Research Day!

Hey!

So yesterday I had said that I'll go for a Fusion class, but unforeseen circumstances didn't let me. Those unforeseen circumstances were me tripping on the stairs and bruising my leg at home! I tell you, I can't climb stairs; they need skill which I obviously lack! Due to the lack of this skill, I am now sporting a bruise. In the morning I couldn't bend my leg so as a responsible adult (yes, though it's rare, I do display such rationale at times!) I decided to postpone the class.

Anyhow, this made way for me to spend time on some research. I've complied demographic data on 6 communities so far which I find impressive. You know, before I start doing research I always feel dread - vast amount of information and my poor tiny brain. However, when I do start I get so involved and excited about what I will write about that I tend to overwhelm myself.

As I was going through the data, I began to structure the paper I would submit. As numbers popped up, I began to connect the numbers with psychological behaviour! I was like oh wait, I've read this in one of textbooks and how this kind of economy effects the psych of people etc. Rationale behind this was forming, and I felt smart lol.

However, my energy for the day is being drained now. I need to find the numbers for employment and unemployment, and I feel so overwhelmed. Should I just use 3 variables or all 50 (okay not that much, but over 10)? Well, time for another walk to clear my head!

Bye for today!

Group Care

I’m back! I think I may be the intern that blogs a bit too much; is that a good thing or a bad? I wonder.

So I just back from Group Care, and I enjoyed the experience thoroughly. Two hours of energy that saw no slowing down. I found myself just looking at their innocence and looking at the environment from a psychological point of view as well. Having taken so many psych classes, it’s always fun to see theory becoming a part of life. However, if I get into the latter aspect, it would become a term paper – and we can’t have one without proper references! Lol!

I arrived to find myself amongst children getting ready for nap time, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to stay today. However, it was my lucky day – there were two groups – the “nappers” and the “non-nappers”.  I got to go with Tasha and her group to the gym.

They went to the room above the gym where the kids had a 20 minute rest period. That’s eternity! Well for kids 3-5 it is, and I do remember times when I was told to stay quiet for a certain amount of time – it would take an eternity and more! Finally quiet time was over, and the kids could read a book and after that play with the various toys available.

One thing I noticed and smiled to myself about was how some things don’t change much over the years. As the kids began to play, you found yourself witnessing the girls becoming a group and the boys becoming another. It brought me back to my school days where this was the norm. So when they started including each other in their games, it was nice too see that things are changing, even if slowly.

I was included too! I helped one of the girls rebuild the castle after it was knocked down, held their stuffed animals for them, and listened to their stories. After that, we went to the gym and they rode around on their tricycles. I was a bit envious of them; I wanted to ride around too. Actually I wanted their energy. Three in the afternoon, and they showed no signs of slowing down!

Anyways, I got my chance to play too, and I played hit the ball on the wall with the boys. It brought back memories of many recesses where we would play it; though I do forget what we called it.  So when it was time to go back to their room, it was a bit saddening. But I’ll go back again!

 I love children, so I loved this experience. I can’t wait to see how it goes with Toddler Care which is so very far away – Thursday.

 After another nice day I’m sure I’ll survive here. What do you guys think?

P.S. Tomorrow I have Fusion. I should probably find out what it’s about before going to it…..

Bye bye!

Simmi

Health Yoga

So I’m back again with another blog entry. First of all, let me ask you this – did you eat the apple I asked you to yesterday? Hope you did!

So today I had my very first Health Yoga class at the Y. I have done simple Yoga before (relaxation etc), but Health Yoga was a first. However, before we get into this, let’s talk about my pre-yoga experience at the Y this morning.

The class started at 10am, and I was there half an hour early to get my membership card. After I got it, I had a little adventure because Simmi can’t read! The change room signs pointed down, but I went up! It took me a good 5 minutes to realize what had happened. After my little adventure I found the studio, and met the yoga instructor – Petra. She was filling in for Regan for the day, and was such a sweetheart.

