What Juices you?

Don’t you love when people surprise you? When their energy and generosity leave you juiced to do MORE?

I met James Adkins this weekend, a renowned Canadian artist originally from Prince Rupert, and this guy left me JUICED! James grew up with one of our own MadLabbers, Geoffrey Last, who thought that James might connect with our Youth Warrior program.

And did he ever.

James sat and told me about his incredible journey through life–every kind of abuse, running away from home, living on the streets at Hastings and Abbot as a teenager, having his shoes stolen from him and still thinking, “There is someone out there in a wheelchair who would give anything just to feel cold feet on pavement right now. You are so lucky.”  

A marathon runner, hockey player, and lifetime gym rat, James felt an instant connection to our program, and a solid belief in our power to change lives.  “The high you get from accomplishing something intensely physical is something you can’t buy–it’s a better rush than anything out there.”, he said.

James currently lives in Key West, Florida.  He jet-sets around Canada, the US, and the world selling his art to galleries, jewellers, and collectors.  Take a look at his infectious smile below, and you’ll see how his motto, “The only person who can save you in this life, is you.” has served him well.

James donated one of his hand-made pieces of art, a sterling silver pendant that retails for over $700 at Hills Native Art Gallery, to our Silent Auction this coming Friday. In his words, “This is just the beginning.”

This is a gold version of the Wolf pendant, with diamonds in the eyes on sale at Hills.  Entirely hand carved, it takes James over 80 hours to complete.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has donated to the Silent Auction so far. I will be cruising around with a Polaroid camera to snap a shot of you with (or without) your prize this week. (Like the one above, of James, Geoffrey, and the pendant.)

Eunice and I will have the auction lots posted on the bulletin board by Thursday so that you can all take a look, and place a few early bids. On Friday, the auction lots will be on display and up for bidding from 7pm-11pm.

Come share some Holiday Wine and Cheese Cheer!
Be entertained by the East Van’s Got Talent showcases. 
And… get a bit of your Christmas shopping out of the way at the same time.

~Squad

Monday, Monday

Preparation: 10 minutes

A) Coaches Choice

B) Dowel Hinges 1×30

Strength/Skill: 25 minutes

C) 10 minutes to find Heavy Deadlift Double

D1) Pause Deadlift 4x3x2s @ 55% of established Double

D2) Pull Up Negative Iso 4x1x3p

Conditioning:

“Booty Blast Protocol”

20 Glute Bridges
45s Rest
20 Glute Bridges
45s Rest

Make sure everyone is caught up and then as a group…

10 Glute Bridges w/ 5sec Pause
20s Rest
10 Glute Bridges w/ 30sec Pause

Elite – 65lbs
Intermediate – 35lbs
Novice – Unweighted

*No gender separation.
*For every drop during the 30 sec pauses, you will receive a 20m walking lunge penalty; performed at the end of class.