Yogis, Dancers, Breakers, Martial Artists: Meet Ido Portal

World renowned movement and strength coach IDO PORTAL will be hosting a weekend of 4 workshops focused on handbalancing and bodyweight strength.

“If you have any interest on how to achieve maximum control over balancing, standing on your hands, flexibility or anything regarding acrobatics then Ido can show you how.” – Capoeira Mandinga Beijing Team

Brought to Beijingers by Capoeira Mandinga Beijing, here’s your chance to learn from one of the best movement and balancing trainers worldwide!

Highlights of Ido Portal Workshops:

* Handbalancing (Equilibre) and Handstand development – an intelligent and systematized approach to learning to control a static Handstand
* Gymnastics and Bodyweight oriented strength development – learn how to develop specific strength for body control in movement – highly important for Capoeiristas, Breakers, Dancers, Martial Artists and other sports disciplines
* Joint Mobility – an effective way to mobilize, increase range of motion and improve flexibility for dynamic movement
* Joint Prep – preventing injuries and strengthening support structures in the joints for pain free movement and resilience
* Floreio Art and Flow development – building up from basic ‘Atoms’ of this amazing floor flow art into more advanced ‘Molecules’ and eventually achieving the ‘Final Products’ flows.

Sign up here to reserve your spot!

Ido Portal Class Details:

• November 5: Session 1 from 9:30-11:30 and Session 2 from 1PM-3PM
• November 6: Session 3 from 9:00-11:00 and Session 4 from 11:50AM-13:50PM
• Location: Hosa Fitness Center
• Address: B1/F, East Gate Plaza (North Bld), 9 Dongzhong Jie. Subway lines 2 & 13, Dongzhimen.
• 浩沙健身中心, 东城区东中街9号东环广场 (北）地下1层
• Price: 1 session: RMB 180, 2 sessions: RMB 360 and 4 sessions: RMB 500
• Website: http://www.capoeirabeijing.com/events.html

About Ido Portal:

Ido is a movement artist and teacher who offers a unique, holistic perspective on movement-health-performance using his knowledge in nutrition, exercise, physiology, anatomy and various body-mind systems. He studied Afro-Caribbean Capoeira for 15 years before he opened his first training center focused on Capoeira and ‘Hardcore Fitness Box’.  He also studied gymnastics, boxing, rock climbing, dance and movement, yoga and martial arts.

Drawing upon these various practices, Ido has formulated his own approach to teaching movement and the development of various physical capacities as well as well as how the body should be moved, what should it be fed and so on. Currently Ido is dedicated to traveling the world and spreading his ideas and methods.

For more information on fitness, nutrition and strength, as well as Ido’s whereabouts and new insights, visit www.idoportal.com

Country Fair Farmers’ Market & Green Life Festival

“Come and meet the farmers who grow your food and taste the best seasonal vegetables and fruits grown by Beijing organic farmers.” - Country Fair

Started by a group of volunteers in Beijing in September 2010, Country Fair is a farmer’s market where consumers are provided a platform to buy safe, healthy food and support farmers who are already growing organic and supporting sustainable agriculture and rural-urban mutual aid.

Spend the afternoon in Central Park this Saturday, October 22 and treat yourself with home-made goods including artisan jam, cheese, rice wine, organic herb tea, handmade soap and many other handicrafts, which are all produced locally in Beijing.

Working with farmers who do not use chemical fertilizers, pesticide, or genetically modified seeds, and who treat their animals as humanely as possible, the participating farmers must meet the following requirements:

A list of some of the participating farmers include:

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
• Time: 1PM-5PM
• Location: Central Park (Next to The Place)
• Address: 新城国际中央步行街（景华北街，金桐西路与金桐东路中间）
• Contact: farmersmarketbj@gmail.com or call Tianle 13401056422 (En/Ch)

Happy Campers: 3 Days of Hiking, Climbing and Camping

With no plans to leave Beijing this October holiday, I was thrilled to be tagging along with new friends on a 3-day camping trip to Yun Meng Shan 云蒙山, TianXian Waterfall 天仙瀑 and then rock climbing in Baihe.

