SPRING AWAKENING! A SNEAK PEEK INTO OUR NEW SPA THERAPIES FOR APRIL
Spring is all about renewal, revival and re-awakening. Embrace the nature of the season by ascending into April with two new refreshing and uplifting spa therapies. Enhance the of your lashes with a rejuvenating Lash Lift
Read MoreYou work hard. You pushed yourself in class for a power-packed hour. Your muscles are sore, your legs are shaking, and your hunger is raring! After a challenging fitness class, you feel that extra sense of enlivening accomplishment paired with an instinctual hunger to recover. This is a very crucial moment in your fitness journey. In order to maximize the results that you’ve worked so hard for in class, it is important to choose the right food to eat afterwards. Feed that well-earned hunger with foods that will repair your muscles and that will keep your metabolism running at a healthy pace! Our key rules of thumb when it comes to smart post-workout snack choices are water, protein and low amounts of sugar. These fundamental elements are the building blocks of restoring your energy, maintaining
Read MoreThe process of shaping your brows is no longer simply about plucking and waxing with a stencil to fit a one-size-fits-all mold. According to our Exhale Spa brow specialists, brow shaping is an art aimed to frame your face and enhance your natural shape. Our top waxers are committed to providing a high quality, and personalized shaping regimen that will keep your brows looking consistently shapely and fabulous. We’re thrilled to share a little bit more about our top brow Queens here at Exhale in New York City.
Read Moreby Edward Vilga There’s an ancient parable about blind men encountering an elephant for the first time. Each feels a different part of the animal––tusk, side, legs, tail, etc.––and each has a completely different take on what he’s experienced. Depending on one’s version of the story, they either come to blows or remain baffled, each person convinced they’ve tasted the absolute truth, yet each confined to his limited experience. The same can be said about experiencing yoga for the first time — you may have heard a lot about its benefits — ranging from increased flexibility to sweaty calorie burning and strength building, to deepened serenity — but you aren’t quite sure where to begin. In fact, yoga classes at Exhale range from offering something deeply sweaty (like POWER), to emphasizing graceful and expansive movement (like FLOW), to exploring stillness and ease (CHILL). How is it that so much can fall under this very broad “Yoga Umbrella?” Indeed, it’s fascinating that something as rigorously demanding as Power (where students could be holding forearm plank for a minute or attempt a challenging push-up variation) to Chill (where 90% of the class is spent lying down and using props), can share the label of YOGA. And yet, oddly the distinctions seem to be relatively minor, given the stronger commonalities the classes share. First and foremost, in any yoga class, there’s a strong and continuous emphasis on BREATH. While in other Exhale classes such as Barre or HIIT, the breath might be mentioned, it’s not usually a continuous part of the instruction. In yoga, however, it’s absolutely central. In Flow and Power, I’m calling out “Inhale” and “Exhale” pretty much every moment, particularly in the sun salutation flow. In Chill, I’m continually bringing the breath into the class’ awareness while holding a deeply still pose or while offering a guided meditation. Blog_0415 Another hallmark of what “makes yoga, yoga” is obviously an emphasis on stretching and increased FLEXIBILITY, even though that can look quite different in each type of class. (One aside: by far, the most common objection I hear about someone NOT taking yoga is that they aren’t flexible enough; ironically, that’s EXACTLY the reason they should begin practicing. No matter what your starting point is — even if when bending over, your fingertips are in a different zip code than your toes — yoga will meet you where you are and allow you to expand and lengthen over time.)
