New Website is Up!

Check it out, we have the new website online at www.jeannieschweitzer.com
Still needs a few tweaks but I am really happy with it. See what you think!

Belly Dance Inspired Fitness begins Wednesday November 3

Belly Dance Inspired Fitness Classes

We don’t stop exercising because we grow old; we grow old because we stop exercising.

 

This is an excellent class for those who would like to combine simple dance movements together with a light aerobic component that focuses on range of motion, balance, supportive strength building, while increasing self esteem and confidence through body awareness, increasing balance and injury prevention.

                                 ~*~

With the focus more on stress reduction, weight bearing, range of motion, strength and endurance, I realized how supportive and nourishing this form of movement was for the Endocrine System. The gentle spinal undulations and abdominal movements of belly dancing have a soothing and calming effect for the Central Nervous System as well as the various glands including the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, and adrenal, within our bodies. Stress directly affects hormone production with our body’s quest to maintain homeostasis. Stress has become one of the main causes of ill health today, affecting the Endocrine System in ways such as weight gain / weight loss, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, diabetes, digestive troubles and cardiovascular disease.

 

The easy, fluid motion of Belly Dancing with the joy that went along with the sacredness of the movements made it a natural transition to incorporate into my Third Age and Adaptive classes at the pool. The interest soon made it a dry land class and another way to move.   

To Register at Strathcona Gardens Comples 250 286-1081

                                                           

 ~Jeannie

Mexico 2006 ~

Nine men and women enjoyed the subtle, gentle movements of the Oriental Dance Holiday in La Manzanilla, Mexico with Jeannie. After spending the early part of the day at Brenda Dempsey’s Yoga Retreat, we ended the day with a soothing late afternoon of dance under the palapa over looking the town and sea.  Later, feeling flexible, relaxed, yet energized, we headed off to enjoy a wonderful evening of Mexican cuisine, good company, and a beautiful sun set.

 Oriental dance is about 5000 years old. Dance is one of the most ancient forms of art and was a mixture of many cultural elements. Traditionally, there were dances to celebrate weddings, victories, and many social events. Oriental dance is empowering, creative, and healing.  It’s good for blood flow, massages vital organs and utilized muscle groups in the pelvis, trunk, spine, and neck, working with the body rather than against it. Because the participant is on their feet, it is also considered a good weight bearing exercise routine. As a moving meditation, it opens and nourishes your energetic skeleton (charkas), the 12 Organ meridians and the 8 Extraordinary Vessels that enrich your body, and spirit while it calms the mind. It’s excellent for stress reduction as the subtle rhythms along with the movements have a calming effect for your entire being.

Many of the movements also include stomach exercises to prepare women for childbirth and recovery after. Oriental (Belly) dance uses movements that come naturally to the female form.