Matt Corker » Great Places

Day 4-6: European Yogi Nomads hit Basel

Matt Corker — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:49:23 +0000

With my travel essentials in tow (a rad playlist, my mat, and my new favourite body refresher), I spent the last three days of my reading deprivation week in Basel, Switzerland with the European Yogi Nomads.

8 hours of yoga was the perfect remedy for the aches and pains of not being able to read (or share my excitement about this adventure with others online). It was a weekend spent in my own body, and my own mind.

The people around me, from the Copenhagen kula, would joke and chat in Danish which gave me the chance to simply be in the conversation. Rather than trying to translate, or ask them to speak in English, I could sit back and enjoy their facial expressions, the intonation of their voices, and the crazy dance moves they would break out while cooking dinner. It was cool to experience happiness without knowing what witty comment triggered it.

The yoga, led by some superbly talented teachers, reacquainted me with my body. Note: my hips and butt are still talking to me! Press handstands, rolling down to full wheel … it was crazy. There is something about laughing out loud on a yoga mat – especially while reaching the peak of / falling out of a pose – that reminds me not to take myself so seriously. My inner critic definitely got a good kick in the butt this weekend. My best self also got some serious love. Thanks Copenhagen Kula!

Next stop for the European Yogi Nomads – Copenhagen. Can March be tomorrow?

Pick of the Post: Kelly Rowland – Down for Whatever

Day 2 + 3: Distraction & Creative Action

Matt Corker — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:16:02 +0000

Day 1 was filled with temptation. The textbooks, the incoming letters from friends I haven’t heard from in years, the blog posts … all tempting to read. I did not give in.

Day 2, yesterday, was a day of distraction. Was there an episode of Community that I could kill some time with? What about perusing pinterest for some visual stimulation? How much time could I spend watching videos on YouTube? (When I found myself watching babies laughing and beagles, I knew it was time to stop.) My procrastination had turned from text to images.

Day 3, today, is the day of creative action. I started off my day with a meeting with the Department of Management, Politics, and Philosophy about their research in self-management. This is the department at CBS that asks questions like “What is money?” and “How do we use co-creation in today’s society?” and hires (read: pays) PhD candidates to do research in authenticity and vulnerability in the business world. It was 10 am and my mind was blown.

My day continued with the download of Danielle’s Big Beautiful Book Plan. It was time to answer the call and realize that this blog may have been the beginning of something bigger … stay tuned.

And now, I am moments away from taking on another artist task for the week: create a vacation and make plans to do it. Well – “all talk, no action” and I don’t go well together. When a plan is created, I commit to making it happen. So I am flying off to Basel, Switzerland with the European Yogi Nomads to enjoy 4 classes this weekend with some great people from across Europe. One of the classes is being taught by Nanna (my friend/teacher here in Copenhagen) and Chris Chavez – together!

Worlds are about to collide in Basel and it will be beautiful.

Pick of the Post: MC Yogi – Give Love

The Highlights of 2011

Matt Corker — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:23:59 +0000

Every year I love writing this post. It allows me to take the time to reflect on where I came from, who played a large part in my life over the last year, and remember the rad adventures that made me smile from ear to ear. It’s like a yearbook of awesome. I especially love it this year as it is making this layover en route back to Copenhagen fly by (pun intended?).

As seen through the highlights of 2008, 2009, and 2010 – lots has changed. With a humble heart and really huge dose of gratitude, I share with you the best moments of 2011:

January

Geeked out with Conor et all as we watched online when Sauder took home School of the Year at JDC West “one more time”
Presented another award-winning workshop at the UBC Student Leadership Conference

February

Got accepted into my MBA program at the Copenhagen Business School
Spread a little love for yogis on Valentine’s Day with NoMoSolo
Spent the weekend on Bowen with Zoe & Haas updating our vision + goals and laughing until we cried (I love that this is now a tradition!)

