Healthy Living (Part 2) - Finding Your True Yogi Within

Part one of my healthy living segment on Ms. Behave is dedicated to what we put in our bodies.  After all, diet makes up around 75% of what we see in the mirror each day, whether it’s weight, body shape and definition or that natural glowing skin and shiny hair. 

Now it’s time to address the other 25% and focus on fitness.  I'm inspired everyday to have confidence, work hard and achieve my fitness goals, by three amazing people who we are lucky enough to have residing in this hip, up-and-coming city.

In the course of the next several weeks, I will introduce three fitness gurus all residing in Jacksonville – Nicole, Linton and Tiffany.  In my three-part fitness series blog, you will get to know a different instructor each week through learning about my personal experiences with them, what motivates them personally, and what great advice they can pass on to those of us who are looking to start-up a solid fitness routine, or make improvements to the same monotonous workouts we do every week.  You will soon see even though they come from highly different backgrounds, and practice different techniques, their clients are achieving the same results due to their similar fitness ideals and goals.

Week 1:  Improve Overall Strength, Flexibility And Melt Away Stress

Poppy Blossom Photography

Nicole DeLoreto

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Age: 33

Occupation: Owner/Instructor, Yoga Mix (Neptune Beach)

Favorite Fitness Move: Natarajasana (dancer pose)

Favorite Word: Gratitude

Least Favorite Word: Hate

Practicing yoga on and off again for more than 15 years, besides continually working to improve my downward-facing dog, I have realized how important it is to connect spiritually with your yoga instructor.  It has to be the right fit, or it will just be another workout and you won’t gain all the amazing other benefits a good practice has to offer.  We yogi’s like to refer to this as the “gooey” feeling that takes over your mind, body and soul after a really great session on the mat.

Four years ago I was working 50+ hours a week, and completely stressed to the max.  I knew I needed to do something for my sanity and tense skinny-fat body.  I started practicing yoga again at the local gym, but it just didn’t feel right to me…when I could actually make it to class on time, that is.  I was yearning for a better yoga experience, so my husband recommended that I call his co-worker's wife who was a certified yoga instructor. As a bonus she could come to my house to practice with me! 

Thus began my friendship and spiritual journey with hands down, the best yogi with whom I have ever practiced.  Radiating her warmth to those around her, she is kind, encouraging and extremely gifted toward her practice.  She transformed me into a yoga-addict, toned and strengthened my entire body, giving me 100% more flexibility, and healing my knee injury that had bothered me since college.

After months of practicing private yoga sessions at home, I became pregnant with my first child.  This now gave us the opportunity of turning our vinyasa flow sessions into prenatal sessions.   Then, about a month after my daughter was born, we got right back into the swing of things.  We started our sessions with downward-facing dog, with my newborn daughter face up on my mat, and ending in savasina with her asleep in my instructors arms!   

Nicole DeLoreto, Jacksonville native, former ROAR cheerleader and devoted wife and mother of two, started practicing yoga to stay fit and flexible during the Jaguars ’07 and ’08 seasons.  She found the practice to be incredibly grounding, a great stress reliever, and immediately fell in love.  She had found her true calling and knew she had to share this wonderful gift with others.

With the encouragement of her mentor and yoga teacher, Alyson Foreacre (owner of Yoga Den, Mandarin), who leads by example, coaching her not only as a growing yogi, but also as a small business owner, Nicole was soon thereafter, conjuring up her ambitious, I can do anything spirit,  turned her dream of opening up her own yoga studio into a reality. 

In October 2011, Yoga Mix was born.  Located just three blocks from the ocean on Third Street in Neptune Beach, the boutique studio offers aspiring yogis a chance to roll out their mat seven-days-a-week.  Yoga Mix offers a variety of classes for all ability levels, including Heated Power Vinyasa Flow, Power-Hour, Yin, Restorative, Mixed-Level, and Prenatal.  This small community studio also offers yogis plenty of special practice sessions, workshops and classes. These include sessions set to the acoustic and vocal stylings of local artists, Acro-Yoga, Inversions, Arm Balances, SUP Yoga (Stand-Up Paddle Board).  Additionally, Yoga Mix offers once-a-week free Karma Yoga Class for anyone who has had cancer, at any stage in their diagnosis and treatment.

While every instructor at Yoga Mix is exceptionally talented, Nicole truly has a gift connecting with her students.  She is blessed to still teach six to seven classes a week at her studio, which gives those who have not experienced an amazing life-changing session with her, lots of opportunities to do so. When asked what motivates her as an instructor, Nicole whole-heartedly responded.  “I love the intimacy I get to share with each student.  During a yoga practice, an amazing connection begins to happen between mind, body, and breath.  I feel honored to be there while this takes place.  I love the eye contact, the physical touch, and the exchange of energy - It's pretty powerful,” quoted Nicole about her love of yoga and teaching.

