Wow, so I’m sure you’ve noticed dear reader, we’ve been MIA, hibernating for the winter, or on a covert mission abroad (choose your own conspiracy theory). Nah, life just caught up to us. Monica is in grad school and Kate’s … Continue reading
Have you ever been in a fitness class and felt a twinge in your knee during a lunge? Or how about that back pinch just from your regular morning stretch? You may feel as fit as a fiddle until one of those strings snaps, reflecting an imbalance in your body.
Full disclosure: both of us discovered the sucky-ness of injury this summer with pinched nerves and bulging discs. Stress+work/blog computer scrunching+cell phone snapping=a toll on your bod!
We were curious and a bit nervous when we got an invite to try a functional movement assessment with Jason Raynor, Master Nike Trainer. Raynor has a flex worthy list of fitness certifications and experience including a stint as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Washington Redskins.
Traynor Raynor demoing a walking side squat
We met up with him at one of his current sweat spots, the JW Marriot in downtown Chicago, to get the rehab and rebound experience of functional movement assessments. Think of it as self-help for your fit life!
Now let’s get to the fitty gritty deets.
Functional movement assessments can help you identify those instabilities, not only to prevent injury but to amp your athletic performance. Even amateur fit fiends like us could benefit by optimizing our every day movements.
Trainer Raynor guided us through the first 3 of the 7 movement patterns of the functional movement system.
Trainer Raynor evaluating Monica’s deep squat
But that was just the warm up! After each movement, he asked follow-up questions, gave feedback, and took detailed notes. Both of us had different areas of strengths and weaknesses. Kate had mobility issues with her hurdle step (think slow mo-hurdle) while Monica held tightness in her hip flexors that showed up as knee pain during her split stance lunge. (Check our short video post on Instagram)
Trainer Raynor teaching the proper hand and feet placement for a deep squat
Raynor tackled our tensions with personalized stretches and taught us how to move to protect from injury. Practiced consistently, these corrective exercises will wipe out your inconsistencies and put you in peak form!
Monica practicing a corrective stretch for her hip flexors
A detailed report is sent to you after your sesh to ensure you can “work it out nowwww” more efficiently and effectively. Trainor Raynor doesn’t just work on your fitness (although that’s Fergalicious enough). He targets all areas of health transformation with:
We are huge fit fans of the functional movement assessment and plan on going back to complete the screening. Ready to be that agile athlete hiding inside you? Contact Trainor Raynor for appointments and rates! Check out his profile on the following:
*We received one shared functional movement session in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
We run a ton in the name of charity: Burger and Beer 5K for Girls on the Run, Monster Dash for Team Ortho, Monkey Purple 5k (ok that doesn’t exist) but we think RUN 10 FEED 10 is one of the … Continue reading
Clean water is a cool commodity in the U.S. and the world. It is the one thing we cannot live without (as the show Naked and Afraid on Discovery Channel has demo-ed time and time again). Surge for Water, seeks … Continue reading
Do you wanna know a secret? We’ve been practicing yoga for years. It’s what brought our friendship to fruition. BUT! We’ve never taken a Yoga 101 class until now.
Studio Three’s new FREE Yoga 101 class offers a format that is accessible to anyone, from new yogis, to sweaty gurus (especially those who need patience practice). So don’t be nervous if you’ve never ventured into this world of open mouth tongue out breathin’. We checked it out 2 Saturdays ago and checked our assumptions at the door.
First Impressions:
Studio Three’s yoga studio features linen covered decorative lamps (good for staring at in a hard pose), hardwood floors and natural light to induce relaxation. Studio Three also features cycling and interval training in its other 2 studios.
Attending your first yoga class can be intimidating. You know, those people all stretching and showing off their wacky legs behind their head poses. However, our teacher, Todd Rhoades, was bubbly, welcoming and accommodating to all in the room. Luckily no one in our class was stunting either. Todd is multi-talented and has a background in yoga, and dance. This evident in his grace and ease at talking through poses.
Note: Emily DeBouver and Maggie McElhiney are teaching an “It’s Britney B*^#h” dance class on March 25th at Studio Three if yoga’s not your thang.
Format (may vary by teacher):
We began with pranayama practice, breathing in one nostril and out the other, sometimes feeling like a drowning hippo. Prana what, now? It’s a breathing practice for yoga to help you be in tune with your gorgeous bod. We then moved on to sun salutations with an explanation and demo of each step. Class may seem slow if you are used to quick vinyasa flow but we were sore after and learned a ton. Classes can cover a variety of topics including etiquette, form, history and/or alignment.
Where: Studio Three, 648 N Clark Street
Chicago IL, 60654
When: Saturdays, 1:45-2:45 pm
Bonus: This Saturday, March 19th, is Yoga 101 with QUICHE AND MIMOSAS!!
Sign Up: First, sign up for an account. Next, schedule yourself!
Already experienced? Studio Three could appease many a yogi with styles from Forrest Yoga (from the amazing Allison English) to Hot Power, Flow, or challenging Hi-Def (integrated yoga and strength training). We gots to go back and give another try another style.
