What to Wear to your next class - SHOES

I get this question fairly often - "I want to come to ____ class, what should I wear?" - so I thought I'd address it here.

WEAR WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD and doesn't interfere with your workout.  Spend more time thinking about your footwear than the rest of your attire.  So, what does that mean?

Your feet are super important and are your first connection point to the earth/ground/floor pretty much all the time.  The kind of class you're going to will dictate what you should have on your feet, and this really is the most important decision you're going to make in getting ready for class.  I'll start bare and go up from there:

Bare Feet: Going without shoes is perfect for Bellydance, Pilates, and Yoga, for different reasons.  In bellydance, your entire foot is needed to make the magic happen so having access to and awareness of your toes, ball of foot, and heel is essential.  In yoga & Pilates you spend most of your time on the mat, again with awareness of the whole foot, so having your feet bare keeps you from slipping and sliding.  Oh, and YOUR TOENAILS DON'T MATTER, so come to class even if it's been ages since your last pedicure - I promise, our teachers don't care (and may be ages from their last pedicure, too). If your feet run cold you may want to bring a pair of socks into the classroom for shavasana/bliss time.

A note about Grippy Socks: If you really don't want bare feet for whatever reason, grippy socks like the ones from Rock These Socks may work for you.

Tennis/smooth soled "gym" Shoes: Referring to *actual* tennis shoes, these are great for Zumba.  You do a lot of twisting and turning in this class, so having a shoe that will move with you is really important.  Running shoes or anything with a lot of tread/traction is NOT a good fit because the shoe is designed to stay put.  That's awesome when you're out running but if your shoe stays put and your ankle moves you're can end up with an injury.  Tennis shoes, Dance Fitness shoes - anything with a nice smooth sole will be your Zumba friend but they're best reserved for indoor use only.  Their lack of tread can make them wear down really quickly if you use them outside.

Cross-Trainer "gym" Shoes: Wear these to Kettlebell AMPD, Moxie Boxing, and Circuit because they offer you a lot of support.  Since we're not doing all the twisting that happens in Zumba the tread/grip isn't a problem, and these shoes tend to have a bit more shock absorption which is nice when we do burpies and jumping jacks.  These can be worn indoors and out, but bringing your workout shoes and changing when you arrive will keep them in good shape for longer.

Running Shoes: You guessed it - these are great for running!  They can also be used for walking and tend to last longer since they're designed for outdoor use (and beagles love them).

What do I wear?

I have a high-quality pair of "studio shoes" - they have a pivot point under the ball
of the foot, good ankle support, and a minimal amount of tread.  I am able to wear them for all of the classes I teach that require shoes (Zumba, Ketllebell AMPD, Moxie Boxing, Circuit).  When I teach Pilates and Bellydance my feet are bare (my favorite).

One general note about shoes and studio-based fitness classes.  It is highly recommended that you keep your fitness shoes as fitness shoes.  Bring them with you and change at the studio, reserve them for use in your classes.  This will help you make fewer trips to the shoe store and will keep you safer from injury.  How?  All the little things you can pick up in your shoes (especially those with tread) can change how they function under your feet and leave you at risk for slipping, sliding, and twisting when you're not expecting it.  As the weather changes this is an issue, too - wet shoes slip WAY more than you think!

I promise my next "What to Wear" post will be about the rest of your outfit, but shoes needed a post all their own.

Heard at the studio, March 23 - 28

What makes Hip Circle Studio special?  So very many things, but one of those is the chatter that happens before, during, and after classes.  By request, here's a synopsis of what we were talking about at the studio this week (in alphabetical order):

• Abortion Rights
• Adoption
• Alcohol Consumption
• "Bring the Happy!"
• Casseroles
• Children's Books
• Cisgender
• Death
• Decency
• "Endorphins, heal me!"
• Entrepreneurship
• Family Chores
• Good Samaritan Saturdays
• Harajuku Girls
• House of Cards
• Layovers
• Midwestern Personality
• Movies & Preschoolers
• Pseudo-estrogens
• Kindergarten tours
• Secret Gluten
• Spring Break
• Stickers
• Summer in March
• Tattoos
• Toddler Flirtations
• Toning VS Spot Reducing
• Walking

