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Zoom allows personal trainer Mara Seipp-Katz to help clients get through pandemic shutdowns

Mara Seipp-Katz

By MYRON LOVE It was one of the lowest points in Mara Seipp-Katz’s life.
The date was March 12, 2020. The personal trainer had just returned with her family from a visit to Israel only to learn that the gym she was contracting out of in Calgary was closed until further notice due to the Covid outbreak.

“We went straight into isolation as soon as we got back,” recalls the daughter of retired Winnipeg high school teacher Al Katz and Jacqueline Seipp, founder of One More Candle. “This was the first time in my life that I felt such anxiety. I didn’t know what I was going to do or how I was going to be able to work if I couldn’t work with my clients on a face-to-face basis.”
It took her a few days to pull herself together. “I realized that a lot of people still needed me,” she says. “Then one of my clients suggested that we try Zoom. I knew nothing about it, but I figured I would give it a try.”
“It worked out just fine. It is amazing how many new doors it opened for me. I have clients not only across western Canada but also in the United States now.”

The irony for Seipp-Katz – who was nominated in late 2019 as one of Calgary’s top five personal trainers – out of a field of more than 1,000 – is that, until roughly 17 years ago, she was a self-described couch potato. “I hated gym class,” says the Kelvin High School graduate who grew up in River Heights.
Nor was she interested in group sports.
What led to her change in attitude, she says, is that she loves challenging herself and found a way to make weight training and gym workouts fun. “I learned about a fitness facility that provided personal training,” she recounts. “It was hard work – but I found my calling.”

According to her Push Performance website, she trained for three years with an elite level personal trainer in Winnipeg, as well as training with CFL and NHL professional athletes. She developed a comprehensive knowledge base of personal training techniques for all skill levels. The main focus of this training was for sport specific strength and conditioning.
Later, while living first in Kelowna, then Victoria, she focused on gaining expertise in core strength, injury prevention, dynamic fitness, cardiovascular endurance, Olympic lifts, power movements, and muscular strength.
She notes that she has completed the Fitness Theory and Weight Training course with BCRPA, the Personal Training course with BCRPA, and the internationally recognized National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer program.
Covid and Zoom led her to expand her own business – Push Performance – and – last spring – to move back to Winnipeg from Calgary where she had been living for the past seven years, contracting out of one of the city’s top boutique fitness facilities.. (She had previously been living and working as a personal trainer in Victoria for ten years.)
“It was a seamless move coming back here,” she notes. “I think it was beshert. During Covid, I wanted to be back with my family.
”After 17 years away, I am seeing Winnipeg with new eyes.”

She notes that she works with people of all ages. “Among my specialties is helping clients get started and weight loss,” she observes. “For my senior clients, the goal is to keep them moving so that they can continue to function in relatively good health.”
Seipp-Katz reports that her Zoom sessions with clients generally range from 45 to 60 minutes. She points out that her clients don’t need a lot of gym equipment around the house – although a pair of dumbbells would be a good start.
“For fitness and weight training, I can work with stairs and whatever people have around the house,” she says.
Her role is to demonstrate the exercises and explain how they are done. “I also work at providing motivation for my clients to keep at it,’ she adds.
Every client receives a personalized regimen. “I work with every client based on his or her needs and abilities,” she points out. “Wherever possible, I try to make the exercises fun.”
“I find what I do – helping people keep fit – to be very rewarding. I have built special relationships with many of my clients. They inspire me.”
Mara is in no hurry to go back to the gym.
Interested readers can contact Seipp-Katz at www.pushperformance.net.
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Features

The Allure of Cherry Scents in Modern Fragrance Trends

Cherry-scented perfumes have become the new darling of the fragrance world. Thanks to their fruity notes and unique ability to bring out sophistication and warmth, cherry perfumes are an emerging trend in the modern world of scents.

One of the most famous perfumes of the generation is the Tom Ford Lost Cherry and the well-loved fragrance is simply unbeatable. They’re so developed, deep, and warm. For customers looking for a more affordable option, perfumes like Ambery Cherry have found a nice middle between luxury and attainability.

