Instructional &
Informational Posts
When you hear about Tara Newbigging’s class “BooTy”, you may assume you’ve got a J-Lo-inspired butt workout ahead of you.
Tara grins, “It’s not a class that is about the external body.”
Indeed it isn’t. Her self-created BooTy classes are women-only, self-empowering tools that integrate yoga, Tabata training and bootcamp. Tara’s enthusiasm is so contagious and her mission so heart-felt that after speaking with her we felt like dropping and giving her 20. With soul, that is.
Tara let us know more about this fitness trend that we believe will sweep the country in no time.
How does one create a new fitness class?
When I was teaching bootcamp, I was noticing that the music was motivating me to be a better motivator for the participants! I locked myself in the studio one day and went with it. I started putting dance movement flow and Tabata body weight exercises together. The program developed on its own. Women love it. They aren’t coming to burn calories and change themselves. They don’t feel inferior or the need to push.
So boot camp moves, without the drill sergeant?
We do pushups and burpees and stuff that would be in bootcamp classes. BooTy classes are unique in that they explore not only bodies but also minds. There are breaks and modifications whenever the participants want! It’s a beautiful space where every girl gets to be herself. And there's a savasana at the end with a powerful message behind it.
How did you think to bring yoga themes to sweaty cardio?
I found that, similar to yoga, I went onto a spiritual journey and brought it to my teaching. I was authentic and open. It empowers women to live their most authentic lives. The design of the class is movement flow. I take songs with powerful messages and I feel them in my body. This is where I feel that I can be an artist. I don’t play music, I don’t draw... but creativity is within this program.
You certainly are an artist! Why BooTy and not Booty?
I capitalized the T because my business name was “Fit to the T” and I was offering a little bit of everything. As I evolved, I realized, the T was about getting people closer to their centre: to their Truth. What’s going to rock their world? I was using fitness as a catalyst for motivation and empowerment. “BooTy” fits because after creating it, I found that my butt and my legs were aching the next day. I didn’t realize because I was having so much fun, but I gave myself an intense workout.
What have you gained in your life since creating BooTy?
The cool part is that it doesn’t make me numb, but rather connected. Growing up, I worked out to numb out. My grandmother got cancer when I was 16 and I hated it. I took it the gym and became a cardio bunny. I completely lost myself. Fitness was my getaway. As I shared more of myself through fitness, the BooTy program took off. I am now super vulnerable, which I believe helps other girls to get comfortable being vulnerable. It got me back to feeling, weaving in the messages from teaching yoga. This is how I want to inspire and make a change and help. I want to share this!
Tara will be coming across Canada to introduce this inspiring hybrid class, including presenting at this year’s CanFitPro's Consumer & Wellness Show. Also head to her website to see if she’ll be BooTy-ing near you!
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Courtney Sunday is a writer, yoga teacher, Pilates instructor, spinning instructor and Thai massage practitioner. She teaches corporations in Toronto the fine art of breathing deeply, and travels too much for her own good. She likes to cook meals from scratch using ingredients from her garden, and would mill her own flour and make her own butter if she had more hours in the day. You can find out more about her at www.courtneysunday.com.
