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BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU
At Fierce Studio, we offer a
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yoga, kickboxing, and circuit training.
Learn functional movement methods
from our experts that strengthen,
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76
YAM MAGAZINE
BEST PLACES
TO PLAY IN VICTORIA
Outdoor Play
Play like an Ewok in Westshore at WildPlay’s Monkido Aerial
Adventure — a series of suspended obstacle games including
tightropes, cargo nets, and rope swings. Want a little more
adrenaline? WildPlay’s Nanaimo location also offers bungy
jumping, Primal Swing, and zip lines. > wildplay.com
Put your scouting skills (and smartphone GPS) to use and
try geocaching. Explore the local landscape while connecting
with a network of enthusiasts. Check out the Geocaching
Community of Greater Victoria on Facebook, Vancouver
Island GPS, or an intro geocaching jaunt with City of Victoria
Recreation. > vigps.com
Gym Class Hero
With a tagline of “Recess for Adults… Just Play,” Victoria Sport and Social Club offers
team sports from dodgeball to the grade-school favourite Capture the Flag. The All Sorts
of Sports & Pub Social, geared to individuals, is a fantastic way to connect with other
fun-loving grown-ups and get a little exercise outside of the gym. > vssc.ca
Don’t let the fear of aggressive play scare you off paintball. TNT Paintball emphasizes
friendly rivalry, fun, and safety over winning. It’s not just for the men; playful brides
have been suiting up their girlfriends in thrifted bridesmaid dresses to throw bachelorette
parties, paintball style. > tntpaintball.com
Creativity Channel
Vancouver Island School of Art has workshops that emphasize material exploration and
creative connection over the finished outcome, perfect for adults looking to reconnect
with their artistic side. Try Watercolour Play (February 16) or Collage: Expressing Your
Innate Creativity (April 20); both are sure to stoke your artistic fire.
> vancouverislandschoolart.com
WildPlay Element Parks
FIERCE
While emphasizing his specialty is in
teachers or improv theatre instructors,
childhood play, Mueller also points out that
people who maintain playful activities.”
nobody really knows much about how — or
Enter Dave Morris, professional player.
why — adults play. “You’ve hit on a real
The Play’s the Thing
research gap. I’d be surprised if you found
If you’re looking for a local expert on
an expert on this subject anywhere in the
playing, look no further than professional
world,” he says. “There’s an idea that the
improviser Dave Morris. With well over a
kind of pretend play preschoolers use gets
decade as both an improv theatre performer
replaced by games with rules, like sports
and instructor under his imaginary belt,
and activities, and construction play like
Morris is proud to play for a living. “I never
LEGO… but there’s a real disinterest and
really work, I just play all day,” he says with
lack of research on the importance of play
a sly smile. “All I do is teach and perform
for adults.”
improvisation. But even
Mueller puts much of
though I do this for a living,
this down to how we’re
for money, I don’t consider
conditioned as we
it work; I consider it
move out of childhood
play.”
and into young
Despite his raised
adulthood. “As adults,
“Play is about
eyebrows, Morris
we lose the spontaneity
engaging in
is serious. Whether
and the innocence of
things for joy.”
appearing at the 2011
play. It’s not efficient,
Victoria TEDx conference
it’s not productive —
(he returns as host for the 2012 installment
which is the point of playing, of course.”
on November 17) or doing inspirational
“Since it’s not encouraged, or considered
corporate talks, Morris knows a playful path
appropriate for adults, we hesitate to do
can actually pay off.
it. That said, there are different kinds of
“The education system we have puts
activities where you find playfulness in
an emphasis on working, not playing,” he
adulthood in almost every person, and
explains. “We’re tested and we pass or fail on
that’s important.”
our ability to remember things; our creativity
When asked for specific examples,
is never really encouraged or brought out.
Mueller pauses and considers. “What you
We grow out of playing and into working.”
should look at are people like preschool