Our blog has moved!

Greetings, Chaturangans!

Our blog now lives on our website: www.chaturangafitness.com. Please pay us a visit!

For Chaturanga instructors looking to post about your class, from now on please send blog posts directly to me and I will upload them to the site.

Cheers,

:) Marylee

Chaturanga Fashion Exchange

Saturday, December 11th, 3:00p-6:00p

Don't forget to register by e-mail (info@chaturangafitness.com) or by phone @773.358.2998.

From 3:00p-4:00p, certified Fashion Stylist Erika Nolan will share tips to help you pick out your next gem at the exchange from 4:00p-6:00p.

What's a fashion exchange, you ask? A great way to acquire new fashion items WITHOUT spending money while at the same time passing along your gently worn gems to the next person. Check out this recent Nightline report on the surge of clothing swaps

(http://www.hulu.com/watch/197898/abc-nightline-clothing-swaps).

See you at the Exchange!!

Please join us for the

Ultimate Fashion Exchange!

WHEN: December 11^th 2010

Holobi Workshop from 3:00-4:00

Clothing exchange from 4:00-6:00

WHERE: Chaturanga Holistic Fitness

1525 E 55^th Street, Suite 302

TO PARTICIPATE:

1) make reservation by e-mail (info@chaturangafitness.com) or leave a message @ 773.358.2998

2) bring clothing from your closet that you no longer wear that is in good condition.

COST: No charge

Gear up for the holidays at the closet cleanse you have been waiting for all season. Join us at Hyde Park’s newest wellness center for an afternoon of fun and fashion. Clean out your closet and come here to find your new gems.

Join Erika Nolan, Certified Fashion Stylist, for a free one-hour workshop based on the Holobi D.R.E.S. System. Like a precious gem, each woman is special. Once you learn how to dress your shape, shopping will be easier, saving you time and money.

At this workshop, you will learn how to:

• Dress your unique shape.

• Understand your proportions.

• Define your personal style.

• Bring out your brilliance so you can shine!

Then, take what you learned and engage in our free exclusive style exchange!

You may drop off your clothing at any time at Chaturanga Holistic Fitness. All clothing that doesn’t find a home will be donated to a women’s shelter. All participants will receive 25% off their next two-hour consultation with Erika.

Happy Thanksgiving Chaturanga family! Offering much gratitude for this growing community!!

Studio hours this holiday:

THURSDAY - Closed

FRIDAY - Hatha Yoga @ 12:00pm; Zumba @ 1:00p - $6 Turkey Burn Special

SATURDAY - regular schedule resumes

Chaturanga Open House

holistic health

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, October 30th, 1 to5p.

3rd floor of theDecoArtsBuilding.

1525 E 55thStreet.

FREE SAMPLE

CLASSES:

Yoga

Dance

Pilates

COMPLIMENTARY:

Posture Analysis

Mini-Massages

ENJOY:

Refreshments & Raffle Prizes

BRAZILLIAN DANCE PARTY

WITH ALIVE BAND, 5-7p.

ALLARE WELCOME!

773.358.2998

info@chaturangafitness.com

773.571.2372

dr.willetts@praxischiro.com

Schedule & Class Updates

A quick update on changes to the jam packed Chaturanga class schedule:

• As of tomorrow, Thursday Oct. 21st the Tai Chi for Seniors will fill the 10:30 am slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Welcome back loyal clients of V'La, we hope to see you all there.
• With that comes a schedule change for the Yogis at Chaturanga. The Thursday 10:30 am Vinyasa class taught by Nicole DiBracco and the Tuesday 10:30 Tantric Hatha with Keely Jones are canceled. We will be sure to add them to our schedule in another slot soon!
  
• Time change on Mon/Wed & Sat Vinyasa Yoga. All classes are now 9:00 am until 10:15 am
  
• Brian's Gentle Yoga class is now 6:30pm - 7:45 pm on Mondays.

Remember if you are new to a teacher classes are half price.

Candlelight Yoga Tonight

Start off your work week right with a special yoga class that will soothe your soul and make you sleep like a baby!

Our first monthly event, Emily Palmer's Sunday night Candlelight Yoga class, is taking place Tonight from 6:30 until 7:45pm.

