Why We Offer Online Dance & Fitness Classes

Why We Offer Online Dance & Fitness Classes

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

When we first shifted our in-person programs online in March 2020, it was due to the first pandemic-related lockdown in Toronto. We had no idea how to deliver a GOOD online class! We were barely getting by and hoping everything would go back to normal. After almost 2 years of on-and-off restrictions on dance and fitness, however, our instructors accepted the situation and we worked together to improve our online class experience with a lot of trial and error.

Once dance and group fitness reopened fully in Toronto, I saw a lot of hesitancy from our members about returning, especially from those still working remotely or living with health issues. That’s when I decided it was important to continue offering virtual classes 1 to 2 days a week to support the mental and physical health of those who choose to join us seasonally.

For the past 5 years, we have been able to run 10 different virtual dance and fitness classes in Toronto including Adult Bollywood Fitness and Bollywood Dance, Caribbean Dance Fitness (Socacize), Latin Dance Fitness for women and girls, Yoga Flow for kids and adults, Belly Dance Fitness, Hawaiian and Tahitian Dance Fitness (Hula), Barre Fitness, Mom and Baby Fitness, and our annual free youth dance and safety series.

Here are 5 things you can expect from our online classes

1. Caring Instructors

   Our instructors are given insight into the participants joining that program (based on their PARQs and responses) and provide modifications to help participants of various ages and fitness levels. If we have a woman who is pregnant or a participant living with a chronic health condition, we offer tips on how they can make the most out of the class and try to avoid injuries and discomfort.

2. A Strong online experience

   We use Zoom so we can share our music directly from our devices while we cue with our voices and hands. Whether we use microphones or earphones, we try to make sure participants can hear the music. When an instructor is not well heard, we know that using our hand gestures or cueing movements before a song may be a good option too. We try our best to have a strong internet connection, but sometimes things impact that, and we make up for that by offering extra time.

3. A Social Outlet

   For those who cannot leave their homes (i.e. physical limitations, injuries, caregivers), online programs are a great option. They allow someone to improve their physical and mental health while bonding with others before the class starts through a quick chat or the textbox. It was through our class chats that we found out more about class participants who were joining us from Brazil, Japan, and New York!

4. An intimate-setting

   We allow up to 15 participants in our online classes for a personalized experience. We get to know the names of our members and learn more about what they’re up to, from their family life to travels to what they eat for dinner!

5. They can stay active anywhere

   For those who travel for work often, online classes give them the option to join us from wherever they are and from any device, be it a cellphone or tablet. I notice that members who travel a lot for work tend to hold off on registering for in-person programs regularly and this can impact their fitness plans.

To check out our online programs, click here.

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

5 Ways To Get Back Into Physical Fitness After Covid-19

5 Ways To Get Back Into Physical Fitness After Covid-19

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

After living in a city with the longest lockdowns in North America, and with pandemic restrictions that limited in-person recreation on and off for 2 years, getting back into regular physical fitness may not be as easy as we thought it would be…

I’m a fitness instructor and I found it difficult to go back to performing the physical activities I did before the pandemic. While our team ran online fitness programming for our members and benefited from participating in online classes as well, working out at home was not the same for me.

Due to physical/social distancing, I lost a great deal of momentum (i.e. I went from instructing several programs a week in-person to running all at home which meant there were fewer reasons for leaving the home). Government and public health officials discouraged us from leaving our homes unless it was for essential reasons. I also experienced weight gain due to the covid-19 baking trend and after my parent (my grandfather) died in the summer of 2021. And like so many, I was lacking the vital human connection and support that we as humans need to fuel and motivate our souls.

Once Toronto reopened fully in 2022, I was somewhat hesitant about going back to in-person group fitness and dance due to a fear of catching and spreading the virus, especially to my 80-yr grandmother who lives with me. Eventually, I got covid-19 twice in 5 months and I experienced long-term fatigue and exertion after a little exercise. I felt frustrated and unmotivated. It wasn’t until the spring of 2022 that I was able to exercise 3 to 4 days a week for about 45 to 60-minutes per session.

I started off with slow strength training classes at my local F45 training center. Once I was comfortable moving my body in a social setting again (outside of my bubble), I began walking every day and adding in moderate to high-impact cardio classes. I then got the confidence to instruct several kids’ classes a week in person with ease. Hence, I felt the effects of covid-19 both mentally and physically.

CSEP recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activities so that you can achieve optimal health. Typically there should be 3 to 4 days of cardio, 2 days of strength training, and 4 days of flexibility training. It is important, however, that you start off slowly to keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed and to reduce muscle and joint injuries.

Here are 5 ways to get back into physical fitness after covid-19

1. Enroll yourself in 1 weekly physical activity that you ENJOY (swimming, dance, hiking groups, skating, etc) - if you’re starting from scratch, taking 1 class a week is better than nothing!

2. Coffee walks - pick a fun coffee shop that’s at least 20-minutes away from your home/workplace/child’s school and walk to it (no driving or TTC).

3. Rediscover Toronto beaches and parks - choose one place a week. You can TTC it or drive there, but once you’re there, try to bike or walk briskly for at least 30-minutes while taking in the scenery.

4. Join a program or gym that is within walking distance from your home - not only will you help a local business recover from covid19 losses but attending a class in your area is convenient (a bonus is that you can go grocery shopping or grab a healthy dinner as a reward after class)

5. If you’re thinking of staying active from home or work, look for online dance/fitness classes - virtual classes may be around for a while to cater to those working remotely, vulnerable populations including older adults and moms and babies, and caregivers

Our team plans to return this Fall both in-person and online with 12-week dance fitness programs for women and girls. Please check out our schedules for more information on dates, times, and fees.

Remember, “it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop” - Confucius

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