FitKarwaan International Yoga Day Picnic 2024
On Saturday, June 22, 2024, the FitKarwaan wellness network hosted its first International Yoga Day picnic full of Yoga sessions, community bonding, yummy food, and joyful moments as we celebrated our love for wellness. The picnic took place from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs in Calgary.
Asian Heritage Health and Wellness in Harmony Park 2023
FitKarwaan Foundation was honored to be a host organization for the 2023 Asian Heritage Health and Wellness event held at Harmony Park. With over 500 attendees on May 31st from 10AM to 2PM, our team hosted 3 hour-long yoga sessions, connected with members of the Calgary community, and our Founder Dr. Punam gave a lecture on the importance of gut health and how to use holistic wellness in our everyday lives. The best part - THE WHOLE EVENT WAS 100% FREE TO ATTEND! Thank you to the Asian Heritage Foundation for organizing this amazing event, inviting us, and spreading awareness about health and wellness. This was a great opportunity to showcase the various diverse modalities by which Asian Canadians partake in wellness and we look forward to being back next year!
FitKarwaan Health and Wellness Camp 2022
From August 29th to September 2nd 2022, for 2 hours everyday from 5PM-7PM, the FitKarwaan team hosted our first IN-PERSON EVENT at the Genesis Center in Calgary, AB. This camp focused on disease management for seniors and minority communities through 1) Yoga Asanas, 2) Health Seminars, and 3) Wellness Workshops. The camp was 100% FREE TO ATTEND FOR ALL DAYS, there were FREE SNACKS, and we gave away over 60 FREE WELLNESS EQUIPMENT (yoga mat, stretch bands, dumbbells) to in-person registrants, and the joy of free yoga classes to our many more virtual participants! Special thanks to the Genesis Center and Rising Youth Canada for awarding FitKarwaan Foundation two community grants for our project. We provided a detailed resource package to all our participants that covered the health and wellness materials.
FitKarwaan Teacher Appreciation and Social
In the first week of March 2022, our FitKarwaan Team participated in a FitKarwaan Social event at a local restaurant (whilst following all COVID-19 protocol). There was amazing food, our Calgary participants shared how FitKarwaan has played a positive role in their lives, and we took some time to appreciate not only our stellar instructors and facilitators, but some of our most dedicated participants. It was great to meet many participants in-person for the first time!
Excess VAT Removal Program (EVATR)
“VAT” stands for Visceral Adipose Tissue aka "Belly Fat", which is an indicator of heart health. In this this two week program which ran from December 19 2021 to January 2nd 2022 (2 weeks), our instructors delivered specialized classes focused on targeting belly fat. We had stellar turnout with over 200 participants that regularly attended and most saw visible results of reduction in their waist line or/and firmer stronger core. Through this program we not only provided a mechanism to feel good but look healthier.
In addition to this, "Off the Mat" practices aided EVATR. This included lifestyle tips such as starting the day with big glass of warm water with fresh lemon and ginger juice, food tips which included omitting of white refined sugar and replacing it with a piece of fresh fruit, or using honey, agave or pure maple syrup (in limited quantities) as a sugar substitute, eating fibre-rich foods, incorporating fermented foods in your diet, eating slowly, and carefully reading food labels.
Spring 2022 Donation Drive
To work towards our goal of Giving Back, our team hosted a hugely successful donation drive in the Calgary area where our Calgary Network donated clothes, toys, decoration items, and more for the local donation center.
Summer 2022 FitMunching E-Book Launch
With the support of all our participants, we launched the FitMunching E-Book during the summer of 2021. This unique recipe book contains healthy and fun ways to please both your taste and your body, and is filled with recipes graciously given by our community members! Check out the Digital Resources section to see for yourself!
30 Days of Prayer for Residential School Survivors and Victims
In September 2022, all FitKarwaan Members joined together for 30 days to pray for the children whose bodies were uncovered in unmarked graves across Canada. The impacts of colonialism and Residential Schools are still hurting Indigenous people today, and it is our responsibility to learn more about how we can do our part to support them. Indigenous peoples have some of the poorest health outcomes in the country, and FitKarwaan pledges to do all to stand against discrimination, and support our brothers and sisters.
Spring 2022 Yoga Retreat
The FitKarwaan team had the opportunity to host a week-long Yoga retreat in the spring of 2021 which featured morning and evening yoga sessions. Here, over 200 members from 15 cities worldwide attended. The evening sessions were special Restorative Yin Yoga designed by Dr. Punam Chohan and focused on rehabilitative poses to help us destress, and detoxify. Stayed tuned for this year’s retreat!
International Yoga Day Radio Talk
Dr. Punam Chohan was a special guest on Calgary RedFM’s Roshni Program on International Yoga Day to talk about how Yoga can be a powerful tool for holistic health. Click the button below to listen!
Women’s Day Mental Health Lecture
It was a great pleasure to be a panelist and guest lecturer at the annual Women’s Day celebration where Dr. Punam discussed various techniques to grapple with mental health challenges in the pandemic. We were joined by Mayor Nenshi, Mayor Gondek, and the Leader of Opposition of Alberta’s Legislature the Hon. Rachel Notley.