Bar Method Challenge Check In

Posted on February 5, 2016 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

We are 3 weeks in to the #MeInspiresWeChallenge at Bar Method and wanted to give our readers a quick and sweaty pulse point as to how we are holding up with our shakey legs!

Practice makes Progress

Monica’s thoughts: I’ve done Bar Method in the past but this time seems different. Bar Method really pushes pass my limit to where my muscles start quivering which doesn’t happen in other workouts.

The first day I was doing well but I didn’t pushed myself. I just stayed within my normal range of movement while doing thigh and seat work so I didn’t feel sore next day. The teachers fixed my posture and urged me to dip my thighs and seat lower to the ground and, BLAMO, tiny movements make quakes in my muscles.

It is immensely helpful to get tips from the instructors for correct posture and where to feel each exercise. As I am deaf, I definitely need the hands on adjustments.

Now, halfway through, after an average of 2-3 workouts (first week I did 5) and I do now notice results in the tone of my body from impact in this barre technique. I still have quite a while to go, however and probably need to do average 4 -5 workouts to see greater results as is recommended by Bar Method.

Compliments, Compliments:

Kate’s thoughts: Ok so self love is one thing we got going. I’ve been flexing around the house and eyeing the small formation of an actual tricep hiding underneath the granny arms. I noticed suddenly how Monica was looking svelte and toned, like who is this strong chick!?

And the adoration of others….I also received a few “Did you lose weight?” comments although, no no, I have not. Muscle, my friends, all muscle. The number on the scale doesn’t always demonstrate the health or strength of your body.

Have we inspired you yet? There’s still time to join us for the #MeInspiresWe campaign and get 5 weeks of the Bar Method for the price of 4. Come get sculpted and shakey with us!

Nike and JW Chicago Fitness Showcase!

Posted on January 29, 2016 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

Ready to warm up this weekend? Join us for a heart pounding, music bumping workout with Nike and JW Marriot Chicago this Saturday, 12-2 p.m, to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. Where: JW Marriott Chicago – 151 West Adams Street Chicago, … Continue reading →

Mind and Body Revival

Posted on January 20, 2016 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

Pamper yourself and help puppies = Win/Win!

Join us this Thursday and escape the cold with Delos Therapy and Balance by Jitka Robinson for a celebration of self care. All proceeds go to Furever Rescue, a 100% volunteer all women run animal rescue organization in Chicago.

What:

Delos Therapy and Balance: Mind Body Revival Event

Where:

Delos Therapy (inside David Barton Gym) – 600 West Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60654 – View Map

When:

Thursday, January 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Spatacular Details:

Wellness for your mind and body – Yoga, mindfulness, meditation, complementary Delos Therapy

Satisfying snacks – tea from TeaGschwendner, coffee from Organo and Essentia water; snacks from Snap Kitchen and The Paleo Cookie

Fitness and beauty finds – Athleta, Herb and Ohm, Folium Medica, Glo and Sarah Helen Skin Care

Tickets are $27 online and $35 at the door.

* $1/hour validated garage parking is available!

Bar Method #MeInspiresWe Challenge

Posted on January 10, 2016 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

Cue the Final Countdown Music and say this in a movie phone voice: “We challenge you, dear readers, to a battle to the death…of flappy arms and thighs.” Join us this month, from January 11th-February 15th, and get toned as … Continue reading →

Free Workouts in the New Year: Part 2

Posted on January 8, 2016 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

In the new year, would you prefer barefoot or lacing up your kicks for a jog? Either way we got you covered (and for cheap too!) with Part 2 of our Free Workouts in the New Year blog.

Running

Fleet Feet Run Clubs

With 9 different Chicago area locations, you could run with friendly folks every day of the week. Fleet Feet fun runs include themed runs like Chick’s Night, Pint Night as well as new running gear demo events.

Shake Shack monthly runs

Looking for Pavlovian fitness techniques? Trendy burger chain, Shake Shack, hosts monthly fun runs on the second Tuesday of every month with a twist. Your reward for running: A free shake, beer or discounted burger! Details here.

