March 9/10 – Spine stretch
Posted by Vita in Mindful Movement Tips on March 9th, 2010
The spinal column, also called the vertebral column, extends from the base of the skull to the tailbone and is made up of 33 individual bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other and are grouped into four region: the cervical or neck region, thoracic or upper and mid back areas, the lumbar or lower back and the sacrum or tail bone.
The following will help you bring awareness to the vertebrae of the spine and will also help you lengthen and stretch your spine:
• Sit on a chair with your back away from the chair’s back, your feet on the floor, hip width apart.
• Do you feel an equal distribution of weight in both sitting bones? If not, which one feels more weight?
• Shift your weight onto your right sitting bone. Let the right side of your spine and ribs open. Feel your head and shoulders tilt slightly toward the left side. Notice that the left sitting bone lifts slightly off the chair.
• Return to sitting on both sitting bones.
• Then shift your weight onto your left sitting bone. Feel the gentle stretch along the length of your spine. Let your head and shoulders gently tilt toward the right side.
• Alternate side to side. As one side of the ribs and the spine lengthen, the other side comes together or folds. Pay attention to your breath as you shift from side to side. Is there any tension in your neck as you make these movements?
• Sit quietly for a few moments. Notice the weight distribution in both sitting bones and how you feel as you sit.
• Slowly get up and walk around. Enjoy the rest of you day.
No More Pain in the Neck – Feldenkrais Workshop
Posted by Vita in Workshops, Classes, Events on March 3rd, 2010
If you work at the computer for hours each day you may experience some upper back and neck tension. We do a lot to try to reorganize our work environment but often don’t think of reorganizing ourselves for better movement and more comfort.
In this workshop we will explore what it is that we are doing throughout our day that places strain on the neck. We will learn how to rethink how we are doing these everyday movements in the context of the whole body.
Advanced registration required and space is limited.
$65, mats and refreshments provided.
March 2/10 – Ease that pain in the neck
Posted by Vita in Mindful Movement Tips on March 2nd, 2010
During our day we use our neck in odd ways, often not realizing it until we begin to feel pain and tension. Those of us that work at the computer for a good part of the day are particularly vulnerable. If you pay close attention, you might discover that one side of your neck feels tighter than the other. This could be from how you sit at the computer and from keeping the head, neck and shoulders immobile as your eyes scan across the computer screen.
Periodically take a break, move away from the computer, and try the following to relieve tension in your neck and in the area between your shoulder blades.
• Sit at the front of a chair, with your feet on the floor, hip width apart and your back unsupported. Or you may sit on the floor with your legs crossed or the soles of your feet touching each other.
• Gently move the right ear down towards the right shoulder. Then gently tilt the left ear toward the left shoulder. Alternate left and right.
• Pay attention to how the neck feels while you do that movement. Does the shoulder lift toward the ear? If so, can you let it go? Make the movement small and easy.
• As you gently tilt the ear toward the shoulder, pay attention to the vertebrae at the back of the neck. Can you picture them moving as you move the head from side to side?
• Can you feel any movement in the mid or lower spine? Are those vertebrae moving at all as you tilt your head from side to side? Is there any shift of weight from one sitting bone to the other?
• Finally attend to your breath. How easily and lightly are you breathing?
• Pause a moment and rest.
• If you would like to do more movements, repeat what you just did but now become aware of the top of your head. As you move your head from side to side think about describing an arc in the air and make it smooth and symmetrical.
• Stop all movement and rest.
• What has changed in how you are sitting? In your breathing? In the length of your neck? In the feeling of the head’s placement on the spine?
• Gently stand up, walk around, and resume your day.
#Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement classes resume today, March 2 after the Olympic break.
Day 16- February 27, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 27th, 2010
It is hard to believe that the Olympics are over.
It was two years ago this month that I first applied to be a volunteer. Almost from the time the Games were awarded to Vancouver in 2003, my brother in law and I talked about applying to be volunteers in Whistler. When the call came out to apply, in February 2008, we both completed the long and involved application on the VANOC website and submitted them by the required deadline. Then we waited. It was many months later that I had my first telephone interview, followed by at least two more. Then we waited and waited some more. Then I was invited to a “training session/personal interview” in November 2008. Then I waited some more and had more telephone interviews. Then finally, in June 2009, I received an invitation to be a volunteer, out of Whistler Creekside as a Team Leader in Events Services.
