Exciting New Equipment Coming Soon

Over the next two months as we renovate the new ClubMynx studio, I’m going to update you on some exciting things to watch out for in the new space. It’s such an exciting time for us, as we expand on the areas of the studio that have done extremely well these past 5 years and also add some new things into the mix. Today I want to focus on some exciting new equipment to watch out for at the new digs:

13 x Brand New X-poles!!! I’m so excited for these new poles. Not only are they competition strength and fabulously 14 feet tall, they also have both stationary and spinning options, meaning we can integrate spinning into regular classes for an extra added challenge! Chrome finish and 45mm diameter (same as our current ones) these poles are going to be permanently installed requiring no set up for practice times, private lessons etc. and because of the competition strength we can also run awesome new workshops in the future such as doubles tricks. They are going to be amazing!!! We purchased our poles from (www.xpoleus.com)

8 x Aerial Hammocks!!! We just received our order of beautiful fuchsia pink aerial hammocks and they are so gorgeous. Once hung, these puppies will be about 8 feet long, and we’re going with a single point attachment system using hanging cable mounts, daisy chains, carabineers and the hammocks. Eek so exciting! We purchased our aerial hammocks from Aircat Aerial Yoga in Boulder, CO where I took my instructor training (www.aircat.net)

4 x Aerial Hoops!!! I’m so excited to bring over our aerial hoops (which have been at our offsite location since January where we have offered a few aerial hoop classes). These hoops are 39 inches in diameter, and will be hung in the same studio as our hammocks, from a similar mounting system using hanging cables, daisy chains and carabineers. One thing I absolutely LOVE about our new facility are the open ceilings with exposed beams, which will allow us to hang all of our aerial equipment with ease. Can’t wait to bring these fabulous new classes into the ClubMynx facility finally! We purchased our hoops from Calgary based company (www.municycle.ca)

Much more info to come as we move into renovation stage at ClubMynx!

Rockin Legs n' Abs - DVD Review!

Cleo The Hurricane, 2012 Miss Pole Dance Australia, is one of my favorite pole stars!! Not only is she incredibly strong and flexible, she has a sexy style and a rock n roll attitude!  I was super excited to hear that she was coming out with a DVD called Rockin Legs n' Abs!  I got the DVD several days ago but due to moving (mentioned in a previous blog post), I hadn't had a chance to use it until yesterday.  Check out my review below.

To start, here's the preview to the DVD that she posted on her YouTube page Cleo The Hurricane (make sure you subscribe to her YouTube page!):

This one hour program is focused on helping you improve your strength and flexibility focusing on abs and leg.  It's broken down into 9 chapters so if you are short on time, they suggest you mix at least 4 chapters including the warm up.  I love that they suggest this because you have no excuse not to work out if you don't have time for the full hour.

If you watched the video above, you can see that her legs are incredible!  After doing this video only once so far, I admire her even more because it's a lot of work to get as strong and as flexible as she is.  When you watch the DVD, she is really encouraging (who doesn't want a pole super star yelling at you to keep squeezing your buns?!), and I like that she encourages you to stay consistent and follow a healthy lifestyle.  She makes you feel like it's attainable for everyone if you are willing to keep with it.

I have bought a lot of pole related DVDs and this one is one of the best in terms of production and getting the most bang for your buck.  You don't need a pole (she uses a chair), so anyone can do this at home.  It's a really tough workout (I may or may not have pressed pause several times throughout the workout to rock in the fetal position as my body questioned why I was doing this!) but I felt fantastic once I was finished.  Once you reach the stretching portion (both middle splits and front splits), your legs are so warm from the workout that you get a really deep stretch after.  I'm sure improvements will come quickly!

The best thing about this DVD is that it's challenging so you won't get bored with it.  She has a chapter on Advanced Leg Holds that is so inspiring that you will feel motivated to continue to work hard.  I loved that I felt so strong after the workout... can't wait to do this again today.  I highly recommend every pole dancer, regardless of what level you are at, to get this DVD!  It's fantastic!

