SOMEONE TO CELEBRATE!

"My physical and mental health are so much better from being a member and taking advantage of all the opportunities HG Studios provides.  I honestly could not have made it through the pandemic years without taking classes regularly.  It was a HUGE stress relief for me, great to be WITH other human beings who were not my family members (I love my family) and exercise was one of the best ways I could help to take care of myself and in return take care of my family.  

I also participated in one of the 6-week Clean Cut eating program during that time, which helped me drop 15 pounds and find better ways to balance what I eat while not feel deprived.  I felt great, looked great and appreciate the opportunity to not only workout through HG but also learn to eat better. " - Becky L.

I don’t think I could say it was a fitness routine.  I would attend yoga classes at local studios maybe once/week.  I tried a few fitness programs that I could do at home, in my basement, but could never really stick with anything.  Working full time with young kids at home, I thought trying to workout at home would be a good solution, but I found it hard to motivate myself.

I was sick a lot – I blamed it on having young kids in daycare, but it was very much tied to lack of exercise and not having good health/eating habits.  I feel so much better now and while I still have room for improvement, I’m happy with where I am and owe it to myself to work hard and keep trying. I want to be strong for my boys not only as a role model, but also so I can keep up with them and be active with them as they grow older and more active.  I want to be that 60+ year old skiing down mountains and doing active things with them and not having to pass on fun experiences with them. 

My first class was a yoga class at HG, which I really enjoyed!  I tried to see if there was anything closer to me in Grayslake, but couldn’t find an option that worked for my schedule as a working mom, and kept reading rave reviews about the community at Heather’s Gym.  That Fall, there was an opportunity to sign up for Core Restore & More with Rachel Miller – it was educational + Pilates for post-partum women (and yes, I was well past what I considered post-partum).  With that program, we were given 6 additional classes to try at HG, so I took advantage of trying some classes and from there I was hooked and signed up as a member and haven’t looked back!  

Well, the reviews were right – the community is amazing!  It’s really hard to put into words, but it really is supportive, fun and keeps you coming back for more.  Heather has built a wonderful community of coaches and members and provides an endless amount of effort to ensure we are being coached and cared for…our long-term health is at the forefront of every class I take.  The coaches are top notch and do miraculous things to motivate their classes.  You can tell how much time and energy they put into planning for their classes and the music selection is always so perfect and helps to get you through those challenging moments in class.

The variety of classes has always been great and with RPM opening last year and Zen opening, there are even more options to choose from.  

ABSOLUTELY!  I love the infrared heat panels for yoga and look forward to being in a dedicated space.  The tranquility of a yoga studio has always been something I enjoyed in going to other studios and look forward to having that at Zen. 

Yoga helps me stretch, focus and quiet my mind.  Breathing is way more important than I ever realized and take for granted.  I realized I hold my breath a lot.  I think being a swimmer growing up, it’s what I trained my body to do and now I have to undo that as a grown adult and yoga helps with that.  Breathing helps in those moments of stress and helps to calm my nerves – which translates on and off the mat. 

Hot Up the Barre has always been my favorite class – I call it my multitasking class – heat panels+yoga+barre+pilates.  A great class to work those stabilizer muscles you don’t realize are as important as they are, until you have to do physical therapy for something. 😉   

I didn’t cycle that much when I first became a member.  I realized I needed more cardio and wasn’t enjoying running as much, so promised myself I would start cycling at least once a week.  I was intimidated, at first, by many of the experienced cyclists in the room, but worked hard and have found such a love for cycle.  I try to go twice/week mixed in with strength and Up the Barre or other yoga classes.  I used to think a friend was nuts for getting up on Saturday morning for Sarah’s 7am 60 minute cycle class and now I can’t imagine NOT going to that class.  The family schedule may get in the way a bit in the summer, but I’m still trying to find ways to be there when I can!

I am trying to figure out how I will balance between the three studios and mapping out a plan as Zen opens.  It’s a good problem to have when you have to choose between classes you love!  I find that when I vary my workouts, I feel the strongest and my best, so commit myself to doing just that and mixing it up between the three studios. 

Just start.  Start somewhere.  When I first joined, I went to 1, maybe 2 classes/week.  It’s all I could do at that time and I was okay with it.  I have gradually added more classes each week and feel my best when I go 4-5 days/week which includes a restorative stretchy yoga class Sunday mornings which has been so helpful for recovery from cycle and strength.  I also give myself breaks when I need it and on occasion choose sleeping in over class when I need that rest. 

As I added classes/mixed up classes, the better I felt.  If I do strength, 2 cycle and a barre/yoga class in a week, I feel like it’s a great mix for me.  As my kids got a little older, it was easier to step away and take that time for myself.   

Also, while it’s important to challenge yourself outside of your comfort zone, as that is where change and growth happen, be true to what you need for your fitness goals and work with Heather and her amazing team of coaches to achieve your goals.  It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but they are on their own fitness journey, not yours!