Submitted by Chris Linhares

Bio: Christopher Linhares has been practicing parkour for over 5 years.  When he's not training, he is filming or taking pictures at sessions.  He finds interest in the ways different bodies move to accomplish the same exercise.

I tend to bring my camera along to parkour meets to try and capture that perfect moment: When someone is jumping through the air or as they attempt to land whatever movement they're trying to do. I get these great shots showing the different ways people move.  Everyone moves differently, we're all unique in that sense.  Yet, we have all come together for the same thing.

I find it interesting that we all love moving and trying new things.  We experiment with the objects we see everyday, which other people usually take for granted or never noticed in the way we do.

When I first started several years ago, I didn't really have anyone around to help me or teach me parkour.  Everyone was still new, learning and experimenting.  Just over five years later, the parkour community has grown to more then a dozen participating cities all across Southern Ontario. We share the same motivations and goals: to show people that you can be young again, have fun and get fit at the same time.



To me, parkour is about enjoying yourself and meeting new people. I used to be a shy kid growing up, I didn't have the confidence to talk to people or want to try and experience new things or opportunities. Since finding parkour and being out there, interacting with everyone I've met, and helping with events, my perception on life has changed.

You truly begin to see what it means to face the obstacles with which you are presented, whether they are physical objects in the environment or obstacles you face in every day life.  Your mind is challenged to overcome the physical roadblocks and to find ways to conquer your personal fears.

It's not a sport to me, its part of me, it's who I am. It's my lifestyle.

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