The Year in Review

With the kids out of school, and few classes this week, I have been watching the "best of" "year in review" type programs that run aplenty at this time of year, concurrent with the "resolution" or "start your year right" and "no fail diet exercise plans" shows, but more on those later.
The review shows got me thinking. What would my timeline look like for 2011? Did I complete my goals for the year? Did I make a difference in the world? Am I happy with the year, and what can I do to make 2012 a happy, healthy year for myself, my family and all that I care about. So here goes (please read the following in a CNN Anchor type voice, with a running flow of pictures feature behind):
-CORE business picks up!
-CORE studio is finished - classes start
-in a fit of insanity, I start running again and enter a Sprint Duathlon for July 2012
-we go to the humane society to adopt a kitten, and come home with two adult cats, Imogen and Darwin
-ZUMBA for Gillie Beans - made video to raise funds and awareness of the Gillie Beans FUNd
-run 5K Run For The Diamond trail run in Uxbridge. David and Amy compete fantastically well in the 1K kids run. Sean freezes to the spot in the drizzling cold rain, with a pasted smile and hoarse cheer at the ready.
-stopped drinking Diet Soda.
-hosted Rainbow ZUMBA party, raising funds & awareness for the Gillie Beans FUNd.
-stopped drinking diet soda. Stopped... I know, but I miss it :(
-finished 8K run for Camp Oochigeas.
-took kids to Canada's Wonderland as a reward for great report cards - then proceeded to fail as a parent by putting David (then 7 yrs) on the Bat.
-finished our 1 year experiment July1st - no unnecessary purchases, any purchases must be home or locally made, or eco-friendly for one whole year.  Entire family gorges on McDonalds same evening.
-finished Sprint Duathlon at Ironman Peterborough - 7K run, 25K cycle.
-celebrated 10yr anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony and party with all the people we love!
-went to Cuba for 2nd honeymoon - ran on the beach barefoot - a lifelong dream!
-CanFit Pro conference - met Tanya Beardsley, my ZUMBA idol! and learned a TONNE about how to be  better educator
-Participated in 160K Ride 4 United Way with Sean.
-my Dad was found unconscious, remains in a vegetative state today.
-Holly the pitbull comes into our lives and stays with us for three months in the hopes of finding her a wonderful home.
-went to "Broadway Lights" Zumba party with some CORE girlies - saw Tamara and Amanda, CDN ZES in action - wicked~
-Lisa Tiessen gets her ZUMBA Instructor license (not me, but a highlight!)
-CORE classes are added and programs become registered!
-Sean and I attend "red and white" ZUMBA party - Sean goes viral in the "Booty Shaking Competition"
- new CORE website goes live!
- "Off The Red Carpet" ZumbAthon - almost 100 people participated to raise funds for the Gillie Beans FUNd - bring year total donations from the CORE family to just over $1000 dollars
-Westminster United Church Christmas Eve Play - led service, assistant directed and wrote, "What Child Is This" performed by the wonderful youth of the church
The things I'm most proud of?
My husband - who quietly runs the fort when I'm out working every night. He truly is a wonderful man, partner, father and is a great sport. For a guy who doesn't love excitement and change, he sure hangs on tight and enjoys the ride:) It was my utmost thrill this year to re-affirm my love for him in front of our children, family and friends who are family. Together we have raised two fantastic children, and I am proud that I am learning better (though not perfectly) to balance their needs and owning a young, small business.
I am proud of the human connections that I have made. Who knew that I would make real friends and meet such wonderful people, and recieve their love in my heart each day. It is these relationships that help me keep the rest of my jumbled life in some kind of order!
I am also proud that I actually kept most of my goals for 2011- soda is gone, family is balanced (ish), athletic events complete, just not too many massages (but I can work on that, gladly!).
So with that in mind - my goals laid out for 2012 (please note that all goals are subject to change, LOL!!)  **Please read the following with booming, epic, echoey James Earl Jones voice****
- to be more patient
- run the Toronto Waterfont 1/2 Marathon in October (Oh crap - that's 10 months away :O )
- get my youth group back in order and running strong

the Wedding of the year!

Tanya Beardsley!

CUBA chillaxin'

The CORE studio

The Ironman Duathlon

-to educate myself on how to manage and save money effectively (that's the big one) This is the year we change the money rut that so many young families fall into - and start to see a return for our hard work by planning and managing our finances properly. Kind of like a "bank account wellness program" or a "cash diet". Not gonna be rich, but organized would be fantastic!

