A skateboarding retreat for women who want to overcome their fears so that they feel strong and comfortable in their bodies.
SUNDAY, JUly 21
12:30Pm-3:30pm
CJ’s SKATEPARK
560 Hensall Cir, Mississauga, ON L5A 1Y1
FUN > FEAR
When you saw "skateboarding"…
Was your first reaction…
"I can't do THAT!!!" ?
Well, YOU totally can, because I CAN and I DID.
And if that WAS your first thought, that is exactly WHY you should join me for this event.
It’s part group-lesson, part yoga retreat, and mostly just designed to get you out of your comfort zone, bust through your fears, and explore something new that you are ABSOLUTELY capable of.
You are capable of so much more than you think you are.
Photo by Cristin Goss.
I’m Maya. A former city planner turned health coach who is on a mission to help women feel radiant from the inside out by easily making healthy choices every day.
When my son started skateboarding I was so jealous. I was just standing around watching him and I realized how fun it would be to skate WITH him, and also show him that AS A MOM I am capable of ANYTHING.
I spent so much of my life feeling awkward and out of place in my body, yet throughout my life I’ve had experiences that have shown me I am so much stronger than I think, and, at 40, I finally believe it.
Where I’ve been featured
Skateboarding is a great way to stretch yourself out of your comfort zone, build confidence, and strengthen your mind-body connection.
You don’t need a bunch of tricks to have fun. Truth: I’ve only been doing it for a year and it’s such a blast just to have enough knowledge and skill to push around on my board.
Just imagine when you wake up and think “I know I can do anything today, because yesterday I went SKATEBOARDING, and I never thought I would do THAT.”
I want you to feel that confidence in yourself. I want you to give your body the experience of busting through your fears and MOST IMPORTANTLY, I want you to HAVE FUN.
Shred Your Fears, November 2018 in Pittsburgh, PA. Photo by Cristin Goss.
Don’t take my word for it! #skateboardingisfun:
- Ta’lor, 29; Pittsburgh, PA
- Michelle, 38; Pittsburgh, PA
- Sarah, 40; Pittsburgh, PA
- Caroline, 35; Pittsburgh, PA
EVENT DETAILS
The event will start promptly at 12:30 p.m. where you will sign in and meet other attendees. Then we will have with a gentle yoga session to anchor into our bodies and stretch them in preparation for skateboarding.
Photo by Cristin Goss.
Following the yoga session, we’ll take a break for tasty vegan and gluten-free snacks plus refreshing drinks. We’ll talk about overcoming and getting comfortable with our fear, all to prepare you to get suited up and ready for your group skateboarding lesson.
This is a small, intimate event where you will get plenty of personalized attention.
75-min group skateboarding lesson with instructors from CJ’s Skatepark
Access to safety equipment and skateboard should you need to borrow them
30-min yoga class
Raffle prizes
Healthy snacks and beverages
- Megan Dowd, 30
ABOUT YOUR HOSTs
Photo by Cristin Goss.
Who is Maya?
Maya is your skeptical best friend who decided she’d had enough of working 9-to-5 and said goodbye to her job in city government to start her own business. Maya helps you make everyday decisions: little choices with big impact on your life and the planet.
Maya is a certified health coach, culinary nutrition expert and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE).
Yoga Instructor Amanda Lee Caskie
Amanda Lee Caskie is an Ashtanga based, Vinyasa Flow, 200 hour Yoga Alliance RYS certified instructor. She is also Chakra Yoga trained and a Level 2 Reiki Healer.
Yoga came to Amanda at a time in her life when she needed it most. She saw such an amazing change in herself both mentally and physically and this inspired her to share this magic with others and guide them through their practice.
As an avid sportswoman and a 10-year Roller Derby Veteran, Amanda approaches her teaching with a large focus on anatomy and proper body alignment, both to protect the body from injury as well as being mindful for those who are already dealing with current or past injuries. She delivers her teaching intelligently and respectfully, incorporating pranayama, movement, meditation and utmost respect for the lineage of the practice. She truly believes Yoga is for EVERY body!
