Listen here:

The post Podcast Episode: School’s Started and Anti-Diet Culture appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

A few months ago, I was introduced to the Lullaby Project via the University Health Network’s (UHN) Krembil Brain Institute. The purpose of the Lullaby Project’s collaboration with Krembil is to offer mothers living with epilepsy the ability to create lullabies for their kids and also to see how music impacts those living with the condition. All participants were matched up with a songwriter who would create something for them (or another singer) to record. This was done in partnership with Massey Hall/Roy Thomson Hall. The song I recorded (with special thanks to my songwriter, Scarlett Flynn) is called Bug.

I really enjoyed working with Scarlett and recording. It was my first time recording solo at a studio – I had done some recording as a member of the school choir back in high school for a singer who performs for elementary school students (I don’t even remember his name. It wasn’t a big name musician from the kids’ music world like Raffi or Sharon, Lois and Bram). All the choirs in the school, from JK through high school also recorded an album of holiday/Christmas music back in the 90s. But that was done in the chapel, not an actual studio.

Was it nerve-racking? Maybe a little, but like I said, I had a lot of fun!! And I love singing, and really, I should do it more outside of the shower. I haven’t really done much singing since Jr. Mintz was very young. And prior to his birth, I rarely sang. A far contrast from when my high school and university days – especially high school, when I sang in chapel EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DAY!!!

NOTE: The Lullaby Project is an international program first started in New York through Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute. The Toronto chapter (??)/program first collaborated with Jessie’s Centre, which helps empower young women/parents, providing them with programs and services to help them, including education, health services and housing support. It later expanded to projects with the Regent Park Community Health Centre and UHN’s Krembil Institute.

The post I Recorded a Song!! appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Last week, I posted a short video (see below) on my Instagram account (and on What’s the Difference?’s account) about how one should try to be as “normal”/”routine” as they can while they’re stuck at home. It’s been tough – as someone who works from home, I tend to split my day into parts, taking a couple of hours “off” to go to fitness classes and grocery shop. Well, those fitness classes are now cancelled and I’m trying NOT to grocery shop as often (I’ve been shopping online to avoid an extended amount of time outside of my home) as well as NOT overbuying (we saw a couple spend nearly $700 last week with most of their purchases being non-perishables). But still, working out is necessary for me (stress reliever) and I know I’m lucky to have an elliptical in my unit (my building’s gym has closed). But I can’t JUST do cardio EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

View this post on Instagram

And that’s on top of regular work and being a mom!!! #covid19 #mentalhealth #stayingnormal #asnormalaspossible #newnormal #delectablychiclife (well, as DelectablyChic! as possible, anyway)#thenewnormal

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Mar 18, 2020 at 7:15am PDT

What’s a gal to do then? Luckily, my Pilates studio is offering live streamed classes. They’ve only had two so far, and unfortunately, neither were held during times I was able to participate. I will, however, try a class at a time I’m able to take part. I’m also taking advantage of a free (for now) subscription to a stretch/strengthening program I’ve been doing for years. I’ll have to pay soon, should I want to continue, but I very well might until this whole thing is over. And who knows when that’ll be?

Both (along with daily meditation) will take my mind off this whole thing and perhaps stop me from stress eating. Yes, that’s what I’m most worried about – gaining weight from over-eating. At least I’m grazing on frozen berries (maybe three or four at a time, three or four times a day)? But still…it isn’t good for me. As for normal meals, I’m trying to be as “routine” as possible – loads of vegetables (I bought a lot of frozen greens and can eat a good 1/4 to 1/3 of a bag at a time) and loads of whole grain and low carb breads in the freezer. Unfortunately, this means I don’t really have much room for more (hey, not everyone lives in a suburban home with an extra freezer in the basement)!! I DO think I have enough for two weeks, especially if I continue to get groceries delivered to me several times a week (grocery shopping three or four times a week is “normal” for me and delivered groceries means I have less prolonged exposure to the outside world). But at least the food I have is (relatively) healthy?

How am I handling NOT going out daily? Not that well (as going out is also a stress reliever for me). It’s hard for me not to see people other than my son and my husband. And stores seem to be running out of things – I started an order for delivery from Fresh City Farms today and they barely had anything. They (as in grocery stores in general) are “assuring” us that there’s plenty, but is there REALLY? And what if we just want to eat healthfully? Not everyone wants to buy cookies and cake (even though I hear many ARE – and are binging on that due to stress)! Maybe I need to think of something else to take my mind off all of this.