Heard at the Studio - March 17 - 21, 2014

What makes Hip Circle Studio special?  So very many things, but one of those is the chatter that happens before, during, and after classes.  By request, here's a synopsis of what we were talking about at the studio this week (in alphabetical order):

• Border Collie cats
• Chicago Bakeries
• Coming Out
• Concealed carry
• First Dates
• Gender VS Sexuality
• Indiana, Vegas, International Travel, and the Wisconsin Dells
• "Jewish Jewel"
• "Life is like jogging on a Bosu"
• Middle school dress code
• Nipples
• Planes & Trains
• Portland, OR
• Small world connections
• Urban living = wellness boost
• Vacation Workouts
• White Privilege, Heterosexual Privilege
• Wiki VS Britannica
• "Year of Change"

Who knows what we'll talk about next week!  Did I forget something?  Share it in the comments.  :-)

Quiet...A New Craving

I have become a meditater, or whatever one calls someone who meditates.  Like you, I've read about how important meditation is as a practice, and I've recently been exploring the negative impact stress can have on the body.  I thrive on action, movement, activity...and, after participating as a student in our Meditation Sampler Series for Women, I now crave some quiet mixed in for good measure.

Arlene Faulk

Our first session featured Tai Chi with Arlene Faulk.  This was an easy access point for me because we were on our feet, in motion, for the entire practice.  The slow and controlled movements used are different than what I'm used to from most of my dance and fitness activities but there was something very powerful about moving in this way.  This was only my 2nd experience with Tai Chi, my first being last year at a Chinese Garden in Portland, OR.  I felt my mind quiet while we were working, and had the pleasure of a very calm evening and good solid sleep that night.

Rebecca Mueller

Our second session featured Mindfulness Meditation with Rebecca Mueller.  We have this flavor of meditation at the studio on a monthly basis with Rebecca, so I'd had some experience before we got started, but there was a difference in working for close to an hour as opposed to our short 30-minute lunchtime sessions.  I felt like I was more able to find that quiet space in my mind without quite as much interference as usual.  I also felt more relaxed and refreshed than I'd felt before.  The effects stayed with me at home and, again, I slept very well!

Marsha Smith

Next up was our session featuring Focusing Meditation with Marsha Smith.  Even though on the surface Focusing and Mindfullness share characteristics this was a very different session than the previous week's.  Where Mindfulness seemed to be about quieting your mind and body, Focusing seemed to be more about quieting your mind so as to listen to your body.  This was the most interactive session in that we would meditate then discuss, then meditate some more.  Even with the back and forth I left feeling calm and quiet.




But how do I know I'm hooked?  We took last Sunday off (there was some sort of sporting event scheduled) and my body felt it.  I was off, agitated, unable to settle in to work even though I had ample time and space, and just generally out of sorts.  I realized, at about 7 pm, that I was missing meditation.  After only 3 weeks of carving out 75 minutes each Sunday evening my body reminded me that it liked the change of pace and did better for me with it on the schedule.

I didn't feel confident enough with my meditation skills to do one of the methods I'd been exposed to in the previous weeks so I did what comes naturally to me - I danced.  I danced with meditation as the focus and used my music and movement to reset and refresh.  I found a glimmer of what I'd gotten from the focused sessions with a guide in my solo attempt at home in my living room, and something clicked - meditation comes in many forms - you just need to find what works for you in the moment.

Corinne Peterson

The final session of the series - Yoga Nidra with Corinne Peterson - is this Sunday.  Wikipedia says Yoga Nidra is a sleep-like form of meditation, so this is likely to be the quietest of the four flavors.  I'm very much looking forward to giving this meditation style a try (and I'll add a comment with my thoughts next week), as is my meditation-happy body.



How do you meditate, and how often?

Meet Donna - A Stories from the Studio post

Have I mentioned that we love our students here at the studio?  We have collected an awesome group of women and families who attend - and teach - classes and workshops here and want you to get to know them a bit!  The Stories from the Studio posts will feature a student or teacher - get to know our wonderful community before you get here!

