Last Meeting Of The Semester!

As you all know, or may not know, we at CHAARG are obsessed with Zumba. Especially me. I know I’ve written a couple other posts about Zumba, but what it so funny is that I always come back to writing about it and reflecting on why I love it so much. For me it is something that never ever gets old. Regardless of whether or not you have done a dance 1,000 and 1 times! The energy, the people in the class with you and the instructor are all what make a Zumba class what it is and that is truly a party, as lame as that may sound. You are dancing with your friends, whether it be from school or work or your friends from class, you are sweating and exercising and you are having the time of your life!

Above: Our very first CHAARG meeting, a Zumba class led by Pamela Conn!

I was so lucky to be able to plan the first and last events of this semester and I feel that I couldn’t have ended this ridiculously long and tiring semester in any other way! I am a licensed Zumba instructor and I have been since October of 2010 when I first started my career at Ohio State and I can say without a doubt in my mind that I would not have ever considered doing it if I hadn’t been guided by the wisdom, talent and ability of the most amazing Zumba instructors in all of Columbus.

Above: Rachel (left) and Kenya (right) teaching our last event!

Kenya Day and Rachel Halversen were my very first ever Zumba instructors when I started taking classes and Worthington Community Center (where I now teach a class…so crazy) and ever since I have revered them as role models for Zumba, dance and life in general.

Above: Myself with Kenya and Rachel, respectively.

Kenya is the coolest Zumba instructor you will ever take a class from, and that is a guarantee. She mixes hip-hop, Zumba and her own style to make a style that is all her own and that cannot be duplicated regardless of how hard one may try (trust me, go to her class and watch yourself in the mirror hahaha). Regardless, she motivates you to let out your inner diva and shake your “donk” (one of my personal favorite songs she does)! You always have a good time, get a great workout and feel like Beyonce when you’re done, and who doesn’t love Beyonce?! She teaches at South Beach fitness Tuesday nights and Spain night club Thursday nights and I highly recommend those classes to everyone!

Above: Kenya teaching Zumba at the first place I ever took her class.

Rachel is not only one of my favorite Zumba instructors but also my bestest friend. If it hadn’t have been for Zumba I would never have met her, become great friends, or even have become a Zumba instructor for that matter! She has amazing style, is a ballroom dancer and when you take her class you feel like a real dancer and not like a sweaty participant in an aerobics class. She makes dances challenging yet fun and is always encouraging to everyone with her kind words and a sweet, genuine smile! She teaches Saturday mornings at 10 AM at Worthington Community Center! Without having met Rachel I can guarantee that I would not be a Zumba instructor, and therefore wouldn’t be writing this blog post as an executive member of this amazing student organization that is CHAARG.

Above: Rachel and her ballroom partner at the Ohio Star Ball!

There’s a point to all this I promise! I want to tell everyone to go after your dreams and go for anything, as dumb as that may sound. I never in a million years would have imagined I would be instructing classes full of women, men and young girls how to exercise, dance, get fit and discover their own hidden talents! (Especially after my first class, just ask Rachel or Kenya!) But nevertheless I loved Zumba so much, and knew that come hell or high water I was going to do something with it and I made that little dream come true. It’s so encouraging and exhilarating! We all have the power and capacity to make all our dreams come true. Fitness goals, like becoming the most in shape “you” that you can be; career goals, like becoming a doctor, lawyer, actress, or even a supermodel and the list goes on. Never give up on a dream and most importantly never give up on yourself! You girls are so inspiring and I am so fortunate to be apart of your executive board! Believe you deserve everything you dream about!

Above: All of you beautiful Zumba ladies!

Good luck with finals and have a happy and blessed holiday season!

XOXO

Ale

CHAARG girls have a LIVER changing experience.

The CHAARG girls learned a thing or two about proper weight and detoxing this past Wednesday [perfect before the holidays ]. Kelly Keller, a nutritionist from Spine and Sports Chiropractic, taught us all about what goes on in our bodies so that we can let our natural and true bodies shine!  The presentation started off with overwhelming statistics about a major problem we have in the United States dealing with… you guessed it: OBESITY. It’s a reality that many of us see everyday and it’s a pretty serious one too. As college students we’re faced regularly with poor decisions that can hurt our functioning bodies. As young adults we need to tune in to our bodies and hear what it is telling us! 

