Dance Meets Fitness

Did your fitness plan get off track from the July 4th weekend? Today is this weeks Monday - get back on today. Let me know if I can help you!

Let's Step It Up A Notch!

Have you been following along with me and diligently adding  movement into your daily routine?

It's time  to move on to the next step.  Try this workout for your legs. With our "slow and steady wins the race" approach we've been building a foundation of good habits and heathy movement activities. Now it's time to increase the intensity just a bit to get you to the next level.

Here is a video for you to do just that. I've created a dance exercise called Tendu Taps. It originates from Tendu, a ballet term which means stretched. This video explains why it's good for your legs, how to do it properly and then, you can simply follow along with me as we do it together.

Be sure to log it.
Add this to your Task Log. If you are not on my mailing list or if you didn't get the log, just fill out the opt in box to the right and I'll send it to you immediately.

So here's a re-cap of all that we've accomplished so far in the new year:
Daily:  Stretching upon waking.
Daily: Dance with someone you love
New: Tendu Taps for the legs
Log it: Keeping a log for continue reminder of al that you are accomplishing toward your guilt free fitness!

Remember to keep going with your daily stretch and dance routine.

Here are some links to my last few video lessons and posts in case you need them.

Holiday Gift for You!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

Dance with Someone You Love!

 

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

Web site:
www.PattyRose.com
Video Education:
www.DanceFitnessMedia.com
Follow me on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/pattyrose
DVD Review:
www.squidoo.com/dancestrong
Professional Training for Dance Educators:
www.DanceFitnessPro.com
Dancewear and Accessories
www.MeaningfulMovement.com

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

Dance with Someone You Love!

A few days ago, I shared a blog post with a plan to start out your New Years Routine with gentle stretching each and every day. How is it going? If you missed it, it is never to late to get started! You can check it out here, (Slow and Steady Wins the Race)

If you need some help with ideas for stretches, you can check out this Basic Stretch Routine video I made a few months ago. It's a four minute (nice and easy) stretch session and I walk you through the entire routine. You may also want to try my Seated Flexibility Video for another basic stretch routine to help you get moving.

In my Slow and Steady Wins the Race post, I mentioned to you that these activities would be building upon one another. While you continue to do your daily morning stretch, we will be building on the foundation to create new habits and guilt free fitness for your lifestyle to last the whole year through.

Dance with Someone You Love!

In my Holiday Gift Video to you, I talked about how movement can generate what I call The Happy Factor! That is the purpose of this activity!


You can chosen to play music or use no music at all and you can be anywhere! Just pick up your toddler, grab your spouse, or even give yourself a hug and go to it.  
DANCE! It doesn't matter if you are in the living room, the kitchen, the hallway! Do a little shake, the twist, the mashed potato, the monkey, it's all OK, as long as you have FUN. That's the only rule with this activity: Be safe and have FUN!

Please, do this at least once every day . Again, just like we talked about with the morning stretch activity, you can determine the amount of time. Whatever you decide, increase the duration each day for the remainder of the week.

Log it!

Add this to your Task Log. If you are not on my mailing list or if you didn't get the log, just fill out the opt in box to the right and I'll send it to you immediately.

Note how you feel.

Be aware of your smile, your mood, your heart rate, your connection to the people you love. Post a comment, ask me a question, send me an email if you need help. I'm here to support you in creating The Happy Factor and Guilt Free Fitness into your life!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Ah, the Monday after the New Year holiday... what will it bring?

The New Year brings a sense of renewal, a feeling of a fresh start and the opportunity to make plans for a brighter future.  Many, many people start the new year with resolutions. They run with excitement and strong desire for their goals for the new year but, often have difficulty sticking with them past a few weeks. I want to help you make it stick!

Slow and Steady
Over the next few weeks, I will be offering you some tips and ideas to help you get yourself into your new routine. My goal is to assist you in a realistic, stick to it kind of manner. I believe that we are very much mind, body, spirit. When you get in touch with what you need to do and why you feel you need to do it, you'll be more likely to realize success. I could very easily give you a generic work out plan and tell you what days to do it; but I feel it would be much less valuable to you.