Nicole's advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle is simple.  "It's not about driving yourself crazy by stepping on a scale every day - It's about how you feel!  If you feel good on the inside, you will feel good on the outside."  The point is, we know when our body and mind feel healthy.  That is what is important, and a big part of what practicing yoga teaches us.  It's also important to just be active everyday - get outside and go for a walk, you will feel better immediately.

When Nicole's not running a successful small business, practicing yoga, and being an overall Super-Mom to her best friend and husband, Derek, kids, Anabella (10), and Dominic (7), you will find Nicole running, paddle-boarding, tending to her garden, sipping red wine, and when she's lucky enough, hitting the slopes in Colorado. 

Nicole’s future plans include continuing to run Yoga Mix, traveling and practicing yoga in every continent on the globe.  

Natarajasana (dancer pose)
Brian Solano Photography

Camatkarasana (flipped dog)
Brian Solano Photography

Yoga Mix's Live and Unplugged Power Hour with Meredith Rae

Surfoga and Yoga Mix's SUP Yoga Workshop

Waves of Beauty - Will Walk For Water

Fashion week may have ended a couple months ago in New York City, but that hasn't stopped the enormously talented stylists who make up the Aveda Salon's population here in Jacksonville, FL.

This evening marked a first for Aura Salon's Waves of Beauty Fashion Show, benefitting the St. John's River Keeper.  Designedly, with the St. John's River as it's background, fashion enthusiasts from all walks of life sipped their cold drinks and mingled about River City Brewing Company waiting for the show to get underway.

Some of Jacksonville's greatest assets are the beautiful interwoven waterways through the heart of the city, making our home a boater's paradise.  Having grown up in a similar environment, Seattle, Wa., the St. Johns Riverkeeper organization speaks to my heart.

With representation from salons like Daniel James, Salon 2000, The Aveda Institute and of course, Aura Salon, participants were asked to create a collection that included clothing, hair and make-up, that would be scrutinized by a panel of judges that included two worldwide salon gurus, a nationally acclaimed runway stylist and Jacksonville's own Nikki Kimberton.  When the music started and the runway was immediately adorned with only fashion from recycled materials and hair and make-up stylings that matched that of the Big Apple.

...And the big winners are: Magnas for Best Use of Recycled Materials, Panache for Most Stand Out Model and Aura for Best Hair and Best Collection Overall!

Kudos to Aura Salon for hosting this hip, unique event, showcasing the creative talents of your salon family and other Aveda Salons around the area!

Me and my favorite stylist Jon-Michael Hall of Aura Salon

 The St. Johns Riverkeeper mission is to work on behalf of the community for clean and healthy waters in the St. Johns River, its tributaries and its wetlands, through citizen-based advocacy,  

There's Nothing Like A Good SPANK!

Fist off, I would like to thank the Artist Series for allowing me the opportunity of serving as part of their new Women's Brand Ambassador Program. It has been an amazing run of some of the most fabulous shows I have ever seen!

Just a quick recap the 2013 lineup:
Girls Night Out
Billy Elliot
You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up!
Rock Of Ages
SPANK! (Fifty Shades Parody)

Official show description:  SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody is the hilarious new musical that brings the naughty fun of the best-selling book to life and will have your inner goddess laughing out loud! This new imagining of the characters comes to life with sharp-witted comedy, musical numbers, sexy striptease performances from the leading hunk, plus lots of surprises! Get there early for pre-show cocktails then stay to meet the cast and pose for a photo with Mr. Dangerous himself!**

It was just another average Tuesday night in April...or so I though.  As I was walking to Finn McCool's at the Landing in downtown Jacksonville to meet my new friend Devon before the show, I realized it had been quite a while since patronizing the Landing. (I seem to recall a very rowdy night back in '06 after the Florida/Georgia game I would rather forget).

I saw a nice looking man about my age walking in my same direction toward the Landing, so I stopped him and asked if he knew where Finn McCool's was.  Stating that this was his first day in Jacksonville ever, I welcomed him to the city and we engaged in pleasant small talk.  As he told me he had flown in from Denver and would be leaving for St. Augustine on Sunday, I suddenly realized that he looked a lot like the main character "Hugh Hanson" of the very play I would be seeing later that evening.  So I asked him if he was part of the SPANK! production....he stumbled on his words a bit, grinned ear to ear and said "Um, Nooooo." Completely mortified that I said the word spank to a total stranger, I bid him farewell and went on my way.

After a quick nosh and a few cocktails, we headed to the Florida Times-Union Center for the show.  I was delighted to see the lobby swarming with eager females, much like the Girls Night production.  Beer, wine and cocktails were readily available, along with tantalizing desserts and a less than shocking merchandise table complete with "Keep Calm and Spank Me" t-shirts and chocolate...well, chocolate that will have you inner goddess jumping for joy!