Meet Donna - Evanston resident, graduate student, married mom of two small children, and a regular in our Pilates Mat classes.  She and her family have been coming to the studio in one way or another since our first year (2010) - first with her toddler, then wearing her second child, and now on her own.  With her busy schedule it's great that she makes it into the studio once or twice a week!

How have you changed/benefited since finding Hip Circle Studio?  

Not just the weight loss but my clothes fit better and my core feels tighter.  I find my posture has become much improved and I’m in less back and shoulder pain.  I’m less stressed, as well. 

What is something you’ve found at the studio that you haven’t found elsewhere/what makes the studio special to you? 

I really think that it’s all about the community – I find a female community that is nonjudgmental and supportive even though there aren’t too many words being exchanged.  I love the warmth that I feel every time I am in class and think the world of Malik, too!  It has that family feel of a small business and local support.  It’s a wonderful resource for a woman in any stage in her life whether she’s single or committed/married or pregnant or has children or doesn’t.  There are so many wonderful workshops – like the name “Hip Circle” says – it truly is a circle that encompasses all the different stages of a woman’s life. 

What else should people know about the studio? 

It’s more than just classes that they offer – they offer a great community and resources.  They’re also very involved in the City of Evanston, as well!  Wait for the summer when there is Pilates in the park! 

Do you have a favorite instructor?  Who and Why? 

My favorite instructor is Malik because of how much I admire her – she definitely has a lot on her plate and is able to juggle most of it but also takes the time for her family and herself.  She gives off this great sense of inner knowing. 

 

What else should people know about you? 

I’m a busy woman.  It’s hard for me to say no so I juggle working full-time, helping to run my husband’s acupuncture practice, mother my two young children including being the assistant coach to my son’s AYSO team and taking both of them to their music lessons.  I’m also a part-time graduate student who can’t help but also sit on the board of directors for two non-profits, Programming Co-Chair for The Parent Circle here in Evanston, and volunteer for the City of Evanston Minority/Women/Evanston Business committee, as well.  To help me stay focused, I have my weekly Pilates class with Malik to keep me healthy mentally and physically.

One for the New Year

It's that time of year.  As December comes to a close it seems like we're all supposed to resolve to do or be something different or at least better starting January 1st.  As the owner of a dance and fitness studio I see the benefit of these resolutions - so many people seem to have "lose weight" at the top of their list of resolutions...enough so that the fitness industry banks on the trend.

Don't get me wrong - I WANT women to come in, especially those who are getting started on their path to health and wellness.  Yes, coming to classes can help you lose weight if you pair that change with looking at your food (both in terms of what you eat and your relationship with food/eating in general).  What makes me pause is the motivation and reasons behind the goals.

I also get the draw of the clean slate that the coming of a new year brings.  There is something really appealing about starting things on the FIRST of something.

And I get that taking stock of where you are as a year comes to a close is a way to see things about yourself or your situations that you want to change.

I wish, though, that we could all focus on the positives rather than the negatives.

I know that what I'm *supposed* to do is offer specials to lure in The Resolvers and get them locked in now before they give up on their resolutions.  First month free (on a 12 month contract) - you'll see that out there time and again in my industry.   Or I'm supposed to promise HUGE changes for clients - lose 20 pounds in 4 weeks, drop 3 sizes in no time - while they're in this vulnerable brain space.

That's not how I work.  It's not how I want to work.

Personally, I want people to start (whatever the date) working towards a healthier life.  I believe that moving and breaking a sweat is a really good step towards that goal.

I want people to make a positive commitment to themselves ("I WILL" statements rather than "I WON'T" are a good start) that they can and will keep because doing so makes them feel good.

I want people to start small and gain success so they can maintain the changes for the whole year (and the rest of their lives).

Professionally, I want women to find their way to the studio (whatever the date) as they work towards that healthier life.

I want them to try a variety of classes until they find the ones that make them smile.

I want them to commit, to themselves, to coming to one class a week for at least three months to make it a strong habit and something they look forward to each week.

I want them to feel so good after that one class that they organically find times and ways to move more throughout their week.