City Fit Girls

Starting in Philly and imported to Chicago, City Fit Girls strives to give women and comfortable and supportive environment for stretching their running legs. Chicago fun runs are Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in Lincoln Park. More information available here.

Yoga

Community Yoga

Chicago has an infinite amount of yoga studios and many of them aim to give back to community with donation based or free yoga classes. Our top choices are Zen Yoga Garage (Logan Square), Tejas Yoga (South Loop) and Pilsen Yoga Tribe (Pilsen) at Thalia Hall.

Yoga at your fave clothing store

Whether you rock Lululemon, Athleta or Lole, each of these clothing stores encourage community yoga with weekly or monthly free yoga and strength training events.

Yoga With Adriene

This talented Texan yogi is friendly, silly and cares enough to share the gift of yoga classes with us! She is currently running a YouTube 30 day Yoga Camp to your daily yoga flow fluidly flowing.

Free Workouts in the New Year: Part 1

Posted on January 6, 2016 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

If you are living on a tight budget OR aren’t quite clear even where to start with jumping in the fitness “pool”, these fitness activities are free, fun and can guide you in the right direction to feel more calm, strong and the bomb in 2016!

Strength Training

If your goals include muscling it up or toning it down, these indoor, outdoor and online options can fuel your fitness fire.

Nike Training Club Chicago

Train with top Chicago fitness professionals in classes ranging from barre to HIT in addition to speed, endurance and long distance run training. Nike Training Club Chicago supported super fabulous events last year like Train with Hart, a 5K run with Kevin Hart, and #getouthere, a temporary Chicago river front workout facility to withstand the Chicago chill. Need a little help sorting through your fitness goals? Sign up for an exclusive Resolutions Consultation with a Nike fitness pro and get athletic coaching advice for nada dollars. Join and sign up for workouts here.

North Face Mountain Athletics

Cold air, they don’t care. North Face continues their free Mountain Athletics outdoor workouts Tuesday at Lincoln Park and Thursday at Millennium Park even in the winter. If you are looking for a challenge, this is for you!

Each session, led by two The North Face trainers, prep you for outdoor goals. Sign up here.

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Chicago Park District

Looking for something local? Check out your nearby Chicago Park district building this week, January 2nd-10th, for free boxing, swimming, aerobic exercise and more.

Target Commit to Fit (with Adam Rosante and Idalis Velazquez)

It takes at least 21 days to start a habit so Target wants to bolster your fit meter with a free 21 day Commit to Fit workout program. Adam Rosante, certified athletic trainer, and author of “The 30 Second Body: Eat Clean, Train Dirty & Live Hard” and Idalis Velazquez, founder of IV Fitness LLC and the creator of the PowerUP60 training method, power through with you by leading a series of Target Youtube videos for abs, cardio and strength.

Dance

ARC Chicago

Join in a Dance Free for All January 5th-10th with the American Rhythm Center Chicago. Classes ranging from Tap, Break dancing, African Dance, Bollywood, Afro-Haitian and much more are all free!

Dance Fitness with Jessica

These short, high energy dance routines are lead and follow style but still could be club ready with practice. Jessica Bass starting a small group dance class in Knoxville, TN that expanded to hundreds of free Youtube videos in addition to a purchasable fitness program. Lace up your dancing shoes and prepare to werk.

If you don’t have twinkle toe or muscle head genes, stayed tuned for Part 2 of our Free Workout posts: Yoga and Running!

Free Nutrition and Fitness Event with Freshii and Trainology!

Posted on November 2, 2015 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

Quick: Name some famous duos!

Batman and Robin

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Freshii and…Trainology?

Teaming up this week, TRAINology Fitness Chicago‘s top trainer, Michael Wollpert will bring his “A” game and freshii franchiser and former personal trainer, Alex Blair, will bring the “lettuce” for a night of health and wellness tid bits, freshii bites, giveaways (we heart these) and Q&A, so ask whatever you like!

When: Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.

Where: The brand new funky fresh 1871 freshii location on the 12th floor of the Merchandise Mart.

