LIFE

Let's catch up:

More yoga.  MORE YOGA!  I have had some big goals in yoga and have probably mentioned my realization at not taking full advantage of my access to reach them.  Now there are more days in my life and more time on my schedule to bend and flex toward a better me and a stronger body. Daily. From breathing, to how I connect with other living things, and even getting my ass above my head more often.  It must go down that way: through practice.  And not from thinking about it or dipping my toe in the lake of greatness that could be.. but taking a dive into what is and what's possible.

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I ran my first race in over a year on Turkey Day and it was in another city (which has been a goal--and still is--on my list).  On Thanksgiving 2014, I ran a 4.5 mile race in Indianapolis with my boyfriend and his family before partaking in the annual holiday feast that we all know and love.

REMINDER:  I was injured and am working on recovery on my right hip.

The kicker is not only did I run a race. Not only did I not stop at all. I ran it faster than any other race I've done!  I ran 4.5 miles averaging sub 10 min each mile.  What whaaaat!  That's huge!  And I am so damn proud of myself which gets me amped to finish this 100 miles by Dec as well as the half marathons I'll be running throughout the year in 2015.  Much like the yoga, reaching goals takes practice and this totally helped to make the vision of running in 2015 more clear.

Yay!  Also was spotted by the boo at the end and he ran alongside me with a few notes of inspiration and a way to get out of my head and back out into the world by talking about other things. 

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Hubert.  That's my humidifier.  He's bomb.

I am at a space in my health life that I have my stable foundation that works and it's not always lifting weight or eating salad. Usually it's things like using a humidifier, eating protein after workouts, and sleeping.

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Friends.

I'm a loner and a social butterfly. If the test of refueling is true then technically I am an introvert because I get my energy from being alone. But I love me some humans! They're nice. And they make me laugh. They are good to dance with. And nothing beats realizing that you all have a strength or struggle in common.

So here is a pic of me with a few peeps that are cool and can catch the beat.  :)  Dalia and I both teach at the same fitness studio, her fiancé, my boyfriend giving all that 'tude at the top, plus a mutual friend James (Dalia and I both had acquaintance with him before we ever made acquaintance with one another. Trippy!)

We danced and drank good drinks in downtown Chicago on a warm autumn night a time ago. It was fun!

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And finally dinner at Café Ba Ba Reeba in LP.

My company prides itself on connection and interpersonal relationships.  So one night we took Ambassadors of our store out to dinner for tapas served family style and it was really cool.

We talked and drank vino and would pause every few minutes to bring a focus to presence.  What it means to us and our leadership and the holidays. It was so romantic.  To flirt with ideas and look life on the eye and tell it you love it. 

It was next level for us as individuals and as and team. I'm so grateful that I was able to participate and kick off the season with such intent. (This is a partial capture of the super messy table that we left behind that night.)

Yoga Six

Yoga Six is the newest wave of studios to hit Chicago.

I am a big fan.

My favorite part is the environment.  By now I've done a handful of classes at Y6 and I have to say that for a national chain, they're pretty cool.  But don't tie much to that.  There is nothing wrong with being a chain of yoga studios the same way that being 1:1 doesn't make a stu more soulful. (But any time a chain exists you have to wonder about the consistency and authenticity of your experience.  Here I have no doubt that these peeps are on top of their game and can say that the Yoga Six instructors are in it for the love.)

This space is just so chill.  In my experience the desk encounter is always a little quirky since they are brand new here, but once you're in the space you're in the zone.  The bathrooms are superb.  Dope shower area, razors, and this cool "air shower".  The air shower blasts you down after your flow to bring your temperature lower which is especially great for us Chicagoans headed in to wintertime elements aprés savasana.

  

There's a lot of orange and I wonder if it's because the color reps warmth, enthusiasm, and happiness. (?)

The studio floors are probably the greatest in the game.  They're padded and have parking spots on them.  That means that someone went through with a ruler and made marks to ensure that the class can fill comfortably. It's so freaking cool.  They borrow out towels and (Manduka) mats to those who forget or travel light. Personally, I'm a big fan of The Mat by lululemon athletica for all things hot yoga.