When I first signed myself up for this trip, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was worried about being able to keep up with the gang, I was worried I didn’t pack enough food, I was worried if we’d all get along.  In the end, this trip exceeded my expectations entirely.  It was perfect.

We were engulfed in beautiful landscape, we were blessed with sunshine and clear blue skies, we were spoiled for choice for food with amazing meals and I am stoked to come home with 4 awesome new friends.

In summary: Across the three days, we hiked 27+ kilometers carrying 50 lb packs and we sang the entire way. 

LumDimSum Snapshots of Yun Meng Shan 云蒙山 Hike:

Our Spooky Campsite:

Hike to Tian Xian Waterfall 天仙瀑:

Tian Xian Waterfall天仙瀑:

Rock Climbing in Baihe:

“If You Can Dodge Traffic, You Can Dodge a Ball!”

“Alright Kate, time to put your mouth where our balls are.” – Peter LaFleur

Such an awesome movie.  Dodgeball rocks.

If you haven’t seen it, go and buy the DVD and get inspired to get out to mashup and join their dodgeball league!!

Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, Dodge

The 2011 Coed Dodgeball League Starts September 19!

“Have a friend whose mouth never closes (the 7-11 flag football award winner)? Get him to sign up f or dodgeball too and close that trap.

After the match, buy him a drink to ease the pain from the whooping he just received by your balls.”

It’s a great way to meet friends as everyone signs up as an individual and gets “mashed up” into different teams.

The best part is that now you can come try out dodgeball first for FREE!

On Monday, Sept. 5th, 7:00-10:00pm, mashup will hold pick-up games at The British School of Beijing in Sanlitun. You must RSVP if you want to come to the pick-ups to info@mashupasia.com due to the school’s security. League games are held at Dongsi Olympic Community Sports Culture Center.

• Location: Dongsi Olympic Community Sports Culture Center near Chaoyangmen Station on Line 2. 东四奥林匹克社区体育文化中心
• Address is: No. 14 Chaoyangmen North Alley, Dongcheng, Beijing, China.  朝阳门内北小街14号
• Dates/Times: 8:30pm – 10:30pm, Mondays, September 19 - November 14, 2011.
• WEBSITE:  Get the dodgeball information here!

Forget Popcorn: The Hutong’s ‘Movie & Smoothie’ Night

A haven for healthy living & creative culture, The Hutong is presenting a night of “Movie & Green Smoothies” this Thursday, August 25.

From 6PM-8PM, Raw Food, Raw Pastry Chef and Eco Health Advisor Jennifer McClelland will be serving her magical green smoothies for all to enjoy as they watch a documentary on the positive life changes that are possible through just a 30-day change in diet.

An uplifting story, “Simply Raw:  Reversing Diabetes in 30 days“ is an independent documentary film that chronicles six Americans with ‘incurable’ diabetes switching from the Standard American Diet (a.k.a. the SAD diet) consisting of fast food, refined flours, white sugars and chemical additives to a plant-based vegan, “living food” diet for 30 days.

“Simply Raw reveals, with startling clarity, that diet can reverse diabetes* and change the quality of people’s lives. The film captures the human drama and struggle of these courageous individuals making a quantum leap of faith from a traditional junk food diet to a raw vegan diet and it shows revealing moments of nurturing, compassion, and human spirit. It is a film about a life changing journey on a simply raw diet and how nature is the original medicine.”

Those interested in attending this event, just register online and buy a green smoothie ticket for RMB 35. Movie or not, RMB 35 for one of Jennifer’s amazing smoothie concoctions is worth every penny!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, August 25
• Time: 6PM-8PM
• Location: The Hutong
• Address: 1 Zhongxiang Hutong, Jiudaowan, Dongcheng district  东城区九道湾中巷胡同1号
• Register Online: Click here
• Register Tel: +86 10 1590 104 6127 or Email: sophia@thehutong.com

Heyrobics: The Roof, The Roof, The Roof is On Fire!

