Fashion forecast:

 

By Matthew Visser

s people who live in the Lower
An know, this time of the

year is wetter than any other. Not
saying that any other time of the year in
the Vancouver area is not wet, they are,
but seeing people walk around in the
streets, parks, and to school while not
wearing a rain jacket, or even holding an
umbrella, one has to shake their head at
these folks.

It is true though, that for the typical
person, or even an outdoor junky, that a
good rain jacket is overpriced. When it
comes to succumbing and paying for a
named brand rain jacket, pair of pants, or
good water proof shoes, instead of rubber
boots, which are more effective than any
other shoe in the rain, sometimes it pays
to pay for the price and most times it
doesn’t.

The fact is that these brand names
can charge up to $600 for a rain jacket,
because they have Gore-Tex and special
pockets, zippers, and lining, and of course

the name brand label. These companies
claim to be selling the best of the best;
top of the line gear for the outdoors. Now
it is true that they do manufacture good
quality gear for the person who lives and
whose job or hobby depends on having
these necessary equipment, but what of
the common man or woman who, when
seeing the price tag in hopes of finding a
good quality rain jacket or pair of winter
boots, has to look twice at the price to see

-if it is a misprint to find that it is correct?

The stores that sell the overpriced
gear will comment that they don’t set
the prices and it comes from the name
brand companies. Ok, no problem with
this, as everyone has to make a buck at
the end of the day, but then it goes back
to the named brands setting the prices.
Now, one could argue that when buying
an expensive rain jacket that person is
buying to for its ability to last years to
come. Ok fine, but what of next year’s
brand coming out and then wanting that
style with a newly placed pocket or new
hood attachment? This is where things

FE anaSstyie

become over excessive and for the people

who pay the full price of the new and only

moderately changed product, shame on
you, for you are the reason why the prices
stay as high as they are.

But there are ways to get around
the price and get the jacket every
Vancouverite needs. Wait until the season
is over and sales occur to try and get rid
of over stock. Wait until the following
year if wanting that specific item as
companies only keep last years and this
year’s merchandise in stock as they want
to try and get the bigger buck for an item
of the same face value. Other ways of
finding cheap deals are e-bay, craigslist,
and now even Facebook. Companies have
long weekend sales and this too is a good
place to find a desired item.

People deserve to have a good rain
jacket and shoes to wear during the rainy
season that lives in Vancouver. So why
not try and find a good, solid quality, and
descant priced item to keep the warmth in
and the wet out?

 

 

a teachers struggle of mind over matter

By Tricia Keith

“The sum total of community
contributions is far more useful than any
one thing you'll ever write.”

- Douglas Coupland

It’s in this spirit that I contribute my
first column into the stream of The
Other Press. What is on my mind is that
which we cannot live without and which
connects us to all around us; our breath.

My job is to teach people how to
breathe. I am a yoga teacher. I teach
people how to be present with their breath
and allow their breath to support them
as well as release them. The fact that
we must always become empty and full
with this stuff that we can never touch,
breath, and that this stuff connects our
inner space to our surrounding space is
a reality I am in awe of. Truly, that we
must constantly in order to stay alive,
re-connect the wave inside us with what is
around us.

Yoga means “to join”, as in the
unification of two things. We can take
this concept further with the breath,
as the living bridge between mind and
body. Others take yoga to mean joining

hands and feet in a forward bend. Others
understand it to mean joining the human
heart with the heart of God. Either way
is correct. It is a process. Whether you’re
touching hands to feet or reaching for
God, there must be movement. This
movement is yoga.

Yoga is not about adopting any
particular set of beliefs but about coming
to know through your own experience. As
in one’s breath; it is absolutely personal
and direct. Nobody else can do it for you,
though you can turn your breathe onto
automatic, breath shallow, not notice the
quality, until you finally, you step outside
and vroom! Fresh air feels so good and
you take in a deep breath.

It has been said that there are only
two groups of people who are conscious
of their breath. Yogis and smokers, or
smoking yogis. Having been a smoker
before I became a yogini, I remember
fondly the drawing in of smoke as I
inhaled from a cigarette and the pleasure
of watching the smoke trail from my
mouth. Yet yoga won the love of my
breath; doing both was like cheating on
a lover.

Practicing yoga is not about
blindly following anything or anyone,
but about assisting you on your chosen

 

path. Yoga is a science and study of the
Self. It is a vehicle for inner growth and
development. Yoga emphasizes the doing
and the practice. Perhaps someday when
I’m old and completely and honestly
irreverent, I’ll chose to practice cigarettes
with my yoga and title it Smoking Yoga,
but not in this town, where cigs are way
too expensive and smoking in public is
likened to being a pariah. I’d have go

  

back to some place European or Asian.

Unlike smoking, yoga can be adapted
to fit everybody, no matter what size,
shape, age, or physical condition—all are
welcome.

Tricia teaches a variety of yoga class’s @
The Center, 719 Carnarvon St.

See www.sunandmoonhealingarts.
blogspot.com for full details.