You Give Me Butterflies

Butterflies--a Zumba cool-down song to tryout. Choreography by Mix Hart (me) song by Michael Jackson. I edited the song, so this is only a taste of it.

I had a great  Zumba class tonight. I was called to sub a class. It was small but rewarding because I got to try out 4 new songs I've been working on. I am the teacher who introduces a new song weekly at least. I tell my students to be patient with me as this is a new song and I might blank out on occasion! I love new. I need to challenge myself as I get bored of my songs after dancing to them  about 5 times a week. So, thesis out of the way, I've gone nuts learning songs this week. I have one more salsa song to learn and then I am taking a break and perfecting all of them--I'll have the most awesome dance line-up for next fall.

The song above is called  Butterflies by Michael Jackson. When I trained with Gina Grant in Portland, she used this song in her line-up. I didn't know the name but I recognized the artist as Michael. I found it on itunes and choreographed some cool-down moves and stretches to it. It was a hit tonight. It is the cool-down song and the last song before we start the floor stretches. I do major stretching, with my class, after my hour of Zumba. Zumba is really hard on the hips, legs and butt and I like to protect these muscles as much as possible. I just love the song--it's a little addicting.
I'm also editing my novel--it is slow going as it is one LONG novel. But I am on the last 50 pages of a 500 page novel. This is the 100th edit by the way :P

April proving to be a busy month with several music festival appointments for my older girls: piano and choir as well as soccer starting next week also for Tabs and Pip.
One step at a time. 

Zumba with Gina Grant

Leaving the Hotel Governor in the Early Morning--Portland, Oregon

A Handy Stop at the Lobby Starbucks for Breakfast to Go (Banana Bread and Hot Tea)

Max Rail Ride

Transferred to the Train 

A Twenty Minute Chilly Walk and I Found the Studio!

A Cold Portland Morning--My Nose is Red! 

Gina Grant Demonstrates a Move

Gina and I after an 8 hour dance class

 I had the most exhausting day of my life yesterday! Eight hours of hard-core dance with only a wee 1/2 hour break in between. I learned steps to the Samba, Tango, Belly Dance and Flamenco. Tango was my favorite--I love the drama.
I burned at least 5000 calories just from dancing, not to mention the long walk to get there. All I had to eat all day was my Starbucks banana bread, a banana and a fruit and nut bar. By the time I made it back downtown  (about 7 pm) I was very weak. I ordered a giant burrito to go (from the most amazing and delicious Mexican restaurant near the hotel). I also picked up a bag of chips and a chocolate bar for after the supper--I had NEVER been so starving. But alas, I barely could finish the giant burrito and had no room for the treats.

Training was challenging--we had to cover 4 different dances in one day. Gina was just how I expected her to be--amazing dancer, direct, a little guarded, petite and beautiful.

 The only thing I don't like about the super star image of the Zumba trainers is that they promote perfect unnatural bodies.  I can tell plastic surgery is rampant. In the women it is evident in the fake boobs, tummy tucks and in the men, liposuctioned abs and ab implants.

I don't like the look of fake body parts. The boobs defy gravity--real boobs are heavy and need support when dancing--fake boobies don't even move when one dances!
I love real boobies: they move, they are heavy and they need support!

Off to explore a historical mansion and an art gallery...sore already this morning--all of that Belly dancing is hard on the wrists/hands and upper abs.

Stomping Through Autumn

Me again (taken this week ).

Me.

I went to a talk Thursday night by Dan Buettner. He is an award winning National Geographic writer amongst other things (explorer). He was talking about Blue Zones--pockets on earth where residents live to over 100 years most often. He listed the life style traits these people had in common. It was simple, yet inspiring advice for living a long life. The main points that I gleaned from his talk:

-An attitude that the World won't come to me, I must go to the world.
-Fresh plant rich diet (meat only a celebratory food).
-Walk everywhere you need to go daily.
-Community! Meet with a social group several times a week minimum. Daily is the very best.
-NEVER retire. Retirement is a concept that does not exist in Blue Zones.
-Elders must live with extended family. The elders work. They are expected to garden, care for children, help cook etc. And most importantly they are expected to help nurture and love all those around them. They have a real, important purpose in the family (these are people who are 100 +).

Tabitha has been home with a very sore throat and fever. She missed our ZumbAtomics class last evening. I missed my little darling but the class went well despite her absence. My niece Anemone had to be my #1 helper for the night. I have been so very busy trying to expand my Zumba network. So far I have several leads for more classes in the new year. My UBC class is a lot of work because I arrive there and the ball room is filled with chairs--it takes a lot of time and requires student help to stack them all--my class starts late :(
And now,  a serious plug for Zumba: I burn 1000 calories every single class I teach. It is the most amazing and fun way to be in the best physical shape of your life. I have never been fitter or stronger. Yes, I lift weights 3x a week, and do ab exercises 5x a week and run 1x a week as well, but the majority of my fitness is dancing Zumba up to 8x a week for an hour each class.

I am excited to be going to Portland, Oregon in December to take more Zumba training with Gina Grant. Gina is a super-star dancer. She, the founder of Zumba (Beto) and another dancer are currently on tour with Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias--they dance a few Zumba numbers during the concert.  I was so surprised that Gina even has time to still teach the odd training session that I jumped at the chance to be trained by her.

Busy getting organized with the rest of my goals as well. Trying to find a studio to rent etc. Because I am self employed, I hold a staff meeting with myself every Monday morning to organize the weeks goals/tasks. Of course, I am managing to move ahead with my art/writing career in baby steps until my thesis is finally defended next month and I am FINALLY done with my M.A. This is me once I am finished next month: :D  Also, I need meditation and Buddhism in my life. To have a community to meet with where I live is a goal of mine too. Sometimes things take priority over this quest (like building my career) but I feel it when I don't pursue spirituality as a priority in my life. Life gets so much more difficult. I have many interests and goals in life. Sometimes life can get a little overwhelming managing everything :P

Mist had a friend sleep over last night and little Pip is beside me as I write this, drawing away. Pip is enjoying kindergarten. The neighborhood kids all look out for her and like to hold her hand on the way to school, carry her back pack for her and let her sit beside them on the bus. I am especially grateful for this help when Tabs is sick and Pip must go to school on her own.

Mist returned from another Me to We Vancouver  this week. She spent the night in Vancouver. This year some of the guest speakers/ performers were: Mikhail Gorbachev, The Shaq, Mia farrow, Hedley, Down With Webster--pretty cool line up!