We're going to go with the slow and steady wins the race approach. As I mentioned in my video to you last week, my 2011 goal is to help you.

This week will be a prep week, a week of being gentle with your movement goals and having some fun. I'll be sending you movement activities that will build upon one another. Don't worry, we'll be getting into some more intense, and serious workouts as we progress in the coming weeks. For now, I want you to build a strong foundation, a deeper reason for sticking with your goals in the weeks and months to come.

Let's get started with Guilt Free Fitness!

Ease your way back into a routine.
If you haven't been active in a while and you have grand thoughts of getting on a consistent life changing routine, you must start today. However, I recommend that you approach this in a kind hearted way. Your best body will be the body that you are kind to - the one you listen to and take the time to get in touch with. Our bodies are amazing and will let us know when we are doing something that is good for ourselves as well as not so good.

Step 1: Time to Listen:
Take a moment every day this week to check in with your body. Close your eyes, quiet your mind, listen and feel what your body needs. Are your shoulders and neck tight from too much computer time? Maybe what you need is a soft shoulder roll and neck roll to release the tension. Is your lower back tight? What does it tell you? Perhaps you'll be motivated to do a roll down and touch the floor. Think “color outside the lines” here. There is no wrong in this creative process. Be kind and gentle to yourself and do what your body asks of you.

Step 2: Gentle Stretch Upon Waking:
Start each day with a gentle stretch. Upon waking, do a few things to get your body connected and prepared for the day. Be very easy and gentle, go slow and hold a stretch to allow the body to make the adjustment from sleeping. This can take anywhere from ten seconds to five minutes. Of course, I would recommend the latter! But, again, my purpose in this New Year is to get you to focus on what you CAN do, to be mindful that doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing. So, do what you can. But, do it. Monitor what you have time for and then increase it each day. If you started Monday with 30 seconds then increase to one minute on Tuesday. If you start with three minutes then shoot for five mins by the end of the week.

Keep a log:
A simple check list doesn't have to be fancy. I've even attached a simple table form that I created to help you with this. (If you are on my mailing list you've already received this. If not, just fill out the opt in box to the right and I'll send it to you immediately.)

Fill in the boxes down along the left column with tasks such as quiet time, and stretch. Fill in the dates for the week across the top row. Put a check mark in the box each day you complete a task. It's very easy and requires almost no time. But, it has a BIG impact when you can see what you've been able to do for yourself as the week progresses!

There you have it.  Easy does it, guilt free, you can build a strong foundation of fitness! Keep an eye out for supporting video and activities!

I wish you a happy week!
Patty Rose

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose
Meaningful Movement

Web site:
www.PattyRose.com
Video Education:
www.DanceFitnessMedia.com
Follow me on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/pattyrose
DVD Review:
www.squidoo.com/dancestrong
Professional Training for Dance Educators:
www.DanceFitnessPro.com
Dancewear and Accessories
www.MeaningfulMovement.com

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

 

My Gift For You! Happy New Year!!!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I hope 2011 brings you all the hopes and dreams you wish for. This video is a special message for you to take into the new year to help you reach your goals using (may favorite, of course) Dance and Fitness.

 

Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Patty Rose

Last Minute Gift Ideas!

With the craze of the holidays you may be able to use this for some fun, creative ideas to help you find the perfect gift for the people you love!

Gifts $20 and up

DanceStrong! Workout DVD: A Complete Workout Program combining the best of Dance and Fitness. Get Yours Now>

Stainless Steel Water Bottle: These bottles are all the rage lately. They are environmentally conscious and help save money for those who often buy bottled water.

Pedometer: I have a pedometer and I love using it to track my movement in a given day. I find it motivating and it provides an opportunity for self-challenge. There is a movement that believes we should all be doing 10,000 steps a day. What a great idea! You can get this at any sporting goods store, I picked up mine at Sports Authority.

Yoga Straps: Not just for yoga! Yoga mats are a great tool to facilitate stretching and gentle flexibility, right at home!

Create a Rockin' Playlist: Create a playlist of some of his/her favorite tunes. Download each song separately which is usually .99 cents each on itunes. Put them in an order you like, and burn a dvd.

