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Yoga

Feb 15
0

Yoga Love Stories

By Yoga

yoga love stories

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we asked our Funky Buddhas to share their Yoga Love Stories, and O.M.G., were they ever fantastic – like, feeling all the feels, tears of joy fantastic.

When it comes down to it, Yoga Love Stories are really SELF-Love Stories. Yoga Love Stories are really stories about people, regular normal people, discovering and falling in love with themselves. And that is pretty much the most funking awesome and inspiring thing we have ever heard. Ever. *tear*

So here is a little sampling of some of that Revolutionary Self-Love:

“My love for yoga is never ending! The first time I stepped foot into the Funky Buddha, I had no idea how my life was gong to change….Yoga is so peaceful and freeing for me, it showed me that happiness can come from just letting go of things mentally and focusing on what’s really important in life.” – Gabrielle Hutchinson

“Reasons Why I Love Hot Yoga: Endorphin explosion! I love how great I feel when I leave hot yoga. Exhausted and energized at the same time. Ready to take on the world, after a shower of course. Hot yoga makes me want to do yoga every. single. day. That means I love it right?!?!?” – Lysandra VanderHart

“Dear Yoga, I love you, I love you not, I love you…..that is our crazy relationship. Remember when we met four years ago? I apologize for almost walking out on you during our first date, but you had asked me to do about 50 chaturangas! What’s a girl to do? I was ready to roll up my mat and leave. But your crazy, sweaty goodness convinced me to stay. So many memories, like the day that I heard that by doing yoga you can slow down the body’s aging process. I was kind of discouraged because I wished I had heard about that when I was 29. Even though I am going to be 60 next month, you were so gracious. Age doesn’t mean a thing to you. I love that about you.” – Candy Kleinheksel

“Help(ed) me to understand that I – like everyone – have the capacity to get stronger, to get faster, to build endurance. That it is hard, but that anyone, absolutely anyone, can do it — and this is how. To help me understand that I am the boss of my body – not genetics, not circumstance, not history. That I could be weak and slow for all of my life and still choose not to be when I wanted. And probably most critically, to help me recognize and appreciate the reward on the other side of all the hard work and struggle…..I finally recognize and appreciate the endorphin bath that lets me walk out of class ready to crush the world, which in many ways is the most important thing, since the whole point of this undertaking was not to create muscle, but peace (if not actual joy).” – Jennifer Jordan

“My love for yoga runs deep and wide: I love the way it makes my body feel, I love the way it frees my mind, and I love the way it gives me peace within….How do I know that this is love and not just lust or infatuation? Well, it’s been 1,469 days since my first class and I’m still showing up on my mat as often as I can. Every day yoga loves me back….I love yoga when I “succeed” and when I “fail” because I love the trying and I love learning new things. (And let’s be honest, I also love the clothes) Dearest Yoga, I love you.” – Sarah Baar

“Yoga has completely changed my life. I have a closer relationship with the people who my anger and anxiety has pushed away. I have the ability to think calmly through any situation and notice the positive things in life. I am healthier, happier, and more in love with who I am after every class! I love you yoga, never will I leave you!” – Nicole Fragoso

“I love yoga because it has given me my breath…… When I shift my focus from the list of “to-do’s” and “what if’s” to the methodic swim of my breath, I am choosing to be present now. I breathe through each pose, and now I am learning to breathe through each day.” – Meghan Lau

“I have learned to love myself through my practice. It took me some getting used to, but my practice is just that. Mine. If I go to child’s pose for 20 minutes or hit my best wheel 3 times over, I have made huge strides in my practice….. I have been taught that using a brick isn’t cheating, breathing is yoga, and it isn’t possible to fail in yoga. I have been taught that my time on my mat is mine, and I have my whole life to work on yoga. Here’s to a life-long love affair with Funky Buddha and hot yoga!” – Elizabeth Zick

All of our Yoga Love Letter Submissions were amazing, emotional, and really really REAL. Thank you yogis for taking the time to share your Revolutionary Self Love.

