Mindful Metropolis January 2011 : Page 12

1 by daisy simmons get fit The most cliché resolution of all for good reason: the CdC says regular physical fitness is one of the best things you can do for your health. plus you can shed holiday pounds and experience the cheerful en-dorphin rush while supporting Chicago’s conscious-minded exercise facilities. here, some great spots to consider: Yoga Now: perfect your sun salutation in this Gold coast eco-friendly space, complete with bamboo floors, walls insulated with recycled denim, and repurposed doors with low-voc stain. 742 n. Lasalle st; 312.280.9642. yoganowchicago.com soulistic studio spa: take your pick of pilates, boxing, hip hop, yoga, and salsa dancing at this west town studio that’s outfit-ted with energy efficient appli-ances and sustainably sourced furnishings. after working out, treat yourself to a massage or facial with organic products. 805 n. milwaukee ave; 312.226.souL(7685). soulisticstudiospa.com Tip: Keep the motivation up by planning something long-term, like running a 5K for a good cause or signing up for a spring sports team at chicago sports and social club. chicagosportandsocialclub.com 2 eat well renew your pledge to eat or-ganic, locally grown foods, and always try to support Chicago-based grocers. small markets may not have as much as the big chains, but management tends to be more willing to listen to customer requests, too. some tried and true markets to try: i resolve to… Top resolutions and how to see them through C onsider this a PSA for New Year’s resolutions. Whether you’re one of the 45-50 percent of American adults who make them every January 1 or you prefer to quietly work on self-improvement throughout the year, there’s no doubt that the start of a new year inspires hope and a renewed sense of ex-citement in the community. So for any naysayers, a question: why not? It’s always good to take stock of where you are and where you’re planning to go. What’s more, consider the ripple effect that adhering to a new, positive resolution can have in the community. Here’s a crash course in choosing—and keep-ing—resolutions that might make you and your community a little healthier and happier. For starters, Susie Sondag, holistic educator and founder of Opulent Living, says “Make sure your resolutions are true to your values. The fastest resolution to break is the one that’s made because it seems like what you should be doing.” She says resolutions based on what society ex-pects aren’t inspiring or personal enough to see through to fulfillment. Of course, there are some popular resolutions you can really own, as long as you’re honestly invested. We’ve put together some of Chicago’s best local resources for each of the most com-mon resolutions out there, from getting fit and eating well, to simplifying your life and meeting new people by volunteering. dill pickle Food Co-Op: this community-owned nonprofit grocery store supplies Logan square residents with local, sus-tainable, and organic picks, like glass-bottled organic milk from indiana, paraben-free toiletries and bulk foods. 3039 w. Fullerton; 773.252.coop (2667). dillpicklefoodcoop.org Green Grocer: Favoring mid-west growers and producers, this west Loop market stocks its shelves with illinois-made products like chicago-baked red hen baguettes, upton naturals’ seitan and north shore gin. 1402 w. Grand ave; 312.624.9508. greengrocerchicago.com New Leaf Natural Grocery: this independently owned and operated grocery is just off the Loyola stop on the redline el, and focuses on providing local goods. shoppers can find weekly organic produce boxes, fair trade coffee, hormone-free meat and dairy products and raw foods. 1261 w. Loyola ave; 773.743.0400. newleafnatural.net 12 january 2011

I Resolve To...

