10 things to do in Ottawa this weekend – June 3 to 5, 2022

 2022 Ottawa Ribfest When: June 1st-5th Where: Sparks Street What time: 11 am – 10 pm daily — Sunday 11 pm -7 pm Admission: Free  Head to Sparks Street to taste ribs from eight incredible “ribbers” who live, eat, sleep and breathe BBQ. Three blocks of BBQ'ers will be competing for Ottawa’s

Explore the Best of Ottawa’s Outdoors this Summer

 Explore the best of Ottawa this summer by cycling through the Gatineau Hills to hiking up the Eardley Escarpment. Ottawa is not only a government city but, one full of nature and hidden gems. Celebrate the best of Ottawa, this summer, through exploring the city by bike, to hiking through

You Know it’s Summer in Ottawa When…

 Feature photo credit: Anna Jonas A heat wave is about to hit the National Capital Region this weekend cementing that summer is officially here! Besides the heat, here are a few other classic, tell-tale signs that the hot season has graced the city. You just know it’s summer in Ottawa

5 Things to do in Ottawa for $5 or Less

 Were you impressed by the 10 Things to do in Ottawa for Under $10 that we shared with you a couple months back? Well, if you’re on an even tighter budget, don’t fret because we’ve found some more Ottawa fun for you, all for no more than $5! Who said

Endometriosis and Yoga: Healing pain from within

 Those who live with Endometriosis are accustomed to living in pain. Every step, even every breath, makes you more aware of the bitter taste of pelvic pain. For nine years I have learnt not to push myself too hard, to limit my exercise routine and to ensure a proper diet,

Interview with Amber Stratton, Co-founder of Pure Yoga

 If you’re a yogi living in the Ottawa area, chances are you’re familiar with the Pure brand, whether it’s because you practice at a Pure Yoga studio or because you regularly get together with friends over a plate of Radical Wings and a Revive Alive cocktail at Pure Kitchen. The

What You Probably Don’t Know About Yoga

 Namaste. This single word is so simple yet holds so much weight. Traditionally used as a greeting and way of demonstrating respect in India, this iconic salutation – typically accompanied by a bow with one’s hands placed at the heart or forehead – symbolizes the joining of two people’s energies.

Vineyards and Vinyasa. What’s not to love?

 Vineyards and Vinyasa. What’s not to love? Janine Hogg agrees, and has made it her mission “to cultivate an unexpected and WORLDWIDE love affair between two things that truly belong together.” It’s safe to say that most of us would be lying if we said that we don’t get stressed

I Don’t Sweat I Glow

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals! Like a good sunscreen, Ottawa Life

Cancer Survivor Finds Strength Through Yoga

 Photos by Melanie Shields Photography and Joel Bedford Most of us are aware that the ancient East Indian practice of Yoga has spread like wildfire internationally over the past ten years. Yes, most of us are aware that it physically, mentally and spiritually benefits us. But for Alan Viau, a

The Wellness Mom Workout – Q&A with Fitness Chameleon Kate Laird

 Photos courtesy of Kate Laird.  This isn’t your average fitness class. When you first walk in, you might be a bit taken aback by all the kids running around as the super-powered moms partake in CrossFit-like activity. Medicine balls, rowing machines and weights are just a few of the tools

Staying Active Over the Holidays

 As the holiday season arrives, schedules can fill up with parties, dinners, shopping, and vacations. Although this is an exciting time of year, it can be stressful. When our calendars get overwhelming, in order to meet holiday demands, one of the first things people often reduce is exercise. Also, as

Why is Everyone so Happy, and I’m Not?

 If you are reading this, there is a good chance you, or someone you know isn't very happy. There are plenty of things you want to do with your life but the unhappiness, low motivation and lack of energy is too difficult to overcome. Not to mention the amount of

Burn Baby Burn at The Dailey Method

 New to Ottawa this year, The Dailey Method is a full body workout that will work all of your major muscles (and all of the other muscles that you never knew existed) in less than sixty minutes. The two classes offered, Dailey Basics and Dailey Barre are designed to help

Glowfair 2015: Transforming Bank Street into a Radiant Wonderland

 The Bank Street BIA is transforming downtown Ottawa into a technicolour dreamscape for two whimsical days of music, performances, art and activities. From June 19 to 20, Glowfair Festival 2015 will immerse Bank Street in a sea of neon light. Electropop singer and three-time Juno winner, Kiesza, will be headlining

Be Glued to the Tube for Para Normal

 Photo courtesy of TVO Hats off to local filmmaker Rostyslav Makushak for winning the 2015 TV Ontario (TVO) Short Docs contest with his film Para Normal. Makushak beat out 126 other submissions in the competition. The theme for this year’s TVO contest, which is aimed at aspiring documentary makers, was

The signs and symptoms of burnout and what you can do about it

 By Jilla Kahrobaei, BSc ND It happens. And it happens to almost everyone exposed to stress. You wake up one morning and find yourself utterly exhausted. You feel like you have been hit by a truck and every movement is accompanied by stiffness, heaviness and pain. You have no interest

Living Your Potential at EPIC Fitness

 For Stephanie Karlovits, owner of Ottawa’s EPIC Fitness, working out isn’t only about getting stronger or losing weight. She has a philosophy that takes into account what an individual needs not only in the gym, but in order to become better in all aspects of their life. EPIC’s objective is

Wanderlust: A Vacation for the Mind, Body and Spirit

 Photos courtesy of Ali Kaukas. The countdown is on to the mini-vacation of a lifetime. Join Wanderlust, producer of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, as they head to Mont-Tremblant from August 21-24. That’s right! Yoga and mountain views. It all sounds so serene! Wanderlust is about gathering mindful adventurers

Hot Yoga: Trendy or Torturous?

 I’ll admit it--I’ve never tried hot yoga. I know, I know, re-hinge those jaws hot yoga junkies. As appealing as the health benefits of hot yoga sound, I have yet to wake up and proclaim that today will be the day I’ll willingly torture, and likely embarrass, myself by practicing

2 Yogis, 3 Kids, 1 Cause

 Meet Todd and Amanda Lavictoire. Both are Ottawa yoga teachers who have spent years dedicating their lives to helping others by teaching them to move more efficiently, care for their body, manage chronic pain conditions and find peace of mind. Their positive impact on the larger community is immense, as

Fourth Annual Yogini Yogathon Fundraises for Free the Children

 Practicing seven hours of yoga, enjoying a catered lunch and fundraising for an international charity while networking with like-minded women isn't what the fourth annual Yogini Yogathon is all about. The event is an opportunity for women to empower themselves, become agents of change and share their talents with others.

Connecting Ottawa’s Conscious Community, Locally and Globally

 Most cities in the western world now have a yoga studio. Ottawa is no exception -- a yoga studio brings with it a community of people who care to live consciously. They care about their physical and mental health and are conscious about their environment and the earth. But how

NBA Players Try Yoga for Performance Benefits

 The benefits of yoga have been known to people in the East for many thousands of years, and finally the West is catching up. Yoga is now so popular and its impact so much more understood that sporting stars across many disciplines are now incorporating it into their training -

Be the Change Challenge Rallies Ottawa Women to Improve Mind, Body and Soul

 By: Kimberly Lochhead Thirty days doesn’t seem like enough time to drastically overhaul one’s life, improve overall health, emotionally detox and help educate women in Nepal—but Megan Campbell, founder of Journey of the Yogini (JOY) is making all of that possible. And she’s helping others do it without going to