Remember that line Jack says to Rose as she is standing on the back of the Titanic threatening to jump? “You seem like kind of an indoor girl.” That’s me. I’m an indoor girl. Yes, I may spend all day at the beach or the pool in the summers, but I’ve only been camping maybe twice in my life and I rarely go on hikes. Well, that was true until the pandemic hit.
During lockdown, I tried to think of how my family could safely leave the house for an activity. One of the only parks open was Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA. This park saved us, especially me and my dog Sansa. For us (my dog is lazy), Sky Meadows is like an edition of that do-it-yourself series, “Hiking for Dummies.” The trails are clearly marked, they’re given a degree of difficulty much like a ski resort marks their trails with symbols, and it’s not far outside the city, just about an hour. Some weeks during quarantine, I would drive out there last minute, just my dog and me. My anxiety would quell, vital signs would stabilize, and a sense of hope would emerge. I could breathe. Like I said… being outside saved me. Bonus: on the way back home, I’d hop off Rt. 66 and drive into the Town of Vienna to visit my favorite pie shop, Pie Gourmet (I highly recommend the Chicken Pot Pie).
So once Virginia started to reopen, shifting many of Mind the Mat’s programming outdoors seemed like a no-brainer to this once “Indoor Girl.” Since we are a Pilates and Yoga studio… all we need is space and what better space than outside in nature within our favorite city.
Here’s why moving outside in a group amplifies the benefits of exercise and our health:
So, join us outdoors all through the year; yes, we’ll even have outside classes in the winter. One of my long-time Saturday morning bootcampers said to me recently, “It’s going to get cold. How are we handling this?” I responded, “We’re putting on coats.” For our current schedule of classes, including all Outdoor Classes, click here.
Also… join me this Saturday at Lost Boy Cider for a fun “Sit-ups, SideAss, & Cider” workshop. Can’t make it? Catch Sara VanderGoot at Lost Boy on Halloween for “Namaste Witches.” Can you see we are trying to keep things light? See all workshops here.
Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga was founded in 2008 by Megan Brown, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Polestar Certified Practitioner of Pilates for Rehabilitation and Sara VanderGoot, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher (e-RYT 200, RYT 500). In their private practices as physical therapist and massage therapist respectively Megan and Sara observed that many of their clients were coming in with similar needs: relief for neck and shoulder tension and low back pain as well as a desire for more flexibility in hips and legs, stability in joints, and core strength.
Together Megan and Sara carefully crafted a curriculum of Pilates and yoga classes to address needs for clients who are pregnant, postpartum, have injuries or limitations, who are new to Pilates and yoga, and for those who are advanced students and are looking for an extra challenge.
2214 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
703.683.2228