Playlist Creation Tip: Try starting the playlist with two tunes that are a little slower for a warm up. Then gradually increase with the more upbeat tunes, add one or two slower songs at the end for cool down... and, you're all set!

Yoga Matt: A great way to inspire at home stretching or grab and go to a class is a nice “cooshy” yoga matt. You could always add in the carry case. It has more value then you might think.

Active Wear: Believe it or not the way someone feels about the way they look can often be a deterrent that keeps people from working out. A new workout outfit can be a great motivator.

Gifts $50.00 and up

Dance Shoes: Dance Shoes at Apple Dance Shoes (.com) and also at DSOL (Dance Shoes Online) are generally in the $50 - $60 range. Be sure to read the fine print regarding return and re-stocking policies, as they tend to vary among online dance shoe companies.

Gift Certificates to Patty Rose / Meaningful Movement: Increments of $50.00 and above. See info here

Gift Certificate can be used toward any of the following products

• Dance Strong! DVD

• Personal Training with Patty Rose

• Dance Lessons with Meaningful Movement

• In Home Dance Party – If you want your party to stand out, this is the way to go!

• Also includes the many new programs being offered in 2011: Single day and weekend events, days of wellness., and more!

For a peak at some of my new programs coming in 2011 (click here)

Try making some gift combinations:

Give a Gift Certificate for Personal Training and a yoga mat

Give a Dance Strong DVD and a Stainless Steal water bottle

Give a pedometer, and a Rockin' Playlist for the perfect dance around the living room workout!

 

I hope these ideas help you to find the perfect gift - the one you have in your heart, the one that will make you happy when you give it. Because, really, isn't that what it's all about? To give is to simultaneously receive and when we give the perfect gift, we share a smile and moment with someone special. To me, that is the ultimate in wellness!

 

Happy Shopping!

Patty Rose

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose
Meaningful Movement

Web site:
www.PattyRose.com
Video Education:
www.DanceFitnessMedia.com
Follow me on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/pattyrose
DVD Review:
www.squidoo.com/dancestrong
Professional Training for Dance Educators:
www.DanceFitnessPro.com
Dancewear and Accessories
www.MeaningfulMovement.com

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

Zumba Certified Instructor!!

I fell in love all over again...when I started taking Zumba classes!

Of course, being a Dance Fitness Instructor, it was a no brainier for me to get certified to teach this class. I am so happy to announce that I am now a Certified Zumba Instructor (well, maybe just a little certifiable, too - but that's a story for anther blog post).

Please stay tuned for updates on classes I'll be teaching in Westchester County and New York City. If you have any location requests or would like to organize a "Private Class" or a "Zumba Party" for just you and your friends, drop me a line! You can simply post a comment here or click on the email me link in the right sidebar of the blog. Also, my new Zumba based website will be coming soon: ZumbaManhattan.com

I am very excited about these classes and look forward to helping you be your best healthy, fit dancing self!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose
Meaningful Movement

Web site:
www.PattyRose.com
Video Education:
www.DanceFitnessMedia.com
Follow me on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/pattyrose
DVD Review:
www.squidoo.com/dancestrong
Professional Training for Dance Educators:
www.DanceFitnessPro.com
Dancewear and Accessories
www.MeaningfulMovement.com

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

Dance Fitness Product Reviews

Of course, I am a lover of the equipment, tools, dvd's, and clothing that make dance and fitness more accessible and comfortable to do. But, I know that because there are so many dance and fitness products out on the market it can be easy to get confused or discouraged. That's why I decided to create this category for you. I want to help you sort through what's good, what has a good value, which products may actually be worth you to parting with your hard earned dollar, or perhaps (and hopefully) products that might motivate you to take the next step in your dance fitness routine.

I hope you'll enjoy my thoughts as I make this new category of my Dance Meets Fitness Blog, one of solid,
 

 trustworthy reviews of many and various dance fitness products.

In most cases, I will be talking about products that I have tried out and used myself and I'll let you know what I think.  However, every once in while I might go just on my research or a discussion about a product that I may have had with someone reputable. Here's the thing, though, I won't give a recommendation for something I don't think is worthwhile. 