I know some people are binge-watching movies and TV shows to take their minds off the whole thing (hey, maybe the. So far, I’ve only seen one – Singin’ in the Rain. I probably should go through some old Disney favourites – The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast (OG versions…or should I watch the remakes? I mean, Will Smith as the Genie? Ummmmm NOOOOOOOOOOOOO). As for TV shows, I really SHOULD be catching up on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (I’ve only seen the first season and the first two episodes of the second) and perhaps start Succession (an HBO series). But that’s only if I can find the time. People tell me the latter is really good.

And not being able to go outside for anything other than picking up groceries means my son doesn’t get to play outside. He loves going out and though we think he’s mostly oblivious to what’s going on at 17 months, I’m sure he’s wondering WHY he’s indoors all of the time. Having my husband work from home means my son gets to spend more time with his dad. We’re still trying to get him to walk on his own. I KNOW he can do it. He walks quite quickly if you hold on to him, running, even, but he just doesn’t have the confidence. He’s really shy. If anyone has suggestions as to how to build a kid’s self-confidence, please shoot them my way. Honestly, this kid is pretty much the only thing that is bringing a smile to me these days.

How is everyone adjusting to the new normal? Do you have a new normal? Are you worried about your health outside of COVID-19? Like you’re not getting the kind of food you typically eat? I’m reading that some people have started binging on junk food (like purchasing Oreos instead of their usual greens and whole grains. To be honest, while I’ve eaten cookies recently, I have NOT had an Oreo (or a Chips-a-Hoy or PC’s Decadent Chocolate Chip) in years). Heck, my husband and I had breakfast delivered to us today and I chickened out on ordering from McDonald’s!

In any case, don’t just stay safe and healthy, but STAY SANE! As you can see, I’m trying to be as routine as I can, adjusting here and there where I have to. It’s my only way in attempting to relieve stress. I’m sure many people feel the same way and it’s important to stay stress-free.

Image credit: CLS Digital Arts/Shutterstock

The post Social Distancing and Keeping a Routine appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Why? Mirrors help guide you when you’re working out. Yes, it doesn’t really matter if you’re on a treadmill, elliptical or bike, but for yoga, barre and other movement-based exercises? They help A GREAT DEAL. Especially if you’re not the most balanced person in the world.

I’m a barre and Essentrics person. The barre studio I go to is mirror-free, but I’ve been attending enough classes with a specific instructor to know her routine and feel comfortable without the help of a mirror. However, I’ve found that when there is a sub or if I have to attend another class due to a scheduling conflict, I might have to rely on a mirror to help me with the various movements – especially if it’s a faster-paced class. And mirrors can help prevent injuries, too. Do you REALLY want to hurt yourself, and thus, not be able to go to class? Especially if it’s something you love? I think not.

I know size diversity activists typically are extremely adamant about mirrorless gyms and most will NOT make room for debate. These people don’t even WANT to hear my side of the story (surprise, surprise). I find it very sad and very typical of today’s “snowflakes.” Seriously, people, how can you consider yourself “woke” if you don’t let others speak? Your idea of what’s “right” and forcing it on the rest of the world is just as bad as the other side forcing their views on you. Or, they will close the conversation by saying something along the lines of “thanks for your comment.” And they leave it at that, without anything further. That more or less translates to “you’re totally wrong, dahhhhhhling, and *I* will ALWAYS be right!!!” I really don’t know how many eye roll emojis to insert for something like this.

Let’s just put it this way: mirrors work for some people. It HELPS some people. It even makes some people MORE CONFIDENT about themselves because they know they’re doing things correctly and WILL GO BACK FOR MORE CLASSES. The gym will make money and the client will be satisfied because he or she is becoming MORE FIT. Exercise not only helps improve physical health but mental health as well. And isn’t that a good thing?

Image courtesy by Vereshchagin Dmitry/Shutterstock

The post Why I Believe in Mirrors at Gyms appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

What about your average person’s prediction? My education is in the arts and humanities (drama and history major as an undergrad), so I probably have zero clout in any kind of prediction. However, this doesn’t stop me from coming up with my own ideas.

