PUMPKIN SPICE: VEGAN EDITION
We all know what time it is. The air is getting crisp and boots are comin’ out. In other words, it’s pumpkin spice season. We all know how much of a seasonal ritual is to indulge in a hot and creamy pumpkin spice latte, or a delectable slice of pumpkin cheese cake…but how nice would it be to have a sweet treat you can treat yourself to without the richness of dairy and the heaviness that comes with it. Imagine a light and refreshing version of a pumpkin spice latte that you can have as a snack or even a meal. Well, we’re giving you just that! Share your delicious results on insta by snapping a photo and tagging @exhalespa.
CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
Sometimes, you just need that satisfying indulgence of chocolate to boost your mood and satisfy your sweet tooth. We’re giving you a recipe for a healthy Chocolate Mug Cake that will make you feel like you’re a little kid at a birthday party (without the sugar rush).
4 PLANT-BASED PULSE FLOURS FOR A HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON
Pulse flours are made from pulses, which are the edible seeds of legumes (chickpeas, lentils, peas, etc). These gluten-free flours are packed with protein, fiber, and are typically very low in fat. All of these qualities make the flour more nutritious and filling, which can help fuel healthy digestion and a strong immune system. Pulse flours also contain powerful nutrients such as folate and iron, important for growth, energy, and red blood cell formation and regulation
TIPS TO STAY ON TRACK THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer! As many of us have started to up the sweat sessions and lighten up the grub, it can be tough to keep it consistent with the start of scrumptious summer shindigs.
THE DEEP ROOTED BENEFITS OF YOGA
by 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,
EXHALE’S FLOATING MEDITATION WITH RESTORATIVE POSES…EQUALS TOTAL TRANSFORMATION
Everything 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
WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE EXPERIENCES—NOT STUFF
Shop, 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.
TIPS TO BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS
art of maintaining your sense of total wellbeing lies in the way you maintain your happiness. Often times, the first step in boosting
THE CURL: MOTHERSHIP OF EVERY CORE FUSION BARRE CLASS
In exhale Barre classes, our Core Conditioning Series follows a pattern: Flat Back, Round Back, and finally the Curl – which introduces a progressive challenge of increased spinal flexibility with each position. All three exercises address two fundamental needs: strengthening the core while building flexibility in the back. Joseph Pilates always preached that the “supple spine equals a youthful body,” and it’s true. The more spinal strength and flexibility you have, the more strength and flexibility you’ll see in every other area.
The curl takes discipline because it’s a complex position. You have to prioritize pressing the lower back down on the mat while
KATIE’S EXHALE TRANSFORMATION STORY
When Katie first came to exhale with a 30-day unlimited class package, she was recovering from a life-altering car accident and brain surgery. Here’s her incredible story of building strength and mindfulness at exhale – one class at a time.
First, please indulge me in some brief (kind of) background info. I was hit by a car while crossing the street in July 2016 which left me with a grade 3 concussion and a left hip injury from the impact. The injury restricted my physical activity. About six weeks later, in September, I underwent brain surgery to remove a colloid cyst. My neurosurgeon estimated it had about a 50% chance of killing me (and was originally identified as likely being cancer in January 2016). At 27 years old, this was a lot to handle – physically, emotionally, and mentally.
