Men's Bollywood Dance Fusion with Deepak

Deepak will be facilitating the 1st men's dance program at Swansea Town Hall. This class will fuse both moderate to fast-paced dance movements and energetic South Indian folk and Bollywood songs.

This program is designed for men ages 18+ and from all fitness levels. Just as we have done for women and kids, we hope to provide a positive program for the community and a space for men to socialize.

To join the Friday class list, click here.

Hello there,

If you’re new to our community-based dance and fitness programming, WELCOME!

Since April 2014, we’ve been running seasonal fitness programs. We’ve made a few changes since then, from going from 1 class per term to at least 9 to having one of Toronto’s only women’s Bollywood Fitness and Kid’s Fitness Circuit programs across 3 locations to having over 6 instructors help me per year.

If you’re looking for a fun weekly dance workout program for you or your kids online or in person, you’ll have a blast. Our programming is low to moderate intensity, full of fantastic professionals who want a space to move, and provides an opportunity to clear your mind and release some stress.

To see if we’ve got a program for you, do check out the online, High Park, and Annex schedules.

Keep on moving for your mood,

Sumera

Like so many I know, I (Sumera) was mesmerized by the Egyptian folk and belly dance performances at the annual Toronto Caravan in the 90s. As a kid, my grandfather would get our Caravan passports and take us to the few restaurants hosting the performances. Little did I know how much technique and body strength and control were needed to practice this style of dance until I took my first class in my 20s!

I began formal Belly Dance training between 2014 to 2018 under Souhaer Zarik, A Palestinian dancer and owner of HipKik. My goal was to elevate our Bollywood dance and fitness programs while having fun staying fit. Through her instruction, I slowly learned to move my body in a way I had never done and in doing so, improved my upper body form and isolations, learned beautiful and romantic gestures, and developed a love of scarf and veil work.

After the pandemic-related lockdowns, I realized that Toronto had lost some iconic dance studios and dance programs. Belly Dance is one of them. With no courses in West Toronto, I decided it was time re-launch a program after 5 years.

Whether you’re joining us to elevate your Bollywood dance styling or just to move your body in a new and fun way, this program is beginner-friendly, intimate, and women’s only.

To take a class, click here

With the generosity of particiPACTION, we’re back for a 4th year to get more Toronto youth having fun and feeling safe with awesome Free street-style self-defense classes.

This year, we’ve got Six Krav Maga helping us create healthy and safe communities for the #communitychallenge. All classes are beginner-friendly and will include group exercises and discussions on how to feel safer on the streets and on the TTC.

To see if you’re eligible to join one of our sessions, please contact one of the centers listed in the flyer.

If you’re an organization looking to bring a session like this to your community/event this year, please contact us below and include information on your ideas and budget.

With warmer weather and travel on the rise, we’re offering a 4-week spring series with longer class times to improve your endurance, energy level, and heart and lungs!

I’m excited to announce that we’re introducing Brazilian Samba and Latin Workouts while also bringing back our much-adored women and co-ed Bollywood dance and fitness programs and Caribbean Dance Fitness program.

To see our online and in-person schedules, please scroll down the class schedules bar at the top of the page.

Wishing you a spring and summer full of outdoor activities and sunshine.

Sumera

After 2 years of running a fun Kid’s Yoga program for a great group of kids on zoom, we felt it was time to bring the experience in person!

Our beginner fitness program combines Yoga poses and world safari themes and rhythms to create a fun and exotic exercise experience.

We will be running this program in the High Park / Bloor West area which is where our outdoor kid’s fitness program was well received in 2021 and 2022.

For more information on our kid’s fitness programs, click here

For the Kid’s Yoga schedule and pricing, click here

Happy winter,

Sumera

Hello,

We're still supporting community events & summer camps, just taking more time off for ourselves!

If you have any collaboration or program inquiries, please contact me here.

Happy summer,

Sumera

We’re making Friday nights at home FUN with family-friendly online dance fitness classes at Autism Ontario.

Our monthly events are for kids and youth living with autism and their families and caregivers.

If you would like to join us there, please visit or contact Jason:

W: https://www.autismontario.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=7141

T: 416-246-9592 

E: Jason@autismontario.com 

Happy Friday Followers,

I heard the news!

