Category Archives: health

Why I recommend dance lessons for kids

Posted by Jun 6, 2016 dance, fitness, health, kids, motherhood, parenthood, parenting, passion, sports, yoga Leave a Comment
Why I recommend dance lessons for kids

I started dance lessons at the age of 3. Maybe it was because I loved to move as an toddler or maybe, more than likely, it was because my mother danced herself. At around age 8 I started competing in jazz and ballet which entailed lots of classes, practices, rehearsals and performances. When I was 16 years old I decided dance was no longer for me. And it wasn’t until this past weekend that I really decided what I thought about all those years filled with dance.

I danced a lot. And I believe I burnt out as a teenager. I didn’t see a future for me in dance and I was enjoying athletics more and more so I decided to drop dance cold turkey. It wasn’t until I had a daughter that I started to reflect more on whether all that time (and money!) spent dancing was worth it and whether I would want her to follow a similar path. I sacrificed a lot as a child to dance. Missed events with friends and not a lot of family travel since the cost to dance was high and most weeks off of school were for competitions. I wasn’t sure if I wanted all of that for her. But in time she started to ask about dance lessons. We took some baby steps and signed her up for baby ballet which led to jazz and ballet, however, only recreational so that she had time to explore this for herself. This past weekend she performed in her dance studio’s year-end recital. The morning of she was extremely nervous and hesitant. Immediately I asked myself “Am I unconsciously pushing her to do this?”. Watching the show took me back. I felt so many emotions that I wasn’t even really sure what I was feeling. I remember one of my dance teachers used to “ugly” cry at the end of every recital. And now I get it. There is such a culmination of emotion, blood, sweat and tears. You see all the hard work of the dancers, teachers, and parents come together. When my daughter performed she appeared so joyful and at ease on stage, all of her worries melted away as her bright red smile spread from ear to ear. She came off stage and told me how much fun she had, how happy she was and how she never wanted her routines to end. Her statements hit me like a punch to the stomach (in a good way!). This is how I used to feel. This is why I devoted so much time to dance. And maybe it wasn’t all a waste of time.

So here are 5 reasons why I recommend dance lessons for kids:

  1. It’s a great form of exercise. They work every muscle in their body and it’s physical hard work. Dance requires the perfect balance between strength and flexibility which will be beneficial no matter if they stick with dance or move onto something else.
  2. They learn coordination and proprioception. My start in dance prepared me for other endeavors. I went on to play baseball, volleyball, track, basketball and rugby. Dance helped me with each of these sports.
  3. Dance builds confidence. When a young person steps on stage they gain self-esteem. This will be used in all aspects of life and will stay with them into adulthood.
  4. Friendships are formed. Dancers work together as a team and support one-another. I still keep in touch with people that I danced with.
  5. Dance is creative and a form of self-expression. It allows individuals to express themselves just like music and art.

I may not have become a professional dancer but I now know, after revisiting the world of dance through my daughter’s eyes, that my time in dance created a pretty awesome foundation for life. So for now I will use these talents and skills in other areas and continue to rock the living room dance party at home and the occasional wedding!

 

thumbnail_IMG_6118.jpgOne of my sisters and I in what would be my last time competing in jazz.

Honouring Myself

Posted by May 9, 2016 Happiness, health, motherhood, parenthood, yoga Leave a Comment

Mother’s day for this year has come and gone. Even though I have been a mother myself for nearly nine years I still find the lead up and the day very difficult since I lost my mom to cancer twelve years ago. I tend to anticipate the sadness of the day by busying myself and making plans other than celebrating. And this is what I did this year. I knew my love for teaching yoga teacher trainees would be a happy way to spend the day so I committed myself to that.