**Due to a rainy weather forecast, this Heyrobics session is now moved to Saturday, August 20 @ 5PM!  Everything else remains the same  :)

From parks to rooftops, Heyrobics is fun no matter where you are.  This Saturday, August 20, Heyrobics is “Back on Top!” taking over Nali Patio’s spacious 4th floor rooftop space.  Get fit while rocking out to pumping music is an easy recipe for a more active lifestyle.

With the class led by the guy in bright pink shorts, Linus Holmsater will get you motivated and dancing in no time! Sponsored by Vitamin Water, there’ll also be plenty of drinks to keep you hydrated and refreshed.

Heyrobics is just another reason that solidifies my admiration of the healthy, progressive Swedish lifestyle.  Always on top of their game!

Heyrobics has already taking Sweden by storm with over 5% of the population participating in Heyrobics on a weekly basis and it’s very quickly becoming one of the most popular aerobics/fitness groups in Beijing!

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, August 20
• Time: 5:00PM
• Location: 4th Floor of Nali Patio, Sanlitun
• Class Fee: RMB 20
• Questions: info@heyrobics.com

Mix Things Up with Mashup: Sign Up for Fall Sports

Get Social, Get Active and Get Fit!

Starting August 13, mashup will be organizing FOUR fall sports leagues including co-ed flag football, bowling, tennis and dodgeball, with each league running 8 weeks long.

Bringing people together socially as well as giving them the opportunity to play their favorite sports, mashup is a great way for you to meet other Beijingers and play outdoors!

Flag Football’s early bird special ends on July 31 with games starting on August 13.  Sign up here.
Dodgeball looks to be one of the most popular leagues so sign up before Aug. 14 here.
Bowling league sign-ups also ends Aug. 14 so sign up here.

2011 Winter Bowling Champions

Mashup Flag Football

Get involved at www.mashupasia.com and if you have questions, email Yoyao at yoyao@mashupasia.com.

Dinner & A Movie at The Veggie Table

Thanks to Raw Food and Pastry Chef Jennifer McClelland, I’ve just gotten wind of a great upcoming healthy-foodie dining event at The Veggie Table where they will be serving special set dinner menus (RMB 45-60 per person) while hosting a documentary film called Food Matters.

“The Veggie Table is a new restaurant on Wudaoying that offers delectable plant-based comfort food, salads and hummus.”

Veggie Table Dinner Menu Options include:

A) Vegetable Curry Set Menu + Drink* (RMB 60)

B) Dal Bhat Set Menu + Drink* (RMB 60)

C) Falafel Set Menu + Drink* (RMB 60)

D) Dessert Menu:  Choice of Chocolate or Carrot Cake & Coffee/Tea (RMB 40)

*Drink includes choice of drip coffee, tea, Tsingdao, or soda water.

Thanks to Bespoke Beijing’s The Urban Edit Website, I first read their review on The Veggie Table, which was brilliantly well-written.

“Not only are no animal products used anywhere on the menu, but every aspect of this enterprise is completely green and sustainable. From the water filters on the taps to the fact that vendors delivering their produce in unsustainable packaging have been banned – owner Laura Lawless has thought of everything.”

Check out Full Article here.

About the Film:

‘Food Matters’ by Producer-Directors James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch

In what promises to be the most contentious idea put forward, the filmmakers have interviewed several leading experts in nutrition and natural healing who claim that not only are we harming our bodies with improper nutrition, but that the right kind of foods, supplements and detoxification can be used to treat chronic illnesses as fatal as terminally diagnosed cancer.

The focus of the film is in helping us rethink the belief systems fed to us by our modern medical and health care establishments. The interviewees point out that not every problem requires costly, major medical attention and reveal many alternative therapies that can be more effective, more economical, less harmful and less invasive than conventional medical treatments.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, July 28, 2011
  
• Time: Dinner from 7-9PM, Viewing from 8:30-10:00PM
• Location: The Veggie Table
• Address: Wudaoying Hutong, Lama Temple Area (Yonghegong).  Next to the bike shop. Subway line 2 or 5, Yonghegong Station  东城区雍和宫五道营胡同甲19号
• Tel: 6446-2073
• Event Site: Click here.
• Veggie Table FB Group: Click here

Summer Shape-Up: WHS 12-Week Challenge!

