Some cool places to eat here and there...

These are a few of the places in Indy ( or nearby) that I think are worth visiting whether you live here or you're just visiting!

Pure Eatery

1043 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203

New Day Craft Mead & Cider

1102 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203

End of the Line Public House

1105 E Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203

Function Brewing

108 E 6th St, Bloomington, IN 47408

Tow Yard Brewing

501 Madison Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225

My tips for growing long and healthy natural hair!

Wether it's because it's trendy or because the beauty of natural hair is becoming more widely accepted, more and more women are going natural. From what I can tell, the first stage of becoming a 'naturalista' is the excitement. Women get inspiration from other natural hair images all over social media and start to get excited about embarking on the journey... the possibilities are endless! Soon after the initial excitement that leads to the inevitable Big Chop, comes stage two... overwhelmed. 

Too much information! Too many suggestions! Too many products! 

From all the information out there, we may be lead to think that if we're not doing everything then we're doing it wrong. This is not the case, so relax, natural hair pretty easy to manage if you follow a few easy steps.

Tip 1:

Moisturize, moisturize, MOISTURIZE! Your hair is thirsty! 

Let's face it, your hair has always been thirsty, and if you want healthy, shiny, curly locs, you need to maintain you hair's moisture. This is not a complicated process so don't run out to buy 500 hair conditioners, you just need a deep conditioner for wash days, a leave in conditioner to maintain moisture, and a sealant to help lock the moisture in. I use a regular conditioner to cleanse my hair followed by a deep conditioner. Then I use a leave in treatment, ad seal my hair with a homemade concoction of shea butter and coconut oil. This leaves my hair soft and moisturized.

Tip 2:

Heat-less styling is your friend!

I know one of the things we all value about natural hair is how flexible it is. We can go from curly to straight whenever we want, but the fact that we can doesn't mean that we should. There are lots of tools and methods out there that we can use to get beautiful stretched out styles without the use of heat. Bantu knots, twist-outs, and braid-outs are all popular ways to stretch out the hair, and there's always curlformers (a personal favorite) and flexi-rods. 

Tip 3: 

Protective styling doesn't have to be homely! 

I know many people who envision long curly locs and gigantic lion's mane fros when they decide to go natural and balk at the idea of protective styles. Wearing your hair in protective styles is key for maintaining length and hair health, and it doesn't mean ugly. Get some ideas from pinterest and IG or do what I do and just wing it, then ROCK that hair!

Buns are definitely my go-to style, especially since I work out so often!

Tip 4: 

If your'e going to straighten it out, do it right!

Every now and then we may want straight hair, maybe just to rock that style for a bit, or maybe just to do a length check. Whatever your reason, whenever you straighten your hair you risk doing some damage. Try to minimize the risks as much as possible, by using head protectant, good quality straightening tools, and giving your straight locs a little extra TLC.

      

Hoping you find these tips useful!!! 

Enjoy. Be Healthy. Be Happy

Fitness/Workout Reviews: Spinning!

Spinning is one of those classics that really needs no introduction. The stationary bike workout has been around for years and is offered in multiple styles and formats by different companies. Entire gyms and studios are dedicated solely to this workout, and some businesses like SoulCycle have gained nation-wide fame.

Spinning has a HUGE following, and it's easy to see why. It's easy. Now, I don't mean that a spinning workout is a piece of cake, because you will leave sweaty, tired, and aching all over after a good hour session. I meant that spinning does not require you to have experience, special skills, co-ordination, or even balance. You can walk into your very first spin class and rock it! This is great for people who who get easily intimidated or discouraged by classes that seem too advanced for a beginner. 

What will you need?

Well besides your smiling face and positive attitude, spinning classes require very little. Appropriate workout clothing, exercise shoes with stiff soles (normal sneakers), and depending on your gym you may need to provide your own towel and water. The gym will provide you with a stationary bike, good music, and an instructor to lead you through a vigorous cardio workout.

What to expect: 

Most times (especially if you are a beginner) you will want to show up early. If it is your first class, it always helps to have the instructor help you to set up your bike. Trust me, having the seat adjusted to the right hight for you makes ALL the difference. You will find that people who have been spinning for a while still come in early to select the bike they want and to adjust their seat before the start of class. I always suggest a bike front and center for a beginner. Now I know most people shy away from that, but being able to see the instructor and learn the actual workout is more important than the shame you feel from 'being watched' by your fellow classmates. They're not judging you, we were all beginners once! 

Pros: 

1. Great cardio workout and huge calorie burner. 
2. Offered at most gyms and can be done at home. 
3. Easy to learn.  

Cons: 

1. Depending on your specific class it may only be a lower body workout. 
2. Memberships to spinning gyms can be pricey. 
3. The SEAT HURTS YOUR BUTT. Probably the one gripe most people have with spinning is the pain you are left with as a result of the seat. No one enjoys having pain in that area... but adjusting the seat to the correct height helps, many gyms offer seat pads (those don't help me), and you can also purchase padded cycling pants. 

My at home bike!

Summary: Spinning is a great workout for anyone, at any stage in your life or fitness journey. It is an incredible leg sculpting and calorie burning class. Just make sure you get a good stretch after!

Enjoy. Be Healthy. Be Happy

Fitness/Workout Reviews: Barre Fitness!

Now this has got to be the most trendy, boutique style fitness class I've ever taken! 