I hope you find the information helpful and you get some good use from the Dance Fitness Products I review and offer my opinion on. By the way, at the end of the day, it really is just that, my professional opinion, and we are all entitled to different views. I welcome your comments and personal experiences. Please be polite on my site. :)

You may also be interested in checking out Meaningful Movement our Amazon Store for Dance and Fitness.

Note: Many of the links provided on these pages and reviews may be a combination of affiliate links and advertising opportunities with various companies. Please rest assured, I only present products that in my personal and professional opinion I find valuable.

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

Web site:

www.PattyRose.com

Video Education:

www.DanceFitnessMedia.com

Follow me on Twitter: 

www.twitter.com/pattyrose

DVD Review:

www.squidoo.com/dancestrong

Professional Training for Dance Educators:

www.DanceFitnessPro.com

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

Meniscus

Written by Dance Meets Fitness Physical Therapy Expert, Matthew Laporte, DPT

In this article I want to discuss an injury of the knee joint especially common with the physical demands of dancing.  This injury involves a structure called the meniscus.

Now the menisci play a crucial role in the knee joint but did you know that it was once thought to be remains of leg muscles and useless in the knee joint?

Well after years and years of surgeries where this structure was removed, surgeons began to realize that these menisci were crucial to optimum joint function.  The sports medicine community learned from their mistakes and began to protect this structure as much as possible.  

When this structure was torn, surgeons would simply remove the entire meniscus rather than saving as much as they could.  Today, this surgery involves the removal of the damaged portion with the intention of saving as much of the meniscus as possible.

So, now that we know that the menisci are important, let’s talk about what they do for the knee joint.

The end of the thigh bone (femur) and the end of the shin bone (tibia) form the knee joint.  In order to make this union more flush and congruent, the menisci which are made of cartilage enhance this joint congruency and stability.  This cushion allows the rolling and gliding of the knee joint to occur more smoothly.

Another function of the menisci are with the compressive forces of the body.  The knee joint is responsible for incredible forces during normal activities such as walking and rising from a chair.  The menisci act as shock absorbers cushioning the joint for the forces imposed on it during normal activities.  

To show you the tremendous forces our knee joints must endure, a study in 2002 discussed the fact that during stair climbing our knees receive forces that are 4.25 times our bodyweight.  So, I weigh around 165 lbs.  That means that when I climb stairs, the force on my knee is 701.25 lbs!!  Further studies have looked at rising up from a chair and determined that the force on your knee can be as much as 7x your bodyweight !  

Yikes, that’s a lot of force.  Now can you see why surgeons do everything they can to salvage these menisci?  It also goes to show you how important weight loss is to take some stress off of our knees.  Check out Patty’s awesome Dance Strong workouts for a great weight loss solution.  Your knees will thank you.  Simply click here to check them out. 

Damage to the menisci most often occur traumatically from a fall or twist of the knee.  Many times people will simply plant their foot and twist or change direction quickly which tears this structure.  You can see how this would be a common injury with dancers.  Making a leap or jump in dance, landing and quickly moving with the foot planted would causing a shearing force at the knee joint risking a tear of the menisci.

Unfortunately the menisci have a poor blood supply.  Our bodies are incredible machines and heal many injuries.  Now, our body needs blood supply which carries nutrients in order to heal itself.  The menisci is commonly divided into three zones based on it’s blood supply.  The outer 1/3 is called the red zone since it receives the most blood and has the most potential for healing.  The middle 1/3 is called the red-white zone since the blood supply is decreased in this area.  The central 1/3 is called the white zone since hardly any blood supplies this area and it has very little potential for healing.  

The common symptoms of meniscal tears are knee joint pain, swelling, catching sensation when walking and a constant clicking sound in the knee with squatting, walking or climbing stairs.  This clicking sound or catching sensation is from the torn piece of cartilage.  Picture that torn piece flapping around.  As the knee joint moves this loose piece flaps back and forth over the bone producing a clicking sound and can also get caught in the joint producing a catching sensation.  

Your Physical Therapist can perform special orthopedic examination tests to determine the presence of a meniscal tear and can also instruct you in proper stretching and strengthening exercise to address this issue.  Since some exercise can actually make the condition worse, it is important that you speak with your physical therapist regarding the best course of action.