March:

Celebrated borderless friendship when my fav gents from Ontario flew out west to join us for a hippie party and a road trip to the Great Big Sea concert

Witnessed Peter’s epic surprise proposal to Joe. Holy love fest!
Met a man that reminded me what it feels like to fall head over heels in love.
Went up to Whistler to experience Camp Drishti 1 and to uncover my inauthentic leadership

April:

Cheered like a maniac at my first roller derby with Woo and DFern. Go Public Frenemies!
Headed back to Whistler for Camp Dristi 2 and experience the igolu principles by Susanne Conrad
Snowshoe’d and ear candled the weekend away with sis in beautiful Manning Park

May:

Cheered and clapped REALLY loud for Conor at his first performance with the Vancouver Men’s Chorus
Rocked the stage at UBC Alumni Weekend with a session on Why Goals Are Not Enough
Kicked an hour off my time at the BMO Vancouver Marathon thanks to a rad group of people

June:

Re-vamped my blog with the help of the brilliant artist Michael
Celebrated my Mom’s birthday out west. Real goodness + real conversations + real wilderness = real love.

July:

Played my first round of golf on Bowen with Joe, Peter, and Preston
Cheered on my best friend from a distance as he conquered the Spartan Death Race

August: (this month was E-PIC!)

Headed down to Portland for the weekend with the best group of friends a guy could ask for

Front. Row. At. Jason. Mraz. (need I say more?)

Raced around in mud at the Whistler Warrior Dash

Crushed my 100 before 100 – bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, making chocolate by hand…
Celebrated my birthday with a rad party and a hilarious camping trip
Said goodbye – to Vancouver, to my relationship, to my job – to say hello to the Life Europa

September:

Moved to Copenhagen to start my MBA at the Copenhagen Business School
Discovered Hamsa Yoga Studio - and the great people that are a part of that community
Supported imagine1day’s 1 School 1 Day event with a run around Copie

October:

Rocked out on a mat with Carlson when he came to visit

Was a tourist in my own town during Culture Night
Headed to London to rock out with the lululemon crew at the London Yoga Show and reconnect with friends from Van

November:

Lifted Martin with two fingers at “Leadership Bootcamp” with my class thanks to some Butanese magic
Made a Van-fam dinner with Calvin, Bonn, and Lanie

December:

Partied the night away at a memorable Julefrukost with my classmates – fake mustaches, snapps, and all

Had the best 2 weeks vacationing in Vancouver! Laughing with Steph at 6 am, getting sweaty with some of Vancouver’s finest people and instructors, dance partying (at every opportunity), eating great pie and sushi, meeting new friends who I believe will be shining in my life for a while, jamming on leadership theories, dating for 6 days, playing board games til the wee hours of morning (to FINALLY beat FLam at Settlers) – it was all so perfect. Thanks for the monumental end to 2011.

Holy wow. What a year. Correction: what a LIFE!
And now it’s 2012! Here we go again…
What are you celebrating from this past year?

Pick of the Post: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

‘Twas the Night Before Leaving

Matt Corker — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:41:17 +0000

‘Twas the night before leaving, and all through the house.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (*phew*)
The luggage was loaded by the front door with care
In hopes that 4 am soon would be here.

The rest of the city all snug in their beds
Trying to recover from the snapps in their heads.
With Kristina in her room, and I down the hall
I was trying to bide time before my departure, that’s all.

When out from my playlist there rose such a clatter
I sprang to my comp to see what was the matter
A great little ditty had started to play
And my only response, “a dance party? Ok!”

The moon on the breast of the rain lined streets
Nothing was distracting me from these beats.
When what do my wandering eyes do appear
But my online booking, (this is where Kai would cheer)

With a click of a button, I was already set
For two-weeks in Vancouver (after 19 hours on a jet).
More rapid than eagles I’m glad airplanes fly
Cause I just can’t wait for the good times to arrive.

“Now sushi! Now dancefloors! Now laughing ’til we sleep!
On yoga! On jam seshes! On parties with rad peeps!
To the top of the mountains! To the edge of the seawall!
With my sis! And the crew! We’ll LTD it all!”

And then, in a twinkling, I looked at the time
It was almost the moment when my alarm was to chime.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
I smiled a big smile – I was Copie Airport bound!

