Who are you and what are your passions?
My name is Lisa Cassidy and I am a mover and a shaker. I grew up as a dancer doing many styles of dance including Irish, Highland, Ballet, Jazz, Stage and even a little Flamenco. While I loved to dance, I was not one for competitions and the long hours it required. I felt I was missing out on life and my love of dance was fading from the pressure. As an adult, I rediscovered my love of movement through dance based fitness classes. I have now been teaching dance based fitness for 8 years and love to share my passion for movement. It started 8 years ago when I did a Nia Technique training and I am now 4 levels of training in and a Black Belt Instructor. I discovered Bellyfit quite by accident. An American Nia teacher friend posted the link for the Bellyfit website on Facebook. She was impressed with the product and thought it looked well put together. I clicked on the link and was excited to see it was located in Victoria, BC! I took the next available training having never even done a class. I had a feeling I was stepping into something great that was worth taking a chance on. I was right! I am also a GROOVEmethod Facilitator which came to me through the Base Lounge and Alice Bracegirdle when they hosted a training. I love teaching all 3 styles and my bliss is ignited. I have my own studio in downtown Prince George, BC. Teaching people to love being in their body through the gift of movement is my passion. When I am not dancing, I love spending time with my husband, two daughters and my pup Misty.
What do you love about teaching Bellyfit?
I love watching women come alive in class. Bellyfit is the perfect blend of repetition to allow for participants to feel successful and yet the right amount of challenge to make them feel they are learning a new skill. There is something special about the privilege of being witness to a persons success. To face a room full of women who can’t help but smile when their body figures out how to shimmy, wiggle and move is an amazing feeling. Bellyfit is an incredible workout! Don’t let the hip skirts fool you! This class will have you sweating and smiling before you can even say BELLYFIT!
What is the most common feedback you receive from your participants about Bellyfit?
Women always tell me how much fun it is. I have many participants who tell me they have been taking fitness classes for many years but this is the first time they actually enjoy coming to a class. That they look forward to their Bellyfit classes. I think new participants are often surprised at what Bellyfit has to offer. Some people come in thinking it will be a “Belly Dance class” and are pleasantly surprised to get a fun, upbeat cardio workout that is the perfect blend of many cultures. I have also had a student who won a weight loss challenge through her work by taking Bellyfit classes! Another told me she was no longer needing to go to her Chiropractor as often. What more can I say? Bellyfit is full of surprises.
How do you feel that Bellyfit supports your lifestyle?
The practice of Bellyfit goes beyond the dance floor. It is a holistic fitness system that is designed to educate women about their bodies on all levels of body, mind, emotion and spirit. EveryBODY belongs in Bellyfit regardless of shape size and ability. Bellyfit believes that all bodies are beautiful and that acceptance of who we are in the present moment is so important to our personal growth and success. This is something that I personally stand strong in and I feel that Bellyfit supports this concept 100%. If it didn’t, I wouldn’t stand behind it.
What do you think are the qualities that make a great Bellyfit Instructor?
Passion, desire, motivation and the ability to embrace who she is as a whole person. Anyone can become a Bellyfit Instructor. If she is dedicated to learning and being fascinated with the body and what it is capable of, she can teach Bellyfit. If she has a passion and desire to share this knowledge with others, she can teach Bellyfit. If she is willing to walk the walk and talk the talk, she can teach Bellyfit. If she wants to witness a room full of smiling women and understand that she is helping to change their concepts of self, she can teach Bellyfit.
What is the #1 thing women need to do to stay healthy and fit? (other than Bellyfit)
Take care of your body. It is a gift. Embrace who you are right now in this moment. The present moment is the only guarantee. Eat well, sleep well, love a lot, be loved, accept who you are and know that you are ENOUGH. Smile, laugh, dance and enJOY life!
Anything else you would like to add?
If you are ever in Prince George, come and shimmy shake on my dance floor! I would love to have you join us.
Lisa encourages and supports anyone to join in her classes, by offering Good Karma Cards: pay-what-you-can passes in 2012, read here for more information: Dancing for the health of it