Fitness Boot Camp

Just a quick bit of admin. Once we complete this Booker we will have covered every winner from 1978-2023. I purposely wanted to cover that range to then expand the list to International Bookers (so we're not stuck doing some 70s books that didn't stand the test of time). This book is challenging, but this is the reward! Ben Okri was the first black and youngest writer to win the Booker. When he was first published his father gathered the elders of his town so they could buy a pen and he could continue writing. This book is an allegory for the transformation of Nigeria from a British colony to an independent nation. Written as magic realism inspired by *One Hundred Years of Solitude,* the novel follows a spirit child of native myths who is repeatably reborn taking multiple journeys through different realities creating a wise and terrifying character. The time scale is simultaneously a present-day ghetto and a primitive village. So the challenging part? The Guardian describes it as a 574 page dream sequence that is really a nightmare where "hardly anything of note occurs" and "pretty much everything you need to know is expressed in the first paragraph." I hope people are up for the challenge and that this is indeed a "Marmite" book where you either love it or hate it. Since starting this book club a few years ago we have formed a nice core membership. If you haven't come yet, please look out for the books on the table, pull up a chair, order a wine and join us. We like to hear what everyone has to say and enjoy the conversation, we're not cliquey at all! Oh, and to defray the Meetup monthly bill I will accept gold coin contributions or wine if you want to pay for multiple in one hit. I hope to see everyone again at this one with some new faces.

\*\*New Cuban Courses will commence Tuesday 7th July x 6 weeks\*\* Rueda de Casino – is a progressive Cuban-style salsa class and a fun way to learn salsa. Its fast paced, danced in a circle and changing partners flowing from one partner to the next Cuban Salsa (Rueda) BEGINNER LEVEL 7.00pm - 8.00pm This course is for absolute beginner to beginner plus students. The first 4 weeks we will cover Cuban Salsa fundamentals, Cuban Flow body movement and basic Cuban steps. The last 2 weeks we will use moves and steps learnt in a progressive wheel (Rueda) pattern. This class can only be purchased as a 6 week course. Course cost $120 For course bookings email gabby@melbournesalsa.com.au *** Cuban Salsa (Rueda) INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 8.00pm - 9.00pm During this 6 week course, you will learn complicated Cuban turns, Rueda dynamics, team patterns and different formations, executing the moves by the caller and dancing in sync at a faster pace. Must have completed 2 x Beg Level Rueda courses before entering Intermedaite level. This class can be purchased as a 6 week course or can be attended casually. Casual $25 (cash or eft pos) Course cost $120 For course bookings email gabby@melbournesalsa.com.au *** These Courses will be held at the Melbourne Salsa studio 1/326 Smith Street Collingwood (Rear entrance via laneway off Bedford street) FREE Parking is available above Woolworths - 2 min walk to our studio. For more details call Melbourne Salsa on 95312023 or email info@melbournesalsa.com.au

This class is designed for ladies who are perhaps new to dance or have not danced for a while and would love to experience the joy of movement again. Our dance steps are simple to follow, and are designed to get you moving, we work on your balance and core strength. Strength training is incorporated into every class. We are here to help you: ✅ Build muscle mass ✅ Strengthen your core ✅ Maintain bone density ✅ Have lots of Fun!!!! Only $12 payable at door, either cash or card.

**🚣‍♀️Ever wanted to try dragon boating?** Join us for a beginner-friendly Saturday morning “Come & Try” session at Docklands—no experience needed. 👉 Just RSVP or message us and come along ⸻ **What to expect:** * Quick safety briefing + basic paddling tips * Join our crew for a real on-water training session * Friendly, supportive environment (perfect for beginners) * ☕ Optional coffee catch-up after ⸻ **What happens after?** If you enjoy it, you can: * Join our weekday trainings (Tues/Thurs evenings) in addition to Saturday sessions * Continue to paddle with us for 30 days free on the Dragon Pass ⸻ **What to bring:** * Comfortable clothes to exercise in * Water bottle * Sun protection * Change of clothes (you may get a little splash) 👉 We provide all equipment (paddle + life jacket) ⸻ Location: Community Hub at the Dock 912 Collin’s Street, Docklands (waterfront side) ⸻ **👊Come give it a go this Saturday!!** No experience needed—just turn up and try it. ⸻ **Can’t make Saturday?** We also train Tuesday & Thursday evenings at 6pm—just reach out and we’ll help you get started. **⸻** **Southern Storm Paddle Club** trains all year around in Docklands, weather permitting. (Rain is not an issue!) If you have any questions, please get in touch with us on Facebook, meetup or email on [southernstormpaddleclub@gmail.com](mailto:southernstormpaddleclub@gmail.com) Follow the team on Social Media @ [https://www.instagram.com/southernstormpc/ ](https://www.instagram.com/southernstormpc/)[https://www.facebook.com/southernstormpaddleclub/](https://www.facebook.com/southernstormpaddleclub/)