When ready, I want women to be in touch with themselves and their body enough to help define a good and healthy relationship with their food.

If that happens for them as of January 1, 2014?  Great.

Nominated for Best Dance Classes, and...

Hip Circle Studio won!  We won "Best Dance Classes" in the Make it Better Best of 2013 contest.

But let me tell you a story...

I didn't know we were even nominated until I got a letter informing us of our win.  Honest!  Most of the time, these contests are won through lots of promotion on the business' part - sending emails out to all of their subscribers, posting about needed votes on Facebook and Twitter (and other social media outlets I haven't figured out yet), reminding customers to vote after every visit - you know the drill.

I didn't know we were in the running.

I didn't ask for a single vote.



When the email came, I was a bit skeptical.  I decided to play along, though, figuring it couldn't hurt.  I went to the magazine offices ready for a hard pitch to buy advertising and such, but what I got was a hot cup of coffee, some treats, and the opportunity to talk with the founder of the magazine about the studio.  It was lovely!  I also found out we didn't *fully* win.  Nope - we'd tied with two other dance classes:

Zumba and WERQ

Here's the thing...Zumba is an INTERNATIONAL sensation.  WERQ is a National brand.  Both entities license or certify instructors from all over to teach their classes.  Heck, I AM licensed to teach Zumba, and we offer WERQ at the studio, too.

How cool is it that my little studio, just 3 years old, with a single location, came out of the contest in a three way tie with these two giants!

So Awesome!

So I will be flying our Best of 2013 flag high this month (and beyond) and will float around for a while on this winner's high.

Thanks to everyone (whoever you are) for voting, and I really do hope coming to the studio helps make things better for you!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

Two months ago, at our monthly Founding Moms meetup, I set myself a task: Figure out the technical logistics necessary to record a video for the studio.  I'd been thinking about making a video for a while, and even have toyed with having classes available via video, but felt like it was outside of my abilities.
It's amazing what a bit of accountability can do for you!

I had 4 weeks to have something figured out, so I set down to it...

I learned that my iPhone 4S would be enough of a video camera to meet my needs but that my old laptop was not up to the challenge of editing video.  I also realized, after trying my hand at getting some footage recorded, that a tripod of some sort was important.  One week in towards my deadline I invested in a new laptop, access to One to One training (thanks, Apple financing), and a little tripod.

With the help and patience of the ladies of the studio I was able to record several video clips of classes. These provided a lot of good learning opportunities with my Apple Geniuses at Old Orchard, though a lot of what I recorded ended up on the virtual cutting-room floor.

1 week to go and I landed on A Vision for the video...a vision that was impossible to realize with iMovie.  Of course, right?  Back to the drawing room I went but with a clearer idea of what was and wasn't possible.  The good news?  I had something to show at the follow-up Founding Moms meeting. I had met and exceeded my initial goal, but I was eager to have a finished product to share at the next meeting.

Our group meets again on Monday, one week earlier than normal, and I'm pleased to report I have a completed video to share!  What you see here is the video made in iMovie, with a soundtrack I created in GarageBand.

I've learned a ton about lighting, sound, fade ins/outs, titles, color matching, and more.  And I understand why people pay good money to have someone make a video for them - this takes a lot of work!

This is, hopefully, the first of many YouTube shares.  Next up...a practice video for our "Flash Mob" song for Custer Street Fair.  Yes, I'm hooked on the magic of video creation.

Stay tuned (and subscribe to my channel)!

KangaCardio™ - An Expectations post

So what can you expect at Hip Circle Studio classes?  I'm going to do my best to give you a peek into the different classes we offer through a series of "Expectations" posts.  Of course, seeing is believing, so I hope this is just enough information to help you give a class a try.  Nothing is a replacement for the live experience.

I created KangaCardio™ about 5 years ago, though it had a different name at the time.  My intention was to create a class that allowed moms with wee ones (6-weeks and older) to get out of the house, connect with other moms, AND get a workout all in one trip.  I used the information I had gained through my Zumba training and my Group Exercise certification, as well as my experience working with moms and babies as a postpartum doula, to craft the class.  The result was a fun, moderate-intensity level workout in which moms could wear their baby.  Success!