Why Cherry Scents Are Having a Moment

Cherry fragrances offer sophistication, freshness, and complexity. These perfumes strike a perfect balance between sweetness and adulthood, making them suitable for any occasion and mood. Cherries are a symbol of indulgence, delectability, and nostalgia. There are several fragrance users who want more than just a nice and simple scent; they’re looking for a story too.

For this reason, a lot of perfumers have gotten extra inventive with their cherry notes, including other notes that establish a unique story. Almond notes, tonka bean, smoky undertones – anything that can place wearers directly on a unique pedestal in an olfactory universe. With this newfound creativity, cherry-scented perfumes have become a genre of their own in the world of luxury perfumes.

Cherry Fragrances and the Senses

Just imagine the moment when someone with cherry fragrance sprays it on their skin. The first notes that blossom through are of tangy, sweet cherry juice. You are then transported to an orchard bathed in sunlight. That is the kind of sensory experience you get with a cherry fragrance.

They’re the right mix of elegant and playful and warm and bold. Again, the likes of Tom Ford Lost Cherry have raised the bar when it comes to making a perfect fragrance. This has, in turn, resulted in the likes of Ambery Cherry becoming easily available to the masses.

Cherry Scents as Personal Statements

Fragrances are not just some additional accessory but an extension to your personality. Cherry fragrances, with their warmth and alluring nature, allow the wearer to make some pretty unforgettable, striking statements everywhere they go. The kind of people who stop and give them a try are people who enjoy timeless elegance while remaining modern and fresh! There is something about cherry fragrances that intrigues you. You just can’t pinpoint what it is but they smell divine.

Finding the Perfect Cherry Fragrance

Given that cherry fragrances are so hot right now, you might find yourself doing a double take as you try to navigate your next move. The best way to decide is to choose one that aligns with your personal style. If your tastes run to the daring and complex, Tom Ford Lost Cherry might tickle your fancy.

If you are after a comparable experience at a more appropriate price tag, there are options like Ambery Cherry as alternatives. They make cherry perfumes accessible to everyone, no matter how deep their pockets are. This will only mean that more of us will experience and fall in love with this note.

Embrace the Cherry Trend

Cherry perfumes are for everyone but many already know this, especially now that there are affordable alternatives. For those who are regular shoppers at luxury perfume counters, don’t let this amazing scent escape your growing collection. Welcome to the beautiful world of cherry perfumes. Now that there are pocket-friendly yet luxurious editions, what is stopping you from considering them?

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Exploring the Technology Behind CrazyVegas’s Seamless Gameplay

With the fastest load speeds, the smoothest play, the most reliable form of security and so many more exciting extras, going with this CrazyVegas online casino really is like magic. But what’s behind all these, you ask? What are the crazy ins and outs of the system that continually delivers the fun and excitement to you, the player?

Advanced Servers for Lightning-Fast Performance

Nothing ruins an awesome gaming experience quite like lag — or bugs. Overheated servers, not enough server-pressure points, and even the choice of a hard drive over a solid-state drive because if the host is lagging, you’re lagging. And at CrazyVegas, we don’t do “lagging,” or its little brother, downtime.

Because as cool as all of the above is and more, we are focused on keeping the good times rolling with as little interruption on your desktop, tablet, or mobile and hassle-free infrastructure.

Cutting-edge Graphics Powered by HTML5

The design makes or breaks the online casino. Some even say it’s as important as games. With HTML5 used in CrazyVegas, there’s nothing to worry about. The game design and graphics look and act just about the part. All modes can be played on any size screen without a clumsy or confusing transition.

From playing that latest slot to getting into that poker final and anything in between. There’s a clear view of all the visuals and there are no visual bugs that make it painful on the eyes. All thanks to magical HTML5.

AI and Machine Learning for Personalized Experiences

Beneath the system, the AI and machine learning algorithms are creating a uniquely designed gaming world for each player. CrazyVegas uses AI to analyze players’ input and then provide real-time gameplay and promotional offers depending on this player’s preferences.

If the AI detects this player has a preference for games that require more strategy (e.g. BlackJack) then this could result in higher table games or even more game tips to help you play and win. This has made the system create an experience built for the people who play it. But decentralized at the same time.

