EDITOR’S HEALTH & FITNESS ADVICE
Simone De La Rue (right), the 42-year-old owner of Body by Simone, the popular dance-cardio method with studios in L.A. and New York, and celebrity trainer to Chrissy Teigen and Sandra Bullock, recently made a pit stop in Toronto. After taking one of her signature high-energy dance classes, we chatted about the power of dance, the importance of girl squads and her latest workout DVD. • A dance- based workout is the hottest exercise trend right now: • Dance is a great way to bond with other women and feel empowered: • Torch calories and have fun: • How to get motivated: • It’s an easy workout you can do at home:
“I’m so happy that dance is becoming highly recognized as a workout,” says De La Rue. “The beauty about dance is it hits the whole body and engages your core and tones. It relies on coordination and learning choreography, which makes it mentally stimulating. There’s also a spiritual
De La Rue tries to create an environment that’s ego-free. “I think the class structure and the ‘girlfriend workout’— a group of women exercising together without any judgment— is becoming big again,”
In an hour, you can burn between 400 and 600 calories. “I definitely think a cute outfit helps.” “It doesn’t require any equipment. Put on your favourite playlist and carve out an area in the garden or move some furniture. Encourage your kids to join!” JUST DANCE Body by Simone Dance Cardio (DVD, $27; stream, $20 per month).