‘Family’ is at the very core of who we are.

For the whole month of January, we’ve been celebrating family near and far — our members, our employees, and those whose vision sparked what is now Chuze Fitness. To learn more about how it all got started, check out our California Roots blog!

In the spirit of family, we sat down with some of our fearless leaders who were at the core of building what we now lovingly call the Chuze Family to tell their story. Chuze Fitness CEO Cory Brightwell, COO Nick Barshick, and CAO Melissa Sowell, all lifelong friends, reminisce about the very first days of Chuze Fitness in Carlsbad, California, and their reflections on how family courses through the veins of the company today- in true, modern-day Zoom-style.

We are grateful to have YOU as a part of the Chuze Family! We wouldn’t be the same without each and every one of you. If you have yet to join a Chuze gym, take a look at our locations to join our fitness family. (They’re ALL open!)

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What is Fartlek Training?

One of the many reasons we love running is the amount of variety it allows. Running outside is a sensory symphony of sights, sounds, and smells; running indoors is an exercise best suited to a rocking soundtrack, and marathon runners know that there’s nothing like being cheered on by a crowd gaping in awe of the accomplishment you’re achieving. 

The variety that comes with running also gives us the freedom to develop training plans that suit every one of us individually, plans that make us better runners than we were the day before. Some runners prefer endurance training, some focus on power in short bursts, others are more concerned with gaining vertical distance up hills and mountains, and plenty are just getting started at a good old walking pace.  

Whatever your current training preference is, we have a method to share that has the potential to make your running experience a little more fun, a little more intuitive, and perhaps a lot more effective. 

So what is this miracle running regimen? 

Fartlek training. 

What is Fartlek Training? 

Fartlek is a method of training for long-distance running. 

The origins of the fartlek training lie in Sweden in the 1930s, as the Swedish distance running team struggled against their Finnish competitors. To remedy a lack of special training facilities, the idea of training in a way that was more natural arose. 

Fartlek is Swedish for “speed play.” It’s a form of interval training based on the natural world you run in. 

The general idea behind fartlek sessions is using your surroundings to encourage you to run faster. So basically, you go out running at a marathon pace (slow and sustainable), you lock onto some obstacle or landmark ahead of you—be it a building, street, light pole, tree, you name it—and pick up your speed to a 5k pace until you reach that landmark. You’ll then return to that slower pace until you find yourself inspired to pick it up again by something else. 

Fartlek is both a fantastic introduction to running because it isn’t rigid or extreme, as well as a useful tool for lifelong marathon runners who need to shake up their routine in either preseason or sprinkled into a pre-race regimen. 

At any level, the key to success in fartlek running training is establishing your two paces and sticking to them. 

What are the Benefits of Fartlek Training? 

Most things can be both a blessing and a curse, and traditional running training is no different. 

On the one hand, having a strict running regimen can be fantastic—it helps you stay accountable, focus on the tiny details you need to watch in your technique, and gives you a level of control over your body when creating a training plan for a marathon. That watch on your wrist is a vital tool to keep you on your game.

On the other hand, that strict regimen can be a little overwhelming at times. Some days, it feels more like the watch on your arm is judging you than supporting you, and a performance plateau can send the best runners in the world into a state of discouragement. 

This is where fartlek training shines. 

The simplest benefits of fartlek training are for new runners. Fartlek is arguably the most approachable way to start running. You move at a slower pace when it feels right and pick it up when you’re inspired. 

For advanced runners looking to improve performance, fartlek is the gateway to improving speed and endurance. If you want to improve your speed work, you should work on increasing your slower pace. If endurance is your aim, make the slower bouts shorter and shorter over time. To improve both, incorporate both a faster slow pace and shorter slow bouts. 

Anyone who participates in fartlek is training the mind-body connection that is so important to running (and everything else we do); it forces you to put mind over matter and push yourself to your limits without the pressure of a clock. 

What does a Fartlek Running Workout Look Like? 

Fartlek running training is divided, like most runs, into three parts: warmup, intervals, cool down. 

You can parse this in many ways, but a basic fartlek interval workout could be 10 minutes warming up, 20 minutes using natural landmarks to guide the speed of your run, and 10 minutes of cooldown. 

