Back At It Again with the Sculpt Jams

Sadly, August is almost over. Which means summer is almost over.

BUT, I'm back from vacation and therefore back to my regular Wednesday Sculpt slot. And I couldn't be more excited to get into it. Mostly because world has been blessed with some pretty amazing music since July.

sculpt goals.

 

savasana goals.

See you after work on Wednesday. 5:30 PM. CorePower Yoga in Medford.

No Stress Summer

This Wednesday, July 27th is my last Sculpt class for a month! Come sweat it out with me in Medford and for a summer-themed class about letting go of the tension and anxiety that can consume our lives if we don't keep it in check (and go to yoga).

Backstory to the playlist/ theme: July is usually my favorite month. For us teachers in the "biz", July is our Saturday, and August is one big month of nonstop"Sunday scaries" angst.

This July had me feeling particularly stressed, so the intention for class is one that I've been working with for the past three weeks: Let go of the worry and weight that we carry around all day.

"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight."

-Melania Trump 

JK, -Benjamin Franklin said/wrote this.

So if this theme resonates with you, or if you're really digging the musical preview, come Wednesday for the my last class! 

Turn Up the Heat and Work Hard 6.8.16

It's starting to warm up out there, which means no time for slacking. We have a new playlist this week. A couple of Sun A's/B's to an epic "Work" remix flowing directly into "BBHMM." I added in a Dancehall plank song for an extra dose of core work. Of course, we'll have Queen Bey getting us abtastically ready for summer with one of my favorite tracks off of Lemonade: "Six Inch". If you ever feel like not going to work (which is like, every day), then you should blast this in your earbuds/car/shower to set the tone for a "She works for the money from the start to the finish" empowering kinda day. 

Get ready to work, Medford! Wednesday 6.8.16 @ 5:30 PM and/or Sunday 6.12.16 @10:30 AM.

Ta-ta for now!

I have worked all winter; I will not fail summer.

 

I have worked all winter; I will not fail summer.

Nothing like an inspirational Childish Gambino lyric to push us into the final stretch of work, work, work before Summer 2016 officially commences.

Come get your Yoga Sculpt on with me at Medford at CorePower this Wednesday, June 1st. 5:30 PM. We're three weeks away from the first day of summer, so let's get after it!!!!

Playlist embedded below for your Memorial Day Weekend pleasure.

I'm Coming Back!

It's confirmed. I'm on the Sculpt schedule. The playlist is ready.




I had surgery three weeks ago. A titanium plate and three physical therapy sessions later, I'm eager to GET IT. Though I cannot do any weight-bearing activity, I can certainly press play on "Sorry" from Beyonce's masterpiece Lemonade, and get peeps lifting, squatting, jumping, and Sun-Salutating.

Vibes.

This whole experience has really made me have a newfound appreciation for teaching and taking yoga. Therefore, my intention is OBVIOUSLY connected to new beginnings and an appreciation for getting getting to enjoy class as you are, doing something healthy and awesome for your bod.

Additionally, so much has happened in the world since my fateful fall on Sunday, March 6th. As I mentioned, we were given Lemonade, the legend Prince has passed away (RIP)...we have a new batch of newbie Sculpt teachers who are starting their Extensions program... and both weather and music wise, we're starting to get some glorious glimpses of summer. The playlist is supposed to evoke a hopeful, summer-is-upon-us-I'm-reborn-and-I-like-to-Cha-Cha feel.

I'd love to see you all next week in class!

I'm back, byeeetches!!!!

Medford- Sunday 5/1 10:30 AM
Medford- Wednesday 5/4 5:30 PM
Medford- Thursday 5/5 7:30 PM

Injuries Suck When You're a Yoga Fanatic

Two weeks ago, I fractured my radius in a skiing accident up at Killington. I learned how to ski three years ago, and it's become one of my favorite recreational activities. My boyfriend and I even bought skis this past September (only to have like, the mildest winter ever with a total of three snowflakes). Nevertheless, I managed to break my arm. Conditions were icy, I was flying down a trail on my last run of the day (I was fatigued), and I lost my balance on a turn. Physical and emotional agony ensued.

 

bones.

This injury has prevented me from teaching and taking yoga. For. Six. Weeks. Sometimes, I imagine showing up at my studio and attempting to take class, but then I consider how the entire sixty minutes would be extremely modified to the point of absurdity (no planks, no downward facing dogs, what could I even do except a one-armed chair pose?). And the sweat would drip into pink-camouflage cast...

 

My hair is styled by one of my former students, who is now an eighth grader. Every Monday and Thursday, she is paid in delicious cookies from Whole Foods.

Plus...I do need to give my arm time to heal and rebuild. Just typing this post with my hand is proving to be uncomfortable.

But I have to do something. I started having exercise withdrawals after three days of sitting in bed watching Love and Hip Hop reruns and eating my weight in Fage yogurt, almonds, and chia seeds (healthy binge eating). So I bought some of those resistance band loops and hit the Tufts track for some serious booty sculpting.

 

This encouraging photo was taken by my wonderful boyfriend who feels somewhat responsible for the skiing accident, as he's the one who taught me how to ski.

  

 I've been doing my best to use the stationary bike or elliptical trainer at the gym for an hour a day to push my heart rate up. My handy-dandy Charge HR Fitbit (Valentine's Day present, courtesy of beau-friend) has been majorly helpful in recording my workout stats to push me harder. 

But all I want to do is get out of this cast and back into Sculpt/ Core Cardio Circuit classes. :(

For now, my Wednesdays 5:30 PM are being covered by Carlyene, and Sundays at 10:30 AM by Tristan. 

 

Check out Tristan's Yoga Sculpt classes for bumping playlists and cool sequencing. 

My follow-up appointment is Thursday, March 31st. I hope they'll take an X-Ray and be like, "Oh my God, this is unprecedented. It looks like years of Yoga Sculpt has truly paid off! You're free from the cast and ready to roll out your mat- tonight. If you leave now, you might be able to make Leah's 5:30 PM class!"

Until then, thanks for the support and well wishes, everyone!

 

My Yoga Sculpt Journey

I took this YSTT journey in large thanks to YS teachers who pushed me into believing in myself when I was skeptical about doing anything “extra” in my life. I have been a classroom teacher for four years in a tough neighborhood, and since the age of 23, I have dedicated 200% of my life to my students and career from September to June. 

This year, I left the classroom to become a literacy coach between the three middle schools in my district. YSTT was to commence literally two weeks into my new position. I lamented to my assistant manager in Medford that “There is no way I can take something on like this right now.” And her response was one that I’ll save for a lifetime: “It will never be the right time. You’ll always make excuses to not do something. If you’re excited about it now, do it now.” This is what pushed me into doing YSTT in September, and this philosophy is what reinforced my joining this extensions program. 

As a result of completing YSTT, I have enjoyed all of the benefits you hear and read about: I have made awesome new friends, I have learned so much more about my favorite form of physical exercise, but the biggest takeaway for me is that I have learned how to balance my life, believe in myself, and take chances so I can be better for myself, my friends and family, and the students and teachers I serve in the education field. Though it was difficult and challenging at times, I’m so glad I did this training to sculpt a better version of myself.