Drum roll…..anticipation…..and the winner of….the Yoga Love Notes Contest is………Jillian Beauchamp!! Woot woot!!

yoga love stories

Feb 07
0

Core Value Kudos: Malamiah Juice

By Yoga

February Funky Buddha Core Value Kudos: Malamiah Juice Bar

malamiah

At the heart of the Funky Buddha are our Core Values – a deliberate and thoughtfully compiled list of ideals by which we operate, live, and create. Our Core Values permeate everything that we do and can be seen in everything from our employee policies to our class formats. Funky Buddha Core Values are at the center of both our student and staff culture. They provide a foundation on which to build excellence, and guide our continuing evolution.

A side benefit of being a business with intentionally formulated and strongly supported Core Values is an increased awareness of displays of excellence in the business community around us, and in Grand Rapids, there is excellence all around us.

This February we celebrate our amazing friends at Malamiah Juice Bar.

Funky Buddha Core Values:

  • Accessibility
  • Quality & Professionalism
  • Continuous Improvement
  • RICH (Respect, Integrity, Intentionality, Caring, Honesty, Humility) Action
  • Service First

Funky Buddha Hot Yoga and Malamiah Organic Handcrafted Juice go together like: peanut butter and jelly, wine and cheese, baseball and hotdogs, sunny days and picnics…….you get the picture…..we were made  for one another. <3

malamiah

In chatting with Jermale and Anissa of Malamiah Juice, it becomes immediately apparent that the driving tenet of their LIVES, and as an extension, of their business, is that of Service (Service First). Of course, they are committed to providing exceptional products and service to their juice bar customers, but on a deeper level, they see their business as a way to intentionally (RICH Action) service their greater Grand Rapids community.

One of the stated missions of Malamiah Juice is to employ young people (Accessibility), which provides an amazing opportunity for the young people of Grand Rapids for employment experience (Continuous Improvement / Professionalism), while nurturing the work and service values of the greater Grand Rapids community (RICH Action / Service First / Continuous Improvement). Committed to investing in their people, Malamiah has pioneered several staff enrichment programs, including health initiatives and professional development.

malamiah

Having worked closely with the Malamiah Juice Team for our Funky Buddha Triathlon events last summer (and yes, the Funky Buddha Triathlons will be coming back this summer – stay tuned), the Funky Buddha Team was blown away by their awesomeness. Quite frankly, they are just amazing to work with – every team member that we had the pleasure of interacting with was responsive, energetic, & flexible (Quality & Professionalism). Even when we had to make an emergency change in schedule, due to the fickle Michigan weather, Malamiah stepped up to the plate with a not only gracious, but enthusiastic, “Yes We Can” attitude, despite the fact that I am SURE it was a major pain in the butt for them (RICH Action).

malamiah

The very definition of a “family business,” Malamiah Juice Bar is representative of everything that is great and inspiring about Grand Rapids Small Business.

Thanks for being Malamazing, Malamiah. 🙂

We love hangin’ with you at our Funky Buddha events, and we totally love your fantastic juice. Thanks for #keepinitjuicy !

Love,

The Funky Buddha <3

Jan 27
0

Beat the Blah

By Yoga

It is gray. It is winter. The weather can’t make up its mind. The initial fire of New Years Resolutions has faded a little. We have officially come into the season of BLAHHHHH…..

The thing about positivity and motivation is that when it comes down to it – they are decisions. Choices that we make about how we want to live our lives. Sometimes they flow easily, and sometimes – Not. So. Much.

When sunshine and vitamin D are at a deficit, and the promise of spring is just that – a seemingly far away promise….we sometimes have to work a little bit harder to stay motivated and get the “happy” neurotransmitters firing.

Here are some tips for Beating the Mid-Winter-Blahhhs:

Yoga

Duh. Yoga. The answer to all the problems is, of course, YOGA. Do the yoga. It is gloriously warm in here. When it is cold and dry outside, your body LOVES the heat and humidity of Funky Buddha Yoga. Plus, did we mention the endorphins? We need the endorphins and the happy neurotransmitters – now more than ever!! Pass the Serotonin. Dopamine – yes please! Sometimes it is GETTING to yoga that is the greatest test of will. Once you get here, you will be happy that you came. We promise. 🙂

Community

Winter can make people want to hibernate, literally and figuratively. It is just harder to get out and about. But Community is important, and maintaining Community takes some deliberate effort, especially when it is gloomy and yucky outside. We all know that being around positive people makes us more positive! Fortunately for you, your Funky Fam is here for you. Yoga AND Community under one roof. Boom.