It was not until the Games started and I began my first shift that I really understood the scope of Events Services. We were essentially the face of the Olympic games for spectators. We directed people to the right place through the process of entering and exiting the venue, helped to ensure they got through security easily, scanned tickets, helped people find their seats, answered all manner of questions about the event and venue, helped retrieve lost items, or lost children or their parents. For the most part everyone attending an event was happy to be there. It was great to talk to people and hear where they were from and what brought them to Vancouver and the Olympic Games.
The weather in Whistler in February is always unpredictable and has been the talk of locals for several years. This year was no exception. In the beginning we had fog and postponed events and cancelled work days. Then there was a stretch of 6 beautiful sunny days which made being outside absolutely glorious. The last week however brought fog again together with rain and snow. The later events were not postponed and the last two days I worked were very wet. I never felt so wet in my entire life; I was literally able to wring my gloves out at the end of the day. The boots I wore yesterday are still wet!
As I finished my last shift today, I reflected on the surreal nature of the experience. The last two weeks were like being at summer camp or on vacation; I never knew what day it was, I hardly read a newspaper or listened to other news and was completely consumed by Olympics and Olympic related news.
Each day I worked at Creekside I met some new people. Everyone had an interesting story and journey that brought them to choose to volunteer at the Olympics. So many were from other parts of Canada and they came to Vancouver to be part of the experience, taking two weeks off work and leaving their friends and families. Everyone I spoke with said the highlight of their experience was also having the chance to meet and work with so many interesting people. To see some of these great people and highlights of our two weeks, please visit Creekside Smurfs on Facebook.
I learned so much from the experience, probably more than I realize now; about people and the joys of volunteering and helping others. It was a job unlike others I have ever had but also similar to other work experiences. I gained new insights that will inform my life experiences and my work as a Feldenkrais practitioner and community health nurse.
One of my childhood fantasies was to be a ski racer. As I realized I was not an Olympic athlete I fantasized about being at the side of a mountain during an Olympic alpine event. I can certainly say that dream has been fulfilled and the clips of the races that I did see while working were added bonuses.
I returned to Vancouver this afternoon and am starting to reintegrate into real life, okay after THE big hockey game Sunday at noon.
Thanks for reading these updates. I welcome your comments: feldenkraisvancouver@telus.net
Day 15 – February 26, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 26th, 2010
Second to last day!
Another early start, at 5:30. As I requested, I was again assigned to “Seat 10″, the seating stands. In terms of crowds and crowd control it was a quieter day than the last time I worked that area. There were fewer people overall and as a result fewer issues with people not sitting where they were supposed to be. The media were also better behaved today. The only excitement was that the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, came to the race and sat in the stands for approximately one hour of the first run and then left.
Today’s race was the ladies Slalom which involves skiing between up to 60 poles or gates spaced much closer together than in Giant Slalom, Super-G or Downhill, causing quicker and shorter turns. There were two runs; the first at 10 am with 87 racers and the second started at 1:30 pm with approximately 7-10 fewer racers. While no Canadian finished in the top 10 a few racers did respectably.
In the morning, I happened to meet the father of one Canadian racer,
Erin Mielzynski , 19 years old and from Ontario, racing in her first Olympics. She only found out three weeks ago that she would be in the race and understandably her father was very excited and got there early to secure a good standing spot. She looked great in both her runs and finished in 20th spot.
The theme for today was wet! It snowed all day and it was warm. We were all wearing ponchos over our jackets but still we all looked like a group of wet puppies at the end of the day. My feet felt like they were sitting in pools of water, every part of me was wet and soggy and not one item of clothing stayed dry. But despite the wet weather it was a great day.
Understandably some volunteers are tiring yet today’s team was great, we all worked well together and everyone commented on it being a great day. One more work day and one more alpine race scheduled for tomorrow, the men’s slalom.
Day 13- February 24, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 24th, 2010
Another day, another posting and another day of waiting to see if the race would run.
I started at 10:30 am, on the second shift, and relieved the team leader at the bottom of the chair lift that spectators (and workforce) take to the plaza leading up to the viewing stands. The hosts in my group were stationed up a small slushy hill at the first entry to the venue. We had to scan tickets and direct people down the slope to the chair that would take them up to the stands. At the bottom of the chair Other hosts directed people onto the chair, ensured they removed their packs, loaded four to a chair and make sure everything was smooth and safe. The first run of the Ladies Giant Slalom started at 10am but there were still a lot of people entering the venue. The rush ended fairly quickly and hosts were able to take a break.
The first run ended by 11:30 with the second scheduled to start at 1:15 pm. A lot of people, including many of the 1400 sponsor guests exited after the first run to walk around or grab lunch so we had to direct people out the right way and tell them where to get their hands stamped so they could re enter. Many did return to view the second run. However the weather did not cooperate as fog settled over the course and after many delays, the race was finally officially postponed at 3 pm. The second run will now be held tomorrow at 9:30 am.