I heard about this clews from a good friend who takes them regularly and I was excited! She described it as a ballet barre inspired workout and i just knew it would be amazing. I know many of you may not know this, but i danced classical ballet for most of my youth, and anything ballet inspired excites me. So there I went... 

I found out that the first class at the studio my friend went to was free, so I signed up immediately. I was the only person there for that class who had never taken it before, but the instructor was friendly and I easily got set up with all the things I needed. Then we began....... this class is just plain weird. 

What should you expect? 

The class is based on working the muscles by making small contractions which is completely different from the big movement that we're used to in the traditional workout format. You are made strike poses which seem strange and make small isolated movements. These movements aim to keep tension in the muscles and strengthen them without the use of additional weight. As a former dancer I found these movements to be quite natural, but I can see how the technique behind these movements could be hard for a newbie to grasp. I think that this class would help improve strength as well as flexibility over time, and would be beneficial for someone starting at any fitness level. 

What do you need?

The gym will usually provide you with everything that you will need for a class, but yoga socks would be a good idea. The class is done without shoes, and it can get a little slippery with regular socks. You should also wear regular fitted workout clothing with long pants. 

Pros: 

1. Good for a beginner at any fitness level.
2. Low impact and body weight strength workout. 
3. Great workout for the core and flexibility. 

Cons: 

1. Though the exercises themselves are not hard, learning the correct technique will take time. 
2. These classes are expensive!!! 
3. I would definitely consider them more of a maintenance type of workout, not really for people trying to lose weight fast. 

Summary: A great alternative for a strength workout. This class works your large, small, and stabilizing muscle groups, and improves flexibility and balance, while steering clear of the normal high impact, high cardio, and weightlifting options. 

Enjoy. Be Healthy. Be Happy

Fitness/Workout Reviews: Les Mills Body Pump!

The fitness class that started it all!!!

Nack in 2007 i went home to the beautiful St. Lucia for my summer vacation because I had carnival plans with friends. Now, this is after years of attending college in the US and living in a dorm eating cafeteria food. My mom took one look at me and the design of my costume and announced that she was getting me a gym membership! (Have I ever mentioned that my parents are my favorite people ever?)

Not being a gym person at all, we agreed on a gym that offered group fitness classes. So I'd never heard of Les Mills class when I signed up for my first Body Pump class. I must admit that a weightlifting class didn't sound like fun, but I'm a trooper so...

I LOVED IT!!!

What's it about?

Body Pump is a low weight, high rep class in which you isolate and work individual muscle groups, and jam out to awesome music. The technique is simple and the combinations are easy enough for a beginner to feel challenged but not overwhelmed. When you get the hang of things and as your muscles get stronger, you gradually increase weight. As with every Les Mills class, new routines are released every fews months. Combine that with the weight increases and you're left with an ever changing class that continues to challenge you.

What will you need?

This class uses quite a bit of equipment, but all of it is provided by the gym. You will use barbells mostly and sometimes dumbbells. I would recommend getting some weightlifting gloves. They help to grip the bar and I consider them a must.

Pros: 

1. Best group fitness class for building lean muscle. 
2. Not difficult or intimidating. 
3. Full body strengthening. 

Cons: 

1. I would be cautious of this class if I had a pre-existing injury, and would definitely consult my physician before considering it.  

Summary: Body pump is a high energy, muscle building, full body workout that should be a part of anyone's fitness regimen.

Enjoy. Be Healthy. Be Happy

Fitness/Workout Reviews: Les Mills Body Combat!

So you all already know that I am deeply immersed in my health and fitness lifestyle. I say 'lifestyle' and not 'journey' because there is no end goal. There is no hypothetical finish line that I am racing towards where I can hang my shoes off and be done with it. I am living a healthy lifestyle, and I plan on continuing to do so indefinitely. 

A huge part of my lifestyle is exercise. I went from not doing a single dedicated workout, to working out for multiple hours 6 days a week. All of my workouts are group fitness classes. I have tried almost every format of work out that I have had access to, and I have found that group fitness classes are perfect for me. I get bored working with machines on a gym floor, and I hate the chaos of cross-fit. Group fitness classes provide the perfect middle ground and I do about 9 classes a week.

Now I know this routine may sound intense... but I am not here to encourage anyone to begin my workout routine. What I do want to start is a series of reviews of different fitness classes that I take currently or have in the past. 

Body Combat 

Body combat is a cardio and core workout that is inspired by fighting styles like martial arts and boxing. In it's 55 minutes you are able to burn upwards of 500 calories and get an intense core, leg, and shoulder workout. The workout is done to intense upbeat music, it is high energy, and each track is inspired by a different fighting style. Like all Les Mills classes, new Body Combat releases are introduced ever 4 months too so you never get bored, and your muscles do not get used to a single workout. 

Body Combat is my favorite fitness class, so it seemed right to talk about this one first. I first took this class a few months ago and was a bit intimidated. The class is highly technical and builds up many complicated routines. It seems to take about 5 classes to get correct form for all of the different stances, punches, blocks, and kicks. Do not be discouraged by the first couple of classes, because when you do get correct form, Combat is an intense, hard hitting, high kicking, calorie burner that works the whole body. The focus on fighting also makes it fun and is great for the group fitness atmosphere.

Summary: Body Combat is an amazing class and would be a great addition to any workout routine. I particularly like it in combination with weight lifting and stretching.  

Enjoy. Be Healthy. Be Happy