Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best this holiday season! I hope your holidays are filled with good cheer, great food and fantastic memories with family and friends.

I thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to read content that I hope has been useful to you. I am looking forward to bringing you more exciting adventures in 2016!

Cheers!

The Southwood Ravine Collection in the Upper Beach

I am a civic-minded millennial who cares about the community I live in, green spaces and I am most definitely curious. I have been living in Toronto for the past few years and I still enjoy discovering new, charming neighbourhoods filled with hidden gems. Most recently, I had the opportunity to explore the Upper Beach with Streetcar Developments and discovered that the neighbourhood is chock full of splendid surprises.

The tour kicked-off with a visit to The Southwood Presentation Centre by Streetcar Developments, where I was able to view The Southwood Ravine Collection of boutique suites. With the Glen Stewart Ravine in close proximity, Streetcar Development guarantees homeowners the best of both worlds; contemporary units with easy access to nature that is conducive to a more relaxed way of living. Not to mention an array of reputable schools, quaint shops and restaurants galore that surround the area! Prospective owners can choose from one bedroom to multi-level three bedroom suites. Each modern suite features open-concept living spaces and state-of-the-art appliances with a European-inspired kitchen ideal for entertaining.

After leaving the presentation centre, we set off to explore what the neighbourhood had to offer. We paid a visit to the Yellow House Gallery, a contemporary art gallery that showcases works from Toronto’s emerging talent. It is owned and operated by Christina Kostoff, who graduated with an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago. Much of the work on display captures the merging of two worlds; modern art that presents new angles to traditional thinking. In the Colours of Lives Once Lived, the artist gives the viewer a glimpse into the living spaces of an apartment building set for demolition. 

If you’re looking for a laugh and enjoy artisanal cheese, The Art of Cheese is your best bet around the Upper Beach. Located on Kingston Road, the store serves the community with Canada and Europe’s best cheeses, sans preservatives. Bill Miller, "The Grand Fromage" co-owns and operates the store and happily offered samples of a pale yellow cheese called San de Oro. Originating from North Eastern Italy, the cheese has a buttery flavour and a pleasant tang. A 2011 Black Label Shiraz from Diamond Estates perfectly complimented the unpasteurized cheese.

Next, we paid a visit to Collected Joy, which is a delightful store that carries everything unpretentious. From unique earrings to decorative pieces for your home that reflect you and your interests, this store has it all. Owner Sharon Smyl’s purpose for the store was to be surrounded by the simple things in life. Everything from the antipasto jars to ‘That’s my Jam!’ marmalade is locally made and sourced. The best part of my visit was tasting the refreshing Sloane jasmine iced tea, especially on a hot summer day! 

The tour continued with the much-anticipated stop at the inviting Beech Tree restaurant, where everything on the menu is house-made and more than delivers on authentic flavours. Borrowing inspiration from French and Italian cooking, this restaurant is perfect if you’re looking for a great lunch spot or celebrating a special occasion. Having sampled the charcuterie plate, the item that was most outstanding was the chicken liver parfait with its mousse-like texture and oh-so-buttery flavour. Another winner was the house-made gnocchi, which tasted surprisingly light, yet bold in flavour.

After the delicious meal at the Beech Tree, we took a leisurely stroll through the Glen Stewart Ravine. As soon as I walked down the stairs to the ravine, I felt peaceful and truly appreciated how calming and beautiful nature can be. The ravine is not only captivating but is restorative for the mind, body and soul; the perfect place to relax after a hard day’s work. 

The residents of the Upper Beach are spoiled with having a meat and butcher shop in their neigbourhood. The Chopping Block features hamburger meat and sausages among their wide array of meats originating from Ontario farms. We had the pleasure of sampling bison sausage with maple and fig, bison burger and leg of lamb with honey-cup mustard and spicy Thai chilli BBQ sauce. Not only did the sauces perfectly complement the meats, but they were all thought of and concocted by the talented owner himself, Jay McNish.

Our final and much-awaited stop for the day, was at Ed’s Real Scoop. The wide variety of classic and new flavours offer something for everyone, young and old. Even on a Wednesday evening, you can find a long line of eager families and couples waiting for Ed's famous cool treats. While I patiently waited for my glorious cone of vanilla ice cream, I was surprised to learn that the ice cream, gelato and waffle cones are all made in-house. A must try during fall is Ed's pumpkin ice cream, which was inspired by Ed's own mother and a customer's need for pumpkin pie flavoured ice cream. Ed caters to his loyal community, so if you have a suggestion, feel free to let him know.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the Upper Beach and visiting unique places that I was unaware of. I do live in the east end of downtown Toronto, and after exploring the established neighbourhood of the Upper Beach and seeing the strong sense of community firsthand, I would certainly consider moving even further east! 

To find out more about The Southwood Ravine Collection, visit streetcar.ca/projects/southwood.

Photos courtesy of Rock-It Promotions. 

