At La Girandole dance studio, in Edmonton’s La Cité
Francophone, my sister and I partook in BooTy®, a class that combines “music,
movement, fitness and yoga” in a fun, supportive, non-judgmental workout
environment, led by my great friend Karen Zimmerman.
Karen and I met in a dance class in 2005, when we were both students
and members of Orchesis, the University of Alberta’s Modern Dance Group. Over
the years, we’ve danced through many Orchesis Motifs and closing night parties,
summer jazz classes, post-Oilers victories and defeats at the bar (Karen’s
then-boyfriend, now- husband, David, taught me how to two-step during the
Oilers playoff run in 2006), each other’s dance-themed stagettes, and our
weddings. The natural next step – pun intended – has been both of our
journeys into teaching dance, as well as continuing to shake it ourselves.
Dance is at the center of our friendship and I was so excited
to take a class she was leading. Karen is a warm, upbeat and kind soul, which
makes her a natural to lead Edmonton’s BooTy® class. Her class is fun,
energetic, supportive and challenging for women of all backgrounds and body
types. We recently caught up over a long-distance phone call to chat more about
her involvement with BooTy® and what she finds most rewarding about being
Edmonton’s BooTy® Leader:
EM: How did you find
out about BooTy® and the teacher training?
KZ: One of my cousins is a BooTy® Leader (we prefer to call
ourselves ‘leaders’, rather than teachers) in Stettler and she encouraged me to come to her class. I really enjoyed it and not long after, I met Tara
[Newbigging, the creator of BooTy®] when she led a workshop in Stettler. I
actually only took two classes before I took the Leader Training.
EM: What drew you to
the program?
KZ: It’s really fun and the class atmosphere is great! I
hate working out in a gym; I prefer to take classes, like dance or yoga. I’ve
tried barre fitness and I enjoyed it, but there’s something much more freeing
about BooTy®, in my opinion, since it’s more choreography-based. I’ve been a
trained dancer since I was three years old, so finding this dance-cardio class
just felt like a perfect fit. It just feels like I’m dancing but I happen to be
working out as well!
EM: I also prefer to
take classes, rather than straight-up work out. Way more fun and I agree, a great
class atmosphere is key. How would you describe the atmosphere of BooTy®?
KZ: It’s all about creating a sense of community: a supportive,
non-judgmental environment where women can just let go and have fun while
moving. For the physical atmosphere, I prefer soft lighting to harsh florescent
lights, because it helps everyone feel more comfortable in front of the dance
studio mirrors, and I turn the music up loud so we can really let it go. It’s a
safe space to move and sweat and have fun.
EM: Before becoming a
BooTy® Leader, had you ever taught dance before?
KZ: Not really, but I’m a former tour guide from the Alberta
Legislature, so I’m used to public speaking and I feel pretty comfortable in
front of people.
EM: How would you
describe the style of BooTy® class?
KZ: It’s a little bit of everything: dance, yoga, really
just movement set to music with a cardio element. We use a playlist of 200
songs and the music really drives the flow. The songs are meant to be
empowering and inspiring, to really make women feel good. We also put a lot of
emphasis on the Shavasna [the corpse/resting pose] portion at the end of class.
We set it to a powerful/meaningful song that the ladies can take in and release
tension.
The choreography element, I think, is really great for
building a mind-body connection because you do have to think in order to follow along
with the movement, but there’s no judgment when you don’t get it perfectly.
Dance stimulates different parts of the brain, so it’s a mental workout too.
EM: What do you find
the most rewarding about BooTy®?
KZ: Definitely getting to meet the women who come out to
class. BooTy® attracts the kindest, most incredible women of different ages and
backgrounds. We’re creating new friendships, we’re starting to go out after
class and to get to know each other outside of class. It’s so great too, while
in class, when I see how hard they’re working, how they keep going when they
make mistakes, and how much fun they’re having. The people are the best part
for sure.
EM: What would you
say to encourage someone, a first-timer, maybe someone who doesn’t have a lot
or any dance experience, to give BooTy® a shot?
KZ: I would just say, just come and try it out; it’s such a
supportive, encouraging, non-judgmental class. It’s amazing to see women
trying something and getting better. You’ve got this!
***
I couldn’t agree more. Plus, the first class is FREE! You
have nothing to lose, so go for it. You’ve definitely got this.
I should add, as the
photo clearly indicates, that I was 24 weeks pregnant when I took the class (our baby is due anytime now!) and
though I had to make a few modifications to the choreography (no burpees for me!), my heart was
pumping and I got my sweat on. The next day was all ‘Hello Calf Muscles and
Quads! It’s been awhile!’ To me, that’s one of the marks of a great dance
workout: fun, challenging and leaves you feeling it a bit the next day.
I stand by my previous disclaimer regarding dancing/working out while pregnant – I’m not a healthcare
professional, I checked with my midwife, I know my body and I didn’t push myself beyond what I knew I
could do safely – and I strongly encourage any mamas-to-be to check with their
doctors regarding safe exercise practices.
For more information
about BooTY®, Leader Training opportunities, or to find a class in your area,
check out the website:
You can also find info
regarding BooTy® in Edmonton on Facebook: BooTy® Edmonton.
