health

Healthy Dancer Canada’s 6th Annual Conference

Posted on by Candice Irwin

999471_10153230122610714_2122329437_nA healthy dancer is a happy dancer and, in my eyes, the only way to stay healthy is to stay educated!

Dancers, educators and health practitioners are invited to a day of dance health learning at Healthy Dancer Canada’s 6th Annual Conference on Sunday October 6th taking place at the Dancemakers Centre in Toronto, ON. The theme of this year’s conference is Dancer Health and Wellness: the Art and Science Revealed. It is going to be a great day filled with interesting lectures, fun filled workshops, engaging talks, beautiful dancing and probably a bit of an information overload. It is bound to be a fantastic day filled with invaluable information.

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Knowing My Injured Body

Posted on by Candice Irwin

So first lets start with a reality check. If you are partaking in a physical activity on a professional level, chances are you are going to get hurt. Actually, in all honesty, you will get hurt. I’d go so far as to put money on it and I bet I’d walk away a very wealthy woman. Our bodies are amazing creations able of withstanding unbelievable amounts of physical strain, but everyone has a breaking point. And if you are going to dedicate your life to constantly pushing your body’s physical abilities, there will come a day where you push just a little too far and something has to give. Athletes seem to understand this fact. Many dancers though do not seem to have accepted this grim reality.

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My Dirty Little Dance Secret

Posted on by Candice Irwin

I haven’t been to a dance class in three months, or at least not a traditional class. I’ve been to various creative workshops, weekly yoga, classes in other movement disciplines, cardio workouts and rehearsals, but I haven’t been to class. What’s more is that I have never been happier or felt stronger.

Throughout my education I was told that to stay in shape I had to always be taking weekly dance classes. It had to be a part of my regular routine. So upon finishing school I became diligent about going to classes a minimum of three times a week. I would drag myself to classes many days having no desire to be there, but having this voice in the back of my head saying that I MUST attend or else. But what really is that “or else”?

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Have Something to Say About Dance and Health?

Posted on by Candice Irwin

BGyYjDsCMAAlAP2.jpg-largeWell we want to hear it!

I am a board member with Healthy Dance Canada – The Dance Health Alliance of Canada and we are currently gearing up for our 6th annual conference on October 6, 2013 in Toronto! Presently we are accepting proposals from dance professionals, educators and health practitioners interested in dance who wish to present as part of the conference.

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Gratefulness Challenges Days 23 and 24

Posted on by Candice Irwin

My oh my! I can’t believe that I missed a day of my Gratefulness Challenge! Sometimes the day takes a turn that you just weren’t planning and there isn’t a whole lot you can do about it. With Valentine’s Day and then Family Day today in Ontario the week just caught me off guard a little more than expected. Hence the need for this double bill of a gratefulness post.

1. Determination: The past five days have been, to say the least, hard and I still have a few tough days left to get through. Some mornings I have woken up and all I wanted to do was roll over and fall back asleep. Some nights I would be heading out wondering why I couldn’t just be heading home. I haven’t really stopped much this week and it hasn’t been easy but it has brought many rewards. Sometimes you just have to get through stuff and push your body further than you ever have before.

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