Healthy Chicks

Hope you’re all having a lovely weekend! For those of you who are new to the blog, once a week (well, at least that’s the goal!) I feature a woman in the community who truly embodies what it means to be a ‘healthy chick.’ There’s nothing that inspires me more than connecting with + learning from other fabulous women.

This week, I’m excited to introduce you to Ashley, a rockstar entrepreneur who recently moved to Boston to continue pursuing her dreams with her company Grip The Mat. It’s a super cool startup that takes your everyday yoga class and jazzes it up, creating a memorable, social experience…in a pop-up location!

I’ll let Ashley take it away from here!

NAME/AGE: Ashley Braun / 25

BLOG/TWITTER: @gripthemat

CURRENT CITY: Boston, MA

PHOTO TAKEN: Boston / 2016

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: Co Founder of Grip The Mat (www.gripthemat.com)

NUMBER ONE PASSION: Do what you love!

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: in Savasana after a sweaty, hot yoga class

BUT I AM ALSO A REAL GIRL & SOMETIMES: eat ice cream every single night – no joke.

TOP THREE KITCHEN STAPLES: rolled oats, apples, greek yogurt (whole … Read More!

Let me set the scene for you. It’s 9:00pm, I’m finishing up my emails and tell my husband “just 5 more minutes” until I can log off for the day and watch the latest episode of Blacklist. 9:30pm rolls around, and I say “just one minute,” this time not so convincingly. He knows one minute really means another 30, so he goes back to reading or catches up on Mad Money.

Suddenly, I get a text from a coworker, a brainstorm session strikes my mind and I’m at it again. Work. Work. Work. I wish I could say this little scene is fantasy, but in complete transparency this has been the typical evening of late at our humble abode.

I recently spoke with my dad about my work-hard, go-go-go mentality & the challenges I face maintaining a work life balance and he said “It’s partly my fault, you have my genes. You’re an over achiever”

“But, how did YOU do it then?” I asked with anticipation. After all, if anyone knows my dad he’s pretty much definition of “Father of the Year” award, so if he could work, and play, and be there for our family 24/7, then so … Read More!

Something I really struggle with, which I’ve talked about on the blog before, is unplugging. I have a tendency to want to go-go-go all the time, and often put pressure on myself to get it all done. In a world of technology overload, I find it incredibly challenging to just pause and be (without checking my iPhone two minutes later).

So when I was given the opportunity to join one of my Boston bestie’s — Cara Gilam’s — “Revive, Refresh, Retreat” day-long yoga getaway last weekend, I knew it my heart I had to sign up. I needed to do this for myself, for my soul. And so I did…I cleared my weekend plans and make a big decision to make myself a priority for the day. After all, I so deserved it.

We met early in the morning at lululemon chestnut hill, where we immediately went into a 60-minute vinyasa flow to get our blood flowing. After breakfast + much-needed coffee (no shame!), we were given gift bags with little goodies and all the deets on our secret destination. Our gift bags were adorable + personalized with our names on them! They included:

• a japa mala bag for holding

I love doing things.

As an ENFP, self-starter, creative, workaholic type, I have a reputation for wanting to get sh*t done. I like to do things. I like to cross things off. I want to “be productive” and successful and all the great things in life. After all, we live in a society that celebrates this sort of behavior.

However, recently I’ve had a sort of epiphany; I’m beginning to realize that maybe this go-go-go mentality isn’t the best for productivity, and that “doing all the things” may not be moving me forward after all. In fact, perhaps it’s quite the opposite.

I recently saw a quote on instagram, which immediately become the background of my phone:

“Do less with more focus.”

Let that soak in for a moment.

Powerful stuff, huh? What if the notion that we need to do more, be more, get more done is actually working against us? What if less really is more? That you can actually do less things with more focus (that’s the key word!) and still be winning?

Those five words were an huge wakeup call. I realized in my efforts to be the best me and get it all done, … Read More!

Ladies, happy friday! It’s been a while since I’ve featured an HC in the Community, but I’m bringing one of my favorite traditions back with someone I adore oh so much. I met Mary through my sister a few years ago, and was instantly drawn to her sweet, genuine nature. I could tell she cares so deeply for everyone in her life.

Over the years, I’ve seen her blossom into an even more amazing, confident and strong women — she has guts, strength and a positive outlook like no other! Mary, I am honored to feature you on my blog and know others will feel inspired by your beautiful self too <3

NAME/AGE: Mary, 26

CURRENT CITY: Boston, MA

PHOTO TAKEN (WHERE/WHEN): At my friend’s baby shower a few weeks ago 🙂

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist! Currently, I work with preschool-3rd graders with communication disabilities.

NUMBER ONE PASSION: Working with people with disabilities. My mom is a social worker and the kindest person I know, and always instilled in me that helping others should be an important part of my life.

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: Fresh out of an intense … Read More!

Is it just me, or did winter absolutely kick your butt? There’s something about the cold weather that makes ya want to stay in bed a little longer, work out a little less, find comfort in comfort food, oh and those darn sniffles! While the first snow fall + holiday season is one of my favorite times of year, clearly you can see I’ve had enough.

It’s time to show winter what’s up and take care of yourself again! And while spring is still 23 days away, there are little things you can do right now to make you feel your best self again. (Trust me, the birds will be chirping in no time!)

1. Get your beauty sleep: I mean it. If you’re like me, winter has probably taken a toll on your body. In fact, I’m pretty certain I have mild adrenal fatigue due to stress, late nights and my go-go-go mentality. To combat this, I’m working on getting to bed at a decent hour (by 10 p.m. or earlier would be ideal to start!) and resting when my body is asking for it. Naps are totally underrated and can be everything. If you’re having trouble falling asleep … Read More!

“Babe, I haven’t blogged in a couple weeks,” I whispered softly to my husband as we were falling asleep the other night.

“Well then, you should take that as a sign that you’re working too much,” he responded bluntly.

Don’t you just love how matter-of-fact men can be?

Here’s the thing though: he was right. I had stopped writing — my “me thing” — because I didn’t have time (or so I thought).

You see, when you suddenly realize you no longer “have time” for the little things that make you happy i.e. your true passions, its time to take a step back & take a good, long hard look at your life.

Where is that time going? Whether you’re working too hard or focusing your priorities elsewhere, there should never be “no time” to do you. In fact, I argue that these are the things we need to be actually making time for — our priorities.

For me, writing is that little joy, the thing in my life that helps me escape, sort my thoughts, and unleash my creativity. It’s not work. It’s not stressful. It’s not because I have to. It’s something I do for myself. … Read More!

One month ago, I posted this on instagram:

“I weighed myself for the first time in over a year today. (I broke up with the scale years ago as I used to be the one who weighed myself 5 times a day + obsessed over calories.) Anyway, the number on the scale showed that I gained about 8 to 10 pounds since our last encounter.

Old me would have cried, gone on a new diet + then binged on peanut butter at midnight. New me took a deep breath + felt a sense of relief. Maybe I weigh a bit more, but I’m happy in my body. I’m healthy. I’m in a loving relationship. I have my kale and my cheese…my wine and my green juice. I’m me. I’m a woman. And guess what, in a few months from now I may weigh 10 pounds less…or 5 pounds more. And that’s OK. Because really, who the hell cares? All that truly matters in the end is how you FEEL. ❤”

I left the gym that cold, wintery night feeling proud of all I have overcome, and shook off the whole weight thing.

Yet lo and behold, about a week … Read More!