Center City Yoga. No, you do not need to bring a gun.

While reading this entry I want you to remember how important it is to trust your own journey.

Sometimes when you know a person as a child, and not as an adult, they stay that ten-year old version of themselves in your mind forever. This is how I thought of Katy Pringle. We met as lil’chicks at the Arts of the Dance Centre’ (yes, the last word is spelled correctly).  She was a year younger than me, a little string-bean with straw blonde hair and a 10,000 watt smile. Fluttering around the studio with her bestie Amanda for years.  We were awkward N’Sync lovin’ frizzy haired weirdo’s but as for hopes and dreams and a future, I would have never predicted that our paths would be so closely intertwined. Honestly, I had no idea what she was up to after graduating from high school. I knew she was a little smarty pants and went away to college but we never kept in touch. About a year ago, before I became the yoga enthusiast I am today,  I shadowed her best friend Amanda, an occupational therapist. I needed volunteer hours to apply to OT school. It didn’t work out as planned…(those who never fail never succeed right?). While hanging with Amanda we would talk about what Katy was up to, and going to one her yoga classes at South wind Vineyard.

PUMP THE BREAKS! I know someone who not only teaches yoga, but it’s at a vineyard….with wine….and delicious cheese. This was every white girls dream. Yoga + wine + cheese, cue the angels singing. I planned on getting white girl wasted, stuffing my face with cheese, and striking a pose with my friend Pinot and Chardonnay.

Amanda and I still haven’t made it out to the Vineyard together, life got in the way. I’m coming for you Amanda!

Fast forward 8 months, insert facebook invite “Center City Yoga” with co-owners Katy Pringle and Tony Zappariello. I squealed like a little piggy. Another ADC woman doing big things! Once I got over the initial envy of knowing someone younger than me owns their own business I gathered up the courage to attend a class. I even shimmied out of work early for the occasion. I attended the 6pm power class on Wednesday evening. Located directly across from city hall on Wood Street, ground level in a business suite I saw her sign “Center City Yoga” with a circle graphic around it that looked like Rafiki thumb swipe across Simba’s head. Then there she was, little Katy was no longer little. Tall, beautiful smile and bright blue eyes ready to welcome me into her studio. On top of all the other things that make her completely incredible she also radiates this positive energy that I fed off of like a leach. Some things in life aren’t fair…you get to be talented, successful and gorgeous? My insecurities made me feel a little out-of-place. That initial anxiety faded as soon as the three of us started chatting. Tony is this wealth of knowledge, we touched on the topic of religion in yoga and then he sent me a webpage so I could look into the history (thank you Tony!). On top of being the co-owner, he is also a teacher at Center City Yoga. I could go on and on about him as well. In the few minutes I spent with him I could tell that he is truly an asset to our local yoga community and I can’t wait to take a class with him (and pick his brain a little).

As many old friends do, we started to catch up. I learned that she attended West Chester University and graduated with her BA in exercise science with the hope of getting in to a Physical Therapy program. But much like myself, life had other plans. While in college she started taking a vinyasa class on campus and again,much like myself, it was true love. One thing we both learned early in life is that life is full of disappointments but it just meant that we were meant for other adventures. She reassessed her direction in life and found her calling as a teacher. She attended the teacher’s training program at Fitness Yoga Studios in Mullica Hill, NJ and began teaching a variety of vinyasa classes around south jersey.

Another philosophy me and Katy have in common is the idea that yoga is for everyone. I find that people can be intimidated to start a yoga class because they fear they aren’t “flexible enough” or they aren’t the “right body type”. I used to take class next to a guy who was an easy 300 lbs and he rocked it! It also gave the teacher an opportunity to learn what works with people of different sizes and body types. THERE ARE NO EGOS IN YOGA. We are all about bettering our own practice. The teacher is there for guidance and support.

