March 2024 Newsletter

Women’s History Month & International Women’s Day, March Matness, Supporting the Special Needs Support Center, and the Morning Mobility Routine

This month we’re celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day; donating late & no-show fees to the Special Needs Support Center in honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st; discussing the importance of recovery; brushing up on our Morning Mobility Routine; and going green for St. Paddy’s Day.
⚠️ The Studio will be closed on Sunday, March 31st. ⚠️

For Women’s History Month we’re celebrating the work of Chrissy King author of The Body Liberation Project; Professional Dancer Ingrid Silva; First Lady Michelle Obama, sister Studio owners, Sara Curry (Blaze in Portsmouth, NH) and Marla Thomas (Queen City in Burlington, VT) and our own Studio member and VT Senator, Becca White. Each of these women has advocated for DEI within their own field of work.

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day

“I am not an ornament or decoration for the world, and I don’t have to conform to cultural standards of beauty. I realized my life’s purpose wasn’t to be skinny — and I stopped obsessing over the scale — instead, I learned to love, appreciate, and accept my body in all of its iterations.” -Chrissy King

Chrissy King is a Writer, Speaker, Fitness and Strength Coach, and Creator of The Body Liberation Project™. After finding herself obsessing over her body (like so many women), yo-yo dieting, and trying every new fad health regime she began her real work, merging her passions for social justice and fitness to empower individuals within the fitness and wellness industry to “to create spaces that allow individuals from all backgrounds to feel seen, welcome, respected, and celebrated.” She has degrees in Social Justice and Sociology from Marquette University and has been featured in SELF, SHAPE, Health, Cosmopolitan, BuzzFeed, Muscle and Fitness, and Livestrong, among others. You can find her inspiring work through her Instagram Feed; her blog; many articles, like this one in Shondaland; as well as her book The Body Liberation Project How Understanding Racism and Diet Culture Helps Cultivate Joy and Build Collective Freedom. At the Studio, we are inspired and informed by Chrissy’s work to help all our members feel empowered, and to love, appreciate and accept our bodies.

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” -Ingrid Silva

Want to hear an unbelievable story of the woman who is now regarded as one of the best dancers in the World? Ingrid Silva is a Ballerina and Activist. She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 8, she began her ballet training at Dançando Para Não Dançar, a social project in the Mangueira slum. Following High School, Silva began her studies at Centro Universitário da Cidade (Univercidade) but soon moved to New York to attend the Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer, in 2007, on a full school scholarship. Soon after, she was invited to join the Dance Theatre Of Harlem Professional Training Program. She is on her 7th Season with the company. Ingrid has been featured in numerous media outlets, spoken at the UN Social Good Summit and Harvard University’s Latina Empowerment & Development Conference. She founded podHER, an organization created to foster the will for change within you. She’s also the Co Founder of Blacks in Ballet with the purpose of highlighting black ballet dancers and sharing their stories. She shares her life story in her book, A Sapatilha Que Mudou Meu Mundo (The Shoe that Change the World) and in her children’s book A Bailarina Que Pintava Suas Sapatilha (The ballerina Who Painted Her Shoes)

Ingrid embodies women’s empowerment and her story shows that womanhood is a super power!

“You gotta find the tools within yourself to feel visible.” -Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is well, Michelle Obama. Former First Lady and the first African American First Lady, she is also an attorney and author. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, she went to Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Her publications include American Growth a book about gardening and nutrition, her #1 bestselling memoir Becoming, and a follow up, coming out in paperback in April, titled The Light We Carry inspired by letters she received from people all across the country. The Light We Carry is also a Netflix Special produced with Oprah Winfrey. She also has a podcast where she dives deep in conversations with friends, family and colleagues to share tools for living in today’s world.