Fartlek is a fantastic approach to running because it makes it less serious and more natural, more fun. You can use music instead of natural landmarks to choose when to pick up the pace, especially if you live in a cold environment and the treadmill is your best friend for cooler months. Fartlek running doesn’t require much preparation, and having a more intuitive approach to running allows you to work with your body to help it support your goals. 

There is room for every runner in fartlek training. All you have to do is put your running shoes on, get outside, and allow yourself to get inspired! If you would like to practice running, we have treadmills at all of our locations. You can also enjoy treadmill training session videos on our virtual fitness platform, iChuze Fitness (grab a free 7-day trial here). We can’t wait to welcome you to the Chuze Family!

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3 Plyometric Exercises for Beginners

We recently dove into—or, should we say, “jumped” into—plyometrics training on our blog. This form of workout is a calorie-blaster, can be suited to fit your fitness level, and is pretty fun if you ask us. (Go ahead, ask us!) Today we wanted to equip you with three plyometric drills for beginners that you can try today! 

1| Squat Jumps

If you’ve been around here for any time now, you know we love squats. Add a jump to them, and you got a workout winner! This plyometric movement is excellent for beginners who have their squat form down (core engaged, straight back, etc.). If that sounds like you, then you might be ready to add on the jump for a dynamic movement!

How To Do A Squat Jump

• Stand with your feet hip-distance apart
• Point your toes slightly outward
• Bend your knees to 90-degrees while engaging your core and keeping your back straight
• Jump up from the squat position as high as you can, keeping your core engaged
• Land softly back into starting position with your knees bent
  

Things to Remember

• Avoid bending your knee over your toes
• Do not hunch your back
• Do not lock your knees when you land

A Little More Info

If you haven’t quite worked your way up to a jump squat yet, you can try standing up instead of jumping. This adds a dynamic movement without the impact on your joints. For some of us with a previous injury, this just won’t be a move that we can do, which is A-okay. There are tons of squat variations—we even made a video a few years ago to show them off. You can find the jump squat starting at 10 seconds.

2 | Long Jumps 

Long jumps are another tremendous plyometric workout for beginners because the movement is familiar. Many of us had to at least attempt long jumps in High School during gym class, and whether or not you fell in love with them then, they can be quite fun to do as an adult. Instead of jumping upward as you would in the squat jump, this movement asks you to propel yourself forward, utilizing different muscles that will help with endurance exercises as you continue to practice.

How To Do A Long Jump

• Standing with the feet a little wider than hip-distance apart, bend your knees and get into your squat position
• Use all of your muscle strength to jump as far forward as possible
• Bend your knees as you land to absorb the shock
• Land on both feet at once
• Jog backward to starting position and repeat

Things To Remember

• Do not lock your knees as you land
• Be sure to keep your muscles engaged as you begin to jump
• Do not allow your knee to go over your toes as you squat down

A Little More Info

While this is not the same as a long jump on a track where you might run and jump forward to exert all of your energy, benefits remain. This is a great way to get used to jumping and even work your way up to more advanced exercises like the frog jump, tuck jump, and more!

3 | Burpees 

Along with squats, we really love burpees. They may just be one of the most effective full-body movements you can possibly do, and they have a pretty cool history. One of the reasons we love burpees for beginners is because you can do variations of this exercise to match your skill level—allowing you to start with some assistance and work your way up to advanced variations as you get stronger.

How To Do A Burpee

• Start standing with your feet hip-width apart
• Quickly drop into a push-up position by placing your hands on the ground and shooting your feet out as quickly as possible 
• Do a push-up and use the energy of the second half of that push-up to move your feet back toward your hands, landing you in a low squat 
• Jump into the air as high as you can and repeat

Things To Remember

• Form matters! (Keep that in mind for all of these plyometric workouts.) If you start to feel yourself arching your back, locking your knees, or any other no-no, take a break or stop for the day
• Do not hold your breath
• Do not force yourself to do an advanced version when you are not ready—you gotta start somewhere

A Little More Info

For other variations we love, you can simply drop into the pushup position and then walk your way up and repeat. Drop into the pushup position and jump back up. Or do the full movement. We dive into proper form, history, and more here if you would like to learn more about the burpee.