This is like no other class you have experienced. There will be live music, candles, chanting, and a serene ambience that will feel like something out of another place and another time.

Class is half-price if you've never taken a class with Emily before. Come out and bring a friend. All levels of experience are welcome.

If you have other plans for tonight, your next chance to experience this magical yoga class will be November 21st. Mark your calendar now!

Will Shoot for Yoga

Our new website is in the works and it's going to be beautiful! Only one thing is missing.... Chaturangans!

I'm looking for someone with professional photography skills and gear to come in on a Saturday (this weekend, maybe?) to take photos during our 10:30 yoga class, 12pm Zumba class, and 1pm Capoeira class. I'd also like to stage some photos in the Pilates equipment room and take some artful pictures of the studio.

In addition, we'll need someone on-hand for our Open House on October 30th, which will be full of fantastic photo ops....

Please contact me if you, or someone you know, could help us out with either/both of these projects in exchange for free classes.

Thanks!
:) Mlee
mbussard@gmail.com

Pierre and Chaturanga at Oktober Fest in Hyde Park

Yesterday was so much fun doing the Zumba demo at the Oktober Fest in Hyde Park representing Chaturanga. I'm so glad Marylee invited me to do it and that I was able to make it on time. We had a nice crowd following along including people of all ages. I'll be posting pics as well. Hope you like ;-)

Work-Trade Opportunities Available

Is your appetite for yoga bigger than your budget? Dying to try the Pilates equipment, but limited by your bank account? Work-Trade may be the perfect opportunity for you!

Just 3.5 hours a week working for Chaturanga earns you unlimited group fitness classes and half-price Pilates equipment classes. Tasks include signing in clients for classes, returning phone calls, cleaning up around the studio, and supporting our marketing efforts.

Please email me if you are interested! Shifts currently available 7 days a week.

Thanks!

:) Marylee

mbussard@gmail.com

Our first four days of classes have been great! It's been wonderful to see all the familiar faces and lots of new ones, too! I am hearing so many positive things from people who are grateful for the beautiful space, the full schedule, and all the fantastic teachers! Yay!!!!

Today, Wednesday October 6th, a crew is working our 3rd floor space to replace the windows so that they can open up to let in the fresh air! It appears that they'll be finished in time for the 6pm Pilates class and Capoeira at 7pm.

Party at Park 52
If you're looking for something fun to do night... My FAVORITE Chicago Band is playing at Park 52 starting at 7pm. Two Chaturangans are in the band... our very own Marcos Oliveira (Brazilian Percussion) and Dil Costa (Brazilian Dance) are performing the BEST Brazilian music! Come out and join some of the Chaturanga staff for dinner and drinks, and of course samba dancing!!!

NOTE: The Brazilian Percussion Class is CANCELED this weekend due to Marcos' performance at the 2nd Annual Brazilian Music Festival (www.musicinst.org).

Open House
SAVE THE DATE!!! We have scheduled our Open House for Saturday, October 30th. We will be offering short form classes and demos, a raffle, and some other FUN surprises. More information to come!

Oktoberfest
Chaturanga will have a table at Oktoberfest this Saturday from 1 - 7pm on 53rd Street. Stop by and pay us a visit. Even better, can you help? Contact me at mbussard@gmail.com

Mindbody Software
We should have the credit card machine up by the end of this week, and the scheduling software is getting closer by the day, as well! If you're curious, Go to Mindbodyonline.com, click on clients, and type in Chaturanga. Our studio will pop up. Click on it and you will see a Mon through Fri schedule. For series classes, you need to click the Series Classes tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen. By the end of this week it will be possible for you to register for series classes online. I'll keep you posted!

Thanks for all your support in our first week! Please continue to spread the word to all your friends! See you soon!

:) Mlee

Our Web Address

For those who have been asking, here's the link to our website: www.chaturangafitness.com

My designer is working on a beautiful, fully-functioning site which will include online scheduling, payment and registration options.... so easy to use and navigate. You'll love it!

For now, you can link through to our schedule and pricing from this page.

P.S. Still keeping my fingers crossed for more IKEA assemblers....