Learning the Art of Muay Thai

By: Zena Rebello

I moved back to Toronto four years ago after finishing graduate school in Waterloo and was looking for new and challenging activities to participate in. A friend of mine mentioned that he started practicing Muay Thai and that he absolutely loved it. Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing is one of the oldest martial arts in the world that originated in Thailand. It is called the ‘Science of Eight Limbs’ because fists, feet, knees and elbows are all used in the art.

As someone who never shies away from new challenges, I decided to try it out, unaware of how much it would change my life for the better. I decided to go for a trial class at a school called York Muay Thai. When I got there, I was greeted by the owner and head instructor Kru Jenypher Lanthier (Kru means instructor in Thai). Right away the traditional male dominated, testosterone filled stereotype of martial arts gyms was dispelled because the head honcho here was a female. 

Going into class, I was very excited. However, as the class progressed, I wanted to cry. I was surprised by the physical demands and level of conditioning required to properly practice Muay Thai. Additionally, it also took a large amount of mental strength to not give up in the middle of a ‘warm up’, which is really a euphemism for a super challenging workout. After 40 push-ups in a row followed by squats, sit-ups and anything else the instructor throws at you, one’s body tends to scream 'UNCLE!'. The class was almost unbearable, but when it was finished I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment and I was hooked!

Whether one is advanced or a newbie, Muay Thai is a tough martial art to practice. At every class, I look around and see people of all genders, shapes, sizes and athletic abilities pushing themselves to new limits and finding their inner strength. Every month, we focus on a new skill to develop, be it crosses, jabs, hooks or swing kicks. We learn how to use the body as a weapon in both offensive and defensive situations. This month is ‘teep’ month. A teep, also called a push-kick, is when you strike your opponent (usually in the solar plexus) with the ball of your foot. Some other useful techniques I have learned are: 

Crosses: A commanding weapon that involves hitting your opponent with your rear fist while rotating your entire body to extend your reach and increase power.  
Elbows: This is one of the most powerful close-range weapons in Muay Thai. If done correctly, it can knock out your opponent. There are many types of elbow moves: upper-cut, rear, lead and downward elbow.
Swing Kicks: The most well-known weapons in Muay Thai are swing kicks, which involve kicking your opponent with your shins. Swing kicks are tough to learn because they involve the integration of core strength, balance and technique in order to execute correctly. For me, they are a work in progress.
Learning these skills have helped me to increase both my endurance and stamina.

There is also an innate sense of community that has developed among the participants at school. Whether we are encouraging each other in class, sharing tips online or socializing over a traditional Thai dinner at our annual Christmas party, all participants, new and seasoned, are a part of a centuries old cultural tradition. 

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After having practiced for the last four years, I look back and compare my current self to my old self and I am amazed at how resilient I have become physically and more so, mentally. I know that at 5’1’’ and 110 pounds if I can spar against men twice my height and weight, I have the moxie to handle any challenge that life presents. I always prided myself on my overall toughness, but with Muay Thai I have found a new dimension in myself that can be translated to everyday life. I am more disciplined, agile and stronger than ever.

York Muay Thai offers a free trial for one week. Visit yorkmuaythai.com for more information. 
Twitter: @YorkMuayThai 
Facebook: facebook.com/yorkmuaythai
Photos courtesy of York Muay Thai.

Zena Rebello is an environmental and atmospheric chemist by day and an ardent Muay Thai practitioner by night.

The WalkTop Wonder

Health and wellness in the workplace is becoming more of a priority for employees and employers alike. Healthy employees are happy and more productive employees. I spend the bulk of my day in front of a computer and am well acquainted with the routine of sitting and working for hours on end in an office. Several health risks have been associated with a sedentary lifestyle including heart disease and diabetes. There's a new Canadian product on the market that is set to be a game-changer in the way we work and exercise. I eagerly attended the media launch of the innovative WalkTop Treadmill Desk. Designed to fasten on to a treadmill, the novel product helps you boost physical activity while staying productive simultaneously. 

WalkTop co-founder Laurel Walzak

I met Laurel Walzak, one of the co-founders of the Canadian company, Fitneff, who showed me how to use the innovative product. She placed a laptop on the sleek and stylish glass surface and I started to walk slowly on the treadmill at 2 miles per hour, while Walzak explained the many features of the WalkTop. Ergonomically designed, the WalkTop can be adjusted to your height for comfort and can be positioned flat or on an incline for customization. I used the WalkTop for about 15 minutes and it felt comfortable and effortless. Walzak also spoke about the WalkTop helping to improve posture, mental clarity, circulation, and mood. For more vigorous exercise, you can unfasten the WalkTop from your treadmill. 

The product can be adopted in the corporate world where executives who are pressed for time can easily get physical activity into their daily routine, while they continue to be productive and efficient. Weighing 25 pounds, the WalkTop is lightweight, yet sturdy. It can be ordered online for $479.00 and comes fully assembled, with installation taking mere minutes. After using the product and learning about the many health benefits associated with it, I am certain that the WalkTop will work wonders in many a workplace! 

To learn more about WalkTop, visit www.walktop.ca.