A BFIIT Testimonial

Written by Mary McGinn

This year my top two desires have been to find a job that makes me feel happy and alive, and to transform my relationship with movement. A few weeks ago I was on the website http://www.contactalkradio.com listening to Elise and Jill’s radio show, and I came across a show with the founder of something called Bellyfit. I thought “that’s such a cute name!” It jumped out at me like a three year old girl waiting to be tickled. So I went to the website, http://www.bellyfit.ca, and instantly I fell in love. It is a fusion fitness technique that blends dance, yoga, pilates and meditation, with a focus on bringing strength and new energy into the belly and the reproductive organs. So up my alley!!

In my research I have found that when I am happiest is when I am taking a movement class that incorporates the spirituality of movement. My experience with exercise until now has been about “suffer for an hour and then you will feel pleasure”. I have always beaten myself up about not being able to “stick with” an exercise program. “Why can’t I just DO it?” I would ask myself. Well, after taking many levels of S Factor, Rochelle’s Inspired Movement Series, Nia and other mind/body/soul techniques, I have realized that I knew exactly what I was doing when I chose to not “stick with” those exercise programs. Because it is not pleasurable. And anything not pleasurable is not sustainable. It is not pleasurable for me to run on a treadmill for 45 minutes running towards myself in the mirror, cheeks shaking, no makeup and mismatched workout clothes on. NOT PLEASUREABLE. It is not pleasurable for me to be in an environment where my body is hearing messages like “burn that butter”, “we’re working now”, “we’re gonna burn lots of FAT and CALORIES today”. Ewwwww!!! Sorry, but I do not want a workout that is based around hating myself and atoning for my body doing looking exactly as it is supposed to! And I do not want to be in an environment of people who are just working out because they think that they cannot start living their real life until they lose 10 lbs.!! Not very empowering! Now I know it is not really that simple, and that this type of fitness works for alot of people. But for me, I prefer a more pleasure based route. Could I have a hand to escort me off of this soapbox now?

Which is why I took to Bellyfit so quickly which is all that I love about this new movement in womens health and empowerment. It is about building strength, coming into your body, dancing through movement, aligning the chakras, and their slogan is…wait for it…Strong Women - Strong World. Hello??!!! Could that be more amazing? So I contact the founder, and ask where I can buy the DVD or take a class, but alas, it is only offered in Canada. Boo.

But something just would not let me go in terms of exploring this technique, so I put it on my desires collage. (which by the way, has shown to have more SUCK factor that a Hoover Mach III)During my private session with Ro, she said “oooh Bellyfit, what is that?”. I explained to her what it was, and that I had the desire to be trained in this technique and maybe teach it. When I asked for her feedback, she said exactly what I have been waiting/wanting to hear which was “I don’t think the universe could be any more clear that this is what you should be doing”. Then I really looked at my desires collage and realized that the main theme is women who are carving a new path for how we relate to our bodies. I have a Debbie Rosas, Sheila Kelly, Vienne from Chocolat, I have Tristan Taoromino, and all my favorite Burlesque stars. And I thought “she might be right”. And then the Divine Help started in.

You know when something works out so perfectly and you hear The Voice so loud it is scary? Well that is exactly what started happening. I thought the only time I could do it was June but The Voice kept saying “do it now”, and then something opened for me to do it in two weeks. I thought I was going to have to travel hella far into Canada, then a training popped up in Toronto, an hour flight away. My husband (even though he is very supportive, wanted to make sure that I was certain) kept saying “are you sure you want to do this? It’s a really big risk, you’ve never even taken a class in this technique and you want to go straight into learning how to teach it?” and while I usually listen to that argument, it was just strengthening my resolve that it was exactly what I should be doing. I booked the flight on miles, I landed the hotel at $65/night (normally $120), the founder gave me a coupon for $80 off, and before I knew it, I was BOOKED IN AND REGISTERED FOR THE TRAINING!!!!

And the divine intervention kept happening. I got to the airport and my flight was cancelled, and they magically found me the last seat on the only flight going out to Toronto that day. I felt so excited and full of life, like the Goddess was orchestrating it all for me!

And now for the brags…

I brag that on the way there I wrote a 5 page desire list and got really clear about what I wanted from the experience.

I brag that I was the only person to fly in for the training, and I will be the first person teaching Bellyfit from the United States! YES!

I brag that when I got there the first person I saw was the amazing Alice Bracegirdle, founder of Bellyfit. She came up to me, gave me a big warm welcoming hug and said “hello beautiful woman!”

I brag that I was outgoing and made sure to meet as many women as possible. There were about 25 in the training, so I made sure to set the tone for an open, empowered experience for myself and for them.

I brag that I had so much fun!! I danced, I found my core, I finally learned what it means to stand up straight, I learned about my uterus, I networked, and I taught a cardio section to 5 women!

I brag that at the end, we all sat in a circle and digested the experience together. We said out loud our intention for Bellyfit, and pulled an Intention Card from a deck of empowerment cards. I brag that I was stressing about what to say, and I heard The Voice come in and say “whatever comes out of your mouth will be perfect”.

And it was!!! I brag that what came out of my mind was the divine talking to me! I said “my intention with Bellyfit and what I feel is my purpose in life is to heal the cultural wound of women and their bodies, and to help women love their feminine bodies right here, right now, no matter what.”

I brag that for the last three years I have been searching for this! I have wanted to find my divine purpose more than anything else in the world! And the best part is, I didn’t plan to say that, it just came out!

I brag that I now understand the karmic significance of my history with my belly. This was the part of my body I have always HATED the most, and was a manifestation of my being out of agreement with being a woman. I now know that my belly is my ultimate source of power, physically and energetically. I am so grateful to have had such a torrid past with my belly, because without that I would not have the bright, blossoming, vibrant present and future I do now. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share this with other women.
I brag that when I was talking about my decision to make this journey, listening to my intuition instead of my head, one of the women said “you’re very brave”...and I said “YES!!”

I brag that the intention card I pulled was “anonymous acts of kindness”, the more you give to the universe without asking anything in return, the more the universe will ask “what can I do for you”. SO true, and I have really taken this information to heart as direction to draw me closer to my intention.

I brag that I am so proud of myself for taking this leap, making this stretch, and listening to my heart instead of my head. I am so grateful for my husband and his unyielding support of me listening to my intuition. I am so grateful for the new face of womens empowerment, and the Revolutionaries who have the courage to bring it to the masses.

I desire women to come and take my Bellyfit classes! -
I desire SG’s to take my practice classes happening over the next few months! - please let me know if you would like to join me!
I desire to create a Bellyfit chakra series!
I desire to create a Bellyfit fertility series!
I desire to find the perfect, clean, beautiful, affordable space to hold my classes!
I desire an overflowing list of women to empower and take my classes!
I desire for this to be my full time job!
I desire to take the Nia Whitebelt, the aerial yoga teacher training, and any and all trainings that continue to propel me down this path!!

Mary McGinn
Corprate Trainer
New York, NY