Blog of Frank Kermit of Frank Talks

To Belly Dance Or Not To Belly Dance

6/9/2017

To Belly Dance or Not To Belly Dance

To Belly Dance Or Not To Belly Dance
Written by: Pillow Talk Gal
Updated February 28, 2018

When I was asked if I wanted to take part in a belly dancing class and write an article about it, I was really excited. Then, the more I thought about it the more I began to worry a little. I have never really attended any kind of dance class (if you don’t count when I was little) so belly dancing seemed like a bit of a leap. I have to admit though; I was curious and nervous at the same time.

The day of my first class had finally arrived and my excitement/curiosity had made me almost an hour early. At least parking was a breeze (I found a spot literally in front of the building). I had some extra time to kill, so I decided to sit in the park right across from the dance studio. Despite the honking of cars and bustle of the city, it was very relaxing and helped to calm my nerves a little bit.

Then, before I knew it, it was time to meet the group and start my belling dancing experience.

I was met by Brooke Megan (teacher and belly dance guru) with the warmest of smiles and the most welcoming of greetings.

The studio had a very warm and inviting vibe and I was instantly put at ease.

Brooke Megan Belly Dancer

An introduction to the rest of my fellow dancers was given and everyone was gracious and friendly towards me (the new comer). Students had the option to bring their own hip scarves or to choose one from Brooke’s wide, not to mention beautiful, collection. Not having any of my own, I chose one of Brookes’ (I would later find out that she’s owned this particular hip scarf for 8 years- no pressure).

Once everyone was ready to begin, we all took our seats on our mats and Brooke began her introduction to what holistic belly dancing is all about.

Brooke Megan Belly Dancer

Brooke’s view is that

‘’Dance is more than just a series of movements, and by underscoring its strong links to mental and spiritual health, it can be used to guide women toward a greater understanding of self’’.

The class was a safe space where women could share their thoughts and emotions without judgement. After Brookes’ explanations, we all sat in our circle and experienced the openness of touch with one another.

We all paired up and gave our partners hand massages using essentials oils (this exercise is practiced openly to learn to relax and give of ourselves but also to receive from others.

Also it helps one to be open to new experiences and emotions by letting go of any negative energy we may have stored up).

Brooke Megan - Belly Dance Classes

We were given a small demonstration as to how to massage the hand then we were off (of course it is clearly mentioned by Brooke that any and all activities done in the classroom are not forced upon students and anytime anyone is not comfortable with something, they are free to sit out with no judgement or issues). This said, I sat back and allowed my partner to give me my hand massage.

At first, I was clearly not relaxed as my partner was so keenly able to detect (by simply feeling how tense my forearm was). Then as she calmly told me to relax and enjoy, I found myself surrendering to the calming music playing in the background and found that my massage was actually very pleasant.

I found myself letting go of my tension and just giving into the moment.

Once we had given and received our hand massages, we gathered in our circle once more and captured what we had taken away from the experience, in our journals.

The group then proceeded to share their thoughts on the massage exercise and what they had taken away from the experience. I myself shared how impressed I was with my partner’s ability to almost immediately detect where I was holding all my tension in my forearm (carpal tunnel syndrome- a common job hazard among writers) and therefore she was able to relieve some of the pain.

Brooke Megan - Belly Dance Classes

Now that our spirits were open and our emotional palettes were cleansed, it was time to warm up our bodies and belly dance. We started by stretching out and getting our muscles ready. Then came the moment I had been so anxious about: experiencing what belly dancing was all about.

Poses and stances were front and center and I awoke muscles my body seemed to have forgotten I had.

We observed ourselves in the studio mirrors so as to mimic what Brooke was showing us (to the best of our abilities).

Brooke gave us a phenomenal example of what we could eventually accomplish with these wonderful moves and she performed for the entire class.

It inspired us all and definitely made me want to give it a whirl.

Brooke Megan - Belly Dancing Classes

The amazing part is by this time I wasn’t feeling self conscience at all. I was totally comfortable in the environment that Brooke had created for the class.

We all moved to the music, holding our belly dance poses and receiving encouragement from each other and Brooke.

The aspect that surprised me the most is that as a woman, I have spent the better part of my life trying to make my body giggle as little as possible.

Now, I was being encouraged to shake all my little bits as much as I could and it was fabulous! No shame, just pure liberation and enjoyment of the female form in all its glory.