A shocking statistic shows that 66% of overweight American’s are adults! When you’re a child it’s easy to run around and ride your bikes with the neighborhood kids, but as we get older our time starts to slip away and so does our healthy habits. 

Kelly showed us a progression of the percentage of overweight people in The United States from 1960 to now. And then she shocked us all with the researched estimate that by 2030 90% of American’s will be overweight! How scary is that? 

We CHAARG’ed through the shocking reality and got to the core of why this is happening to our country. Kelly explained to us the importance of leading an active lifestyle along with watching what we put into out bodies. Everything we consume is the fuel our bodies use to run properly. Think of those late night pizza orders we all have made or the mindset we have that cramming for midterms = cramming coffee as well (so guilty!) But it’s choices like these that are hurting our bodies and not giving it the nutrition it deserves. 

Have no fear, detox is here. 

Luckily, Kelly explained that there’s a way to rid ourselves of all the built up toxins that we’ve put in our bodies over the years. It’s a little secret called detoxing. During a detox, you’re able to put your body back into its natural balance and clean out all the bad stuff that’s been hiding in our livers and colons all this time. We learned that our livers may not be digesting our food properly and this can lead to fatigue, weight gain, irritability, and more! Doing a detox helps cleanse the liver and takes away these unwanted side effects. 

By the end of the seminar I think we were all convinced that detoxing was something we all need to do at some point in our lives. The presentation was definitely an eye opener and made us think about what we are actually doing with our bodies. A huge shout out to Kelly and Nina for giving us this awesome life and liver changing seminar! Be sure to check out Spine and Sports Chiropractic’s website
http://www.spinesportchiro.com
and check out the detox blog that some of the CHAARG girls did last summer! Give yourself the best present this holiday season with a fresh, clean, and healthy body! 

-Emelie, Event Coordinator

—> If you would like to try out the 5 Day Raw Food Cleanse that Elisabeth and Melissa tried out this summer [they highly recommend it!], here is the link: Cleanse After Europe

Have you guys ever tried a detox before? If so, how did it go?

How often do you detox your body?

Does this post make you want to detox?

Kick Your Stress this November!

It’s that time again: end of semester funk is seeping in, and you may be feeling uneasy about everything because of your high stress.

http://www.hill-kleerup.org/blog/doingwrite/2011/11/lagging/

I know that I have literally had to take melatonin every night to fall asleep to combat my worrying little mind (this is a natural sleep-aid supplement your body already produces, but stressors can literally block your body from releasing it and allowing you to get good sleep. This is an OK supplement to take if you want a nap since it’s non-addictive, but natural sleep is MUCH better!) Below are some tips from EverydayHealth that I’ve modified to fit the lifestyles of us Columbus babes. Enjoy and unwind just in time for Turkey Day!!!

EXERCISE:

Yoga, running, dancing, biking, hiking- anything that gets you sweating will clear your head! Releasing endorphins (your brain’s good mood food) will calm your mind & body naturally. Personally I will never turn down an opportunity to practice yoga: regardless of the pace of the class, you are practicing expert control over your body’s flexibility and proving to yourself your own strength.

http://kosmicamusic.com/wp/2008/11/11/revolved-dancing-warrior-pose-parivritta-virbhadrasana/

Powering down your thoughts and controlling your mind is one of the more rewarding aspects of the yoga practice. Another cool option to keep you levelheaded for the rest of the semester would be to run a 5K in the gorgeous fall air, while the wind is still friendly and not biting. I signed up to run a 5-mile Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning with my aunt and uncle- see if there is one in your town! What better chance to socialize and get a workout in before you slam Thanksgiving dinner?!

http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/turkeytrot/gallery.php

LAUGHTER:

They say you’re never fully dressed without a smile, and it couldn’t be more true from an anti-stress perspective. Sharing a joke or story is proven to lower tension, improve circulation, and increase heart health. Not only is laughing good for you, but it is fun and virtually so easy to do.

http://www.wavyads.com/advertising-gallery-australia.php

Friends and family can bring the LOLs and give you the sense of belonging and appreciation that never fails to make you feel good. If you are feeling stressed in the library text a funny friend, read Tosh’s blog, or watch a YouTube video to pick yourself back up!  Release a laugh and release some stress!!