Once seated, the lights went out and the curtain was drawn...I knew it!  It was totally him, Drew Moerlein (Hugh Hanson aka Christian Grey) whom I had met earlier that evening....the little liar.  At this point he already had removed his shirt and was performing the steamiest moves on stage that would make any Chippendales dancer look like an amature.  Who cares if he lied to me, he was super hot.  Completely lost in my thoughts, I started cheering along with all the other women in the audience.  It did, however, make me feel better when I called Drew out at the "meet and greet" after the show later that night.

Similar to Rock of Ages, Spank! uses a more uncommon show technique of directly addressing the audience in their production, known as "breaking the fourth wall" barrier.  With three of the five shows using this production technique this season, it appears to becoming a trend, steering away from the more stiff traditional shows that are mainstream "Broadway." I applaud this technique, as I feel part of the show and emotionally closer to the characters.

The SPANK! production is a hilarious fictional glimpse into E.B. Janet's (aka E.L. James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey) thoughts as she writes her first novel.  Portrayed by actress Amanda Barker, the audience is whisked away into this 40-something, wife and mother's twisted world of billionaires, love and S&M.  As Janet furiously types away on her computer keyboard, the characters of Hugh Hanson (Christian Grey) and Tasha Woode (Anastasia Steele) come to life on stage in this slapstick, hysterical parody.  Beyond making a Sonicare toothbrush seem sensual, and a laugh-out-loud re-write to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's "Pure Imagination" and Enrique Iglesias' "Hero," the real highlight of the show was Barker's portrayal, which left me laughing all the way home and still smiling today.  Barker really lit up the stage with her comedic timing and awesome wit!  (Spoiler alert) Oh, and the "to me you are perfect" scene from "Love Actually" was perfection!

Cheers! to the entire cast and crew of SPANK!  This show is right on trend and exactly what this 30-something needed on another average Tuesday night!

Shows run through Saturday, April 13, so don't delay and get your tickets now - you'll love being SPANKed!

Purchase tickets here

Lisa + Drew aka Christian Grey (dreamy)

Lisa & Devon (my fellow blogger and awesome date)

Rock Of Ages - A Really Rad Show!

Not to age myself, but I was a little young to experience a Whitesnake or Guns and Roses concert, however, I would expect that opening night at Rock of Ages (the musical) was pretty close!

Rock of Ages (the musical) premiered at a club on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles in 2005.  After a short-stint Off-Broadway, the comedic, 80's classic rock musical landed on Broadway in 2009 and has been rockin' strong ever since.  In 2012,  the wildly popular Rock of Ages (the movie) was released, staring A-list actors like Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin, launching Rock of Ages popularity even further.

As luck would have it, the National Tour traveled right on over to our little river city and blew up the stage with their stellar performance opening night at the Florida Times-Union Theater.  With the help of finally being allowed to drink cocktails in the theater, the vocal, excited and fun-loving crowd drank in every minute of the performance.

To compare this show to the movie is performing an injustice.  After seeing Chicago both on stage and on the big screen, I just assumed Rock of Ages would play out the same way, being extremely similar - it's not.  The movie is much more complex, only basing a fragment of the storyline on the original musical and embellishing, twisting and putting the "Hollywood" spin on it.  Additionally, the soundtracks are mostly similar, with a few variations (see below):

Both Soundtracks:
We Built This City 
We're Not Gonna Take It
Just Like Paradise
Nothin' But A Good Time
Sister Christian
Heaven
More Than Words
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Wanted Dead Or Alive
I Want To Know What Love Is
Harden My Heart
Shadows Of The Night
Here I Go Again
Any Way You Want It
I Wanna Rock  Reprise
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Can't Fight This Feeling
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Don't Stop Believin' 

Only Rock of Ages (the Musical) Soundtrack:
Too Much Time On My Hands
Cum On Feel The Noize
To Be With You
The Final Countdown
High Enough
I Hate Myself For Loving You
Heat Of The Moment
Oh Sherrie
The Search Is Over

Only Rock of Ages (the Movie) Soundtrack:
Paradise City
Juke Box Hero
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Undercover Love
Rock You Like A Hurricane

To truly appreciate Rock of Ages (the musical), you have to take it for what it's worth - A light-hearted, vulgar, laugh-out-loud Broadway show with awesome actors, dancers and musicians transporting the audience to a dive-rock bar in the 80's, where the hair is big and dreams were even bigger!  In a word, Rock of Ages (the musical) is Really RAD!  I will definitely see this show again - maybe in Las Vegas next time, as the musical has landed a home at The Venetian Casino and Hotel beginning December 2012.

Kudos to The Artist Series for taking a chance with their 2012/2013 show line-up this year, as each show has kept up with the trend of pushing the usual boundaries of theater goers expectations.  I am sure next weeks show Spank (a Fifty Shades musical parody) will continue this theme and not be disappointing.