Your orthopedic surgeon can diagnose a meniscal tear with the use of an MRI which will show the soft tissues of the knee joint. 

Some tears will heal, some will require surgery and others will never become problematic.  

The best prevention you can take is by being proactive instead of waiting until it is too late.  By stretching and exercising properly you can reduce your risk of this common knee injury.

Be Well,

Matthew Laporte, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of YourGuideToWellness.com

Matt@YourGuideToWellness.com

Anywhere Workout Series Part 3 - Move Your Bod!

Today, I wanted to continue on the same path and share with you another mini workout you can do using just your body weight. These videos in my Anywhere Workout Series give you much flexibility because they require very little space and no equipment whatsoever. 

In Day 3 – I put together some torso stretches, torso isolations and Second (2nd) position plies, otherwise known as Wide Stance Squats)

Torso Stretch:

Stretching your torso is really important because it can help with posture and like any flexibility  it also improves general daily function.

Torso Isolations: Isolations are generally used in dance when one wants to move only one particular part of the body or  muscle group, keeping the rest of the body stable and still. It's a great stabilizing and strengthening technique.

Second (2nd) position plies, otherwise known as Wide Stance Squats)

2nd Position Plies work many of the leg muscles, inner thigh, hamstring, and quadriceps all benefit from this exercise.

Join me for a MINI workout and stretch in the video below:

The video demonstrates one set, to get the most benefit do a total of three sets for the day.

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Mini Latin Dance Workout - Anywhere Workout Series Part 2

Yesterday, I wrote about my Anywhere Workout Series that I started because I am on vacation in a very remote and rustic location. You can see that post here: Video: Anywhere Workout.

In my Anywhere Workout Series videos, I share different combinations of exercises that use your own body weight for resistance. This type of workout is very flexible because these exercises require no machines, and no dumbbells, exercise bands are not even necessary.

 
Bliss

This morning I woke up and watched the sun rise! This is a rare occasion for me because I tend to be a bit of a night owl. So, awake at 5:00 AM, I got to see the sun come up over the horizon. It was incredibly peaceful and serene. Later in the morning I sipped coffee on the deck with my husband and just took in the sights.

 
Once I got moving for the day, I shot this video for you. It is Day 2 of my vacation and recording my Anywhere Workouts and I was in the mood to do some dancing.

I hope you'll join me for this fun, quick, and VERY easy to do latin dance workout video. 

It will help to raise your hear-rate and hopefully make you smile.

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Video: Anywhere Workout

This week I am on vacation in Maine. My husband and I vacation with his family here for one week every August. We stay on an island that is an approximate 30 minute ferry ride from South Freeport.

Once on the Island, there are very few of the modern conveniences, it is very rustic in nature and naturally promotes healthy activities. Anything that you want to do requires walking, and sometimes (depending on the house you rent) doing things like pumping your own water, and filling the sun shower bags and hanging them for a fresh water shower and in our case this year: rowing.

This year, we are staying in a house that is build on a big rock just off the island. It is breathtakingly beautiful, calm, relaxing, and well, it is an adventure to say the least. We are completely surrounded by water, and subject to make plans based on the tide. Our only mode of transportation is a canoe. Can you believe it? A canoe!

In preparing for this week, I packed my reading materials, my journals, and my music. I set my plans for all the soul searching, productive, and healthy time I would spend away from the computer and the internet. I also set my workout plan which was to be very healthy and active with good nutrition and lots of walking. 

Last night we walled approximately 1.5 miles to see family for dinner. We will do about the same tonight. Today was our first full day here and I have been fully enjoying all the quiet relaxation. But, I also realize I need to move my body!

Sometimes, life just doesn't promote the ease of a workout. It could be anything from a hectic schedule to the remote conditions of being on an island that get in the way. The question is: What can you do when life gets in the way of your plans to workout, to go to the gym, or to take a dance class to be active and healthy?

Try doing a body weight workout. 

By doing exercises that use your own body weight for resistance, you can go anywhere and do anything. These exercises require no machines, and no dumbbells, exercise bands are not even necessary.

Here is what I decided to do for my first day of remote living to keep my promise to myself to be healthy and active. I shot a quick video to share it with you. To keep the video short and sweet, I recorded the first set. Be sure to do 3 sets total for a full workout.  

