BAJAN FUSION: Heather Fay with Pon de FLO

HEATHER FAY

New York based Pro Fitness Instructor/ Master Zumba Trainer & 

Professional Choreographer

PON DE FLO

Dance aerobics unique to our region

Soca & Reggae Rhythms

The 2012 Bajan Fusion will be a special experience featuring Heather Fay, Founder and CEO of Pon De FLO. Heather is a current TSI New York Sports Clubs (NYSC) Instructor in New York City . 

Instructing Zumba and Hip-Hop classes for seven years in NYC, Heather has earned herself much creditability in the dance and fitness industry and a reputation as a Zumba Master Instructor. As a huge fitness advocate, Heather has always incorporated strength, core and plyometric exercises into her dance choreography to enhance the workout.

In 2011, Heather created ‘Pon de FLO®’; a Caribbean/ Reggae dance based fitness class which incorporates high intensity calisthenics and core movements with the hottest Caribbean and Reggae music out today. Although based in NYC, Pon de FLO® is quickly gaining popularity and expanding internationally.

On November 5, Heather presented in the Town Sports International (TSI) 2011 Summit in New York, where she lead an extremely successful session “The True Essence of Zumba”: Injury Prevention Techniques, to participants of all levels.

She earned certifications in Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), National Academy of Sports
Medicine (NASM), Mad Dogg Spin® and YogaFit®. In 2006 Heather graduated with a Degree in Visual/ Graphic Arts from Holyoke College.

“I believe dance is both body empowerment as well as a form of freedom. When you dance, dance uninhibitedly. Lose yourself in the music and rhythms, freeing yourself from all the self-inflicted boundaries and consciousness we stress upon ourselves living in today’s society. When you dance, dance like no one is watching. Allowing yourself true freedom to move, will not only have you feel uplifted, but you will also feel your body strengthening and becoming more flexible.”
Heather Fay

LIVE TO DANCE...DANCE TO BE FREE

www.pondeflo.com

www.heatherfaynyc.com

COURAGE: The Terrific 6!

On January 31, 2012, I attended the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation’s Forum entitled, "Row2Recovery- The Atlantic crossing"- a story of inspiration and courage. Despite the injuries, against all odds, where a team of six phenomenal men accomplished a task bigger than themselves.

CREW
Front row L-R

Lance Corporal Carl Anstey

Corporal Neil Heritage

Co-Founder Alex Mackensie

Back row L-R

Corporal Rory Mackensie
Co-Founder Ed Janvrin

Lieutenant Will Dixon 

CAMPAIGN

Situation/Mission: “To help wounded servicemen and women to go beyond injury and achieve the extraordinary.”

Task: Launch a campaign “to shine a spotlight on people with disabilities and challenge misconceptions about what life is like for an injured soldier and their family.”

Action: “An Epic 3000 mile voyage across the Atlantic in a rowing boat to Barbados.”

Result/Mission accomplished: Arrived at Port St. Charles, Barbados after 52 days and greeted by family, friends, loved ones, the press and other parties.

They are truly STARS!

Not only was it a wow moment for me, I was humbled and inspired by their stories, experiences and perspective. It was such an honor to meet such amazing people.
Damian McKinney, CEO of McKinney Rogers said it best, "They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things."

It’s a journey one can only imagine and very difficult to understand, unless one have traveled that same path. We can however, appreciate and respect great service and a job well done. Simply Epic!

Advice & Tips gained from this extraordinary panel:
"Even people with the resources to help will question if what you're doing is possible."
"Belief makes a difference, dream big!"
"Find something you truly believe in, commit to it and then times that by 10." ~Alex Mackensie

"In life it's the people you love & the ones that love you that are the most important things."
"Never think you are worse off than anybody." ~Rory Mackensie

"Perspective does not allow you to have a down day." ~Will Dixon

"If you have the right people who work well together, you can overcome anything."

"Success in a decision, a state of mind, you can overcome the obstacles." ~Ed Janvrin

"Have the motivation and passion to keep going. Have a plan, work hard and don't give up." ~Carl Anstey

"You have a massive task, split it down, confirm accountability, move in and take control." ~Neil Heritage

I hope you are inspired by their honest and motivating words. This message is not only for entrepreneurs, but for anyone with a passion to achieve a specific goal(s).

Follow your dreams and allow yourself to shine! Remember to help others along the way. 


Peace & Love
Celia Collymore, Chief Purpose Driver

Row2Recovery

Mckinney Rogers

Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation

SMART Goals

STAR Method

INSPIRATION: Food for the Soul

As human beings, we feed off of inspiration. Those positive and profound words, phrases or people that gives us strength and helps us to stay focused. It’s my pleasure to share a few of the many quotes, I have carried with me over the years, and continue to live and learn from.

