Economic restart entails more than increase in GDP. As evident over the past few weekends, the mid-pandemic boost is coupled with tragic congestion levels.
Keeping a keen eye on route alternatives to Thornhill, I ultimately began gathering my things for a 12:40 PM departure. My eighth class at Sum would not commence until 2 PM, yet I was confident that 401 commuters would result in a setback at some point along the way. (Mind you, I was right.)
Keeping a keen eye on route alternatives to Thornhill, I ultimately began gathering my things for a 12:40 PM departure. My eighth class at Sum would not commence until 2 PM, yet I was confident that 401 commuters would result in a setback at some point along the way. (Mind you, I was right.)
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Aspects omitted from the previous week's recap were the instructor's regular readjustment of my top, should it slide during certain moves, along with direct assistance in maintaining form, whether it be shifting the hip for levelness or holding the Reformer carriage for easier execution. The same elements were witnessed in the second class. Distinctly anatomical terminology had also been mentioned, though memory of the vocabular extends not beyond "posterior" and "anterior".
I strode into the facility at 1:58 PM and was greeted immediately. She pointed the thermometer at my forehead and, upon obtaining a satisfactory value, welcomed me into the studio space. I proceeded to relay concerns over pain in the right shoulder, particularly in the vicinity of the AC joint. A brief visual inspection was conducted, followed by comparison with the left shoulder. At a loss for the proper English word, she resorted to Google Translate. "Inflammation" it read. A minty substance was distributed over the area in an attempt to alleviate the swelling, though its cause remained a mystery.
I strode into the facility at 1:58 PM and was greeted immediately. She pointed the thermometer at my forehead and, upon obtaining a satisfactory value, welcomed me into the studio space. I proceeded to relay concerns over pain in the right shoulder, particularly in the vicinity of the AC joint. A brief visual inspection was conducted, followed by comparison with the left shoulder. At a loss for the proper English word, she resorted to Google Translate. "Inflammation" it read. A minty substance was distributed over the area in an attempt to alleviate the swelling, though its cause remained a mystery.
Erring on the side of caution, she proposed exercises that avoided the arm and back, in fear of any additional triggers, and urged moderation in movement of/pressure applied to the right arm.
Majority of the class would be spent on the Cadillac. The Arc Barrel was positioned near its midpoint. With the back towards the curved accessory and feet placed roughly hip-distance apart, I would curl down in a C-shape with the arms outstretched before me. Once the entire trunk touched the barrel, the spine would be lengthened, the body relaxed. At that point, I would curl back up, leading with the arms, then chin, and lastly stacking the spine. This Arc Barrel-assisted Rollup would be performed several times before moving onto a half-Rollup. As the name indicated, it involved curling halfway down to the barrel, resisting gravitational pull for five seconds, then returning to the original position.
Majority of the class would be spent on the Cadillac. The Arc Barrel was positioned near its midpoint. With the back towards the curved accessory and feet placed roughly hip-distance apart, I would curl down in a C-shape with the arms outstretched before me. Once the entire trunk touched the barrel, the spine would be lengthened, the body relaxed. At that point, I would curl back up, leading with the arms, then chin, and lastly stacking the spine. This Arc Barrel-assisted Rollup would be performed several times before moving onto a half-Rollup. As the name indicated, it involved curling halfway down to the barrel, resisting gravitational pull for five seconds, then returning to the original position.
The thigh and glute exercises that proceeded also retained use of the Arc Barrel. Lying sideways with the hip positioned at the Cadillac-Barrel boundary, I placed one hand under the head as support and the other on the unoccupied space of the barrel. A black resistance band was looped about my knees for the Clamshell. It would then evolve into a side-lying Fire Hydrant, at which point I was reminded to keep the hips square while moving the top leg in a single plane. Stripping off the band, I was instructed to conduct a series of side-lying single leg lifts (top leg only); appended to the end of the lifts were lifted circles forward and backward. blogilates had trained me well for this moment.
While familiar with this portion of the routine, it was undeniable that greater impacts could be felt with rectified form. It dawned upon me that maintaining levelness of the hips during execution was not as simple as I had once believed. Once again, I was constantly reminded to lift the chin up. In order to achieve this, I allowed my gaze to fall upon the tower of the Reformer on the other side of the room.