As we danced and learned how to move our bodies, time seemed to just fly by. Before I knew it, the class had come to an end and it was time to cool down. Brooke gave each and every one individual high-fives and congratulations on a job well done. It was such a rewarding experience.

Brooke Megan - Belly Dance Classes

So that marked the end of my first belly dancing experience (the first of many to come). As I said my goodbyes to my fellow belly dancers, I mentioned how I was looking forward to the next class.

I made my way home and discovered that I had a level of renewed energy and optimism that I have not felt in a very long time. I felt a boost both mentally and physically (even though my muscles were telling me otherwise).

I am so looking forward to next week’s class.

Namaste!

-Pillow Talk Gal

About Pillow Talk Gal

Born and raised in British Columbia, she is a professional woman managing a career, marriage, and a teenager. Life can be challenging at times but she's a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason, and more often than not, she tries to understand those reasons.

"Join me in my journey throughout life’s issues and I guarantee you’ll be left pondering an issue or two." - Pillow Talk Gal

*Disclaimer: All photos of Brooke Megan are copyright Brooke Megan and all persons in the photos retain all their rights, interest and titles in the photos. All photos appear here with written permission on file with Brooke Megan.

Brooke Megan

About Brooke Megan and House of Lavender
- Holistic Belly Dance Group

Located at: 5582A Sherbrooke Street O, Montreal, QC H4A 1W3
Telephone number: 514-814-7557
Face book page: House of Lavender: Beauty and Wellness

Brooke Megan has been teaching belly dancing for 8 years and has extensive experience in dance through her teaching at Carlton University in Ottawa.

She herself was introduced to belly dancing through group lessons and was compelled to share this wonderful art form with others. She has performed at the Shenkman Art Centre in Ottawa, various art galleries and cafes. Her goal in offering belly dance lessons is to educate people with regards to the beauty and strength of exotic dance. She wants to have people experience this art form at a grass roots level.

Her six week program is open to all who wish to explore their creative side all the while relieving stress and getting fit.

For more information call 514-814-7557 or check out her Face book page: House of Lavender: Beauty and Wellness

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Media Appearance: Reasons You Rejected a Great Date

6/8/2017

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radio appearance: Ask Frank Anything

May 31, 2017 Dating Dilemmas 82,

This is Frank Kermit's 123rd appearance on Passion radio program. Airs on Montreal CJAD 800 's.

Frank Kermit joins producer and host Dr Laurie Betito and Fritz-Gerald of Elite Speed Dating to talk about the Dating Dilemmas people face.

Ever meet someone great, but still rejected them?
Was everything great, except for chemistry?
What was the weakest reason you ever left someone?
Is it really that hard to meet and date someone?

as well as more information about Speed Dating

Secrets of Speed Dating

Fritz-Gerald
of Elite Speed Dating

Wrote the Introduction To This Frank Talks Book:

The Frank Guide
to Speed Dating:
Make the Most
of Your Minutes Together

Dr. Laurie Betito

Wrote the Introduction To This Frank Talks Book:

FrankTalks Volume 1:
100 Articles on Love, Sex, Dating and Relationships

Get this book free when you sign up for the newsletter

Learn Storytelling for Dating

This FrankTalks Book:

The Frank Storytelling Program for Dating

was Dedicated to

Fritz-Gerald
of Elite Speed Dating.

This FrankTalks Book

FrankTalks Volume 2:
50 Articles on Love, Sex, Dating and Relationships

was Dedicated to

Dr. Laurie Betito

Birthday Ideas For Your Partner

6/7/2017

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Some personalized birthday ideas are explored in this contributed post.

birthday cake https://tinyurl.com/y9yv3nsx

I always try to make sure I plan to perfect birthday for my husband. I know that many of my readers also have partners, and so I wanted to release an article that gives you some great ideas. If you struggle to organise the celebrations for your loved one, you can use this post as inspiration. At the end of the day, you just need to show them that you care. You also need to make them feel special for that one day out of the year. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a lot of money to spend at the moment. A happy birthday isn’t about how much cash you throw at it, and there are always ways in which you can make savings.

Search for quirky gifts

Regardless of how much you can afford to spend, you’ll want to get your partner something different for their birthday. When all’s said and done, they have cash of their own. So, if they wanted anything from a high street shop, they’d probably go out and buy it. The experts behind Cuckooland's gifts for men say there are more quirky and unique product sites than ever before. So, you need to turn to the internet to find something interesting. You always find better prices online, and there is no reason to spend a fortune. Just select something that he probably hasn’t seen before.