If you are ready to add plyometric exercises to your workout, you can do so at any of our locations. We also have wonderful workout videos led by our incredible instructors on iChuze Fitness. Try our virtual fitness platform out today to experience the Chuze Difference. Virtually or in-person, we will see ya soon!

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What is Plyometric Exercise Training?

The best wellness regimens have lots of variety because forcing the body to react to different movements in new ways ultimately makes you stronger, faster, and more agile.  

There are so many types of training to incorporate into your fitness routine—interval training, strength training, core work, pilates, and endurance training, to name a few. One of the most beautiful things about moving our bodies is our agency, our ability to choose what feels the best for us. 

Some training methods are on the mellow side, and while everybody needs to incorporate the types of exercise that allow for recovery, sometimes it’s better to pump things up to the next level. 

Enter: plyometrics exercises.

What is Plyometrics? 

When we say plyometrics training will take you to the next level, we mean that very literally. Plyometrics is also known as “jump training” because plyometrics’ foundational explosive movement is the jump. Plyometrics is a category of training characterized by exerting maximum force in short bursts. 

The result? A massive increase in power.

What Are Plyometric Exercises? 

You can find some examples of plyometric exercises on any playground in the world. Jumping, skipping, bounding, and hopping are all technically plyometric movements because they all require such a rapid burst of energy to perform! 

If you’re wondering what types of plyometric workout movements you can incorporate into your workouts, give these a try:

Squat jumps

Stand with your feet hip-width apart or slightly wider. Bend your knees to a 90-degree angle, keeping your chest up, back flat, and core engaged. Squat jump as high as you can, landing in your squat position, and repeat. 

Clapping Push-Up

Starting in a push-up position with your hands below your shoulders, back flat, tail tucked under, and abs engaged, lower into your push-up. Once you reach the bottom, use all of your strength to push so hard back up that your hands leave the ground. Bring them together in the air for a clap and bend your elbows as you come down to lead you into the next one. 

We recommend that you leave the clap out the first couple of times you try this. 

Burpees 

Start standing with your feet hip-width apart. Quickly drop into a push-up position by placing your hands on the ground and shooting your feet out as quickly as possible. 

Do a push-up and use the energy of the second half of that push-up to shoot your feet back toward your hands, landing you in a low squat. Jump into the air as high as you can and repeat.

Long jump 

Standing with your feet a little wider than hip-distance apart, bend your knees, and use all of your strength to jump as far forward as possible. Bend your knees as you land to absorb the shock. If you’re outside, keep going forward; if you’re inside, turn around and repeat. 

Frog Jump

The frog jump is going to be pretty similar to the long jump, except in this case, you’re going to start in such a deep squat that your hands can touch the floor (you know the drill: keep your chest up and your back straight). Now, use all of the force in your legs to jump. While this move invariably takes you forward, this time, emphasize height a little more than forward distance. 

Like the long jump, do these continually forward or back and forth, depending on how much space you have to move in. 

Alternating Lunge Jumps

You’ll begin your alternating lunge jumps with one foot forward. Bend your knees to 90-degree angles, jump upward with all of your power, switch your legs so that you land with the opposite leg forward, lower into the opposite lunge as you land, and repeat on the other side.

Tuck Jumps

Stand tall with your feet hip-width distance apart. Bend your knees into a small squatted position (as much as you need), and jump straight up as high as you possibly can. Come back down on the balls of your feet, bending your knees to absorb the shock of the landing. Try not to miss a beat before jumping back up. 

For extra brownie points, clasp your fingers behind your head with your elbows out. That way, you can’t use the momentum of your arms to help the journey up.

What are the benefits of Plyometric Training? 

The benefits of plyometric training include (but are definitely not limited to): 

• Accessibility (you can do these absolutely anywhere)
• Increasing muscle tone
• Burning lots of calories
• Supporting metabolism
• Boosting cardiovascular health
• Increasing stamina

Who should utilize Plyometric Training?    

Traditionally, plyometric training has been utilized by high-level athletes to improve their game. But does that mean ONLY athletes can make these moves? 

