Losing Weight

Last fall I wrote a post about losing weight and told you I was on a personal journey to get in better shape. Well I did it. I lost 43 lbs. and feel like a million bucks. Did you know you can leap twice as high when you weigh 43 lbs. less. I almost hit my head on the ceiling! Man was that fun or what!

I had help from my Dr. and friends at Dean Health in Madison, Wis. I encourage you to talk with your Dr. and find a local program that works directly with you in the clinic. I've tried Weight Watchers and LA Weight Loss in the past and lost 15 lbs., but now with over 40 lbs. off I can say that this VLCD was the right fit for me. The trick is finding what fits for you. And being in the right frame of mind. My goal was 40 by 40. I turn 40 in March and I was determined that I wasn't going to have yet another birthday go by with regrets on my weight. And now Summer can't come fast enough, bring out the shorts and tank tops I'm ready!

Setting a good example for personal health to my own children and my dancers was also important to me. If we can't take good care of ourselves how can we expect them to? As Dance Teachers we give so many wonderful lifetime "gifts" to our students, let good health be yet another.

H1N1 and your dance school

H1N1 presents many challenges for dance teachers. We have all had ill children attend class from time to time. Stuffy, runny noses are normal in the dead of winter (at least in Wisconsin where we operate). So, how can we control the spread of H1N1?

Tips:

• Place hand sanitizer outside your class rooms, encourage students to wash before they enter. (TV tray tables make a quick small table for this purpose.)
  
• Buy facial tissues for each room and waiting area. Supply a waste basket and more sanitizer by each tissue station.
  
• Spray down waiting areas and play areas for siblings frequently.
  
• Have sanitizing wipes on hand for quick clean ups.
  
• Post signs to remind parents not to bring sick children (or siblings) into the school.
  
• Update your student policy manual to include how to deal with sickness.
  
• Remove activities from your curriculum that include holding hands or dancing close/face to face.
  
• Disinfect your barre' after EACH use, not just each night. Consider adding it to the dancer's role in the class room just like you spray down equipment at the gym. (there's also a cool product from Gypsy Wraps in Calif. that provides each dancer their own barre' wrap.)
  
• Be careful when you teach not to touch children, if you don't have to. I know this is a sad one for me. I love being with the kids and correcting arms and hands. Or if you do, just keep a bottle of anti-bacteria gel/wipes close by.
  
• Consider getting a H1N1 vaccine yourself/staff to help you fight off any exposures.
  
• If you or a staff member get sick - get a sub or cancel class. Don't work when you are sick. (I know this is easier said than done, but it's just not worth it.)
  
• Consult with your local doctor/clinic to ask if they have advice or supplies you could use such as those small face masks. And buy your other supplies now before they sell out.

Know what your plan will be if the schools close or an outbreak occurs locally, what will that mean for your business?

The CDC is predicting this flu season to be really bad. It's time for us to read up on it and stay informed to keep our kids safe and dancing. Sign up for alerts from the CDC and ask your local clinic/school to report any H1N1 outbreaks to you too.

Stay well.