notes: my favorite hydration brand and one of the only ones in the world that actually has enough sodium to make a difference! Less salty taste than LMNT and no artifical sweeteners.

🔥 To the only greens supplement I've ever actually enjoyed drinking, and their willingness to jump head in to support the athletes on every event I'm part of @bioedgesciences

🤤 The only brand who I blindly trust every product they make, and I can finally go back to my daily consumption of egg white protein @blonyx

💦The hands down best tasting and actually refreshing ready to drink whey protein on the market @team.gud

🍬The newest on my brands/products I'm completely obsessed with and consume daily @gotgummygainz

👕My printer for every piece of apparel I've done with @raincityathls or @functionalfitnessleague in the last 6+ (maybe more?) years @whiterabbitcreative

🙏Thank you to @claytonphysio for their generous donation of massages & more which we gifted to my good friends (and old bosses) at @hybridathletic who stepped up to save my 🍑 and host this awesome event

🤩Also big shout out to @bodyenergyclub for the athlete bags, @celsius_canada for a caffeinated energy drink that doesn't make me think of alcohol.

🤝Also massive thank you to @djrhynoyvr who couldn't make it but lent me the gear to make sure the tunes were poppin, @hyroxkyle for coming out to show represent the #hyrox community and show that all versions of #functionalfitness can be friends, and @harboursideyouthfoundation for everything they do to support me and my @raincityfitclub kids.

I don't remember much from the weekend, but I do remember a few moments of looking up and realizing the line of tents at the event were literally all of my favorites in a row, and that meant a lot 🤗

#thortakespics (just not of the brands he loves apparently).

#functionalfitness #sportoffitness #canadianfunctionalfitness #nationalchampionships #CFFFpartners #brands #supportlocal #canadianbrands

In a time where almost anything, from online reviews to personal identities can be replicated or faked, the importance of maintaining and surrounding ourselves with genuine, trustworthy relationships has never been more crucial.

Over the next couple of years, it will be vital to be part of a community that genuinely prioritizes your well-being, and where you can be confident that your best interests are in mind—something that, realistically, is only achieved by small, and even more so local businesses.

As we all know by now—Loblaws doesn’t care about you, your health, your happiness, or your wellbeing in any capacity, and I hate to break it to ya—neither does Netflix, Anytime Fitness, Facebook, or anything in between. This became painfully apparent during the pandemic; while major corporations maximized their profits, good local businesses focused on ensuring their clients felt safe and supported in a time when they needed it more than ever. While corporate giants saw record profits, small businesses took on more debt to ensure they could continue to provide a safe space for their communities. Not only that, but knowing how much local businesses were suffering we ran additional campaigns to help support local restaurants (like our neighbors To Dine For), to help ensure they’d survive the pandemic - even when we weren’t sure if Raincity was going to.

To the big corporations, you are a number that they want to squeeze as much capital out of as possible. Of course, a small business needs to create capital as well—but for us to do that, we interact with you daily, we collect feedback, we put our clients first, and we mold our services to what our community needs. That’s the power and importance of small businesses, and that is what will be CRUCIAL for our health (both physical and mental) over the coming years.

Still waiting for my invite to Anytime Fitness’ Ice Cream Crawl #RaincityIceCream

Supporting Local is a Two-Way Street

Over the past four years, my Disney+ subscription has doubled - and we get notified of these increases via a no-reply email address… Imagine if your local shop tried to pull that off?

I’ve had a lot of conversations over the years of owning multiple small businesses where clients bring up how long they’ve supported Raincity via paying for a membership. Obviously, this is an integral part of our business and I greatly appreciate anyone who chooses to spend their hard-earned $$ with us; but I am also confident in the product we sell.

For a couple hundred dollars a month, we’ve provided not only awesome workout classes, but a local community, lifelong friendships, and likely a higher level of health and fitness than you ever thought you’d achieve - so aren’t we supporting each other?

Unlike the corporate giants, small businesses don’t have the opportunity to profit off you (aka your data) outside of the services you pay us for. And since we typically operate in competitive, location-based industries, we don’t have monopolies that allow us to set our own prices knowing you can’t go anywhere else. You can be confident we’ll never send you a price increase notice from a no-reply email address.

Lastly, it’s a two-way street because local businesses actually care about you, not just how much capital we can generate from you. We’re on the ground and face-to-face with our clients and community; we get joy out of seeing your results and your enjoyment of our products. We do what we do because we love it, and because we love what it allows us to provide to our local clients and community. But in a world where capital is king, this model isn’t sustainable without a little extra help. Thus, the goal of this post is not merely a call to action; it's an invitation to actively participate in nurturing our local communities (and the small businesses that create/support them) so they can thrive as we head into a time where our mental and physical well-being are going to need them more than ever.