In 2011, my family and I shared good health, relative economic safety and loads of happiness. We felt the love of our family and friends (both personal and CORE friends!). We laughed, we cried (well, everybody but me, that is). We loved, we hugged, we played and danced. And if nothing else happens in 2012 for us, then, well, that's good enough for me.

Happy New Year!!!

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!

Urgh, Christmas. Bah humbug. Can you tell how much I love this season? What's that? I know - your happy, optimistic, bouncy instructor dislikes the holidays. Christmas in my home growing up was a 6 week cleaning, wrapping, baking, cleaning again, decorating, christmas card writing, cleaning some more, militaristic operation. This was topped off by a mass of gifts to open, followed by a mother who fell asleep at 1pm not to be heard from again all day. A whole lot of build up, stress and anxiety. It was exhausting, and not my idea of holly and jolly. Why then, as a married adult with children, did I feel the need to keep the tradition of misery going? Well, I did, for quite a while. Everything had to be perfect, home baked, wrapped to a tee. Christmas for me was a beautiful box with nothing in it at all.
I have been reviewing 2011 - and it's been quite a year! We've seen our little idea to bring fun and fitness to our community grow to heights we never thought possible. Our amazing clients have lost (combined) over 700 reported pounds. I see people each week looking fitter, stronger and more proud of themselves. I watch people come in the class and greet each other as old friends. I see people loving to move, and I am so proud to be a part of each fitness journey. I see each and every person who participates in any one of my classes making and maintaining positive lifestyle choices and I LOVE IT! I love to teach and inspire, and in return each of you teach and inspire me. The ultimate greatest thing? Watching you surprise yourselves. Too often we tell ourselves we "cannot". My goal is to inspire everyone to always try.  I have seen people achieve things they never thought possible, simply because they tried.
In 2011 I started running again, and ran a 5K, 8K and an ironman sprint duathlon. I stopped drinking diet soda completely (but started drinking coffee, so not sure if they cancel each other out), I started to enjoy cooking and baking again (much to the relief of my family who were totally sick of spaghetti and meatballs) and took a second honeymoon with my amazing husband after we retied the knot (he calls it making the same mistake twice!).  I read some great books, spent time with some great friends and said goodbye to some family relationships. All in all, a great year - in fact - the best year. 2011 has been so full of rich experiences and meaningful relationships that it could be nothing less. Thank you to each and every person in our lives for being a part of it.
So, I'm writing this on my messy couch, underneath our leaning Christmas tree, with the CORE kitty sitting by my right shoulder. My kids are writing stories, sitting at the coffee table by my feet. The presents are wrapped, the kids are excited, the garland is hung and the wreath is strewn. Every decoration is slightly askew an is very imperfect. There is dust on my ledge (I'll get to it soon!) and the windows have finger marks on them (Sean! get the windex). Baking will be done this weekend - in a glorious cloud of flour and sugar made by the whole family as we mix and create together. We've messed up the wrapping, but filled up the Christmas box.
Mmmmm. Drinking my coffee and surveying my life. Imperfect, maybe. But awesome? Definitely!

Wishing each and every CORE client and their loved ones a safe, healthy and happy Christmas and a prosperous and joyous 2012!  See you in the new year dear friends!

What's That? Snow? Say it isn't so!

Hey everybody!  It's been awhile since I've communicated with you via this blog. I'll explain later why the blogosphere has been silent  in my little corner.Right now I'm sitting on my couch, enjoying watching a sprinkling of snow falling off my roof. Somewhere in Canada, people are already up shopping, wrapping, baking and preparing for........Christmas. Duhn, duhn, duhn!  Yes- it's coming, it's inevitable. People will be holly and jolly, decking the halls, singing "Fa-la-la-la-la!".  People will be pushing and shoving in the malls to be the first to a deal, to get the perfect toy, to max out their credit cards. Tis the season!!
It is a season of overindulgence - of money, food, alcohol and stress. It's busy and overwhelming - much to do, time too short. But, truly - are we missing the point?
This is a time of year that we typically forget to look after ourselves. I'm not talking about eating poorly or over eating specifically - because we ALL do it - it's natural that when surrounded by rare treats we'll reach for those over our normal healthy fare. I'm talking about maintaining movement in our lives. I know - time, time, time. But with hectic days, family stress, extra workload, parties, etc... you can't afford to not make the time. Movement will reduce stress, help you cope with the holiday insanity. Exercise will energize you - help to keep you moving through late nights shopping, baking and wrapping! Plus - you'll be less likely to reach for too many of those delectable goodies! Most important - you'll relieve yourself of guilt - and enjoy eating a little more decadently than you normally would. So my advice these holidays? Make exercise and movement a priority to keep your days merry and bright!
So what's been happening in these months since I last blogged? My Dad has been in hospital in a vegetative state, following a suspected heart attack/stroke/diabetic coma. It's been a tough few months for us, full of reflections, sadness, and luckily - loads of very happy memories.  Lots of other great blessings have occured - Lisa Tiessen, Sharon Service and Teri Cathcart have all become ZUMBA instructors - and Lisa and Sharon are teaching and getting people moving already! I'm so proud of all of you!  We have a new website - designed by Serendipity Graphic Design - and it's GORGEOUS!  Wow - thank you Lisa Ruck for all your hard work - you are a design wonder!
I want to thank all of our CORE family for your support, love and energy during a tough few months - each class you give me so much joy and inspiration, and it is a joy and honour to know you all and watch you gain confidence, lose weight and meet/surpass your fitness goals!  It's been an incredible year!
Now - back to your regularly scheduled holiday craziness - I always have tonnes to say at Christmas - looking forward to next week already!

