While North Vancouver Recreation & Culture (NVRC) fitness centres remain open for book-ahead sessions, there are many people who are opting to stay close to home right now. NVRC would like to encourage everyone to stay as active as possible during the pandemic. Staying active is crucial for staying physically healthy and mentally, as well as emotionally, resilient. 

1. Go on a self-guided art tour – outdoors and free
   North Vancouver is home to over 150 unique, public art installations that can be found in community plazas, municipal buildings, commercial developments, parks and nature trails. Go on a walking or biking treasure hunt to admire them all. Here’s a full listing plus map.
2. Take a hike!
   

1. Stick to a routine.
   Go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, write a schedule that is varied and includes time for work as well as self-care.
2. Dress for the social life you want, not the social life you have.
   Get showered and dressed in comfortable clothes, wash your face, brush your teeth. Take the time to do a bath or a facial. Put on some bright colors. It is amazing how our dress can impact our mood.
3. Get out at least once a day, for at least thirty minutes.
   

A long and rewarding career

Dementia. Alzheimer’s. Brain health. All hot topics of discussion in academic circles of late, but what about the rest of us? With the number of Canadians living with dementia expected to rise sharply over the next decade, we felt it was an opportunity  to talk about the impactful role physical activity can play in helping combat the onset of both debilitating brain disorders. And timely given that January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes/Pre-diabetes 
• Overweight/Obesity 
• Post-stroke 
• Parkinson’s Disease 
• Multiple Sclerosis Fibromyalgia 
• Arthritis 
• Osteoporosis 
• Osteoarthritis 
• Cancer

But don’t worry, regular exercise and physical activity can help put the brakes on this process. In fact, research shows that the older you are, the more dramatic the benefits from exercise. Even better—physical activity will sharpen your mind and help you hold on to your memories. But take it easy if you’re just starting a fitness program—as you age, your muscles are more susceptible to training-induced damage, and those little injuries also take longer to heal. The key is to work out smarter—not harder—than you did in your 20s and 30s.

“Jaye is a true inspiration to us,” said Daniel Lemieux, one of Jaye’s close friends and co-participants in the program.  “She is a very brave, strong lady with a profound background and I am incredibly proud to be her friend.”

And so the adventure begins…