FitWellCOOP blog

It's officially happened, I opened my second studio.  This one includes a more diverse group of instructors that are all working together to offer something spectacular for the surrounding community.  As in my first studio, Reaching Treetops Yoga, our goal was to offer classes and events that would welcome the whole community.  Prices that we available for all incomes, classes open to all fitness levels, and instructors that create an experience and not just teach a class.  

The Fitness & Wellness COOP is a collaboration of people that desire a home to run their individual business.  What you'll expect when you come in is an opportunity to create your own wellness plan.
5 Element Fusion, Jeff Ponasik, specializes in Martial Arts, offering Tai Chi and Qigong classes that are not your average mind/body classes.  He'll challenge your senses and strengthen the elements of your martial arts practice.

Dawn Pollock offers a wide variety of classes that include an early mornings series of both Stretch and also Deep Definition.  Great way to start your work day.  After work you can come back to attend Zumba and ZI, Zumba Interval.  Dawn will have you shimmying your hips and then toning your arms and abs with intervals of strength training.

Looking for something to change up your daily routine, meet Kathleen Barbian in a  R.I.P.P.E.D. class.  Experience this total body "plateau proof fitness formula" workout, utilizing resistance and cardio training, which masterfully combines Resistance, Intervals, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance, and Diet components of R.I.P.P.E.D. to help you attain and maintain your physique in ways that are fun, safe, doable and extremely effective.

We know that you can find Zumba at most fitness facilities, BUT you'll be hooked once you take Zumba with Scottie Girouard.  High energy, booty shaking, hips rolling, and don't forget the shoulder shimmy.  You will smile your way to a trimmed figure.

With all this energy building fun you'll need to balance your practice with Susi Paikowski,  She'll introduce you to the basic fundamentals of Yoga.  "But I'm not flexible", you say? Well, that's where Susi comes in.  You will tone you body, increase you flexibility and encourage better posture in your body.  What are you doing this Satuday? I hope you're planning on joining her for community Yoga.  Can't beat the deal at only $3!  That's right, I'll see YOU there.

Maybe you find yourself recovering from an injury, or feeling like you just don't have enough experience to take these classes.  Virginia Mathias offers beginners and seniors a great opportunity to improve balance, challenge your mind and offer and element of fun with Tai Chi for Beginners and Drums Alive.  What? Wellness and drums?  This NEW unique, high energy class combines rhythmic, drumming on a stability ball with cardio movements.  Release that stress and replenish your energy while burning calories, working muscles and improving your physical and mental fitness.  

Once you're toned you mind and body you can't neglect your new physique so make an appointment with Tonyia Cook of TC Beauty Works.  Services include waxing, facials, eyelash and eyebrow tinting, body treatments and even foot reflexology.  You'll feeling fully replenished after a day of fitness and spa treatments.

There's only one other thing I've forgotten to mention.  The one element of why I, Alyssa Konda, wanted the new space.  For Aerial Yoga.  Aerial Yoga is what happens when yoga and flying unite in harmony! Aerial Yoga revitalizes the traditional “fitness class” experience by incorporating balance and stretching movements with the exhilarating strength and cardiovascular conditioning of aerial arts training. Yoga in flight!

The program has been designed to build strength and flexibility while maintaining its key component: having fun! Through the use of yoga hammocks, Aerial Yoga includes swinging, inversion and other aerial-based techniques that uniquely encourage conditioning of the mind, body and spirit.
The hammocks fully support the body and students manage the resistance and level of challenge by simply shifting their hammock positioning throughout the class. All levels of ability are welcome. Aerial Yoga offers a new and exciting way to experience fitness: a powerful workout combining strength, balance, flexibility and core training infused with the joyous element of flight!  We're offering beginner and advanced workshops taught by myself and Andrea Smessaert.
With all that we offer, why not come visit us.  If you have questions about classes or maybe you wonder if there's a class that is the right fit for you, call me.  I'm always available to help you design the right wellness plan for fun and good health.
Alyssa Konda, (262) 501-1572, fitwellcoop@gmail.com
For TC Beauty Works, call Tonyia, (262) 271-2921

Tiny Feet Giant Smiles Blog

Wednesday, January 11, 2011

Gianluca was home for the holidays.  This holiday season made me nervous wondering if we were going to have an emergency room visit again.  There was one day, even, that I sat holding Gianluca while he was sick.  He was so sleepy and had a fever.  He doesn't normally fall asleep in my arms so that made me worry. I think it will be a while before I can get over the nervous feelings that arise when he's sick.  He's made it through all his little colds and sniffles.  Most of the sniffles now are from all the teeth popping in.  Molars and all. He still refuses to let me brush his teeth.  

The greatest gift we got this Christmas was Gianluca walking.  He is all over the place.  When he hears the creak of the front door he is up off the floor and running to the door to take a walk yelling "bye, bye" behind him.  There is nothing stopping him from traveling far now.  He's started climbing more, too. He can get in and out of his high chair without problems.  My parents are now commenting how much trouble he's getting in.  He can open doors and drawers in the kitchen and has even figured out how to open the dishwasher. No obstacles too difficult.

