THUNDER BAY – No matter their skill level or experience, the martial arts and health expo is designed to provide valuable resources to help practitioners achieve their goals.
It offers a chance to learn from experienced professionals and instructors.
“We're really pleased to welcome people from all over Canada and even some international visitors from the United States as presenters and participants at our expo,” said Susan Baldassi, coordinator of the expo.
She added that a few presenters travelled from the United States, as well as from Calgary, Dryden, Winnipeg, Windsor and Ottawa.
The expo was held May 17 to 19 at the Avila Centre at Lakehead University.
It involved martial arts demonstrations and workshops, health and wellness seminars and discussions, banquet, fire pit gatherings and performances by Taiko drummers and local musicians.
Baldassi said it's been a great weekend of connection and building community so far.
“I feel like martial arts really helps you to develop as a person. There are so many aspects to it beyond the physical," she said.
"The physical can help you with your overall health. But it's also being in partnership, supporting each other and the goals and the connections we make are just as useful. Sitting at the fire pit roasting a s’more is just as important as it is to earn your next belt.”
“I just encourage anyone that has an inkling to try a session, to come out to one of the sound meditations, or the mindset talks, to just come and give it a try. See if something resonates with you and you know, it might spark a new passion.” she said.
Some of the instructors in attendance said they always look forward to participating in the expo.
"I haven’t been out for a while. It was about 10 years ago that I came last. It’s gotten better and better for sure. I really enjoyed it this time around," said Matt Morin, an instructor from Ottawa. "The expo broadens my own skills and then allows me to also pass it on,”
Michele O’Leary, another instructor, from Ottawa, Ontario, added, that there’s always a variety of things to learn.
"We look forward to it," she said “It brings a lot of different people together, people that maybe otherwise would never be friends or get to know each other.”
O’Leary started studying martial arts and wellness when she was eight. She said it has taught her how to be confident and how to be herself.
"We come from all different places and then share experiences. We have heart to heart discussions after a lot of laughs, some cries and it's just a well-rounded therapeutic weekend," she said
If you are looking for more information or are interested in joining martial arts and heath, you can visit the Martial Arts and Health Expo Facebook page, or reach out to Susan at Tbayexpo@gmail.com.