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF:

This may seem to go along with exercise, but there is a lot more to health than just squeezing your cheeks in a kickboxing class. Nutrition is super important, and there is never a bad time to make a change! By switching up a daily routine or kicking a familiar habit you shake up your environment and provide an outlet for your stress to leave through. Some changes I made for the better recently were to take a women’s daily multivitamin every morning, no matter what.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/how-favorite-bodybuilding-supplement-multivitamin-enhance-looks.htm

This 5-second routine forces me to start my day with a glass of water, eat breakfast, and make sure my not-always-perfect diet is supplemented with all the nutrients my body needs! Not  going to lie, I have felt such a difference in my energy level and overall motivation/happiness since I have started this new routine. A vitamin is one small step for most, but a big game changer for me!

http://wchealthandwellness.wordpress.com/positivity/

These few tips are just thoughts to mull over. There is no reason to give in to the stresses of everyday life at school- you are in control of your life, body, attitude, and happiness! Happy pre-Thanksgiving break. Get through it in the least dramatic way

-MB, Social Media Chair

CHAARG CHALLENGE DAY 80

Hello Hello! With the craziness of CHAARG tank orders, multiple events, and the never ending semester, we are 75% finished with the 100 DAY CHAARG CHALLENGE! All of the make up free mondays and nights of shredding at the gym are adding up to create a more positive and brilliant you. 

The pillar that we are focusing on for this part of the challenge is;

>>> AESTHETIC WELLNESS

The actual word “aesthetic” is defined as : being pleasing in appearance

For our CHAARG CHALLENGE, we challenge you to create an aesthetic atmosphere in your home, with your friends, and for yourself. Aesthetics are typically associated with the design of a home. For this fall/holiday season, take the time to decorate! Put a few pumpkins outside of your front door. With the holiday season coming up quickly, brainstorm how you can spice up your house. Maybe set up a small christmas tree or Menorah! Personally I think lights are the coolest and the most festive. Grab some white lights from your local Home Depot and set them up in your living room. Making a script Ohio always looks cool If you’re not into decorations, take the time this week to do some extra cleaning. Do the dishes or sweep a little. Taking the time to make your house look great will help you feel great too. For some more ideas on Thanksgiving decorations, check out this pinterest page

To have an aesthetic friendship, make sure you are always setting a positive example for others. We know Mirror Lake is coming up and everyone gets a little crazy this time of year, but BE RESPONSIBLE. Have a buddy system and respect yourself. We want everyone to be safe! Remember from our mini challenge a few weeks ago to call that friend to get lunch? Here’s your SECOND chance. If you didn’t before, text that old friend RIGHT NOW and say hey let’s make a lunch date plan THIS WEEK. set a time/ place/ and date or it will never happen. Go have a great lunch with an old friend and catch up before the holidays. It will do you some good! 

Finally, this whole challenge is dedicated to the “aestheticness” of yourself. Along with exercising and making healthier eating choices, take the time for yourself. Go out and buy that awesome black dress for a Christmas party in a few weeks. Splurge on the brown boots that you want really bad. Sleep in. Go out with friends one night instead staying in for one night of studying that you don’t really need (And if you do then call us because we will probably be studying too!) This time of year is meant for a lot of laughs, a lot of family time, and to spend time with a lot of great people. Spoil yourself a little. Even if it’s just one pair of shoes or a new haircut, it will be worth it.  This was two and a half years ago… it’s time for Elisabeth to go shopping for a little black dress!

“I just reflect you. All the good in me is all the good inside you“

We hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving Break! Eat Up and BEAT M*CH*G*N!

How do you plan on incorporating some aesthetic wellness into your life?

Share with us on our Fb page or @_CHAARG!

#BEATLUNGCANCER

Hi! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. Mine was filled with a little bit of school work and a lot a bit of relaxation. Much needed.  

The only exercise I did during these past 4 days was the much anticipated LUNGevity 5K! 