Secure Transactions with Blockchain Integration

Security is paramount in any online casino, and CrazyVegas doesn’t disappoint. By utilizing blockchain technology, this online casino can provide an unprecedented level of security (and transparency) online — beyond anything else in the industry. With blockchain, user funds are safe and games are fairer.

Any transaction (e.g., deposit, withdrawal) is encrypted and transmitted securely, channeled onto a decentralized contract ledger that ensures your money plus data are safe from any kind of hack.

Mobile Optimization

With the days we live in now, online gaming is a form of relaxation and this casino is just as good as its competition. It is mobile-friendly, meaning a customer can play whenever, wherever!

Thanks to the design and discomfort of cookies, this online casino is for any player. It doesn’t matter if you are at home or just about anywhere, you can definitely play your favorite games on your mobile.

Fair Play with RNG Technology

One of the most important aspects of online gaming is fairness. CrazyVegas has this well covered and uses Random Number Generator (RNG) technology throughout its games to ensure that all game outcomes are entirely random.

Third-party independent testing ensures this remains the case, and our users can be certain they are all in with a fair and equal chance. And with us, the gameplay really is a play that can be trusted!

The Future of Gaming at CrazyVegas

As technologies evolve, we evolve too. CrazyVegas always follows the edge of the possible and even more, providing all the incredible tech pieces to give you more depth and more awesomeness in your gambling. Imagine walking into your VR casino, chatting with other players and a dealer in real time, or using AR to make your gambling appear right on your dinner table! All the tech pieces are endless, and we will take it all to provide the best new experiences to our players.

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Features

Remembrance of Things Present

Bill Marantz

By BILL MARANTZ When I woke up, on Monday, November 11, I forgot it was Remembrance Day. Or, as the “Chosen People” call it, Groundhog Day. Aka: “today.” True, as usual, I had pinned on a fake poppy (that, as usual, had fallen off) but that is the extent of my involvement in this memorial holiday. You don’t have to be reminded of something you can’t forget.

Take the Holocaust.

Please. As far as Velvel Marantz is concerned, Yom Hashoah is redundant. An annual guilt trip I’ve been on since the age of ten, shortly after Donald Trump’s previous incarnation made an ash of himself, and his “Final Solution” was revealed. To atone for the sin of being born in Canada, and being too young to be forced to risk my life on a European battlefield, I would lie awake, in bed, and torture myself with fantasies of being tossed into a roaring fire, kicking and screaming, as the iron door shut behind me. In my innocence, I didn’t realize it was not my European brothers and sisters that were fuel for Adolph Hitler’s “ovens,” but their lifeless remains.

When I learned the true details of their martyrdom, I had a slightly less harrowing nightmare to conjure up. One that involved “shower rooms” that dispensed Cyclone B, rather than H2O. This may seem like a rather morbid turn of mind but I am not an exception, but the rule. That’s what Judaism is all about. Remembrance of things present. Every morning, the first thing we do, is count our blessings. Recite fourteen prayers of thanks that can be summed up in a single prayer: “Thank you, ha’Shem for letting me wake up.” And every Saturday, and Jewish holiday, we recite a passage from the same book we’ve been reading for several thousand years. Lest we forget where we came from, and where we don’t want to go.

Again.

It’s like a joke my late friend Ron Brooker, who worked for Fox films, used to tell. The Jolson Story and Jolson Sing Again were such big hits that they were thinking of making another sequel: Jolson Sings Again and Again.

Jews dominate the movie industry but we don’t all go to the synagogue. Or “Temple,” as my New York cousins say. Not all Jews are created equal. There are secular Jews, self-hating Jews and assimilated Jews, who don’t “identify” as Jews (to use the current jargon). But there’s no escape. It’s like the Mafia. “Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in!” Judaism is not a choice; it’s “bashert.” A blessing and a curse. Like winning a Gold Medal in the women’s 100 meter butterfly and still having to pee, standing up. To paraphrase my favorite author, Isaac Bashevis Singer: “If you ever forget you’re a Jew, don’t worry, there will always be a Gentile around to remind you.”

Which is why I don’t bother to celebrate Remembrance Day.

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