Change Your Perspective

•  Sometimes Life is Better Upside Down!  •

 Spotted @  Toronto Yoga Conference & Show

                  255 Front St W

                  

 Who:  Marlison and 9 other yogis came together to conquer their fears with an advanced beginner partner inversion workshop led by Sebastian & Kaelyn. Sebastian & Kaelyn are rockstar acro yogis who met in Montreal where they received their Acro Yoga certification. Together they discovered how partner yoga cultivates greater depth, mindfulness and connection and have been excited to share their knowledge, joy and experience over the past 6 years together.
   

 What:  8 Limbs 2 Hearts Inversions Workshop, "Sometimes Life is Better Upside Down"

Marlison attended one of the 150 workshops available at the Yoga Conference & Show. The workshop we attended dove into the exciting (and frightening) world of inversions - a fun challenge that pushed us both out of our comfort zones. Sebastian & Kaelyn incorporated playful partner yoga asanas with acrobatic and core awareness techniques, allowing us to explore variations on shoulderstand, headstand, forearm balance and handstand. The goal of the workshop was to "create a safe and supportive environment where one's fears transform into giggles, trust and strength," and we assure you they did just that!
  

 Wore:  Alison & Marlene coincidentally wore the exact same outfit! #greatmindsthinkalike? They kept it classic with coloured Wunder Under Crops (psst coloured luon is the new black!) and a Cool Racerback. These fitted items were perfect for this type of class as they stayed in place even through all of the jumps, hovers and inversions. We suggest pairing your outfit with a medium to high support bra so that you can flip with no worry.

To & From: Alison loves the lightweight (and bright!) RUN: Stash & Dash Pullover paired with the loose fitting Free Fall Crop. Marlene layered up with the classic Forme Jacket and comfortable Studio Pants .

 When:  The Yoga Conference & Show is held yearly in Toronto. Sebastian & Kaelyn also teach partner and acro yoga classes, workshops and private lessons with 8 Limbs 2 Hearts Yoga.

 Why Yoga Conference & Show: 

For yogis of all levels, the yoga conference is a great opportunity to discover and explore the amazing world of yoga. A 4 day community building and de-stressing conference, it was great have the opportunity to get a taste of all things yoga - from jewelry to clothes, classes to workshops, healing to meditation and speakers to musicians, there really is something for everyone! 

If you're questioning whether to dive into an inversion workshop, we say go for it! This was the ideal workshop for Alison who is looking to take her practice to the next level. Alison has been working towards advancing her practice and ovecoming that plateau by learning how to hover and play upside down, so this was the ideal workshop to learn new tricks and more importantly how to do things correctly and safely. Marlene also had a blast experimenting with new poses and overcoming her reservations with these more challenging poses. And of course it was a great bonding experience! The workshop was all partner based, and we couldn't have accomplished anything without the support and assistance of our partner. 

P.S.You will become closer with your partner after many of these exercises! (See below)

 #Bloopers 

Afro Fusion

•  Break out of your comfort zone for March Break!  •

 Spotted @  City Dance Corps  
                  489 Queen St W, 3rd Floor

                  

 Who:  Alison was away in Vegas for March Break - lucky her, right? So in the spirit of having a blast, Marlene decided to go out and try something new, to really break out of her comfort zone. Since Marlene loves dancing (she tried to tap into her Latin roots a couple of summers ago by taking up Salsa dancing and had a blast doing it), she thought there would be no better way than to try a new dance style: Afro Fusion! She also brought along a fellow lemon, Christina, to keep her company. The class was lead by the amazing Esie Mensah! Esie truly is an inspiration to her students, with dance moves like no other and an awesome, fun spirit that keeps you moving. 

 What:  Afro Fusion Dance Class 

As you may have guessed, Afro Fusion is the fusion of African dance fundamentals with modern dance genres. In this 1.5 hour class, you spend 30 minutes warming up and stretching, followed by a 1 hour dance session where you learn a small section of an Afro dance.

 Wore:  Marlene sported a luon low-support Power Y Tank and Wunder Under Crops. There wasn’t a lot of jumping in the class so it was the perfect support for this type of dance.

Christina also sported a low-support tank (in fact it shares a very similar bra to Marlene’s Power Y), however Christina’s No Limits Tank is made of lululemon’s circle mesh which is extra-breathable so you can get sweaty without worry. She also paired her tank with Wunder Under Crops.

 When:  City Dance Corps offers a wide range of different dance classes. From Ballet to Jazz, House to Afro Fusion. Most classes are drop in but you can also register for weekly performance classes.

 Why Afro Fusion: 

What better way to try and break out of your comfort zone than by doing something high energy and fun?! This class is guaranteed to have you laughing and slightly confused, but in the end it all comes together and makes you feel great for sticking it out. As Esie had mentioned during class, Afro dancing is a marriage between freedom and boundaries - you need to know exactly when to stop your movements, but otherwise you can be as free as you want. The best part about this class, however, is the fact that you really don’t feel your body working because you are so focused on the movements. BUT don't let that fool you - both Marlene and Christina were feeling the burn in their legs the next day!

I think I can, I think I can..

•  Get fitter, faster and stronger at Think Fitness!  •

 Spotted @  Think Fitness Studios
                  2489 Bloor St. West, Unit 203

*Take the stairs to the second floor. 
Go down the hallway on your right.

 Who:  Marlene & the girls (Steph, Eri, Kiddo, Carla and Jill) attended Gavin's Functional Circuit class, while Alison, Amanda & the boys (Jason and Jon) attended Greg's Ahtletic Conditioning Class. Gavin and Greg are two of a handful of knowledgable and experienced Fitness Specialists, who are passionate about helping you reach your goals! 

