What Powers You?

By Andrea Garcia

After a busy, bustling holiday season, January is a natural time to find a little reset. At the same time, life is still pretty busy so I’m always on the lookout for things that either make my life easier, or give me a little extra kick to keep going. I hope that you find inspiration to reset and reevaluate from this list of what is powering me right now:

Sustainability

Sustainability is a high priority for me. I’m always looking for ways to lessen my environmental impact with as little change in my day to day as possible. Luckily, I’m not alone! I find a ton of inspiration from local businesses and my fellow teachers. Some of my favorite sustainability helpers:

    • Local coffee shops. These awesome people do the legwork for me. They source and roast ethical, sustainable beans and are switching away from single use materials. Oddly Correct in KC made the announcement that all to go beverages will be prepared in glass containers that can be returned for re-use or to receive your deposit back. Horizon Line Coffee in Des Moines serves all drinks in reusable glass jars for togo, or mugs for those sticking around the coffee shop. 
    • Stasher Bags. These cute, reusable silicone bags come in sizes from snack to sandwich to storage. The upfront investment is well worth it considering they are endlessly reusable.
    • Mason Jars I know mason jars had a moment a few years ago, but hear me out, mason jars are the little black dress of food storage. They last FOREVER, come in dozens of sizes, they heat up, they freeze, they fit in any bag, they can house soups, they can hold salads, you can even make muffins in them (no, really).

Meal Prep

Meal Prep is a mainstay in my life. Between work, taking classes, teaching yoga, and social obligations; if I don’t have a solid plan in place, I will end up having coffee for breakfast and popcorn for dinner. My favorites right now:

      •  A green smoothie with almond milk, a banana, two handfuls of spinach, and an inch of fresh ginger. You can prep up to two days in advance, and pour into your trusty mason jar.  
      • A bright, crunchy, meat-free sandwich. Prep the ingredients separately and assemble each sandwich the night before and tote in your Stasher bag. If you need an extra hit of protein, sliced turkey or chicken is a great addition. 
      • One Pan Wonders. Anything that helps me do fewer dishes is a big plus in my book. I recently tried this chicken and roasted veggie sheet pan meal from MyFitnessPal that was easy and intensely flavorful. A trusty recipe that also keeps my Thai takeout expenses low is Katie Lee’s Thai chicken bake, it reheats well for days!

Downtime

Ya girl needs some downtime and some of it comes from a screen. Don’t worry, I limit it! But with these, it’s hard to not click “play next.”

    • Schitt’s Creek is the story of the ridiculously wealthy and very out of touch, Rose family. After they lose almost everything they find themselves inhabiting the town of Schitt’s Creek. It’s a slow start but with 20ish minute episodes you’re quickly hooked on the drama, and hilarity of this sweet, kooky town. I’ll be quoting it faster than you can say “Ew, David.” (Available on Netflix, Hulu, and any cable providers with Pop)
    • Bon Appetit Videos are great for the kitchen curious and veteran home cooks. My go-to is “Gourmet Makes” where pastry chef, Claire Saffitz, tries to recreate junk food classics with gourmet flair. If you want to see the full range of human emotion watch Claire and crew try to make gourmet Mentos. 
    • Armchair Expert hosted by Dax Shepherd drops on Monday and Friday with a bevy of celebrity friends and subject matter experts. Dax’s conversations are personal, enlightening, and fun. Short on time? Skip the Fact Check section at the end. 
    • Phoebe Bridgers in various iterations has been on my Spotify repeat lately (and in my class playlists). I’m also loving her collaboration with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame, Better Oblivion Community Center. 

Meditation

Slowing Down is one of my biggest focus areas for 2020 and, luckily, my Power Life fam is helping out! While I love a sweaty vinyasa practice I’m really digging our slow vibe offerings. 

    • Restore classes are the most ‘challenging’ for me mentally. I get super fidgety and fussy when I’m asked to be still. I’ve committed to taking one a week to continue to stretch out all the good stuff and practice a little bit of stillness. 
    • Meditation is something I’ve had on my To Do list for years and haven’t had the discipline to really get into. Thanks to our new guided meditation offerings, I have a kick in the tapas and some accountability to make it to one a week and start adding more on my own. Meditation is linked to better sleep, increased focus, and better productivity; so even though it sounds counterintuitive, slowing down for a few minutes a day really helps me power up the rest of the time!