Now, just yesterday I had given an example of not judging the book by its’ cover, but did I learn? No! I went for Health yoga with the notion that it will be pretty simple; nothing too hard-core. Boy was I ever wrong. Serves me right for not stretching beforehand!

We started easy enough; concentrating on the breathing. Did you know that you could exhale and inhale from 3 areas of your body – lower abdominal, lower chest area, and upper chest area – in one go? It took us a couple of practice runs to get the breathing down. Who would have thought breathing could be this difficult?!

Furthermore, who would have thought some body parts could stretch like that? Well, now I do know. Poses, when seen on TV or seeing others do it, seem really easy – the “Oh, I can do that easily” behaviour – crops in. Like I said, don’t judge the cover; never judge the cover! The simple Child Pose made me have many “Oh, that could stretch like that?!” moments. The Warrior Pose as well had that effect; it’s not that easy lol.

Have you ever noticed that when you are told to do something, even the simplest of instructions, that they seem impossible at that moment? When we were told balance on one foot it felt that she was asking for the impossible! However, even with such impossibilities, I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Even after stretching body parts that felt shouldn’t be stretched, I felt very refreshed after the class.

So go for Health Yoga guys! It’ll help with various ailments, such as, digestion and blood pressure. Hey, I’ll take this over pills any day! And if this isn’t a great incentive, then another one is that it’ll help you relax physically. In such a stressed out world, a relaxed body is divine!

Well now I’m off to Group Care. Let’s see how this turns out.

Bye for now!

Simmi

I am the New YMCA Community Outreach Intern!

I'm Simmi - the new Community Outreach Intern here at the YMCA of Northern BC! One of the aspects in my job description was to blog. Okay, so how cool is that? Very.  However, it was not very cool right from the beginning, it took its’ time to achieve coolness.  

Let’s now have a moment of confession.

I am a recent graduate of the University of Northern British Columbia, an exceptional university if I may say so, with a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree; a major in Biomedical Studies and minor in General Business.  Now like every graduate out there, well most anyways, I asked the question “What can I do with this degree?” Luckily, it was not that hard of a question to answer. Then what was the hard question? It was when will I get a job? Okay wait, this insight is good and all, but did I not say something about a confession? Ha! Did you think I forgot? 

So eventually, very eventually, I stumbled upon the opportunity of becoming an intern at the YMCA.  . Though I did not apply for this position straightaway; passing it by a few times with the thoughts of being under qualified carving themselves in my mind. I think it was the 5^th time before I actually spent more than 5 minutes on the application. As I went through it I was like oh my God, I actually know how to do this! Before, I always passed on it because of the “Digital Intern” title, thinking to myself that I am not that great with graphics etc. Does this not reinforce the concept of do not judge a book by its’ cover?! It so does!

After that I applied for the position, and in a few days I even got a call for an interview! Furthering my pleasant surprise was the next surprise of getting the internship! 

Finally the D day came.  The morning started out easy enough; fill out some forms and read up on the rules and regulations. Recording my voicemail was fun too, though I still maintain that the script was too long! Then Karen got me to work; I was to make my time table for the month. In it I was to schedule in activities I, as an intern, needed to do. Some of the activities include Zumba and Fusion! I can actually improve my quality of life while working! Not bad, not bad at all. I could do this, and moreover, this was FUN.

I let myself, rather dared myself, to think that I could do this. But they say all good things come to an end. Or do they? So after lunch Karen briefed me on the major project that was part of this internship – a project that will have a big impact on the YMCA’s regional outreach. It is some really heavy duty work. I thought, no wait, I know how to do this. Three years in university I did mostly this! The only difference is that there I had to pay to be able to do it, and here I actually get paid to do it. The good has not ended yet.

So in a nutshell what I think I am saying is that even with all these jumbled emotions I think I will survive. Even if these emotions are just part of my FIRST day only, I think it will be one awesome experience!

And if you think this is last you will hear from me then you are sorely mistaken my friends! 

Till we virtually meet again, take care and eat an apple or two in celebration of Apple Month!