Young woman doing Uttanasana exercise
Interestingly, increased flexibility can be obtained no matter the style of yoga practice. In POWER or FLOW, one warms the body up through movement, allowing for deeper stretching, particularly towards the end of a class. In CHILL,
Read MoreEverything you want to know about Exhale’s Floating Meditation, straight from the creator, Elisabeth Halfpapp. Plus, a special Meditation Month offer at the bottom of this post! A weightless surrendering to yourself as you tune out and float effortlessly in a 30-minute guided meditation with your body being held and supported in a silk hammock. The first time I experienced this relaxing, calming effect was at Miraval Arizona (an Exhale’s sister resort) as just the meditative component without the restorative poses. When I developed a similar class for Exhale, I thought the addition of restorative stretches after a breathing meditation in stillness would help the physical body surrender deeper with more relaxed muscles and mind. When the mind is relaxed the body tends to follow, resulting in a deeper stretch. Also with some guided restorative stretches/poses, the transition back to the “real world” was a little easier. Some of the restorative poses inside and out of the silk, while incorporating the silks are: • Savasana • Hip/hamstring stretches • Child’s pose and extended child’s pose variations • Forward folds • Down dog, up dog, and plank variations During the meditation section, gentle rocking is an option, which is enables you to “float” better. Throughout the entire session, breathing is an active focus which helps to detangle the mind. You may start to fall asleep, which is fine, however, we do encourage you stay awake and aware in order to experience the full benefits. You can always sit upright if you tend to fall asleep or feel uncomfortable being cocooned. There is soothing healing music played through your own personal head phones that enables you to also hear the teacher guide you through the meditation while zoning out external noises — a true calming of the senses. Inhale inspiration…Exhale transformation…..equals WELLBEING as we “float’ together! SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: What should I wear? Comfortable workout attire is recommended. Socks are required. Jewelry that will snag the silks should be left at home. What if I’m sensitive to motion? Rocking is optional, but if you’re sensitive to motion we encourage you to opt out. What happens if I fall asleep? Due to the swaddling-like nature of this experience you may fall asleep. However, we encourage you to stay awake in order to experience the full benefits. Sitting in an upright position is an option. Who is this class for? Floating meditation is open to all level; no experience is necessary. Weight limit is 350lbs. So there you have it! No, you don’t need to be an aerial expert. No, you don’t have to be a meditation expect – you just need to give 30 minutes of your time to feel calm, recharged, and a better sense of overall wellbeing. And as a special for National Meditation Month, we’re offering our Chicago Guests FREE Floating Meditation Classes, May 13-19, 2019. Call 312.753.6500 to book your free class
Read MoreIf you are like most people, by the end of winter, you’re feeling a bit run down. To combat this sluggish feeling, keep in mind that change is right around the corner. All around you, nature is on the verge of transformation. Winter’s slow, dormant energy is transforming into springtime’s lively and energetic riot of life! By cultivating mindfulness around the changing of seasons we consciously and intentionally align with that energy. Here is how we can experience that in a simple and repeatable way.
Read MoreAt exhale, we practice gratitude all year…but Thanksgiving is a time to savor it. Read what exhale’s Core Fusion co-founders, Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp, are grateful for this year.
Elisabeth is grateful for…
1. Having the opportunity to make positive changes in people’s lives through teaching exhale core fusion and yoga
2. Teaching barre for 35 years!
3. Continuing to spend my life with the love of my life and business partner, Fred DeVito
4. Continuing to grow with my teaching
5. Spending time with my close family and friends on thanksgiving
Fred is grateful for…
1. Turning 60 this year with the energy of someone who is 40
2. My drive to be peaceful in my heart and loving to all who cross my path
3. Seeing others perspective and honoring points of view other than my own
4. The privilege of loving my work and the people who are in my daily life
5. Knowing that I need to live in the moment with an open mind and open heart
6. Having a blessed Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends!
We put together a selection of gifts for Moms – for even those who say they don’t need a thing. Yoga Mat from Lululemon: This non-slip mat comes in stylish colors and is perfect for Mom’s yoga practice. Skincare Trio from Emergin C Scientific Organics: This line of game-changing products are the same formulas our exhale estheticians use during a facial – they’re great for all skin types and will leave Mom glowing, youthful, and perfectly prepped for summer. Exhale Gift Card: Seriously, some of the best gifts are “experience” gifts — and Mom will seriously appreciate some time to exhale. Choose from our hand-selected packages to gift Mom an experience she’ll love – or choose a gift card in any
Read MoreShop, wrap, deliver, repeat. Too often, gift-giving feels like a chore. This holiday season, we’re re-thinking our gift giving strategy — and we found a way to give better gifts in the process. Enter experiential gift-giving, the scientifically proven way to give better presents. Here’s why you should gift experiences (rather than things) this holiday season. It will benefit your relationships. According to Cindy Chan, an assistant professor in University of Toronto, “the reason experiential gifts are more socially connecting is that they tend to be more emotionally evocative.” An experience gift helps you connect in a more meaningful way than if you gifted them the latest tech gadget. It’s proven to make the recipient happier — even before they use it. On average, experience gifts result in happier giftees. According to a study in Psychological Science, “experiential purchases (money spent on doing) tend to provide more enduring happiness than material purchases (money spent on having)”. The same study found that one of the biggest advantages of experiential gifts is that they start garnering you happiness before they actually “happen,” in the form of pleasant anticipation. Your loved ones will actually use and enjoy the gift. Too often, well-intentioned presents end up gathering dust in the back of a closet. Experiences don’t clutter their home. Our tip: give experiences that never expire so your loved ones don’t have to adhere to a deadline. It lets you skip the hassle. Gift cards for experiences, tickets, or other experience gifts are easier to purchase and share with your loved ones. That means you get to skip those holiday shopping lines… and give them something they’re more likely to love. Ready to gift the ultimate wellbeing experience? Shop Exhale gift cards here.
Read Moreiving her something you know she’ll enjoy. Now is the time to thank her for powering through those hectic mornings, for the endless advice, and for always believing in your dreams. We know that finding the perfect gift can be an overwhelming task — which is why we’ve created this Exhale-approved collection of Mother’s Day gifts that are sure to make mom’s day.
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