Absolutely not. 

Plyometric training has fantastic benefits for anyone who can perform these exercises. As long as you are confident in your fitness level (especially concerning balance and joint mobility), you can incorporate plyometric drills into your training. 

If you have suffered joint injuries in the past or have trouble with your ankles (these exercises can cause rolling if you’re not careful), be sure to work your way up with these movements. And everyone should speak to their doctors before implementing new training techniques to their workout regimens. 

If you’re ready to reach new heights with your fitness program, it might be time to give plyometrics a shot! You can give it a try at any of our locations, or follow one of our plyometrics workouts on our virtual fitness platform iChuze Fitness. Give it a try today!

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What Is Loving-Kindness Meditation? Everything You Need To Know

When we were young, we all quickly learned the sentiment, “Treat others the way you wish to be treated.” For many of us, it is part of our nature to show kindness to the people we come across every day. But, when it comes to self-compassion or compassion for people we may not get along with well, it is much more of a process. This is where loving-kindness meditation comes in.

What Is Loving-Kindness Meditation?

Loving-kindness meditation invites you to focus on positivity, gratitude, kindness, and empathy towards yourself and others. In this form of meditation, you will be grounded with a mantra that focuses in on wishing well to yourself and others. As is true with most forms of meditation, this practice takes just a few minutes a day, and the results (listed below) are impactful. 

Loving Kindness For Self

There’s a famous quote by Ru Paul, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the [heck] are you gonna love somebody else?” and that’s a profound question to ask. How can you show love to others if you are unkind when it comes to your self-image and self-talk. We have to work on being kind to ourselves so that we can be the best version of ourselves for the rest of the world. Loving-kindness meditation not only says that we should simply be kind to ourselves but, rather, ‘generously’ kind to ourselves. Allowing us to tap into the things we love about ourselves and begin to support our own lives.

Loving Kindness For Loved Ones

Another staple of loving-kindness meditation is to express gratitude and love for those closest to you. This tends to come a little more naturally for us and is a positive way to set your intentions for the day. Outwardly expressing kindness to those you love is just about the most feel-good thing you can do.

Loving Kindness For Someone You Dislike

Unfortunately, we all have people in our lives who we just don’t get along with, and that’s okay. You are not on earth to be everyone’s best friend, but you are here to be kind. Loving-kindness meditation asks you to think about someone you dislike and wish them health, happiness, and peace. Though this may be difficult the first few times, over time, it can get more comfortable, and you might even find yourself developing a little more empathy for those you don’t quite get along with. If this brings up too many emotions in you, redirect this section back to yourself to give yourself compassion in the moment.

Loving Kindness For All

The world needs kindness every day. We are all connected as human beings, and loving-kindness meditation asks you to consider all living beings in one of your mantras to be safe, happy, healthy, and at peace. This marks the end of a loving-kindness session. 

Loving Kindness Mantras You Can Try

For this form of meditation, one is typically sending kindful thoughts to themselves and others. It may feel a little different at first, but as you practice, this can also become very meaningful on a deep level. Here is a simple meditation to try: 

Thinking of self: 

• May I be happy
• May I have peace
• May I be healthy

Thinking of a loved-one:

• May you be happy
• May you have peace
• May you be healthy

Thinking of someone you do not like:

• May you be happy
• May you have peace
• May you be healthy

Thinking of all living things:

• May all be happy
• May all have peace
• May all be healthy

To be impactful, move through all forms of this mantra, starting with yourself and ending with all living beings.

The Benefits of Loving-Kindness Meditation

According to Psychology Today, there are several reasons to try loving-kindness meditation, and they are even backed with science. A few examples of these benefits are an increase in positivity, less chronic pain, more empathy, less bias, and even less self-criticism. All of that can happen from just setting aside 5-10 minutes out of your day to show gratitude and kindness for yourself and others. It truly is a powerful practice.

If you would like to get started with meditation, we have excellent resources on iChuze Fitness, a digital platform that lets you work out, focus on self-care, and show kindness to others from your favorite device. Anytime, anywhere. You can download a free trial for iChuze Fitness on our website. We also have tons of space in all of our locations to practice meditation as you focus on yourself. Whether you join us online or in-club, we cannot wait to welcome you to the Chuze Family.