Gianluca is the typical little boy.  He's now 22 months old, it's been quite a journey. Whenever we go out the comments we get are "he's so small", which he is. At 22 months old he is still wearing 3 month pants. He has moved into 6-9 month onsies.  His outfits now have to be 9 months for length.  We haven't had him weighed in a few weeks but his last weight was 16lbs 8oz. He feels heavier, though his appetite hasn't been great.  He does the majority of his eating at night which isn't great for my own sleeping schedule.  We are seeing the feeding clinic at Children's Hospital in March.  Hopefully we can get him eating more.  It's a struggle to give him anything by spoon.  He is at least moving into more textured foods.  I can use the mill to grind his food rather than blending it fine in the blender.

One of the funny stories that still brings a smile to my face happened at the mall.  I took Gianluca with me to Old Navy.  He was showing off his walking skills all over the store.  He managed to find his way over to a tall, blind little girl, maybe 4 years old.  He grabbed her hand and stood there looking way up to her smiling.  I could see he was reaching in for a kiss but the little girl wasn't sure how to react.  It was the cutest thing. The little girl's mother tried to get her to say hello or do anything but she just stood there, nervous while Gianluca tried to woo her.  I guess I will have my hands full with this kid. Not even 2 and he's already picking up his daddy's habits.  It's amazing how learning how to walk and he no long has inhibitions.  

Chirstmas eve we spent at our cousin's house.  Full house of people that Gianluca doesn't see on a normal basis.  At first he was hesitant and not sure where we were.  After 20 minutes he hit the floor running in every direction.  He was walking all over, walking around people like they weren't there and making his way to the rooms where the girls were playing.  He walked for hours completely fine, saying "bye, bye" as he passed.  It was a total 180 from where he was last Christmas Eve.

So now our days are walking, babbling, and making messes.  I have wished for these days to come and now they have arrived.  We still have battles in front of us with eating and doctor appointments but I don't see us returning to where we were one year ago.  To top of these great progress, yesterday I handed him his bottle and he signed "milk" for me.  That was the first time I saw him make that connection.

Monday, December 5, 2011

My updates have been very few lately which makes me a bad blogger.  It's an interesting transition from when I was emotionally required to update daily because there was so much information to remember.  That was the original idea behind documenting my son's progress. I wanted to remember.  There were so many milestones and precious moments that get pushed aside by the more emotional memories.  Lately the memory of my son's 8th day of life has been lingering in my mind.  

The first days in the NICU the doctors say the first 7 days are the the most critical.  I'm not sure I agree with that.  The first 7 days were like walking on a frozen lake on a warm day.  You weren't sure if it was safe but you took the risk anyway. Maybe while you walked on the ice it made you nervous but it still supported you until you made it to solid ground.  Maybe it's a silly metaphor but the anxiety you feel in your body is very similar, or so it was for me.  Gianluca did as most children do in their first 7 days.  It was the 8th day that will remain in my mind for many years to come.  

At 21 months of age, corrected he would be almost 18 months, he amazes us. I think that's why that horrible day stays as a reminder for me to not take any moment with my son for granted.  It's been very difficult the last few months while I've been working full time.  I never had the desire to be a working mom.  Unfortunately, the economy calls me to work.  At least we are blessed with my family and opposite work schedules that Gianluca can stay at home safely during the flu season to receive his home therapy.  

The last month has be an incredible journey of walking for Gianluca.  I've missed a lot of those first steps.  It's when I get home that my husband stops me and sets Gianluca on his feet and shows me what he's done that day.  Emotions of sadness and excitement swell inside me at those moments.  The wonderful feeling is that since I'm not home as much, Gianluca seems to prefer being with me when I'm home.  

Gianluca knows when the front door opens.  Even if we're quiet he can hear the squeak of the hinge and he pauses to try to focus on who is walking through the door.  When he sees it's me he smiles ear to ear and wiggles his way over either crawling or now walking. Once he reaches me he pulls at my pants to have me lift him up.  Interestingly enough, I don't get a welcome home kiss, I get the excited smack on the face. Oh well, I take what I can get.  He then carries on about his day with cute baby murmuring.  It's just amazing.  What would have come of our family if we would have made the other decision on that 8th day to not continue to save him?  We would have missed out on the last 20 months of pure joy.  It will be an ongoing process to release the guilt I still feel from even considering the thought of "pulling the plug".  I can't imagine how parents, who have endured the loss of a child, begin the healing process.

On a happier note, Gianluca is walking now.  We had some rough night with a new molar that popped up this month but the walking has made up for the sleepless nights.  He thinks its a game to walk across the room.  From the couch to the toy box to the ottoman back to the toy box, it goes on and on.  The laughter just fills us full every time he does it.  Now he'll work on getting up from the floor to walking.  Right now he can only find his balance starting out from a standing position maybe from the support of the furniture or from us holding his hand.  First comes the stumbling walk next the running down the hall.  Can't wait!