Poking the Yogi Bear: What is Vulnerability?

An illustration of a cartoon bear doing yoga with a tiny devil ready to poke it with a spear.

Yoga is often the first thing recommended as a form of exercise that can help someone manage anxiety and depression. Yoga brings an awareness to the body and requires focus that feels calming. Some types of yoga do not bring the heart rate up to a degree that can feel too intense for people working…

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Ask a Member: Anti-Discrimination and LGBTQ Inclusive Education

Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in conservative religious communities is not new, but in recent months protests that claim to “stand against gender confusion, sexual orientation, and the indoctrination of children in schools” have focused attention on the role of public education in teaching meaningful inclusivity. Parents and communities who fear a conflict between the contents of the…

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Putting Skin in the Game: Invest – Commit – Conquer

Words by Fatima Lee Garsi Happy New Year! Well, Happy February! Do you like making New Year’s resolutions or goals?  I do, but not the typical goal that demands upheaval and a complete lifestyle makeover – which is the kind of goal that often grabs our attention. As years pass, I am more realistic; I…

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A Brand Change for Sister Fit

By Fatima Lee Garsi Since its inception, Sister Fit has been a space open and affirming of diverse identities. Recently, you may have noticed that we have made a deliberate shift in our branding and services to more clearly and consciously include LGBTQ+ people and diverse women, in addition to Muslim women. Some Muslims have…

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Mainstream Fitness – Creating a Culture of Jerks

By Fatima Lee Garsi In the last ten years, I’ve ebbed and flowed through the fitness world as a certified personal trainer. Actually, it’s felt more like a battle. Many, many battles. I’ve worked for Goodlife Fitness, LA Fitness, boutique style gyms, a private women’s only studio, a physio/massage clinic, my own studio in Kitchener,…

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