First of all, we have to believe that someone isn’t going to ruin it all, and ruin it quickly. Based on what’s happening around the world, with the rise of fascism and nationalism (and we don’t mean “nationalism” in the separatist vs nationalist sense), things could be disastrous within even five years. I for one think it may be slow and there will be SOMEONE who’ll help turn things around…eventually, anyway. Not in 2019 or even 2020, but maybe 2024 or 2025. This really depends on who is running each country – especially the United States. Europe is important as well, as is everyone’s relationship with China and Russia.

I don’t want to make things too dark, nor do I want to paint a rosy picture of the future. I think we have to go through some dark times before we see the light. While things won’t likely get too dark here (despite Doug Ford being in office in Ontario), I fear for the rest of the world. I think the United States, however, will “get it” sooner – Trump supporters are already becoming dissatisfied – than, say, Europe.

Hate will continue to escalate, especially in Europe. Why? Unlike, say, Canada or the United States, the whole idea of diversity and the majority of people either coming from elsewhere or having ancestors who did is not ingrained. People there often ask us why so many Americans and Canadians hyphenate their ancestry. It’s “normal” for many of us here, but they think it’s odd. Once you leave, you leave, and you’re part of “them.” As for hate here, the left’s push for uber-political correctness will cause tension. Heck, even I’m tired of it (and I’m sure my regular readers know how I feel from posts like this or this), and there’s no way I can ever align myself with the radical right. I’m sure many of my blogging peers think otherwise, considering how I’ve been called an “over-privileged brat” before. Privileged, yes, I admit to that, but brat? Whoa, hon, that was nice. Anyway, I think I’m going off-topic.

So what would the world be like, politically-speaking, in 2054? It won’t be too dark. We would have emerged from darkness by then. We would finally realize that pay equity REALLY comes from equal work. This means that toxic masculinity would slow down and guys would realize that it’s just as important for THEM to take time off after the arrival of a baby. Quebec’s current “use it or lose it” leave policy for men will be federal and yes, guys won’t feel uncomfortable actually taking that time off. Only when (straight) guys realize it’s important to take time off to spend with their children and not worry about having to work, could we actually achieve a more equal status. Many women lose out on the opportunity to be promoted because they fall behind after taking extended time off to be with their children. It’s still primarily OUR JOB to take our kids to the doctor, to go meet with the school and most of all, WE are usually the ones who take all that time off when our children are born. It isn’t our husbands. The workplace also needs to be more flexible, allowing the ability to work remotely. The technology is there already, so why not?

Sure, I know what you’re going to say. Women NEED more time off because they were the ones who were pregnant. First of all, not all moms become mothers through their own pregnancies. I didn’t. And many others did not either. Are we less of a mom than those who did? And why are we the ones burdened with all the work, unpaid work, in addition to our “real” jobs? No wonder we’re more likely to be stressed. Why don’t men take more time off anyway? By taking more time off, we DO lose out to people who don’t. Taking 12 months off work for maternity and parental leave means you’re one year behind your job. You’re where you were when you left, while someone – male or female – who did not have a child and had the exact same position you did has made more money and has had an extra 12 months of experience. Remember, you don’t get your full salary while you’re on EI (I’m talking only from a Canadian perspective). And once you go back, you might be in the office less if you’re the one who needs to take your kids to their appointments. But this will change. Men will soon realize that they need to contribute more, and a “use it or lose it” leave policy will help them. This policy will also mean there’ll be less “mean boy” pressure at work. We need to start thinking differently. Only then would the world change. This is already changing, but I don’t think we’re doing enough. I have a little boy and it’s a scary time for them. I think it’s scarier for them than it is for little girls.

Why do I think that way? We already have many positive role models for girls. Everywhere, I see books targeting very young girls, books about women who made a difference. STEM-related books and toys targeting girls. But what about toys and books which teach boys that it’s okay to be sensitive? They’re out there (e.g. Wonder Crew), but they don’t get nearly as much press as, say, American Girl. Is that even fair? And why aren’t we talking about how it ISN’T fair the way we discuss, say, women in science or politics?