Pushups and Squats.

Push - ups – This exercise will activate the chest (pectoral), the core, and the triceps muscles.

Squats – This body weight exercise activates the leg and butt muscles (gluts, hamstring, and quads)

Join me for a workout!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Group Fitness Class - Tips for Safety

Simply body awareness techniques for group dance and fitness classes to help you get the most out of your workout while preventing injury.

I am a stickler for technique when I work with my clients and students! Proper technique is the largest prevention method to injury available. Proper form allows the muscles to work at their optimal while achieving the results you are working so hard for. But even the best teachers can not be correcting every student in the class simultaneously. So, why not learn some of these tips for yourself.

Here are some basic tips you can implement for yourself. Go ahead, give them a try right now and you'll be ready to go when you get to class.

Knees over the toes. This is something that you should monitor during your entire class. Anytime you are not standing with you feet directly below your hips, check to see where your knees are.

Ex: Lunge:

Knee should be lined up with the ankle joint, not pushed over and beyond the toes or back behind the foot. Also remember to keep the heel of the front foot on the floor.

Ex: Turned out Squats/ Plies

(This is for both Narrow (1^st Position) and Wide Stance (2^nd Position) Plies:)

Knees should be in line with your toes, not pushing forward (inward) toward one another. Check that your knees are directly above the ankle joint. If they are slightly forward (inward) you can easily correct this by adjusting the turnout of your feet. What this mean is plain english: narrowing the distance between the toes of the right foot and the toes of the left foot can release the pressure of your knees. You can also use the muscles in the upper leg to gently press the knees back. This can help to take pressure off the knee joint while intensifying the exercise.It's really important that you are in a natural turnout position. Be sure not to over extend at the ankle to get your feet further out.

Shoulders:

There is a general tenancy of people across the board to lift the shoulders when learning something new. Do your best to be mindful of the shoulder blades and keep them down an away from your ears. Just trying to press down with your shoulders may not get you to the desired result, and truthfully, it not very comfortable to do.

Instead, think of pressing your shoulder blades down and inward toward one another. This engages the muscles of the back that naturally release the tension in the top of the shoulder (upper trapezius) muscles.

Lower Back:

When doing exercises like squats and lunges; or anything that lowers the body with a bent knee, the correct position of the back may vary.

1) When doing plies with the toes turned outward, maintain a neutral position with your pelvis. This is generally a safe place for your lower back and can prevent pain from hyper-extension of the low back (lumbar) muscles. It also happens to be the position that will allow the correct muscles to do the activity, giving you the most gain.

2) For a squat to be done correctly, (that is when your toes are straight forward), you'll need to have a slight curve in your lower spine. You'll also want be sure to keep our chest up to maintain proper form for the squat.

Students - Remember, the instructor is there to help. If you are not sure how to do something correctly, or if it just doesn't feel right. First adjust your movement so you don't get hurt. Then, ask for help. A good instructor will be glad to assist you!

If you are an instructor you may find Essential Anatomy, a multimedia anatomy course for dancers and dance teachers interesting. It is an excellent resource for teaching technique well!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

What's Wrong with Zumba?

When I attend a fitness or dance class as a student, I have no choice but to also be observant as a teacher. It is my nature and my background that naturally come into play. So, I write this to share some of the basic things you can do to make sure you are getting a great workout, having fun and preventing injury!

I've been taking Zumba class for my dance workout lately and I love, love, love it! They say, its like a party, and you know what, they're right!

So, what's wrong with a party?

Zumba, like any new workout craze, is hitting town like a storm! It's drawing many people out to the gym and to the studio to take class. People are also using Zumba home dvd sets. It's getting people moving! This is all great. I love to see a program that facilitates healthy activity and movement!

However, what I caution is the safety of mass media fitness growing too quickly. When certifying to the masses, it is possible that a few instructors may get through the course without a history of teaching experience or an in depth knowledge of technique. It is also possible that there will be so many students in a class that it is simply not possible for an instructor to make corrections to every one at the same time. All the instructors that I have taken class with are wonderful. But, the classes have had 30 to 50 students in attendance!

