CARINA KANAAN
What Changed Me?
My name is Carina Kanaan, and I am a professional dancer and certified personal trainer based in Toronto, Canada. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, I was raised in the dynamic city of Dubai. In 2013, at the age of 10, my family and I relocated to Canada, marking the beginning of a new chapter in my life.
From a very young age, dance has been my passion. I started dancing when I was just three years old, beginning with ballet. My love for dance only grew stronger with time, and I soon found myself captivated by the energy of hip hop.
Dance became my outlet, my joy, and my identity.
When we moved to Canada, my mom made it her mission to find the best dance studios in Toronto for me and my sister to continue our training. Her dedication led me to train with the best of the best in the city, and then continued to Claude Watson School for the Arts at Earl Haig Secondary School, where I majored in dance and immersed myself in a world of creativity and expression.
However, the moment that truly changed my life came in April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The world had come to a standstill, and like many others, I found myself grappling with uncertainty and a lack of motivation. I was in high school at the time, and with the sudden halt in dance activities, I felt a void. It was then that I decided to invest in my health and well-being.
I had never been unhappy with my appearance, but I knew that I wasn’t feeling my best. I realized that I needed to make a change, whether it was through my eating habits or my daily routines. I embarked on an intentional journey to improve my health, focusing on creating better habits, eating healthier, and going for long walks.
This period of self-investment was transformative.
I began to feel more like myself, more energized, and more connected to my body. It was a pivotal moment where I discovered a newfound sense of purpose and clarity.
The dedication and commitment it took to lose 30 intentional pounds was something I didn’t know I had in me.
This journey sparked a fire in me, revealing a strength and determination I hadn’t realized before. When gyms started reopening, I began training with a personal trainer who introduced me to the world of strength training. Her guidance and knowledge were invaluable, and I learned so much about fitness and the gym environment. This experience was eye-opening, and I realized that I wanted to offer the same life-changing experience to others. Inspired by my trainer, I decided to become a personal trainer myself and became ISSA certified in 2021.
As the world began to recover from the pandemic, I regained my motivation to dance. However, I faced a new challenge: integrating my gym workouts with my dance training. Initially, I tried to keep the two separate, believing they had little correlation. But I soon realized that traditional strength training was not benefiting my dancing. It made me feel heavy and sluggish, which was the opposite of what I needed as a dancer. This realization led me to extensively research how I could tailor my training to enhance my performance in the studio rather than hinder it.
Through this journey, I developed a unique training method that blends the principles of athletic training with the demands of dance. I believe that dancers are athletes, and it’s essential to train like one to excel in both areas. This belief is the foundation of my brand, “Carved by Carina,” where I teach dancers how to train like athletes. My goal is to help other dancers avoid the struggles I faced and to provide them with the tools and knowledge to enhance their performance through proper training.
In addition to my professional endeavors,
I am deeply involved in various communities.
The dance community has always been my home, but I am also an active member of the fitness community and the Lebanese community. These connections enrich my life and provide a support network that motivates and inspires me daily.
The moment I decided to invest in my health and well-being during the pandemic was the turning point that changed my life. It set me on a path of self-discovery, growth, and a deepened understanding of the connection between dance and fitness. It inspired me to create a business that
empowers dancers to reach their full potential and to share my journey with others who might be facing similar challenges.
Through “Carved by Carina,” I aim to foster a community where dancers can learn, grow, and thrive. My journey has taught me that change, even when it comes from a place of uncertainty, can lead to profound growth and transformation. And it is this journey that I am passionate about sharing, hoping to inspire and support others along the way.
Watch Carina’s dance performance @carina_kanaan