What happens in a KangaCardio™ class?

Moms arrive and get their baby on in the carrier of their choosing.  We've had moms in ring slings, front carriers, and back carriers - much of the choice depends on the age and weight of the baby.  Favorite carriers have been the Moby (linen, not the stretchy t-shirt material) and the Ergo, but I swear we've pretty much had every carrier represented over the years!

The music starts and we get moving quickly (the babies don't like standing still)!  We use several basic dance-fitness moves and, of course, bellydance moves to get and keep our heart-rate up throughout class.  Everything we do keeps baby moving with mom in a way that is similar to what one might do to soothe baby out of a fussy state.

The music is loud enough to hear but chatter happens over the music - we talk about baby-related things in equal measure with current events and general topics.  No topic is off limits in class and a lot of questions get answered from among the community of moms in the room.


When a baby needs to nurse or eat, mom slows down and moves off to the side.  The same happens if there's a diaper emergency mid-class.  These pauses are totally welcomed and understood since the whole room has either been there or will be there soon enough!

That reminds me...Fussy babies (and their frazzled moms) are welcome!  Every baby benefits from the movement of dance, but the fussiest of the bunch may benefit the most. Check out this list of tips from Dr. Sears - you'll find wearing baby at #1 and dance at #2.  Need I say more?  

We are sure to cool mom down and do a good stretch.  Some babies retire to the floor for stretching time while others stay on mom.

What you WON'T find in KangaCardio™:

• Jumping
• Sharp movements
• Inversions
• Mom-shaming (all parenting choices are respected at the studio)
• Age limits (if you can wear your baby you're welcome in KangaCardio™)

If you have a wearable baby, I hope to see you in a KangaCardio™class soon!

Hula Hooping - Try it!

Read on for our first guest-authored post!  Cynthia Narcisi, our inaugural Hoop instructor at Hip Circle Studio, shares her love of hooping and gives you a peek into what you can expect in your first Hula Hoop class!

You might’ve noticed that hula hooping is a big trend (again) and no longer just for kids. It’s gotten a ton of media attention lately.  You’ve seen Kelly Osborne hooping, Marissa Tomei hooping, and even Ellen DeGeneres hooping (who knew?).    Good Morning America recently did a segment on it, too.  So all this might be what has inspired you to try hooping. And if it has, then great! But maybe there’s more to it than that. Maybe you want to lose weight. Or spend an hour having fun and connecting with other amazing women. Maybe you want to just move your body in a brand new way.  It could be you just want to prove to your inner child you finally, FINALLY, got that hoop to stay up! As kids, some of us were great at it, but most of us really really struggled, myself included.   I’d wind it up, give it a whirl, and then PLOP!   You can expect you absolutely WILL learn how to waist hoop. And you’ll have a LOT of fun while doing it because we don’t just stand there for an hour with the hoop on our waists. We hoop it like we mean it! 

Aside from waist hooping, we also:

• Hoop on the hips, chest, and shoulders.

• Hoop off-body such as on the hands and above the head.

• Hoop while we move (it’s no fun to just stand still, so we walk, turn in circles, do grapevines, all while hooping!)

What else can you expect? You can expect to use a larger sized hoop! They’re adult sized (and hand-made with L-O-V-E), meaning they’re much larger than the toy hoops you’re familiar with. Larger sized hoops are excellent for beginners so please don’t feel offended if I suggest you use really big hoop, probably MUCH bigger than what you’ve ever seen before.  A larger hoop will spin more slowly around the body, making it easier to control.  Remember how fast those lightweight, small toy hoops would spin? That’s why you had trouble with them. 

You can expect NOT to use weighted hoops. With hooping being so popular you may have been tempted to buy hoops that weigh anywhere from 3-15lbs. While that might not sound like much, all that weight (plus the additional force of the spin) pulling against your spine can actually cause injury to the lumbar area and bruising on the hips. Our hoops weight less than 2 lbs. and people love them! So we also ask that you don’t bring your weighted hoops to class as we really don’t want you to injure yourself. We provide hoops and you can also purchase them at the studio.

