2 Delicious & Healthy Christmas Desserts

Hello Friends,

The holidays are around the corner and that means there will be lots of delicious treats. From Hannukkah to Christmas to New Year’s Eve, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy active lifestyle and diet.

After losing my dad, as a kid, to diabetic complications and then watching my grandmother almost lose a leg due to a diabetic foot condition, our family has come together and made it a habit of making delicious meals and desserts that are both nutritious and better balanced. We know that giving up everything can lead to binge eating and the opposite results. 

Here are two festive desserts that you can bring to any Holiday party this season and not feel too guilty about eating them or giving them away ;).

Sumera’s Bran Loaf with Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds (1-Bowl Dessert with No Refined Sugar or Dairy)

Ingredients (all room temperature except for the frozen berries)

• 2 cups bran flakes

• 1 cup spelt flour or all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds

• 1 cup dairy-free milk or cold Earl Grey tea

• 1 large free-run egg (can remove the egg yolk to reduce the cholesterol)

• 1/3 cup raw honey

• 1/3 cup vegan butter or any mild flavored oil like vegetable or canola

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• a pinch of salt

• 1 1/2 cup of frozen cranberries (you can add frozen bananas or blueberries but it will increase the amount of sugar in the recipe)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8 x 8 loaf pan with parchement paper

2. In a large bowl, add all of the wet ingredients and whisk together. Mix in the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Then add in the bran, flour, pumpkin seeds, and cinnamon, and fold together. Fold in the frozen cranberries and mix lightly.

3. Scoop the batter into the pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is light brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out slightly clean

4. Leave to cool and then slice. Best served the next day.

Nutritional facts: high in fiber and antioxidants, medium in carbohydrates, and low in cholesterol and sugar.

Sumera’s Snow Log Coconut Bars (Food-Processor Dessert with No Refined Sugar, Dairy, or Gluten)

Filling Ingredients (all room temperature) - makes 8 medium bars/logs

• 1/4 cup coconut cream or coconut condensed milk

• 2 1/2 to 3 cups shredded unsweetened coconut

• 1/2 cup of almond flour

• 1 tbsp Vanilla extract

• a pinch of salt

Chocolate coating

• 1/2 tsp instant coffee

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips dairy-free (55% or higher)

• 4 tbsp vegan butter or coconut oil

Method:

1. In a food processor pulse all of the filling ingredients together until a paste is formed (6 to 8 pulses). Make the bars/logs from the mixture. Place them on a tray lined with parchment paper. Put in the freezer for 30 minutes to harden.

2. Melt the chocolate chips, coffee, and butter on the stove or in the microwave for 60 seconds or until the chocolate chips have melted and the texture is shiny and slightly thin. If you want it runny, you can add more vegan butter/oil.

3. Dip the bars in the melted chocolate and code them the way you want. Place them back on the tray and put them in the freezer for 30 minutes.

4. Once the chocolate sets, you can put the logs in a tin and store them in the fridge for up to 7 days.

   Nutritional facts: high in iron and fiber, low in carbohydrates, moderate in fats.

This Year’s Highlights: Annual Youth Dance & Safety Series

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Our Session with L’Amoreaux CC at Stephan Leacock CC, Scarborough (ages 10 to 18)

Our Session at Success Beyond Limits - JaneFinch (ages 13 to 18)

Our Session with L’Amoreaux CC at Stephan Leacock CC Scarborough (ages 10 to 18)

Our Session at Success Beyond Limits - JaneFinch (ages 13 to 18)

Session with Albion Boys and Girls Club & Rexdale Community Health Services (ages 10 to 18)

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This Year’s Highlights: Sumera’s Youth Self-Defense & Dance Series

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

This year, our series had a different feeling to it. It felt GOOD knowing that we could plan a movement and safety series, under particiPACTION’s community better challenge, that we didn’t have to cancel or restrict in size due to COVID-19.

In collaboration with awesome youth organizations that we have worked with me for years such as AlbionBGC, Rexdale Community Health Center, L’amoreaux Community Center, Weston Frontlines, Success Beyond limits-JaneFinch, Stephan Leacock CC, and our self-defense coaches Nikki at Six Krav Maga and Jesse from Krav Maga Maleh Canada, we engaged over 65 youth across 4 under-resourced communities.

During a FREE month-long series, youth ages 7 to 18 years put down their cell phones and joined us for sessions that included fun dance warm-ups and street-style self-defense activities.