You can get your Rockin Legs n' Abs DVD on Cleo's website:  http://www.cleothehurricane.com/portfolio-view/rockin-legs-n-abs/
Check out her Rockin' Fitness Wear:  http://www.rockinfitnesswear.com/
Check her out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/cleothehurricanerocks?fref=ts

My Smile.

This week has challenged me in a way I never knew was possible.  All my plans disappeared in the blink of an eye.  I received some personal news that shook my world completely and only now am I feeling like the storm has passed and now it is time to clean up the wreckage and move forward.  I think it is important in life to address your fears and your emotions and doing that doesn't mean you are a weak person - it means you are strong enough to face them and conquer them.

The physical feature I am most complimented on is my smile and I am disappointed I let myself cover that up for a few days - but I'm back and I'm back with more strength, more love, and more joy then I have ever known.  Life is meant to shake you up, to push you in different directions and even though I felt unprepared for this one I am now ready to tackle it.

I hope you all have a fabulous long weekend and that you indulge in some delicciiiiouuusss chocolate goodness!  Most important - make sure you share that smile of yours with everyone.  You don't know what anyone else is going through but if I could share one thing with you it would be that:  A smile on ones face almost always lights up anothers!

 

Freestyle!

Music To Get You Movin!
- Set It Off ft. Lazerdisk Party Sex - Diplo (The Fat Rat Remix)
- Greyhound - Swedish House Mafia
- Blow The Roof - Flux Pavilion
- Gangster's Paradise - Bombs Away
- In The Dark - Dev (Tiesto Remix)
- I Need Your Love ft. Ellie Goulding - Calvin Harris
- Feel This Moment ft. Christina Aguilera - Pitbull

2013 Pacific Pole Championships

The 2013 Pacific Pole Championships were held on March 15 & 16 in Los Angeles.  Here are the results and performances for the Level 4 Championship:

Champion:  Mary Kolacinski

Runner Up - Pink Puma

Time to move on

A few weeks ago I posted about a 20/20 challenge I posed to myself and I’m sad to report that it didn’t work out so well. Not only did I lose my way big time with tracking in my food journal, BUT I also didn’t have success with my goal of doing 20 min of hammock and 20 min of barre every day for 20 days. I don’t really have any good excuses, but I’ve decided that instead of continuing to feel horrible about this, it’s just time to move on. I know many of you are also on your own personal health and wellness journeys and although I think it’s great to share successes along the way, it’s ok to share setbacks too. Remember that no one is perfect, every day is a new day and a fresh start, and this is a journey. We’ll get there! 

On a positive side, for the past two weeks I have been experimenting with eating wheat free. I’ve tried some new recipes and I have to say it’s been a lot of fun and an interesting experiment. Some of the biggest benefits I have seen these past two weeks have been:

-        Less headaches

-        My skin has been very clear

-        The cramping and bloated feeling I had most days has greatly reduced

-        Less heart burn

-        TMI but it also happen to be “THAT” time of the month this past week, and I was amazed that I barely had any cramping! I had read that this should happen, but when it did I have to say I was very surprised and so happy! Yay for that and not needing pain killers :) 

It’s been wonderful, and I plan on continuing as I feel so good! The next thing I want to experiment with is reducing dairy in my diet. I’m a cheese lover, so this is going to be challenging but I want to experiment and see how my body reacts. I’ll let you know how it goes! 

Florida Pole Fitness Championships

On March 2, 2013, the Florida Pole Fitness Championships were held.  Here are the results and their winning performances!!

Champion - Nicole Landkas

Most Artistic - Cali DeArmas

Most Athletic - Sarah Jade

Congratulations to all the competitors!!  For more results, check out the Florida Pole Fitness Championships' facebook page:  Florida Pole Fitness Championship FB Page

Possible.

Image Source:  http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/602666_10151252208482984_992906893_n.jpg

"I don't need easy, I just need possible." - Bethany Hamilton

 

Just Breathe......