Today was also about volunteer recognition. I received three scheduled gifts. Two new pins to add to my collection in recognition of my first shift, a small Miga, one of the Games’ mascots, and a Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games participation medal for completing the third and sixth shifts. John Furlong, CEO of VANOC came to Creekside and as he loaded and unloaded from the chair lift shook volunteers’ hands and thanked us for “all you do.” He was also very patiently posed for pictures with as many volunteers as wanted to (my camera was not at hand).
Another great day despite the rain and postponed race. While some hosts are tired no one complained or said they would not return to finish their scheduled shifts. A couple did have lower back pain from standing in one spot for too long. Again I counselled regular movement, bending the knees and pelvic movements.
A ski day tomorrow and then two more shifts on race days, Friday and Saturday.
Day 10- February 21, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 21st, 2010
After 3 days off I headed back to Whistler this morning for an 11 am start. I was assigned to “Path 20″. The path is an 800 m walk up from the bottom of Creekside to the top of the chair lift that leads to another path to the viewing stands. I thought the picture posted at the top of the path said it all: “As beautiful as the scenery is around you, it’s not as beautiful as you are right now for making this hike! 
.
The race started earlier in the day so I was part of the second shift. My hosts and I didn’t have much to do as the crowds had already gone up to the race. There were only a few late comers and we just waited for all the spectators to leave the stands. Since the top three racers were decided fairly early, the crowds started to leave early. It was a quiet day for us and not as busy or exciting as the previous two days working the downhill.
The only excitement we had was a family with two children in a double stroller and a German Shepard dog. Only service animals are allowed in the venue. There was a lot of chatter on the radio as staff were not sure what this dog was doing in the venue and were even more confused when the family said their daughter has allergies and the dog works for her – sniffing around for things she might be allergic to. My nursing background came in handy here as I understood what they were saying. When the family was leaving the venue we discussed with them that in Canada we easily identify service animals who wear coats or other identifying marks. We got some more information from them about their needs so that when they come again on Tuesday, all staff would understand their needs and hopefully their visit would be more pleasurable, without so many stops and questions.
I am now back in Vancouver for a couple of days. Next work day is Wednesday with another late start at 10:30.
Day 6 – February 17, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 18th, 2010
The Olympics bring out the best in people, and on rare occasions, the worst.
Wednesday, was a picture perfect day at Whistler Creekside and a great day for the women’s downhill. By now most of you know that the Americans took first and third and that unfortunately at least 6 skiers fell and did not finish. One, the sole Romanian Olympian, was seriously injured, requiring a helicopter to airlift her off the mountain.
I was assigned to team lead at the seating stands. As the attached picture of me shows, it can be quiet and serene before the hoards of spectators arrive. And they started to arrive 2.5 hours before the 11am start. I had 6 hosts working with me who were great at directing people to their seats and dealing with unusual situations as they arose. The venue has a capacity of over 7000 spectators, over half in the seating area.
It was a busy day; helping people get into the venue and then out in an orderly way. There were many situations to try to resolve and many stairs to walk up and down numerous times to check on the hosts and make sure they were rotated around the different positions. Some were standing at the bottom of the stairs behind the stands and were cold, others were on the stands and were in full sun but saw the hill, large screen and were amist the excitement.
The best of people were those that were pleasant when told they could not sit in the accessible seating area or who waited patiently while seating mishaps were clarified. One volunteer, working as an official translator for the Andorra delegation, was so eager not to make trouble for me that she gave me one of her country’s coveted pins. Two points for the first person who knows where the Principality of Andorra is.
The “bad apples” that made the day harder were members of the media who refused to go to their designated “mixed zone” area at the foot of the finish line and insisted on taking “only one picture” with their huge telephoto lens while wearing a huge back pack and blocking access for people trying to walk behind them. There were several volunteers not working who felt entitled to sit in accessible seating to watch the race and did not want to leave. That was a difficult situation for me as who could blame them for wanting to see a great event after having put so much time into the games yet they did not have tickets for the event.
The bad apple prize goes to the man who could not stand because of a bad knee and wanted to sit in the accessible area on his own stool. That was fine. However when asked to produce his ticket, he reluctantly brought out a ticket for Feb 14 and very forcefully claimed it was valid because the original race was postponed (it wasn’t). When he took his hand out to strike me and asked for a manager, I backed off and let the people paid the big bucks deal with him.