“The interactions we have with other people affect the way we feel about life. Our close relationships keep us grounded and influence both happiness and the sense that we are part of a larger community. Interestingly, even our interactions with people we do not know that well give us a sense that we are part of that larger community. When we are first introduced to that community, those interactions and that feeling of belonging also increase our happiness.” —Art Markman, PHD – Psychology Today

Random Happy Shit

Sometimes to be happier in life you just have to be happier about ANYTHING. Need a mid-day lift? Laughter works well. So, if you need a little laughter or a few warm fuzzies….here ya go! (DISCLAIMER: Videos below may bring you joy.)

Pandas on Slides

Pets Interrupting Yoga

If It Fits, I Sits

Who’s your best friend?

Jan 24
0

Funky Buddha February Student of the Month: Tom S.

By Yoga

tom

If you practice in the mornings at Forest Hills, then you probably know Tom. He is a Forest Hills REG-U-LAR. Tom embodies all things Funky Buddha Yoga. He comes to the studio each day ready to work. He comes to the studio each day ready to laugh. He cheers on his fellow yogis. He welcomes the new yogis. He uses his yoga practice to better himself both on and off the mat. Thanks for being AH-MAZING Tom, and adding so much to our Funky Community.

Q&A with TOM:

Why Yoga?

For the health of it, to maintain, improve flexibility and it just made sense to me.

What sparked you to begin?

My good friend, Wall of Famer, Bryan Steen sold me on the idea. He knows me really well and I think knew I would get hooked.

What keeps you coming to your mat?

I’ve always believed that you are either going forward or backward in your life, so hitting the mat almost every day keeps me going forward.

Why do you love Funky Buddha?

Very simple, everyone, every employee I’ve met has been friendly, helpful and encouraging.

About this golf game of yours…how has yoga improved your game or physical ability?

No question I’m stronger and more flexible. But a surprise benefit I believe is I’m mentally stronger. Golf gives you time to think and you have to be able to focus when it’s time to perform. Yoga is the same way, it forces you to think about what you are doing and to focus and do it well.

Advice to fellow yogis, young or old?

Since I’m on the older end of that question the only advice I would have is to keep on going. Go forward! It beats the alternative.

Jan 24
0

February Super Yogis & Fear Nots

By Super Yogis, Yoga

Sharing the LOVE for this month’s outstanding Super Yogis (250+) and Fear Nots (500+):

February Super Yogis

Rachel B.
Mike C.
Arena E.
Kristi H.
Samantha K.
Kayla Mc.
Sally M.
Hannah P.
Shelli R.
Deb W.

Fear Nots

Scott N.
Hannah S.

<3 <3 <3 <3

Jan 13
0

#NewYearRealYou IG Hashtag Contest

By Yoga

new year

New Year, Real You

At the Funky Buddha we like our yoga (and our yogis) gritty, sweaty, and REAL. Today, right now, our world is a full on endless barrage of unrealistic Photoshopped expectation. In 2017, let’s celebrate keepin’ it real. Let’s support one another in our messy, funny, smelly, FUNKY (both literally and figuratively), journey.

new year

Starting January 17th – February 14th, give us your silliest, goofiest, perfectly-imperfect, real-est yogi-you. Let’s redefine what “Instagram Yoga” looks like. Let’s make it Funky.

Use the hashtag #NewYearRealYou and make sure to follow and tag us (@funkybuddhayoga) for a chance to win some super sweet Funky Buddha #SWAG.  Every Friday we will choose our favorite and turn it into our Funky Friday yoga meme!

The Fine Print: You must follow us on Instagram (@funkybuddhayoga) for your picture(s) to be entered into the contest. Make sure your account is public so we can so your posts.

new year

new year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

do not fart - new year

Jan 13
0

Yogis in the Kitchen: Pre/Post Yoga Snacks

By Yoga, Yogis in the Kitchen

pre/post yoga snacks

Okay yogis, maybe the new year has brought some new resolutions (and we’re totally with you). When committing (or recommitting) to a more frequent yoga practice you may find that you are just plain ol’ MORE hungry. And that’s normal. So, instead of getting home from class and mowing down the closest cheese stick and handful of popcorn (see: How Meal Prep Changed My Life), do right by yourself by being proactive… aka meal prepping these simple pre/post yoga snacks.