 What:  Functional Circuit / Athletic Conditioning Class

Functional Circuit and Athletic Conditioning Classes are based upon the concept of circuit training. Each workout starts with a high intensity warmup, followed by a variety of circuits: upper body, lower body, full body & core. Each circuit typically contains about ten exercises stations completed for 60 seconds followed by 30 to 60 seconds rest between stations. The circuits cater around body weight exercises, utilizing TRX systems, rowing machines, gymnastics rings, kettlebells and much more! 

Functional Circuit: "A comprehensive fitness class that includes strength, cardio, core and definitely Fun! Different every class - go through a series of exercises in a timed manner with professional instruction. This class will challenge both your cardiovascular and muscular endurance and is scaled to all abilities." 
This is a Level 2 class (Increased intensity - guaranteed sweat).

Athletic Conditioning: "Geared to those who want strenuous effective exercise and are serious about their training. Lifting, sprinting using parachutes, jumping, bands, sandbags, kettlebells and Olympic movements are on the menu. High Intensity Interval Training techniques are used." 
This is a Level 3 class (Advanced - take it to the next level).

 Wore:  Alison was able to work up a sweat sans stink in her Silverescent 105F Singlet paired with the medium support Flow Y Bra. She kept her movements chafe free in the Run: Speed Shorts with bonded seams.  

Marlene kept cool in the breathable Swiftly Tech LS, (FYI the Swiftly family is Marlene's favourite products to sweat in) and loved the support of her Luxtreme crops for the high intensity exercises.

 When:  Functional Circuit Classes are available Monday at 8 pm and Wednesday at 7 pm. Atletic Conditioning Classes are held Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm.

 Why Circuit Training: 

Circuit training is the most time efficient way to enhance cardiovascular fitness, strength building and muscle endurance. A challenging form of conditioning, it targets the entire body, allowing you to push yourself in a range of movements. Routines can be developed purely for strength development, endurance, or some combination of the two.  

 Still Skeptical? 

• Circuit training is great for the general public right through to elite athletes, as all exercises are scalable and done at your own pace.
• A time efficient workout, it can be a refreshing and fun change from the more monotonous types of exercise. Every circuit is different and no two workouts are the same - you never know what to expect until you get there!
• Think Fitness is a community-minded studio, with the goal to provide a fun and motivational performance inspired experience for everyone. The instant you walk through the doors you'll find a friendly and inspiring environment to improve your fitness and take it to the next level!

Pila-teaser

•  Get more out of your core at Singing Lotus!  •
  

 Spotted @  Singing Lotus Yoga & Pilates Studio                 
                   4166 Dundas Street W

*Free parking is available directly behind the studio building

 Enter through the white door at the back

 Who:  Marlison busted their core with 9 great woman in Sara's Level 1 Pilates class. Sara is a Pilates guru, an alumni Ambassador for lululemnon Sherway Gardens and an actress! A bucket of laughs, Sara is one of the most entertaining people I have ever come across - honestly, I'm not sure if my abs hurt more from laughing or more from her workouts!

 What:  Pilates Level 1 with Sara

This introductory class will fire up your core and work all those muscles you never knew you had. Sara takes you through a variety of exercises aimed towards strengthening your core outwards. With the use of balls/straps/walls/etc you are able to develop challenging and scalable exercises for all muscle groups. What's great is how easy going the class is. Sara is flexible, and caters to the groups needs and wants. She pushes you to do one more, and doesn't mind being the bad cop - before you can even say it, she calls you out about how much you probably hate her right now. Not only that, she'll keep you entertained with her stories and comments, so you'll forget about how much it hurts. And yes, this workout will give your muscles the shakes!

 Wore:  Alison was cool and comfortable in the No Limits Tank and Wunder Under Crops. She stayed in place on the reversible Towel Mat, utilizing the rubber side which is great for cooler and less sweaty practices.

Marlene kept cool in the supportive Power Y Tank and Wunder Under Crops. She was also able to reverse The Mat for this slower paced class.

Note:  Layer-up and give yourself the option to shed layers as you get warmed up. The studio is chilly, plus you won't sweat as much in this slower practice, so dress comfortably. Need inspiration? A lot of the ladies were sporting Groove Pants and Swiftly Tech SS.

 When:  Sara teaches Pilates level 1 classes every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9:30 am. If you're more advanced, drop by her Pilates w/ Weights class Monday's at 6:30 pm or Tuesday's at 10:45 am.

 Why Pilates: 

"Pilates is a physical practice and technique of aligning and toning the body in order to develop balanced physical strength and flexibility.  The ultimate goal is to improve posture, endurance, control of movement, joint mobility, and economy of exertion.  Pilates can be practiced simply on the mat, or with the use of props, to define and tone your body with an emphasis on spinal alignment and core strengthening." 

Core strength and torso stability is the foundation of Pilates exercise. Pilates trains the core muscles to be strong, so they can do their job to stabilize the entire torso and support the more superficial muscles, allowing the body to move freely and more efficiently. This integrative approach is the key to Pilates, and more importantly, Alison's recipe to reach her goal.. hello, six-pack!

 Still Skeptical? 

• Pilates is a unique method of exercise. In comparison to other workout styles, pilates stresses quality over quantity. By limiting the number of repetitions for each move, and rather focusing on doing each exercise fully with precision, you can yield more significant results in a shorter time than one would ever imagine.
• Modification is the key to success. All exercises are developed with modifications that can make a workout safe and challenging for a person at any level.
• One word: Sara. You definitely wanna meet Sara!