Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/509310
Namaste! Vancouver is a haven for yogis with more than 40 yoga studios scattered across the city and tranquil pockets of outdoor space perfect for downward dogging. Health and wellness are integral to the city's chilled-out vibe, and you can join in as locals find their Zen – whether it be taking a yoga or Pilates class, running or in-line skating along the seawall, browsing for chic athletic gear at Vancouver-born lululemon athletica, or testing out quirkier activities like communal salsa or standup paddleboarding yoga. Hollywood North You'll undoubtedly recognize Vancouver's cityscape from blockbuster productions like Fifty Shades of Grey and the Twilight series as well as small-screen hits like Once Upon a Time. Chalk it up to our versatility or a climate conducive to year-round filming – either way, Vancouver is a hit with producers and movie stars, many of whom are frequently sighted cycling, dining and hanging out undisturbed in true West Coast style. In fact, the city is North America's third-largest centre for the film industry – hence the nickname "Hollywood North." But that's not all: Vancouver is also a hotbed of animation and digital effects studios, and at the forefront of software and gaming development. GO TEAM GO! Canada's lasting devotion to all things hockey has supported the National Hockey League's (NHL) Vancouver Canucks since the '70s. Vancouverites are fiercely loyal to their home team, which has twice come this close to winning the coveted Stanley Cup. Though it's always fun to cosy up at a sports bar during hockey season and rub shoulders with diehard fans, nothing beats the excitement of watching the game live at Rogers Arena. After experiencing a sea of cheering fans wearing the team colours of white and blue, fist-pumping arena music, and a brand-new food and beverage program dishing up exotic fare and ice-cold beer, you'll be the newest fans to join the fold. Green to the core Instagrammers take note: Vancouver is internationally lauded for its natural beauty, postcard-worthy mountains and sprawling green space. In fact, the city already ranks among the greenest in the world – the City of Vancouver has pledged that by 2020 Vancouver will be the greenest – and is a front-runner in green building (LEED), planning and technology. Bask in the lush surroundings by enjoying a heart- pumping run or cycle around the 22-kilometre (13.5-mile) Stanley Park seawall, relaxing on one of the many stretches of sand, park-hopping (the city has more than 200) or taking to the water for an invigorating bout of kayaking. V A N C O U V E R E X P E R I E N C E S 14 Photos: Jeff Vinnick/Vancouver Canucks; Vancouver Convention Centre/Hubert Kang; TVan Flickr/Mark Faviell; Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce; Canadian Tourism Commission