:) mlee

Come experience the Zumba Afterglow with me Zumbero 28

My name is Pierre R. Cameron and I'm a proud black Latino born and raised in the Republic of Panama (Central America) which is where I get my passion for dancing all types of music. I've been dancing for fun all my life, but I've also done some professional dancing (in salsa, merengue, modern jazz and samba).

I'm so excited to join the Chaturanga team and add my little drop of spice to the mix. You can catch me there Monday nights at 8pm and Saturdays at 12noon. If you can't get enough then all you have to do is say so and maybe you'll see me one more time during the week!!

I am looking forward to grow as a great Zumba Instructor on this new phase of my journey and build a relationship with my students that will hopefully make a difference in their lives. I am currently certified in Zumba Basic Level 1 & Level 2 and Zumba Toning with plans to become certified in Zumba Atomics.

Hope to see you soon!!
Pierre aka Zumbero 28

Updated Schedule and Price List Now Online

The updated schedule IS actually online now... sorry about the mix-up for those who went there yesterday. I had made a couple of big mistakes so I asked my web guru to pull it off for a day. But it's live once again!

Also on our webpage is the new price list. Please let me know if you have any questions.

The contractors are working around the clock to get us into the space. They're starting to express doubts, but I'm not hearing them. :)

IKEA will be here any minute with our furniture. Diane Schroeder and I spent a very... um... eventful 8 hours there yesterday. I am sooooo indebted to Diane for her talent and vision. She is transforming the space into a tranquil haven that is perfect for any mind-body practice!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE to assemble Ikea furniture... and we have lots and lots of it!!!! Can you help??? Please??? Now accepting all hands for furniture assembly between now and Friday evening. Email me if you can spare a couple of hours! mbussard@gmail.com

:) mlee

Opening on Saturday!

Much to my amazement, it seems that all major hurdles have been defeated, and Chaturanga Holistic Fitness WILL open its doors, in our beautiful new space, on Saturday! THANK YOU to all who have made this happen by lending your time, talents, capital, and encouragement... and by coming to classes despite the temporary mess and blinding fluorescent lights! Your support reminds me of the power and goodness of this community we have formed over these weeks and years of taking classes together. What a blessing that we will continue to practice together!

I have more good news! The group fitness schedule is finally ready! It has been tweaked, and re-tweaked (THANK YOU, CYNTHIA!) and now you can see it at www.chaturangafitness.com. The pricing schedule will be up shortly... still ironing out a few wrinkles there. But know that the rates will be similar or the same as what you're used to, with a few added perks!

Some highlights and GREAT DEALS you'll want to tell your friends about:

We want you to explore ALL the great programming that Chaturanga has to offer... So from now on, your first group fitness class with any teacher you've never tried before is Half-Price!

• The Chaturanga team boasts 10 different Yoga instructors, all with a unique background and approach to this practice. Try them all! If you've decided you can't do Yoga, Pat Schulman would love the chance to change your mind on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. For those looking to understand the finer points of sun salutation, I'm told that Aya's Surya Namaskar classes are not to be missed! There are soooo many great new yoga offerings and I'll be asking each of our teachers to post more information about their classes on this blog, so check back in over the next few days!
  

• For those who don't know, I am a NUT for Brazilian music and culture, which is why we have several different Brazilian-themed classes for you to try out! You don't have to be musically inclined to take Marcos' Brazilian Percussion class on Sunday... and if you start now, you'll have plenty of time to prepare for Carnaval in Rio in February! Dil Costa's 8-week Brazilian Dance class begins on October 31st... you won't want to miss it! And Josh Granger is back on Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons with Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that is super fun and an intense workout!
  

• SUCH a better way to burn calories than a treadmill.... Zumba will make you sweat, laugh, and shed your inhibitions in a few heartbeats! Pierre and I will give you several chances a week to get your samba, salsa, reggae, and bollywood grooves on!

• For Ladies Only... Diva Dance Class will be just $5 on Sunday 10/3 at 5pm, and Friday 10/8 at 7pm. Contact Kania for more information: admin@divadancelessons.com
  

Thanks for keeping posted. More to come soon!

:) Marylee

The Chaturangan Team of Teachers... in a word....

WOW! Last night was our first staff meeting. I wish I could convey in one word the incredible talent and energy that was gathered in that room. I don't quite know where to begin...

