DuPage Mamas » exercise

The Yoga Place

Farrah — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:52:39 +0000

After my first pregnancy, I decided I needed to find something I could do to tighten up those squishy places and give me a little more self confidence /strength/energy. I joined Women’s Workout World (although the one near me has since gone out of business) and tried to get excited about ellipticals and free weights. I couldn’t keep that up for very long but I did discover that I really like yoga and pilates classes. Finally, I found something that I actually enjoyed and could see the results of!! The birth of my now 4yr old and then his brother the now 2yr old kinda derailed my yoga practice for awhile. But I have recently come back and I am LOVING IT!!!

Since the gym where I took the other classes closed, I had to find a new place to workout. I had seen this little yoga studio, The Yoga Place, in a strip-mall in downtown Glen Ellyn, always meaning to try it out but being afraid it would be cost-prohibitive or a little more “eastern religion” than I was comfortable with. But with some recent health challenges and a still very squishy belly, I had to give it a shot.

The Yoga Place is located right in downtown Glen Ellyn, just north of the railroad tracks on the corner of Glenwood and Crescent streets. It is like a haven of peace and quiet nestled in the most unpredictable place. They have classes every day, all throughout the day. They have different levels that cater to different experience levels. So far, I have stuck to the Yoga I and II classes and both have been very do-able and yet challenging for someone with my somewhat limited yoga experience. They even have prenatal yoga and mommy-and-me classes! (check for specific dates and times) The environment is non-threatning, welcoming, and peaceful. Everything down to the beautiful shade of orange pain on the walls makes me feel calm and relaxed when I am there. The instructors are all highly skilled and educated and yet they cater the workouts to the varying skill levels of the students. I haven’t met an instructor yet that I don’t like. They are all really wonderful and professional and everything you would want your yoga instructor to be.

A private yoga studio in Dupage County with awesome instructors….it is probably super expensive right? Not really. The price is $15 for a drop-in class or $135 for a 10 class pass. Not bad, huh? They also have a free class for the community one Saturday a month so you can check it out for yourself without and financial commitment.

I feel like I am going on and on… but I really do love it and am super grateful to have found a place that won’t break the budget but still gives me the yoga workout that my body and soul desperately need. It is a good workout for my body but also a time for my mind and soul to decompress and peel off the layers of stress and anxiety that tend to pile up throughout the week.

If you are a yoga fan, you gotta try it! Even if you have never done it before, you should still give it a go.

Do you do yoga? Where do you go and what do you do? I heard rumors of a hot yoga studio opening up somewhere on Roosevelt Rd. but I don’t know anymore about it (or what hot yoga really is frankly!). Anyone else heard that rumor?

Not Just Pole Dancing

Elizabeth — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:54:30 +0000

I took a pole dancing class today. Yes. Me. Pole Dancing. Unsexy, stay-at-home-mom me started to learn how to swing around a pole.

A woman I know had taken these classes and raved about them and I have always really wanted to be ‘sexy’. What better way to learn? I also have been looking for a way to get into shape, have fun, and have a little time on my own. Given my recent vision loss (thanks to a post-partum retinal hemmorhage) and the perspective that has been thrust into my lap I figured I should give it a try. Couldn’t hurt right? And it might just be the fun and exercise and time alone I am looking for. It turned out to be all three and more.

Of course a few days before the class was scheduled I came down with a nasty cold flu thing. In an attempt to knock out the virus I took massive amounts vitamin C- sadly I was unsuccessful and considered rescheduling the class. But my excitement took over and I was determined to make it.

It was an incredible work-out. Twenty minutes into the class my muscles were trembling- like they have not trembled in years. But beyond that, there were so many unique things about this class and this experience that will bring me back for more.

As my friend and I were following the GPS directions to go to Tease Dance and Fitness, we discussed how nervous we both were. We looked out the window trying to find the place, not knowing what we were looking for or what to expect. Well we found the place- with a huge sign reading “Pole Dancing”. We took a deep breath and went in. Inside we found a cozy looking sitting area with a comfy couch with beautiful pillows and brownie bites (clearly a woman was in charge). It was a warm and inviting space painted many shades of purple with a clearly feminine vibe. It was lovely. Suddenly we heard a ‘whoop’ from the room behind the door. My friend and I looked at each other uncertainly but the women there were kind and welcoming and very reassuring to those of us completely overwhelmed and very very out of our comfort-zone. We were invited to watch the advanced girls dance. And holy wow….did they dance! Climbing, flipping, swinging… It was indescribable and very hot. These ladies were beautiful and confidant and amazing. I wanted that.

We had to fill out some initial paperwork- release of liability and such. Upon reading through the sheets, I noticed something. The studio wanted to know more than about my income and address. They asked emotionally oriented questions. What were my goals…physically, what did I want them to help me achieve? Emotionally, was I looking to gain confidence- self esteem- body image improvement? What brought me there? Even more than that, they asked if we were having any challenging times that we needed support through. I have never been part of a ‘gym’ that openly and expressly cares for the whole woman like Kristen Hubbard (founder and owner) and her team do. It gets better (seriously- I think I fell in love). They have a ‘code of ethics’: no negativity- you are not supposed to exude negative crap there- AND learn to love and accept and cherish ourselves- and that starts from the words we say. The staff takes this very seriously- I will need to work on my positive thinking.

