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The Worst Winter I've Ever Had!
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I try to be an optimist but let's face it, November - March in Northeast Michigan can be tough. Short days, low sunlight, shoveling, bitter cold, blustery wind and having to put on 18 layers just to go get the mail can get old pretty quick.
The winter complaints usually begin sometime around early December each year from residents who are already eagerly awaiting spring temperatures.
Honestly I enjoy winter. Living 99% of my life in Michigan, I truly love our 4 season state with the scenery and activities that come with each new quarter. That is until last year.
The winter of 2015 was the most miserable I have experienced on record. For the first time in my life I became that person who on January 1st was constantly wishing it would break and spring would arrive. I kept trying to figure out why I was so unhappy with the season. Why for the first time in my life I was experiencing a severe case of winter blues paired with a side of cabin fever. What was different from this winter than all the others I had enjoyed so much? After zooming out to reflect on the situation from a bird's-eye view, the answer became clear.
I try to be as active outdoors as possible all 12 months of the year. This is not a goal or a plan, I just really enjoy "doing stuff" outside. This particular winter I found myself more constrained than normal by a 5-year-old daughter in her first couple months of kindergarten, a two-year-old boy ('nuff said), a 6-month-old business, not to mention what seemed like more paralyzingly cold negative temps than usual. The end result: an excessive amount of time indoors. I went snowboarding once, snowshoeing once or twice, ice fishing zero times and outdoor walks or playtime with the kids was limited to less than 10 minutes by the combination of two young kids with temperatures less than their ages.
That was the difference. The one thing that was causing my normally enjoyable winter attitude to be so depressing; Lack of Outdoor time.
It is now Feb of 2016 and I am happy to report a very different winter season than last year. Realizing why last year was so challenging, my intention for this season was to get outside as much as possible. We take the kids for walks to explore the winter landscape and features, go sledding or build forts as much as we can. I have begun leaving winter clothes and my snowshoes in my vehicle making it easy to head out when I have small chunks of spare time. I decided to try cross country skiing as another simple and low equipment way to get outside and play in the snow. The results have been nothing short of amazing so far.
So as we find ourselves approaching the later and most challenging parts of the winter season I encourage you make an effort to get outside as much as possible. Especially if you find winter to be a time when your mood is low. Anytime outdoors is well sent even if participating in the simplest of activities. Enjoy a walk through the neighborhood, down a country road, or on one of our really beautiful local trails. Then warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or tea.
-- Casey
Like what you see here every month?
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Performance Locker Presents...
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Valentine's Lantern Lit Cross Country Ski Event
Brought to you By
Performance Locker + Thunder Bay Trails + DNR
Sunday, February 14th 5:30pm-8:30pm
Celebrate the beauty of the outdoors with your valentine. Warm up around the bonfire and enjoy a few light snacks. We suggest to bring a head lamp along with your gear. Open to all community members and visitors free of charge. Appropriate for novice to advanced level skiers. A Valid Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles that drive into the parking lot. Thank you in advance. Inquires about this event can be sent to [email protected] or call the studio 989-884-1702!
Indoor Ride with Casey
Saturday, February 20th 11-12:15pm
Casey will lead you on our Real Ryder Bikes! Heart rate monitors will be provided to find your personalized intensity zone.
Open to anyone w
ho wants to ride, no membership necessary. And you do NOT need to be an avid cyclist, all levels are welcomed!
Cost is $10 for Members $15 for Non Members. Space is limited to four participants, don't wait to sign up!
Special Mauy Thai Boxing Class
Saturday, February 27th 12-1:30pmwith Guest Instructor Steve Krentz 
You said you wanted to kick! Here is your chance ;-) Muay thai is a striking art that utilizes punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. It is also known as the "art of eight limbs". There are many benefits that accompany learning muay thai such as increased cardiovascular conditioning, leg and core strength, hip mobility, and stress relief. Cost is $10 for Members and $15 for Non Members.
Click here to register!
Steve Krentz is
a Muay Thai practitioner. He began training Muay Thai in 2011 based out of US Muay Thai in Marquette, Mi. He immediately fell in love with the sport and dedicated the majority of his free time to learning and progressing with the goal of one day competing. In 2014, Steve competed nationally in the North American Muay Thai Classic which hosted over 500 fighters. During this class, attendees will learn the techniques of the sport while receiving a great workout!
