Being fit

This fall I am going to be teaching classes at the Academy of Art in San Francisco! They are undertaking an admirable effort to incorporate well-being into their arts curriculum. The recreation director, Sarah, has the task of motivating the arts students to pursuing a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle in addition to excelling in their fields. They want their students to graduate not only with skills and talent in art, but also to be able to take care of themselves and work on a team. As a dance instructor, it is my job to motivate the students in this and demonstrate that I can be a dance artist and be fit. I applaud the Academy of Art for making this a part of their education!

I was asked some questions about my view of my dance and fitness. Below are my musings:

Name three qualities of a healthy, balanced person. works hard, plays hard, rests hard

How do these qualities relate to being an artist? To grow in your art requires discipline. You have put time into your art, but need to also rest and find joy in other things. Those other things could be unexpected sources of inspiration!

What's the coolest thing you've seen one of your students do in your class? Independently add her own move or style to the music! This shows me that she's owning it and enjoying it.

What do you say to someone who doesn't have time to workout? Multitask! Walk to the grocery store, take the stairs, go out dancing with friends, clean the apartment! All of these things burn calories and keep your body ticking. You can always squeeze in 10 minutes of stretching, or 5 minutes of jump rope, lunges, and burpees. Invite a friend to join you. You'll be surprised how many of your friends will say "I've been wanting to do that too." They'll be thankful to you for making the suggestion.
Why do you love your sport/activity? I love love love Arabic music. It takes me away on a magic carpet which loops and glides and soars! I love discovering new ways to convey the music with my movements. Of course I also love the sparkly outfits and dramatic make-up. Getting ready for a show is a transformative process for me.

What has your sport/activity taught you? It has taught me what "fit" means to me and my body. It's different for everybody. For some people that is muscular, for some it is slim, for some it is voluptuous. As long as you don't have to punish or abuse your body to maintain your shape, you are fit. It has also taught me how to let loose and enjoy the moment. The most important thing in belly dance is to enjoy yourself. You can say that is the most important thing in life too!

And how have you applied that lesson to other parts of your life? Being fit and enjoying life are both holistic approaches to living. I can eat french fries, drink margaritas, and stay up all night once in a while without guilt because they don't contradict my view of being fit and enjoying life. I may balance these activities with taking care of business and taking care of myself through exercise and healthy eating.