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Want to train like an athlete? Get back into your fitness routine with this quick 20 minute workout! Try this agility style workout and you can work out like an athlete does. This quick full-body circuit is sure to have all your muscles working in just 20 minutes. Plus – you can fit it in anywhere with your new year schedule!

 

Full-Body Blitz

• 11 Reps (each side) – Jump Lunges

 

• 54 Seconds – Inch Worms

 

• 11 Reps – Push-ups

 

• 54 Seconds – Clock Lunges

 

• 11 Reps – Jump Squats

 

• 54 Seconds – Russian Twists

The post Full-Body Blitz appeared first on VASA Fitness.

Original source: https://vasafitness.com/2021/01/full-body-blitz/

We are thankful to be opening three of our new locations in early 2021! All three of these locations will have all the premium amenities you expect from VASA including our boutique Studio Red HIIT and Studio Cycle classes. Here are the details and addresses of these new locations:

Herriman, Ut

5746 W 13400 S Herriman, UT, 84096

CLICK HERE to follow this location on Facebook for updates!

Phoenix, Az

8021 N 35th Avenue Phoenix, AZ, 85051

CLICK HERE to follow this location on Facebook for updates!

 

Westminster, co

7353 Federal Blvd Westminster, CO, 80260

CLICK HERE to follow this location on Facebook for updates!

 

We will post updates on opening dates, and more on our main social accounts as well! So keep following us for more news and new club updates.

The post New Clubs Coming Early 2021! appeared first on VASA Fitness.

Original source: https://vasafitness.com/2021/01/new-clubs-coming-early-2021/

4 Foundation Exercises for Weight Training

Foundation Training itself is about using your body weight to create more mobility and ease of movement which in turn helps with muscle strength. It is a solution for the way we live today—a lifestyle characterized by being hunched over computers and cell phones, thus weakening our posterior chain muscles, which make up the back of the legs and support the spine. 

Before industrialization, we used these muscles all the time; now, because we don’t use them as often as we should, many of us suffer from back pain and are more prone to injury. The beauty of foundation training is that it can be used to help heal a current injury and create support to keep you safer and in less pain in the future. 

Foundation training is good for everyone. One of the most famous foundation training workouts was actually developed for Lance Armstrong after a long career of high performance in a sport that didn’t require much lower back movement from its seated position. 

Foundation exercise strength training is especially great for improving mobility in weight training, which becomes much more effective when our range of motion allows us to manage the full extent and, therefore, reap the full benefits of any specific movement. 

Here are four fitness foundation exercises that will improve your weight training. 

1 | The Founder

The founder is the core movement of foundation training; all other movements stem from the postural positions you’ll learn here. 

First, stand with your feet about hip-width apart while bending your knees slightly and sitting your hips back. Keep your weight in your heels. (You should be able to lift your toes and maintain this position.)

Don’t let your knees inch in front of your feet. Your shins should be completely perpendicular to the floor. If they’re not, sit into your heels and press your hips back even farther. You might want to do this in front of a couch or bedside the first time just in case you totter over.

Lift your chest and keep your shoulders open. Engage your core. You should have a natural arch in your lower back, but be careful not to let it extend beyond that natural position. You should feel those lower back muscles activating here. 

From there, lift your arms forward while maintaining this posture. If you’re a yoga fan, you can think of this as a modified chair pose. Try to reach your arms as high as possible without disrupting your position. If this doesn’t feel available to you yet, reach your arms behind you with your palms facing the floor. Take about 10 seconds of deep breaths here. 

Next, you’re going to reach down to the floor with your hands while keeping those knees nice and bent, your hips back, weight in the heels, and back flat. When your hands touch the floor, continue to keep that weight back in your heels as you create length in the back body. Take another 10 seconds of deep breaths.

To come back up, put your hands on your shins to support your body, extend your spine, and look forward as you bring your shoulder blades together and use the muscles in your legs to come up to the initial posture. When your back feels braced, let go of your legs and reach your arms back behind you or above your head for ten more seconds of breaths in the initial founder posture. 