“…one of the most difficult lessons for all of us to learn…is that whatever you can do right now is enough. And the amazing thing about this practice is it doesn’t matter what you can do it just matters that your show up.“-Sara Curry

Would you believe that there is another set of sisters in yoga, fitness, AND in life? Sara Curry and Marla Thomas give us inspiration in our work and lives on the daily. Sara is founder and owner of Blaze Yoga and Fitness in Portsmouth, NH and Marla is founder and owner Queen City Yoga and Fitness in Burlington, VT.

Sara blends her incredible knowledge of anatomy and physiology to teach life-transforming classes and to pass this knowledge along in her teacher trainings (recent graduates include our very own Jess Moschetti, Heather Hopley, Amanda Addington.)

Marla and her husband Deshawn are building a community in Burlington, VT like no other. Bringing together the elements of physical and mental health, they are using their platform to also bring diversity, equity and inclusion into the world of fitness. We highly recommend following their account Queen City Yoga Fitness on instagram, especially their Black History Month slides for education on black culture, understanding cultural appropriation and examining our behaviors and actions and their impacts on others. They also make some of the funniest fitness reels. Any interest in a life changing 7 day yoga and fitness retreat? Check out Marakech with Marla and Queen City September 1-8!

“We must root our systemic racism in all facets of institutions, including criminal justice and police reform. I believe accountability for people in positions of authority, including elected officials like myself, is paramount.” -Becca White’s statement on Equity.

Senator Rebecca White, D-VT is a lifelong Vermonter and longtime member at The Studio! At the age of 20, Becca ran for a seat on her local selectboard and served two terms before being elected to the legislature as a State Representative in 2018. She served on House Transportation during her four years as State Representative before seeking election to the State Senate as one of the senators from the Windsor District. She began her term in 2023 and is co-chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus and the Future’s Caucus. Becca serves on many committees, as well as several not-for profit boards. We’re always happy to see her and her husband Dylan in class! To learn more about her and her work, you can follow her on Instagram or check out her website: www.beccawhitevt.com

March Matness

We do it for the fun (and the outfits, team names, and incredible prizes). It’s March Matness time!

Never played before? No prob! Here’s how it works:
1. Compete for points each week by completing challenges along with the week’s point bomb. Challenges will be emailed weekly and posted at the Studio on the March Matness Sheet.
2. Fill out the sheet with your points after completing the challenge. Teams with the most points at the end of the week (last class on Saturday) advance.
3. Advancing teams will be announced on social media and at the Studio.

Winners receive the Ultimate Prize Package and some major bragging rights (just ask 2023 Champs, Scotty Harris and Adriene Peraza). Thank you to our members and business sponsors! We have over 20 prizes worth $2,000 to give away!

FRC & Anatomy Focus of the Month

Sick of feeling stiff and achy? Check out our morning routine. Just 15 minutes will get your synovial fluid going, reduce inflammation, build neural pathways, assess your body and get it ready for your movement that day. This video is sped up, take these slow and assess your range of motion being sure to move around any pinching or pain you may encounter.

Overheard in the Hot Room

Feeling like you’ve plateau’d? Are you tired, not sleeping well, not making gains? You may need to incorporate a recovery day or two into your exercise regime.
These are some of our teachers favorite recovery (active & rest) day activities:

Kinstretch
Morning Mobility Routine
Walk/hike in the woods (ideally with the dogs!)
Yoga
Meditation
Hot cup of tea and a good book
Nap!

Charity Highlight

This March were spotlighting the Special Needs Support Center (SNSC). SNSC works to create a community where people with special needs, across the spectrum and throughout their life, can live their best lives. A portion of the month’s late cancel and no show fees will go to support SNSC programs. Make a donation, sponsor or volunteer and join us in supporting important programs for adults, youth and teens with special needs and their families.

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day! Keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming resources and action items.

Notes from the Front Desk

🍀 Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us! All week, starting Monday March 11th, everything GREEN will be 25% off.
Dress up in your good luck charms and shamrocks for classes with fun St. Paddy’s Day tunes on March 17th. ☘️