Brittany Gogo | LIFE REPORTER
The fitness centre is borrowing some of the latest Hollywood workout crazes by offering classes such as Latin dance fit and street jazz hip hop.
“People are looking to try something that is a little more exotic,” said Doug Fox, athletic director. “The Latin class is outstanding in terms of the moves and the fun people are having.”
All over Toronto, studios are coming up with new ways to wake up people’s workouts with exercises aimed at having fun, like sexy stiletto salsa, sensual pole dancing and playful hula-hoop cardio.
Exotic workouts, made popular by Carmen Electra’s Aerobic Striptease DVDs, have made their way onto the scene with strip aerobics, sensual movement and pole dancing.
Felinity Fitness in Toronto, offers exotic movement classes to help women develop a sense of how their bodies move with floor, door-frame and pole components.
These classes are all about toning up without sacrificing curves as they offer an incredible core workout without the labor of sit-ups.
Alison Joy, founder of Felinity, said the programs offer full body conditioning through slow controlled movements, while allowing participants to let go of their inhibitions and express their sensuality.
Ballroom dancing is all the rage at City Dance Corps which offers a stiletto salsa workshop for those who want to break the monotony of the gym.
“Going to the gym feels like working,” said Sophie Chrisomeris of City Dance. “Coming to dance class is fun and it doesn’t feel like a workout. People walk out feeling really satisfied.”
High heels are required for women participating in the class and add to the workout by helping with posture and balance, while strengthening calves, hips and quads.
Chrisomeris said salsa is a great workout and instead of feeling tired afterwards, much like one would after a session at the gym, salsa is energizing and is like “a night out having fun with friends.”
City Dance also offers ballet boot camp, an aerobics style fitness class, which uses fundamental ballet techniques to strengthen and tone.
Dancer Lucy Benayon of Orange Dot Inc. has created programs she calls Stayin’ Alive and Butt-Kickin for people who want to get in shape without being confined to the treadmill.
Stayin’ Alive, a workout inspired by old pop music, and Butt Kickin’, which uses hula-hoops and dance techniques, tone, sculpt, contour and increase flexibility while participants dance off the pounds, Benayon said.
“People want to get in shape but don’t want to be on the treadmill,” she said. “So I use my dance training and
conditioning to kick their butts into shape.”