Im not sure how many of you believe in horoscopes and the like, and I am on the fence sometimes. But occasionally, I read one that is so accurate - I guess eventually one will relate to you hahaha - but sometimes I cant help but think that all my problems are due to the planets.
Full moons really do bring out the crazies, so why wouldnt a mercury retrograde (google it lol) cause problems too?

Anyway, recently there was a mercury retrograde - it just ended Monday - and they say when Mercury is in retrograde, it stirs up stuff and causes problems and all around stressors in your life.

I found this interesting thing on the internet about a psychologist teaching stress management to an audience.

The story goes....  She raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”


I really like this. Because it is very true. The more you dwell on something going wrong in your life, the worse it becomes. The more you over analyze something, over think something, or over react, the worse we make it out to be. Even the small things like burning your supper, or the slow moving traffic, or that longer than necessary grocery line up can seem so much bigger if we dont let it go. Remember, the only thing you can control is your reaction. So take a minute before you react. If you have absolutely no control over a situation, its probably best to let it go as there is nothing you can change anyway. 
When everything is going wrong in your day, your week, or your life, stop and think for a second about the things you can make better by letting them go. 
At the end of the day, try to let go as much as you can so those things dont follow you into the next day. 

Of course with some major things in life, this is a lot more challenging, but even the smallest of things can make the largest impact :o)

A Butt Kicking Kinda Weekend

The best way that I can think of to describe this past weekend is 'whirlwind.'  It was an amazing weekend full of progress and training.  To start, I hit the 1/2 way mark in my marathon training and ran 21km!  I was so excited and proud of myself and it pushed my mind set to keep training and to continue to fight for my goal.

Then, after a wonderful day of running, my next day was filled with hours of participating and shadowing in Keeley's Aerial Hoop classes!  Monday was also filled with shadowing for Brigitte's Aerial Hoop classes!  I am SOOO excited to share that I am officially in training to start teaching Aerial Hoop and I could not possibly be more excited!

After such an amazing weekend, this week has started off with a bang!  I feel beyond inspired, motivated, strong, focused, anddd I guess I've also got some wicked bruises and sore hands to go alongside that BUT I like to think of them as wounds I earned and am proud of.  I worked my butt off this weekend!  I pushed myself so hard that in Brigitte's classes on Monday I just couldn't sit there and shadow and not get up on the hoop that I scooted my little hiney up on there only to be soooo sore that I wished I had teleporation powers just to get myself out of the hoop without having to touch it again!

I LOVE everything about hoop and about training for the marathon.  None of it is easy but most things in life that are worth it aren't easy.  That's what makes them so beautiful and unique - only the people brave enough to go for them can have them!

 

 

Try Something New!

Changes

These past couple months have been filled with change!  In one of my first blog posts I talked about quitting my job at the university.  This past weekend is another big change... my husband, two puppies and I moved to a condo downtown.  I am so excited about this because I can see the new studio location from my window!

Scattered among these big life changes, are many other smaller ones and honestly, some of these changes I have met with more resistance than others.  These past couple of months, I have really learned that regardless of what's happening, life continues to move forward, and the best way to deal with it is by rolling with the punches.  I have some fantastic friends (Mynx girls!) that have really helped me with this.

If you are going through some changes that may be happening a little faster than expected, here is something to keep in mind:

(Photo credit: unknown)

An exciting day!

I had a really fun day today and just had to share! First news to report, the phone cables and some electrical pre-wiring went in to the new ClubMynx facility courtesy of a good “mr. handy dandy friend” Jeff O (and my hubby Morgan and brother-in-law Eric). Yay progress is already being made…and I can’t wait to take possession of the new space April 1st and really get renovating! Pics to come I promise!

Second exciting news, I completed my last class of Aerial Hoop Level 1 today and had such a good time. In class 3 I was finally able to do the basic invert mount – hooray! It’s definitely been a challenging program for me, and I’m planning on repeating the first level again before thinking about moving on, BUT I really had a fun time learning all of these awesome aerial moves. Here’s a pic of me captured today courtesy of Shannon (I'm in the back and I believe Shannon is the one who is fabulously upside down in the front).