 “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong."- Ella Fitzgerald

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."- George Washington Carver

"Resolve to be thyself and know that he who finds himself loses his misery."- Matthew Arnold 

"There are many things in life that will catch your eyes, but only a few that will catch your heart...follow those."- Michael Nolan

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."- Albert Schweitzer

Faith

"Not truth, but faith, it is that keeps the world alive."- Edna St. Vincent Millay

Struggle

"Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all:      This, too, shall pass."- Ann Landers

Achievements

"None of us suddenly becomes something overnight. The preparations have been in the making for a lifetime."- Gail Godwin

World Peace

"What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family."- Mother Teresa

"Almost anything you do will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it."

 "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."- Mahatma Gandhi

"The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be touched by the heart."- Helen Keller

"In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on!"- Robert Frost

"Learn to let go and be free."- Buddha

"Create the kind of self you will be happy to live with all your life."- Foster C. McClellan

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Teilhard de Charadin

"All comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait."- St. Vincent de Paul

"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus."- Oprah Winfrey

"It is better to be HATED for what you are, than to be LOVED for what you're not."- Andre Gide

“Giving up doesn’t mean you’re weak; sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let you.”- Author Unknown

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond your grasp, but, if you sit down quietly, it will alight upon you." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Don't worry about things you have no control over."- My Basketball coach

"Keep aiming higher and don't limit yourself to anything or compare yourself to anyone."- A Friend

God is love and I am loved. To be LOVED is the most powerful, favorable and overwhelming feeling in the world- Celia P. Collymore

I would like to hear from you.

What are some of your favorite quotes? What words of wisdom motivates you?

Poem by Kevin Young

To make a better world…make a better YOU

Take time to laugh, it’s the music of The Soul

Take the time to work, it’s the price of Success

Take the time to think, it’s the source of Power

Take the time to give, it’s too short a day to be Selfish

Take time to play, it’s the secret of Perpetual Youth

Take the time to pray, it’s the greatest Power on Earth

Take time to read, it’s the foundation of Wisdom

Inspirational Stones picture source

MENTORING: Which side of the spectrum are you on?

What motivated me to write about this topic was my most recent mentoring experience this past fall. I've been volunteering with Streetwise Adult Career Ventures Program since February 2010 and could not have made a better decision.  It's been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only have I been making a difference in the lives of others, but, I too, have been learning and growing throughout this process.

Through this mentoring exchange, besides continuously learning more about myself, I have gained more confidence and sharpened my listening, communication and presentation skills. I have learned to accept and appreciate people for who they are. We're unique in our own way. As mentors, our job is not to change our mentees, but to inspire and equip them with the tools they need to improve who they are and their personal circumstances, which in return will hugely transform their lives. We're all different, but have one common goal in life and that is to love and be loved.

Mentoring means the world to me, because I have been on both sides of the spectrum. You too may have been a mentor at some point in your life, maybe as a work colleague, a career buddy, a friend, a confidant, a family member, a coach, or a teacher. I've had amazing people to guide me throughout my life - family members, friends, basketball coaches, professionals.

My experiences with them have taught me two things:

1.  People are genuinely interested and willing to help, guide, support and encourage you without thought of personal gain. What catapults these relationships is our desire to dream, believe in ourselves and work hard.

2. People will give and show more of themselves only when you let your guard down and give and share more of yourself.

We're not perfect and we don't always have the answers to what life throws at us. Every now and then we all need guidance and encouragement. It is, therefore, important for us to seek the help of positive people who can challenge us and help us accomplish our goals. Even though you may have needed help at one time, that does not mean you cannot make a difference in someone else’s life. Use your expertise and the wisdom of your experiences to make an impact!

“Celia is a positive mentor because she knows how to be encouraging when she needs to be, tough when she has to be; when to listen and when to give direction. And she doesn’t always do it with a speech. Sometimes it’s just with a few simple yet important words that make all the difference. She doesn’t show impatience, and doesn’t make judgments. That is the best kind of help for anyone because you know you can tell someone your frustrations without being judged. She is there to help and you know it from the time you meet her. Her zest for life shows in the way she presents herself. She is always ready to go the extra mile!”

– Muneera, Fall 2010 Mentee and Outstanding Mentee Award recipient

RESOURCES:

Streetwise Partners

National CARES Mentoring Movement

Mentoring Definition
Mentoring picture source

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth" - Muhammad Ali