Even Katy, who could easily be a prissy princess about her astounding ability is solely focused on improving her student’s practice. During class we laughed about my short arms (disadvantage) and then joked about my lack of hamstrings (advantage). It gave her a chance to figure out how I could use these elements to my benefit. I think one of her major strength as a teacher is her education. She understands how the body is meant to move through space and can give specific directions on improving a student’s technique.

Her physical practice is well versed and ideal for beginners.  Think of it this way, a home needs a strong foundation to stand. Same for your practice. In addition to her all levels class she also teaches a power class. What is a power class? A power class focuses on strength building flows that incorporate balances. She tempers the class to the student’s ability in that session. Power class DOES NOT EQUAL crazy yogi pretzel time. It’s meant to shake up your regular routine. Personally, I hope she brings her hot yoga practice to Vineland. There is nothing more gratifying at the end of a work out then being soaked in sweat and smelling like a gym sock. Kinda makes me feel accomplished.

::HINT HINT NUDGE NUDGE::

Katy, you may be a typical yoga hottie but you are also one of the most insightful teachers I’ve taken with. I am so grateful that neither of us ended up in grad school (our bank accounts are even happier that we did not go to graduate school). This is obviously where you are meant to be. In this space, in this time, helping my community experience the benefits of yoga. It’s beautiful. Namaste’.

FYI, even perfect Katy has a pose that she avoids and cringes at the thought of doing. Camel. She hates camel. Then she tells me, it’s probably because she needs that pose the most.

Katy, doing her favorite yogi pose Dancer. ❤ her.

I invite you all to check out Center City Yoga’s class schedule on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CenterCityYoga 

P.S. They aren’t just Yoga! CCY offers Pilates and children’s music classes too!

peace, love, & pigeon,

– lil’yoga junkie

 

You say there is nothing to do in Vineland? I call bull shit. Parkour, it’s not just butter.

Tiny, slim, muscular physique, it’s easy to see why Steb’s had me confused for Kacy Catanzaro…. You know Kacy, we’ve all watched her on YouTube in utter awe 10 million times. As the first kick-ass female contestant to obliterate the competition in American Ninja Warrior. If you haven’t seen this video yet, stop reading this blog immediately. I give you permission to pause and check it out….NOW! Ladies, this is the type of girl we should ask our daughters to becomes obsessed with. Enough of this Barbie, crack addicted Disney nonsense. Strong, independent, and goal oriented. As your resident yoga junkie one of my mantra’s I live by is a strong body makes a strong mind. Am I in good shape? Only if the shape is round. Am I in optimal emotional balance….sometimes. Do I try to make healthier decisions every single day? Yes.  Do I also think that all physical exertion should be balanced with caramel swirl ice cream…..yes. Therefore, Kacy has swung onto my list of fitness idols in record time as a woman I should try to be more like. Now, how did I become more like Kacy? I met Stebs.

Steven Solof, aka Stebs loves a good adventure so we kind of go together like Ranch dressing and Siracha (yum). He heard about my blog and said, “hey, would you want to come with me to a parkour class?” I paused and thought, I didn’t know they had a class about artificial butter?…then I realized that I was thinking about Parkay because I’m a fat kid and he was talking about the sport. At this point in my life wisdom has taught me to think before I open my mouth because sometimes I’m a little slow to the drawl. Of course I replied to his request with an ever so excited YES! YES! YES! YES! What far off land did we have to go to for this class you ask? Vineland. The facility is within walking distance from my house (and the ice cream place…coincidence? I think not).  So it was a date. Me and Steb’s were off to leap over ALL THE THINGS!

By the way, Parkour by lil’yoga junkie definition is the bastard child of gymnastics and skateboarding. Without the skateboard. A person participating needs to develop technical skill of a gymnast but the ability to improvise using out-door scenery like a skateboarder.