One of the easiest ways to stay on track, whether your goal is to lose weight, eat more greens or just to be more health-conscious is to again. . .MEAL PREP.

Our very own, Christina put together three simple recipes for your pre/post yoga snacks.  Go get your ‘jam jars’ as grandma would call them and get to preppin’.

3 Simple Pre/Post Yoga Snacks

pre/post yoga snacks

Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are the bomb. Like, for real what’s better than waking up to perfectly soaked oats, peanut butter, banana and honey??? …we’ll let you think about that one.

Here’s a little overnight oats ‘beginner’ recipe from Christina. Keep in mind that the jar is your damn oyster. Don’t like banana? Nix it and add YOUR favorite fruit. Need a little more oomph in your o’night oats? Try adding a layer of chia seeds (3 tbs. for every 1 cup of liquid) for more fiber, protein, Omega-3 fatty acid and various micronutrients. #itslit

Ingredients

  • Old fashion or steel cut oats
  • Chia seeds (optional)
  • Banana (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pineapple, apple, kiwi.) 😉
  • Peanut Butter
  • Honey
  • Granola and/or nuts for a crunchy topping

Directions

  1. One part oats to two parts milk/coconut milk/almond milk/etc.
  2. Place all the ingredients in a jar, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  3. The next morning, add your favorite crunchy toppings such as nuts, granola, hemp seeds, bee pollen, coconut flakes, etc!
  4. Go to yoga.
  5. Repeat steps 1-4.

Cinnamon Banana Smoothiepre/post yoga snacks

Similar to your jar of o’night oats…your blender is also your oyster. There are NO RULES when it comes to making smoothies. Christina’s simple, yet DELIGHTFUL Cinnamon Banana Smoothie is the perfect morning, mid-day, pre/post yoga snack.

Ingredients

  • Banana
  • Coconut milk
  • Dates
  • Vanilla extract
  • Dash of cinnamon

Yogurt Parfait

Annnnnnd this brings us to recipe number 3, the ever underrated yet simple + delightful….YOGURT PARFAIT. Christina wanted to make sure you didn’t forget about this classic: it’s time you add it back to your recipe repertoire.

pre/post yoga snacks

Ingredients

  • Favorite yogurt
  • Berries! Or frozen berries if you prefer 😉
  • Nuts
  • Honey
  • Whatever else your heart desires (cacao nibs, coconut flakes, any other fruit,
  • Alright add some granola on top of that, too. #soooobasic

Directions

Think layers. 😉

p.s. add crunchy ingredients right before eating so they don’t get soggy.

—From Christina’s kitchen to yours. Cheers to some fresh new habits. <3

Jan 13
0

How Meal Prep Changed My Life

By Yoga, Yogis in the Kitchen

meal prep

How Meal Prep Changed My Life

jen w how meal prep changed my life

1996-2016:

Look in fridge and overwhelm self with options and temptations.  Try to eat clean.  Eat random things when hungry. Eat some things straight from the fridge or standing over the sink.

Watch willpower fade as the day goes on, and eat anything and everything when I get home hungry from work or fitness.

Buy healthy groceries.  Eat some of them and throw some out later when they go bad.

via GIPHY

2017: The Year of Meal Prep

This revolutionized the way I eat.  Yet it is so simple.  I’m embarrassed that as a full grown adult I had never done this until now: MEAL PREP!

Many of my crossfit and trainer friends spend a few hours 2x/week to chop, cook, and portion their food for 3-4 days at a time.  I used to think this was crazy.  “I like to eat what I’m in the mood for each day!”  “I don’t have time to prep food for that long!”  “That won’t work for my lifestyle.”  But you know what’s even crazier? Wandering around the kitchen, trying to figure out what to eat before every meal.  Coming home starving from work and eating popcorn and string cheese for dinner.  Letting vegetables rot in the corner of the fridge because I don’t feel like cooking them or they take to long. There is a better way!

Here’s my quick and dirty version of meal prep that anyone can try!