There were many of the familiar faces, of course... V'La (the Glamorous Vuvuzela of Tai Chi), Cynthia (the Ever-Graceful Go-with-the Flow Vinyasa Yogi), Nicole (the Sunshine Dancing Vinyasa Yogi), Aya Nicole (the Devotee of Accessible Ashtanga Yogi), Janine (Pilates Rocket Scientist), Erika (Pilates Fashion Stylist), and Josh (our Golden Cord Capoeira Maestro).

What was so fun was, there were just as many NEW faces! All I can say is, the time to get seriously excited... is here. Let me introduce you to some of our new instructors!

Pierre (Bundle of Spice) Cameron will get our hips shaking with his Panamanian flavored Zumba; for the young at heart who want to shake it like its 1959, Myah McKinnie will help get your groove back with Zumba Gold; for LADIES only... if you think you've lost your inner-fabulousness, Kania "Jaguar Rain" will lead you home with her own empowered creation, Diva Dance!

Directly from Rio de Janeiro, we have the makings of our own Carnaval-style Escola de Samba Hyde Park with Marcos Oliveira and Dil Costa, two of the most talented Brazilian musicians in Chicago, coming in to teach Brazilian drumming and dance. You will feel like you've died and gone to Brazil!

For those seeking a little more "classical" dance instruction, you will want to check out the Nicole Jeka Trifecta of Adult Ballet, Pilates, and Yoga! She'll bring all three to our studio! Lovely Laura Coe emits a soothing calm that will inspire relaxation long before shavasana; Singing Emily Palmer and her candlelight yoga band... well, do I really need to say anything more?; and last but not least, Lani (Fountain of Youth) Granum, one of the original Chicago Yogis and teacher to many fine teachers... what an honor that she, and ALL of these incredible instructors, will be joining us!

Something for Every Body!

Things are moving along on schedule! I think we might actually make our October deadline for moving into the new space....

Classes this week have been great. Thanks for everyone who has been coming out! Please keep coming and keep spreading the word. By this weekend, you'll start seeing these flyers popping up all around the neighborhood. Contact me if you would like to have some to bring into your workplace, church, or condo building. Please also contact me if you have TV or print contacts who might be interested in doing a story about us...

A huge THANK YOU for everyone who has helped out this week, including...
- Catherine for her fantastic advice on Marketing;
- Rich, Erika, and Matt for helping me disassemble and cart the Reformers and Cadillac (and much more) to the new space;
- Marcy and V'La for their steady support (and strong backs);
- Claudia for jumping in to lighten the load;
- Cynthia for her patience, diligence, insight, and calm;
- Nick at the Deco Arts Building... Best building manager ever;
- Rajun Cajun, for feeding me... every single day... sometimes twice a day...
- and Diane, who is lending her design expertise to make our new space serene, functional, and flexible enough to accommodate both yoga and samba!

Speaking of samba... you won't believe the incredible instructors we're bringing in! I don't want to give everything away, but suffice it to say, boredom is no longer an option in Hyde Park.

More to come!

:) Mlee

Two Opportunities to Help

For all of those who have offered your services, there are two chances to help out tomorrow:

1) I am renting a moving truck to cart the Pilates equipment over to the new space. Is anyone available around 12 or 1pm to help out? I honestly don't think it will take much more than an hour. It's mainly just four large, awkward pieces (3 reformers and a cadillac) plus a few smaller props/mats.

2) If anyone is planning to take Cynthia's class tomorrow morning and could come over to Deco Arts early (say around 8/8:30) to help me cart up mats, bolsters, blocks and blankets.... I would be oh-so grateful!

That's all for now! Thank you!!!!

:) Mlee

Class Schedule September 20th - 30th

As of today, the following classes have been confirmed for the upcoming week. They will take place in the empty office space directly next door to our new studio, on the 3rd floor of the Deco Arts Building (1525 E 55th Street). Please come out and support your teachers. (Pilates equipment students, some regular sessions will resume this week also. Your teachers will be contacting you.)

Re. payment: We won't be able to accept credit cards this week, as we are still waiting for the credit card processing equipment to arrive. Cash or check will be acceptable. Price will be $15 for the next two weeks. So you are prepared, it will be a no frills setting... but what matters is that our teachers and YOU will be there!