Daisy Simmons

Top resolutions and how to see them through Consider this a PSA for New Year’s resolutions. Whether you’re one of the 45-50 percent of American adults who make them every January 1 or you prefer to quietly work on self-improvement throughout the year, there’s no doubt that the start of a new year inspires hope and a renewed sense of excitement in the community. So for any naysayers, a question: why not? It’s always good to take stock of where you are and where you’re planning to go. What’s more, consider the ripple effect that adhering to a new, positive resolution can have in the community. Here’s a crash course in choosing—and keeping— resolutions that might make you and your community a little healthier and happier. For starters, Susie Sondag, holistic educator and founder of Opulent Living, says “Make sure your resolutions are true to your values. The fastest resolution to break is the one that’s made because it seems like what you should be doing.” She says resolutions based on what society expects aren’t inspiring or personal enough to see through to fulfillment. Of course, there are some popular resolutions you can really own, as long as you’re honestly invested. We’ve put together some of Chicago’s best local resources for each of the most common resolutions out there, from getting fit and eating well, to simplifying your life and meeting new people by volunteering. 1 get fit The most cliché resolution of all for good reason: the CdC says regular physical fitness is one of the best things you can do for your health. Plus you can shed holiday pounds and experience the cheerful endorphin rush while supporting Chicago’s conscious-minded exercise facilities. Here, some great spots to consider: Yoga Now: perfect your sun salutation in this Gold coast eco-friendly space, complete with bamboo floors, walls insulated with recycled denim, and repurposed doors with low-voc stain. 742 n. Lasalle st; 312.280.9642. yoganowchicago.com Soulistic studio spa: take your pick of pilates, boxing, hip hop, yoga, and salsa dancing at this west town studio that’s outfitted with energy efficient appliances and sustainably sourced furnishings. After working out, treat yourself to a massage or facial with organic products. 805 n. milwaukee ave;312. 226.souL(7685). soulisticstudiospa.com Tip: Keep the motivation up by planning something long-term, like running a 5K for a good cause or signing up for a spring sports team at chicago sports and social club. Chicagosportandsocialclub.com 2 eat well Renew your pledge to eat organic, locally grown foods, and always try to support Chicago based grocers. Small markets may not have as much as the big chains, but management tends to be more willing to listen to customer requests, too. Some tried and true markets to try: Dill pickle Food Co-Op: this community-owned nonprofit grocery store supplies Logan square residents with local, sustainable, and organic picks, like glass-bottled organic milk from indiana, paraben-free toiletries and bulk foods. 3039 w. Fullerton; 773.252.coop (2667). Dillpicklefoodcoop.org Green Grocer: Favoring midwest growers and producers, this west Loop market stocks its shelves with illinois-made products like chicago-baked red hen baguettes, upton naturals’ seitan and north shore gin. 1402 w. Grand ave;312. 624.9508. greengrocerchicago.com New Leaf Natural Grocery: this independently owned and operated grocery is just off the Loyola stop on the redlineel, and focuses on providing local goods. Shoppers can find weekly organic produce boxes, fair trade coffee, hormone-free meat and dairy products and raw foods. 1261 w. Loyola ave;773. 743.0400. newleafnatural.net True Nature Foods: this edge- water storefront is a drop-off site for independently owned and operated farms like earth First Farms. Sign up for an organic meat co-operative, try the juice bar, or just pick up ready-to-eat vegan BBQ by soul vegetarian. Bonus: tnF’s got its own honeybees and a green roof. 6034n. Broadway; 773.465.6400. truenaturefoods.com Indoor farmers markets:• rogers park’s Glenwood sunday market runs the second sunday of each month. 6956- 58 n. Glenwood ave; 9am-2pm. Glenwoodsundaymarket.org • Green city market’s indoor market opens up select saturdays through april. Peggy notebaert nature museum, 2430 n. cannon dr.; 8am-1pm. Chicagogreencitymarket.org • interfaith nonprofits organize weekend winter Farmers market in churches across the city. Visit our website for a lineup of dates and venues. • stop by the Logan square Farmers indoor winter market every sunday through march 27. Congress theater, 2135 n. milwaukee ave; 10am-2pm. Logansquarefarmersmarket.org Tip: think beyond the ingredient: search our website for lifestyle advice, from detox diet suggestions and healthy cooking classes, to some favorite healthy recipes from the mm team. 3 simplify Declutter! And help people in need while you’re at it. Here’s what you can do with your unnecessary, gently used items: Books: Give them to volunteer collective chicago Books to women in prison, which distributes free paperbacks to help incarcerated women gain self-empowerment, education, and entertainment. Drop off donations sundays between 10- 2pm. 4001 n. ravenswood ave., #204B; 773.530.1579. chicagobwp.org Art and office supplies: take your decluttering prowess to work and help colleagues gather up gently used paper, pencils, glues - then give it all to Bucktown’s creative pitch. This nonprofit helps supply underfunded art teachers. Contact cp ahead of time to talk logistics.773. 395.2500, creativepitch.org. clean blankets and towels: help keep cats and dogs comfy at no-kill animal shelter paws chicago. They’ll also gladly take cleaning supplies off your hands. 1997 n. clybourn ave; 773.935. paws. Pawschicago.org Clothes: For the whole family’s clothes, try cornerstone community outreach, which operates a free store for clients of its homeless shelter and job training programs, 4628 n. clifton;773. 303.0119. ccolife.org Tip: need a pro? Try a local expert like ducks in order (duck sinorder.net) or just simple by js (justsimplebyjs.com) to help with cleanup & maximizing space 4 join the effort The idea of volunteering can seem daunting to busy, overworked urbanites. But it can be very empowering once you’ve nailed down the commitment schedule. One way to make that happen is to choose a volunteering venue not just by the cause, but also by how you most like to spend your time. The social Volunteer: check out habitat 2030, which leads conservation workdays at chicagoland parks. Its goal is to get more 20-, 30-, and 40-somethings to participate in habitat restoration by emphasizing the social aspect of volunteering. Expect physical labor in the great outdoors followed by a casual potluck and impromptu music around the fire. Get in the loop via email: habitat2030@gmail.com The athletic Volunteer: hone your inner athlete as a baseball coach, basketball ref, or weightlifting coach with the union League Boys and Girls club. With several club locations around the city, the uLBGc provides more than 10,000 at-risk youth with arts and athletic activities, health and life skills education, and computer skills. 65 w. jackson Blvd;312. 435.5940. ulbgc.org The artsy Volunteer: there’s plenty of artful opportunity at the Beverly arts center, where you can serve as a theater usher, a gallery assistant, a film concierge, or a backstage crewperson—all services which come with free perks like getting to see the show for free. 2407 w. 111th st; 773.445.3838. beverlyartcenter.org The animal-loving Volunteer: help socialize animals at one of the city’s shelters, like the anticruelty society (157 w. Grand ave; 312.644.8338, anticruel ty.org) or, if you’re not a dog person, tree house humane society, a no-cage cat shelter in uptown. 1212 w. carmen ave;773. 784.5488. www.treehouseanimals.org The adventurous Volunteer: depending on how much time you’ve got to spare, head anywhere from argentina to india for a service trip with nonprofit Greenheart travel. Project themes cover a range of focuses, including environmental work, women’s empowerment, youth sports, and art education. Cci-exchange.com The Nurturing Volunteer: cheer up children at comer children’s hospital at the university of chicago. Volunteers can join kids in the activity room, or bring toys and games to bedsides when patients aren’t well enough to leave the room. 5841s. maryland ave., rm. M-133,773. 702.4421. uchicagokidshospital.org Want more options? Check the city’s brand new site, onegooddeedchicago.org, which matches chicagoans with volunteer opportunities starting this month. If you do decide to make a resolution this year, sondag suggests you take time to declare your resolution and be flexible with seeing it through. Happy new year!

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