Kirstie, Don't Let Me Down!

I am going out on a limb here - I believe (crossing my fingers) that Kirstie Alley will maintain her weight loss and new healthy lifestyle.  I have been a Kirstie Alley detractor for years now - turned off by her public war on weight. She has made a career of being overweight and has (in my opinion) milked every second of notoriety out of this attention. Which is a shame - she is a talented and beautiful woman, regardless of her body size, and I hate to see anyone defined solely by a number on a scale or a dress size. We've seen her on Oprah, we've seen her promoting Jenny Craig, on a sitcom called Fat Actress - and she has ranged in size from healthy to obese and back again. This is a woman who needed more than a diet - she needed help for to resolve whatever it was that drove her to accept this kind of attention in her life.
Now she is in the best shape of her life - she looks trim and toned, and she looks relaxed and happy. Best of all - she is not on every magazine, every tabloid, every celebrity talk show. She is not splashed across any billboards trumpeting this amazing accomplishments. She has even started her own healthy lifestyle company - promoting clean and healthy eating and exercise. This is her time.
Too often I meet people who come to a fitness class, only to come and give me this feedback at the end of class- "I am exhausted!"  Well, that seems natural as they have just worked hard - but when I delve a little further, often this exhaustion is less exercise driven - but from deprivation through dieting. Many people will stop exercising, believeing that they can't do it, or that it's too hard. Yes. It is hard to exercise, enjoy it and reap the rewards when your lunch was 2 rice cakes and a bowl of salad.
Kirstie started to move when she did her turn on Dancing With The Stars. She didn't go in to use this as a diet tool - she was inspired to eat cleanly and healthily through moving her body.  Think about your last fitness class. Remember surprising yourself? Doing that crazy booty bump with new intensity? Completing a pilates teaser - with both legs up? Finishing a full set of split squats without taking a break?  That kind of pride in your own accomplishments inspires a desire to fuel your body with quality nutritious foods.
Good for you Kirstie - and everyone else who has ever surprised themselves. Now don't prove me wrong!

So get moving first, then follow up by treating your body like the temple it is. No matter what the size.

Falling Back Into Fall

Nope it's not fall  yet, but it's coming!  I know this means that summer is winding down and the happy season of vacations, children riding bikes all day, sun and white fluffy clouds, and sweet, beautiful, wonderful heat is almost at it's end, BUT.. no reason to dismay - fall has it's own glories.  Routine starts up, kids trot off to school, we reunite with people we haven't seen for a couple of months. Fall foods start to show on market shelves - squash, fresh apples, pumpkin and much more.  Fairs and fall markets pop up, showing us "city" folk much of what the surrounding countryside has to offer.  Corn mazes and straw pyramids are great ways to play an afternoon away. A day's entertainment can be found in a lawn full of fallen orange leaves. Apple pie replaces ice cream as dessert of choice, and fresh apple cider is warmed and seasoned with cinammon.

Both my children are in school full time this year - and this has made me realize a few things. Despite years of counting down to this day, it is actually bittersweet. Just as my children become real human beings, we have to ship them off so that someone else enjoys those wonderful moments of discovery and wonder so beautiful to behold. Fall means something different to me this year (apart from FREEDOM!! Hahaha!). It's a time to make the promises of summer the reality of your life. Take the things that you have evaluated/experienced over the beautiful months and carry on these new habits, viewpoints, joys, and moments lived when the sun is not shining as brightly, the weather is not as ideal and time feels not quite as idyllic. Make each day unique and beautiful. And take some time to jump in a big pile of leaves!!

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!

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.