*Update* 3/25/2016 Yoga 101 will morph into Power Yoga 101 for April.
Admit it. Sometimes, during tough workout videos, you lie there huffing and puffing hoping your virtual teacher won’t catch you slacking. That feeling is slightly guilty/awesome because you know this workout is challenging you.
It may seem that 20 minutes of fitness won’t do squat (HA!) but high intensity workouts can pack a punch for more energy and toning. We received a complementary Blu-Ray copy of the Women’s Health Ignite workout starring Next Fitness Star winner Nikki Metzger to test its fit factor. Nikki Metzger isn’t just some gym rat of the street. She’s a Master Trainer and owner of BODI gym in Scottsdale, Arizona. She’s not afraid to slap you with a bad @#s fitness routine.
Ignite fires you up with 3 x20 minute stand alone (or get crazy and plow through all 3) workouts. Bonus: An 8 minute bananas ab sequence in case you didn’t feel sore enough.
More of a traditional weights workout, but still maintains an interval format. Nikki demos the moves and sets before each change. Free weight usage is optional, removing intimidation for the recently sedentary.
Guacs, this is a doozy. Plyometrics take center stage for this cardio heavy chapter with crazy hard moves like the evil planky bear or real move name: Lateral Bear Crawl.
Your muscles will get HIIT from the front and the back with this 360 high speed interval routine. Expect 45 second sets with 3 sets in each rotation. Moves include modified burpees with a row added, plank walk outs and our Snapchat favsie: The Starfish Crunch.
Extra Extra! Get your 20 minute toning with Ignite here. Not ready to commit? Check out a preview of Nikki’s training here.
Looking for other workouts? Check out some suggestions from previous posts here.
What is it about Midwestern winter (and sadly sometimes spring) that can totally diminish your run game? The chill in the air, the icy scaled sidewalks, that daunting first inch of snow…man we wanna grab our snuggie and hot chocolate just writing this! We kept trying to figure out how we could keep running safely when the weather outside became frightful Snow solution? A fluffy white magical Yak picks you up and you sashay through the shivery slush…or you could try YakTrax for a more realistic tool for winter running woes.
What’s a YakTrax you ask? The name sounds like a new Dr. Seuss character and just in time for his birthday! But we digress. We read a couple of “Best of Winter Running Gear” articles and YakTrax brand traction devices dominated many a list so we ski jumped for joy when we were given a pair from Implus, fitness accessory brand leader, to trek across the blustery terrain.
Inspired by a Himalayan Sherpa, the original Yaktrax model features a spikeless coil design that grips the ice and snow with each step. Yaktrax Run’s combination of removable spikes and steel coils, providing 360° of unbeatable traction. Continue your training during the winter with the same stability you are accustomed to on dry surfaces. The Yaktrax Run can be worn in temperatures as low as ‑41° Fahrenheit.
Mittens Up (Yup, Thumbs Up)
Throw your mittens in the air if you just don’t care…about running in the cold. Here’s the positives about YakTrax Run and winter running.
Mittens Down (Thoughts for improvements and tips)
For you non-runners, YakTrax carries 6 other types of traction variations for any purpose from your ma’s walks in the afternoon, to your bestie who hits the ski slope every weekend.
Strap up your run shoes in some YakTrax Run coils for only $40 here, less than that Yak (about $2000) and besides Yaks weigh 700 pounds so where would you house them?
For now, the weather has us chanting the mantra of the post office: Neither rain, nor moderate ice nor snow can stop us from running–now that we have YakTrax Run coils. Maybe a tornado would stop us though…just sayin’. What do you think about YakTrax or other run traction devices? We would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and until next time, happy trails!
There’s absolutely no reason to skip working out this V-day, whether single ‘n mingling or tethered.
Check out our fit Valentine’s week events to get that serotonin flowing.
Run with friend, lova or future version of both at the Cupid’s Undie Run. Those cute skivvies and cold temps will make you extra fast, we’re sure.
Cupid’s Undie run is a 1 mile fun run and after party raises funds for research on NF (Neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumors to form in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves) and the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Wearing only undies is not mandatory so slap on some warm gear if you aren’t quite ready to bare all for the crowd yet.
Focus on self love with natural beauty care, barre and bubbles. Take a Saturday morning barre class, and join Dailey Method for Bubbles + Beautycounter on Saturday, February 13th from 8am-12pm. Enter raffle to win a fabulous gift basket filled with Beautycounter goodies at the studio.
Bubbles and Beautycounter included for members or with the cost of the class.
Exhale is rolling out the romantic red carpet with Valentine’s Day themed activities. Enjoy Chill Yoga with your boo, snap up some mini-manicures, work on your core with Core Fusion Extreme class and get stylish with Trunk Club. All activities are open to the public and first-come, first-serve.
Ready to paint the town PINK?
Stylisted & Bright Pink pair up on Saturday, February 13th at Siena Tavern for charity and cheer. From 11am – 1pm, head to Siena Tavern and indulge in mimosas and brunch bites. You and your Galentine will be treated by top hair and makeup stylists prep you for any V-day plans. Proceeds benefit Bright Pink.
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!
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!
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
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