Body Combat, Challenge Stadium

I was looking for the perfect Sunday morning start to kick off my Perth 'Finding Fitness' challenge... Figured where else but 'Challenge' Stadium! ;)

Challenge Stadium is a venue I've known well for a long time. Back in the day when I was a uni student I swam laps there pretty regularly in the outdoor pool. Ahhh... the memories. Speaking of memories and my uni years, that's definitely what the Body Combat class I joined today reminded me of! I hadn't taken a Body Combat class in almost 5 years... But luckily it all came flooding back relatively quickly.

Lots of enthusiastic cries of "jab, cross, upper cut" accompanied bubbly energy and quick movements. The class was quite small, just six ladies including myself and the teacher Leanne, but this worked out fine because it gave us lots of room to move! Apparently the class is usually a little busier... but following City To Surf everyone is taking a bit of a break. I had a lot of fun and think it's definitely a good, non-intimidating option for someone who is keen to jump, kick and punch their energy out!

BODY COMBAT is a 55 minute cardio workout based on a series of martial arts moves timed to music tracks. It is one of three Les Mills group fitness classes currently offered indoors at Challenge Stadium. The martial arts program is inspired from a range of disciplines: karate, kick boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay thai. It is intended to increase strength and endurance through shaping and toning work.

Check below for more info on this class...

• DETAILS: Sunday morning, 10:30-11:30am
• COST: $13.00 
• TEACHER: Leanne
• BRING: Sweat towel for cool down, FULL water bottle (mine was 1/2 empty and nowhere to fill up until you leave Challenge at reception). Make sure you wear sneakers and a good quality support bra... Lots of jumping around in this class! ;)
• BEST BITS: The room has a nice window view of the sunny outside pool! Bring swimmers and make it a double whammy workout by diving in for a swim post-combat. General entry to the pools is just $5.20 and there's both indoor and outdoor pool options.
• CHALLENGE STADIUM CLASS TIMETABLE:  http://www.venueswest.wa.gov.au/2/244/2/aerobics_timetable.pm

Ginny's 'Finding Fitness' Rating: ★ ★ 

'Finding Fitness', the challenge is on!

Running the 8km Harry's Spring Run-Off for
prostate cancer. Toronto, Ontario at High Park.
April 2, 2011

My overseas travels really helped highlight my personal passions, while the inspiration I've gained from international friendships is absolutely priceless. I now know people around the world who really embrace life, love, health and fitness - these friends and their positive energy have made a lasting impact!

In recent years I've realised that I am an adventurer, in every sense imaginable. Those who know me well recognise that I constantly seek the next step, the next challenge and the next opportunity.

In all honesty being a transient soul can be very draining. I can tell you from them heart it's not easy to frequently 'begin again'. The journey I chose to take meant regularly leaving behind people, cities and lifestyles that I lived in and loved. Therefore I have (for the time being at least!) returned happily to home soil and am loving everything about being back in Perth, Western Australia.

I have been desperately seeking a way to strike the perfect balance: provide sustenance to my inherently adventurous soul while at the same time develop and rebuild my network of friends and loved ones here at home. I think I have found a solution...

I've decided to blog about my search to 'Finding Fitness' in Perth. My idea is to seek out and explore a huge range of local fitness opportunities available to both men and women. Pilates, yoga, zumba, boxfit, personal training, bootcamps, belly dancing... I want to try it all.

I spent all morning searching online for avenues to find a one-hit-wonder website I could use to check out EVERYTHING fitness related in Perth. No such luck as far as I can see. So I will use this forum to share with you all of my 'Finding Fitness' experiences in our local community. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen. I'll post photos, links and information on the various classes I attend and the trainers I meet along the way. In return I'd love to hear your feedback about the fitness sessions you attend and love, whether in Perth City or abroad.

My dream is that everyone who reads this will learn about the wide range of fitness options available in Perth (and beyond!) and become inspired to try out the style that appeals to them. So stay tuned and check back in shortly to hear more about the first steps of of my latest and greatest 'Finding Fitness' adventure.

Dream it. Live it. Love it. Share it.
- Ginny xox

Right here. Right now.

In recent weeks I've really decided to take the bull by the horns and live my life in the here and now. This has involved some big changes in terms of work, learning and personal development. So although I will still hopefully use this forum to catch you up to speed on my past travels and whisk you away on exotic adventures with tales from the cities I've lived in and loved, I'll also tune you into the here and now. Plus, of course, my dreams for the future. Get ready for a wild ride!

