Who are you and what makes you tick?

I’m a professional life coach and a Nia blue belt. Life makes me tick. There’s so much deliciousness out there! I want to dive in and savour every moment and help others do the same! I love creating opportunities for people to more fully embrace life, themselves and their creativity.

Your motto: Life is an adventure.

What parts of active life do you participate in?

Well, I am not a sports person. I never have been. I absolutely hated Phys Ed at school. I’d rather have been in Math class, and that’s saying something! But I’ve always been very physical. I love to move, to be connected to my body, my strength and my vitality. Not being into sports, it took me a long time to understand that there were others ways of active living. That’s why Nia has been such a gift. It’s a barefoot movement practice that draws on dance, the martial arts and the healing arts, and it’s all about experiencing the joy of movement. I love it.

What is your favourite active pursuit?

Nia, for sure. Free dancing too, just turning on some music and moving. Walking. It’s a brilliant way to not only get my body moving but also to declutter my brain. I have a very busy mind and getting out for a walk helps me breathe out the busy-ness and get clearer.

Your favourite gear:

My iPod. Listening to that baby, I can move and groove anywhere. If you see me on the TTC, no doubt you’ll find me doing some subtle subway moves as I go.

Your favourite place:

A studio. A big, open, white-walled, big-windowed, wood-floored space in which dance or theatre or painting can happen. A studio is like an invitation to dive in and play.

Your favourite time:

Spring. It fills me up with energy and possibility. And mornings. I love that time when you look forward to all the promise of the day. I guess I like beginnings.

Your favourite website/magazine:

My favourite companion to active living is http://www.clearspaceonline.com by Annabel Fitzsimmons. It is a great resource for finding balance on so many levels! Annabel shares great downloadable meditations and yoga podcasts.

Your active role models/heroes:

My Nia trainer, Martha Randall. She is full of life and reminds me all the time to have fun and enjoy the dance. The founders of Nia, Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas. They are so full of vitality you can’t help but be inspired!

You guilty pleasure: Movie popcorn. How bad is that!

Your cause/rallying cry:

The arts belong to everybody. I feel deeply about this and am continually creating opportunities for people to experience and express their inner artist. I’m particularly passionate about everyone getting a chance to dance. It’s one of the reasons I created the Shyne Like a Star Virtual Dance Party (http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/shyne-like-a-star). Every May 1st I invite people to take 15 minutes out of their day to dance. You can dance by yourself, with a friend, with your partner, with your kids. You can dance in your living room, in the boardroom or under the stars. People around the world have participated with great enthusiasm and joy. It only takes moments to remind our bodies how much they love to dance. I hope you and your readers will join the party in 2010!

Your next active goal or commitment:

I’m considering running. Having asthma, this is a real stretch for me. I really want to support and grow the strength of my lungs. That niggling feeling that I can’t do it really makes me want to give it a go.

Any new news about you:

There’s always new news! One exciting new thing is that my podcast, Creative Living with Jamie, launches September 1, 2009. I’m interviewing a great range of people to find inspiration, stories and strategies for bringing creativity to life. You can always find out what I’m up to at http://www.jamieridlerstudios.com.