Relaxation Day
National Relaxation Day Coming to Canada
Laid Back Communities Intense About Chilling Out
on Relaxation Day Countdown!
There's a holiday on August 15th? While not a Canadian holiday staple, Parksville-Qualicum Beach has lifted National Relaxation Day from their U.S. neighbours and planted it firmly on the shores of their oceanfront communities.
"Call this a benefit of NAFTA, maybe think of it like borrowing the lawnmower from your neighbour, but we love the idea of National Relaxation Day, and there's no better place to bring it to, or celebrate it," said Parksville Mayor Chris Burger while dipping his toes in the sand and placid warm waters of his temporary "office" on the shores of Parksville Beach.
"When you think of kicking back and really relaxing - where and what do you think of? Commuting all day on scorching hot asphalt, or do you picture beaches, cool drinks, and the smell of sunscreen in the air? We've got the latter in abundance - so, we're a natural fit."
Life is filled with daily stressors all bound to give most people a standing date with a headache, tight shoulders, and high blood pressure. And the buzz-kill continues, with many suffering lack of sleep because of their battle with stress.
"When you go to your doctor they don't tell you: you need to work more, sleep less, and above all, make sure stress is a big part of your daily routine," said Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek.
Westbroek added that while it seems out of character to annex National Relaxation Day from their friends to the south, when you look at what the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area has to offer, "you'll know we take relaxation seriously here, so there's no question where Canada's relaxation destination rightfully belongs."
Burger said being on *the Top Island in the Continental U.S. and Canada, with kilometres of the country's best sandy beaches, 18 provincial and regional parks, 6 golf courses, incredible spas, casual farmer's markets, and festivals, Parksville-Qualicum Beach is all about "a chilled out lifestyle," so it's only fitting that they become "the fulcrum of a relaxation resurgence."
Welcome to our Countdown to Relaxation Day! Every day, from now until August 15, 2012 (National Relaxation Day), we will be focusing on yet another great way to relax in our region.
While the origin or National Relaxation Day is somewhat hazy, generally information points to National Slacker Day in Great Britain. But that idea was picked up in the United States to remind people that life did not revolve just around the office. So, in an effort break the cycle of perpetual work for at least one day in order to stop smell the roses, National Relaxation Day was born.
We too think life is too short to simply spend our days in toil. And when you live in an area with an abundance of reasons to take a break and just relax – National Relaxation Day seems like a perfect fit here.
So, enjoy our salute to National Relaxation Day and see why we take kicking back so seriously in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach region.
10. Spas and “Aaahhhs.” Grab some cucumbers for your eyes, whip up a honey oatmeal mask, dust off your Spa Sounds CD, and veg out with some personal pampering “you” time at home. Oh wait – it’s summer and the kids are home. On second thought, maybe visiting Tigh Na Mara’s Grotto Spa, Pacific Shores Aqua Terre, or Living Well Body Works in Qualicum Beach would be a better idea.
9. True Relaxation is an Art Form. There’s probably no better place to adopt this message than in Qualicum Beach’s Old School House Art Centre. Disconnect from your smartphone, computer, and daily toil, and peacefully lose yourself in one of the exhibitions, marvelling at colours, shapes, and artistic pursuits.
8. Relaxation Tips from our Furry Friends. Pets can help you relax. They are, after all, highly-practiced at the art of relaxation, and they definitely know when it’s time to shut it down. No pet to give you some love on National Relaxation Day? Visit the goats chilling on the roof at Coombs Market - they give a whole new meaning to “relaxed.” Coombs is also home to a Butterfly Garden and North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.
7. Acres of Greens, From Nanoose through Qualicum Beach. Sometimes you just have to hit something to release pent up stress and tension. So, whether it’s at 9-hole Brigadoon, Les Furber-designed Fairwinds, or Morningstar’s PGA course, line up that golf shot and smack the bejeebers out of the little white ball. In between strokes, breath deep, enjoy a casual walk (or ride) along rolling fairways, and soak in the carpet of green – a color proven to lessen stress and enhance calm.
6. Get Moving at Cathedral Grove. Who said you need to be still to relax? Get off the couch, step away from your computer, and spend a few hours wandering among the ancient giants of this lush old-growth forest. When these centuries-old trees breathe out oxygen, it’ll restore you in no time and make you feel revitalised.
5. Little Qualicum Falls. Get your “Om” On. Balance your chakras, pull out a couple of savasanas, brush up on your Pranayama, and Om your way to Vipassana at the edge of Little Qualicum Falls. The natural sound of water running over rocks and splashing into crystalline pools will serenade your stress away. Take a few slow, deep breaths and feel your body melt into a floppy, wet noodle. Warning: side effects may include enhanced consciousness.
4. Balance & Harmony at Milner Gardens. Kick back with your very own tea party for two. Sip on green tea (known for its calm-inducing compounds), breathe in the fresh air, and wander amongst woodlands and gardens - you can already feel your pulse rate slow.
3. Bury Your Troubles at Horne Lake Caves. Leave your worries above ground, or, better yet, bury them beneath the surface (and leave them there!) as you explore the secret underground world of caves at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park.
2. Kayak the Winchelsea Islands. Let time slip by peacefully as you claim the ocean for yourself in this isolated and tranquil paradise in the Straight of Georgia - sometimes you just need to get away from it all, really away from it all.
1. SUP-ing at Sunset along Rathtrevor Beach. You can perfect the art of Stand Up Paddleboarding in the warm, placid and protected waters of Parksville Beach. You’ll feel as though you’re walking on water as you are bathed in the pink and orange glow of one of the area’s epic sunsets.
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