On the topic of past, present and future here's a food for thought quote. I heard it from a lovely female Cuban tour guide on the bus ride into town from the airport:

"Yesterday is history & tomorrow is a mystery.
But today is a gift, which is why we call it the present!"

Turning 10: Taste for Travel Begins

My first snow experience!
Skiing in Sweden with dad.
 April 1994 (age 10).

Growing up in the world's most isolated city has it's perks, but also disadvantages too. One issue faced by many West Australians is the massive distance separating them from the rest of the Western world. Literally. Distance is a BIG thing in WA, where reaching another capital city requires a flight or extremely long, flat drive along a straight stretch of dusty road through the 'treacherous' Aussie outback ;)

Cultural isolation is something my family has always epically persevered against. Dad committed to taking each of his four youngsters on an overseas adventure the year we turned 10 to open our blissfully ignorant eyes to the big wide world.

So around the time of my 10th birthday it was explained to me that I would be joining my dad on a trip to Sweden, London and Paris to 'see the world'. I took extended leave from primary school and spent a month exploring. From my first steps in snow, being awed by Stockholm's epic ice-sculptures and getting bogged while tobogganing - Sweden immediately captured my interest. "These people eat cheese and jam on biscuits for breakfast!" I chirped down the 'telephon' to mum. ('Telephon' being the only Swedish word I was able to pick up with ease throughout my two week stay). I visited a Swedish high school where I was interrogated by classmates with dreadlocks and nose-rings sitting with their feet on desks asking if I really did own a pet kangaroo called Skippy...

Internationally recognised brands blaze
brightly on electronic billboards over
London's famous Piccadilly Circus

The rush of London nearly bowled me over as I clambered to the top of red double decker busses, elbowed through crowds to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and join masses of minors enraptured by the magic of Hamley's Toy Shop. Posing by red post-boxes and trotting through the Tower of London I viewed various highlights of old England with my dad and uncle by my side. Grandma was so proud of us all!

Parisienne cheese shop...
Gourmet gurus eat your heart out!

Three days to fit in Paris would exhaust even the most experienced of travellers. Plus with the Parisian metro on strike we were forced to conquer the city on foot! Nonetheless we climbed the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and Centre Pompidou, plus took the Bateaux Mouches along the river Seine. All the while re-energising with croissants, eclairs, baguettes...

Needless to say, my first trip abroad was an extremely eye-opening experience. It definitely highlighted how different the real world was outside of my familiar comfort zone and whet my appetite to see more of the big wide world. Much, much more!

Start at the beginning...

Think the photo says it all... ;)

Here's the foundations:

My name is Virginia Shaw, but these days I go by Ginny. I was born in Perth, Western Australia and I'm a Perth girl through and through: Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!!! I've got three younger brothers and a great mum and dad - a typical brady bunch style family. Hahaha. Until the age of 18 I led a relatively typical life: I lived in the same house, kept the same friends and didn't really understand much of the world outside of my intimate Aussie bubble. In the years after that everything has changed and it's been a crazy whirlwind ever since.

But since I'm starting at the beginning this post is focusing on my roots. The place where it all began. Australia.

In case you've never visited good ol' Oz here's a list of why it's a tip-top place to live:

1. The sun shines every day, without fail, the ENTIRE summer


2. Pubs with ocean views - need I say more?


3. People work to live, not the other way around


4. We dominate all the 'B' words... - BBQs, babes, beer, beaches


5. We all ride kangaroos to school (no NOT really!)


6. Everything becomes legal at the sweet lil' age of 18 ;)


7. Little Creatures brewery in Fremantle


8. Aussie rules football, it really does rule. Fact.


9. Vegemite, meat pies, tim-tams, pavlova, lamingtons... don't forget shrimp on the barbie!


10. What other country has a cool nickname like 'Down Under'?

Basically, if you haven't been to Australia it's a must-see. Make sure you make it to the West Coast since it really is an undiscovered treasure. Unmissable.

Welcome to my world!

Wanna hear a story about a 25 year old girl who's lived in 4 continents, travelled through 28 countries and met people from all over the globe?!

I've had a fabulous life and I've got a million tales to tell. Read on to learn about my latest and greatest adventures... In a nutshell - welcome to my world! ;)