The provincial government has permitted Toronto gyms and group fitness to resume at 50% capacity as of January 31, 2021.

We are only resuming with our main program: Women's Bollywood Dance Fitness. Our second busiest program, Mom and Baby Latin Dance Fitness and Circuits, will not resume at the moment.

If you feel ready to join us in person and have not already registered, please check out a location under the CLASS SCHEDULE AND INFO menu.

Our team is much recovered from Covid and is excited to get back to fantastic health by moving with you in person.

Thank you for hanging in there with us,
Sumera Garcia-Quadri

It’s a privilege for me to continue to run free online programs in partnership with Jean Augustine Center for Girl’s Empowerment.

Since February 2021, we have been bringing fun dance and fitness classes on Zoom to girls ages 7 to 17 accessing their services.

If you feel your child would benefit from a class with us, do visit our community work page for the up-to-date schedule. All registration is done with JAC.

This 2022, we are trying hard to support the physical health of our members by offering programs online and in-person at up to 3 community locations.

Should you choose to return in person, here’s what you can expect from us

1. All those returning must show proof of 2 vaccinations and a valid government ID. The law does not require individuals participating in dance/fitness activities to wear a mask where physical distance is implemented, however, I would appreciate you wearing one during our programs.

2. We've got zones with cones - we’re maintaining over 6 feet of distance apart

3. we’ve reduced classes sizes at all locations

4. we’ve scaled our rooms to larger rooms with better ventilation (gyms/chambers)

5. all of our instructors will wear a visor or mask during instruction

6. all of our instructors are fully vaccinated

7. pre-registration is required (no drop-ins allowed)

8. we’re ready to shift all of our in-person classes online if we are mandated to shut down

9. we’re trying to keep instructors with their assigned programs to help reduce the spread of the virus while giving the class the opportunity to build a stronger connection with their instructor - our instructors miss their class too

10. If you are feeling unwell (including a runny nose, fever, sore throat, fatigue, chills, dizziness), do not come to class. If your symptoms persist, please see a doctor - thank you for your cooperation

If you would like to have fun dancing away stress with our dance workouts online or in person please see our schedules.

Due to recent inquiries, we are working with our Etobicoke center to run a 4-week pilot of Women’s Bollywood Dance in Etobicoke central.

Like all of our programs, you can expect a warm, fun, and female-only environment.

To reduce the spread of the virus, we have selected dates and times with fewer programming on-site and require proof of 2 vaccination and government ID in your first class. Additional rules and requirements are in place.

To see the schedule and join the wait list, click here

Our outdoor Kid’s Fitness program started on Saturday, June 19 at Lithuania Park.

The program runs on Saturdays and Sundays until July 11 with drop-in spots available!

Sumera is running their popular kid’s fitness program outdoors to give kids the chance to have fun moving while learning Fundamental Movement Skills (outlined by the Coaching Association of Canada) through fitness drills, circuits, games, and music!

The pandemic has been tough on kids. We think it’s time to start having fun again and in a way that is safer in our new covid-19 world.

Due to the last-minute recreational closures in Toronto, we will run a short 4-week pilot program in the High Park area.

To get a drop-in pass or for more info, click the button below.

We’re taking our favorite kid’s fitness program outdoors to give kids the chance to have fun moving while learning Fundamental Movement Skills (outlined by the Coaching Association of Canada) through fitness drills, circuits, games, and music!

The pandemic has been tough on kids. We think it’s time to start having fun again and in a way that is safer in our new covid-19 world.

Due to the last-minute recreational closures in Toronto, we will run a short 4-week pilot program.

To read more about our program and for the new schedule, click below

Were GROOVIN' & getting FIERCE for the June for ParticipACTION’s 2nd  Community Better Challenge

Like in 2019, I'm partnering with youth organizations to promote exercise and safety for young women through fun judge free dance and martial arts events

Girls get to warm up with fun Latin and @socacize kids dances and learn techniques on how to escape life-threatening situations. They will learn situational awareness tips including where to sit on the bus to walking across the street and more!

To join us, simply email or call one of the organizations participating in your community.

Welcome, rock star,

I’m Sumera. Me and our little team are returning for a 4th term online. I’m thrilled to have our members and instructors back with us there.

The fitness, dance, and recreation industry in Toronto, has been forced to stop all in-person programs approximately 4 times since the first Lockdown in March 2020. It has resulted in many of us losing our main source of income and access to our rentals/spaces, losing many of our awesome members, and most importantly losing our connections person to person, human to human.

The closures were indeed necessary to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

It’s 2021 now and I’m going into the new year with all of our well-being in mind. And I know our programs are all about that. We’ve created some unique, creative, and fun workout programs to keep our members moving. We also have a NEW chat and bond session after each class for those who wish to unmute and join in!

If you’re looking for low to moderate impact workouts from home that are fun, sweaty, and female-only, please check out our online program schedule.

To join a waitlist for our in-person Women’s Bollywood Dance Fitness program in the Annex, High Park, and Etobicoke, please visit the schedule pages.

Wishing you a healthy 2021,

Sumera

Questions? Please send em’ to me below!

It’s a privilege for me to continue to run free online programs in partnership with organizations supporting at-risk communities across Toronto.

After an organization has reached out, we create an exciting FUSION dance and fitness curriculum with our team and 3rd party instructors that love getting kids moving as much as we do!

If you feel your child would benefit from a class with us and/or from a center we support, do visit our community work page by clicking below. Do note, all registration (forms/waivers) is done with the centers.

Kindly note all registration must be done through the centers below

I will not respond to registration inquiries!

Thank you! Stay well and keep dancing,

Sumera

We’re returning this Fall in-person and online with your health, your family’s health, and our team’s health in mind. As we always say, we like to have fun the safe way!

Please note, all in-person programs will shift online in case of abrupt closures due to COVID-19, just as we did with our Spring session. No refunds will be issued - sorry!

Please click on one of your preferred locations to see the up to date schedule and to register.

For all other questions and/or concerns, please do send a message below with your name, email, and number.

If you live in the East York/ Flemingdon Park community and/or looking for a way to stay active at home, do check out the flyers below and contact Anna to sign up!

Waivers required and only those on the list will be admitted into the class - Thanks!

OUR 1ST PHYSICAL DISTANCING KIDS OUTDOOR CLASS MAKING EXERCISE FUN FOR KIDS THROUGH FITNESS DRILLS, CIRCUITS, GAMES & MUSIC. CLASSES COMBINE FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS TO GIVE KIDS WITH LITTLE TO BASIC SPORTS EXPERIENCE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WITH CONFIDENCE.

WHERE

LITHUANIAN PARK - GLEN LAKE (AT THE BASEBALL FIELD OR VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE PARK DEPENDING ON OTHER ACTIVITIES)

THINGS TO SUBMIT AND BRING ONCE YOU SIGN YOUR CHILD UP

1. MUST REGISTER ONLINE IN ADVANCE & SUBMIT WAIVER FORMS BY EMAIL BEFORE THEIR FIRST CLASS

2. BRING A WATER BOTTLE, A BEACH BALL OR BALLOON, A MASK & GLOVES SUGGESTED AND AN UMBRELLA IN CASE IT RAINS

3. WEAR COMFORTABLE SNEAKERS AND COMFORTABLE CLOTHES FOR EXERCISE

4. CELLS/TABLETS MUST BE OFF

5. PARENTS WELCOME TO WAIT IN THE PARK

6. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. SHOULD WE HAVE TO CANCEL CLASS DUE TO THE WEATHER, WE WILL PROVIDE THE AN ALTERNATE OPTION SUCH AS ONLINE CLASS OR RESCHEDULE IT TO ANOTHER SATURDAY/TIME

7. SUMERA AND/OR HER INSTRUCTORS WILL WEAR A MASK AND GLOVES DURING MOST OF THE CLASS AND WILL ADHERE THE 2 METERS OF DISTANCE (UNLESS AN EMERGENCY OCCURS AND CONTACT MUST BE MADE). SHE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE SPARE GLOVES AND SANITIZERS TO HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF GERMS DURING THE GROUP BALL PASSING GAMES.

IMPORTANT NOTE - NO ACCESS TO WASHROOMS ON-SITE (SORRY)

When I hear some say that they are not affected by the Coronavirus, I'm lost for words!