With the scorching hot weather and smoggy air quality combined with the abundance of parties and events around town, I can imagine it’s difficult to stay in shape this summer!

Fear not, the World Health Store‘s annual 12-week challenge is just about to begin and it’s not too late to sign up! Contestants will be part of a very select group for FREE training, including BOOT CAMP, HEYROBICS, and PILATES. (just think what a great deal this is considering how expensive these classes can be!)

Anticipated to be even bigger than last year, the challenge will take place in both Beijing and Shanghai and winners can expect to see even more cash prizes and gifts totaling over RMB 250,000!

If you are someone who wants to have a life changing experience and a chance to win some awesome cash and prizes, check out www.whs-12weekchallenge.com for registration details and you can also register on the night of the launch party this Saturday night at Zeta Bar (Hilton Hotel).  Lucky winners have a chance to win cool prizes including a dinner voucher from Hercules, Tailer Made Shirts from the Bauer Company, and a Free Haircut/Style at TICTAC Salon just to name a few.

“The 12 Week Challenge is a chance of a lifetime to transform your body and gain a new perspective on life!” – The World Health Store (WHS)

Event Details:

• Date: July 16th,2011
• Time: 7:00PM until Late
• Cost of entry: FREE (RSVP is advised to avoid disappointment)
• Drinks Deal: 50%off Drinks
• Location: Zeta bar, Hilton Beijing,
• Address: Dong san huan (right off the LiangmaQiao station, Exit B)
• For more info: Contact Ivy Leung: ivy@worldhealthstore.com.cn

Learn How to Live Well This Summer

I like to make a point to eat at Live Well at least once a week.  Eating there is not only a healthy choice, their wonderful spread of fresh salads, quiches, muffins and fresh fruit juices just makes me happy.  I love this place and I love any excuse to spend more time here, which is why I am sharing this upcoming event at Livewell with all of my LumDimSum friends.

Next Sunday, July 3rd, Live Well Cafe will be inviting special guest Integrative Nutritionist and Health Coach Kimberly Ashton to give tips on how to find the perfect diet for a new and healthier you this summer and Raw Food and Pastry Chef Jennifer McClelland will be introducing a video introduction of raw foods diet called “Raw for Life” while treating guests to some tasty Raw Pastry sample desserts.

Live Well will have their juice bar open throughout the event and will also be providing a special set lunch option (Quiche, Salad, Juice/Smoothie) for guests at RMB 50.

Some LumDimSum Top Picks from Live Well Cafe:

Chicken & Avocado Salad / Vegetable Quiche

Chicken & Avocado Wrap / Homemade Fresh Yogurt & Fruit

Fresh Carrot, Orange & Ginger Juice / Carrot Muffin

And with Hummingbird Spa Retreat just around the corner, I really can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Click here for a LumDimSum Tour of Top Picks in Central Park.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, 3 July 2011
• Time: 1:00PM-2:30PM
• Location: Live Well Cafe
• Address: #110, Building 11, Central Park, No.6 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District.  朝阳区朝外大街6号新城国际11号楼110号商铺
• RSVP: Email Fiona at fionawang0608@yahoo.com.cn or call 010 6533 6505 / 6585This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Kimberly Ashton –

Originally from Australia, Kimberly received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and now works out of Shanghai as an Holistic Health Coach and Integrative Nutrition Consultant.

She is one of the founding members of Wellness Works, and is passionate about helping individuals and companies improve their health and employee well-being through food and lifestyle modifications.   Kimberly also hosts talks, healthy cooking classes, workshops, retreats, organic farm tours and documentary screenings.
Email:   integrativenutritionshg@gmail.com
Website:  http://kimberly- ashton.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This Sunday: Say Heyyy for Heyrobics!

Heyrobics has already taking Sweden by storm with over 5% of the population participating in Heyrobics on a weekly basis and it’s very quickly becoming one of the most popular aerobics/fitness groups in Beijing!