I believe it is of the utmost importance that you as the student, educate yourself on a few of the basics and seek out the proper instruction. The good news is that since the basic steps of Zumba are very easy to do, safe to execute, and Fun, Fun, Fun, just a few tips should have you on the way to self protection and prevention and enjoying your workouts.

Here are a few tips for you to become your own advocate of body-safe dance and fitness!

Seek out a good instructor:
Do a little homework if you can before you take class with a new instructor.  You can ask for their credentials and experience. You may even want to watch a class before you try it out, Although, I admit, that might be just a little torturous because you'll want to be in there with them! Or, try asking other students for their thoughts regarding the teacher and or the studio.

Self Aware Injury Prevention:
If something doesn't feel good, don't do it! The old adage is “If it hurts STOP!” I can't tell you how many times I've heard of people pushing themselves too far during a workout and regretting it after the fact.

Listen to your body:
I believe our body gives us signals and signs as clear messages. I believe that it is our responsibility to listen to and respect messages. If you are experiencing an “off” day, do a self evaluation to determine what your body needs. Some days you may just be a little tired and you know deep down that the workout will energize you and make you feel better. Another day, you may decide that it's just going to be too much. Those are the days that you may suffer injury that could have been prevented. Just be careful not to use this as an excuse and started opting - out of the workout as a habit.

Over Use Injuries:
Our bodies need to heal after a strenuous workout. If you do the same repetitive exercise every day for a prolonged period of time, you can develop what is known as an over use injury. Be sure to vary your dance workouts with a day of active rest like walking, or a day with a weight training routine. As long as you diversify, this should not be an issue.

For more tips on how to implement your own technique for a safe and fun workout see my post for How to have FUN and keep your self safe in Dance Fitness Class.

Be safe and have fun moving your body!

Get yourself moving, today. 

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Salsa Dance Lessons - at home?

Review of Salsa Crazy – Dance Course

I recently came a cross a online training course that teaches the beginner dancer to Salsa dance in the comfort of their own home. 

Salsa Crazy offers a great solution to those who want to get moving at home because they can't get out, or maybe are just a little shy or don't know where to start.

Do you have small children that keep you schedule on lockdown (we all know what that's about).

Are you not yet comfortable to get on the dance floor?

Would you like to spice up your at home workout routine?

This product may help!!!

Things I like about this course:

Immediate Access:  

Let's face it, there is something wonderful and exciting about instant gratification. Once you make your purchase you are given a link with immediate access to the entire program. No waiting for the “snail” mail to arrive or waiting for the next course in you email each day. You don't even have to download anything. Just open the link and click play, Easy, Breezy!

Clear and Concise: 

Short and sweet the videos get to the point with clear and and easy to understand instruction – one or two steps at a time. With appropriate breakdown of how to do the step and clear description of how this should be done, these videos make it simple to learn the basics and then put them together with music.

Progressive in Nature:

One thing about taking any kind of dance training is that it should build upon its self. This is sometimes a problem for people that sign up for  a class and then miss a week or two due to scheduling. This program has a really nice and natural build that you can do on your own, or use for the in-between if you miss your group class. After a few videos of learning steps, the instructor puts them together with music – you'll really feel like you are dancing in no time!!

Passionate Instruction:

It is so easy to pinpoint instructors that truly love what they are teaching and have a passion for sharing that knowledge. I find this instructor to have a great personality. He is one of those teachers that stand out to me as – Ah, yes, he really loves what he is doing right now! This quality in a teacher is a gift to a student who can learn quickly and painlessly while having fun!

What's wrong with this product?

If there was anything I would like to see improved about this product it would be a few videos added with longer combinations which would incorporate a longer cardio and workout!! But, I must realize that that is not the  purpose of this product. Dance Fitness in my thing, maybe not his! And...you'll still get good core work with your latin rhythm, good lower body activity with the steps and ultimately be burning calories throughout!

All in all, I say it's a no-brainer. Get this product if you want to enhance your Salsa, get started in Salsa, or supplement what you are already doing in Salsa.

Priced very fairly it is accessible to any budget and an easy way to implement learning salsa into your life!

To find out more about this course click here now.

Get yourself moving, today. 

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!