Friendly game of five a side indoor football (soccer). Indoor trainers/boots. No studs. Played on timber floor. Bibs will be supplied. Game Rules: Kick ins from the side. Goal keeper must throw the ball out when the ball goes behind. No slide tackles. After each goal a spot kick is taken and the opposing team must stand behind the white line (you'll understand when you get there). Keeper rotates every 6 minutes. If you need to pull out of the game for any reason, please RSVP no and then message the event so that another can potentially fill your spot. Please note that you should do this at least 48 hours (the sooner the better) before the game to allow the chance for someone to take your spot. If we are unable to fill the spot then I will not be able to refund you. Thank you.

This workshop is centred around a simple but often overlooked idea: life moves in seasons and growth does not come from constant output alone. Many of us have been taught to stay in motion, to keep pushing, producing, and progressing. But rest, pause, and recalibration are not setbacks. They are essential for expansion, clarity, and becoming who you are meant to be. When we ignore that, we do not move faster. We move out of sync with ourselves. Instead of focusing only on what you want to achieve, this session invites you to explore what your next season actually looks like. The pace, energy, and priorities that feel aligned for you right now. Together, we will move through guided prompts and facilitated discussion to reflect on where you may be forcing, overextending, or holding onto things that no longer fit. From there, you will bring those insights into form through a hands-on, artistic vision boarding session that is intuitive, tactile, and creatively freeing. This is a gentle but grounding space for thoughtful conversation, creative expression, and shared insight with like-minded women who are also learning to move in rhythm with themselves. No artistic experience needed! Just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to reflect. We'll have the essentials for vision-boarding (scissors, magazine cutouts and paper), but encourage you to bring your own materials as well (think anything extra sparkly and fun). **What to expect** * Guided prompts to explore your current season, your natural rhythm, and what feels aligned for your next chapter * Facilitated group discussion (with space to listen or share) * Physical, creative vision-boarding * A calm, supportive environment to reset and realign **Agenda** *10:00am* — Mingling & settling in *10:30am* — Facilitated group discussion with reflective prompts *11:00am* — Vision boarding (creative session) *12:15pm* — Sharing, reflections & wrap-up Leave with clarity, a sense of alignment, and a visual reminder of the season you are stepping into. **About your facilitator** This event will be facilitated by Nadi Pax (@findingnadi). Nadi is a writer, facilitator, and creator focused on identity, self-trust, and emotional safety. Her work explores how identity is shaped through survival, people-pleasing, and self-abandonment and how it can be consciously rebuilt through awareness, embodiment, and choice. Drawing from lived experience, psychology-informed frameworks, and years of self-inquiry, Nadi creates spaces that feel both grounding and expansive, where women can return to themselves and move forward with clarity.

**Gain The Confidence to Be Unstoppable! Free Class.** How to Achieve Self Confidence! Without question, self confidence is the key to success. It determines how many of your goals you achieve in life and has an enormous impact on your happiness. It affects how people perceive you, your career achievements, your ability to take risks or try new endeavours, as well as your overall attitude toward yourself and others. Self Confidence is something most people would like to have more of, but aren't sure how to get. Did you ever feel more certain of yourself in the past? Would you like to raise your self confidence ? To increase self confidence, you have to understand what reduces it. If you know why this happens you can reverse the situation and rebuild your self esteem. Self Confidence is self-determinism. One's belief in one's ability to determine his own course. As long as one has that, he's go the universe in his pocket. - L. Ron Hubbard. This day you are able to Learn a few things about: • The true source of security in life. • How self-confidence, self respect and self trust interrelate, and what you can do to rehabilitate them. • The exact steps to become more competent in whatever you do. Today's free class will put you into a good position to help you achieve a new level of self-confidence, accomplish more and progress towards a higher level of personal survival. Free parking, Free entree *** Todays free class is open to all people of goodwill and is held at the Life Improvement Centre located at Scientology. Our meetup classes contain universal knowledge that is applicable to all of us and can and is used by anyone of any faith as well as by those with no faith. Our meetups contain TOOLS for better living and they will assist you greatly in achieving your goals! These practical tools can be used straight away!

Join us for Trampoline Fitness hosted by Vida Fitness at Reston Metro Plaza! Enjoy complimentary fitness classes every Tuesday from June 2 - September 1!