I hope that this list gave you a few ideas of where you can make small changes in your life to help you efficiently and sustainably move forward into the new year! How do you reset in the new year? Sound off in the comments below!

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2024 Power Life, All Rights Reserved.
Built with 🤍 by Blink Wellness

Village Pointe Studio Parking

Parking available in the Scheels Parking Lot.

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About Kirk: 

Kirk was working 80-hour weeks and wearing his shoulders as earrings when he found yoga in 2005. Forever the competitive athlete, he loved the physicality of yoga. When the spiritual and philosophical side of yoga were exposed to him, Kirk was hooked. Yoga provided him with what other activities couldn’t -- the ability to foster the benefits of practice both on and off of the mat. Yoga was something that Kirk could bring into all aspects of his life. 

Kirk knows that yoga can be intimidating, so he crafts a class that is playful and inviting, while still being challenging and safe. His creatively planned classes build strength and flexibility in your body and mind while establishing clarity, giving you more confidence to overcome obstacles in your life, and keeping you injury-free. His classes are themed with a message that is relatable and will inspire you to take it with you off your mat. Kirk has been teaching yoga since 2008 and lead his first teacher training in 2012. Where Kirk truly shines is in coaching, developing and bringing out the best in others.  

Kirk enjoys traveling (40+ countries to date!), snowboarding, and cherishes time with his wife and two daughters. 

About Christen: 

Christen Bakken’s yoga journey began in 1998 in a Bikram studio that provided a safe and secure place to practice. She saw the yoga mat as a place to remember her purpose and a place to play. As she continued her studies and began her journey to teaching in 2006, Christen infused yoga classes with devotion and the yoga mat became a place of personal transformation and healing. Her classes are filled with laughter, song, sweat, and usually heart openers. In 2013, Christen began training yoga teachers. This is the place where she finds the most joy - in community with folks looking to grow and be of greater service in their homes, on their mats, and in the world. Over the years, she has led trainings in Denver, the Midwest, Florida, and now abroad. She has trained in continuing education modules, 200-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour programs. Beyond the mat, Christen is a passionate adventure seeker - she loves to bike, snowboard, and spend time with her husband and pups. She sees each day as a blessing and hopes to remind all who interact with her of this truth.  

Two Light Studio Parking Information

We validate parking for THREE garages in the area!

  • Two Light garage located directly north of the studio. Please bring your ticket inside for validation.

  • Three Light garage at Main and Truman. Garage entrance on Truman. Please bring your ticket inside for a validation sticker.

  • Power & Light garage at 13th and Grand. Please ask for a parking pass at the studio front desk. (Hot tip: the Power & Light garage has a ton of space! But be sure to give yourself a little extra time to walk to the studio.)

If you find that you are running a couple minutes late due to parking, please call the studio to let the instructor know to wait for you before locking the doors.

Blackstone Studio Parking

  • We have partnered with our friends at Greenslate to provide 1 hour and 15 minute validated parking for Power Life students in the lot at 36th and Harney (just south of the Cottonwood Hotel). Read below to learn how to take advantage of this perk:

    • Step 1: Scan the QR code located in the lot.

    • Step 2: Select your destination (i.e. “yoga studio”).

    • Step 3: Ask for the validation code at the Blackstone studio front desk and enter it on your phone.

    • Step 4: You are all set! Have fun at class!

    Please note:

    • The validation provided by Power Life and Greenslate is for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Need to add additional time to your parking space? You can do that conveniently from your phone!

    • This option is valid once per day per license plate.

    • Please do NOT park in the Crescent Moon lot − you will be towed!

East Village Studio Amenities

  • There is a paved lot and gravel lot on the West side of the building.

  • Meters on Court and 4th (by Peace Tree) for $0.25/hour, 9am-9pm Mon. – Sat. 12-hour max*

  • Meters on 4th (to the North) for $1.25/hour. Mon – Sat. 4-hour max.

  • All meters are free on Sundays and major holidays.

*Starting July 8, 4th Street will temporarily become a one-way. Students will only be able to enter our parking lot from the North via Court Ave. and exit it going south. Thank you for understanding!

What Powers You? Info