CAN WE ALL PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND TALK ABOUT HOW CRAZY OHIO WEATHER IS? 

It was seriously 70 degrees on Saturday afternoon. We were hanging out in t-shirts and shorts –> not real life in November. I think God sent the sun to shine down on us to celebrate the lives of everyone who battled, or is currently battling, lung cancer and everyone who came to support them on Saturday. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful race. 

The LUNGevity Foundation is the largest lung cancer-focused private funder of research in United States. It’s mission is to have a meaningful and immediate impact on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensure a higher quality of life for lung caner patients, and provide a community for those impacted by lung cancer. 

I’m going to be completely honest with you: before this race I had always associated lung cancer with smoking. Those who smoke get lung cancer, those who don’t smoke don’t get lung cancer. Very narrow view indeed. I was shocked when I read these statistics on the LUNGevity website:

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
• Lung cancer impacts 1 in 14 Americans and kills more than colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers COMBINED?
• About 55% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
• The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 16%

Alarming? Yes. As a women I always hear the need to get my breasts examined for cancer but did you know that 33,000 more women will die of lung cancer than breast cancer in 2012? The reason behind this is due to the fact that lung cancer is usually symptomless in the early stages, therefor it is rarely detecting early. There is not a reliable early detection test, like there is for most of the cancers mentioned in the bullet points. LUNGevity funds research to develop these methods for early detection, as well as therapies for lung cancer. 

I am proud to announce that 84 members of the CHAARG team raised $3,460 for the LUNGevity Foundation. Whether someone raised $10 or $700 [HUGE shout out to MICHAEL TAVIERNE for his amazingly generous donation of $500....he's a sophomore in college], every amount helped and we THANK YOU so much! Although we love to workout together, it is special when we can use our passion of working out and incorporate it into helping the community. There were a number of CHAARG girls whose family members were affected by lung cancer, so it was great to support our friends.

“Lung cancer is everyone’s disease. Anyone with lungs can get it and everyone deserves a chance to survive it.”

The CHAARG girls brought friends, boyfriends, parents, sorority sisters, and other family members to run the 5K with us!We know it’s important to get a little rest and stretch in before a race! Andddd…we are off! CHAARG member finishing strong! Someone was waiting for me at the finish line

My favorite part of the event was listening to people speak about how lung cancer affected/affects them. One lost their father to lung cancer, one was a survivor of cancer, and one was currently battling lung cancer. One of the speakers said something that hit me hard: Someone who is battling lung cancer can either focus on their circumstances, or they can focus on the cure. I choose to focus on the cure.

Following the speakers, was a beautiful balloon release. The white balloons represent hope and celebration of life, filled with thoughts and prayers to all those who are/were affected by lung cancer. 

Hope is like a balloon; it can’t soar to the heavens if you hold it by the string.

I am so proud of all the CHAARG girls who supported this great cause. There are LUNGevity events all around the United States so please check out the website to find an event near you! I encourage everyone to share the information you have learned about lung cancer, because after all…

“Awareness Makes a Cure Possible.” – Sydney Davies

Fitboard Fusion: ROCKING THE CORE!

The CHAARG ladies had the ride of our lives tonight with  Angela Buckley’s FitBoard Fusion class. Angela teaches a class that mixes yoga, pilates, and interval training to achieve balance and a tight core.…all while maneuvering on a paddleboard! We got a great water-based  strength and toning workout surfers would die for right here in Ohio’s lovely November weather.

Angela uses small medicine balls to keep the paddleboards buoyant and “afloat” above the studio floor, and after rocking our hips back and forth to “get our sea legs” she worked us through a routine that involved both yoga moves and ab-targeted repetitions.

We began on our backs, working our lower abdominals and the smalls of our backs with modified sit-ups. Angela instructed us to keep our cores tight throughout our entire routine.

We moved to side planking, which had the added challenge of keeping the paddleboard from smacking the sides of the ground!

Following with traditional front planks, we were challenged to raise and hold one foot above the paddleboard for a duration of the plank. boy, were my sealegs shaking by then!