Join our weekly walking meetup to have fun, maintain a healthy lifestyle, meet new people, and enjoy nature! We meet Saturdays at 10am, by the bike racks and benches 150 feet in front of BUBBLES Hair Salon in Reston, leaving no later than 10:05. Every week we'll walk the Green Trail to Lake Anne Plaza (\~1 mile), pause there for 5-10 minutes (water, bio, and from April-Nov a Farmer's Market), then circle the lake (2 miles) before returning to our starting point. It's roughly 3.5 miles and takes about an hour and a half. Afterwards, some members will often head to a local restaurant to refuel and relax before tackling the rest of the day. This event is open to all ages and fitness levels, and both friends and dogs are always welcome! We recommend dressing for the weather (umbrella, water bottle, snow shoes, hat, etc.) since we'll always walk, rain or shine. By signing up, you accept and assume all risks and responsibilities with this activity, and nobody will be held liable.

Dive into a transformative experience at our Be Yourself Dance Fitness: Hip hop, Latin dance, African, Bollywood, a FUSION of World Dance! Come feel the vibes!! Awaken Your Spirit. [Come share your love for dance, movement, and spirituality where you will BU & LIVE ALIVE, step outside of your zone, align your chakras through rhythmic expression. Explore the connection between movement and consciousness as we guide you through sound healing sessions and exercises to enhance your spiritual awakening. ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNYX9RVF)Whether you are new to chakras or a seasoned practitioner, Be Yourself Dance Fitness offers something for everyone. Connect with like-minded individuals in a welcoming environment focused on love, happiness, and self-discovery. This event is perfect for those interested in exploring the intersection of dance, spirituality, and fitness. Let go of inhibitions, unleash your creativity, and elevate your mind, body, and soul. Don't miss this opportunity to embark on a journey towards holistic well-being and self-realization. Bring bottle of Water and plenty of attitude. The Event is Free , However, We accept donations $Cash APP $BU314 Venmo: Wayne-Christopher-8

**Our Meetup is off to another hiking adventure! Mt Kilimanjaro, as the tallest mountain in Africa, is included in the 7 Summits of the world.** **It is a bucket-list item for all hard-core hikers and mountain lovers.** We did this trek with Meetup in the summer of 2024 and it was a true experience of a lifetime (see photos below) Let's get to some numbers. It is 5,895m/19,340ft BUT . . . our starting elevation for the trek is 3795m/12541ft As such elevation gain is 2100m/6799ft To compare Everest Base Camp trek, is about 2754m/9035ft elevation change. And Mt Whitney is about 1828m/6000ft elevation change. The key to being able to succeed in this endeavor lays in the route and the support system. We are taking the Lemosho Route via the Northern Circuit. The Northern Circuit route is the longest and newest of the seven established Kilimanjaro routes. It's one of the best routes because it has the best acclimatization profile. This results in one of the highest summit success rates. Add to that stunning views, and comparatively relaxed pace. It is also much less crowded than the other Kilimanjaro routes. As far as our support system: We will be accompanied by experienced guides, porters and cooks. They are certified, ensuring our safety and comfort. Porters will carry our gear. We will have a high ratio of guides to hikers. Our guides will go our pace and support each and everyone of us, regardless of fitness level and pace. In other words...you go your own speed and we all get there safe. More about our trek/trip. As with all our international trips, we picked the best season/time of year to go for weather and wildlife. Lemosho and Northern Circuit is a scenically spectacular and varied route. At the lower elevations it has an abundance of wildlife such as elephant, buffalo, eland and lion which come over to forage during dry season. **Each of our trips is personally crafted to offer the best places and best use of time.** *But I don't have the needed gear?!* You don't need much more than the standard trekker's equipment. We will provide you with a list of what is already included and what can be rented there. *Does this include food?* All meals on the trek potion are included and a cook travels with us! *What is lodging like?* We are sleeping in new and comfortable tents (carried during the day by porters) *I am new at this.* That's OK. We do plenty of prep Zooms before we depart. And in California we have a number of local outdoor day or weekend outings you can test out with us. *How dangerous is this? What if I get sick or hurt?* We will be walking on an established, well used trail the entire time. **Our trip INCLUDES emergency insurance.** We are also Certified Wilderness First Responders and our guides are members of (AMREF) Flying Doctor. **Plain and simple, safety is our primary goal.** *How much does this cost?* **Kilimanjaro Mountain Trek $3950 per person, double occupancy. Land only (airfare not included). Solo supplement $600** Trip Cost includes: \- 9 nights accommodation \- 3 meals everyday on the trek \- All Fees & Entrances and Taxes \- Camping equipment such as tents\, tables\, chairs\. \- Lead Guide\, Assistant Guides\, Porters and Cook *RSVP to this event shows your interest, but does not hold your space.* ***The only way to secure your spot for this trip is a $300 deposit:*** ***[CLICK HERE FOR SECURE DEPOSIT LINK](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/8P9NUAVQM8UEN)*** *Deposit is refundable up to 90 days before the departure (less PayPal fees).* *IF you need an airfare quote,* [Click here to message Anna](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062) For more information about this or any of our other international events, fill out this form: **[INTERNATIONAL MEETUPS INFO REQUEST](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8)** To see pictures from our Kilimanjaro adventure in 2024 [CLICK HERE](https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPkfkUp6sEZVQ-xse1di_K19d1QVmSb5KOLeIjynRoWGv_XFLXI8wBfT61XxAHavg?key=U2tKajBuOGRiZkxBOUtTUG1GbUVRVmlDaERCeG5n) We do a monthly Q & A Zoom: Meet others attending, be social, or come and get any questions answered. [Click Here to RSVP to our Zoom](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/296044209/) The MAIN location where this event is posted: [https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/302872805/](https://www.meetup.com/moretoexplore/events/302872805/) (RSVP there for any conversation and comments) This events is cross posted to several other groups and the number of RSVPs on each is not reflective. We have a set of sister groups where we post our local free, local/regional camping, and our overseas events too. [Click Here ](https://www.meetup.com/CulturalArts/Events)for our other events: Live the adventure instead of only dreaming it! SOT 200318-10