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Maybe you're a history buff and already know all about Galentine's Day.. that around the 5th century, the
Normans celebrated Galatin's Day. Galatin actually meant "lover of women." That was likely confused with St. Valentine's Day at some point, in part because they sound alike.... OR Maybe
you're like most of the Performance Locker team and love the show Parks and Recreation...
There must also be a few fans at TIME Magazine because they came up with,
5 Ways to Celebrate Galentine's Day Like Leslie Knope!
1.
Make pancakes with your girlfriends to the soundtrack of
Hillary Clinton's
2008 "Glass ceiling" concession
speech
,
then discuss women in politics over brunch. *
2.
Play women's-only charades, including only books or movies written by or about women. Consider team names like "Geraldine Ferraro" or "Ruth Bader Ginsberg."
3.
Enlist your friends in a high-stakes poker game, and then donate the winnings to the
International Rescue Committee
,
to fund a year of a girl's education (only $58 bucks.)
4.
Binge watch Broad City
(another Amy Poehler project) and take a shot every time Abbi or Ilana choose radical acceptance over judgement or competition. Take two shots when Bevers does anything revolting.**
5.
Dance party. Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift only. No exceptions.
And no chocolate diamonds
, under any circumstances.
If you haven't watched the series Parks and Recreation you really should. It will leave you laughing for sure.
*
Or, throw snowballs at a concrete wall and watch them shatter like a glass ceiling ... depends on how much you like Hillary.
**We recommend replacing alcohol with fair-trade, organic green tea steeped for at least 5 minutes.
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When "Better" is Less Than Good
It is well-known that English is one of the most difficult languages to learn if it is not your native language. Part of the challenge with the English language is that so many words are used interchangeably. There are certain words that can be both a noun, and/or a verb depending on the context of the sentence. Often, we can't find the right word so we use one that is close enough but it's okay as long as others still understand what we are trying to say. Add in the fact that we Americans also enjoy making up our own words and we forget they weren't real until, you know, last year when that one movie came out.
"Take that
ginormous building over there, for
exemplification. It took an immense amount of
strategory to complete. They
misunderestimated how long it would take to build."
Unless you write for a living, most never consider the words we speak and how they shape our lives and our behavior. And for the most part, we're all smart enough to figure out what someone is trying to tell us even if their words or grammar are not spot on.
Sometimes, however, we overlook the impact a phrase or implied context of the meaning of a word has on our daily lives. Sometimes our relaxed use of a word over time can have a negative effect on our quality of life. This month we are going to take a closer look at the word "better" and how the way we use this word mutates our lives and our health.
When "Better" is less than good.
Read the full blog post and get ready for this month's Superhero Serum infusions
» Here
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Why do knees drop in during a squat? Why do pushups with arms wide feel easier?
Our body has a "Plan A" and a "Plan B" for movement.
Watch the video and learn which is which so you can spot when your body defaults to compromised positions.
If we know what positions these are, we can be proactive to assure proper form. You will also know when an exercise or workout is too advanced for your current physical abilities.
Move well, move more.
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Free Laser Focus Nutrition Session for All Members!!
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Starting January 2016 All Contract Members are Eligible to Receive a
Free
30 Minute Laser Focus Session with Nutrition Jedi Cheryl Bates, RD.
Laser Focus Sessions are designed to hone in on one topic of interest. This is your chance to discuss your topic of interest with Cheryl and to gain more clarity into your personal nutrition.
Take advantage of this free offering with our registered and experienced expert! Cheryl can help you separate fact from fiction
and provide answers to your questions. All members
have access to this exclusive offer during the months of January and February. All
members can upgrade to a 60 minute session for only $30. If you are not a member and you would like to sign up for a Laser Focus session check out our website to schedule or call us 884-1702. Not a member? That's ok! Will set you up with our expert at cost.
Pick a time and date that works best for your schedule!
Step 2: Complete Short Nutrition Survey
Complete the Nutrition Questionnaire at least three days prior to your scheduled appointment with Cheryl!
Performance Locker Nutrition Philosophies
#1:
Chew Your Food & Stop Dieting
(as in eat fresh whole foods and learn balance so you don't feel the need to "diet").
