Zumba: The Perfect Dance Fitness Revolution for Body and Soul on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo

by Veronique Rioux | Nov 9, 2017 | Dance

If you’re looking for a fun way to get in shape and stay healthy, look no further than Zumba. Zumba is a dance fitness program that combines various styles of dance and music into an energetic, full-body workout. As a fitness enthusiast and certified Zumba instructor for over 10 years, I can attest to the numerous benefits that Zumba has to offer.

Zumba was first introduced in 2001 by Alberto “Beto” Perez, a Colombian dancer and choreographer. Beto was inspired to create Zumba when he forgot his traditional workout music and instead used his personal collection of salsa and merengue music for his class. The students loved it, and a new form of exercise was born.

Fast forward to 2006, when Zumba released its first DVD set. As soon as I saw it on Amazon, I ordered it and fell in love with it immediately. Coming from a background in bellydance and fitness, I found that Zumba was the perfect combination for me. It combined my love of dance with a full-body workout that left me feeling energized and motivated.

In 2007, I attended a Zumba teacher training in Montreal with Beto himself. After completing the training, I started teaching Zumba classes and was amazed at how much people loved it. The music variety and the fitness disguised into a dance party were the perfect combination to get people moving and having fun. Over the years, Zumba has expanded its musical repertoire to include a wide variety of styles, from Latino music like salsa and cumbia, to funk, afro-cuban, Brazilian, flamenco, hip hop, jazz, and more.

One of the things I love about Zumba is that it brings people of all ages and fitness levels together. I’ve taught Zumba to seniors, in high schools, in elementary schools, for fundraisers, and for university students. It’s a great way to get a full-body workout while having fun and socializing with others who share a love of music and movement.

Dance is not only good for your body, but also for your brain. It increases coordination, balance, and agility, while also providing a great way to destress and boost your mood. Many of my students have told me how much better they feel after a Zumba class, and how it has helped them overcome anxiety and depression.

If you’re new to Zumba, don’t be intimidated! The purpose of Zumba is simply to move your body and have fun. There is no right or wrong way to do it, and no dance show to perform. The advice I give to participants is to start from the ground up. Try to do the steps first, then add the hips, the arms, and then the hands. Add your own special flare to it and make it your own.

In addition to traditional Zumba classes, I also offer a variety of dance classes, including bellydance. Bellydance is a great way to understand how your hips and torso can move, and I explain 5 basic movements in this article.

If you’re in the Vancouver Island area, check out my calendar of current Zumba classes and dance classes. And for those who want to take their Zumba workouts to the next level, check out my Zumba bundle.

In conclusion, Zumba is a fun and effective way to get in shape and stay healthy. It’s a workout that doesn’t feel like work, and it’s a great way to connect with others who share a love of music and movement. So why not give it a try and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?

Eating for Health and Savings: Tips for Grocery Shopping on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo

by Veronique Rioux | Nov 2, 2017 | Nutrition

Improving Your Diet and Saving Money on Groceries

Over the years, my diet has changed considerably, and so has my grocery shopping. In this post, I will share with you my journey towards a healthier diet and my tips on how to save money on groceries. If you are in Vancouver Island, Nanaimo, this post will be especially useful for you.

First, let me clarify the word “diet.” For many people, this word has a negative connotation because it means to restrict oneself from some kind of food in order to lose weight. In this post, when I talk about diet, I simply refer to the kind of food I eat.

I used to eat for pleasure, indulging in high sugar food and dessert. This type of diet was not good for my body or my mind. I often felt guilty for the food I ate and was stuck in an unhealthy pattern. I’ve also tried to have a diet that kept me lean and even tried doing a body fitness competition. I had to lower my body fat as much as possible. However, lately, I’ve been trying to eat food with an environmental consciousness, and that’s why I’ve become a vegetarian. As a mother of two young boys, I have limited time to cook, so I need simplicity. My partner and I also made a commitment to find new ways to eat healthy nourishing food while maintaining our budget.

It seems like in the last few years, it’s getting harder to stretch our dollars on food. The price of food has gone up a lot, and we need to have a plan in place to know how to spend only so much money on food. It’s been estimated that food will go up 5% just in 2023, and for most households, groceries are the biggest expense they have. Therefore, I wanted to share a few tips I’ve discovered on how to save some money on groceries.

First tip to save on grocery; try to grow some food during the summer. Some of the essential food that we grow are tomatoes, potatoes, squash, corn, beans, onions, garlic, and almost forgot honey. These food items are easy to grow and store to eat during the winter. It’s also really nice to know that your food will help the environment and are grown without chemicals or GMO. Growing food is also a great opportunity to be outdoors with our kids, and there are so many discoveries to be made in the process. We currently have the opportunity to rent our neighbor’s yard and grow food on a half-acre. Be aware that there are so many options to grow food even if you don’t have the space. I believe it’s one of the best time and health investments you can do for yourself and the Mother Earth.
Second tip to save on grocery; buy bulk food. We like buying bulk food like oatmeal, rice, quinoa, raisins, beans, sunflower seeds, popcorn, nutritional yeast, coconut oil. It seems like a lot of money to put up front when you buy such a big quantity, but you can save so much money in the long run. It can also limit all the trips to the grocery store.
Third tip to save on grocery; don’t buy processed food. Take the time to research some good recipes and plan ahead of time. Making your meals from scratch is one of the biggest ways you can save money. The more prepared food is, the more it usually costs, and it’s usually pretty unhealthy. Also, when you cook, make sure you make too much so you can freeze some, take it for lunch, share it with friends. That will also help you save some excuse to have to go out to buy some food because you are hungry and are running out of time.

