I’m so glad you’re here and doing all you can for yourself, Liz, and your 3 minis! Marnie’s response is chef’s kiss.

While I’m not at all coming from a similar journey, I know when I keep junk food I like in my house and get into late night snacking (when it’s quiet and kiddo is asleep) I am adding nutrient-lacking calories before sleep. I try to avoid diets and restrictions and that approach to my health and body, but if I keep more nutrient-rich foods and snacks that feed my body good things that helps. Rather than empty crap that may increase inflammation which creates barriers to the excellent work my body is doing during M/BODY classes, or jogging along side my child when he’s on his scooter or bike, or other physical movements. I wonder what foods-that-serve-me-well swaps could do for my health if I was consistent. I share this with you as perhaps it’s one element of a multi-point approach to your wellness and your body feeling good for you to move and dance in this world more comfortably.

Either way, I’m so glad you are doing much better than before, I’m in awe of the well of strength you pulled from to get to this point, and I hope you remember no matter what your body is on your side and you have overcome so freaking much with her already. Hormones are a part of it and so impactful, getting those balanced however you can during these new phases is awesome through nutrition, movement, and perhaps some additional medical advisement. Wishing you luck on that long-term exploration and so grateful you are here, in all the ways that means.

I appreciate the limited over head moves with tight neck/shoulder muscles, and when the option is presented it’s mostly one weight at a time. We have a lot of up and down via squat/wide second/Goddess and some lunge and curtsy lunge positions but we’re only on the floor itself for a quick ending plank. Felt powerful, well paced, and full body. I’ve been with M/BODY long enough to quiet my ego when I need to keep the pace slow despite options to speed up, as slower helps me maintain muscle activation. I got so sweaty with two 12 lbs weights. Per beginning class chat, my middle name is Marie. 🩵

Monique So good for an early morning when energy is a little light but you want a solid foundational start for your day.

Monique whew, I forgot the level of shoulder work involved! We have the strap (or towel) rainbowing from in front of us up over our heads and behind our backs in many of the sequences. Lower body and arm movements together and about 2/3 standing. There is an elongated stretch series at the end, and I found slowing down for that this morning challenging.

Monique so wiggly! Standing on ball (both feet then one foot at a time), and we hold the hand weights most of class (so comments about increasing the weight is great but sticking with whatever works is great). Repetitive sets so your focus can be on form while balancing on your ball.

Joyful and beautiful, felt like a class of hope, connection, and “we can do hard things.” The cardio dance was bouncy and jumpy to awaken the heart and build bone density, the elongated weighted arms (5 lbs.) worked my arms/shoulders/ back so deeply, then my legs were shaking, and then from waist down was WORKED at the barre. Ass toasted like flutes of champagne. Our #mbodyglobalfam Alyssa K. beautifully amplified the “salt water heals” as her song recs can bring some tears after I was already sweaty. Ball use includes our hands while in wide second, under feet, behind shoulders, and in between knees in hip bridge. Excellent multi-use of the Movement ball. Happy Pride Month!

Happy Marnieversary Lindsey J and happy belated Marnieversary Lizamary!

Monique Standing class until the last few minutes of some P&P and the awesome front body stretches referenced by others where we are (actively) laying tummy downward. Bouncy start to class with lovely optional jumps, and while the class had so many wonderful hip openers, it also felt super full body to me from shoulders to toes. Bone density creating, sweat-inducing, wowza of a class!

I’m revisiting my extensive Favorites list and this one was such a leg burn and glute activator! We use one hand weight (I went with 5 lb.) so one arm can work while our lower body does her thing. The joy of the original class, just before I went to NYC for a weekend of M/BODY, is a warming memory of June 2022.

Excellent balance of warmth, each side of the body, wonderful cross-body twisting, and some leg motions forward and side extensions, with a few lunges here and there. Bounces but not jumps. It felt posture-adjacent (makes sense with core/trunk work) but a lot of reminders to hold chest and head up and allow our legs to lower us, and bracing our core with use of breath for extra work. This was wonderful for after work when I still had some energy, but not a lot (this class felt well-paced). 

HBD Rita and happy elopement Katherine!

LindseyJ I love the connection!