While familiar with this portion of the routine, it was undeniable that greater impacts could be felt with rectified form. It dawned upon me that maintaining levelness of the hips during execution was not as simple as I had once believed. Once again, I was constantly reminded to lift the chin up. In order to achieve this, I allowed my gaze to fall upon the tower of the Reformer on the other side of the room.
Sliding to one end of the bed, I slid my head underneath a tension-affixed Push Through Bar. With fingers wrapped about the bar, I was guided through a double leg stretch. The tabletop position would be the resting stance, with the extended portion involving exhalation and making an "imprint" with the pelvis. At seeing my range of motion, the instructor informed me, "You can go lower, because you are strong!". It was a refreshing phrase that contrasted with the repetitive "You have weak muscle tone." and "You need to work your core!" heard over the years of countless physio visits.
Another lower abdominal variation followed suite. This time, my hands would be curled about the Cadillac frame and the balls of my feet placed on the Push Through Bar. Ensuing from this configuration were reverse crunches that simultaneously acted as a spinal stretch. Contributing to the level of difficulty was flexing and pointing of the toes at maximum tension, which admittedly offered some relief to my weak ankles and Achilles tendon.
Standing on the Cadillac, I was provided a cloth resistance band to loop about my thighs. Pressing into my heels into the bed, I was instructed to squat down while hinging at the hip. To maintain a "neutral spine" throughout the descent and ascent was to protect the lower back from injury. In effect, it was to "stick the butt out" without exaggeration of the position.
The final series of exercise was performed on the Ladder Barrel. The apparatus was a personal favourite of mine, as it enabled complete isolation of the obliques. Furthermore, the move was graceful and poised, commanding ultimate core control. Crossing the hands about the chest, I proceeded to bend over the Ladder Barrel until the body reached 180 degrees. At this point, any further movement over the barrel was halted, and I would summon core strength to reinstate levelness across my shoulders. Any tendencies to rotate were rectified by the instructor directly, rather than adopting the format of verbal reminders.
A figure-four stretch over the Ladder Barrel constituted the sole cooldown stretch of the day.
A figure-four stretch over the Ladder Barrel constituted the sole cooldown stretch of the day.
It was at my time of departure that I inquired of the new wall decals.
- On the door facing the hallway outside was an empowering 당신니 이뤄내지 못할 것은 아무것도 없다. / There is nothing you cannot achieve.
- At the entrance of the private lesson room was an uplifting 당신은 오늘이 제일 예쁘다. / You are the most beautiful today.
- Along the mirror of the group class space was an encouraging 걱정하지 마, 이내 예쁜 꽃을 피울테니까 / Don't worry, soon a beautiful flower will bloom.
- And by the door of the exit was the timeless reassurance of 수고했어 오늘도 / You did well today too.
The subsequent schedules were to comprise of sustenance - a nominal serving of soggy H Mart taiyaki - followed by my proposal of glow-in-the-dark mini golf. A fellow July baby had reminded me of my elementary school birthday party joys when she visited in the early months of summer, prompting my own trip to the UV-illuminated entertainment franchise.
Putting Edge Vaughan was located on Hwy 7 just off the 400 exit and occupied the corner slot of an otherwise retail -dominant plaza. There were a handful of arcade games near the front desk, though obviously a much smaller selection than the nearby Dave & Buster's.
The establishment appeared quite compact from the outside, but was, in fact, quite lofty. It maximized space by introducing a second floor for diversity in the routes, along with a pachinko setup adorned with neon petals evoking Murakami-esque vibrancy.
Different themes were adopted throughout the courses: aquatic animals, fantasy creatures, spooky spiders and asymmetrical stones, RPG game-esque with horses, knights, and shields, and even a tropical jungle complete with a volcano. Some courses involved hitting the ball uphill to travel through a contraption, while others relied on skillful utilization of angled arrangements to assist.
Seventeen out of eighteen of the holes included a circular, sponge-like buffer to prevent the balls from falling beyond reach, whereas the last was a pipe that returned balls back to the facility. Putters were to be placed on the rack by the eighteenth hole; sanitizer was conveniently situated at this location to encourage usage. In review of the parched and peeling conditions of my hands, disposable gloves had been prepared in advance to escape the wrath of industrial-grade ingredients.
Seventeen out of eighteen of the holes included a circular, sponge-like buffer to prevent the balls from falling beyond reach, whereas the last was a pipe that returned balls back to the facility. Putters were to be placed on the rack by the eighteenth hole; sanitizer was conveniently situated at this location to encourage usage. In review of the parched and peeling conditions of my hands, disposable gloves had been prepared in advance to escape the wrath of industrial-grade ingredients.