I arrived at the gym early to scope out the digs. Plus, I’m kind of crazy about being on time for things. Took a look around but I didn’t see any “tatted up delinquents” as one would assume was involved in such tom foolery. Instead, I was in a fully functional gymnastics studio and then, like a vision, I found one! The parkour delinquent of my dreams ear gauges and all! He was a man about my age coaching a teen through her back hand spring. Focused but thorough the girl would “throw her trick” and he would critique. Extremely kind and patient with her, an admirable trait of any good teacher (obviously he’s worked with teenage girls before because they are the trickiest of all beasts to try to critique because at any moment they can break into tears). From watching, it was obvious that in this world, repetition is key for stamina and endurance.  At that moment I could tell that this was going to be more than learning how to jump over a fence with style. Ken Cebulak was totally legit and I couldn’t wait to take his class.

A few minutes later the gym cleared out and a parade of boys walked in. Shaking hands, chattering about the new stunts they wanted to try, and finishing up the paper work at the front desk they then began to disperse onto the equipment. Oh, yea, Stebs was late…Thanks Stebs. Coming from a traditional dance background it’s hard for me to grasp the concept of improvisation. I was taught what to practice, when to practice and to stay in line. In a sport like this, all that crap goes out the window because creativity is key. Our coach, Kenny Cebulak was here to bring you through the basics and to make sure that you were practicing safely. He provided support when asked for and would intervene when necessary.  Other then that, a major part of learning how to parkour is interacting with fellow student’s. The community is accepting and playful. We were all there to improve but we were all at a different starting point. It kind of reminded me of yoga class, there is no competition, we were all there to help each other get better at our own practice. It helped me to feel at home.

Once Steb’s decided to show up (thanks Stebs) he brought me through his routine. First, we braved the rock wall. (Kenny showed me that the closer your hips are to the wall, the better stability you will have). Then we did various other upper body strengthening exercises. This is much of the reason I had trouble bringing my tea-cup  to my face or doing anything that required a pinch grasp. I think he quickly realized that his regular work out would be interrupted for the day because there was no way I was going to spend the next two hours doing pull ups. Not when there is runway sized trampolines and giant blue squishy ball pits to jump in.

Before I went too crazy Ken brought me through the basics to quickly assess my ability. Backward rolls, back bends, kart wheels, he had some pointers about all of these things. Then he recommended that I start by practicing my front flip into the squishy blue pit of fun. So I did just that.

As far as nontraditional workout’s go, this was intense. I was sweating like crazy, using all kinds of muscles and not once did I think  “Oh, I’m bored”. This is a common thought for me while at a traditional gym. I had a blast. And it costs as much as a movie ticket! If you have a taste for adventure. This is definitely the place for you. With every pass I became stronger and more confident. A few more classes and I’ll be the next ninja warrior, just like my home girl Kacy.

While reflecting I keep reminding myself that this is what working out should be like. I should look back and smile in anticipation of my next class. Not dread the thought of the same old boring routine. Another memory I thought was really cool and worth sharing is that there was a teen there that didn’t necessarily fit the traditional parkour “type”. She was missing her right forearm from the elbow down yet she had a smile from ear to ear and was doing her thing. She instantly nabbed a place on my list of kick-ass girls, right next to Kacy. A remarkable reminder that we create our own barriers in our life. When someone makes you feel that you can’t participate or accomplish because you’re “different”. Flip them the bird and try to do it anyway. You can’t succeed without trying. It’s just not possible. Plus, who made that douche the speaker for what you can and can’t do? Do they have some sort of certification in your business? Exactly.

Recommendations:

This class is for everyone, however, you MUST KNOW YOUR BOUNDARIES. If you are a beginner then act like it!

You can practice with, or without sneakers. I do think you should wear clothing that is easy to move in.

 

If you want to give this class a try, Ken Cebulak teaches parkour at airborne gymnastics academy three times a week. Children’s classes are on Saturday evenings. He has been practicing gymnastics, and martial arts for 15 years. More details can be found at airborne-gym.com or by calling (856)-507-1700

After class sweaty selfie!

 

Check out the rest of my pictures and videos from this adventure at http://www.facebook.com/lilyogajunkie