By Alicia Woodside, Modern Mix Vancouver Fitness Writer

Ever heard of a yoga rave? No, neither had we! That is, until we got wind of Lululemon Athletica’s upcoming Yoga Rave event, which sparked our imagination. To help you satisfy your curiosity, MMV fitness writer Alicia had the chance to get the scoop on this event with instructor Gloria Latham and with Lululemon Regional Community Manager Lindsay Claydon.

Event: Lululemon Yoga Rave
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011
Time: 7:30pm
Location: 142 Water Street
Facebook Event: Yoga Rave

MMV: Who thought of this idea, and how was the event inspired?

Lindsay: Every Monday and Friday night, Gloria teaches an amazing Kundalini class at Semperviva that resembles a rave. We love the energy and overall experience of this class and wanted to share it with the community of Vancouver.

MMV: What is Lululemon’s goal with this event?

Lindsay: Our goal with this event is to share this amazing practice with the Vancouver community and bring everyone together to practice yoga in a unique environment.

MMV: So, what is a yoga rave?

Lindsay: Expect an invigorating Kundalini class, packed with your closest friends, your favourite dance music, and glow sticks.

MMV: How do you expect the yoga rave to differ from a regular yoga class, in terms of music, atmosphere, lighting, people? Do you think the yoga rave will appeal to different audiences that might not normally consider a yoga class?

Gloria: Kundalini yoga is a style not known to most. The class I teach draws from this tradition. It will feel a little different even to regular devotees of the yoga practice. This is going to be a great place to be if you want to release some built up tension, make some new friends, and have a lot of fun. In terms of music, I like to incorporate everything from mantras to Enrique Inglesias and PitBull.

MMV: Who should come?

Lindsay: Anyone who wants to move their body, free their mind and have fun!

MMV: What type of yoga experience should yoga ravers have?

Lindsay: No yoga experience is required. The event is open to all levels.

MMV: Gloria, have you taught a Yoga Rave before?

Gloria: I’ve never taught a “yoga rave” before but I’m often told that my evening classes, particularly Monday and Friday nights resemble a rave. I think it is because Kundalini yoga is such a freeing practice that people feel they can really let loose. Some good music always helps things along. The class will incorporate everything from traditional poses like down dog, to lots of dancing, sweating and singing. Come with an open mind and an open heart.

MMV: Judging by the number of Facebook confirmations, it looks like it’s going to be super busy! What is the event’s capacity, and what time should participants arrive to ensure they can take part?

Lindsay: We are anticipating a large group of people. Guests should arrive at 7:30pm to ensure a spot!

MMV: Is there any cost associated with the event?

Lindsay: The event is complimentary.

So, there you have it… An unconventional chance to combine two typically disparate, but totally fun activities, in a way you never would have expected! See you there Vancouver!

*Full Disclosure: Since this article, the author is now doing yoga raves daily working at lululemon.

Exploring Purple is a fresh and fiery take on an old debate – what are the different roles between men and women in the workplace. Are the stereotypes, obstacles and conventions that attribute to gaps in wages, promotions and job security still relevant in our modern work environment? Has equality in the workplace arrived or is it just a myth? Where do we go from here? Young Women in Business, a group of emerging female leaders in Vancouver, want to find out. On May 14 they will be hosting a panel discussing women in business.

“Women make less because they’ll work for less,” said Ghost Ceo founder Chris Flett at the provocative All-Male Panel discussion at YWiB’s Beyond Pink conference in November. He will join some of Vancouver’s savviest and successful men and women including:

· Bob Elton, BC Hydro
· Ken Sim, Nurse Next Door
· Tamara Vrooman, Vancity
· Cybele Negris, Webnames.ca
· Anne Giardini, Weyerhaeuser

The teams of men and women will go head to head in this exclusive panel talk, moderated by Blo Blow Dry Bar Founder, Judy Brooks. This is Exploring Purple, where pink meets blue. The first of its kind, Exploring Purple creates a space to have an honest and collective dialogue involving generations of Vancouver’s business community. This honest and raw panel conversation hopes to empower young women and men to celebrate equality in business. This once in a lifetime experience promises to be provocative, energizing and compelling.