Third item to share, I’m one week in to being “wheat-free” and really enjoying it. I’m happy to report I’m down 3lbs this week. I have been doing lots of reading about a wheat-free lifestyle and trying new recipes and it’s been interesting and fun! Today I made two batches of the “Wheat Belly Tortillas” so I could have a bunch on hand for the week and it was my first time making them. They turned out pretty good. Mine didn’t turn out to be flexible like a regular wrap would be, BUT they are a great consistency to have for a sandwich. For lunch I made a sandwich with turkey, mustard, and cucumbers and used a tortilla like a sandwich and it held together really well.


Here’s a pic of what mine turned out like, and the recipe below courtesy of Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis, MD:

(Recipe makes 4)
1 cup ground flaxseed
4 tbsp almond flour
¼ tsp sea salt
2 eggs 
Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together all dry ingredients, and then whisk in the eggs until combined. Divide dough into 4 equal balls. Roll each ball between the 2 pieces or parchment paper until approx. 6” round. Bake for 5 min or until golden.

Per serving: 205 calories, 11g protein, 10 g carbs, 16 gs total fat, 1 g sat fat, 9 g fiber, 136 mg sodium.

Flaxseed Wrap Recipe

A few days ago we hosted a houseful of people for the Toronto/Pittsburgh hockey game, and it was a pizza and beer kind of night. Luckily I have a health nut sister-in-law Rochelle who is always finding amazing ways to create healthy options, and she made the healthy ladies in the group home-made pizzas. The base was a flaxseed wrap that she got the recipe from the “Wheat Belly Cookbook” and it was really good! The next day I decided to purchase the cookbook, and it’s really interesting.
Personally no matter how “healthy” I seem to be eating, I still wake up feeling so bloated most days and I don’t really see any progress.  The Wheat Belly book has some great information about why going “wheat free” is best, and so I decided – why not give this a try. So I started wheat free a few days ago, and it’s remarkably been pretty easy, and boy oh boy do I feel better in the mornings when I wake up. Much less bloating! Anyways, I’ve tried every healthy eating food plan there is, so I’m not going to scream at the top of my lungs that this is THE answer to everyone’s dreams, BUT I can share personal experiences as I test it out myself.

This morning I woke up and made some more wraps to have on hand for lunches etc. and it was so easy. The recipe is below for those that want to try it:

Flaxseed Wraps (From the Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis, MD)(Recipe makes 1 wrap)
3 tbsp ground flaxseed
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp paprika
Pinch of sea salt or celery salt
1 tbsp coconut oil melted, plus more for greasing the pie plate
1 tbsp water
1 egg

Mix together all dry ingredients. Stir in melted coconut oil. Beat in water and egg until well blended.
Grease a microwavable pie plate with coconut oil. Pour batter and spread evenly. Microwave on high for 2-3 min. Let cool. To remove lift edges with a spatula.

Per serving: 328 cal; 11g protein; 9 g carbohydrates; 29 g total fat; 14 g saturated fat; 7 g fiber; 413 mg sodium.

Inspiration

(Photography by Holly Marquette)

New Personal Challenge!

A few weeks ago I wrapped up my 1 month to 2,000 push-up challenge and I’ve been thinking of starting a new challenge, as a way to keep motivated every day. Yesterday I met with Tara who is leading the development of the ClubMynx Barre Fitness program, and she started introducing me to some of the awesome Barre sequences we’re going to be offering beginning in June. Oh My Gosh my legs were burning after about 15 seconds! How can such little lifts, tucks and squats be so killer?? Haha it’s awesome, and for all of you who know Tara, she has a way of “torturing you nicely” so in a really sweet way about her, she had me doing some quad/glute KILLER moves. Fast forward 3 months from today and my plan is to be able to TEACH this Barre program, so I have a lot of work to do to get conditioned.

So this morning I woke up at 5am with determination on my mind and decided to set a new personal challenge called 20 in 20.