#2:
Learn the difference between eating to be thin vs. eating to be healthy
(we focus on the latter which is fairly opposite from what modern media and marketing tells us).
To help you streamline your nutrition we offer several educational formats but one that is most beneficial to kick-start a lasting, targeted change is a
30 minute Laser Focus session
. This is 30 one-on-one minutes with Registered Dietitian Cheryl Bates and the topic of your choice. Maybe you have special dietary concerns, maybe you need help reducing sugar, maybe you need help figuring out how to balance healthy eating with a hectic lifestyle. Whatever topic you choose, Cheryl will help you devise a plan to achieve success.
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Looking at Lunges with WBKB's Erika Fernandez
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Visit WBKB's Youtube Channel for More Fitness Friday Segments with Casey!
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Casey made another appearance on WBKB's Fitness Friday segment. Here he breaks down how to do a lunge properly. Learn how to avoid injury and how to get the most out of your workout! How do you know if you are doing them correctly? Watch the video ;-)
Good Lunges come down to pelvic position. Recall from previous videos where we discussed spilling your bucket?
Master the split squat before you "lunge" Learn how the wall can be your teacher and give you instant feedback on whether or not you are performing the split squat correctly.
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At Performance Locker, we are proud to offer a variety of Yoga classes taught by the highest credentialed and experienced yoga staff in the region. Read this article and gain a greater understanding of one of our diverse yoga offerings,
Vinyasa Flow Yoga.
So what is Vinyasa? How do you say it? Who is it for and why do you want to take it?
Vinyasa is a
Sanskrit word that means, movement through breathing. Next step is to sound it out... Vin (as in vin #) - ya - sahh (as in
ahhh that felt nice).
In a Vinyasa class the instructor guides you by linking the postures with the breath in a continuous flow. This is why Vinyasa Yoga is sometimes also called Flow Yoga or Vinyasa Flow.
Vinyasa classes are designed to be challenging; weaving balance and standing postures together. This style allows for a lot of variety and is centered around the strong foundation of
Sun Salutations movements.
We came across the photo above and the quote below on
Sportsetter Blog and loved it! "There is no one specific
rulebook on how to do Vinyasa Yoga. It depends on your teacher, and his or hers interpretation and personality. Because of this, it's important to find a teacher that teaches in a way that suits you...
It takes a few classes to get used to moving through the breathing, so don't get discouraged if you don't get it right away."
Vinyasa Flow is Perfect For...
- Individuals with a strong Yoga practice
- Individuals who like to challenge themselves physically and mentally
- If the words Vinyasa and Chaturanga mean something to you...
 (if not, we'll help you learn!)
- Active individuals seeking balance, strength, and flexibility on and off the Yoga mat
Unite your breath and movement with
Sam every Thursday at 9:30am and experience this fast paced class for yourself. Stretch and strengthen your mind, body, and heart in our Vinyasa offering,
Click here to register now!
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Performance Locker: New Host of the 4th of July Parade!
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Some of you may have heard that Performance Locker will be taking over as the host of the community's 4th of July Parade! When the opportunity arose as a result of the Chamber of
Commerce's need to transition the parade to someone else, and nobody volunteered to take the lead at a community meeting held regarding the event, Performance Locker said, "why not us?"
Performance Locker loves Alpena. We are so excited to be apart of this local favorite tradition. Watch the video to learn more from Casey!
Are you interested in getting involved in this community event?
E-mail [email protected]!
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Adventure Time! Sled the Winter Blues Away!
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Normally by February winter is leaving most of us looking for fun ways to stay warm while avoiding cabin fever. When is the last time you bundled up, grabbed your sled, and went flying down a hill? Bring joy, laughter, and health benefits through the simple activity of sledding.
Manning Hill located 18 miles west of Alpena on M-32 has been one of Alpena's favorite sledding spots for many years. It's one of the highest points in county and offers beautiful views of the winter landscape! Or go exploring and find your very own favorite sledding spot!
Spending time outdoors with the people you care about can help you forget about any winter blues.
Grab the kids or friends and enjoy this classic winter activity! It will boost their little hearts, refresh their minds, and promote teamwork between siblings (yay!).
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Makes a great gift for a friend or family member who has been wanting to join you at PL. Click on the image to purchase a Chalkboard Punch Card.
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