One of the topics I shared with the group was the importance of taking care of yourself as a teacher and a yogi. We discussed how some days you have to give your classes to other teachers when you are feeling tired and drained. I know from past experience that trainings that last for full days and weekends leave me feeling this way yet a voice in my head said “You will be fine to teach your regular classes on Monday morning. You have toughed it out before. You can do this”. While I can appreciate my internal motivational speaker at times, I had to stop and ask myself why I felt the need to “tough it out”. Luckily I have a profession that allows me to take time off so I did just that. No plans for most of the day just an opportunity to rest and listen to my body. As my children left for school they asked me: “What are you going to do all day? Just lay around and drink coffee?” My answer was: “Something like that”. I feel it is important to show them that I decided I needed a day to slow down and honour myself as a woman and as a mother. I want them to learn that parents need time to take care of themselves so that they can be parents who are present, healthy and happy individuals. Perhaps if my mother had shown me I wouldn’t be hearing the “tough it out voice”.

So today, the day after Mother’s Day, I’m slowing down to honour my mother and the sacrifices she made for her four kids. And I’m honouring myself as a mother and my need to rest and renew.

“There is no way to be a perfect mother….but a million ways to be a good one.”

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My Mom and I on Lake Kamaniskeg, her happy place.

Spring Yoga Adventure Retreat 2015 Recap

Posted by Jul 10, 2015 adventure, fitness, glamping, health, hiking, kayak, passion, SUP, wine, yoga Leave a Comment
Spring Yoga Adventure Retreat 2015 Recap

A month has already passed since myself and two dozen other adventurous souls embarked on the first Yoga Adventure Retreat in St. Williams, Ontario. I’m still buzzing from the energy and fun that we had. I never would have believed that months of planning, organizing and marketing would have resulted in such a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for myself as an organizer but also for each individual who came. We had the best group of people come together. They came from all over Ontario and many had never met each other yet some how everyone enjoyed each other’s company and brought their own flavour to the weekend.

The retreat was held at the beautiful Long Point Eco Adventures (www.lpfun.ca). The accommodations were unique with amazingly comfortable beds (each one had a personal heater), in room flush toilets and an outdoor shower. I almost didn’t want to leave the room. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The facility is top notch and everyone must visit sometime. Trust me when I say you won’t want to leave!

The retreat began on a Friday evening. I arrived ahead of schedule and grabbed myself a bottle of cab frank from Burning Kiln Winery (www.burningkilnwinery.ca) across the street. I quickly fell into the groove of being on holidays as I sipped my wine under the Marshview Tent overlooking the serene Long Point inner bay with one of my guests. We watched all kinds of beautiful birds fly around us and shared wonderful conversation. Slowly other guests arrived and joined us under the tent after being led to their own tents to drop off their luggage. Before we knew it our dinner, which was catered by The Blue Elephant restaurant in Simcoe (www.blueelephant.ca), was delivered right to us under the tent. The food was plentiful and delicious. They clearly used local, fresh ingredients and we could not get enough. Especially the chocolate cake…or maybe that was just me! After dinner we rolled out our yoga mats on the grass and enjoyed a gentle, relaxing yoga practice then met at the campfire for some conversation and laughs until one by one we headed to bed. You couldn’t help but marvel at the beautiful sky full of stars. Next time I want to experience the observatory they have right on site. I personally had one of the best sleeps I have had in a long time. It was so quiet there.

On Saturday morning we woke up to a yummy breakfast served in the Kambuka tent. There’s something about fresh coffee and fresh air! Then we split into two groups to head off to our morning adventure. Half the group departed for a kayak tour along Big Creek and the other half drove to Port Dover to do some Stand Up Paddle board along the shores of Lake Erie. Both groups thoroughly enjoyed their tour and found them physically challenging and rewarding. The kayak group overcame an obstacle when a tree was blocking their route, they had to portage over it. I was in the SUP group and we faced some rough waters but still managed to paddle for 7.5 km and fit in some SUP yoga at the very end. Those in the SUP group were able to fit in a short yoga practice back at LPEA before the kayak group arrived back. So far the weather had been great even though the initial forecast was calling for rain most of the weekend.