I sprang to the metro, leaving my bike behind
Now excited to see what inflight moves I’d find
So hear me exclaim, as I leave out of sight
“Merry Christmas dear Copie, and to Van – see you Monday night!”

(In the meantime, enjoy this pick of the post – straight from my dance party to yours)

5 Random Lessons From Copenhagen: Round 2 – Carlson Edition

Matt Corker — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:00:12 +0000

Continuing the trend of sharing the profound and the random…

My friend Carlson came to visit (!!!) and so this list of lessons were learned during our time together. (Huge hat tip goes to Carlson for being so friggin rad. I miss ya already good sir.)

1. Audible breathe is powerful.

Whether it be pranayama breathing heard in a yoga class or snoring heard from across the room, there is something comforting about hearing another person’s breath. It’s like a nice little reminder that someone is there with you – doing what you’re doing. Except in the snoring example … the other person is clearly sleeping when you’re not.

2. Smørrebrød is for lunch.

After searching around for a place to eat smørrebrød on multiple nights, we came to the (possibily inaccurate) conclusion that this great Danish dish is mainly eaten for lunch – not dinner. Next time, more effective planning will take place to ensure we get our fill of these delicious open-faced sandwiches.

3. Sharing a yoga practice with someone awesome is … awesome!

Carlson’s yoga practice is aspirational. Being able to jump on a mat beside him and have a good breathe together was a total highlight of the week. Sweating with great people has got to be one of the best ways to turn any day into a great day.

4. The war of gratitude has no losers.

I’d sneakily pay for Carlson’s train ticket. Then he would push me out of the way to pay for groceries. I’d hand him a freshly washed towel for his shower. He’d leave me hidden treats in my backpack I’d discover en route to school. All week it was a “battle” of sorts. Who can show their gratitude and appreciation for the other fully? No score was kept, and no lives were lost. Only constant surprises of kindness speckled throughout the week. I can deal with these kinds of fights.

5. Christiania has their own beer

Who knew? And it’s cheaper than the other local drafts!

Pick of the Post: Lady Gaga – You and I (Mark Taylor Remix)

5 Random Lessons from Copenhagen: Part 1

Matt Corker — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:01:54 +0000

Every life lesson teaches me something new. Be it in class, on my yoga mat, or on an adventure, life will teach me something I need to know. Some are transformational, others are completely random. I am committed to sharing both – cause sometimes the random ones become transformational. Here are the first 5:

1) It is easier to walk in the direction of the length of cobblestones than it is to walk across the width of them. My feet are very appreciative of this learning.

2) Life on two wheels creates a daily endorphin rush. Biking outside with tons of people is beyond rad! That being said, bringing home dry-cleaned shirts on two wheels is quite the experience. I am also learning how to clip into my pedals without wobbling – a skill the jam-packed bike traffic is teaching me. And the fact that fenders are important, and courteous.

3) Facebook is the new newspaper. With a time difference of 9 hours from home, online life (e-mail, twitter, Facebook) is very quiet during my day. While I am sleeping in Copenhagen, Vancouver is e-mailing, connecting, posting, sharing, etc. I wake up to a lively review of what happened at home. Eating cereal in the morning has never been more entertaining – especially when great people join me via Skype. (Energizing breakfasts? Sounds a whole lot like my vision!)

4) The night life begins at midnight. This means taking a nap at around 7/8 pm is definitely required before heading out for a night on the town. I would have previously categorized this nap as “I fell asleep really early” not “I need to get ready for the night ahead.”

5) Danish words don’t sound anything like how they’re written. (e.g. Nyhavn = new-houn. Hej = hi. Kærlighed = carlihill.) I’ve almost completely stopped looking at words as it makes it more confusing to understand than the pronunciation itself. A classmate forwarded along this funny video about why the Danish language is so tough to understand:

Pick of the Post: Matt Nathanson – Love Comes Tumbling Down

Weekend on Bowen Island

Matt Corker — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:12:10 +0000

A first water taxi ride.
Hilarious laughs.
Scrumptious food.
9 holes of golf.
Sun-kissed skin.
Naps in a hammock.
Intense conversations.
Gin & Tonics.
More laughs.
Spit + Pairs in Pears.
Quick dips into the ocean.