HOW TO Show Support for Your Favorite Local Business

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be expanding on each of these ideas, with easy, direct, and actionable things that you can do that won’t cost you a penny but will have a huge benefit for the growth and sustainability of our favorite local businesses. We’re going to link to ways you can directly do these things with Raincity - but we’re sure your favorite local shop has similar options. If you’re a local shop looking to improve your accessibility and communication with your community, feel free to contact us - we’re happy to help :)

Ok we said ‘free’ ways - this one might cost you a little bit, but chances are you already own some gear, so just take an extra second to try to wear that gear more :)

• Local businesses don’t have the advertising budget of the big kids—so getting our logos out there as much as possible is CRUCIAL.
• The likelihood of someone asking you about it and following through to look us up is 10x higher if they see a logo on a friend, as opposed to a billboard.
• Even if people don’t ask you about it, visibility is key—and the more times they see it, eventually, they’ll be curious enough to see what we’re all about - especially if they see what awesome people there are ;)

This one's super simple and massive—again, without the advertising budget, you’ll rarely get spammed with ads from a local business—so every time you like or share something from us is massive.

• Engagement is everything—sitting on your phone doomscrolling? Pop over to your favorite local business account and make sure you’ve liked everything on their feed and even throw down a few comments or tag some friends.
• Regardless of the latest algorithm - they all know that you’re more inclined to be hooked onto something that your friend is already/also interested in - so your comments or shares on a small business post will almost do more for them than if they paid for ads.
• This helps not only drive engagement but LOCAL engagement from your friends and followers, who are much more likely to become clients.

This is always a hard one, we get it - you found your dream community that’s a nice break from your regular circle of friends or work colleagues, and you don’t want to have to go on a waitlist to get into classes. There’s a reason why the big studios (aka Barry’s, Ride, etc) have aggressive (12-24 hour) cancellation policies with no refunds; because they know that their number 1 priority is a full class.

• You can talk about how much you love something, but just like you weren’t hooked until you tried it out - your friends will be the same. Bring them in to try out a class or a sample of whatever product your favorite local shop has.
• There’s no amount of money you can spend at a local business that will match if you refer a handful of friends, who hopefully also become lifelong customers.
• Is there a reason your friends don’t want to join? Well then….

This is probably the most underappreciated one—as we’ve discussed, one of the biggest reasons to support local is because they actually care about you and your feedback.

• Provide constant and constructive feedback, no matter how big or small. It doesn’t mean that things will change because of your comment, but we’re always listening, and if something comes up enough times, we begin to plan changes around it.
• Local businesses provide a local experience - they’re not told what to do by someone in another country which is why they’re able to tailor their product to the needs of their local community - so make sure they what those needs are!

More Info…

Questions?

• Email info@raincityathletics.ca
• Or checkout our FAQ: www.rncty.ca/faq

Feedback?

• Our members can utilize our anonymous feedback form ANYTIME: www.rncty.ca/feedback
  (password the same as RAthletes wifi posted in the gym)

Want to try us out?

• Whether you know someone at Raincity or not - schedule your free trial today: www.rncty.ca/join

Want to bring a friend?

• Have them register for a free trial FB class, or just email info and we’ll help you get them setup! www.rncty.ca/free-class

Thank you @ryu_apparel for always being so supportive of me and all my (not so little) projects.

It was awesome to get to share a room with crossfitter from affiliates all over the lower mainland, and I'm pretty excited for everything coming down the pipeline.

Thank you to everyone who's helped get it his far. Excited to keep it rolling!

If you're gyms not listed it means we need someone representing your box at the table so shoot me a DM and let's get you on the team!

#Repost @functionalfitnessleague
・・・
A huge thank you to @ryu_apparel for hosting our ambassadors tonight at their metrotown location so we could taco about how to make the league the best it can be. #tacotuesday #tacoboutit

The Functional Fitness League is not only about bringing recreational weekly league format games to the sport you already love, but it's uniting all the incredible communities in the region.

The #FFLAmbassador program gives us a touch point at every affiliate so we can not only get feedback, but also help make sure your affiliate is kept up to date on what's going on!

Got feedback or questions? Talk to your ambassador!
Gym doesn't have one? Apply now!

League.fit/ambassadors-partners

@girl.in.a.dress // @surreyathletics
@mikxrock @salina.autumn // @semiahmooathleticclub
@flashmawji // @studeocrossfit
@sthom21 // @driftwoodcrossfit
@haveanicedavedude // @crossfit_cbc
@thesmallcimo // @dogsdencrossfit
@nikkicvitrealtor // CrossFit Overdrive
@laurentindale @_amandalei // @raincityathls

@julietafb_ // @athlete_inside
@jaimealmond @s.dnldsn // @functionalfitnessleague

@thor604 // Commissioner

#functionalfitnessleague #fitnessleague #fitleague #crossfit #beerleaguecrossfit #sports

If you haven’t met the incredible team we’ve got at raincity, head over to rncty.ca/staff and meet the squad.