Finally, stand up straight and bring your arms down. That is one full founder. 

2 | Prone Decompression

For this exercise, get on your stomach. With your legs extended, tuck your toes under your feet. 

While squeezing your knees together, bring your hands down to your sides with your palms facing the floor and your pinkies next to your torso. Squeeze your shoulder blades together so your elbows are sticking up behind your back. Your head should come up a few inches off the floor, and you should look straight down with your chin slightly tucked (don’t look forward). Take three deep breaths here, making sure to keep your hips anchored to the floor.

In the next movement, bring your hands forward so that they are palm-down with your thumbs touching the outsides of your shoulders. Keep squeezing those shoulder blades together. To paint a better picture of how this might look, if you were to put your hands down, you would be in the bottom of a push-up position. Hover your upper torso, keep looking down, keep anchoring that pelvis, and take a few more deep breaths. 

Now, reach your arms forward and allow your fingers to reach the ground to support the rest of the arms, which should be elevated. Keep your knees together, toes tucked, and pelvis anchored. Keep your gaze to the floor while tucking your chin and pulling your head up toward the ceiling. Take a few more deep breaths here. 

This makes up a prone decompression. From here, you can repeat the movements once or twice, taking those long, deep breaths throughout. 

3 | 8-Point Plank 

The 8-point plank is going to get your core nice and strong while maintaining that supportive back body. 

You’ll start this one stomach-down on the floor. Bring your elbows and hands to the ground in front of you. Your elbows should come out just a little bit in front of the shoulders. Keep them at shoulder-width apart with your hands shooting straight forward from there. In yoga terms, this will look kind of like a sphinx pose with your elbows slightly forward. These are your first 4 points of contact with the ground: two hands and two elbows. 

The other four points are the knees and feet, which should stay at hip-distance apart with those toes tucked under. At this point, your belly should still be on the ground. 

Next is getting into the plank. Start inflating your spine from the top down. This looks like lifting out of the shoulders and engaging the back and core muscles to create that raised position. At the end of this inflation movement, you’ll be in an 8-point plank with your hands, elbows, knees, and toes supporting your body. Don’t let your lower back arch; keep that straight spine. 

Take a few deep breaths and come on down.

4 | Anchored Bridge  

If you already do activities that require bridges (think yoga and pilates), suspend everything you know about them for this exercise.

Laying flat on your back with your legs out, bend the knees slightly so your heels are touching the ground and your toes are sticking straight in the air. Keep your knees and feet glued together. 

Using the point of contact in your heels, lift your hips off the floor. Keep your back flat and your arms by your sides. The purpose of this exercise isn’t to lift your hips as high as possible (they should only come a few inches off the floor) but to engage your entire back body. 

Try maintaining this position for 20-30 seconds and keep breathing deeply before gently lowering down. 

As you can see, foundation workouts are multidimensional, creating movements that support your back body and make moving through the world an easier, less-painful experience. Add these workouts to your exercise program (and it might take a couple of weeks to adjust to them) and watch your body reap the benefits. You can try foundation exercises at any of our locations. Stop by today to see what the Chuze Difference is all about.

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Why is it important to have a workout buddy? Having a community of support around you makes all the difference in your fitness journey! Whether you are working out together in the gym or virtual fitness buddies, having others support you in the gym helps you reach your goals and push beyond!

• Motivation/Support – Everyone likes having someone in their corner. Someone who will be there to help you do one more rep or cheer you on during a max effort. That’s what a workout buddy is for – someone who will cheer on your successes and help encourage you to do your best and show up. It’s motivating knowing that someone will be there for you and with you! Whether you need a spot or just someone to cycle right next to you, a gym buddy can help!
• Consistency – When you have someone you work out with or check-in with, it helps give you a routine. A workout buddy helps you stay on a consistent schedule and have someone to rely on. You know they will be there so you show up too!
• Sharing Goals & Progress – Sharing your wins with someone helps you both stay encouraged! It’s motivating to see someone reach their goals and make progress. Plus, when you tell someone your goals, you have someone to remind you and encourage you to keep on working.
• Trying Something New – You’re more likely to try something new out in the gym with a friend! Trying out a new workout or class can feel scary by yourself. But, when you’re with a friend, it can be exciting! Something new to try together! A workout buddy can motivate you to try new things out in the gym, whether it’s a new exercise, personal training, class, or program!
• Fun – Having a workout buddy is just fun! It’s fun to work out with your friends/family. You get to sweat together and take on a challenge together.

