UrbanYEG Podcast Episode 4
Jeffrey and Chan have a chat with Shay and April, the founders of Shady Ape. UrbanYEG has worked with Shady Ape for just over a year and in that time they've made, and continue to make, amazing contributions to the members of our city and the communities within Edmonton. During their conversation Shay and April cover how meditation became a part of their individual lives and how they came together to create something bigger than themselves. They talk about their passion to share the benefits of meditation and how their unique approach makes meditation more accessible to everyone. Like UrbanYEG, Shady Ape helps to create connections between diverse peoples and also helps by way of giving back to their community.
At Shady Ape, we do what we do because we are passionate about mindfulness. We are so grateful that our mindfulness practice makes us unshakeable and we want to share that superpower with the world. Mindfulness and meditation are for everyone.
Life can suck. Meditation and mindfulness can help the sucky parts feel less sucky.
The research shows that we can use meditation and mindfulness to train our minds to be more resilient, aka. less reactive when bad shit happens. To be unshakeable.
Our brains are incredibly powerful and adaptive. Resilience is not some inherent characteristic that we are born with or without. Resilience is a skill that can be cultivated. Over time, a meditation or mindfulness practice changes our brain - literally rewiring our brain so that we are better able to handle change and challenge in life. It's about training your mind to deal with the stress that comes with being human.
"You can meditate all you want, but if you don't have a community of practice, it's just not as effective. Shady Ape is just one contribution towards creating a community here in Edmonton."
- April Prescott, co-founder of Shady Ape
Shady Ape shadyape.com @shadyapeyeg
Jeffrey Kelly jeffreypaulkelly.com @jeffreypaulkelly
Chan Rin vividribbon.ca @vividribbon
urbanyeg.ca @urbanyeg