The second annual ELEVATE weekend is just around the corner and will be one for the mind, body and soul.
"ELEVATE is a community wide event that is focused on health and wellness and the premise is if we can just take care of ourselves and our well-being then we are way more able to take care of the community around us and to elevate us as a whole," said Marni Richelle, founder of Elevate and yoga instructor.
After finishing high school, Richelle would head to India on a solo trip and during her travels discover yoga. This quickly became a growing interest and what is it they say, the rest is history. She has been a yoga instructor for seven years and has turned to it for well-being as well as healing. Richelle has made it a goal to bring awareness to all the resources available within the community. Through ELEVATE, she wants to highlight businesses both old and new to allow fellow Cochranites to reach out to institutions that may help them through their health journey whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally.
The program will consist of a variety of different seminars, workshops and classes. Individuals can pick and choose what they would like to attend after purchasing their ticket. It is required to make a schedule for yourself beforehand due to limited spots available in the offerings and this will also create a more fluid, relaxing and enjoyable experience.
"I tried to make the schedule so that there's something maybe active at the same time there's something more gentle or just seminar based so that literally anyone can participate, whether you're injured or your movement capacity is just a little bit more limited or if you're really just gung-ho and ready to just tear it up," said Richelle.
All of the offerings get underway at the same time and run one hour with a half hour break afterwards so that you are able to get to your next class, seminar or workshop on your agenda. This will also allow participants some time to connect with the businesses.
Last year's program was a one-day affair. This year, the interest has grown throughout the community and plenty of new businesses will be taking part in ELEVATE as well as returning ones. Richelle says she received feedback from last year's event and has made the program span over three days to ensure participants have an opportunity to take part in all of the offerings they choose and so that it's "less squishy."
"I see health as being the number one thing that we can do to take care of ourselves. It's extremely important. I think that health comes in so many different pieces. It's not just the physical movement, we have to be thinking about health as mind, body, spirit. We can go about our day and have our regular workout routine, we have that certain place we go to every single day. We might have a community network there but I think it's really nice to broaden our horizons and see that having a wider view of what this community offers and who is a part of it and how we can support each other is really fundamental to health and wellness," explains Richelle. "That's the whole idea of it being a full weekend event is that we are getting to know each other more, we are moving together, we're learning together and I've seen from last year how friendships are formed just from this event and so it's to create a deeper connection with our community through wellness."
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, The Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area will be navigating children ages 6 to 12 through their own ELEVATE weekend. After parents drop off their kids they will be participating in offerings at either the club or be transported to local businesses around Cochrane.
Friday evening, (Oct. 4) will see ELEVATE begin with a TedTalk inspired event called "We Are Cochrane." The stage will be open to four local Cochranites who will peel back their vulnerable layers and share their personal stories with the community. A fitting way to begin a weekend of health and wellness.
ELEVATE will kick off Oct 4 at 6:30 p.m with "We Are Cochrane" at the Cochrane RancheHouse theatre. Then Saturday Oct, 5 the event gets underway from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a gathering happening afterwards at a location that will be announced. This could be Half Hitch Brewery or elsewhere. Finally Sunday, Oct 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. followed by a community campfire taking place after the days events at the clubhouse. The campfire is open to the public, not just members of the ELEVATE weekend.
Richelle has set a target of 200 tickets to be purchased for this years ELEVATE.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- Adult All Access Pass (Fri-Sun): $58
- ELEVATE Kid's Camp (Sat and Sun): $48
- Family Pass: $149
- We Are Cochrane (Friday night only): $18