Why do you love working out with a buddy? These are just a few of many reasons why having a workout buddy is important to your fitness journey! Know the friend you want to bring to the gym? Refer them and get a credit on your account! Check out how to refer a friend today by clicking here.

The post Benefits of Having a Workout Buddy appeared first on VASA Fitness.

Original source: https://vasafitness.com/2021/01/benefits-of-having-a-workout-buddy/

Guided Meditation: An Interview With Farel Hruska

Your overall health requires more than just a fitness routine. It is essential to focus on your mind, body, and heart. That’s why we’ve included guided meditation on our virtual fitness platform, iChuze Fitness. Today we answer all of your questions about meditation with our Director of Education and Culture, Farel Hruska.

 

1 | Hello, Farel. Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself and your journey with Chuze Fitness?

 

Hi! My name is Farel Hruska and I joined the Chuze Family as the Director of Education and Culture in June of 2018. I have been a part of the fitness industry for almost 20 years and wear a lot of hats; personal trainer, group fitness instructor, pre and postnatal fitness expert and have been humbled by presenting at fitness conferences around the world for several years, as well. When I met Nick and Cory, our COO and CEO respectively, I KNEW that I had found my home with Chuze. I knew that what I believed about overall health and wellness through kindness and compassion was reflected in this amazing company.

 

 2 | I have never meditated before, could you explain what exactly meditation is?

 

No worries…meditation is a free-flowing practice and there isn’t really a “right way to meditate”. The main objective is to simply slow the mind and ground yourself. Because meditation is often seen as something extensive and elusive, many either get nervous about it or simply don’t try because it feels unattainable or weird. It’s available to anyone and can be practiced in so many ways.

 

3 | How would you suggest getting started with meditation?

 

The very first step is to focus on your breath. That’s it. When you slow down enough to focus on/be aware of your breath, you have started meditating. It’s the simple act of slowing your breath and slowing your thoughts.

 

4 | Sometimes, during guided meditation, my mind wanders and I might completely forget I am even meditating. Do you have advice to help stop that? 

 

My advice? Don’t judge what your mind does. Our minds wander, that is what they do. When you recognize that it is happening, simply re-focus and bring it back. Getting frustrated at your mind is the opposite end result of meditating. Just like anything you practice, like a sport or craft, the more you do it, the better at it you get.

 

5 | My household is busy, how do I meditate with everything going on around me?

 

Ah, that’s the best place to practice. Life is chaotic, a beautiful chaos. When we can figure out how to meditate and be mindful in the midst of that chaos, we’ve found the peace we desire! When you find space, even if it’s a few minutes to focus on your breath and calm your thoughts, you will manage that chaos so much better AND quite possibly inspire those in your household to do the same.

 

6 | What is the best tip you have for someone new to meditation?

 

Find something that brings you joy and that you will repeat. Just like fitness, there isn’t simply one way to exercise, it needs to be fun/satisfying for you and something you will return to. We have recorded meditations on iChuze Fitness, there are apps like Calm or Headspace to use to guide you through meditation. Or you can connect with nature on a walk or sitting outside. The first and most important step is just start somewhere and see how you feel.

 

7 | Anything else you would like to share with the Chuze Family?

 

You are unique, profoundly impactful and the world needs you. When you take time for self-care, like meditation, moving your body, and nourishing your soul, you will end up mom-ming better, dad-ing better, working better, and being in community better. You matter. We see you. Thank you for being part of our Chuze Family!

If you would like to learn more about meditation, tips for self-care, workout information, or anything else related to the mind, body, and heart—check out the other resources on our blog. Our team is passionate about fostering a well-rounded health and fitness routine. You can work on self-care at any of our locations. We hope to see you soon!

The post Guided Meditation: An Interview With Farel Hruska appeared first on Chuze Fitness.