I aim for a small serving of protein, a large serving of green vegetables, a little healthy fat, and a healthy carb like brown rice or sweet potatoes for every meal to stay full and energized.  Quantities vary depending on your lifestyle, fitness, your goals, how you feel, etc.

  1. Buy a big bag of brown rice.  Cook a huge batch of it and put it in a container in the fridge.
  2. Buy a big bag of sweet potatoes.  Chop them, mix them with a little olive oil and salt, and cook them in the oven on a big metal pan.  Put in a container in the fridge.
  3. Buy a huge head of cauliflower, unless you hate it.  Send it through a food processor to “rice” it.  It will look like rice.  Put it in a big container.
  4. Buy some kind of protein and confirm that it is easy enough to cook, or is pre-prepared.  I buy tofu and cube it up and I buy fish in individual freezer packs. My husband buys chicken strips in a big bag from Trader Joe’s.
  5. Buy a green vegetable or two that you like, and put in the work right away to chop it up, or buy it pre-chopped.
  6. Have seasonings or sauces on hand that you like.  In my kitchen, I use Tabasco a lot, and curry powder with coconut milk a lot.

So this is it.  This is meal prep, and it changed my life!

When I look in the fridge now, my brain says “protein, veg, carb, fat,” and my eyes see awesomely convenient containers of all the things I could eat.

I put a protein source in a pan and cook it, I add green vegetable or cauliflower rice, I add sweet potato or brown rice, and I eat this meal with some avocado or coconut milk to get a little more fat.

via GIPHY

I went from cooking on occasion in 2016 to cooking every single meal I’ve eaten in 2017 (well, 13 days into the year, anyway).  I haven’t been tempted to eat anything that won’t make me feel good, and I haven’t wandered my kitchen cluelessly once yet this year.  AND I have a real ass meal 😉 on a plate easily in under 10 minutes every time that fuels me for yoga and life.

Happy new year in the kitchen, yogis!

—Jen McD.

4 examples that I made and ate last week below:

meal prep

Tuna with black sesame seeds, broccoli, and sweet potato.

meal prep

Cauliflower rice and fake chicken tacos.

meal prep

Tofu, kale, and brown rice mixed with a Trader Joe’s miso soup packet.

meal prep

Mixed veg and brown rice with tofu and fake chicken in coconut milk and curry powder with cilantro garnish.

Jan 12
0

January Core Value Kudos: That Early Bird

By Yoga
January Core Value Kudos

Rachel Liu Photography | rachelliuphotography.com

January Core Value Kudos: That Early Bird

At the heart of the Funky Buddha are our Core Values – a deliberate and thoughtfully compiled list of ideals by which we operate, live, and create. Our Core Values permeate everything that we do and can be seen in everything from our employee policies to our class formats. Funky Buddha Core Values are at the center of both our student and staff culture. They provide a foundation on which to build excellence, and guide our continuing evolution.

A side benefit of being a business with intentionally formulated and strongly supported Core Values is an increased awareness of displays of excellence in the business community around us, and in Grand Rapids, there is excellence all around us.

This January we celebrate our amazing neighbors at That Early Bird Coffee & Food

Funky Buddha Core Values:

  • Accessibility
  • Quality & Professionalism
  • Continuous Improvement
  • RICH (Respect, Integrity, Intentionality, Caring, Honesty, Humility) Action
  • Service First
January Core Value Kudos

The People Picture Company | thepeoplepicturecompany.com

When I proclaim that Early Bird is an amazing neighbor (RICH Action), I am not exaggerating. They are THE BEST. They are the kind of neighbor that if you needed a cup of sugar, a tub of ice, or were just really really hungry for a scone, they would be there for you – like really there for you.

Joel & Sarah (the owners) are the nicest most hard-working people that you could ever meet. You will see one, usually both, of them in their store every day, and like great people do, they have created a great team of amazing SERVICE FIRST staff – always smiling, always friendly (um, can we say RICH Action) – even when there is a line out the door.

January Core Value Kudos

Rachel Liu Photography | rachelliuphotography.com

Quality. I could talk all day about quality. The quality of the people yes, but the quality of their product is amazing too. The coffee is delicious. The food is delicious. The space is beautiful – light and airy. They COMPOST for Pete’s sake! The café-style menu is always changing and evolving (Continuous Improvement), and they have options for all sorts of dietary needs: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free – you name it, they have an option for you (Accessibility). Case in point, they have BOTH almond and coconut milk. What?!?!? Shut. The. Front. Door.