In conclusion, making changes to our diet and grocery shopping habits can have a significant impact on our health, our budget, and the environment. By growing our own food, buying in bulk, and avoiding processed foods, we can save money, eat healthier, and reduce our carbon footprint.

It’s important to remember that making these changes doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a little bit of planning and creativity, we can find simple and delicious ways to incorporate nourishing foods into our daily routine.

Overall, the journey towards a healthier and more sustainable diet is a continuous process, and it’s important to be kind to ourselves along the way. By embracing small changes and celebrating our progress, we can create a positive and sustainable relationship with food and the planet.

In terms of improving the post, one suggestion would be to include more specific information and resources about local options for sustainable and affordable food in Vancouver Island and Nanaimo. This could include farmer’s markets, community gardens, and local grocery stores that offer organic and locally sourced produce. Adding relevant keywords related to health, fitness, and sustainable eating practices can also help with SEO. Additionally, including more personal anecdotes and experiences can make the post more engaging and relatable for readers.

Belly Dancing Exercises for Body and Mind Connection: Learn the 5 Basic Movements for Fitness on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo

by Veronique Rioux | Oct 23, 2017 | Dance

Belly dancing is an ancient dance form that has been practiced for centuries, and it is becoming increasingly popular in the fitness world. Belly dance is not only a fun way to stay active, but it also offers numerous health benefits. In this article, we will explore the basics of belly dance movements and how you can practice them for fitness.

Understanding Hip and Torso Movements Through Belly Dancing

Belly dance is known for its fluid and intricate movements that require control and coordination of different body parts. Practicing belly dance movements can help you to develop body awareness, improve your posture, and strengthen your muscles. Here are the five basic belly dance movements that you can start practicing:

Sliding side to side: This movement involves keeping your hips or torso parallel to the ground and moving them side to side. This movement helps to strengthen your inner and outer thighs and can also help to improve your balance.
Sliding forward and back: This movement involves keeping your hips or torso parallel to the ground and moving them forward and back. This movement helps to strengthen your legs and can also improve your hip flexibility.
Tilting: Tilting involves bending your knee and tilting your hip or torso to one side. This movement can help to strengthen your core and improve your balance.
Twisting: Twisting is a movement that requires a lot of core activation. When you twist your hips, it is also known as the washing machine. Twisting your torso and speeding it up can become the famous shoulder shimmy. Practicing this movement can help to strengthen your abs and back muscles.
In & out or tucking: This movement mainly uses the lower abs to be able to tuck your pelvis in while lengthening the lower back. This movement is important to understand, especially when doing any core exercise safely. The same action is possible with the torso, and it mainly uses the upper abs to create this movement.

Practicing Belly Dance Movements for Fitness

Practicing belly dance movements is a great way to stay active and improve your fitness. However, it is important to start slowly and practice in front of a mirror to ensure that you are engaging the right muscles and maintaining proper form. It is also important to focus on your breath and relax the rest of your body while practicing these movements.

Adding a smile to your practice can help you to relax more and enjoy the experience. It is important to remember that it takes time to master any art form, so be patient and keep practicing.

If you are looking to incorporate belly dance movements into your fitness routine, consider checking out a Zumba class. Zumba combines dance and aerobic movements to create a fun and effective workout that incorporates belly dance movements and other dance styles.

In conclusion, belly dance is a great way to stay active and improve your fitness. Practicing the basic belly dance movements can help you to develop body awareness, improve your posture, and strengthen your muscles. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced dancer, practicing belly dance movements can be a fun and rewarding way to stay fit and healthy.

If you are in the Vancouver Island area, consider checking out the dance services offered by the author of this article. You can also visit their website to learn more about their Zumba classes and current class schedule.

Transforming My Life: My Journey Through Yoga Teacher Training on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo

by Veronique Rioux | Oct 19, 2017 | Yoga

Committing To a Yoga Teacher Training: My Journey Through Yoga

My journey through yoga has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life, and committing to a yoga teacher training program was the catalyst for this transformation. It allowed me to deepen my own practice, learn new tools for self-healing and growth, and ultimately share this knowledge with others.

For years, I struggled with depression and a sense of hopelessness about the world around me. I felt lost and disconnected, and I knew that something needed to change. After a series of car accidents, I realized that I needed to make a major shift in my life, and that’s when I felt the calling to do a yoga teacher training program.

I researched different programs and found a chakra yoga school that offered a three-month, 340-hour yoga teacher training once a year in Victoria and once a year in Thailand. Despite many naysayers, I followed my intuition and flew to Thailand to embark on this journey of self-discovery.