We entered the candlelit studio that had six poles and a wall of mirrors. It was beautiful. We pulled out yoga mats and had a seat as Kristin and the co-instructor told a little about their mission and how this studio came to be. The more I heard, the more I loved. She explained it is about connecting your physical and emotional selves through sensuality. The experience of things in the moment, taking the time to notice the nuances in life: the fabric on your skin or the scent of the candles. Touching your body and appreciating it for the amazing things it has done and continues to do. Embracing the power that is in you, physical and emotional. Understanding that your body will change but enjoying the journey and appreciating the path and where it leads you on your journey- not just the end point. I learned that the ladies at this studio grow to care about and carry each other through rough times and cheer each other through good times. They are friends- it is not just a ‘gym’ in the sense of Ballys or X-Sport.

The class begins with meditation- not guided or visualization or imagery, more introspection. Finding a place of peace in your mind and body. Self exploration is a major part of the experience. I felt so awkward as I looked up at the ceiling that was illuminated with lights that look like stars. I closed my eyes and got lost in the movement. Listening to the instructor, letting my body connect to the flow of the music. Letting go of my ‘center’ and having fun. Enjoying feeling my body stretch and feeling my muscles warm. Feeling the strength and embracing my body for taking me all of these amazing places.

This is more than a class for getting in shape or learning some sexy moves. It is a class in getting in touch with yourself as a woman. Embracing the sensual sexuality that is part of us. Learning to value and appreciate the strength that each of us has inside. Letting that beauty show and loving it. Within the studio, I was not ‘mama’. I was me. I was the woman that I was- that I am- that all to often gets lost in the day to day life. I felt the woman inside- the confident, beautiful, amazing, sexy woman inside me- begin to make an appearance through self consciousness. And yes it was fun too- especially spinning around the pole at the end. So I signed up for more of this journey of introspection. Of exploration. I am excited to see where this path takes me.

To learn more about trying Tease for yourself, check out their website. They just started an 8wk session on Feb 7th but they periodically host “Teaser” classes to let you try it before you commit to the full session. Check out the schedule on their website for more details. Also, be on the lookout for more info and a special giveaway from Tease Dance and Fitness and DupageMamas in the coming weeks.

Do you do the Gym?

Farrah — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:52:14 +0000

I have never really been one of those girls who loves exercise. I cheered a bit in jr. high and high school but was never really much of an athlete. My dad, a big-time runner and gym-goer, tried to get me fired up about some sort of sport when I was younger. He tried to teach me tennis (which was pretty fun) and competitive swimming (which I stunk at) and even softball (which was ok but I was just not cut out for it). At different times in my life, I have gotten on these health-kicks where I will join a gym and go semi-regularly for a few months and then slowly get tired of it and stop going. After a personal tragedy several years ago, I took a couple yoga and Pilates classes and fell in love with it. I guess that is the thing that I stuck with the longest and actually kinda miss. Yeah, I miss it because that too eventually worked it’s way out of my daily/weekly schedule.
I totally see the benefits to exercise. I am a nurse, so I know how it is good for your body and your overall health. I admire people who get themselves to the gym daily or weekly and take care of themselves. And as my youngest starts to breastfeed less and I continue to eat the calories of a breastfeeding mama, I will probably start seeing some motivation to exercise when I try to fit into my favorite jeans or when I look at our family pictures this fall. But I still don’t think I’ll be hitting the gym.
There is something about all those people sweating in the same place, on the same equipment that makes this semi-germ-a-phobe mother cringe a bit. (I know they wipe things down, but still….) I am also not a big fan of seeing myself or anyone else in spandex. Never pretty. Mostly though, it is the time thing. I barely have time to shower every other day much less fit in an hour work-out plus driving to the gym and finding a place for the kiddos… blah, blah, blah. It sounds like a bunch of excuses for laziness. And maybe it is. I have just never been able to stick to any kind of gym regimen. It is just not me. I do have a couple yoga and pilates DVDs that I occasionally do at home. I’ll probably be busting those out soon to combat my lack of caloric restraint. But that is the extent of my exercise routine. And I use the word routine very loosely.
But I am pretty sure that no matter how many pounds I put on, you won’t see me at the gym. I keep my sweat and tight fitting clothing to myself. Anyone have a Wii they want to loan/give me? I might could get into that. But there is no guarantee which is probably why my Hubby won’t buy me one. He knows my stinky track-record on things in this genre.
If you are a gym-goer and have some secret tricks for gym perseverance you would like to share, please do! I am certainly open to suggestions. But for the time being, I will pray my baby doesn’t wean until I can get my exercise-act together. I gotta burn those late-night calories someway and it most likely won’t be on the treadmill.