A Busy Fit4Mamas May!

Announcements:

There is no class the week of May 8-15. We will have class on Friday, May 7th at Draper City Park, and resume classes on May 18th. In lieu of class on those Saturdays here are some 5Ks. The 8th is the Race for the Cure: http://www.komenslc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=501&destination=E. On the 15th, Hilda's church is holding a 5K: http://www.sjb-parish.org/pdfs/2010_5k_race_1mi_walk_form.pdf

Studio 5 is featuring Fit4Mamas on their show! They will be in class filming and interviewing (on a volunteer basis) on Saturday, May 22nd at Draper City Park at 9:15. It'll be a normal Saturday class, just with a camera following us! We'll know exactly when it will air in a few weeks. So please come to class that day - it's free for the special occasion!

We've added a new Wednesday night "Walk and Roll" endurance class. It'll meet every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm starting May 19th. This will be a class that meets at different paved walking trails around the valley, and we'll be walking/jogging/running (your choice) a basic three-mile course. We will be warming up and cooling down together. You can run solo or with strollers, husbands, older children, dogs, etc. It should be a fun addition to our interval classes!

June Mama's Meal (and Activity!) is at Studio Soiree in Sugarhouse on June 4th at 6:00. Yes, we're taking the plunge and are going to a "pole fitness" class. We've talked about it enough and are taking their "intro to pole" class followed by downing some delicious pizza next door at Este. I'll be posting the link of Facebook where you can go to request your "pole." There are only 12 spots, so we'll have to reserve them quick! Come look ridiculous with us!

Calendar of Events:

May 8-15: No Class

May 19: "Walk and Roll" at Winchester Park (6400 South and Jordan River Parkway)

May 22: Studio 5 filming during class

May 23: Hogle Zoo Family Picnic @ 4:00

May 26: Free Fit4Mamas class for MOMS Club of Draper (and all attendees) @ 10:00 am - Draper City Park

May 26: "Walk and Roll" at Sugarhouse Park (meet at South East Terrace/Playground)

May 31: Memorial Day Class @ Murray Park (swimming afterwards!)

June 2: "Walk and Roll" at Liberty Park (meet at West Playground/Tennis Courts)

June 4: Liberty Park "Seven Canyons" Playdate @ 10:00 am

June 4: Mama's Meal & Activity @ Studio Soiree (6-7) & Este (7-9)

Introducing Fit4Mamas ‘Wednesdays Walk & Roll”

We're excited to add another fitness adventure to our list! On Wednesday nights at 7:00 we'll be meeting at various walking paths and parks for an evening endurance session. These will be completely different from regular classes – as we won't be stopping for drills or resistance training. Instead, we'll have a preplanned 'out-and-back' or 'loop' course approximately three miles long for us to walk , jog, or run. We'll be warming up together and stretching once everyone has returned, but on the course itself everyone can set their own pace.

We think these endurance sessions will be an awesome addition to our Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday morning interval classes. On top of it – Dads and older children can come along (to push the strollers?) and we can make it a family exercise experience. Sound like a perfect way to spend 45 minutes on weeknight, right?

Our "Walk & Roll" kicks off Wednesday, May 19^th at Winchester Park (6400 South on the Jordan River Parkway). Until then, we need recommendations on where everyone wants to meet! We already like the Jordan River Parkway, Draper Pipeline Trail, Sugarhouse Park, Liberty Park, and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Comment on the Fit4Mamas Blog or Facebook Page on your favorite spots and we'll work them in and post a schedule shortly. See you all soon!

March Announcements

So, our regular Fit4Mamas website is on the fritz most likely till Tuesday, March 9th - so I'd thought to post our announcements until I can get the regular website updated:

Vote, Vote, Vote!

Please take a moment to voice your opinion on our spring schedule. We move outside April 5th!! Choose three days and parks you'd like to see class. Polls close March 15th!