💃 Beginner-Friendly Dance Fitness Get ready to move, sweat, and have fun! This high-energy class blends Brazilian Carnival vibes with global street dance for a full-body workout that doesn’t feel like one. ✨ No experience needed ✨ No partner required ✨ Just come ready to move and enjoy the music Expect a fun, welcoming environment where you can let go, build confidence, and leave feeling amazing. 📍 Location: The Dance Xperience (McLean) – 3 Floor ⏰ Please arrive 5–10 minutes early 💵 Drop-in: $10 (pay at the door or message for details) 🔗 More info + schedule: https://fitnesswithmikissz.com/connect-with-miki Let’s sweat, dance, and make it a vibe 🔥

Click to RSVP : https://online.innerengineering.com/en/event-details/24198 Yoga for Beginners (Upa Yoga) - Free and Open to All In this session, you will learn simple but powerful yoga postures to balance and stabilize your system. No prior experience with yoga is necessary. * Can relieve chronic ailments * Can relieve back pain, stress, anxiety, and tension * Strengthens the spine * Takes only 5-10 minutes to practice daily Designed by Sadhguru, a self- realized yogi and foremost authority in the field of yoga. This session will be conducted by a trained Isha facilitator, after which ongoing online support will also be available. For ages 7 and above. Minors between 7 to 17 years must be accompanied by an adult. This session is brought to you by Isha foundation, an international non-profit aimed to bring well-being to everyone through yoga and meditation.

⚡ Reset your direction. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with fresh clarity. Join us for a relaxed **small-group afternoon event** that blends a light **Inner Coach conversation experience** with a **community potluck lunch**. In February we hosted our first **Inner Coach event**, and many attendees said it helped them notice something powerful — the voice inside that quietly guides better decisions when life gets complicated. This event builds on that idea. Instead of overthinking the past, we’ll explore how to **reset direction for what’s next** — through thoughtful conversation, new perspectives, and the kind of questions that spark real insight. We’ll start with a few short conversation rounds designed to spark reflection, humor, and perspective — and then continue the discussion over food and relaxed conversation. Think **good food, grounded people, and real conversations about what comes next in life.** Held in our **Startup Garage** — a bright, comfortable living-room style space inside a single-family home. (Couches, food, conversation — **not an actual garage** 😊) *** ## **🥘 Potluck Lunch** If you're able, bring something small to share. Homemade or store-bought — both welcome. A dish you enjoy making. A dish that always works Or simply something easy from the store If you're busy, come anyway — the goal is **community, not perfection**. We’ll share a relaxed **afternoon potluck lunch** while continuing meaningful conversations with people navigating their next chapter. *** ## **What You’ll Experience** • Light conversation rounds designed to spark insight • Fresh perspectives from people navigating similar life transitions • Humor, perspective, and grounded conversation • A relaxed environment where ideas and connections happen naturally *** ## **Who Typically Attends** • Professionals in their 30s–40s–50s • Entrepreneurs and builders • Divorced or separated individuals navigating what’s next • People who prefer thoughtful conversation over surface-level small talk Whether you're **resetting direction, building something new, or simply meeting grounded people**, this event is designed for honest connection and fresh perspective. *** Most attendees are navigating life and growth with **curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.** 📍 Hosted in a spacious living-room setting inside a single-family home (Ashburn – 20147). Full address and parking details are emailed **2–3 days before the event.** 🌐 Learn more about the community [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) *** If you're curious about the **Inner Coach vs Inner Critic concept**, here’s a short introduction: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI)