The next local female I want to highlight this month is Kristin Manchin, the woman behind my favorite sweat proof jewelry, Raising Surfers. Yes, I love Kristin’s creations because they are on trend and I can wear them in the gym, in the shower, even in the ocean (if my fitness adventures take me there), all without fear that my arm candy will tarnish. But I love Raising Surfers even more because of who Kristin is. She is a survivor. A creator. A mother. A cheerleader of others. A perfectionist. A daughter. A wife. And sorry to be cliche, but Kristin is bad ass female entrepreneur.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, all month long, I’ll be highlighting several local women who make my job as a fitness enthusiast better in one way or another. The first is Becca Ardekani, the founder of Merak activewear. I’m all about local love so I was giddy to learn that the adorable active styles from Merak were created here on the Main Line. Merak is the Siberian word for simple things that give you pleasure. For Becca, movement is medicine, and the word “merak” signifies what Becca wants her clothing brand to stand for.

I first heard of face yoga a few years ago from a friend who had decided to ditch the needles and go with a more natural solution to reduce the signs of aging on her face. At that point, I was just starting Botox myself and was thrilled with the immediate results so I didn’t ask her questions or look into it further. But, I was always intrigued and continued to be as I now regularly inject toxins into my face. There has to be another way to age gracefully?

This Skims Try On post is a little public service post. I put on all the viral silhouettes, desired fabrics and insanely soft loungewear so I could break it all down for you and make your Skims shopping experience a little easier. So this post is what you need in your closet and what you can leave to the twenty somethings.

February used to be my most dreaded month until I decided to turn this dark and cold month into 28 (this year 29) days focused on just self care. Then my feelings about February quickly did a 180. So let’s start this month strong with next level beauty and self care services. Sure a traditional massage and facial are really nice, but if you want to try something different with insane results, this is what I recommend in our area, and beyond (because some things are just worth traveling for!).

What happens when the women of CrossFit get on Pilates reformers for the first time? How about sending a yoga instructor into the boxing ring at Jabz Boxing? These were just some of the workout mixups I initiated with my fit pro friends in January as part of a really fun fitness project that had magical results!

The timing for this post could not be more perfect. Because temps are in the 20’s for the fifth day in a row, I am bringing you a blog post about the coziness, comfiest and warmest clothes on the planet: the good ol’ reliable sweat set. I mean, why the heck would you want to wear anything else right now?

Strength focused classes are popping up all over town. Many studios devoted to a certain method of fitness have realized this recent shift in training goals and have added weights to their regularly scheduled programs. And I’ve been checking out these classes over the past few months. So here is where I recommend you go on the Main Line to get stronger in 2024.

Shopping counts as a workout this weekend, right? Your heart races. You sweat a little. And while you don’t necessarily burn calories, you do burn through your money. So here are some more ways to achieve that burn… in a big way. These are my big ticket wish list fitness items. And while I don’t expect to get them all this year, I’d be happy with just one of these super special items (hint hint, Eddie).

I’ve carefully curated the perfect holiday gift list for fitness enthusiasts, or those looking to spice up their fitness routine in 2024. These gifts are sure to get you excited to move, which is always my goal! And my list goes beyond fitness because I know you all want more. I do, too. So follow along for all of my fitness finds for the holidays.

I am typically writing about a new studio opening. But this week I am sharing all about a gym that is having a huge milestone anniversary this month. And it’s safe to say that this will be my one and only blog post that celebrates a fitness business having 40 years on the Main Line!

Yes, yes, I am still training. Training for the body competition that I announced at the beginning of the year and that I decided to conquer for the new year. Here are a few updates for those that are curious. And it is going. Just very, very slowly.

Don’t kill me for saying this, but I’m waiting for the cold temps already! That’s because I have my outerwear ready to go. And my favorite jackets are all from one place… Lululemon.

I get my activewear and my everyday clothes in one place. That’s because activewear brands know we value comfort and fit, which they have done so well with their workout clothes. Using the same coveted fabrics, activewear brands have been creating some really fabulous clothes to take us beyond the gym. So yeah, for me there is no need to look any further.

Each September, I shift my focus from boring adult stuff to the fun kid stuff. While doing my “field work” throughout the year, I come across so many great kid programs in our area. Programs that I didn’t know about until I started to dig a little. Programs that I am thrilled to be able to share with you all in hopes of sparking some little person’s interest. And this story might just be the best example of that to date and yet another reason why I love to do what I do.

While childcare at gyms may be a thing of the past, I did manage to find a handful of boutique style gyms in the area that have some childcare hours available. Their playrooms are clean and their babysitters are qualified. Here is my list, albeit much shorter than what I had hoped to give you.

This month I am highlighting an instructor on the Main Line who fits into our back to school box. That’s because she just went back to school herself, starting her junior year at Radnor High School.

A healthy September for your family sounds great. But here’s the problem. September is nuts! I’m struggling to figure out how I will get one to dance, another to practice and a third to tutoring all on the same night. Yeah, it’s going to be an interesting fall for me. So when the heck am I cooking this so-called healthy, home cooked meal? I cannot resort back to Chick-fil-A and Panera every night again. I need something in between that and slaving over the stove for hours. Enter Home Appétit.

My four year old made great strides in the pool this summer. He started off scared to put his face in the water, but now he is closing out the summer by doing back flips in the pool. I don’t want to end his progress just because the summer is over. And he certainly doesn’t want to get out of the pool. We have a bunch of great swim programs in the area so the kids don’t need to stop swimming just because the season changes.

If you absolutely despise hot workouts, then just close this post. However, if you love them (like me) or think you’d like to give them a try (I wasn’t always a fan), then read on because I am talking all about the hottest workout on the Main Line. In my opinion, there is nothing more invigorating and motivating than watching the sweat pour off your body. But there are many more benefits of working out inside a sauna that you are going to want to know about! Sit back. This is a long post. That’s because I have so much to share about HotWorx in Wayne.