Saturday 27 September 2014

The Shiatsu Shaman goes to Wild Play Elements Park







Perfectly situated in Maple Ridge, close to Golden Ears Provincial Park , Wild Play is an adventure park for those seeking a thrill.  It is as much a physical challenge as it is a mental challenge.  My husband, the John Ferreira aka Shiatsu Shaman,  and the gang from the YVR Bloggers all took this challenge.



It was a great day for an outdoor adventure on August 26, 2014.  Everyone who goes to Wild Play has their own reasons, whether it is just for fun afternoon, for conquering  a fear of heights, or for the sheer joy of being like Tarzan.  The Shiatsu Shaman, loves adventure and challenge.  He wanted to overcome his extreme fear of heights.  I am not sure if you can really overcome fear of heights--it's just great to be able to say that you have accomplished something.


The first stop was at the harnessing shelter.   Make sure you wear comfortable clothing that is not loose fitting so you don't catch it on anything.  Similarly, do not wear wear jewelry or anything you do not want to lose.  There are lockers provided for your items that you do not want to take to the trees.  Personally, if I were participating I would need all my attention on hanging on for dear life, not having to worry about having holding on to a hat, camera, purse.  They do provide lockers for a dollar (great deal).  Travelling with bloggers, though, I found that they love their photo opportunities, so some did take cameras up with them.  There was one blogger that wore a video camera of sorts on her head?!?!  Rightly so, the view from way up there would be awesome (if you actually took the time to look and if you were not so nervous about how high you were.





After getting all harnessed up, each participant had to pass the orientation and safety training.  It was set up as a mini zip line for the purposes of training the participants without the influence of the heights to get in the way.   This will ensure that each participant was hooked in at all times.  Remember, "hook and look"!  No one was allowed to go on to the "real thing" until they mastered all safety rules.  Plan to be there at least two hours or more depending on what you are like with heights and how physically fit you are.Monkido Aerial Adventure is a tree-top activity that always results in challenge, adrenalin and accomplishment.   It's really "the lost art of monkeying around" and there are different levels of difficulty and height.  There is no experience necessary, however, you must pass the orientation and training which was very well handled by our guides.  The staff at Wild Play are very welcoming and friendly.  Safety is paramount at Wild Play.












Ricky Shetty from DaddyBlogger.com, gives a wave



There was a water station up in the trees, which is a great idea!  On hot days, it is a must for rehydrating yourself.  This would be a good time to mention that Wild Play is also open for business even when it is not a beautiful sunny day because rain and wind can add an extra element of difficulty and challenge for the participants.


Melody of The Nutritious Truth.com (and yours truly in the background taking pictures!)
John of the ShiatsuShaman.com, still energetic and smiling 











As each participant progressed through each level, it not only got higher and higher into the trees, the level of physical challenges increased too.  It is like a metaphor for life, really.  Each stage presented the participant with a choice and lessons learned from the choice.  John realized that his desire to be like Tarzan, to swing on a rope to get to the other side was probably not the most practical, because this was where fatigue won.  It was a wise decision on his part, to ask for assistance.  That's tough sometimes,  to admit that you need help.  It's all part of the process.  He gave it his all, and he vowed to come back and go farther than where he left off.
Estha and Steve from SocioVisual.com

So, the weather was warm and beautiful the day that the YVR Bloggers had their adventure.  When it is raining and not so warm, the Park remains open in months of March to the end of October.  The rain and other elements adds a new degree of challenge and difficulty.  It's a great workout!  Consider getting a seasons pass here, rather than a gym membership if that suits your personality.  Fitness trainers say do something that you can stick to and is not boring!  Wild Play is definitely not boring!



Wild Play is fun for adventure, fun for the whole family, great team building for your staff or school group.  My daughter Sam did this for one of her high school field trips.  You can bring a picnic and make a day of it!

Check out the Wild Play Special Offers for Groups, Ultimate Packages etc.  Think of getting a Seasons Pass for unlimited access to the park.  Wild Play is a great workout and is a better deal than  some gym memberships.  The season is March to End of October.













http://www.wildplay.com/parks/mapleridge
http://www.wildplay.com/special-offers

Pricing

MONKIDO AERIAL ADVENTURE

ClassicAges 12+$42.99
BuddyAges 7-11 with an adult in the trees$35.99 per guest
KidsAges 7-13$22.99

WHAT'S TO FEAR JUMP

Single WTF JumpAges 7+$19.99
Monkido add-onAges 7+$14.99
Season PassholdersAges 7+$14.99







Monday 22 September 2014

The Shiatsu Shaman's Wife: A Story of New Beginnings

Welcome to my blog, ShiatsuShaman's Wife.  I few years ago I thought I would never find love again.  Divorce is about ending a relationship and being able to move on to a new life. I wanted to start on a happy note, so I start this blog with a marriage ceremony, a beginning of a new life.   In this blog I will share my experiences, feelings, events and the path that I took to get here.  Believe it or not, despite the despair of divorce the passion for life does come back.  My passion is living healthily and holistically with Shiatsu Therapy as a culture (a way of life) and of course being married to the Shiatsu Shaman.