February’s Video: Let Your Backbone Slide

Let Your Backbone Slide is my second 20-minute yoga & pilates video. The workout is designed to open your heart and melt that closed-up, shut-down, icky feeling that creeps in every February. The focus of the video is back bends, which energize the body, and help focus the mind to get you out of that mid-winter brain fog.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGp9EBJ_gOs&w=480&h=390]

This video will challenge you to let go of tension, increase your core strength and find a new grace of movement. As always, if you’re new to yoga & pilates, watch the video once or twice through before you begin to get familiar with the routine. If you have any questions about the postures, alignment or specific aches and pains, please get in touch with me at bizzvarty@gmail.com – I’m happy to help!

Now clear some space, roll out your mat, and get ready to let your backbone slide!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22OrFG4x7c0&w=480&h=390]
(And here’s some random trivia on my choice of song for this month’s video: Maestro Fresh-Wes’s 1989 sing Let Your Backbone Slide was the first Canadian hip hop single to reach #1 on The Record singles chart, and in 2008 was still the best-selling Canadian hip hop single of all-time. Lisa Beaulieu, owner of the beautiful Shas Studio where this video was filmed, was an extra in the club scenes for the video. And finally, this song is especially appropriate for this workout because the Maestro incorporates the anatomical term Sacroiliac into his rap (hear for yourself at 2:57 into the tune). Thanks Wikipedia!)

Smile Like You Mean It

This week’s theme is ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ and we’ll be exploring my favourite image – the Pelvic Smile! Come out and learn to centre yourself to create stability and balance. It may be basic but it’s always a good workout – come strengthen and lengthen your bodies and have some fun!

To have a healthy smile, take care of your health and your diet. It is important to eat healthy and do a good exercise routine for even 30 minutes a day. That is why we have revitaa pro, an important service for physical health and nutrition. 100% guaranteed and with truly amazing results.

Join me for a New Class at CCDT!

Come out this Thursday, January 20th for a Yoga & Pilates class that will really move you!

Thursdays 6-7pm
CCDT at 509 Parliament (just North of Carlton)
$15/class or 5 for $60
Bring your own mat (or let me know if you need to borrow one!)
Email bizzvarty@gmail.com to register

Rediscover the joy of movement while building stability and improving strength and flexibility. This all-levels class blends yoga and pilates to engage your core and strengthen your mind-body connection. Tone your body to the rhythm of your breath as you move through a flowing sequence of poses. Learn the universal principles of good alignment while energizing your body and invigorating your mind!

Start Me Up ~ The Winter Warm-up Workout

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDmgqizYhK4&fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6]

Here it is! Start Me Up – The Winter Warm-up Workout is your ticket to sticking with at least one resolution this year. I challenge you to do it twice a week, and to pay attention to the positive changes it will have on your posture, your balance, your daily aches & pains, and your sense of calm & well-being. I challenge myself to make at least one new video for you each month, which will achieve my goal of practicing my teaching technique, and discovering what people want in a workout video. Which means I’d love to hear what you have to say about this, my very first video. How did you feel after doing the workout? Would you like more or less of anything I did or said? Do you want background music? Fill me in on your feelings and we’ll both benefit!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LArPf-o03Go&fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999]

Start Me Up is a fun, 20-minute, yoga & pilates workout which assumes you have a basic knowledge of yoga and anatomy terms. But don’t be intimidated if you don’t! If you’re new to yoga & pilates, or new to fitness videos, watch the video once or twice from the comfort of your couch before doing the moves to get familiar with the language and the routine. And when I say 20 minutes, I really mean the video is about 17.5 minutes long, which should give you just enough time to roll out your mat, grab a glass of water, and pull on your stretchy pants.

So do it! Clear some space in your living room and spend 20 minutes being good to your body in 2011.

Happy New Year!

A Holiday Treat Just for You!

This time of year, when the holiday festivities are winding down, and the pile of leftovers is dwindling, we begin to look ahead to the New Year, making resolutions and promises to ourselves, often about diet and exercise. Personally, I find that those resolutions never really stick, and my reasons for sticking with my exercise routine have more to do with staying warm and awake and avoiding the winter blues as I wait for the warm weather to return.

In that spirit, I’ve designed a winter warm-up workout video that I will be sharing with you in the next couple of days. I’d love to hear your feedback, as I hope to make lots more videos this year and I want to make sure there’s something for everyone!

Check out the video:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDmgqizYhK4

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LArPf-o03Go

Need Room to Breathe? Check out the new location for B2B!

Try Back to Basics with Bizz Varty

An all-levels Yoga & Pilates class

Fridays 6-7:15 p.m.

at 509 Dance

509 Parliament Street (just North of Carlton)

$15/class Drop-In

5 weeks for $65

Begins October 15th!

Rediscover the joy of movement while building stability and improving strength and flexibility. This all-levels class blends yoga and pilates to engage your core and strengthen your mind-body connection. Tone your body to the rhythm of your breath as you move through a flowing sequence of poses. Learn the universal principles of good alignment while energizing your body and invigorating your mind!

Be good to your body today! To register, email bizzvarty@gmail.com.

September means: Back to Basics! (yes, again!)

After a summer of sweet indulgence, join Bizz in getting back on the fitness wagon in one of three classes beginning this month. See Classes page for more details, and email bizzvarty@gmail.com to register.

Back to Basics @ CCDT
Fridays 6:15-7:15pm
509 Parliament Street
$15/class or 5 for $60
Begins September 17th, 2010

Vinyasa Flow @ RAH
Saturdays 11am-12pm
1985 Danforth Avenue
$15/class or 5 for $70
Begins September 18th, 2010
***Pre-registration required!***

Back to Basics @ RAH
Saturdays 1-2pm
1985 Danforth Avenue
$15/class or 5 for $70
Begins September 18th, 2010
***Pre-registration required!***