The following list of classes could grow once I hear back from the other teachers, so please check in again tomorrow. And please drag your friends class! We need your commitment more than ever!

Thank you!
:) Marylee

Monday 9/20 and 9/27
9:15am YOGA with Cynthia
6:15pm PILATES with Marylee

Tuesday 9/21 and 9/28
9:15am PILATES with Erika

Wednesday 9/22 and 9/29
9:15am YOGA with Cynthia
4pm YOGA with Nicole

Thursday 9/23 and 9/30
9:15am PILATES with Marylee

Saturday 9/25
8am PILATES with Marylee
9am YOGA (Level 1-2) with Cynthia
10:30am YOGA (Beginners) with Cynthia

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

It's official.... Today I signed a 4-year lease for the 3rd floor space in the Deco Arts Building!

Ever since, my inner state has been much closer to eeeek! than ommmm.... But thankfully, I know of a great place to do Yoga, Pilates, Dance, and Meditation.

Some classes will begin meeting at their regular time on Monday, September 20th, in the vacant office space that is right next door to our new home. Check in here for all the details about class times in this temporary space. I'll post a temporary schedule by Sunday.

Thank you to everyone who has offered their skills and talents to the cause! I haven't had a chance to get back to everyone yet, but I will soon. We can use all of the help we can get, but for now the most important thing is to keep spreading the word.

Have a great weekend. Namaste!

:) Marylee

Announcing Chaturanga Holistic Fitness!

Greetings, Hyde Park Yogis, Pilates-buffs, Belly-Dancers, Ballerinas, Sambistas, Capoeiristas, Couch Potatoes, Dharma Seekers.... your mind-body connection will soon have a place to call home!

Chaturanga Holistic Fitness, LLC is an interdisciplinary Yoga, Pilates, Dance, and Meditation center. We offer an eclectic mix of health and fitness classes in a beautiful setting, conveniently located in the heart of Hyde Park. Beginner or devoted practitioner, exercise-enthusiast or detractor, you are bound to find something that moves you among our full class menu and a teaching roster that includes some of Chicago's finest yoga, pilates, and dance instructors.

Our name, Chaturanga--familiar to Yogis as one of the most challenging and nuanced asanas of the Sun Salutation series--in Sanskrit, literally translates as "four limbs" or "four divisions." This name reflects our four main areas of instruction: Yoga, Pilates, Dance, and Meditation. Among these four pursuits, we can continually deepen our awareness, and perhaps encounter new and different parts of ourselves... One day, quiet reflection. Next day, off-the-hook booty-shaking! :)

An amazing team of teachers is hard at work to get this off the ground. I am so delighted that Cynthia Latimer has agreed to bring her tremendous skills and intuition to bear upon the Yoga Program, and you're going to love what's in store! I'm also working closely with an incredible team of Pilates Instructors to bring in some new mat and equipment classes that will power-up your powerhouse like never before. If you like to Dance, get ready for Zumba, a calorie-burning cardio-dance class set to the heart-lifting rhythms of salsa, merengue, samba, and more! We are putting together a range of other dance classes, including Adult Ballet, African Dance, Belly-Dance, and the beautiful "dance" (that is actually a Martial Art) from Brazil... Capoeira! Finally, regular Meditation classes will be offered as a means to awaken your experience in all of life's pursuits. Through meditation, we tonify the mind and have an opportunity to practice those simple yet often-overlooked foundations of physical life... breath, posture, and walking.

So when and where will all of this wonderfulness transpire??? We are very close to signing a lease for a beautiful 2100 sq ft space located on the 3rd Floor of the Deco Arts Building, at 55th and Lake Park. My sincere hope is to begin holding classes in the new space by the 1st of October. I am close to raising the needed funds to get into the new space, but by all means, if you have means and would like to help expedite the process, please contact me!

Stay tuned, because we may start holding classes in an adjacent office space within the next week or so. I'll be making posts to this blog frequently, so check in often and please help spread the word!

More to come! Post your comments and let's keep the vibe alive!

Peace!

:) Marylee
mbussard@gmail.com
www.bodyofmusic.net