<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ramona the bellydancer</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I’ve met Ramona over 13 years ago when I first moved to Nanaimo. I took bellydance classes with her and was amazed with the quality of teaching she offered but above all how talented she was. She is one of the most beautiful bellydancers I know. I asked her if she wanted to feature as a guest blogger and share with us what she does to stay in such good shape. Ramona doesn’t seem like she ages at all and I was also curious to found out what she eats to look so beautiful. I am also super excited that she will be teaching classes in the fall. I have been hoping to be able to start bellydancing again and doing so with the best its just what I’ve been waiting for!</p>

<h3 style="text-align: center;">Meet Ramona</h3>
[embed]https://youtu.be/9plNz7TCmRM[/embed]

<img class="size-medium wp-image-845 alignright" src="http://www.choose2be.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-3-300x294.jpg" alt="Ramona 3" width="300" height="294" />

I was born pigeon-toed and as I began to take my first steps, stumbled over my feet in an awkward attempt to get nowhere fast – or not so fast. My mother's concern is what prompted her to put me into my first ballet class and little did she know her attempt at correcting my physical obstacles would lead me to a lifetime of undying love of movement and dance.
<p style="text-align: justify;">I was a faithful and dedicated student of dance from the word 'go' and when I wasn't in class, I could often be found making up dances or waiting eagerly in the studio for class to start. My parents sent me away on numerous intensive learning experiences with renowned companies. Throughout my dance years, in elementary and highschool, my competitive and athletic aspirations were often fulfilled by participating in competitive sports events and on teams.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I began teaching dance in my teens and I turned to the art of<a href="http://www.choose2be.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-843 alignright" src="http://www.choose2be.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-1-200x300.jpg" alt="Ramona bellydancer" width="200" height="300" /></a> Middle Eastern dance in my early twenties. This new direction filled my soul with a rich art form I could uniquely adapt into my own stylings, stay active in dance and performance in adulthood, and express my unbridled desire to dance through movement that emulated both strength and femininity. For me, keeping fit and healthy is an integrated journey in which the body, mind and spirit intertwine in a delicately balanced routine. In particular, movement has always been my best friend... in times of being blessed with an audience of admiring spectators, surrounded by eager learners, through times of solitude or even personal distress and isolation, movement has been my rock! At times this means ‘squeezing’ in that quick thirty minute bootcamp work out, or pulling together a complex routine for a high end show, or simply finding my body/mind centre through yoga during some ‘down’ time. My internal guide is sometimes gentle and sometimes pushy... but the constant force and drive keeps me balanced.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As a mother of a young child (and two grown), and a full time worker, it's rarely easy finding perfect opportunities to have ample time for physical fitness. Self-determination and commitment means living room and work out DVDs are enough to get me to my edge - and I am more satisfied with the quality of my work out when I can be my own creator and tailor it to my needs. Over the years I've perfected a routine that 'works' best for me. Mainly, I integrate low or no impact cardio bursts with high intensity free weight compound movement, a good amount of core strengthening and stability, some dance technique, yoga and long-holding stretching with breath to deepen the experience, limber up, and take a moment to experience gratitude. This routine keeps me feeling strong and flexible, and able to fully express my dance art to the best of my ability. It also keeps my routine as efficient as possible!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I love to eat healthy, but I’m not adverse to the occasional mozza burger or an (almost daily) dose of dark fair trade chocolate dipped in peanut butter! I’ve learned my body functions better by cutting out coffee, red meat and uric acid producing foods such as spinach, and incorporating daily juicing with a lot of greens, foods and supplements that have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidizing qualities, and aid in proper digestion. I eat a high percentage of raw foods, little meat (but I love seafood) and more recently I have dramatically increased fermented foods daily, including my home brewed Kombucha. I also am addicted to my home made bone broth that provides me with the best source of collagen I know my body can get. My favorite dish by far is steamed broccoli on a bed of wild rice and everything drizzled with ghee, flax oil, Bragg's amino acids, lemon juice and hemp hearts!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With a healthy diet and fit body, I can fully appreciate and benefit from the numerous benefits of belly dance. This includes the physical and mental feat of performing isolated movements of all major muscle groups – sometimes independently of each other and sometimes simultaneously. There’s some brain work and muscle memory involved here! Bellydance keeps things interesting on the dance floor – whether I’m in full performance or just shakin’ it for fun with friends or at a club. It enhances self-confidence, femininity and yet is exceptionally grounding in its movements and cultural roots. Further, through this dance I’ve made fabulous friends and connections – both socially and with fellow performances. I’ve attended a great number of interesting, wild and exquisite events I would otherwise not have had the opportunity to be a part of – such as touring, dancing on a cruise ship, being integral to large-scale ethnic weddings, and so much more. It’s been an exciting ride!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>If you want to connect with Ramona and even better take classes with her, </strong>
<strong>here are her contact information.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Website: <a href="http://www.bellydancer.ca">www.bellydancer.ca</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RamonaBellydancer">www.facebook.com/RamonaBellydancer</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Contact Ramona for event bookings and lessons, 250-616-3824 or <a href="mailto:Ramona@bellydancer.ca"><span class="s1">Ramona@bellydancer.ca</span></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.choose2be.ca/w content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-Bellydance-Purpose-.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-848" src="http://www.choose2be.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-Bellydance-Purpose--232x300.jpg" alt="Ramona Bellydance Purpose" width="328" height="424" /></a> <a href="http://www.choose2be.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-bellydance-class-fall.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-847 alignright" src="http://www.choose2be.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Ramona-bellydance-class-fall-232x300.jpg" alt="Ramona bellydance" width="322" height="416" /></a></p>