 Yoga moves like warrior, boat, and cattle-calls were integrated into the balancing class. Angela was sure to check our knees like a hawk and make sure that we WERE NOT letting our knees pull in towards our bodies during warrior pose- she explained that this kind of motion could deteriorate our INT-bands and seriously hurt our knees in the long run.

We ended the night with some glorious balancing-act squats and rounds of applause for our lovely guest trainer.

If anyone wants a GREAT abs workout or an alternative to traditional yoga, contact Angela at FitFusion Boards! Classes range from beginners to rejuvenating to ‘core-tastic’ and are taught right here in central Ohio near the Columbus Zoo. Thank you sooo much Angela for rocking our cores, no water necessary

Hooked on Title Boxing

Nothing like a little Sunday funday at Title Boxing Club, a boxing and kickboxing studio located in New Albany. The ladies of CHAARG had a prior experience with Title Boxing at Ohio State’s RPAC earlier this year. The first event was basically child’s play compared to Sunday’s festivities; an intro to last night’s intense power hour. Participants can burn up to 1000 calories per hour— woah! 40 girls bravely walked into Title Boxing Club unaware of what they were about to endure. A room filled with punching bags and a boxing ring is quite intimidating, if I must say so myself. However, we were up for the challenge, no matter the difficulty. The CHAARG girls got rough and tough and showed Title Boxing Club what we’re made of.

After our hands were wrapped, we cut right to the chase with a warm-up filled with lungs, squats, [BURPEES!], pushups, high-knees…you name it. 

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt 
“Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.” – George Smith Patton 

Following our mere 30 second water break, we started punching the bag using different techniques combined with some calisthenics. Who says a girl cannot throw a mean hook? Thankfully, the loud, fast paced music helped us CHAARG girls get lost in the tunes and punch through the strenuous session.

Boxing is all about intensity and self-motivation since it is essentially you and your opponent (the bag). The sport requires a fearless, aggressive, & determined individual who will not quit until they succeed. Beyond the immense amount of physical training for boxing, the sport also a high level of mental preparation. Boxing is somewhat of a mind game. Can you get in your opponents head and out-psych them?  Believing you are quicker, stronger, and smarter is the key to succeeding in a boxing match.

“Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE, the word itself says I’M POSSIBLE” – Audrey Hepburn

We learned some boxing lingo during our power hour:
“One’s”- punch with non-dominant hand
“Two’s”- punch with dominant hand
“Hook” - short sideways punch delivered with the elbow bent
“Jab”- a punch thrown quickly with your leading hand straight from the chin in direct line to your target
“Peek-a-Boo”- a Mike Tyson classic where a boxer holds his hands high in front of his face… No we did not bite anyone’s ear off 

“Adversity causes some [women] to break; others to break records.” – William A. Ward

“To achieve something you have never achieved before you must become someone you have never been. “
– Les Brown

“There are no short cuts to any place worth going” – Beverly Sills

Is there a better way to end a killer workout then with (a LOT of) core exercises??? Using our punching bag to suppress our feet, we began with sit ups. Next were leg lifts… as if our legs were not already burning. Six inch flutter kicks were to follow. By this time, our abs were screaming at us. Nevertheless, we were not finished. A trainer’s favorite, plank, was next. Our tired bodies shook as we tried to support ourselves throughout the many different versions completed. 10 lbs medicine balls were also used for should lifts. Sounds easy, eh? 

“Every game is an opportunity to measure yourself against your own potential.”- Bud Wilkinson

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”- T.S. Elliot

Because boxing is a self-reliant sport, it required, us, girls, to dig deep and find strength within to push through this challenging workout. We knew we could not rely on anybody else to pick up the slack. Boxing is truly addicting because it allows individuals to consistently test their limits and further their accomplishments. How far can you push yourself?

Thank you SO MUCH New Albany’s Title Boxing Club for hosting an AMAZING class. So many of us are excited to become regulars at your studio. We all left with sweat pouring down our red faces and wearing clothes showered in sweat—> that is what I call a successful workout.

Our amazing instructors<3

For more information regarding Title Boxing Club’s locations, class times, and rates visit: www.titleboxingclub.com. Be sure to ‘like’ their Facebook page too.

“All limitations are self imposed”

Emily Buffington, Treasurer