There are a million reasons why I love hula hooping and why I think you will too. Here are a few:

• According to American Council on Exercise, waist hooping burns 400-600 calories per hour

• Hooping strengthens your core and back

• Hand-hooping will give you amazingly toned arms
• It improves your balance and coordination

• Here’s the best part: It reduces stress!  

• Always wanted to try meditation but couldn’t do it? Hooping is literally a moving meditation!

What else can you expect in Hula Hoop class? You can expect lots of individual attention since we keep this particular class size small (max of 6) due to space requirements. It’s like a semi-private lesson every time! You can expect me to cheer you on like crazy because I really REALLY want everyone to walk out of class feeling accomplished!  Expect a variety of ages, sizes, and backgrounds which means, you guessed, you will fit right in!

When you come to class please wear:

• Cotton everything! The hoop will slide on anything shiny or synthetic.

• Fitted tops (or at least nothing baggy). The hoop will get tangled in loose-fitting shirts. Bottoms can generally be as loose fitting as you feel comfy with.  Yoga pants are great for hooping too.

•  Footwear? You can go barefoot or wear an aerobics shoe or a Zumba shoe if you have them.   Running shoes are nice too because they’re lightweight.  

Here’s the last thing you can expect: You can expect to become addicted to hula hooping! 

I hope to hoop with you soon! 

  

Getting Girls Hooked on Fitness

I haven't always been active.  In fact, if you'd told me in my twenties that I'd be making a living as a dance and fitness instructor I'd have laughed (and that would have been my workout for the day).  In my teens my activity was limited to whatever they had me doing in gym.  In my youth I did the requisite dance classes, and spent a fair number of years taking skating lessons, but I was never active outside of these organized classes.  What were the adults in my life doing?  A lot of sitting and driving. Even the teachers of the active classes I took did more directing than demonstrating.  Did this set me up for being a sedentary, unhealthily overweight adult?  Maybe...

One of the things that pushed me to open the studio was the desire to have a space where women could bring their girls to share workouts and dance classes.  Let girls stand, dance, and sweat next to women of all ages, shapes, and sizes to encourage an active lifestyle and positive self-esteem.

We have to do something to change how the next generation looks at fitness.

How many of us struggle with keeping our own health and wellness at the top of our to-do lists each week?  I have to believe that giving our daughters regular practice working out - in the company of our generation - will carry over into adulthood.  Think of it: if going to workout is a treat you get after completing that day's homework, how does that change your relationship with fitness?  How about the benefits of being able to get your workout in while spending quality time with your daughter?  This is a win-win scenario that has the power to change the world!

Will it work?  I think it already is...

Expectations - Bellydance BaseFusion

We are a cautious people.  We like to read reviews before buying an item or trying out  a recipe.  We like to choose our practitioners based on referrals from friends and family.  We like to see pictures and video of people and places before we meet them or plan a visit.  Having an idea of what is going to happen before it happens seems to make it easier to take that leap into the unknown.

So what can you expect at Hip Circle Studio classes?  I'm going to do my best to give you a peek into the different classes we offer through a series of "Expectations" posts.  Of course, seeing is believing, so I hope this is just enough information to help you give a class a try.  Nothing is a replacement for the live experience.

Bellydance BaseFusion

The Description - Discover the fun inherent in the basics of bellydance in this beginning level class. Each week will include a variety of moves to expose you to the basics of how the body moves in bellydance and the fusion styles used by Malik and Zahara Fusion. Regular practice in using combinations will prepare you for taking on Intermediate Bellydance. You’ll also work your way up to being comfortable with improvisational dancing thanks to the strong foundation presented in this class. Students can be as young as 8 and as old as the sun. Students under 12 must attend with their parent.  

Translation - the focus is on fun, this is a beginning level class (no experience necessary), you'll learn all sorts of moves, you'll practice free dancing, young  girls/teens are welcome, and there's another level class to aim for.

But, what's going  to happen when you walk in for your first class, right?

