta - June 20, 2015

• Vancouver, British Columbia - July 25, 2015

• Winnipeg, Manitoba - August 22, 2015

• The Finals, Toronto, Ontario - October 17, 2015

FMF (Fitness Music Fashion) is an event for those who are passionate about healthy living, socializing, and having fun while looking great.

About Us
The Capture Group:
Experts in entertainment and hospitality the Capture Group owns and operates some of Canada’s top venues and is highly experienced in hosting world-class events. Capture Group has a combined 40-plus years in the event production and promotion industry and possesses strong relationships with key influencers and the industry elite across North America.

Inside Fitness Magazine:
As the nation’s leading industry publication for nearly 10 years, Inside Fitness is more than just a magazine: it is a brand that values and advocates a healthy and active lifestyle through its groundbreaking events and industry coverage.

Michelle Lewin:
Michelle is an internationally renowned fitness model and top-ranking competitor. She has quickly become one of the biggest stars in the industry, while maintaining her beloved girl-next-door attitude. Michelle is now one of the most famous fitness models in the world, with over 10 million people actively following her social media accounts. FMF will mark her first visit to Canada.

For additional details regarding these events please visit fitnessmusicfashion.com.