This Sunday, join Heyrobics in Chaoyang Park for a secret course with a short run and Heyrobics sessions in between!  Led by the one and only blonde Swedish man in bright pink shorts, Linus Holmsater is a great motivator and a hilarious fitness instructor.  He’ll have you dancing and groovin’ like you’d never expect!

Upon completion, they are treating all participants with a picnic in the park with music by DJ Sleeping Bootie and DJ Charlie G.  If that’s not enough reason to get you in Chaoyang park, there’s all kinds free gifts and picnic goodies to treat everyone.

A great reason to spend a lovely afternoon in the park with amazing food, drinks, music and people, the picnic is open to anyone and everyone so feel free to invite friends!

To sign up for the challenge, email joy@heyrobics.com.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, 19 June 2011
• Time: 10:45AM (picnic starts at Noon)
• Location: Chaoyang Park West Gate #3 (just inside gate)
• Price: RMB 50
• RSVP: email joy@heyrobics.com
• Website: http://issuu.com/heyrobics/docs/heyrobicschallenge_june_19_2011_-_invitation__comp

Take Control of Your Health: Raw Foods Workshop

“The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over again and expecting a different result.”  Maybe it’s time for a change.

Raw Food & Pastry Chef and Eco Health Adviser, Jennifer McClelland is the face of a new generation of eco chefs who merge culinary arts with sustainable living.

I have had the privilege of witnessing Jennifer in “raw foods action” on multiple occasions and I have been blown away each and every time on how she is able to create such healthy snacks that tastes like treats! It’s incredible what combinations and possibilities are available for people who want to live a healthier lifestyle through smarter dietary choices.  Everything she creates is dairy and gluten-free and vegan friendly.

Most recently I received one of Jennifer’s newest green smoothie creation recipes:

Pineapple Refresher

3 cups pineapple chunks
1 cup water
1 banana
1/4 cup mint leaves
1/4 cup parsley

1 lime, peeled Ice cubes, optional

Blend.  Serves 2

“Eating fresh, organic, dark leafy greens and fresh fruits may improve your intestinal tract, give you more mental clarity, increase your energy level and boost the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair, skin and nails! When I drink a green smoothie it feels like giving my insides a shower. The wonderful taste has kept me a convert.  Whether for health, vanity or both, join the green smoothie revolution to get the green smoothie edge on health and vitality!” – Jennifer McClelland on Green Smoothies

If you’re interested in learning more about raw foods and seeing Jennifer in action, she will be hosting her next raw foods class at The Hutong in collaboration with The World Health Store.

“Discover the benefits of raw food. Detox and purify with delightful new tastes, and change the way you perceive food.Come with your sleeves rolled up and hands washed because you are in for a healthy treat! Gluten and Dairy Free and Vegan friendly.”

Event Details for Raw Food “Hands-on” Workshop at The Hutong:

• Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011
• Time: 10AM-Noon
• Location: The Hutong
• Address: 1 Jiu Dao Wan Zhong Xiang Hutong |  Beijing | China 北京东城区九道弯中巷1号  100007
• Contact: info@thehutong.com

Scuba Steve Gets You Certified Under The Sea

Getting my Open Water Padi Certification has been on my list of things to do for ages and I’d been stalling all this time waiting for my chance to go back to Koh Tao, Thailand or Sipidan, Borneo to do the required testing and training and then I met Steven Schwankert aka Scuba Steve.

What I realized finally is that I should not waste precious vacation time studying for a test, but I should get all that over and done with in Beijing so that I can actually start diving straight away once I finally did make that trip.

Scuba Steve is founder of SinoScuba, Beijing’s first professional dive operator, and they’ve been around more than 8 years and while he’s officially certified over 300 divers, he’s prepped over 800 to complete their over water dives abroad (divers like me).  Divers can start as young at 10 years old and courses can be taught in both English and Mandarin.

“Our PADI Open Water Diver courses allow people with little or no diving experience to become certified divers in approximately three weeks. The course is divided into three units: knowledge development/academic, confined water/pool, and open water. We conduct open water dives near Beijing seasonally (June-October).”