My personal challenge is to do 20 mins of Barre Fitness + 20 mins of Aerial Fly Fitness EVERYDAY for 20 days straight. As with any fitness goal, I know I’m going to see the best results if I combine this with healthy nutritional practices, so I am also adding to this challenge to eat healthy and track everything I eat for 20 days in a food diary. I’m using a app on my Iphone called MyNetDiaryPro. It may not seem like a very big or long goal, but for me it is. I usually fall of the wagon of tracking my food after about 3 days so 20 is a long time for me! I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

If you would like to join in the fun it’s easy! Just choose 2 types of exercise programs you can do easily everyday (if you need some motivation ClubMynx has some awesome follow-along videos on Local On Demand TV on Sasktel Max). Let me know if you’re joining in the challenge. Here’s to a fabulous 20 days!!!

Fire Within

Image Source:  Pinterest

 



I woke up today with an incredible feeling of determination - I would almost compare it to rage.  I woke up wanting to take on the world.  And that's just what I am going to do.  I will take full advantage of this power and I am going to use it to kill my workouts today with it.  I am a firm believer that if you leave a workout without sweat dripping down your face you haven't done yourself or your workout justice.  Get back in there and make that workout count!!!   

Here's a little morning butt kicking workout (no equipment required) to get that blood moving: 

25 push ups
30 crunches
50 second wall sit
10 tricep dips
60 second plank
30/leg lunges
35 squats

Do 3 sets.

 

Class Manners

Today we are going to take a few moments to reflect on some basic class manners when attending pole classes.  Keeping these friendly tips in mind will keep the studio clean, positive and safe for everyone!

(Photo credit: Niaomi Loveridge Photography)

1. Don't forget to clean your pole.  iTac is amazing pole grip to use; I love it!  Unfortunately, it takes some time to clean off your pole (we recommend using Mighty Grip cloths for this!).  Not cleaning pole grip off your pole is like going to the public restroom and not flushing the toilet after.  No one wants to be the person to use it after.  The same applies for poles.  Whether you have a private lesson, are taking a pole class, or are coming in for LadyMynx pole practice, it's really important to clean your pole when you're finished.

2. Come to class on time. Showing up for class a few minutes late is not only distracting for the rest of your class, it's not very polite.  You may have also missed important announcements at the start of class.  As a side note, a big thank you to the people who know you are going to be late and give your instructor the heads up the week before. 

3.  Know the appropriate times when to talk in class.  If you've taken one of my classes or talked with me at the studio, you probably know I like to talk!  I love interactive classes, I love talking with everyone about their pole journeys, sharing the pole experience is one of my most favorite things!  It's also something we encourage; chat with your fellow pole participants, encourage each other, share tips, etc.  However, there is an appropriate time when to talk and an inappropriate time to talk.  If your instructor is teaching a move, that is not an appropriate time to talk.  If your instructor is talking about an important safety tip, again, not appropriate.  When you are talking during these times not only are you not hearing the information, you are distracting other people as well. 

4.  Properly cleaning and putting away equipment.  You instructor may get you to use different weights, mats, etc. during the conditioning portion of your class. It's important to clean the equipment and properly put it away (this includes hanging the purple yoga mats neatly at the back).  If you like to have your own towel, which is found in the black basket near the door, remember to put your dirty towels in the basket in the washroom.

5. Bring your good vibrations to class!  Nothing sucks the happy energy out of the room like a poor attitude.  Everyone has bad days, but bringing your bad attitude to class not only takes away from your experience, it affects those around you.  The following phrases should not be in your vocabulary:  It's not fair. You're not teaching me properly.  This sucks.  I'm not trying that, it looks too hard.  (yes, I have heard all of these at some point.)   Remember, we are all adults, and we are all responsible for our own learning and experience.  If you come to class with a positive and willing attitude to try, not only will it make your class experience more fun, it will improve everyone's class experience!  