Despite the long day with no time to eat or drink, the experience continues to be inspiring. Each day I meet more people that have come from all over the country or further afar who want to be part of the Olympics. Everyone I have been working with is pleasant and keen to help in whatever way they can. The management of Events Services are great and supportive. They have been working 12 hour days for weeks and will not have a day off during the Olympics!
After the long day (5:30 to 3pm) I drove back to Vancouver, taking my sister and nieces to the airport. Time for a few days at home to relax and recoup before heading up again on Sunday for another day. 
Day 5- February 16, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 16th, 2010
Flexibility was again the word of the day.
Another early morning; I awoke at 4, left at 5 and got to the briefing at 5:20 to be told that the event scheduled for today, the men’s combined which consists of a downhill race followed by a slalom, was postponed due to weather. The big issue for us was that the buses with spectators coming from Vancouver had already left the city on route to Whistler. Unless they could be contacted and turned around, we were potentially facing the arrival of spectators that we would have to tell that there was no race and that they had gotten up early and made the 2+ hour trip for nothing.
We waited around, had more coffee, and then came back for another briefing. Some of us were asked to stay for a couple of hours to make sure that if Vancouver or local spectators arrived that we were able to help them. I left and came home. Lucky for me is that I can walk to work in less than 15 minutes and either walk back or take the free shuttle back up the hill. The shuttle only starts at 6 so I cannot take it down for the early morning starts.
Since I was not working I joined my sister and her family for a ski day.
The skiing was good but it was warm making the snow in areas sticky. And the fog that was partly the reason for the postponement of the race, in addition to heavy snow that fell over night, followed us all over the mountain. I surprised myself and stayed on my skis all day despite feeling very tired after the three early morning risings. I am too old for these early wake ups.
Tomorrow is another day. The women’s downhill is scheduled for 11 am, weather permitting. I get to sleep in though, I am scheduled to start at 6:30! At the end of the day I will drive back to Vancouver with my sister and nieces and spend a few days at home.
Day 4 – February 15, 2010
Posted by Vita in Olympic Experiences on February 15th, 2010
Well today was the exact opposite of yesterday; full of action and very busy because the men’s downhill was finally held. It was very busy for Events Services as thousands of spectators came to view the event and then had to leave.
When I arrived at 5:15 am, there were many volunteers, workers and people working on the ski run there ahead of me. The line up to get breakfast and lunch was long so I checked in and went to our briefing. I was assigned to be team leader “Plaza 20″ which was the area above where the chair lift lets spectators off. Then they walk for 10 minutes up a fairly steep slope to enter the viewing stands or general admission standing. The approach to the stands was our area.
There were four men in my group and me. We all got along and everyone was keen to help. Two of the guys were on access control at two doors to the media centre, making sure that no one without proper accreditation got in. One was a marshall, helping direct people to the viewing stands or to the “mixed area” which is reserved for press. They congregate at the finish line where they then interview the racers as they finish the race. My last position was another marshall who sits on a lifeguard chair with his megaphone directing people to the right area. In the attached picture you can see one of the guys taking turn in this role. There were supposed to be more team members but not everyone made it so we all rotated positions, including me. There was no way however that I was going up on that lifeguard chair!
The busy times were when everyone came into the venue to watch the race, called “ingress”. The gates opened at 7:30 am for a 10:30 start. The crowds were intense between 9 and 10:30. Everyone was pumped and excited and we could see some former racers and other sports people arriving and chatting.
Once the first 30 racers went down and the race was decided, a lot of people decided to leave. So instead of one large crowd leaving at the conclusion of the race we had a steady stream of people leaving or “egressing”. At the crunch it was all hands on deck, from our team and several others as well, helping to direct people to either the chair lift or the path to walk down. Finally at 2:15, 2 hours after the race was over, the last of the spectators were led off the mountain. The athletes, coaches, press and doping personnel stayed on the mountain long after that.
One of my dreams for these Olympic games was to see a ski race at the side of the mountain. It was realized in part today, as I was able to see the end of the race and the finish line from my vantage point and caught a glimpse of a few racers. There was a large screen that I had a partial view of.
It was great to be part of such an enthusiastic group of people all of whom were happy to be helping out and enjoying the ambiance of an Olympic race. On several occasions, fellow workers talked of their sore back or bad knee and I found myself giving them some movement tips and talking about my work as a #Feldenkrais practitioner.
The day that began at 5:30 ended at 3 pm. Tomorrow is another 5:30 start. In a little while I will go into Whistler Village for an hour to be part of the party atmosphere in town and then early to bed for another early morning start.
Vita