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Yoga & Ballet | Releve

Yoga & Ballet

Dating Safety Tips for Canadians Online

Online dating has become increasingly popular among Canadians, offering a convenient and accessible way to meet new people. However, it’s important to prioritize your safety while exploring potential connections in the virtual world. By following these dating safety tips, you can enjoy the benefits of online dating while minimizing risks and ensuring a positive experience.

1. Choose a reputable dating platform

When venturing into the world of online dating, it’s crucial to select a reputable dating platform like Lovezoid for Canadians. Ensure the website or app has a good reputation, positive user reviews, and a strong commitment to user safety and privacy. This will significantly reduce the chances of encountering fake profiles or falling victim to scams.

2. Protect your personal information

While getting to know someone online, it’s important to keep your personal information private. Avoid sharing your full name, address, phone number, or any other sensitive details until you have built a level of trust with the person you are communicating with. Be cautious of anyone who asks for your personal information too early in the conversation.

3. Use a separate email address

Create a separate email address that you use exclusively for online dating. This will help you maintain your privacy and keep your personal and professional lives separate. Using a unique email address also makes it easier to identify potential red flags or spam emails.

4. Take your time before meeting in person

While it may be exciting to connect with someone online, it’s important to take your time before meeting them in person. Spend time getting to know them through messaging, video calls, and phone conversations. Look for consistency in their behavior and watch out for any red flags or inconsistencies in their stories.

5. Video chat before meeting offline

For Canadians interested in exploring online dating, Lovezoid provides a reputable platform that prioritizes user safety and privacy. Check out their website here to start your online dating journey today!

Before meeting someone offline, try to have a video chat with them. This will help you verify their identity and ensure that they are who they claim to be. It’s an effective way to establish a deeper connection and build trust before taking the next step.

6. Meet in a public place

When you decide to meet someone in person for the first time, always choose a public place. This could be a coffee shop, restaurant, or any other crowded location. Inform a friend or family member about your plans, including the location and time of the meeting. Additionally, consider using your own transportation to maintain control over your departure.

7. Trust your instincts

Trust your instincts when it comes to online dating. If something feels off or makes you uncomfortable, it’s important to listen to that feeling. Don’t hesitate to end a conversation or block someone if you have any doubts about their intentions or behavior.

8. Be cautious with sharing photos

While sharing photos is a common practice in online dating, it’s essential to be cautious. Avoid sharing explicit or compromising photos, especially with someone you’ve just met online. These photos can be misused or shared without your consent, potentially causing harm or embarrassment.

9. Report suspicious activity

If you come across any suspicious activity or encounter someone who violates the terms and conditions of the dating platform, report it immediately. Most reputable platforms have reporting mechanisms in place to address such issues. By reporting suspicious behavior, you contribute to a safer online dating environment for everyone.

10. Keep an open mind

While prioritizing your safety is crucial, it’s also important to keep an open mind and approach online dating with a positive attitude. While not every connection may lead to a long-term relationship, you can still make meaningful connections and have enjoyable experiences along the way.

By following these dating safety tips, you can navigate the world of online dating with confidence. Remember, your safety should always be a top priority. Enjoy the journey of meeting new people, but always trust your instincts and take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

How Can Yoga Improve My Dancing?

Most people that start practicing yoga do it to improve their flexibility and fitness.  Well as dancers we already spend so much time on these things.  So you may be wondering, how can I possibly improve my dancing through yoga?

Peace of mind

Patanjali defines yoga as Chitta Vritti Nirodha, which means ‘to still the fluctuations of the mind’.  This means that any unwanted thoughts or feelings that arise during the day we acknowledge them, accept them, and simply push them aside.  They say that a true yogi isn’t perfectly zen all the time.  Just like any other human they will have all kinds of unwanted thoughts and feelings, but they are experts at honouring and accepting their true selves.  Learning to have control like this takes time, but can be super beneficial for yourself and your dancing.

Connecting breath with movement

Yoga and dance actually have a lot more in common then you may think.  Much like dancing, yoga connects almost every movement with a breath.As dancers we are spending a lot of time in the studio striving for excellence and perfection. Whilst we are always working extremely hard, we may be completely unaware of the fact that we are not breathing properly.  This means having a shallow short breath from your mouth, and breathing tightly up into your chest.  Breathing like this can often lead to having too much carbon dioxide in your bloodstream, triggering the sympathetic nervous system, which may leave you feeling stressed, tired or fatigued.In yoga there is an incredible thing you can learn to do called Pranayama, (alteration of breath).  There are many different ways you can alter your breath to suit your personal needs.  A great Pranayama practice for dancers to do is Ujjayi breath (victorious breath).  Ujjayi breath will help you with breathing from your belly, lengthening your exhale, slowing down your heart rate, lowering your blood pressure, and bringing you into a parasympathetic state.  To learn how to do Ujjayi breath, you can practice with something called the mirror method.  To do the mirror method you must place yourself in front of a mirror, inhale through your nose and then take a really long exhale through your mouth so that you fog up the glass.  Whilst you are doing this, try your best to focus on having a longer exhale than inhale, and initiating the breath from your belly.  Once you have nailed the mirror method then you can try that exact same technique, but without the mirror and with your mouth closed.  Then that’s your Ujjayi breath!Next time you are feeling nervous for an exam or performance try your Ujjayi breath for a few minutes and see how you feel after.

Confidence

Yoga is a mind and body practice.  It is also a form of self care and love.  Taking a regular yoga class when you can, will allow you to simply just be the way you are, with no judgement or competition from yourself or anyone else. Doing this is super healing for your soul and can help you feel more comfortable in your own skin. Therefore you are gaining more confidence within yourself that you can take away and incorporate into your dance classes and daily life.

Increasing full-body awarenessIf you start taking a regular yoga class amongst your other fitness and dance training, you will find that you are exploring and moving through some different asanas (poses)that you may not have done before.  Some asanas will challenge and improve your balance, flexibility or strength.  Some asanas won’t, but I can almost guarantee that through regular yoga practice you will soon start to feel a positive influence on your dancing. You may also start to recognise some imbalances and patterns within your body and mind that you did not notice before. As a hard working dancer you are generally your toughest critic. But no matter what, please continue to honour and love your true self with no judgement.

Written by Tatum Stanley. Tatum is a certified Hatha yoga teacher.  If you have any questions in regards to yoga then please feel free to contact Tatum at anytime. Email: tatumlouise@yahoo.com