Participants gained awareness around potentially life-threatening situations and got the chance to practice techniques on how to escape such situations in both pairs and a group. They were taught how to escape different attacks such as wrist and backhand grabs, choke holds, strikes, and knife and gun attacks. The instructors did their best to gear the activities based on the age group and demographic so that it was both engaging and appropriate.

Key Highlights

• All of the participants moved for at least 60 minutes (we did not allow phones and asked parents to sit outside)

• Each workshop had at least 12 participants in attendance (our goal was 8 per workshop)

• All of this year’s participants were NEW to our programming which in turn allowed our instructors to teach them basic Krav Maga self-defense training

• We introduced a female Krav Maga instructor for the first time and she did a great job at adapting her lesson plan to meet both the boys and girls in attendance

• All host organizations were contacted in advance about how they wanted us to deliver the series so that we could have a better run session (i.e. ages, topics discussed, class sizes) and revisions were made in a timely manner in order to deliver the sessions successfully to all hosts

• All of the participants left with basic self-defense training and some were connected with other services in the area

• The hosts and parents expressed an interest in us returning in the future

Are you an organization/youth club interested in bringing us to you?

Please contact me HERE and mention your location and dates, your ideas, age/demographic, and budget.

7 Things About Our 2021 Outdoor Kid's Fitness Program

7 Things About Our 2021 Outdoor Kids Circuit and Fitness Program

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

1. We instruct for kids!

   Kids are not mini-adults. They're kids! Our program combines age-appropriate games, music, and fitness and circuit drills to create a fun experience to help our little friends ages 7 to 11 learn the fundamental movement skills (FMS) outlined by the Coaches Association of Canada

   Each class contains a warm-up and cool down, fitness drills, and pair and circuit activities relating to the sport skill for that week. To see the FMS we're teaching, click here
   

2. We have a 0 bullying policy

   We do not believe in “tough love” or the “no pain no gain” philosophy. Because if you're in pain, the only thing you'll gain is an injury and that's anything but fun!

   Our instructors provide constructive feedback and options that aim to encourage kids to keep trying a movement or activity that may be difficult. When it comes to peer to peer bullying, we do not tolerate bullying in any form. This includes verbal and physical bullying towards their peers or instructor. To find out about our bullying and warning policy, click here

3. We're beginner-friendly

   We adapt our instruction for multi-levels, especially for kids with basic movement skills. To keep kids motivated, we encourage them to go at their own pace and offer various options. Our program is also designed to teach a new FMS each week which means your child can join in at any time.

4. We're trained to work with kids

   Sumera and any instructors under her have a love of kid's fitness and experience working with kids through work, sports teams, and/or education. Additionally, all instructors will have training in CPR and First Aid and a police check. To know more about Sumera, click here

5. We're Embracing The Outdoors During Covid-19

   Due to routine gym and community center closures, this program will be offered for the first time outdoors at a local park in the High Park area. For more info on what happens when we cancel or reschedule a class, click here.

6. We're seasonal

   We're offering our program from May 2021 to July 2021, multiple times a week, and at different times. We have lunchtime hours for kids homeschooling, after school hours, and weekend mornings. To see the tentative schedule and/or join a waitlist, click here.

   Our program will adhere to COVID-19 protocols at that time

7. We May Be Able To Come To You!

   If you're in the west end of Toronto, have a large park by you and a group of 6 kids (maximum 8), we can try and bring this to you! To find out about our program syllabus, park, and schedule, click here.

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

5 Highlights From Our Summer Outdoor Kid's Fitness Program

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

Before Fall rolls in, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the key takeaways from our first outdoor kid’s fitness program in the High Park area.

1. We had a total of 18 kids registered across 2 sessions - that showed me that there was more demand for a program like this than I had imagined (YAY!)

2. We never had to cancel a class due to rainy weather (YAY!)

3. All of the parents were highly flexible and communicative -parents were always ready to reschedule a class in case of bad weather and awaited my email updates 2-hours before a class start time. I was lucky to have parents disclose their child’s needs ahead of time so that I could plan accordingly to support them in a group setting

Please note: I am not trained to work with children with special needs, but I do my best to accommodate all children where I can. If I cannot, I have an honest discussion with the parent(s) on what I feel is best for them when it comes to this type of program. That may include having the parent(s) assist in the class and/or issue a refund back to them so that they can enroll their child in a program that fits their needs.

4. Every child enrolled participated in ALL of the activities - I encouraged children to learn core fitness exercises through games and circuits that ranged from non-competitive to competitive at their own pace and by encouraging them to try different levels/variations as long as they did not have injuries.