Schedule & Pricing Changes:

I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about my goals for Fit4Mamas. Originally I had dreams of managing multiple instructors and locations (and making it huge). Then reality set in on how much work it is to balance the demands my growing family with what I wanted to accomplish with Fit4Mamas. I believe in what Fit4Mamas represents and offers for us Moms – and I missed it while on break. But with all the time I now want and need to devote to my kiddos, I’ve decided to downshift the Fit4Mamas gear.

Therefore we are changing our schedule starting next week. We will have class on Tuesdays and Saturdays through April 3rd, and then go back to three days a week once we’re outside. I want class to continue as always, but realign the prices so I can cover my basic expenses (insurance, licensing, etc) and make it more affordable for more new mamas. I will get a new chart soon, but basically classes will be either $2.50/class for the 20 punch pass and $3.00/class for the 10 punch pass – with extended expirations. I’ll happily add punches to pre-existing passes.

Playdate:

Wednesday, March 24th: Bouncin’ Off The Walls @ 10:00. They open it up to kids five and under, so there are no big kids to worry about! Kids are $5.00 – Moms are free.

Mamas Meal:

Saturday, March 13th: Café Med @ 7:00. Get your kitchen passes for a ladies-only evening! We haven’t gone out since August, and Annie’s moving to the Texas the end of the month – we’ve got to give her as proper send-off! Please RSVP before the 12th so I can make reservations.

March Theme - MamaOlympics:

Classes will be focusing on Olympic workouts I researched so we can start training for London 2012! We had the MamaOlympics on March 6th which kicks off the month-long focus.

Facebook “Fans:”

Fit4Mamas has replaced our group with a page on Facebook. Make sure to become a “fan” for fitness updates and other happenings! Here’s the link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=339613415761&id=100000430775650#!/pages/Salt-Lake-City-UT/Fit4Mamas/109232263296?ref=ts

Fleeting Moments

As the Fit4Mamas know, I recently became a new Mom again in December (which would explain the utter silence seen here on the blog). As I went into labor a week before my due date, I found myself sobbing in the delivery room at the thought of having a newborn again. The uncertainty, unpredictability, and sporadic schedule of a new soul is daunting for even the most experienced mothers. Fast forward almost eight weeks, and now I’m wondering where the time’s gone.

Life’s in constant motion now and I feel like I’m panting more than taking complete breaths. Although lately I’ve found myself reminiscing about a conversation I had three years ago. The interaction began when I was exchanging war stories with three other new Moms in a stroller-fitness class. We were collectively complaining about teething, sleepless nights, and needy babies. You see, motherhood’s quite isolating and overwhelming, so we mamas jump at the opportunity to show our metaphorical “mom badges” and reach out to find that we’re not alone. The instructor stopped us and said: “Wait – this time and these moments are fleeting. There will be a time where all your “problems” are memories – and you might miss them.” I thought she was crazy at the time, but have come to see the wisdom in her words.

I think as Moms we sometimes fail to simply SLOW DOWN. Honestly, we’re lucky to be in the times of the lives we’re in. What other time in life are your kisses so magical? When will you again have toothless, speech-impediment-ridden, constantly sticky, miniature fans who love you regardless of your inability to shower?

In my endless fights against laundry stains and self-multiplying kitchen floor crumbs, I live in fear I might miss something in my little ones lives. Sure, one day I’ll have me back – my body, my sleep schedule, and my OCD control over household cleanliness. But will I remember the smell of my baby at two in the morning and how he’s comforted by the rhythm of my heart? Will I remember the sound of my three-year old's inability to make the “s” sound with other consonants (“Mom, I need a ‘poon")? God, I sure hope so.

Therefore, I’ve decided to try to take a step back and enjoy these chaotic, fleeting moments. Life is long, but these times aren’t. It’s only a matter of time before the neck area under my chin no longer has healing power and my boys realize I’m actually tone deaf. When those times come, new motherhood adventures await and I’ll be ready to embrace them. Until then, I’ll try to take whole breaths and realize this is really as good as it gets.