What: An hour long fitness and nutrition talk with experts, Michael and Alex, moderated by A Sweat Life blogger, Jeana Anderson Cohen. Food and giveaways throughout the evening. RSVP to allison@trainologychicago.com to save a spot!

Your Best Halloween Week Ever!

Posted on October 23, 2015 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

It’s scary how fast October is leaving us. Don’t get left behind from all the fall festivities and grab the ghost by the sheet to get all the Halloween treats and tricks in. Saturday October 24th 2-5 pm/6-8 pm The … Continue reading →

2nd Annual Be Healthful Retreat!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

We love spending time with our ladies but the dinner, drink, repeat thing can be unhealthy! Get that girl bonding time in AND do something that can change your body, mind and heart with the 2nd annual BeHealthful Retreat and Conference series.

What: 2nd Annual BeHealthful Retreat and Conference hosted by Balanced Babe and sponsored by Jewel Osco

Interactive Panels & Workshops
Yoga and Movement Gallery
Holistic Oasis Marketplace with free spa services and light bites
Two zen lounges to chill out
Cooking demos, shopping, product samples

When: Sunday September 27th, 11 am-5 pm

Where: Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609—-free parking included

What are we looking forward to?

Shooo. BeHealthful is sporting an all star line up of fitness instructors! Rebecca Niziol, known for leading supremely relaxing yoga classes at Exhale Spa, is leading a meditation to close out. This will be sorely needed whether you sweat it out with a high intensity interval training sesh (HIIT) with Betina Gozo, Crosstown Fitness and Nike hard hitter or several other fitness options.

Opportunities for personal growth abound! Sessions like “Strategies for Leading a Fearless Life” and “The Art of Pitching” will stretch your mind.

Mmm how do you choose from so many spa options? Manicures, eyelash applications, hand massages, art therapy…better get there early!

Ready to buy tickets? Purchase them here and grab your gals for a healthful day of food, fitness and fun!

Fitness Friday: Equinox Ropes and Rowers

Posted on August 21, 2015 by CHIORGANICGIRLS

For those who haven’t been to Equinox, you’ve been missing out on a luxury fitness experience. Think top tier fitness instructors, a wide array of fitness tools at your fingertips and a cool lavender towel resting on your neck after busting your butt. If that weren’t enough, Equinox’s group fitness classes keep you on your toes as they constantly think of new ways to challenge your svelte regime.

Equinox has two new classes in heavy rotation: Best Butt Ever (who can say no to that! Bounce a quarter off this pup) and Ropes and Rowers. We wrangled our schedules to make time for Ropes and Rowers and the calories were roasted! We loved the interval format as we moved through 4 different stations: Rowing, Battle Ropes, Step Work, and Weighted Exercise Balls.

Here’s how to survive this intense class and feel like an Olympic Champion:

COME EARLY! We had a major fitness faux pas as Kate thought the class started at 6:30..soo…but our instructor Tanya from Equinox Lincoln Park not only made space for us but took time to get us set up and explain what was happening.
Get tough! Neither one of us have experienced a Battle Rope before. Battle Ropes are said to improve body balance, encourage functional fitness and boost mental toughness. Our favorite station included thwaping this heavy rope first, then pulling the ropes (attached to a heavy weight) all the way to you, and finishing with pushing the weight all the way back to start. Killer abs here we come.
Pace yourself and keep going! Even though the class isn’t super long (40 minutes with about 5 minutes of stretching), you will be surprised how exhausted you get after donkey kicking, speed water rowing, and Russian twisting your tail off! One of our rowing segments, consisting of 100 meter row sprints, took our breathe away (and not in the romantic way)!

Ready to battle? Check out Ropes and Rowers at any Chicagoland Equinox. Has anyone experienced the battle royale of battle ropes? Let us know what you think!!

Chi Organic Girls

Tag Archives: chicagofitness

Bar Method Challenge Check In

Practice makes Progress

Compliments, Compliments:

Nike and JW Chicago Fitness Showcase!