Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Playlist for Fall 2011 - Wednesday night!

Hola!  Here is the playlist for Wednesday night CORE ZUMBA class! Muy Caliente!!  Get ready to party and sweat for the health of it!
Warm Up: Turbina
Warm Up: Edge Of Glory (Lady Gaga)
Cumbia : Cumbia Lunera
Merengue/Reggaeton: El Amor, El Amor
Calypso/Salso:  La Mazucamba
Reggaeton: En Sus Marcas, Listos, Fuero
Bhangra/Punjabi: Tunak, Tunak, Tun
Pop/Hip Hop: Shake Senora (Pit Bull featuring T-Pain)
Samba: Xi Bom BomBom
Swing/ Salsa/ Reggaeton: La Perla
Cumbia: La Gota Fria
Merengue/ Bachata: Bimbola
Quebradita: La Nina Fresa
Greek/ Bachata/ Belly Dance: Yassou Ellada (DJ Andy Hughes and Aspacia feat. Lou Fatimus)
Flamenco: Flamenka (by Didulya)

Check out the link on our facebook page to the basic steps for ZUMBA Merengue and Salsa. I will be posting more basic steps videos as I find them. I have listed the above by original artists where possible, and many are available on ITunes by original artists. 
As usual, ZUMBA has provided us with amazing original songs and hot cover songs. I am SO excited to bring this to you!!  It's coming soon!!  Wepa!


Monday, August 22, 2011

The "Movement Movement"

  What an exciting weekend at CAN FIT Pro - Canada's leading fitness certification and educational company put on a weekend full of inspirational and informative sessions, starting with a great KeyNote Speaker, comedienne Meg Soper.  Meg spoke frankly and with great humour about life, love and laughter, the theme of the weekend. Richard Simmons, Patrick House (from the Biggest Loser), Silken Laumann (Olympic rower), Trish Stratus (WWE wrestler) and Tosca Reno were all present at the conference and trade show as well - lots of fun!
It is the biggest conference of it's kind - attended by 10,000 fitness professionals from all over Canada, making Canada the leader in fitness worldwide.
 "One in four Canadian adults is clinically obese, compared with one in three in the United States, suggests a new study that experts describe as a grim depiction of the state of public health on both sides of the border.The study — a collaboration between Statistics Canada and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted between 2007 and 2009 — concluded that 24 per cent of Canadians were obese, compared with nearly 34 per cent of Americans." (Globe and Mail, May 2011).
With an estimated population of 34 million people, that means that approximately 8.5 million people in Canada are at risk (or already suffering) of heart attack, diabetes, joint problems, emotional issues and much more. And this number is steadily rising. This is a devastating set of statistics, and one that we have the power to change.  Consider that there were approx. 10,000 fitness professionals at Conference on the weekend.  And each one of them wants to help - and has chosen a career specifically to make people healthier. I know that most people in the fitness industry work there not because they want to be fit, but because they want YOU to be.
Now hold on here, cause I'm not very good at math. 8.5 million obese Canadians + 10,000 fitness professionals + countless friends and family + dieticians and others in the wellness industry + Health Care/Doctors, oh you get the point.  It all adds up to the BEST chance for a healthy country in the world. Canada has a chance to be the healthiest country in the world. The passion demonstrated at conference this weekend proved that to me beyond a doubt.  All the people I know in the industry who constantly educate themselves and others, sharing their knowledge and passion with those who need inspiration, love and support. We are in the fitness business for you - to help make your life better, one squat at a time.  To make sure that you have every opportunity to live a long, healthy and pain free life.  To LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE to your fullest.

So I propose that no matter where you are in your own personal fitness journey, you take steps to improve your health and those around you. I'm calling it, the "Movement Movement"  and I want you and everyone you know, and everyone they know, and on and on to join it. Get moving. For health. For our children. For Life.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Playlist For Fall 2011- Monday Class

Warm Up: Born This Way (Lady Gaga)
Warm Up: Jamaican Cumbia (by Bachaco)
Merengue/ Flamenco: La Noche
Salsa/ Reggaeton: Rumba
Reggaeton: Shake it Up (by Mara)
Merengue/Pop: Mueve La Colita
Axe/Belly Dance: Ali Baba
Samba Pop: Para No Verte Mas
Swing: Zoot Suit Riot
Soca: Banana
Quebradita: Baila Menea y Goza
Cumbia: Luna Nueva
Reggaeton/Batucada: Boom Boom Mama
Salsa: La Vida Es Un Carnaval
Merengue: Sazon (hot tune alert!)
Bachata: Stand By Me
Cool Down.








There it is!  Many of these songs are available on ITunes via original artists (which I will always name where possible)  Wednesday and Saturday playlists to come!!  Woot!!


Monday, August 1, 2011

Wingardium Leviosa!

Often when I run, a specific song, or line of poetry or sometimes even a specific phrase (usually involving a curse word) comes into my head and becomes the mantra of my run.  This off course occurs AFTER the opening thoughts of every run which go something like this: "OhcrapwhyamIdoingthistomyselfmylegstheyburnouchcrapsavemefrommyselfturnbacknowohhowIhaterunning".
Yes, I really am that dramatic.  I went for a run today and had a specific planned route of over 10K. Now let me explain - I have been planning on doing this run for a long time, but have had various things get in the way - some valid and others, I admit, have been excuses. It is a challenging route, riddled with steep inclines, but is mostly all in the country with lots of shade and beautiful scenery. I was hoping this would make the journey worthwhile.
Today for some strange reason, the words "Wingardium Leviosa" were playing in my head - a sure sign that I have either (a) completely lost it, or (b) have to see Harry Potter 7.2 right away. Either way, a Harry Potter levitation spell seemed like the least likely inspirational mantra ever.  When I reached the top of an incredibly leg burning hill, I looked to the right and saw what had to be the most incredibly idyllic view ever of my beautiful hometown of Brooklin. Wingardium Leviosa, indeed!  Who needs a wand to create magic like this? I can create my own form of (albeit painful and torturous) levitation!
As I was running along, I kept hitting roadblocks. My tummy was crampy, the sun was hot. One of the roads has a blockage which I had to stop and climb over. I decided to change my route and head straight home, again not finishing the route I have been striving to complete. Oh well, tomorrow is another day, I thought - I'll try again. But then another spell crossed my mind.
Expecto Patronum: described as an incarnation of the caster's innermost positive feelings, such as joy or hope, known as a Patronus. A Patronus is conjured as a protector, and is a weapon rather than a predator of souls.  Hmmm. A protector, made from my most positive feelings?  Heck yeah!  I cast my own Patronus charm (which for me I am positive would take the form of a horse) and chased those positive thoughts every step of the way, along the original route, and even was able to up the pace the last couple of kilometres.   When I was almost home there was no need for spells. I was levitating all on my own.  
So next time you face an obstacle too great, a class too tough, an unreachable goal, dig  deep and cast your own Patronus spell. Simply take all of that potential and positive energy you have inside you and send it out to help you conquer the world, one step at a time.
Now Muggles, RICTUSEMPRA!  You can't resist my tickling spell, can you! I hope each of your days is filled with magic and laughter this August.