Extending the Circle

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Achievaloutions - March 2015

I added a jar to each classroom on our first day of classes in January and declared them our Achievaloutions Jars.
Students and visitors are encouraged to add notecards with their Achievaloutions (things they feel good about having done) throughout each month.

This series will share all of the Acheivaloutions in hopes of inspiring you to do good things AND notice them when you do!

March 2015:

"I went to my first full kickboxing class" - Mia
"Made it to Moxie Boxing despite the time change and did not put weights down during speed bag" - Anonymous
"I memorized my Torah portion (mostly) and have started my D'var Torah" - Veronica
"Learning that proper hand position is a glorious accent point to a movement" - Nancy
"Took steps to hire new help so I could do my job better" - anonymous
"A breakthrough in stamina" - Nancy
"I did my first yoga back bend!" - Melissa
"Came back to Kettlebell & endured with distraction" = Anonymous
"I signed up for the Race Against Hate!" - Donna S.
"Commenced Women Out Walking" - Anonymous
"Went out on a huge limb and added performance art to my list of experiences." - Malik
"I went to Kick Boxing today alone for the first time since mom wasn't feeling well. I had a great time! I hope mom's feeling better now." - Mia
"I wrote my 1st Sci-Fi story" - Roberta
"I finished the 1st draft of my book." - Mia
"Did not put my hand down for balance on sides in Pilates for the first time." - Tracy
"Got 2 weeks worth of blog posts out of the way for the month." - Anonymous
"Balancing work & fun more." - Anonymous
"I learned how to grapevine" - Aoife
"I walked 10,000 steps a day, everyday last week!" - Margaret
"4 performances over 2 days" - Roberta
"Making it back to Pilates this month has been great" - Anonymous
"Filed ALL my taxes on time." - Malik
"I worked on my personal pillars for my own life's 5 year strategic plan" - Donna
"Kicked off a new FUSED Chicago year" - Anonymous
"I tried bellydance even if I was usually on the wrong foot." - Anonymous
"I did two back-to-back Hip Circle classes!" - Donna
"Performed at ChiFi Convention. I am officially a nerd." - Roberta
"Got invited to a show after 3 rejections" - Anonymous
"I finished the first draft of my new play!" - Anonymous
"I got up the guts to talk to my dad about possible onset of dementia" - Anonymous
"Just did personal training & circuit back-to-back" - Roberta
"I renamed/rebranded my blog. Visit me at healthydonna.blogspot.com " - Donna
"I learned how to shimmy" - Anonymous
"Carefully retrained my muscles after a shoulder injury and got back to doing a full Kettlebell AMPD class with the 8 lb kettlebell." - Malik
"I now understand a piece of choreography that I was struggling with!" - Catherine
"I accompanied a friend to radiology appointment/consultation for 4.5 hours and took 5.5 pages of notes." - Anonymous
"I held a short plank for 90 seconds!" - Lindsey
"I have achieved the most awesome rank EVER! My niece (she's 10) wrote me a letter, listing 5 things she was excited about, including her birthday, Easter, her school field trip, DONUTS, and our gay wedding! I am as exciting as DONUTS! That's pretty epic!!!" - Anonymous
"I made it through 2 foam roller (Pilates) classes in 3 days! Yahoo!!!!" - Anonymous
"I danced with my daughter at her 1st CardioBelly class & she loved it like I do :-)" - Sara Jane
"I came to boxing & it was fabulous" - Roberta
"Got tax papers together" - Anonymous
"Drafted more Etsy listings" - Anonymous
"Auditioned (as was accepted) for the Thursday night Tribal Revolution show." - Malik
"This month, I worked out 8 (!) times at the studio, 4(!) times at the work gym AND hikes on top of that. This is the most I've exercised in a decade." - Anonymous
"Made it [to the studio] after a long night of dancing." - Anonymous
"Performed a jazz gig with a sound system that was NOT functional." - Roberta
"I volunteered at the Field Museum to lead 3 tours this month & increase science literacy in the population! I spoke to abut 150 people, in total, for March." - Anonymous
"I passed 8 Elements Initiation!" - Rebecca
"Worked on a difficult WBEW assignment" - Maike
"I registered for W.O.W." - Wendy
"Participated with Malik & Lyna at a feminism convention" - Roberta
"Mom and I got to go to CardioBelly. It was my first time going and I really liked it!" - Mia
"As of last week this is the longest I've kept up a workout routine since I was a student! (I'm 34)" - Anonymous
"Made it through the ENTIRE WINTER without a single fall." - Malik
"I chopped off my ponytail for pediatric cancer!" - Donna
"Making it here by 8:15 am DST" - Anonymous
"Helped a friend move things out (and am inspired by her to go declutter)" - Anonymous
"I lost 100 lbs!" - Rachel
"I've gone 7 weeks without eating sugar!" - Margaret
"I was able to spin in CardioBelly & not lose balance" - Roberta
"I stood my ground in a calm but stern way." - Anonymous
"I signed up on the Hip Circle team for WOW!" - Donna
"I started contributing to a new humor FB page" - Anonymous
"Got 100% on a math quiz." - Anonymous
"I finished my 2nd 100Days challenge (and started a 3rd) without missing a single day of recording." - Malik

