The ability to slow down, take a deep breath and be present in the moment in something I think most of us take for granted. For Brandon Wicks, developing and growing this ability through yoga has helped him overcome his mental health issues. Now, he and Jen Rondeau are working with the Royal University Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit to empower patients on their road to recovery.

If you’re looking for Brandon Wicks, there’s a good chance he’s here at Rise Strength Lab. Brandon is not only a personal trainer at the gym but he owns Rise Strength Lab.

Every time I see Brandon at the gym, he has a smile on his face and is talking with staff or members. He’s caring man with a big heart who has battled through some pretty challenging mental health issues in recent years.

You’ll hear Brandon share his personal story in this episode, but there was a point during his story where he needed professional help. In January of 2023, Brandon spent two weeks at the Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

There was no gym equipment for him to access during his two week stay, but there was a yoga mat! So Brandon would spend an hour every evening on a mat stretching and breathing and trying to ground himself in the present moment. It helped him immensely.

When Brandon left the hospital, he shared his story with Jen Rondeau. Jen is a full time paramedic and also the owner of Ivy Yoga House who has had her own mental health challenges.

Brandon wanted to give the gift of yoga back to the mental health short stay unit, and with Jen’s help, was able to do so earlier this year. The story behind this innovative yoga program is, I think, inspiring and you’ll hear it shared with great emotion by Brandon and Jen.

The program also inspired Jennifer Molloy. She the CEO of the Royal University Hospital Foundation which is now backing the yoga program for an additional two years. So far, the yoga program at the mental health short stay unit has been running one class a week, but thanks to the RUH Foundation’s support, there will be two classes a week starting in 2025.

I want to thank Brandon and Jen for sharing so much in this episode and I know their efforts are truly making a difference in our community.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I really do appreciate it!

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

We've done many several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support.

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who now works for Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us in Season Seven of the podcast.

The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk (or sit down for coffee, ha ha) and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa reflects on a very busy summer and how fall brings back the joy of routine and schedule. She also shares a fascinating story about a family meeting she had with her husband two young children this summer that set the tone for how they would enjoy the summer months. Lisa's an incredible communicator and this family meeting story really shines a light on the importance of clear and empathetic communication. I know you will take a lot away from this story.

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and welcome back to the podcast, Lisa!!

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Hello and welcome to Season 7 of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson and in this episode, we take listeners to the TCU Stage where the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is preparing for a show!

It’s a celebration of Fleetwood Mac’s career and so the symphony will be performing alongside a rock and roll musicians playing all of Fleetwood Mac’s hits. There is a great energy in the room and that extends out into the lobby where we find Mark Turner.

Mark is the CEO and Creative Producer of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and seems to know everyone in the lobby. He’s shaking hands, having quick chats with people and sharing his enthusiasm for tonight’s show.

Mark has gone through this lobby routine hundreds of times in the past 10 years with the SSO. His leadership and passion for connecting the symphony with different parts of our community has helped make the SSO one of the most successful symphonies in Canada.

I’ve been a fan of Mark’s from afar for many years so it was a thrill to meet him in his office a few weeks ago to talk about his the incredible growth of the SSO and why connecting with diverse communities means so much to him.

We also discuss the challenges of standing out in a very competitive entertainment market and how the symphony could potentially evolve to include more audience participation in shows.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A big thank you to Saskatoon's Mutt Hutt Grooming for its support of this episode. If your dog or cat needs a haircut, Nikki and her team at the Mutt Hutt is the place to take them! We have been taking our dogs to the Mutt Hutt for more than 10 years and they are an exceptional group of people.

Thank you for listening to this episode and for continuing to support a local, independent podcast in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis