5 Things About Our Women's Bollywood Dance and Fitness Programs

This video is intended to provide a look into our program, space, and clientele. This was taken at our Annex Community space.

This video is intended to provide a look into our program, space, and clientele. This was taken at our High Park Community space.

This video is intended to provide our clients with a look into our online program during COVID-19.

5 Things About Our Women's Bollywood Dance & Fitness Program

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

In light of the number of inquiries we get from potential members, community centers, and Bollywood dance/fitness instructors, I felt it important to create a quick blog to help you decide if we’re for you!

Here are 5 things to know before joining us:

1. We’re community-based

Etobicoke Space

Annex Space

High Park Space

If you’re looking for a gym or studio with fancy floors, grand chandeliers and instructors that look like Bollywood stars - you’ve come to the wrong space. Our programs take place in lovely community settings close to the Bloor subway line and are instructed by caring, non-judgemental, unique, and safe.

We welcome all ages and levels and most of our members are women 40 yrs and up

2. We’re dancers and fitness instructors

Many of our instructors are dancers with more than 20 years of dance training in Classical Indian (Bharatanatyam) and have taken their experience up a level by becoming fitness specialists. Additionally, some of our instructors have an athletic background and work as kid’s coaches and art therapists, dentists, and physiotherapists. We understand the benefits of using dance fitness to support a healthy active lifestle and how to modify our instruction for different members, especially for women 40 yrs old and up.

To find out more about us, click below

• Sumera: https://fusioncardiotoronto.com/bio

• Our team: https://fusioncardiotoronto.com/volunteer-instructors-helpers

3. We’re fun!

This is a low to moderate impact dance fitness program offering a unique experience that includes dance cardio, dance learning, and strength training. We believe that Improving brain health and body strength is far more important than how fast we go. We want to make fat burning (weight loss) and everyday activities better. If you’re looking for high impact programs, our other programs may be better to keep you moving and grooving.

4. We’re female-only and intimate (allowing up to 15)

Like Canfitpro has suggested, we have leaned towards small class sizes to create an intimate experience between the instructors and participants. In class, we like to know your names and your needs so that we can try and provide a safe space and relationship between you and the instructor. We also feel that female-only spaces can be encouraging for those new to fitness.

We’re Seasonal

This video is intended to provide a look into our program, space, and clientele. This was taken at our High Park Community space.

This video is intended to provide our clients with a look into our online program during COVID-19.

We offer 2 programs: Bollywood Dance Choreography (dance only) and Bollywood Dance Fitness, 3 times a year in 12-week sessions and across 3 locations. Both are fun programs that you can add to your current fitness schedule if you’re looking for a dance based workout once a week. We also run 2 dance workshops a year for Halloween and Valentine’s. The Bollywood dance choreography (70s’ to now) program is run by demand and for those who want to express themselves artistically while getting in a low impact workout.

Want More Info? Do send us a message below

See What COVID-19 Has Taught Our Team

Hello, all,

We’ve returned this Fall with 8 programs both in-person and online and are supporting 3 youth organizations online.

Every time we instruct a class, we’re doing it with COVID-19 on our minds. When we log onto Zoom, we’re reminded that this is our new normal and that we must provide a fun and safe experience for our members from home. When we instruct in-person, we’re reminded of how careful we have to be about masking and physical distancing. We’re also faced with the reality that we may have to stop in-person classes if any of our members fall ill from COVID-19.

With lots on our minds, here are a few messages for a brighter future from our lovely instructors.

Wishing you health and wellness this Fall,

Sumera

2020 Fall - A Glimpse Of Our In-Person Classes

We are trying hard to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus while also supporting the lives of our members, many of whom we have not seen in 5 months.

While we are offering most of our classes online this Fall, should you choose to return in-person this Fall, here’s what you can expect from us

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

2. we’ve reduced classes sizes from 15 to up to 8 in some spaces

3. we will shut down registration publically after October to keep our group feeling safe

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

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

6. 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!

To see our Annex space and members in our 1st week back: https://www.facebook.com/fusioncardiotoronto/videos/1221981348157197/

To see our High Park space and members in our 1st week back: https://www.facebook.com/fusioncardiotoronto/videos/1746768725478963/

If you would like to have fun dancing away stress with our dance workouts online or in-person please send a message below.

10 Things We've Done Since Social Distancing Began

By Sumera G. Q.

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

Our Sweet Valentine's Indian Dance Workshop - Highlights & Pictures

On Sunday, February 16, our team and guest instructor Pooja Raval came together to instruct a sweet Valentine’s Indian Dance Workshop with the goal of promoting Classical Indian (Bharatnatyam) Fusion, Bollywood, and Garba among our fitness participants all while having fun burning off calories from those Valentine’s dinners! Like our Fall workshop, I think we did just that!

During the 3-hour workshop, participants learned easy to follow movements, styling techniques including eye and hand expressions, and that exercise can be fun in a female-only setting. The workshop encouraged past participants to improve on their basic steps and technique with new choreography and to become familiar with the rhythms. We ended the evening with our very first Garba workshop filled with fast and energetic rhythms and movements, pair practice, and lots of sweat!

While this is our last 3-hour workshop, we look forward to putting on dance workshops each session that will focus on one dance/art form.

For more info on the next series, please join the e-news list (on the home page) or send a message below.

A Mesmerizing Evening of Classical Indian Dance & Bollywood Fusion Workshops

On Saturday, October 5, our team ran a Classical Indian (Bharatnatyam) and Bollywood Fusion workshop to inspire the participants taking our Bollywood Dance and Fitness programs physically, mentally, and artistically. After seeing lots of big smiles, hearing lots of laughter, and getting to see the beauty and gracefulness in their movements, I think we did just that.

During the 3-hour workshop, participants were taught a history of the dances they were learning, the meaning behind the songs, and beginner steps and techniques in Classical Indian Dance (Bharatnatyam), Classical Indian dance with Bollywood Fusion, and Bollywood Dance Choreography (an evolution of iconic moves and songs from the 70’s to now). All instructors provided professional, easy to follow, and exciting learning experiences for the participants.

Although we’re sad that the workshop is over, we look forward to putting on another workshop series in February for all of you who want to join us!

For more info on the next series, please join the e-news list (on the home page) or send a message below.

Making Winter Exercise Fun For Boys & Girls

On Saturday, December 16, Fusion Cardio Toronto was invited to put on an interactive group dance fitness class for more than 400 kids and parents at Flemingdon Health Center’s Winter Fest. To encourage the kids to join in, FHC staff and parents joined in to set an example. Within minutes of the music playing, the gymnasium was filled with little dancers and spectators.

Key highlights included how well the children overcame their shyness in a public setting and the number of boys on the floor.

For some tips on how to get your kids active this winter, read the latest blog on, how to keep kids active this winter.