Thursday, March 26, 2015

From Lazy to Lazyman

by Rachel Sobel

I’ve never been very athletic. I was always the last kid picked for teams in gym class. I played baseball and softball, but would have been solely a designated hitter if that option were available in Little League. Through my adult years, I squandered gym memberships and dabbled in group exercise classes, but never stuck with anything for very long. It wasn’t until I was over 40 that things began to change.

Nearly three years ago, I decided I didn’t want to be fat anymore. I went on a strict low-calorie, food-group-balanced diet. It was very difficult at first, but I allowed myself no leeway. For me, the harder part was incorporating exercise into my lifestyle. I started off slowly, exercising a few times a week at the YMCA. Every week, my only goal was to stick with it for another week. I was very self-conscious about my size and my limited abilities. In the beginning, water aerobics and walking were all I could comfortably do. I eventually added Zumba, taking pains not to glance at myself in the studio mirrors as I fumbled through the routines. I started using weight machines. It wasn’t fun, but I kept going.

Gradually, things began to change. As I learned the steps, I began to enjoy Zumba and looked forward to the classes. I began to see some muscle tone and ramped up my weightlifting. Toward the end of the first year, I began seeing a personal trainer at the Y, who taught me a lot and got me over being intimidated in the free weight room with all the boys. When spring came I got back on my bike. By the end of the first year, I had lost 75 pounds. I needed an entirely new wardrobe. Even my shoes and socks no longer fit.

In the second year, I started transitioning my diet to a more flexible way of eating that allowed me to have treats (and wine!) occasionally. Finding the right balance was tricky, and I’m not quite there yet, but I am getting closer to finding it.

By this point, I was enjoying working out and was at the gym 4-5 times a week. Exercise had become a habit. I started running in October. In the beginning, I could run only in quarter mile intervals, walking between them. It was more than a month before I could do a continuous mile. In June 2013, I ran my first 5K, The Race Against Hate. It was so hard, I visualized myself diving into the open doors of the ambulances waiting at the finish line, but I ran every step. I went on to run four more races that summer and fall. I also got more serious about cycling, commuting about 25 miles round-trip to work a few days a week and taking spin classes at the Y at 5:45 in the morning. I developed a regular routine in the free weight room.

Year two was also when I discovered yoga. My friend Becky told me about Elizabeth’s Curvy Yoga class at Hip Circle. I had always wanted to like yoga, but never did. My curvy body always got in the way! I tried Elizabeth’s class and was almost instantly hooked. She taught me how to work with the body I had. The small class was a great community, and there was lots of individual attention. I also loved the empowering vibe of the studio, and that there were women of all types and shapes there. By the end of year two, I had lost 15 more pounds.

I am now just past nine months into year three. I have now lost 99.5 pounds. (Yet my goal of 100 pounds lost still seems just out of reach.) I have an impressive musculature hidden behind a layer of flab that may never go away. But it’s not so much about my weight anymore -- it’s all about fitness. I’m happy with my body and everything that it can do. I don’t need (or want) to be skinny to look and feel great.