Speaking of politics, I’m not sure whether we would have a woman PM or that the United States would have a female President by that time, but we will see more equality in terms of representatives. However, in order to achieve this, we need to encourage more women and people of all ethnic backgrounds to run. We always say that government needs to truly represent the people, but when you look at it, do people of all backgrounds even WANT to run? You can’t have, say, a Chinese-Canadian mayor of a big city if no one of Chinese heritage runs for office, right? And we also need to rethink what “diversity” means. We are always looking at diversity from an ethnic perspective. Does it HAVE to be that way? Say there are two boards. Both are made up of seven people. Board #1, all white and male (of varying ages), is made up of the following:

• 2 from the LGBTQ community, grew up middle class
• 1 who grew up in a lower income, rural Canadian home
• 1 from quite the opposite – very privileged, private school educated and multigeneration Canadian
• 2 from middle class homes, child of immigrant grandparents who were Holocaust survivors
• 1 Eastern European immigrant

Board #2 is made up three women and four men. While this board is ethnically diverse (one woman of East Asian heritage (Catholic), two white men (one Jewish and another Anglo Protestant), one South Asian man, a black man and two white women), they are all between 35-45, educated in the same sort of high school (various Toronto-area independent schools), one of three universities (let’s say Queen’s, Western or McGill) and all play golf at the same two country clubs.

So please tell me, readers, which one is more diverse? Or are they diverse in different ways? Does the PC community/ultra-left forget that such people exist? Because I KNOW that I’ve been dismissed each and every time I bring such a subject up. Or do they just ignore the fact? The left must come to a realization before TRUE diversity can become a reality. Like feminism, there’s more than one kind of diversity.

As for technology, well, that’s fairly easy, I’d say. The digital world will, of course, continue to rule our lives. We already can’t live without our phones, right? Self-driving cars will, of course, be more common, even within five to 10 years. Turning 16 would no longer be a big deal, though I’m sure they’ll find ways to restrict minors under, say, 12 (or even 16) from being allowed to control where the car goes. That shouldn’t be hard. Face or fingerprint recognition already exists for many of our devices, so people can easily restrict access to certain people – especially kids. There shouldn’t be a worry that your 10 year old would steal your car!

You might say that’ll put drivers out of work. However, anyone who complains about that forgets that there’ll be new jobs developed in areas they never thought of. 100 years ago, street lights were still individually lit. Then came electricity, and lamp lighters no longer had work. We now accept that street lights are turned on by a computer.

I think we’ll be a cashless society within ten years. Sorry, but I don’t carry much cash with me. Most days, I don’t have any. Credit cards, debit cards and my phone are how I pay for things. Some cafes already don’t take cash (e.g. Sorry and Calii Love). In parts of Asia, a part of the world where you’d think cash is still king, many young people give and receive lai see (money in red envelopes one often gives and receives around the Lunar New Year) by app – you’ll get an alert when someone sends you something. It’s nothing like actually receiving lai see, a tradition that goes back years, but if that’s what people do, that’s what people do. It’s likely because many younger people just feel uncomfortable carrying large amounts of cash (and when several people give you lai see, yeah, you could have a lot of money with you at one time).

Speaking of cash, let’s talk about shopping. Actual brick-and-mortar stores will still exist. I like touching items, tasting them if it’s food (that’s what Costco sample people are for – haha). For things I need frequently, and am familiar with a brand, then yes, I will buy them online. I also like scouring at farmer’s markets and craft shows to discover new, independent brands. It’s one reason why I LOVE the One of a Kind Show. I go both times each year. I also like going to summer markets. I’m not alone at this. Many people my age love these things too.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t NOT shop online. Things which are bulky and heavy are purchased online. I’m petite and I don’t have a car, so yeah, I’ll need things shipped to me (don’t tell me to “make do with what I can” – I’m sorry, when you’re under 100 lb at barely 5’2″ and have a baby, YOU JUST CAN’T!!! Even if you try). The good thing about shopping online in the future is this: Drones. I know they scare some people, but hey, you don’t have to deal with delivery people. And packages won’t only be traceable by number, but there’ll be cameras so one would know EXACTLY where a package is. And the camera will be disabled once the package is opened (but footage will be accessible for 48 hours after opening).

One thing which worries me a bit is privacy. There are cameras everywhere now. Sure, it can keep us safe, but when everyone knows what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, would you even GET any time to yourself? Without anyone knowing what you’re doing? I like how easy it is to communicate with people and to tell the world how you feel, but sometimes, you just want to power off. Will we be able to power off, even five years from now?

