Dorothy Leung
As featured in Canadian Living Magazine , June ...

Student-Intern on Board

I am excited to be affiliated with the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education professional placement course. I welcome Brenda, my student intern, who will be under my mentorship for the next several months. She will get to observe, participate, and learn the many aspects of working as a Kinesiologist. Brenda has already proven to be a bright and enthusiastic young lady who keeps me on my toes! I am so happy to have her on board and for her to meet my clients. 

Brenda Murillo is a fourth year Kinesiology student-athlete at the University of Toronto. She is a member of the varsity women’s soccer team. Being a high performance athlete, she’s had lots of training both on field and in the weight room. She expanded her knowledge in the gym by working as a strength and conditioning coach intern at the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario. Passionate for sport, health and fitness, she is excited to work with myself to broaden her experience and add Pilates to her fitness repertoire. Aside from school and soccer, Brenda has always loved to give back to her community and help others. As a result of this, she was awarded the U of T Women’s Soccer Award of Merit in her first two years as well as the OUA East Community Service Award this past year. Looking forward, Brenda is interested in a career that will allow her to help others enhance their everyday lives.

Welcome, Brenda Murillo! 

As featured in Canadian Living Magazine , June 2016

Hi Everyone! I am excited to announce my photo and video shoot for Canadian Living magazine that I had to keep under wraps for the past 4 months until it was published. I'm so excited, this is my first magazine coverage. I hope you get to do some of the exercises at home. 

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Here are some behind the scenes action:

Workplace Pilates

       Jaime

       Jaime

What if your boss invested in your health by setting up a pilates studio in your workplace gym? And then flys a instructor over to give you private one on one lessons during work? Doesn't this sound like a place you would love to wake up to! To a lucky bunch, this really did happen.  

 In November 2015 I had the pleasure of meeting Jaime MacGillivray from Stellarton while he was in Toronto briefly. Jaime was new to pilates but had read about the benefits of Pilates and spine health over the years. And just after three sessions- he was hooked! Jaime thought it would be a great idea to introduce pilates to his staff and trusted me to help him outfit his gym with the pilates apparatus. Fast forward a month later, I helped him order a reformer tower unit , stability chair, jump board, and all the bells and whistles to keep him and his staff healthy.  Once all the equipment arrived just before the Christmas holidays, I flew out to the beautiful town of New Glasglow, Nova Scotia to help train Team Jaime. Everything about this was so exciting for me! 

New Glasgow, is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada

New Glasgow, is a town in Pictou County, in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada

Jaime is the founder of MacGillivray Insurance and Injury Law firm and runs a successful practice. When a tenant moved out of the building, he decided to transform that space into a gym for him and his staff. This provided both the convenience and the privacy for his staff to take advantage of. Everyone was enthusiastic about this. Jaime went all out with high end equipment. 

The common sentiment was that Jaime has one speed- full throttle. He's got the Oprah wow factor. This was not what I had imagine from injury lawyers. This place is cool- from elaborate Christmas company parties-car giveaway and designers bags full of cash to finer touches in the office like art pieces , Apple t.v., and vintage figurines. The best part were the people I met, so genuine and hospitable and welcomed me just like a cousin!

My three days in Nova Scotia were jammed packed with 7 people a day. The response and feedback were incredible. Everyone really enjoyed it and most importantly were excited to continue with it. I was asked to move there. Although my time was brief, I left so happy and fulfilled.  

 

To MacGillivray Law, you set a great example for all other employers to follow. I hope to see you guys again. Pilates on! 

 

Heroes in Motion

After returning from Cambodia, I shared my work with the international community in hopes of inspiring more teachers to join this initiative, especially in Canada. I am honoured to be featured in this video prepared by Elizabeth Larkam. Here, you will see modified exercises and sequences to serve our clients. 

Prepared by Elizabeth Larkam, PMA®-CPT, for the November 2014 Annual Meeting - Heroes in Motion Panel Discussion, this film gives an overview of work being done around the world to assist clients who are facing profound physical challenges. The practitioners and clients featured here are associated with Elizabeth Larkam, and their work is identified as representative of the PMA’s Heroes in Motion initiative. Grateful thanks to Balanced Body for the editing and audio production of this video.

Heroes in Motion® is an international initiative founded by the Pilates Method Alliance, in recognition of Pilates instructors who are dedicated to facilitating functional movement with comfort and ease for those who experience severe impediments to motor control.

Notable Entrepreneur : Cakes + Pilates

 I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Lan Hee Hong, successful Cake Designer of her company in Hong Kong, Flour . From running design workshops to celebrity clienteles such as Harry Winston, she shares what success means and how she flourishes and keeps Pilates as her fitness secret.  

