Downward-facing Dog pose and a glass of wine

By Ashley Clementovich

A Friday evening of yoga and wine is exactly what the doctor ordered after a week of frigid temperatures, cars that wouldn’t start, endless amounts of snow to shovel, and air that stuck your nostrils together as you inhaled.

The town’s monthly Night Out in Whitecourt (NOW) was held at the Whitecourt Golf & Country Club on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Led by local yoga instructor, Sunny Bryant, the free event provided participants with a yoga session in a relaxing atmosphere, and a generously-poured glass of red or white wine.

While the wine could be enjoyed post-yoga session, many opted for Bryant’s suggestion to incorporate it into the exercise. The room’s ambience was easy going as Bryant frequently encouraged everyone to ‘cheer’ their neighbour and take a sip or two between poses. With musical artists such as Sia and Vanilla Ice playing in the background, participants couldn’t help but groove mid-warrior pose. Although the general approach was far from that of a traditional yoga class, the end result of peace and relaxation was still achieved.

Koren Scott, a yoga lover of 10 years, praised the event for being light, social, and one that promoted both a healthy lifestyle and socialization. “The town hit the mark with something like this,” she said.

Town event organizers Courtney Milford and Emma Harper said evenings such as this are great ways for adults 18 and older to get out and about and meet people. Past NOW events have included Shop My Closet and tubing at Eastlink Park. The next event will be Board Game Café on March 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. Arrive ready to show off your board game skills, play on teams, and compete for prizes! Tickets for The Arrogant Worms comedy musical are on sale at the Allan & Jean Millar Centre for $42. Tables can also be reserved. The show is on Saturday, March 16 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. and is recommended for ages 14 and up