Anatomy of a ZUMBA(R) Fitness Event!

Any Saturday afternoon lately you only have to look into our basement to make you smile. In there you will see three sweaty, laughing, tired and excited girls, often collapsed on to the floor in a pile, giggling, giddy and in need of coffee stimulus. This is a familiar scene that first took place leading up to our "Off The Red Carpet" Event held last December. We lunch together, discussing plans and stretegies, then practise for the rest of the day, perfecting our choreography, choosing effeective fitness strategies for each song, then making each song the best it can be for you come event night. Very similar to what happens for each ZUMBA(R) fitness class you attend, but this has three people to co-ordinate, three personalities to placate, and one short time to pull all this together!  So we thought we would share some of this journey with you a couple of times a week leading up to the event - so you can share the fun with us.
We LOVE to put together these special events for you. The amazing part of ZUMBA(R) Fitness is that it works in a format unlike ANY other fitness class. A party atmosphere, themed music, lights, laughter - not usually your typical fitness experience. The ZUMBA(R) class is a party in itself, and when we add in fun new songs, some sparkly lights it takes your fitness experience to the next level!
The first steps take place months prior to the event:
-finding and securing a venue/date
-making sponsorship packages/securing sponsors: we do this for two reasons- first to ensure that all of your ticket cost goes towards your experience, not advertising and marketing costs. Promoting can be expensive! Plus it offers us an amazing opportunity to work together to get our event and some amazing local businesses the exposure they deserve! We work hard to promote the people that sponsor our events and are pleased to work with local businesses.
-choosing music: one of the toughest parts of the whole process, believe it or not - can you imagine choosing 10-15 songs from the eighties?!?! And agreeing on those songs with your two partners. And retaining friendships afterwards? It was an exhausting afternoon, and some of the songs are still in flux. Some don't choreograph well with the ZUMBA formula, some are difficult to add fitness variation to, some songs lend themselves to movements that won't work in a crowded environment, and some simply don't feel right.
Printing and Selling Tickets: the waiting game! Will our event attract our people, new people, bring people back? Only time tells with events like these!

So these are a few of the early steps to making a fitness event happen!! Hard work, laughter, sore knees, sweat, tears and ultimately love. For each other, our jobs, ZUMBA fitness, and the people we reach each and every week.
Join us each week to find out the foibles and funnies of the ZTops as we count down to the event of the year!

Spring Playlist - Saturday morning

With artists and genre listed where available:

Hola My Friend - Pacific Rhythm
Turn Around, Pt. 2 - Flo Rida & Pitbull -Hip-Hop/Rap 
Its Like This And Like That - Merengue - Soundchek
Hay Que Empezar Otra Vez - Salsa
Yerbatero - Cumbia Rock
La Luz Del Flow - Merengue/Hip-Hop
Papi - samba- Jennifer Lopez
Plane To PR - Reggaeton
Zumba Cumbia - Cumbia 4:31 
Somos De Calle - Salsa / Reggaeton - K.L.C. Clave Cubana
De River- Blue Ventures Soca
Baila - Merengue
Zan Mayola - African
Historia - Wyclef Jean
Let It Be - American Idol

Hey CORE family!  Here is the Monday playlist with original artist where available - enjoy!


4 Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)
Bounce - Merengue
Descarga en Do - Salsa
Cumbia Del Caribe -Cumbia/swing
In A Search -Reggaeton-  Obie-P
Rebolaxa -Axe-  Ceceu Muniz
Una Aventura - Rumba / Flamenca - Los Bandoleros
Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - Soca
Mi Vecina - Cumbia / Bachata / Reggaeton
Pass At Me - Timbaland Pass At Me (feat. Pitbull)
La Patilla - Merengue
Feel Like Dancing - Ragga / Pop
Zeina - Belly Dance/Reggaeton
Por Ti - Tropical Pop - Kema
Let It Be

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.