Saturday evening we all gathered and walked across the street to the Burning Kiln Winery. We had a tour of the vineyard and the production facilities and learned so much about the birth and growth of wine production in an area of agriculture most known for tobacco. It was very educational and interesting. Then we headed to our own private tent onsite for a wine tasting. The staff at BK were wonderful and lots of fun. Maybe it was the wine talking but I felt like this might have been my favourite part of the weekend. That feeling of being outside all day, satiated from the physicality of our earlier adventure and perfectly relaxed in the evening sun. Our meal was provided by David’s of Port Dover (www.davidsportdover.com) and was absolutely amazing. Many of us took home some “grown-up” souvenirs to enjoy later. Some of us enjoyed more wine back at the campfire until we all headed to bed.

On Sunday morning we once again had breakfast in the Kambuka tent and headed out for a short hike through the Carolinian forest which stretches all the way to Long Point, a designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The sun was out and we enjoyed one last yoga practice outdoors. Soon after, the thunder and rain began delaying our zip lining tour. Six of us were able to wait out the thunder but many had to head back home so they left with a voucher to come back and take the tour. Those of us who stayed faced our fears, screamed until we were hoarse and bonded over goosebumps and smiles. We all gave each other hugs goodbye even though just a short time ago many were strangers. It was sad that the weekend had come to an end, I didn’t want to leave. Most told me how much they truly enjoyed the weekend and how they couldn’t wait for the next one.

I loved every second of the weekend and I have all the participants to thank plus Long Point Eco Adventures, Burning Kiln Winery, David’s, The Blue Elephant, SUP guides, Kayak guides and Mother Nature for providing us with this gem of an area called Norfolk County! To see more pictures from the weekend click here :http://1drv.ms/1d1u2h4  IMG_4553 IMG_4560 IMG_4589

If you are interested in the next Yoga Adventure Retreat subscribe to my blog and I will post dates as soon as I can.

Namaste & Zip on!

Yoga for Athletes – Benefits that go beyond flexibility

Posted by Feb 18, 2015 fitness, health, passion, sports, workout, yoga, yoga for athletes Leave a Comment
Yoga for Athletes – Benefits that go beyond flexibility

A huge part of my passion for yoga is working with athletes and introducing them to the benefits of a regular yoga practice. It was my experience as an athlete that brought me to yoga in the first place. And it was the years of abuse, or misuse of my body as an athlete that kept me coming back to my mat. So when I come across a blog or article about the benefits of yoga for athletes I get excited. It represents one more person who has the same beliefs and passion as I do and is working hard at spreading the Yoga Love!

However, most of the time when I read such blogs I feel like something is missing. They usually focus on the merits of flexibility for athletes and often neglect the other elements of yoga. So I decided to write about it myself. And because there is so much information I want to cover I have decided to write in multiple parts as to not overwhelm you. Even this way I’m sure I won’t cover everything I would like to. But I do hope that I can plant seeds in you that will either lead you to start adding yoga to your training or perhaps you may share this information and influence someone else. Because you are reading this you likely consider yourself an athlete, or maybe you are a coach or trainer or even a parent of a young athlete. Wikipedia defines an athlete as “a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed and/or endurance.” I like to think that even if you don’t engage in direct competition with others but take time to train your body in exercise modalities of strength, speed or endurance you can consider yourself an athlete. Likely you are also curious about yoga and may have even tried it a couple of times. Yoga has become very mainstream in the Western world in the last two decades but is really just starting to take hold in the realm of sports training. There are so many trends that come and go as it relates to training that yoga may seem like just another fad. I can assure you that yoga is not just a fad and that its’ universal principals of health and well being can be beneficial to any athlete whether they be amateur or professional, just starting to be active, in their peak, or into retirement.

The main points I want to cover over several postings include:

  • Mobility and strength
  • Breath training and awareness
  • Mental focus and clarity
  • Overall wellness

In all areas of healthy and wellness there is room for debate. I am presenting my opinion and experiences and I encourage you to form your own. No two bodies are exactly alike and it’s best to surround yourself with health care professionals that you trust and who are open to holistic practices. If there are specific topics you would like me to cover or if you have questions about anything I’m presenting please leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

First up….Yoga for Athletes: Improved mobility and strength!……stay tuned.