On top of that, I’ve connected with some awesome brands & people who have shown me unwavering support, and some amazing products.

@ryu_apparel is sweeping across Canada with more and more incredible products, but that’s not even the companies highlight. They embody everything I believe in, offering free workout classes in their stores, and supporting any and all of my ridiculous endeavours including fundraisers and other projects. They’re not just keeping me feeling/looking good, they’re building a community - and that’s how all businesses should be built.

@endurapparel is keeping my sock (and now underwear) addiction fuelled. We got a set of custom branded ones done for @raincityathls and I was instantly obsessed. Hit me up if your sock or underwear game needs to be stepped up!

@athlete_inside has grown from a friend wanting to take some pictures, to a feed that brings tears to my eyes with her ability to capture and document some incredible moments. Expect big things, and I’ll be sharing more of her stuff later 😃

On top of working with these brands I’ve worked alongside numerous other small businesses and facilities to help them grow or figure out the next steps.

Never hesitate to shoot me a note and hit-up a coffee to talk about working together, or how I can help / support you.
Simondamborg.com

#thorpretendstobeabigdeal

#thordoestheexerciseandspamstheinternets
#athleteinside
#rathletes #Raincityathletics
#beautifultough

Joce was the first official (non friends and family) member of Raincity Athletics over 4 years ago.

Now she's helping her own classes #findyourfit as Ride Cycle Club's newest instructor, go try it out!

#RaincityRIDE Promotion

   Book Your Ride

Raincity Athletics will pay for half the class for any #RAthletes that drop in Joce's classes - just tag @raincityathls #raincityRIDE @joceerickson. (details below)

#RaincityRIDE Promotion Details

• Only open Raincity Athletics members who are on a monthly membership or contract
• Only one per member
• The photo must be posted to Instagram or facebook for validation (can be removed after)
• Credit will be applied to members next bill

Throughout this series you'll learn:

1. Who the go-to movement experts are in Olympic Village

2. The first steps you can take to increase the quality of your movement

3. The easiest ways to get fit in the least amount of time

All of which lead to benefits like:

• Increased energy

• Improved stamina

• More endurance

• Better coordination

• Restful sleep

• A happier life

This one is for anyone struggling to fit movement into their busy lives, former athletes who have fallen off track, or those who have never been active and don't know where to start.

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP SOMEONE CAN TAKE TO INCREASE THEIR ACTIVITY?

SIMON "THOR" DAMBORG

OWNER/HEAD COACH @ RAINCITYATHLETICS.CA

Start slow and simple!

Too many people jump into extreme programs chasing dramatic results, which increases their risk of injury and the likelihood that they quit. Instead, focus long-term. Build a basic healthy lifestyle where physical activity of any kind is a regular part of your life. Once that base is built, you can increase intensity and complexity.

We treat every athlete at Raincity Athletics exactly like that… AS AN ATHLETE. Whether they're a pro or it's their first time off the couch, the same basic principles of periodization and preparation apply.

A strong base is best achieved through small lifestyle changes and a supportive community, which guarantee longevity in health.

Check out the full post to see the other experts advice: http://www.thepowerhousevancouver.com/boost-activity-4-experts/

Throughout this series you'll learn:

1. Who the go-to movement professionals are in Olympic Village

2. The first steps you can take to increase the quality of your movement

3. The easiest ways to get fit in the least amount of time

All of which lead to benefits like:

• Increased energy

• Improved stamina

• More endurance

• Better coordination

• Restful sleep

• A happier life

WHAT DRIVES YOU TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING AND DO WHAT YOU DO?

SIMON "THOR" DAMBORG

OWNER/HEAD COACH @ RAINCITYATHLETICS.CA

For years I struggled with what some would call 'manorexia' or 'bigorexia'. I spent 1-3 hours a day in the gym bodybuilding, chasing aesthetics. My mood was determined by how satisfied I was with what I saw in the mirror, more than the aesthetics themselves. I yo-yoed between extreme training programs and diets.

When I discovered CrossFit and functional training, my focus shifted to what I could DO instead of how I looked. I lost almost 40 pounds in under 8 months, and ended up leaner, stronger, and looking better than I ever did chasing aesthetics directly.

90% of clients come to me with aesthetic goals, but a focus on aesthetics never satisfies. My mission is to build my clients into badasses who can do things they never imagined possible. Once they can, they're satisfied with how they look too.

Checkout the full post for the rest of the expert opinions: http://www.thepowerhousevancouver.com/olympic-village-movement-experts/