Day 22: IRL video drop (looooove the energy!! Highly recommend you take the adventure/trip to do an in-person class if ever possible!). Sweaty selfie with a silly face b/c…. it’s a sweaty selfie. 🤷‍♀️💦

Day 6 Wellness Activity of basking in sunlight… sad a sick pine tree was cut down this week in my small yard, so attempting to catch up on work paperwork from the sunny tree stump before my next client. Grateful for work from home days as my office doesn’t have a window.

Hiii everyone! I’m Monique from Maryland. Here’s a shiny selfie after Day 1’s Live class. So grateful for this community ❤️ Looking forward to my 2nd M/BODY Challenge to anchor into as some significant transitions are happening. Cheering everyone on through the big and small challenges and achievements! Jumping ahead to Day 2’s Wellness Activity of 3 goals in comment below:

I am SO happy for all of those who could be in the IRL class in LA today!! For those who were Barre Belles in the before times, for those who have been doing M/BODY online, and for anyone who blessedly stumbled upon that studio class opportunity. It is such a special energy, and I’m glad a few of the fam could be there (and I am holding onto Hope for the many who haven’t had an IRL experience yet, because opportunities will arise). Post all your pics please! (I wasn’t in LA but I am still incredibly grateful for the NYC experience this past June).

I don’t post my kiddo on my public IG but I am one proud momma! Today my 5.5 year old finished his second 5k AND he earned third place for boys under age 12! Eli kept a great pace even after skinning his knee, and he was so determined. When he said he was tired or was expressing frustration or doubts he could do it, I was reminding him we need water breaks and we can adjust the pace, and quoting Marnie’s mantras of “we can do hard things” and “as long as we’re going in the right direction it doesn’t matter how fast or slow we are going.” For a competitive racer that wouldn’t apply, but for our purposes it’s perfect. I like modeling and engaging him in healthy habits, and even though I still don’t like running I’ll always run for a cause (today was pancreatic cancer). I’m sharing as I’m proud of him AND b/c M/BODY influences me on and off the mat (and trickles down to my little one).

This was my first M/BODY Challenge and felt like the perfect way to dive deep into these workouts, the affirmations/meditations, and connect w/ this beautiful community of support. I posted a long AF love letter about it on Instagram, but I am proud of observing physical improvements (in form, endurance, and some flexibility) and mental shifts (more playful & curious and less frustrated & impatient with my journey). Embracing not numbing out and progress not perfection. Grateful for this experience, and so proud of anyone who makes the choice to show up at the mat or honors the message to do something else, like rest, when that is needed.

I want to create something more aligned with art, but given schedules I’m counting creating a beautiful Spring space on my side deck last weekend as my creative venture. I’m also throwing in tonight’s dinner as I mixed up seasonings for creating a quesadilla for my vegetarian self (black bean/spinach/broccoli, onion/bell peppers, cheese & tortilla) while also creating a regular chicken quesadilla for my husband, and a seasoned-but-not-spicy-with-the-right-tortilla for my son as my Wellness activity for Day 53. Finished quesadillas not pictured b/c I needed everyone out of my kitchen and then we all focused on eating- but they were yummy. 😊

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…

Added challenge is being quizzed about Pokémon characters your child drew while you’re getting your M/Body workout “me time” in. Whew! 🤪😂💪🎨 (I don’t post about Eli on IG, but he is often in the background and sometimes trying the choreography and cool down stretches with me).

This was difficult to pick! Today’s answer is M/ <45 90s Hip Hop Sweat 47 (because that playlist carried me through) and M/<45 Ballet Sculpt & Stretch (as the class flew by and I yearn for more of that poetic, ballet grace and hope to make progress in my ability to do leg stretches at the barre with a straight leg).

I try to comment under each video I do, but by the end of class I am a sweaty ball of love and gratitude for the experience. Will try to hone in on writing specifics in my comments for those who are picking a class based on what they read. And for those who post about some of their fav go-to classes on social media, pls know I am thankful and taking notes for inspiration on which classes to try next when the challenge is over.