Like us, some of our class participants have lost their jobs or their partners have, some are living with the pain of losing a parent and not being able to attend the funeral and grieve physically with their family members, and for those with kids, some have had no choice but to home school their children and help them with their homework assignment which can take hours to finish.

Keeping these realities in mind, I felt it was important to shed some light on 10 that we have done to try to keep our participants, family, and friends moving and feeling less stressed out at home since we officially stopped in-class programs on March 17. We are also coping with the effects that the virus has had on our families and personal lives at the same time.

1. In March, we created over 90 videos to replace the remaining classes for the 2020 Winter session for mom and baby Ballet workouts, kids fitness and games march break camps, and women's Bollywood dance and Bollywood fitness programs offered across 4 locations.

2. Implemented 3-weeks of free trial online classes for feedback and to encourage current and new participants to get used to the new normal. These included: Zumba Fitness, Pound Fit, Mom and Baby Ballet, Bollywood Dance, Classical Indian Dance, Stick Dancing, Bollywood Dance Fitness, and Strength Training workouts

3. Implemented our first online kid's programs for May in under a week with 2 free trials and 2 instructors

4. Contacted participants to provide credits or refund options if necessary - We are very lucky in that many of our clients were generous and supportive during this time

5. Created a COVID-19 gift package to support both a friend and us at home

6. Made the tough decision to proceed with 3 locations this Fall, and to give up one

7. Planned for a fall return with basic programming and 3 primary instructors

8. I decided to strengthen our current partnerships and relationships with fellow instructors in hopes of supporting each other where possible and just to say, you're not alone! So often when we're doing well or on the go, we forget to do small things like say hello or thank you!

9. I'm proud to say that where many large gyms and studios have failed (by freezing memberships, refusing to correspond with customers in a timely manner, and not provide other alternatives) we stepped in. With the city changing the rules on a daily basis, so did we!

10. I applied to a hand full of grants for artistry and to run virtual youth dance and fitness sessions for those living in unsafe communities and violent homes - I have been fortunate to have received some support due to my volunteer work and supportive partnerships with youth and community organizations

2 things that let us know that what we're doing is needed in some capacity is first, the sweet notes and reviews we've gotten, and two, some of our friends and family members from Edmonton to Spain that aren't into the home workout thing have signed up for our online classes to bond and sweat with us. That's something we don't get during normal times!

We have high hopes of returning both in-person and online (if necessary) this September.

To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @fusioncardiotoronto or join our mailing list on the home page here.

Stay home and stay well,

Sumera

I’m excited to announce that we’re READY to bring our 2020 Spring/Summer programs, our final session before the Summer Break, to you at home, from our homes!

Like many gyms and studios, we will need to adapt to the situation ( social distancing) by providing online classes until it is safe to do so in-person. While the online experience has notable glitches from our screens freezing up to poor sound quality - once we adapt to the new normal, it’ll be fun!

Physical activity is the one thing that we know makes our mood and day brighter.

6 things to note when taking our LIVE online classes

1. You must register for a program first (drop-in passes & package users must sign up for their class 24-hours before in order to get a Zoom invitation link!)

2. Class participants will get a custom ZOOM URL link via email 24-hours before and 1-hour before their scheduled class - join in 5-minutes before class, please!

3. Participants can join via cellphone, tablet/laptop or Smart TV. Try to connect your device to a speaker and move any objects out of the way to create a safe and good experience.

4. We encourage ALL participants to leave their cameras and microphones on at times to create a fun experience for both the instructor and your peers - dim the lights if you’re feeling shy.

5. We will mute all participants during the instruction so that you can hear the instructor and music only - however, we will unmute all to check-in and address any issues.

6. Wear whatever you want - you’re at home! If you go barefoot, have a mat or carpet underneath you to reduce strain on the ankles and knees, please and thank you!

While we’re ready to go, we cannot continue without a class. If you’ve enjoyed your past times with us and are thinking to return, we kindly ask you to register today. We run based on advanced registration only.

If you hold off on registering until we’re back in-class, you risk the chance of us NOT coming back. Advance registration lets us plan accordingly - from choosing our spaces and programming to our instructors.

Until we meet again online or in-person, sending you the best of health and wellness at home.

Sumera

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