The program was intensive and focused on self-healing and growth. Most of our day at YTT was spent on breathing, chanting, dancing, practicing yoga postures, and attending lectures on nutrition, the chakra system, and much more. It was an amazing experience to take this time away for myself and to learn so many tools to heal my body and mind that I still use to this day.

When I returned home, I was surprised to find myself sharing and teaching what I had learned with others. People gave me positive feedback, and it has been so empowering to help others on their own journeys. I have learned how powerful I am and that I am not a victim of my life and the world around me. I have decided to be the change I want to see in the world, one breath at a time.

Not everyone can take three months off for a yoga teacher training program, which is why I offer a weekend program as well. Even if you don’t want to become a teacher, yoga teacher training is a great way to deepen your practice and gain new tools for personal growth.

If you’re interested in deepening your practice or becoming a teacher, I invite you to join me on this transformative journey. My upcoming yoga teacher training program is a collective project, bringing in many other amazing instructors to share their strengths and experiences. You will not only gain new knowledge and skills, but you will also be part of a supportive community of like-minded individuals who are committed to growth and self-discovery.

Yoga has the power to transform lives, and I am honored to be able to share this practice with others. If you’re ready to commit to your own journey of self-discovery, I encourage you to visit my website to learn more about my upcoming yoga teacher training program. Together, we can create positive change in ourselves and in the world around us, one breath at a time.

Helping Your Child Recover: Tips for Coping with Injury and Encouraging Healing

by Veronique Rioux | Jul 13, 2017 | Fitness

Journey to Recovery from a Broken Leg to Walking Again: A Parent’s Perspective

As a parent, it’s tough to watch your child suffer from an injury. It’s even tougher when the injury is severe, like a broken leg. My oldest son, Elohw, broke his leg (tibia) two days after his sixth birthday. His broken leg was in a full cast from mid-thigh to toe for six weeks. The orthopaedic surgeon and our family doctor advised us not to let him put any weight on his leg while in the cast so his leg would heal better.

Even though we got him a pair of crutches, I never forced him to use them while his leg was in the cast because I feared he would over-compensate and develop bad walking habits. At the same time, we needed to follow the specialist’s recommendations to make sure Elohw’s leg healed as well as possible. We were all excited when it was time for him to get his cast off, but we didn’t realize that this would be just the beginning of a long journey to recovery.

Recovery from a Broken Tibia

Once the cast was off, the orthopaedic surgeon warned us that his broken leg might grow crooked and that we needed to be careful for a year to prevent complications. He also told us that the fracture was not fully healed and said, “If he were an adult, we would have to put him back in a cast. But because he is a kid, he will heal fast enough.” We were a bit puzzled by this and asked whether we should take Elohw to physiotherapy. He advised us not to waste our money. We left the doctor’s office with our son and his “brand new leg” – and decided to do what seemed right to us based on our experience with our own bodies.

I am so grateful for all my training and my experience with pain because I was able to support my son in his recovery. It has also made me wonder how many parents find themselves at a loss in a similar situation. I broke my femur when I was 19, and I know from experience that we compensate to avoid pain and create more pain in other places in our body, usually in the spine and hips. I kept reminding my son about his posture – repeatedly!

Exercises to Regain Mobility after a Fracture

I knew that the first thing we had to focus on was regaining the mobility in his joint even before gaining strength. I showed him two simple exercises: pointing and flexing his foot and flexing and extending his knee. I soon realized that our son had a very low pain threshold and had gotten used to being carried or scooting around on his butt! I had to deal with a lot of resistance and screaming. I tried encouraging him to use the crutches but to no avail. I also discovered that I could stretch his leg while he slept, to help speed the recovery.

At a second visit with our family doctor, she explained that he needed to start standing and, using crutches, put weight on the leg in order for the bones to grow. She told him that astronauts in space lose bone density because, without gravity, they don’t bear any weight.

We also took our son to the physiotherapist to see if she knew a way to speed up the process. Most kids, she told us, are eager to get up and moving, and usually have to be encouraged to slow down to not get hurt. Elohw wasn’t typical. He was anxious about the pain and needed a lot of encouragement. She also explained that his ankle had been compressed by the cast and might be swollen for a few weeks.

During our session, the physical therapist showed us a more natural way to use crutches for walking, where we step the opposite foot and crutches at the same time instead of hopping without putting weight on the foot. She also confirmed that my current approach was helpful and advised Elohw to work through the pain and move his leg as much as possible. She explained that experiencing some pain is normal, but if you feel pain for 20-30 minutes after simple exercises, it’s a sign that you’re pushing yourself too hard.

Dealing with mindset can be tricky. Despite my son’s initial negativity, I encouraged him to breathe and told him, “Yes, you can!” This approach paid off, as he eventually started walking without the help of crutches. I also put him on his bike as soon as possible to help him regain his strength and mobility.

If you’re a parent going through a similar situation, I hope my experience helps you. I welcome any advice or thoughts you may have to help us on our journey to healing.

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