AND….as of, like right this minute, they are now offering an amazing NEW (Continuous Improvment) dinner menu. So from 4-8pm, you can now get ridiculously delicious nutritious (Quality. Quality. Quality) menu items when you need afternoon/evening sustenance.

But the thing that makes the team at That Early Bird genuine honest-to-goodness rockstars to me, is their professional grit (Quality & Professionalism). They are there before sunset to after sundown every damn day. They work their butts off at being amazing every damn day. They smile, and serve, and have great attitudes every damn day because they know that it is their JOB to make the days of every one of their customers a little bit more delicious, a little bit more caffeinated, and a little bit better. 

January Core Value Kudos

Rachel Liu Photography | rachelliuphotography.com

Hey, That Early Bird – Thanks for adding so much to Eastown!

Love,

The Funky Buddha

That Early Bird on Facebook | That Early Bird Instagram | www.thatearlybird.com

Jan 01
0

New Year’s Resolutions, Darth Vader, & Princess Leia

By Yoga

New Year's Resolutions - Dark Side - Darth Vader

It is that time of year again….the time for New Year’s Resolutions….all of the excitement and energy of the New Year/New You tidal wave that hits us every year!!

So….in the spirit of Star Wars and in honor of Princess Leia, let us acknowledge that New Year’s Resolutions have both a light and a dark side. I’m not gonna lie, Darth Vader thinks that New Year’s Resolutions are dumb, like super dumb….barely anyone actually follows through….they are a recipe for disappointment.

But at the root of all of the Resolutions is something so very positive – the desire to grow, to be better, to reach our most positive potential. The big question is….HOW? How do we move from the idea of a better, more active, more engaged “us,” to the reality of that dream. We cannot succumb to the negativity of The Dark Side. If Princess Leia has taught us anything, it is that we plan, we work, we fight, we practice.

New Year's Resolutions - Cultivating Growth Through Practice

Cultivating Growth through Practice

Let me propose this New Year’s Resolution to you: In 2017 I commit myself to conscience, thoughtful, planned, and intentional practice.

You can take this resolution and customize it any way that you like.  What do you need to practice this year? Where do you need conscience, thoughtful, planned intentionality? What do you need to practice?

At the Funky Buddha we love yoga. We love yoga for so many reasons, but perhaps the biggest reason is that the practice of yoga has so many other vital and universal practices wrapped right up into it. The practice of self-care. The practice of fitness. The practice of emotional regulation & stress-reduction. The practice of mobility. The practice of community.

So…

If fitness is on your Resolution list.
If weight loss is on your Resolution list.
If stress reduction is on your Resolution list.
If self-care is on your Resolution list
If community building is on your Resolution list.
We have some yoga for you. 🙂

And this year, we have even more ways to make a Funky Buddha yoga practice more accessible to you:

Trying yoga for the very first time? Nervous? Have more questions that can be answered in a typical class? Sign up for our FUNdamentals Series. This progressive 4-class series will give you an opportunity to work through the entire skeleton of the Funky Buddha yoga sequence with plenty of time for questions, adjustments, and variations.

New Year's Resolutions - Yoga fundamentals

Trying to re-start of rev-up your existing yoga practice? Our 2017 class schedule is designed with efficiency, accessibility, and schedule flexibility in mind.

Ready for the Deep Dive? Want to dig into yourself, your yoga practice, the relationship between your mind and body, and your innate ability to actively create positive growth in your life? Join us for the newly developed 40-Days: Funky Buddha Style being offered in Eastown and Holland!

New Year's Resolutions

Wherever you are in your yoga journey – we have tools to help you cultivate growth through practice.

Let’s make 2017 amazing. Let’s find goodness and Light through work and practice. Let’s kick some ass like a Rebel Princess.

Darth Vader and The Dark Side can go funk himself (Was that too much?!?! I felt like the Star Wars metaphor-loop needed to be closed. Happy New Year Funky Buddhas!) #maytheforcebewithyou <3