It was a perfect weekend to escape from the city with some rad gents. Ah – what a way to start the week!

Pick of the Post: The Wanted – Lose My Mind

Weekend Away With Sis

Matt Corker — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:47:30 +0000

Matt: “Ugh. My legs are sore from yesterday’s run.”
Steph: “So … Wanna go hike a mountain?”
Matt: “… … ok.”
Steph: “Yeeeeeaaaah!!!”

If doctors could prescribe happiness and rejuvenation, a weekend away with my sis would be exactly what they’d order me. “Take two pairs of snowshoes, your book of goals, and some bottles of wine. Take them in a snowy filled winterland with no WiFi and call me in the morning.”

Pick of the Post: Robyn – Dancing On My Own

Copenhagen is calling!

Matt Corker — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:38:40 +0000

3 weeks ago I got a phone call from the Copenhagen Business School at 3 am. It was to offer me admissions into their MBA program starting this September.

Long story short, I ecstatically accepted!

Which means, in a mere 7 months, I’ll be starting my MBA in the world’s happiest country where organizations have CEOs and CHOs (Chief Happiness Officers). I can’t wait to share with you what I learn as I prepare myself (and my team) for Denmark and as I’m studying abroad.

To give you an idea of why I am SO excited to return to Copenhagen for my MBA, watch this awesome video below.

Perfect fit? I couldn’t agree more! Now book your ticket to come visit me. You know you want to!

Pick of the Post: Usher – More (RedOne Jimmy Joker Remix) (And light it up; Take it up higher)

The Highlights of 2010

Matt Corker — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:38:27 +0000

The end of a decade deserves some time for reflection. Each year, I have written about the most memorable moments of that year. It’s amazing to see how much my life and my self has changed since writing the highlights of 2008 and the highlights of 2009. With a ton of gratitude, I share with you the best parts of this past year:

January

Got accepted to be a performer and volunteer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
Warren Springer and I presented at the SFU Leadership Conference

February

A month of rehearsals and performances for the Olympics! I welcomed Team Canada into the Opening Ceremonies on stage and gave out glowsticks to athletes to get the dance party going in the Closing Ceremonies
Watching Canada become more proud to be Canadian – especially after we won that gold medal game

March

Jigging with great friends on St. Patrick’s Day – a great night as always!
Celebrating 4 years of Mr. Vanier

April

Traveling to Hong Kong to visit Rob
Driving to California with 3 of my best friends on a whim
Singing with Will Blunderfield in the recording studio

May

Reminding my Mom that “she’s got this” as she finished her first marathon

June

Starting to teach spin classes at the UBC Birdcoop
Emceeing the Vancouver Special Olympics with Dan Naiman
Watching brigs bring down the house in Vancouver
Celebrating the marriage of Matt & Casey Murray with everyone at Table 4

July

Moving into a new apartment and having one heck of a pad broiling to break it in
Dancing to Nelly & Kelly with Melinda on her wedding day
Starting my role at lululemon athletica and beginning to love the life I lead
Running around the streets of Vancouver for the Underwear Affair – 3rd times the charm

August

Creating my 100 before 100 list
Setting my goals with Haas & Zoe in Whistler
Singing goodbye to the best roommate as he headed off to Calgary
Camping, camping, and more camping!

September

Making a shift after attending the Landmark Forum
Emceeing SHIFTED for Chloe and the team

October

Dropping the story to create myself as a possibility after attending the Landmark Advanced Course
Doing Nia with Susanne Conrad at the lululemon athletica leadership conference
Doing downward dog with my sis, at sunset, on her birthday

November

Leading the volunteer team at TEDxVancouver
Surfing in Tofino with Doug, Steph & Zoe

December

Hiring a rockstar staff member to join our team before jumping on a plane to visit Yale University
Spending a week in Ontario laughing with family members (new and old) and great friends

Thanks for a great year. Time to create a year of greatness!

Pick of the Post: Ash Koley – Don’t Let Your Feet Touch Ground (official music video)