This challenge has led me through every single wave of its purpose physically, mentally, and emotionally. Most recently we all worked together to get to the summit together, as Marnie designed for us (hello planks and push ups and back to back endurance classes 😮‍💨 ) and now we’re working together to decend.

This is more challenging than the ascent for me and I know many others, especially after the peak high of making it through by challenging ourselves physically and mentally. Slowing down.

What started for me as what I thought was a reaction to less sleep, weeks of pushing myself, and new moves in Ballet sculpt (hello obliques) was not sore muscles. It was COVID. I am fortunate to have support and to be experiencing what I hope is a milder form. But it is making my brain really watch itself spin with thoughts of disappointment, guilt, and a desire to go to the mat as usual and feel the happiness and high. I keep thinking grace. Give yourself grace. Take this lesson. See what happens when you listen to it.

Thinking of you all and wishing that you are able to give yourselves grace. I am allowing myself to move through it, and trying as much as I can to hold it for me as well 💛

I can’t believe it’s day 52! Workout 52 was great. I have never made it this far in a M/BODY challenge and I am so excited!

I came back to the mat today after about a month of not working out. I was recently diagnosed with depression, and it has been a difficult road for me. I’m tired all the time, and as a teacher the end of the year is approaching and it is crazy busy. The weather is finally turning nice here in Iowa, and I have spent a few days outside going on walks. I’m not exactly sure what it is that I need right now, but I know I want to slowly get back to where I was. I just wanted to come on here and say that I’m still here, even if I’m not at lives or posting on social media. I’m going to try and get a few 20 or 30 minute videos in during the week and go from there. Thanks to everyone who reached out to me on Instagram. This fam is the best 🖤

Meant to post how I’m feeling in the comments yesterday but completely spaced, so here it is. Yesterday was a tough workout for me, felt very weak during the movements, especially during planks. It followed a week where I had a couple good workouts, but those workouts wore me out, and my running suffered. It’s a challenge not to feel like I should just be able to do all the physical things I want to do. And really, I feel this way with my work too, pushing, raising the bar, enjoying a success for the moment, but then not knowing where to go after, or if I’ll ever be successful again. The honest comment here is that I feel discouraged.. and I can recognize that this isn’t exactly logical, but emotional. So I’m curious ladies, how do you go about strengthening your logical side?

Here is what doing a Live w/ a silly little love circling around you can look like…. A sweaty face, mustache, and lack of makeup. Reminds me ALL of us have things going on around us (or within us) that can be so chaotic and makes it challenging to get to the mat, or continue with the whole workout while distractions are happening. Like having fake facial hair put on you after your stretches. Rooting you all on every single time you show up, whether you are able to do all the jumps or whether you are dragging through it- you’re here and that deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated. Excuse me while I shave…

Hi ladies! We are about to finish our basement which will include a gym. Such an exciting step up from doing m/body in my dining room with a chair! 😁 I'm looking for opinions about whether or not we should install a barre or get a freestanding one. I love the idea of having it permanently affixed to the wall, but I also enjoy the ease of moving my chair from one side to the other to make it more convenient to watch the videos, similar to how Marnie moves her barre. What would you do? If you have a barre attached to the wall, how do you handle this issue?

Who’s coming tomorrow and invited friends?!?! Can’t wait to see you there!!

I wanted to share how greatful I am for MBODY and this amazing platform. I have so much going on at work right now. We have an audit of one of our COVID trials, major staffing changes and recent new additions to my roll at work. Marnie and this platform has helped me to remember that "I can do hard things," and to take on this new challenges as "new opportunities for growth!" Thank you everyone!!!! 💓 ☺️ I am beyond greatful!

I’m still in Chile, hence my new workout view, and for that reason I just completed the 20 min ballet sculpt. It left me so darn emotional. I just feel so extremely proud of my fellow mbody peeps and I want you to know that I am cheering for you all. I am cheering for you in the challenge and in all the facets of your lives. Our world can often feel so competitive but I LOVE that through Mbody we can bring eachother up. Sending everyone who reads this so much love! Xoxo

To my younger traumatized adoptee self: that biological connection, that yearning to see a family member who looks like you, you will finally have that. You will birth two babies and they will be everything you ever hoped. You will become a radio dj and you will have a large group of friends you see often. Keep dreaming. Keep going. Every step you take leads us here.

To my younger self just before the challenge: you CAN do this!! In just a few months you will marvel at your strength and flexibility and the start of abs showing.