In preparation for my 5 day holiday this coming weekend, I started my under water sessions about a month ago and this past week, I just aced my final exam with a score of 49/50 - boo-yah! Phuket, Thailand - here I come!!

And the coolest part of it all was the the confined water skills sessions were all in Beijing’s Blue Zoo Aquarium where you get to swim with monstrously large sharks, turtles, eels and other exotic aquatic creatures. Pretty badass if you ask me.

LumDimSum Spotted in the Blue Aquarium:

Removing and Re-strapping Weight Belt Underwater

For all instruction, all equipment rental and use, all necessary documentation, all materials and all pool use and fees, the cost is RMB 2800 per person. And let me tell you from personal experience, it is worth every penny. Scuba Steve is a patient, skilled and professional instructor and the experience you have learning all your practical skills under water swimming next to sharks in the aquarium is priceless.

To sign up with Scuba Steve, you can email him directly: stevenschwankert@gmail.com

A Very Green Great Wall

On my last trip to the great wall, it was covered in snow.  Yesterday was a bit overcast and I knew it would start raining at any time, but with a few new friends from the MTV crew in town for the MTV Push & CK ONE event this Wednesday, May 11 at Star Live (see here for details), today was their only chance to go to the wall.

I opted to take them to one of my choice picks – the Mutianyu section of the wall as it’s way less touristy and crowded compared to Badaling section and it’s not as far as Jingshanling and Simatai. But the real incentive is that I just can not get enough of the toboggan slide run down the wall!

A perfect route for the Mutianyu section of the wall is to take the cable car to the top and walk about 30-45 minutes down to the toboggan slide.

And the best part of it all? As we were walking back to the parking lot after a perfect day on the wall, it started to rain.  Couldn’t have asked for better timing!

*A nice suggestion for anyone who is making a trip out there, you should stop by The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu on the way there or back for a bite to eat and if you want a weekend getaway, this is a great option for you to spend a few days out of the city.

With a running theme of sustainability, The Schoolhouse uses existing buildings, they hire and train people from the area, support other village businesses, source ingredients locally, and make their food homemade from scratch. Schoolhouse Art Glass offers glass created in their own workshop and they showcase original works in their Art Room.

Unfortunately, we were unable to stop in for a hot cup of tea since they were not serving a la carte for Mother’s Day brunch.  So instead, I introduced them to local jianbing!

LumDimSum Snapshots of A Green Great Wall:

Last year around this time, the Great Wall was in full bloom with pink and white cherry blossom trees covering the landscape.  I was a bit bummed not to see any this year, did I already miss those precious few weeks?  Does anyone know exactly when the cherry blossom trees are in bloom?

If you’ve never seen this sight, it’s breath-taking.  Here’s a photo from a trek I did last year at the beginning of May (see below).

Great Wall Trek May 2, 2010

For more awesome photos of the Great Wall’s cherry blossom trees in bloom, click previous article here: Beauty in Bloom at the Great Wall.

Interactive Yoga Charity: The Hutong and CAI

“Enjoy an Afternoon of Relaxation”

Hosted at The Hutong, Victor Chau will be giving a presentation about his month-long experience in an Indian Ashram.

Guests can enjoy Indian canapes, a brief roof-top yoga class, raffle prizes and a silent auction with items from Yoga Yard, OM42Yoga, Sassy Scrubs Body, Capital M, Kocoon Spa Lounge & Elixirs, Mughal’s and Dee Rawlins.

Proceeds from this event benefit will go to both Japanese Red Cross Society and CAI’s “Girls’ Basketball or Football for Life” project.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, April 24
  
• Time: 3:00PM-5:30PM
• Cost: RMB 50
• Location: The Hutong

• Address: #1 Jiu Dao Wan Zhong Xiang Hutong
• RSVP: erin@thehutong.com or janel@cai-china.org
• www.thehutong.com

Background:

• CAI (www.cai-china.org): A non-profit organization that works with the children of migrant families in both rural and urban China.
• Japanese Red Cross Society: Earthquake Donation Fund http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html