Hitting My Wall

Image Source:  A Piece of Toast Blog

 



Yesterday was an incredibly difficult day for me.  Training for the marathon has been going really well and the bonus is that I can use my cross training day for pole!!  I have been incredibly proud of myself and the progress I have made.  It hasn't been easy putting in the work everyday but I have.  I'm still not sure if the full marathon (42km) will be possible for my body but it's still what I am working towards.  I have noticed even my runs getting easier to accomplish.  By that I mean less and less I find the need to slow my pace down or even walk for a bit.  I am consistently improving and there is nothing more powerful than feeling like you are progressing.

 

But then I hit a huge wall yesterday.  It was one of those days where nothing goes right.  I basically woke up on the wrong side of the bed and couldn't shake it for the life of me.  I was beyond exhausted, had a headache, was grumpy, felt bloated and uncomfortable, I was running late for absolutely everything I had going on, and then to top it off I left my headphones at home.  (I am a type of person who cannot for the life of her run without music blasting through my ears).  I decided instead of going right to the gym after work I would head home to grab my earphones and head to the gym afterwards.  My poor mood and bodily aches yanked on my will to get my run in and instead of heading right out to the gym I lay on the couch trying to have a nap.  After unsuccessfully napping about an hour later I got off my butt and dragged it to the gym.  Feeling pretty proud of myself I went in to get changed for my run and got slapped again with icky feelings.  I was already feeling pretty gross but then I looked in the mirror and felt uncomfortable.  I quickly shook that thought away because I was determined to push through and get my run in. 

 

I got on the treadmill and warmed up.  Shortly into the warm up I was completely out of it - i couldn't focus on anything, i couldn't keep pace for the life of me, my body was telling me to stop in every possible way and for the first time since I have really started to train, I quit.  I got off of the treadmill, grabbed my coat and got into my car.  Tears quickly filled my eyes with pure disappointment in myself.  It's not easy for most people to accept defeat but yesterday was definitely my wall.

 

The neat thing about a wall is that once you hit it, it's time to climb up and over.  I'm an incredibly lucky girl because I have some of the best friends in the entire world (just so happens they are Mynx ladies too) and they helped remind me that its okay to have a bad day and to not feel disappointed in myself.  I can only go up from here.  I think it's important to always surround yourself with a great support system - friends, family, co-workers - whoever!  But surround yourself with people who constantly challenge you, motivate you, support you and ultimately are your biggest cheerleaders.  I'm slowly learning to overcome my walls when I hit them and it's not easy but I think its worth it.  If things didn't challenge us in life they wouldn't change us. 

 



 

Change is in the air!

Its been a while since I have made a post on here!
Im always amazed at how fast time goes.  Also every post I was going to post, someone beat me to it!

Today Im going to talk about change.
There is a lot of change happening around everyone right now.
Personally my life has completely changed in the last year.  I am moving into a new place April 1st, going on a hot holiday (with Ashlyn!!) April 6th, and for ClubMynx we start renos on the new space April 1st!

Its great timing as with Spring, there is change.  The world around us goes from brown and grey, to green and blue. Flowers bloom, grass grows, the warm sun shines, birds are active and new insects emerge.
It is a time of renewal, regrowth, and rebirth. Not only does this apply to the season and nature, but to life as well. Its a great time to change things in your life, make new goals, start a new book, or rev up your exercise routine.

We go from hibernation mode, to social butterfly mode. I can not wait to sit in the sun on a patio or a deck somewhere and enjoy a drink with the people I love the most. 

I can not wait to get into my new place and simplify my life. De-clutter my space and have less.

I can not wait to get into this new studio space and watch it grow, watch it emerge in to the beautiful vintage burlesque butterfly.  Right now it is merely a few walls and some drywall.

I can not wait for the fresh new classes, new studios, new look and the renewal of energy and life in the people who make ClubMynx what it is.

Change can be scary. Its the unknown. We are most afraid of what we dont know, the fear of the unknown. But you know what? Change and the unknown can also be exciting as well.  
In the past couple years, positive quotes and sayings are partially responsible for getting me through drastic life change.
I found this one and I absolutely love it.  It applies to anything and any situation.

"For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must become completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. For someone who does not understand growth, it would look like complete destruction." - Cynthia Occell