From what I understand the classes are formatted from corporate and then instructors just add their own flare from there.  (Which, so far, hasn't been disappointing.)  They also offer warm and hot classes as well as slower pace, deep/restorative, and the power/sculpty style.  The play lists are cool and I'm assuming created by the instructor as well.  (I've heard that chime stuff, the Super yoga chant music, and some Bone Thugs n Harmony).

Check em out!  Currently they are in Lincoln Park (Clybourn), the South Loop (Roosevelt Collection), and Gold Coast.

Lululemon Athletica Halsted is partnering with the Lincoln Park Yoga Six studio to offer free classes at 7:30PM on Tuesdays at their Clybourn studio. 

The welcome to Y6 South Loop!

Camel at Lincoln Park

Here with Jesi (friend & Y6 manager) after a 6AM class at the newest South Loop location.

Life

The last few weeks have been filled with a lot of delight.

I checked out the Greenline Coffee in the  Woodlawn community in Chicago.  The company is an extension of Sunshine Ministries that employs youth with job training skill and knowledge.  My favorite part is seeing them flex their customer service muscles.  I had a Nutella waffle with berries + bacon and eggs on the side of.   They use a pearl sugar (which could be a normal sugar--but I'm not connoisseur) and the sweetness is just right.

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I've also been exploring what health & fitness means to me.  So I've decided to transform my regimen around my goals and less about being fit or strong. 

What's resulted is having my toosh in yoga classes almost three times a week!  I've had a goal to be able to do a handstand (starting with a wall-free forearm stand) for a long time now and just realized that a yoga class here and there won't get me to that experience.  #duh #shouldHAVEhadAv8MELISSA #headKNOCK

The bending and stretching gets easier and more challenging by the day!  And I am finding the beauty in: staying in your own lane.  It's a practice that means that I don't bend or flex to impress anyone.   I just do what makes me feel strong and beautiful.   Yes I will push myself to a pose I've never tried or want to perfect or even know that I cannot do.. but "standing forehead to knee" pose just gives me attitude when I even think about it.  So I stand strong in my single-leg mountain pose "thing" like a freaking BOSS!

But you better believe I'm taking wheel.  And I'm doing one leg and then the other!  Wheel is my JAM!  I like to say that I'm just "a wheelin' and a dealin'", laugh at my cornyness, and move on.

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I realized this morning that I'm plugged in with some industrious and socially tuned in people and had to share about my friend Lydia's production projects: 18th And Bronzeville & The Armoire From.   18th And Bronzeville is a full production house with Lydia handling the biz, her friend Staci making the art come alive, and Akeea getting the buzz out on behalf of the artist.

The Armoire From is their first production mini-comedy-series about a man who is struck with amnesia and is trying to navigate a situation or two having lost his short-term memory.  The idea of it is hilarious and from what I've seen, the process of getting it done is successful!

On Monday, 18th and Bronzeville did a kickstarter fundraising event at North Bar in Chicago and not only was it great to meet some more dope people but I've reconnected with some great friends and associates from 10 years ago (or more).

In that pic it's myself, Lydia, and Morgan.  We started kindergarten together and all graduated from the same high school!

It's so funny because we used to laugh at our parents saying: "I've known so & so for 20 years!"  Back then that seemed so long and impossible.. and yet here we are!

Click this link to get your give on.

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X
Melissa

BETTER LIFE: SAY IT, DO IT #2

My workout commitments this week:

#WOW (workouts of the week)

Monday (Memorial Day):  class @ GO CYCLE
Tuesday:  class @ DAILEY METHOD
Wednesday:  rest or class at ON YOUR MARK COACHING & TRAINING
Thursday:  2-4 mile run
Friday:  1-3 mile run or rest (if I workout on Wednesday)
Saturday:  class at I.D. GYM/LINCOLN PARK CROSS FIT (yoga)
Sunday:  strength/cardio interval workout IN MY HOUSE (lol)

I'm usually not a class person, but I've made some commitments to be & I'm really looking forward to it. :)

This will also be my third ever cycling class on Monday.  I'm so nervous!  haha