• You'll encounter women/girls who are different.  Honestly, I don't think we have 2 students that look enough alike to be confused for each other!
• You'll take off your shoes and socks.
• You'll get to choose a coin belt to borrow (unless you bring your own).
• You'll be greeted warmly by me and the other students.
• You'll move!  We do a gentle warm up to prep your heart, muscles, and joints, then get into the content for the week.  Each class ends with a 3-5 minute free dance time before we cool down and stretch.
• You'll chat! We're a friendly bunch and we while away our drills (yay, shimmies!) with light conversation.
• You'll laugh! Nothing is taken too seriously in this level - we're here to have a good time and get to know (maybe even love?) our bodies.  Critiques and such are saved for the intermediate level classes.
• You'll hear a variety of music, from all over the world, while dancing in class.

What don't you have to worry about in our BaseFusion class?

• Baring your belly.  You can be as dressed as you'd like in this class, though it is easiest for me to help you master the moves if you have form-fitting (think yoga style) clothing.  Feel better in a huge t-shirt and baggy sweats?  Go for it.
• Your two left feet.  Heck, bring three if you have them!  Perfection is not the goal in this class and we're not packed in like sardines so there's room for "interpretation" of directions.  Honest - if you've had bad experiences before that have left you with the notion that you "can't dance" this class can help you turn that around.  Everybody can bellydance.
• Competition.  There is no "winning" in our classes (at any level), so there's no need to compete.  I am beyond thrilled with the community of women we've gathered at the studio and how their first instinct is to help and welcome new folks.
• Fat/Skinny/Young/Old bashing.  ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME!  Let me say that again...ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME!  However you are, whoever you are, you can walk into the studio and know you'll be accepted.  Every.Body.CAN.Bellydance.

Now it's your turn.  Comment with your experiences from coming to Bellydance BaseFusion.  If you haven't been yet, come give it a try and then add your comments into the mix.  

Why I teach

A friend asked me why I teach.  As I teach A LOT of things, this was an interesting question and made me think through something I just take for granted.  I've been teaching people things for the last 28 years (and I'm only 40)!  It is a normal thing for me to learn something new and then turn around and start teaching that new skill to whoever wants to learn.  This results in my not having many things I "just do", but that's ok with me most of the time.


Back to the "why"...I teach because I love how it feels to learn.  Let's take Pilates as an example, as it's the newest learner-to-teacher experience I have.  I had given Pilates a half-hearted try (2 classes) about 4 years ago.  It didn't work for me at that time - I'm a difficult student!  Recovering from 2 back surgeries left me very weak in my core and incredibly cautious about doing anything that might cause a flare up in my back.  I'm not sure what exactly pushed me into trying it again (I blame my students), but I followed the call and signed up for a 12-class pack at Sixpax in the south loop.  That was in October.  By December I was all registered for the teacher training.  I had to!  The way Fayth taught the classes allowed me to connect with my core muscles in a way I had never experienced.  Even just going once per week I started seeing changes in how my muscles looked and, more importantly, how I used those muscles when dancing and doing other workout-type activities.  Those experiences needed to be shared with my Hip Circle Studio ladies!  It honestly didn't occur to me to find someone else to teach the classes in my space - I wanted to help women feel the changes I was feeling.


That's my "why".  I teach so I can be a part of helping others grow in the ways I've grown.  That is true for bellydance, parenting, fitness - all of it.  Coming to this realization only makes me want to teach that much more.


What do you do?  What is your "why"?

Class Spotlight - Zumba Gold

The creators of Zumba build the Gold version for "older or deconditioned exercisers", which is hardly a description that gets folks beating down the door to work out, right?  I see Zumba Gold as an easy entry-point into dance-fitness.  My Gold class is just as much fun as the "regular" Zumba classes I teach, just done at a slightly less frenetic pace.  We don't jump up and down, we don't switch moves quite as quickly, but we still rock out to world music.  The slight adjustments to the regular format make Zumba Gold a great option for all sorts of people:

• pregnant/post-partum women,
• women recovering from an injury or illness,
• women looking to slow down and really learn the dance moves,
• women unsure of the Zumba format who want to test the waters before diving in,
• women seeking a lower-intensity workout, and, yes,
• older women

So, what should you expect when you give Zumba Gold a try?  Well, you still need to bring water, and wear non-running gym shoes.  We start with a warm-up before diving into the meat of the class.  We still have intervals of high and low intensity songs, with the typical blend of world and American music and dance moves.  You will find a song or two that will challenge your balance (thereby working on your core muscles) that you won't get in the "regular" Zumba classes.  We will, as always, finish out the class with a cool-down and stretch.  You won't sweat quite as much in Zumba Gold, and we rarely fog up the windows of the studio. 