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Given the great gap since my last mini-golf adventure, many of the rules had been long forgotten. It wasn't until the thirteenth hole that it dawned upon us: We weren't to place the ball on the numbers at all, but rather between them. Keeping score was optional, with a notepad-sized page and mini orange pencil provided upon request.
Precisely five minutes on the east side of Hwy 400 was D&B. I arrived to find a secured (and potentially active) construction site and a distinct scarcity of parking spaces. A short lineup had formed outside the door, with two members of staff tracking entry counts. The franchise imposed a limit of 70 people, with ID checks enforced to ensure that any entrant under the age of nineteen was accompanied by someone over twenty-five. The rule was beyond me, for only contract tracing details had been required when accessing the Oakville location.
Forty dollars' worth of credits were loaded onto my card, albeit with some hiccups associated with card-sharing between locations. The 250 Chips would last us for about two hours, used steadily over the first ninety minutes while queuing for our turn.
Forty dollars' worth of credits were loaded onto my card, albeit with some hiccups associated with card-sharing between locations. The 250 Chips would last us for about two hours, used steadily over the first ninety minutes while queuing for our turn.
The first game to be attempted was Kung Fu Panda Dojo Mojo. Notoriously known as the most annoying reflex game on the playing field, I was in utter disbelief when the jackpot was won. Despite having omitted a prior strategy discussion, we had secured all the golden dumplings with 0.1 seconds to spare! Our ticket count climbed to 1000.
Needless to say, I couldn't resist the Grand Piano Keys, where the top score was attained yet again, nor Speed of Light (a measly 381 due to malfunctioning bulbs). DDR was enjoyed on the Beginner and Normal levels to Clarity and no tears left to cry. In spite of varying noise levels from all directions, the tunes could still be clearly heard over other gamers, unlike Pacific Mall and Playdium.
Needless to say, I couldn't resist the Grand Piano Keys, where the top score was attained yet again, nor Speed of Light (a measly 381 due to malfunctioning bulbs). DDR was enjoyed on the Beginner and Normal levels to Clarity and no tears left to cry. In spite of varying noise levels from all directions, the tunes could still be clearly heard over other gamers, unlike Pacific Mall and Playdium.
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At my request to try the life-sized version of Hungry Hungry Hippo, a faint wince was cast my way. Nonetheless, curiosity could not be satiated until the game was played.
Upon depletion of all credits, we joined the line for the redemption room. My gaze fell upon an electronics pouch - likely overpriced at 1400 credits, yet also likely the most useful item on the shelves. There was the option of redeeming food items with my 3600-or-so winnings, however I was steered in the direction of an alternative dinner destination.
We bid farewell to the nasty, flooded bathrooms with crumpled disposable gloves and toilet paper-less stalls at 7 PM. The lineup outside persevered, only lengthening with time.
Upon depletion of all credits, we joined the line for the redemption room. My gaze fell upon an electronics pouch - likely overpriced at 1400 credits, yet also likely the most useful item on the shelves. There was the option of redeeming food items with my 3600-or-so winnings, however I was steered in the direction of an alternative dinner destination.
We bid farewell to the nasty, flooded bathrooms with crumpled disposable gloves and toilet paper-less stalls at 7 PM. The lineup outside persevered, only lengthening with time.
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I should have known better given the frequency of my past viva visits, but the decision to dine without thorough research rendered me entirely at fault. We pulled into a somewhat familiar plaza, where my mind immediately wandered towards Pie Wood: Hadn't I seen their storefront before? It wasn't until reaching home that evening that I learned they had been succeeded by an Indian bistro.
Strolling into Siamese Thai, we learned of the presence of one other party. The man behind the counter neared us in greeting, then gestured to the empty tables to indicate availability. We seated ourselves at a table by the window; strips of LED lights had been installed along the perimeter for ambiance.
Amongst my first observations was the stickiness of the table. The same status applied to the chairs and the menus. Water was served in a glass jug that rested within arm's reach for ease of refills.
Strolling into Siamese Thai, we learned of the presence of one other party. The man behind the counter neared us in greeting, then gestured to the empty tables to indicate availability. We seated ourselves at a table by the window; strips of LED lights had been installed along the perimeter for ambiance.