It’s not just privacy, but media in general. We already live in a world where anyone CAN be media. Sure, that’s great, especially for people like me who are attempting to have our voices heard (and constantly ignored, especially when it comes to our own views on diversity. Mainstream media and the left don’t acknowledge us. At all). However, it could get into the hands of the wrong people (both left and right) and could be disastrous. Legislation will come, but it can’t also violate Charter rights. That is, the right to expressing ourselves. I like being able to blog about my own opinion on things, the world. And social media has been kind to me – it’s a lot easier for me to tell the world how I feel.

But would it be even easier? How would the ability to share change? How would the ability to get attention for MAINSTREAM media change? And how do we change people? What I REALLY don’t want to see is one thing: people tuning out to things they don’t want to know about. We need to really broaden our horizons and look at things from at different angles. Metrics could be used to target people who focus too much from one angle, urging them to look at things differently. For example, if you are right wing, you could, all of a sudden, see sponsored links which are more liberal. Yeah, I know, you can choose to ignore them, but if it’s clickbait-y enough, you’ll click, right? Annoying, sure, but hey, any way to change people!!!

Finally, health. Wearable technology has certainly helped. I wear my Fitbit, even to bed as I want to track my sleep in addition to activity and heart rate. I won’t be surprised if some sort of wearable device would work with pharmaceutical companies. Wearables which work like medical patches could be a new way for those on medication to take them. That way, we won’t have to worry about when we take them or miss dosages. Like medical patches, these devices will dispense medication as needed. And even at the correct time. And once medication is close to running out, it will alert the individual to renew their prescription. This really isn’t all that far off – at least I don’t think so.

I know media have been painting a dark picture on overall health due to the radical increase in obesity. I beg to differ. I think people will come to their senses and will be able to manage a healthier lifestyle. But this could just be the world I live in – I work out five days a week and eat a reasonably healthy diet. However, the only way this could work is if we make food more accessible and affordable. And I think this can be easily done. Frozen fruits and vegetables are definitely cheaper than fresh, for example. And they don’t taste bad, especially if they’re flash frozen.

Of course, eating right isn’t the only thing one needs to do to become healthier, activity is important as well. For body, mind AND spirit. Workplaces need to rethink the regular 40 hour workweek, giving people more flex time (and the ability to work remotely). Actual physical activity, perhaps by offering gym membership as a part of one’s benefits package, will also help. All in all, I think we have the ability to become better people.

I think I’ve gone on enough and now it’s YOUR TURN. How do YOU think the world will be in 35 years? Heck, how do you think the world would be in 10 or even five?

Image credit:  iurii/Shutterstock

The post The Future World: 2054 or Even Sooner… appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

I don’t really understand this.  Are people really so into the “do whatcha want, whenever ya want” philosophy?  Especially with clothing?  To each their own, I suppose.  Or maybe I’m just getting old at 38.  I have no issues with my body.  I don’t want to hide anything.  I just don’t want to look like I’m spending a day at the beach or pool – there’s a time and place for everything, and I think many young people forget that.  Or don’t care. And yes, I think it’s sad.  Or am I spending too much time on liberal fashion blogs where people, well, weren’t “raised that way,” so to speak?

Over the winter, I was looking for non-leggings pants to go with some of my tops.  I DO wear leggings (as you saw in my #nosolidblackforlent pictures on Instagram), but mostly for more barre-centric classes opposed to personal training or Pilates.  Do you know how difficult it can be if you’re looking for something that isn’t black?  There are tons of non-black choices for leggings, but pants?  Not so much.  Maybe I’m just too picky and dealing with a so-called #firstworldproblem.  Okay, I admit it.  I AM dealing with a #firstworldproblem.  But it doesn’t mean I can’t rant about it, right?

A lot of people in the fashion world just see me as a prude and probably more conservative than I should be.  Many even think I’m uncreative and the more militant might think I’m holding progress back a few decades.  However, they can think what they like.  As long as they don’t become too aggressive and bully-ish (which, unfortunately, they often are), I’m fine with it.  I just want more options.  Is that too much to ask for?  Let’s hope things will change this year!