When: May 14th, 2010
Where: UBC Robson Square
Time: 1 – 3:30 PM
Tickets: Get ‘em while they’re hot at www.ywib.ca

George Ultra Lounge is the Godfather of Vancouver’s cocktail culture. Modeled in the London style, George pioneered the cocktail kitchen concept in Canada when it opened in 2005. Today, with award-winning Shaun Layton behind the bar, George continues to pour proper classic and market-fresh cocktails, complimented by a dinner and late night menu through 2 a.m

George Ultra Lounge (1137 Hamilton Street) is taking a page from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and holding their own “Mixlympics”, a competition featuring ten bartenders (6 international, 4 local) competing head-to-head in a black box style event. Sponsored by Martin Miller’s Gin & Arc’teryx, these masters of mixology will be vying for the top prize – $500 cash provided by Martin Miller’s Gin, but there will be medals too. Gold, silver and bronze, just like the athletes competing in Vancouver and Whistler. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 12:00 pm but it might be best to get in line a little bit earlier.

The international contestants are:

• Joe Stokoe – Bar Manager for all three All Star Lanes, London, UK
• Abdul Kpekawa – Bartender, All Star Lanes, London, UK
• David Grieg – Bartender, All Star Lanes, London, UK
• Ola Carlson – Bartender, Box 101, Stockholm, Sweden
• Nicolos de Soto, Bartender, Experimental Cocktail Club & Curio Parlour, Paris, France
• Charles Tan – Bartender, China Club, Paris, France.

Representing Canada will be:

• Mark Brand – Owner, Boneta and The Diamond, Vancouver
• David Wolwidnyk – Bar Manager, West, Vancouver
• Jay Jones – Owner, The Pourhouse, Vancouver
• Darryl Macdonald – Bartender, Port, Toronto

As a non-profit urban relief organization, Union Gospel Mission serves Metro Vancouver and the City of Mission by providing hope and assistance for the hungry, hurting and homeless. With 12 facilities located between downtown Vancouver and Mission, the organization is ideally positioned to help those who need it most.

According to the press release:

Summer Splash tickets ($48 including GST) include light refreshments – samplings of wine, beer and martinis as well as selections from Goldfish Pacific Kitchen’s new summer menu. Bro Jake of Classic Rock 101 will emcee the evening, which includes a fashion show from local designer Anna Kosturova (as featured in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue) at 8 p.m. followed by a live auction at 8:30 p.m. and ending with a salsa performance by Baila Vancouver. Other charitable components include a silent auction, balloon sales, featuring prizes donated by local businesses and a 50/50 draw.

For tickets, please contact 604-689-8318.

So far, so good. One of the first events of the 7 day Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival (2009) went smoothly and helped to set the tone for the remainder of the week. Five sample wines each paired with its own respective dish was served to a densely packed, mostly standing-room only crowd, while Earls’ head chef Reuben Major and Inniskillin Okanagan winemaker Sandor Mayer pontificate on the individual samples (Icewine from Tempranillo: A strange mix), the fading elitism of wine (“Wine is about having fun everyday”), and the rising popularity and international respect of BC wines (Not Spain, but close enough).

I am not a wine buff by any means, but it does seem as though they covered a small but good spectrum of different wine varietals and the pairings were excellent. Here is the menu with some quick initial thoughts and commentary I have:

Wine List

• Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Chenin Blanc
  • A particularly sweet tasting wine. Easy to drink.
• Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Malbec
  • Strong and notable for its texture and depth. Seemed to be the most well liked and “deepest” of the selections.
• Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Zinfandel
  • A very easy wine to drink, what one would call a “party wine”.
• Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Marsanne/Rousanne
  • Dry, yet seemed to be more fruit flavored than the Chenin Blanc
• Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Tempranillo Icewine
  • My personal favorite, though it tasted more like grape juice than wine and was extremely sweet. Probably an easy way to get spotted as an unseasoned wine drinker…

Menu

• Scallop & Grapefruit Ceviche paired with the Chenin Blanc
• Sake Brined Salmon paired with Marssanne Rousanne
• Jasmine Tea Duck breast with Quinoa salad paired with Zinfandel
• Shortrib Crostini paired with Malbec
  • Amazing dish, seems to be better paired with the Zinfandel, but the Zin goes well with a lot of things
• Pear & Gouda Tarte Tatin paired with Tempranillo Icewine

Other highlights include the excellent catering from Earl’s own staff, and of course the lovely “Miss Malbec”.

There are still tickets left to be had here should you be so inclined to check out the rest of the week’s festival.

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2009
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Sears Pacific Centre, Street Level (701 Granville Street)

A panel of industry experts will choose a top design and the grand prize winner will then move to the national finals in mid-March, with the chance to win a $5,000 fashion endowment from LG.   At the event, there will be a ton of student designers onsite from schools such as Kwantlen Polytechnic, Pacific Design Academy and the Blanche Macdonald Centre, available to discuss their denim creations and the challenges of being a young designer breaking into the industry. This event is open to the public so come check it out!