 

Before becoming a Cake Master, Lanhee was a International Primary School Teacher in Hong Kong for 20 years. A new chapter began when she decided to work for herself and pursue her passion for designing cakes. Fast forward a year later and this busy mom of two young boys runs a successful baking business and finds time to fit 3 workouts a week in the mornings. She defines success as being able to do what she loves with passion and determination. She is happy and grateful to spend quality time with her family on days off. It is about helping and inspiring young children to develop their self confidence and self esteem to achieve their own goals. It is also about earning the amount of money you had longed for with a great team that supports and believes in what she does.  

 'When I incorporated Pilates into my weekly schedule, it was a break away from my work, to get me into a different mode of thinking. The Pilates workout was always intense, i.e. teasers but doing it together with a small group of friends made it more fun. I always felt better after my workout, physically, mentally, and emotionally." 

Pursue your passion. Feed your mind and body. Find your tribe.

Day 1- Cambodia

June 12, 2014 3:55pm, I have arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. First thing after customs is obtaining my visitor's visa. My passport went down an assembly line of about 5 people which was peculiar yet speedy. Airport essentials went smoothly.

It is approaching rainy season and the temperature today is 31C [87F]. I can't believe I am finally here! I have been talking about this for the past few months and now this will be home.

The sun sets fairly early at around 6-6:30pm. So that gave me just over two hours of daylight and one of them spent in traffic. The first thing I realized was that pedestrians have no right of way. Crossing the street was an adventure- do not hesitate and if you can swivel your head 360 degrees, that's even better. The Cambodia I had imagined was a bit one dimensional. It isn't.  Sure, there are seedy looking streets and trash randomly piled on [kind of] sidewalks but then there are also paved roads with shiny Range Rovers and a cafe society that will make you feel like you are chillin in Europe.

I have communicated with my new boss via email and am looking forward to start Monday, June 16th. I am so excited to meet everyone and to see the facility. This weekend will be spent settling into my new home and learning how to read a map. I am terrible with directions [those who know, know] but luckily tuk-tuks cost anywhere between $1-4 USD around the city.

So, my first day- good!

My new bosses I will be meeting tomorrow! 

My new bosses I will be meeting tomorrow! 

 

 

Thank you for your Support

“No duty is more than that of returning thanks”
— James Allen

I want to express a very heartfelt Thank You to the support everyone has given me. Your words of encouragement silenced my loudest doubts. I am never alone in my pilates journey and volunteering is no exception. I have received such kind words and sincere support from my friends and family. My concerned yet proud parents did not quite understand this in the beginning but nonetheless supported me. My peers and clients have wished me well with enthusiasm. Strangers became new acquaintances and everyone was excited for me.

In preparation for my journey, I have cycled through emotions such as excitement, eagerness, adventurous, anxiousness, doubt, and curiosity. I have never been to Cambodia and have never done anything like this before. 

 

I want to thank my power team. My mentor, Elizabeth Larkam for passing her invaluable knowledge to me in person as well as over skype. Monica Plewes and Maira Izzo who allowed me to use their studio to hold fundraiser classes. Shirlene Campbell, a Physiotherapist expert in rehabbing limb loss gave me books and valuable hands-on techniques. Al Harrison, Director of Education from Balanced Body donated the Motr for me to bring to Cambodia. This group of amazing individuals helped me stay focused and their leadership inspires me to become better. 

See you on the other side! 

 

 

 

 

Fundraising for my Cambodia trip

Fundraising can be creative and fun and you don't have to lose friends in the process! The key is to let people understand what you are doing, why you are doing it, and how they can help you accomplish it. The why has to be very clear, and that is when you let your passion shine through. This week, I held a dinner/fundraiser party at my condo and invited my friends. Here are some pictures of us having fun with the equipment I will be bringing with me. We had a lot of fun taking turns doing demonstrations and egging each other on!

 

Thanks to all my friends and family.

Karma Class for Cambodia

Dear Pilates Friends and Friends of Friends,

Exciting news! I will be teaching a new reformer class at CORE Studio. New to Core? We would love to have you! Come visit one of Toronto's highest ranked boutique Pilates Studios in the heart of downtown.

What: New Karma Class  CAMBODIA Project

Class: Reformer, all levels

When: Saturdays @ 3pm / May 3rd, 10th and 24th, 2014

Where: 533 Queen St W, 3rd Floor. Google map 

Reserve: via Mind Body on CORE website

Rate: $15 donation, cash only- drop in fish bowl. All funds go towards purchasing pilates props and tools for Veterans rehabilitation centre in Cambodia.

The mind , when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power- Joseph Pilates

Be a part of an exciting project in helping Cambodian Land-mine Victims just by coming to class! I will be embarking on a volunteer project in Cambodia to teach Pilates to this unique community. Many of them are Cambodian War Veterans and as a result of the land mines, have experienced amputations. The road to recovery starts with health. I extend the invitation to our community to help our new friends in Phnom Penh. The money raised will go towards purchasing Pilates equipment for the Cambodian Veterans Rehabilitation Clinic. Give support. Give hope.