Today, I consider myself an athlete – a runner, cyclist, weightlifter and yogini (I’m still working toward swimmer). I do something active every day, often before dawn. I cycle twice a week, run 3-6 miles twice a week, swim once a week, lift weights twice a week, and take yoga twice a week. (Yes, that is sometimes multiple workouts in a day.) I take Kettlebell AMPD at Hip Circle when I need to shake things up a bit. In 2014, I ran two 5Ks and did three group bike rides ranging from 40-50 miles.

This winter, I completed the Lazyman Triathlon at the Y — twice! In six weeks I swam 5 miles, rode 224 miles and ran 52.4 miles. I have several races (maybe even a 10K) in mind for the summer, and am already registered for two bike rides. I am hoping to do a sprint triathlon this summer, if I become a more confident open water swimmer and can invest in a speedy road bike in time. In the fall, I plan to ride my first century.

I know that the odds of keeping the weight off long-term are against me. I am just one injury or illness away from getting off track, and I know how hard it is to get started again. And I will admit that I can be a little obsessive about my diet and exercise – they take up more mental space than I would like them to and that’s something I need to work on. But after nearly three years, I truly hope my active lifestyle is here to stay.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Why I Dance

This month has had a theme for me...time and time again I find myself addressing the question of Why I Dance, so it seems right to do so here, too.

When I first found bellydance I was looking for a tool - something I could add to my doula bag of tricks. I wasn't looking for something to change my life or fix anything or a vehicle for change in the world, but that's what I found.

Changed My Life

8 Elements = Family

Going from one class a week, to two classes a week, to teaching 6-week workshops, to developing a weekly class, to choreographing with a partner, to directing a student troupe, to developing additional classes, to opening the studio, to pursuing 8 Elements certification, to choreographing on my own, to developing the 100Days project - Bellydance has become a central part of my everyday life. With that transition has come a greater understanding of myself as a physical being, and the realization that I am (and forever will be) an artist.

Fixed Things

Zahara Fusion at Streets Alive
image by Maike's Marvels

Through bellydance I have found my way to accepting and seeing beauty in the physical form regardless of what form that takes. Seeing women of all shapes and sizes dancing is so powerful. I am proud to say that I am the closest I have ever been to accepting my own body without apology. Bellydance has also been a big part in my recovery process, both physically and psychologically, over the past decade. I would not be who I am today without it.

Changing the World

image by Karen Kring

When I taught a group of brand new dancers this week I shared part of why I dance bare-bellied. I told them that we, as a society, are so unused to seeing things that are real. When I get on stage showing my belly - flesh, fat, stretch marks, and all - I am embodying the motto of my student troupe: Real Women, Dancing for Joy. Through being myself and teaching women and girls of all ages and backgrounds I'm participating in a mini-revolution. And that just might change the world.

I hope you all find your bellydance, whatever it may be, and discover the thing that will change your life, fix what ails you, and helps you change the world.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Achievaloutions - February 2015

February 2015:

"Figure 8 chest over hip shimmy! It worked!" - Anonymous
"I booked another singing gig" - Roberta
"Roberta pointed out..."Making yourself laugh" is an achievaloution so I do that all the time." - Maike
"We made it to Bellydance!" - Deborah & Anya
"Spoke up on controversial topic." - Anonymous
"Framed pieces for my March ARC Gallery Textual Encounters Show." - Maike
"Delivered a commission piece to a Hip Circle Student." - Anonymous
"I started a business at school selling duct tape flower pens." - Ronni
"Went skiing for first time in 10 years!" - Anonymous
"I finished a book in half of a day." - Sammi
"I successfully edited a computer coding script at work for a program I was never trained in (MATLAB)"! - Anonymous
"My nostril piercing finally healed!" - Catherine
"I've consistently Moxie Boxed since May - which means I didn't quit Hip Circle after 3 months like other gyms." - Anonymous
"I gained greater control of my core." - Lindsey
"I flossed everyday this week and gave up sugar for lent!" - Logan
"Cardiobelly fogged up the windows." - Malik
"I have written 2 monologues this month so far." - Roberta
"Made it back to the studio for 4 classes after a month and a half away. And did a headstand in yoga!" - Rosemary
"Hanging in there." - Anonymous
"I survived my first kettlebell!" - Donna
"I didn't lose my cool the 3rd time I called Comcast. I did the 10th." - Anonymous
"I wrote a phenomenal monologue and performed it on Sunday." - Roberta
"I cleared my February email inbox!" - Malik
"I came to CardioBelly and the blizzard didn't stop me!" - Charlotte
"Malik had a Bra-velation!" - Anonymous
"Finished another Etsy shoot for my #EstyMatchCampaign." - Maike
"I managed a tech rehearsal of 40 lovely women who wouldn't stop talking and the concerts were great!" - Anonymous
"I inspired someone to fitness - my dad at 88." - Roberta
"I had a transformational gig on Sat." - Anonymous
"Convinced self that it was important to get out of my head and come to exercise class! (huge)" - Anonymous
"Submitted revised artist statement for a group show." - Maike
"Challenged myself physically by going x-country smiling and snowshoeing." - Anonymous
"I worked hard and made it into a Mudlark show!" - Anonymous
"Having lovely business - pow-wows with kindred spirits this week." - Maike
"Worked on 2 encaustic pieces for spring exhibits." - Maike

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Let it Go

In January, 2015, I put the following prompt up for potential guest bloggers:

Write about why you come to the studio, what happens in your class(s), what you ate for breakfast - whatever you want that you can tie in to the studio doings.

The In Their Words posts share the contributions of the women who answered that call, in their words, without edits. Enjoy!

Let It Go by Rebecca Sturgeon

I danced today. There was a time not too long ago when I wondered if that would ever happen again. But a little over a year ago, I started taking bellydance classes at Hip Circle Studio, and discovered a love for this art form that has enriched my creative life.

But the most profound thing is the love I discovered for something truly precious — my physical self. I danced today and almost without thinking, my body made shapes and moving sculptures in the air that were lovely to look at. I know — I have the video to prove it. I danced today and when I watched the video to learn from it, I thought about the dance, not about how my belly looked or whether or not I had a muffin top in this outfit. I danced today and I loved my bones and muscles for all things I have trained them to do. I loved the length and space I could take up with my arms, and the smile I could see on my face. I loved the heart that beat faster with every spin and jump.

A while back, I spent time with Malik learning how to engage my glute muscles for hip shimmies. We practiced for almost an hour — squeeze, release, squeeze release. At one point Malik said something like, “The release is just as important as the squeeze. You need to let go all the way.” Later, I realized how much that little idea meant to everything.

In this practice of dance and this learning, I could finally let go all the way. I could let go of all the negative body image and self talk that kept me small and hiding. And when I let go all the way, new things rushed in to lift me up. I danced today and I let go all the way of the doubt that I was not good enough or trained enough or thin enough or pretty enough. What rushed in was confidence, joy and some badass looking crossover turns.

I danced today, I am going to dance tomorrow, and every day to follow for a very long time. Every day I am looking forward to letting go, all the way, to see what rushes in.

Rebecca Sturgeon writes more about being a grown up woman in a strange new world at her blog,goingmapless.blogspot.com.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Achievaloutions - January 2015

January 2015:

"I am doing chores at home." - Augusta
"I had my first (and not last) kale smoothie today before I came to class." - Sara
"First class post-foot-surgery. - DONE!" - Debi
"I learned to bellydance." - Lilia
"I got strait As." - Anonymous
"Did a back-bendy yoga class without getting queasy." - Anonymous
"Took care of my beta fish." - Anonymous
"I've been healthy." - Alice
"12 days without sugar." - Anonymous
"I made time to work out 4 days in a row." - Donna S.
"Did a gajillion hamstring curls." - Anonymous
"I made a goal pyramid." - Donna S.
"Planned quarterly business goals for 2015." - Margaret O.
"I studied for a test." - Anonymous
"I did a headstand unassisted tonight. Twice!" -Rachel
"I finished a big project at work." - Anonymous
"I got to dance with my mom for the first time in a while. It was really great and fun. I missed those kinds of moments." - Mia A.
"I got a 96% on a test." - Anonymous
"Becoming very comfortable in my improv, seeing it as having organized parts - even when I don't know the music." - Nancy C.
"Came to 8:15 am Moxie Boxing on Sunday!" - Anonymous
"Completing my 1 year anniversary with FHCC VA job I so love!" - Deb
"I love bellydancing!!!!!!!" - Posie
"Spoke up about/to someone being inconsiderate." -Rebecca
"Finished my class plan & syllabus." - Anonymous
"I sang row row row your boat in a opera voice." - Anonymous
"Last week I made 21 calls for singing gigs!" - Roberta M.
"Purged and sorted all my hard copy files at home - got rid of tons of paper." - Catherine M.
"I completed learning the first Aliyah for my Bat Mitzvah." - Ronni L.
"I gave my fries to a homeless man instead of eating them!" - Anonymous
"Took beach photos every day this week!" - Margaret O.
"Did speed bag with 3s(!!!)" - Anonymous
"Woke up & came to 8:15 am Moxie Boxing after a late night out." - Mara J.
"I got my hair pink." - Anonymous
"I told my story in front of half the school." - Sammi
"I started the year off right with dancing with my daughter." - Sara Jane A.
"Nora and I choreographed an entire song! Yay!" - Ronni L.
"Got the new green card in the mail before February expiration. :)" - Maike
"Untangled a blue hip scarf! :-)" - Anonymous
"I tried bellydancing. :-)" - Meg
"I resolved a 5 month internet issue, and I finally have working internet at home. It was a huge battle and I feel like I achieved something great!" - Anonymous
"Launched my study/on-line survey." - Anonymous
"Did hundreds with toe touches in Pilates today - Woot!" - Anonymous
"Survived the first day of midterms." - Anonymous
"I booked myself a gig! (with no assistant & didn't get too mixed up)" - Roberta M.
"Exercise classes two days in a row." - Mara J.
"I finished 3 books in two weeks." - Sammi L.
"I checked out library books." - Anonymous
"Getting sales tax filed. :-)" - Maike
"I quit eating sugar!" - Margaret O.
"Making regular time to exercise even when it seems I am too busy." - Anonymous
"I conquered my fear of sleeping...in my dad's bed." - Anonymous
"Awesome insightful brainstorming with the WBEW group today." - Maike
"I baked 24 donuts and didn't eat one before class." - Anonymous
"Potty trained my daughter in a day." - Kristin M.
"My achievement I accept who I am!" - Anonymous
"I came here despite being so tired." - Anonymous
"Committed to fitness for 2015 in the coldest week of the year thus far." - Anonymous
"I've exercised every other day for the past 10 days!" - Jacqueline
"Getting my financial rear in gear (retirement planning)" - MVW
"I loved coming to class with my daughter - seeing her smile & enjoy movement is an achievement." - Anonymous
"I sang Happy Birthday in an opera voice." - Anonymous
"Performed and did an art show on the same night." - Roberta M.
"I took my first belllydance class." - Augusta
"I took my first bellydance class. (and loved it!)" - Sara
"I did a cartwheel in gymnastics class." - Miriam S.
"I rock at belly dancing." - Alice G.
"Started FUSEDChicago presidency. :)" - Maike
"There classes this week! Woot!" - Anonymous
"I learned two songs in a day." - Anonymous
"Feeling grateful I was relaxed in my morning school process." - SJ
"I got nominated to go to Washington DC and learn to be a better leader for 6 days by myself." - Ronni
"Got a B on Geometry Midterms!" - Anonymous
"Went to the MS neurologist who congratulated me 2X! For being in good control from working out." - Roberta M.
"I cleaned my room today." - Miriam
"I took advice from my mother to help me with a bully." - Anonymous
"Sold a painting Friday." - Roberta M.
"I learned some bellydancing!" - Lucia
"Finished 3 work projects before long weekend." -Mara J.
"I did yoga at home with the kids on our cold weather day." - Hannah
"Boosted productivity using the 52/17 technique." - Malik

Look at all the AWESOME we've done this month! Way to go, Studio Community! I'm looking forward to February!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Mama-Oxygen