Amongst my first observations was the stickiness of the table. The same status applied to the chairs and the menus. Water was served in a glass jug that rested within arm's reach for ease of refills.
While regional specialties such as Khao Soi were not to be found, I was glad to spot my go-to Tom Kha Gai and Coconut Rice. Fresh Rolls with Chicken and Pad Thai assumed the other components of our order.
First to arrive were eight neatly-wrapped Fresh Rolls and two square sharing plates. Proving more appealing in appearance than taste, the chicken strips were largely unseasoned and atrociously dry, while ungreased edges (circumferences?) stuck together. That said, I appreciated the inclusion of red pepper strips and lettuce, along with the tangy dipping sauce. It was uncertain whether separate dipping containers had been provided in consideration of COVID, however the inclusion was appreciated.
A request for chopsticks was made at this point. Two sets were wrapped in napkins and promptly provided by a female member of staff. She was pleasant, though I couldn't quite shake concerns over her half-masking practice.
First to arrive were eight neatly-wrapped Fresh Rolls and two square sharing plates. Proving more appealing in appearance than taste, the chicken strips were largely unseasoned and atrociously dry, while ungreased edges (circumferences?) stuck together. That said, I appreciated the inclusion of red pepper strips and lettuce, along with the tangy dipping sauce. It was uncertain whether separate dipping containers had been provided in consideration of COVID, however the inclusion was appreciated.
A request for chopsticks was made at this point. Two sets were wrapped in napkins and promptly provided by a female member of staff. She was pleasant, though I couldn't quite shake concerns over her half-masking practice.
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More sharing plates and utensils arrived with our entrées.
The Tom Kha Gai was passable at best with a few pieces of quartered mushrooms, a single sprig of parsley, and more chewy chicken strips. Albeit creamy, the soup lacked the sweet fragrance of coconut and typical incorporation of lime. Consumed in conjunction with the soup was the Coconut Rice, which, unfortunately also bore minimal coconut-iness.
As with the Fresh Rolls, the Pad Thai adopted a promising appearance with crushed peanuts and the flavour and hue of soy. Use of the lime wedge was forfeited due to digits made sticky from the plates; further difficulty was witnessed towards the end of the meal when they proceeded to adhere to the table. My already uneasy stomach had some trouble digesting the noodle dish, however, in light of its overwhelmingly greasy properties, I would likely not be able to sustain more than a few bites on a normal day regardless.
The Tom Kha Gai was passable at best with a few pieces of quartered mushrooms, a single sprig of parsley, and more chewy chicken strips. Albeit creamy, the soup lacked the sweet fragrance of coconut and typical incorporation of lime. Consumed in conjunction with the soup was the Coconut Rice, which, unfortunately also bore minimal coconut-iness.
As with the Fresh Rolls, the Pad Thai adopted a promising appearance with crushed peanuts and the flavour and hue of soy. Use of the lime wedge was forfeited due to digits made sticky from the plates; further difficulty was witnessed towards the end of the meal when they proceeded to adhere to the table. My already uneasy stomach had some trouble digesting the noodle dish, however, in light of its overwhelmingly greasy properties, I would likely not be able to sustain more than a few bites on a normal day regardless.
Serving staff was limited to two members for the duration of our stay. An older lady, presumably one of the kitchen crew, was also spotted while in search of the bathroom.
My entrance into the chilly corridor was met with surprise: the door was strangely light, as if loose on the hinges. Inside the corridor were three stalls, two for each gender and one accessible. The latter contained a malfunctioning soap dispenser, thus I resorted to the women's stall once vacant. There I found the identical commercial pink soap and a less-than-squeaky-clean odour.
My entrance into the chilly corridor was met with surprise: the door was strangely light, as if loose on the hinges. Inside the corridor were three stalls, two for each gender and one accessible. The latter contained a malfunctioning soap dispenser, thus I resorted to the women's stall once vacant. There I found the identical commercial pink soap and a less-than-squeaky-clean odour.
Just before 9 PM, a Clover machine was delivered in our direction, entailing individually packaged guava candies and a receipt. The interior housed about four tables during our stay, with one more party entering at our time of departure.
"Should have known it was a trap given how few cars there are." was overheard as the door closed behind us. I could only crack a weak smile, for the statement was not incorrect and I owned full responsibility.
"Should have known it was a trap given how few cars there are." was overheard as the door closed behind us. I could only crack a weak smile, for the statement was not incorrect and I owned full responsibility.
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