1. H & M and UNICEF have partnered together and launched a very cute reusable tote. This tote is perfect for carrying around some gym clothes (and groceries – now that the 5 cents rule is in effect across the GTA)! Love the fact that 25% of the proceeds benefit the Kenya Girls Scholarship Programme. You can pick this tote up at selected H & Ms.

2. As the recent Time magazine article pointed out exercise alone won’t make you thin. For me, feeling healthy is a combination of exercise and good nutrition. Pick up some healthy and local treats at Culinarium on Mount Pleasant. Culinarium is a fantastic resource for how to eat locally and healthy in the GTA. Join their weekly newsletter and you’ll receive a list of what they have in stock for the week!

3. The pre-beginner ballet classes at DanceTeq. Drop ins welcome and geared toward those of us who may need a little extra help prior to going to a beginner’s class.

Extension Method's ballet brunch

Each day I get a newsletter from Sweetspot.ca. which I admit I actually do enjoy – not because of its frequency but because it usually has some good information on what is happening in Toronto.

This week I found out about a ballet brunch event that is happening in early August which I thought was kind of a neat idea. It also sounds like the perfect event to gather up a bunch of girlfriends that you haven’t seen in a while.

So what is involved?

The first part of the event will be a one and half hour Extension Method class. The Extension Method is the brainchild of Jennifer Nichols and “combines classical ballet technique with contemporary athletic conditioning and is designed to impart the strength, posture, ease of movement, and sculpted physique of a dancer” (Extension Method website). According to the event coordinators you do not have to be a ballerina to join in and the class can easily be done by beginners. To learn more about what a class is like check out Canada.com’s recent article.

The next part of the event features guest speaker, spa giveaways and a very delicious sounding organic brunch. Things like a garden vegetable frittata, multigrain blueberry French toast and bowls of fresh berries are on the menu. Delicious!

The event takes place on August 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and costs are $55 if you come alone and $45 if you bring a friend! You can register via email at info@boutiquemarketing.ca

If you can’t make it to the ballet brunch (like I can’t due to marathon training) you can always check out Jennifer’s Extension Method Classes at a variety of locations. She teaches classes at the Yorkville Club Uptown, Lawrence Park Chiropractic and Physiotherapy and at a couple of Extreme Fitness locations.

One of my biggest childhood dreams (apart from being both a lawyer and a doctor – at the same time) was to be a ballerina. I was and still am a girly girl. These dreams were crushed when we moved abroad and I also came to the realization that my body type was not exactly “ballerina-esque”.

Every now and then, though, this dream comes back to life and I find myself Googling “Adult ballet classes Toronto”. I recently came across Canada’s National Ballet School which is located on Jarvis Street. Starting mid-September, their new term of Adult ballet classes will start. There are a number of levels to choose from, so even novices like me could attend. One class per week for one term (three months) will set you back around $250. They also have drop-in classes for $20.

Taking adult ballet classes could be kind of fun – is something different and apparently is also quite the workout. I think I may have found one of my fall extracurricular activities.

Best part – I also get to buy all the pretty ballet clothes!

For more information check out their website!