5. All of the kids got along - It’s not easy to participate in a group activity with people we don’t know! That is why I was blown away by how well the kids came together in such a short period of time to get to know me and their peers.

We have a 0 bullying policy and I am proud to report that we had 0 bullying - this includes hitting, object throwing, name-calling, gossiping, and swearing.

What’s Next?

We’re gearing up for an outdoor Kid’s Fitness program this October with a Halloween element to it in hopes of keeping our little friends motivated to burn off some extra sugar before Halloween Day!

For more info on this 4-week session/to join a waitlist, click here

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.

Masking Wearing and Exercise - During COVID-19

While some gyms and studios are encouraging participants to wear masks while exercising, I have some concerns. Especially for those with existing respiratory and heart conditions, like my grandfather and grandmother that live with me, and for women who are pregnant.

According to The World Health Organization, "Sweat can make the mask become wet more quickly which makes it difficult to breathe and promotes the growth of microorganisms. The important preventive measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter from others."

With that in mind, do continue exercising outdoors as much as you can this August. Come September when the weather becomes cooler and our programs re-open in-person, we promise to take your health, your children and families, and our instructors, seriously by reducing class sizes, keeping 2 meters of distance between peers, and additional rules to reduce the spread of the virus before and after classes. See below.

Should you want to wear a mask or visor, however, please listen to your body. If you need to go slowly, that’s always fine with us! We like to have fun the safe way!

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

We're More Than Dance & Fitness - We Promote Wellness & Livliness!

During this time of social distancing and “homeness,” it’s the heartwarming reviews that have reminded me why I’m still here after 6 years.

I believe that instructors/owners that listen to and incorporate feedback from their clients, where reasonable, are more likely to grow over things like how beautiful their logo or space looks! Although I still find fancy studios super exciting - don’t tell anyone!

I’ve come to realize that what I was looking for in a dance and fitness class for myself in my 30’s was what many other women were looking for too. Weight-loss wasn’t the main reason!

Here are some of the reasons

• A supportive environment - we always welcome women of all abilities, ages, and health conditions, most of our participants were looking for a space for women over 40+

• A caring team - our small team of instructors thrive to be reliable, fun, energetic, safe, and extremely creative in our instruction and ability to adapt to different needs

• A weekly outlet - we provide a class that allows participants to workout while they relieve stressors from work and daily life

• Positive connections - our classes provide participants with the opportunity to connect, should they want to, in a friendly space before, during and after class - we don’t allow bullying!

• A unique workout experience - we provide fun low impact workouts that are unique to the market, filled with sweat, and beat working out on any old treadmill

• A female-only space - we provide an alternative option for women & girls that are not comfortable working out in a unisex environment

• Accessibility - our classes are now offered at 4 locations across the GTA and are located close to the Bloor subway line to make our programs accessible to a wider group

• Feedback - we ALWAYS welcome constructive feedback (even when it is difficult to hear) to help us improve our class experiences and keep our participants happier!

If any of what I’ve mentioned above speaks to you and you’re looking for a fun workout in a community and female-only setting, we may be for you.

To take a class, please go through the Class Schedules Menu at the top of the page.

Sumera

How To Keep Your Kids Active This Winter

In the winter, there are a variety of exciting outdoor physical activities to get your kids involved in. Kids, however, may find participating in winter activities more of a chore than a pleasure due to the cold weather conditions. And for parents, the costs associated with paying for winter apparel, equipment, and/or lessons for activities like hockey and skating, to name a few, can be a burden. The good news is that there is still a fun way to keep them active without all of the hassles.

Indoor Group Fitness Classes Are A Great Option

Group fitness classes are great for both parents and kids because there are a variety of options and price points to choose from, most take place after school or on weekends, and are held at a local community/health center, united church, library, or your child’s school. Talk to your child’s school’s office secretary or gym teacher about what’s available there. Depending on where you live in Toronto, some programs may be free and/or at low cost at community centers. In the chance that your child cannot get into the program they want, local libraries can help you search for free instructional books or videos on how to learn the activity that your child is interested in. They may also offer free craft programs to keep your little person’s hands, arms and creativity flowing.

How Me and My Instructors Are Keeping Kids Active

In an effort to encourage healthy active kids and physical creativity, we are offering affordable Girl’s Dance Fitness and Mom and Baby Fitness classes in both the Bloor West and The Annex. We also run free, safe, girl’s fitness programs in partnership with social and health centers across Toronto during certain times of the year.

To sign your child up for a class this winter, please view the schedule.

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.