Image credit: Mtsaride/Shutterstock

The post Athleisure, Comfort and Modesty appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

The pins aren’t always about inspiration.  Sometimes, it’s just so I could save something (like a recipe, for example) for future use.  There’s a club soda bread I haven’t made in years, so I searched online to find it.  Rather than bookmarking or saving the link in my notes, I decided to pin.  It’s easier to find recipes that way (rather than my rather stupid method of just posting links).  You may still have to scroll if you have a lot of pins, but at least the photos will help.  There are other things I’m pinning as well, such as ideas for possible redecorating.  I’m not really looking to re-do anything soon as we spent a great deal of money re-doing our kitchen in 2016.  Minor things make sense, of course, such as painting or acquiring artwork.  Some of our walls are a little…bare…I suppose the upcoming One of a Kind Show may give me some ideas as well.

It’s interesting how Pinterest (or Instagram) has been helping me.  That doesn’t seem to be the case for other people – at least from what I’ve read.  Facebook on the other hand…Ugh!  As I’ve said in other posts, both here and on DelectablyChic!, I really don’t want to give Facebook up – not yet, anyway.  It’s where I get A LOT of my news!  And where I communicate with many people I don’t see too often (it’s just too bad most of my family isn’t super-active…or on it at all).  But the whole point of de-stressing is to make one feel happy, right?  And if inspiration based on recipes, decor and vacation spots make me feel happy – especially if I’m able to share them myself (which I can’t on Instagram), then that’s a good thing…right?

Image by: tanuha2001 /Shutterstock

The post Pinterest and All That appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

The journaling has been good for me not only from a mental health perspective but my health overall.  I think it not only has to do with me actually putting some of my innermost thoughts out in writing, but because I’m actually writing the so-called “old fashioned” way.  It helps my brain, mechanically speaking, and thus, better helps me feel better physically.  Things were getting a little stressful over the past few months, but I’ve felt much better since I started writing.  I feel a lot happier – not that I was UNHAPPY before everything started – but something just felt…relieving.  Of course, an event I organized last month, one which was successful (and something I”ll discuss in another post in the coming weeks), also helped.

My journal is a plain, 5 x 8.5 (or so) Moleskine notebook and I’m currently on my third one (I went through my first in a month).  I typically write about six or seven pages a day.  Would I eventually publish my entries?  Perhaps, but it will need to be heavily edited to protect people’s privacy.

Whether it WILL be published is another issue.  Everyone says the literary and publishing world needs more diverse voices, but the “diversity” they currently have and is willing to publish isn’t necessarily the kind of “diverse” voice I have.  Of course, my rant about that is a whole other post as I do not want to get off topic!  Another time.

The post Journaling For Health – Mental AND Physical appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

This class is different.  It’s only 45 minutes (opposed to an hour), and doesn’t feature ANY mat work (which was the ONE THING about barre I LOATHED as crunches can make me dizzy).  Of course, it’s not any gentler, which is a good thing.  In fact, I’m finding that I get MORE of a workout in those 45 minutes than I have in any one hour barre class I’ve taken in the past.  It’s likely because this class concentrates A LOT on glute and leg work, which I like.  And I feel great afterwards (okay, I was ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED after the first session, probably because my body wasn’t used to this version of barre).

Since there isn’t work on the mat at all, the class focuses much more on the barre and centre, in about a 55-45 rate (though these sessions are 45 minutes long, one STILL spends more time at the barre, probably an extra few minutes).  Like most classes, we start with a warmup at the centre, and then move to the barre.  This is followed by some work with weights at the centre and ends with a cool down back at the barre.  The 45 minutes go by very quickly and unlike some studios, I barely notice the music (I HATE loud music, and it’s probably why I stopped going to clubs/bars soon after I finished university.  I can count on ONE HAND how many non-classical/jazz concerts I’ve been to).  The only point of criticism I have for this particular studio that every session is more or less the same, without many new routines.  However, barre is relatively new to the studio, so things might change over the next few months.

I think this class is here to stay, at least for the time being.  I will also be trying some of their yoga classes as I’m looking for something gentle to replace Essentrics for the summer.  The yoga class I’ve signed up for focuses on restoring and destressing one’s body and mind – excellent, as I’m trying to get into a more “mindful” lifestyle.  I’ll report back!

The post Getting Back into Barre Classes appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.