KIDS’ CORNER

Make your way to Lion’s Park (which is as well in downtown Paris, how ironic) and make a right then keep walking! It’s a beautiful hike passing all the wildlife and plants you’ll encounter as well as the trees turning from green to red and orange An amazing thing about this trail is that it offers stops across the trail for the visually impaired (people with visual impairment) in braille (which is a form of written language for blind people, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with your fingers). The farther you go, the more things you learn! There will also be something else that I will guarantee will catch your eye but I won’t spoil it for you, you’re just going to have to figure it out yourself!

4. Cycle Around Town!

Even if you do not own a bicycle, you’ll still have the opportunity to bike around town thanks to Grand Experiences in which you could rent bikes to go cycling. Better yet, they’re in town as well. You should bike downtown and then make your way to Penman’s Dam Park and take some awesome pictures by the river! It also shows the impressive dam which you could definitely talk about with pride the next time you see your friends. But maybe try not to show them photographs because they might be a bit disappointed with how small it looks on the image! Either way, it’s still boo-tiful down there!

5. Pizza, Frights, and Everything Nice!

Take your family to Stillwaters in Downtown Paris for some awesome comfort and fancy food! It doesn’t matter if you’re a pizza fan or a chicken wings fan, they have it all. Even better, at the back of the restaurant is a sweet panoramic view of the Grand River. Yes, it’s literally next to the Grand River! I’ve tried the food before and I’d say it’s really good. Especially the pizza! I’ve got every trick or treat in the book (these Halloween puns are eerie-sistable)!

6. Search for the Cobblestone Residences

Fun fact, Paris is the official Cobblestone Capital of Canada! If you’re wondering why, it’s because of the cobblestone houses that are scattered across this town I have a fun little activity you could do with you and your family members or friends: you should set up a scavenger hunt for these houses around town and see in the end who found them the fastest! One’s a church so that might shake you off the ‘houses’ subject.

7. “Skate’s up, dude!” at Paris Optimist Skatepark

Yes, there’s a skatepark in Paris! Bikes and skateboards are allowed, of course Have fun and try some tricks at the Paris Optimist Skatepark where you could bike up ramps, skate over handrails, and do many more stuff! This park is very popular towards kids so it would be particularly easy to bond over a certain subject. Who knows, you might even see one of your classmates! Fright for the right to party (I know, bad timing)!

Conclusion: If you think this autumn will be boring or mediocre, think again because if I can find seven awesome things to do in Paris, I bet you could find more Paris isn’t only the Cobblestone Capital of Canada, it’s a gourd-geous place with fun around every corner! Have a spook-tacular Halloween!

With the continued growing popularity of yoga, “Ayurveda” is starting to become a bit of a buzz word but few really know what it’s all about.

Ayurveda is a system of healing that encompasses one's physical constitution, emotional nature, and spiritual outlook. Like Yoga, Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years and both are outlined in the ancient Sanskrit texts known as the Vedas. When combined, the two offer a very holistic way to living a very healthy and active life.

Often referred to as the 'wisdom of life, Ayurveda identifies three types of energies, also known as doshas. While we have each energy in our makeup, these is usually one dosha that is more dominant. It is believed that a person's combination of the three doshas is determined at the moment of conception and that this combination serves as your own personal blueprint or nature (known as 'prakriti').

The proportion of each of the three doshas constantly fluctuates according to your environment, diet, the seasons, the climate, your age, and many other factors.

Knowing your own unique composition, especially your more dominant one, can help keep your energy level, mood and general health in balance. It can also help you decide what type of yoga is best suited for you.

The three energy forces or doshas outlined in Ayurveda are Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata - Those with a dominant Vata dosha are typically thin and have dry skin. They tend to be highly creative, mentally quick and enjoy being active They can also become restless and can get tired quickly. While they may resist it, having a routine is extremely helpful to keeping a Vata person in balance

The three energy forces or doshas outlined in Ayurveda are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Do you know which one is best for you? Heidi explains the differences and how to select one that fits your body type.

When unbalanced, Vatas become nervous and anxious. They are often attracted to astringent foods like salad and raw vegetables, but their constitution is better balanced by warm, cooked foods and sweet, sour and salty tastes Vata people are more susceptible to emphysema, pneumonia, arthritis, aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve disorders and mental confusion. Vatas do well by doing to bed by 10 PM as they need more rest than the other types In general, people who are Vata dominant should keep a regular routine, get plenty of rest, avoid extreme cold, avoid frozen or raw foods and eat warm foods and spices

While typically drawn to vigorous and intense yoga flows these practices tend to bring a Vata person further out of balance

Slow, steady and grounding poses like Mountain pose, spinal twists, inversions as well as deep, calm breathing practices can help bring a Vata person into balance.

Pitta - The Pitta body type is typically one of medium height and build, with a coppery toned skin. Pittas tend to have many moles and freckles and they often experience premature graying or hair loss. Pitta people tend to be passionate, highly enthusiastic, and are usually more willing to take risks. Signs of imbalance for Pittas include anger, agitation, competitiveness, and a general inflammation in the body. Pitta people should limit their salt intake, eat non-spicy foods and should exercise during the cooler part of the day

Suitable yoga practices for Pittas include Restorative yoga, meditation and relaxing poses like forward bends as well as heartopening poses.

Kapha - Kapha types tend to be fuller figured and their skin tends to be more oily than dry. They also tend to gain weight easily and have a slow metabolism. Kaphas are typically calm and tolerant in nature and they also have good long-term memory. They usually have a great deal of endurance and stamina but also are prone to becoming lethargic. Kapha people would likely to prefer to stay indoors and read a book rather than go out for a walk When out of balance, Kaphas tend to experience greed, envy, attachment and possessiveness They are more likely to suffer from the flu, sinus congestion, and other diseases involving mucous. Sluggishness, excess weight, diabetes, water retention, and headaches are also common. To stay in balance, Kaphas should get plenty of exercise, avoid dairy, vary their routine and also avoid napping. While restorative and relaxation poses may appeal to Kaphas, they are better off doing more vigorous flows, Sun Salutations and practicing breathing exercises such as Kapalabhati which can help to create heat and boost their metabolism

There are many online quizzes to help you figure out which dosha is your dominant one and, of course, there is a great deal more information about Ayurveda on the internet that delve deeper into each of the three doshas. Following dietary guidelines for each dosha can be extremely helpful when seeking a healthier lifestyle What comes to mind when considering the recommended yoga practices and food choices for each dosha is that we are often drawn to things that aren’t actually good for us. In fact, we are drawn to things that take us further out of balance. Choosing the alternative that we are not as drawn to is more likely to put us into balance

If you are interested in learning more about Yoga, both on and off the mat, please feel free to contact me at 519-755-1447 or email heidi@yogawithheidi.ca