I went for my Zumba Gold certification with the intention of opening up the fitness options for pregnant/postpartum women as well as for women who think, for whatever reason, that they can't take on an exercise routine.  While I find Zumba pretty darn accessible in general, I know it can seem a bit daunting after catching a glimpse of all the hard-bodies sweating up the screen on the commercials and infomercials that are out there.  Zumba really CAN be for EVERYONE, and Zumba Gold helps broaden the circle. 

What's the best way to figure out if Zumba Gold is a good fit?  Give it a try!  Will I see you at the studio next Thursday morning?  9:30 am - we'll be ready for you!

While working at the studio today, the idea of the "third space" came up in conversation.  The idea is that we all have two primary spaces, work and home, that get a lot of attention, but that there is another space that needs some play.  The Third Space is reserved for You - things that bring you joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment.  This is not to say that you can't find joy, satisfaction, and fulfilment in your work or home spaces, but that when you find them in your Third Space you get to experience them for yourself, without obligation or responsibility for anyone or anything else.

Interesting.

My Home Space is full and busy.  Husband, kids, and pets are the obvious inhabitants, but I think the Home Space can be broadened to include extended family, close friends, neighbors, and the communities formed at each of my kids' schools and our synagogue.  This space also holds obligations- cleaning, laundry, bill payment, homework management, and all the other glamourous aspects that happen at home.

My Work Space is, well, full and busy.  Studio visitors, doula clients, fellow practitioners, members of committees and groups, staff, and others fill the rolls here.  There are to-do lists, more bills to pay, associations to join, networking to do, things to clean, papers to file, classes to teach (and develop and market and manage), certifications to maintain, and new things to learn fill up any empty spots here.

So, the Third Space - what does it hold for me?  It is challenging for me to find things that exhist soley in this space.  You see, I have carefully created a work life that involves most of what I would imagine folks would put in their Third Space.  I love to knit, for example, but this dips into the Work Space since I teach knitting classes at the studio and host a monthly knitting meetup.  I love to dance, but I teach that at the studio, too - several times a week (sometimes several times a day).  I love working out (yes, I mean that), but get most of my workout time in at the studio.  What's left to put in my Third Space?  Watching TV with my husband?  I can't figure out a way to work that into my Work Space...  :-)

I think the Third Space, for me anyway, is all about intention.  If I pull out my knitting and decide that the time I'm taking to create something is time I'm giving to myself then that project - Poof! - happens in the Third Space.  If I turn my music on at home and start an impromptu improv set then that dance moment - Poof! - happens in the Third Space.  If I eke out 20 minutes to hide in the basement and work up a sweat with Wii Active then - Poof! - I'm working out in the Third Space.  What I am realizing, however, is that taking the time to develop that intention is challenging.  It is so easy to get caught up in the shuffle of the day-to-day stuff that *needs* to get done in the Home and Work Spaces that my Third Space (now that I know I have such a thing) gets neglected.  What makes this more interesting to me is that I think, for many of the folks who visit, I've created a Third Space destination with the studio.  If my business is to make space for people to find their Third Space, shouldn't I be sure to do the same for myself?  I don't ask folks to do workouts I don't do myself, I don't ask more from my dancers than I ask of myself, and I don't ask folks to give attention to their kids that I don't give my own, so why should this be any different?

I hope, now that my eyes have been opened to this Third Space idea, that I will be able to find the time and well, space, for some changes.  What do you see your three spaces made up of, and how do you carve out your Third Space?  Do you see your Third Space as a solitary place, or one you only enter in the company of friends?  If you neglect your Third Space what are the effects?

Share your answers or just ponder the questions for yourself.  :-)