When not teaching yoga Amanda spends her time as a hairstylist and educator, an essential oil, herbs and magic enthusiast and an artisan. Amanda enjoys being out in nature as much as possible and you can find her riding her bike, rollerskating, playing drums and strumming a guitar.
She is a Northern Ontario native who has lived in Toronto for 20 years. She loves to head north to recharge as much as she can and invites you to come breath and move with her!
The Location
CJ’s mission is to engage and empower all children in the community including at-risk youth and those with special needs such as kids affected by Cancer, Autism, Down syndrome, Deaf, Aspergers, ADHD, OCD, LDs or any other challenge one might have. This is achieved in a safe and fun learning environment through recreation, development and mentoring in the sports of skateboarding, scooter riding, in-line skating and other park activities.
TICKETS
$95 (CAN)
75-min group skateboarding lesson with instructors from CJ’s Skatepark
Access to safety equipment and skateboard should you need to borrow them
30-min yoga class
Raffle prizes
Healthy snacks and beverages
What it’s like to work with me
- Tina, 46; Pittsburgh, PA
— Johanna, 39; Pittsburgh, PA
REFUND POLICY
Because of the advance planning necessary to hold this event, there are no refunds, however tickets can be exchanged (i.e. a friend can attend instead of you). Please contact Maya ASAP if you are unable to attend.
FAQs
+ Isn't skateboarding DANGEROUS?
This is the number one fear that I hear when I tell people I decided to learn to skateboard at 40. Here's the deal. Learning skateboarding fundamentals like we are going to do is no more dangerous than many other activities such as running on a treadmill. Srsly.
That being said, we want you to have a positive experience and only you can determine if it is right for you to try. If you currently run, do yoga, or other exercise this is probably a good match. Reach out to Maya if you want to discuss further.
I wish I could tell you we are going to take you from ZERO to OLLIE in an hour, but that's just not realistic.
But by the time we are done you definitey will feel comfortable having learned the basics of pushing on your board and even going down gentle ramps.
+ Do I need to know how to skateboard?
Nope. This event is geared towards beginners, but we'll have lots of personalized attention from CJ's instructors, and if you already have skateboarding experience you can totally work with an instructor on building up your skills.
+ What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes that you can wear knee and elbow pads over. Yoga pants and a long-sleeved shirt would work well. Bring a layer as it can be cool in the skatepark. If you opt to wear a helmet (highly recommended) you may want to wear your hair lower on your head, but we've got lots of size options available.
Shoes are probably the most important. Athletic sneakers are fine, but thin soled shoes are going to work a bit better for skating. So if you have thin-soled sneakers like Keds wear them so that you can really connect with your board.
+ Can I bring my own ...?
You can TOTALLY bring your own skateboard, helmet and/or pads if you have them. HOWEVER, CJ's will have safety gear and boards available for everyone. We ARE asking that you bring your own yoga mat if you have it.
PLEASE contact Maya in advance if you need to arrange for any extra accomodations for your comfort or safety! (maya@mayahenry.com)
+ What is provided?
You're going to receive a full group skateboarding lesson that includes all safety equipment and access to a skateboard as well as an instructor-led yoga session and a group coaching session with Maya. Plus delicious vegan snacks with gluten-free options.
+ Who is this retreat for?
This event is inclusive of women, womxn, femme, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. If you want to know if that includes you, email me at maya@mayahenry.com, and if you want to know more about what that means check this out: https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/sex/news/a43461/what-is-non-binary-gender/
+ What are the physical limitations (injuries, etc.) that might prevent me from participating?
Skateboarding is inclusive, as is this event. While we might not have the tech to do something adaptive for this event specifically, I am open to working with you! Reach out to me at maya@mayahenry.com with any specific questions and I will do my best to answer you.
I’m so flipping excited!
P.S. I created this event for YOU. I can’t wait to see you there.