Cook his favourite meal

Everyone likes to eat a decent meal on their birthday. So, you should remember your partner’s favourite dish and prepare it for his big day. You can also make some cookies or some other dessert he’ll love. Make a list of ingredients a couple of days in advance, so you have enough time to get them from your local store. You can then sit down and eat together during the early evening. You could also give him his gifts at the same time if you have children. They way, they can enjoy him opening the presents too. If you give them to your loved one in the morning, the kids might miss out because they have to go to school.

Spend time together

Lastly, I advise that whatever happens, you spend some time together. That could mean going out for a few drinks or staying home and cuddling on the sofa. In truth, it doesn’t matter how you spend your time so long as you’re by your partner’s side. When all’s said and done, there are only a few days each year in which you have to make each other feel special. So, plan something that will allow you to achieve that goal. Again, if you have children, you should think about involving them in any activities you organise.

As you can see from that advice, you don’t have to work hard to plan the perfect birthday. You just have to make sure you have some time together. Your partner isn’t going to care about gold Rolex watches or anything expensive. If they love you, they’ll feel happy just being in your company. One last thing; make sure both of you book the day off work. You deserve to take a break on such an important date.

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Good Bye Peter Sallis, and Thank You

6/6/2017

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Remembering Peter Sallis

Goodbye Peter Sallis and Thank you

While a student in 1983, animator Nick Park wrote to Sallis asking him if he would voice his character Wallace, an eccentric inventor. Sallis agreed to do so for a donation of £50 to his favourite charity.[26] The work was eventually released in 1989 and Aardman Animations' Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out went on to great success winning a BAFTA award

Sallis reprised his role in the the Oscar and BAFTA Award winning films The Wrong Trousers in 1993 and A Close Shave in 1995.

Though the characters were temporarily retired in 1996, Sallis returned to voice Wallace in several short films and in the Oscar-winning 2005 motion picture Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, for which he won an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

n 2008, Sallis voiced a new Wallace and Gromit adventure, A Matter of Loaf and Death. His last role as Wallace was in 2010's Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention.[6] Sallis then retired due to ill health, with Ben Whitehead taking over the role.

Thank You Peter Sallis. and Good bye.

Updated on March 1, 2018

Mourning A Loss

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What If We Could PVR Our Relationship?

6/5/2017

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What if we could PVR our relationship?

What if we could "PVR" our relationships?
Written by: Pillow Talk Gal

The other day I had a thought...what if we could use a PVR to manage our relationships.

What I mean by this is,
we could use all the features a PVR provides us with

but apply those features to our daily lives and relationships.

Here's a for instance, the moments that you just would rather forget (like the rude comment your significant other happened to make over breakfast that morning, or the terrible time you had on your date the night before) you could FWD (fast forward).

You could just zip through the bad moments like they never even happened and go on with your life.

Of course some would say this doesn’t solve anything but sometimes we just need to forget things and move on (a denial button is so much less appealing).

Then there are the times you want to relish and hold on to forever.

Your first date, first kiss or even the time your better half surprised you with a wonderful, romantic dinner out.

These would be the special moments you could either RWD (rewind) or PAUSE.

Who doesn’t want to remember the great stuff?

Next are those moments you never want to end...for those, you could press "record" and watch them over and over again.

There’s the first time you saw the love of your life, or the time you just fell asleep together watching a movie at his place.

Even the time your had the flu and he took care of you by making you soup and giving you your medicine.

Just press ‘’record’’ and relive those wonderful memories whenever you feel like it.

If we could PVR our relationships,
what happens the moment you've run out of memory and you need to start deleting things?

How do we decide what to delete and what to keep?

Sometimes by keeping certain memories alive we learn from our mistakes and make better choices in the future.

That’s a memory worth making room for;
it could come in handy at a later time.

That brings up another interesting feature....more memory (RAM).

Would this give us the unbelievable ability to remember all the good times, forget all the bad and delete the forgettable ones all together?

When things get a little crazy, there is also the possibility of having to reboot your PVR entirely...which can be scary but at the same time could provide the opportunity for a clean slate in life (romantic or otherwise).

Of course the rest of the time you could just let life cruise on "play" mode because you would know that if anything came up you have the nifty little features I mentioned, to do with as you please.

With all the advances in technology these days I can't help but wonder....how long until I can PVR my life?

-Pillow Talk Gal

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