Let’s get physical 

Staying in shape this summer can be fun by going beyond your traditional exercise routine. Sign up for GroupX classes at the Strom or head over to Fit Columbia for some unconventional fitness, like yoga with puppies or goats.

Intramurals are offered throughout the summer. Signing up a team is a great way to stay active and meet new people. Sports that are being offered include pickleball, soccer and even pool spikeball.

Another way to stay fit or just get around is to rent a “Blue Bike” and explore campus and the city of Columbia on two wheels. There are several pickup and return stations near Riverwalk Park, Five Points, Pendleton Street garage, Colonial Life Arena and other spots around the city.

The person/business/group that worked the hardest at pushing Five Points into the future 

Let’s face it, yoga can be intimidating at first.

You find yourself in a room full of strangers that are most definitely zen masters. Will you fall on your face? Is everyone staring at you? What if you mess up?
The answers are actually quite simple young grasshopper. Your face will be just fine, no one is staring at you, and everyone is probably going to mess up at some point during the class.

If you’re still a little hesitant, Fit Columbia and River Rat Brewery have teamed up to bring beer yoga to Fit’s studio in Five Points.
So, if you want to give finding your inner peace a try, grab a cold one, knock the edge off of that social anxiety, and prepare for a great time!

Fit Columbia offers all sorts of other yoga and fitness classes as well and beer yoga isn’t the only crazy one.
Sign up and give baby goat yoga (yup, that’s a thing), puppy yoga, aerial yoga, or wall yoga a try too.

https://colatoday.6amcity.com/new-yoga-columbia/

Last week, I dragged the COLAtoday interns Nicole + Lauren (pictured with me above in aerial tree pose) out of the office and accidentally strangled them with aerial silks. (J.K. – they both rocked the class.) Our instructor at Fit Columbia slowly guided us newbies through a flow that was accessible to aerial-first-timers – and we actually got into some pretty cool poses. In the last few minutes of class, we even dangled upside down (then got a little dizzy and promptly needed a ginger chew).

Click this link to see the video! 
http://www.thestate.com/living/health-fitness/article194201624.html

BY DWAUN SELLERS

dsellers@thestate.com

 

January 08, 2018 10:44 AM

Updated January 08, 2018 02:56 PM

Are you still straddling the fence on what New Year’s resolution workout you should try in the 2018? While there are quite a few new options to choose from (including goat yoga, which apparently is a thing), none have moves like the “booty drop,” “tippy toe walks” and gravity-defying leaps and bounds like the “superman” and the “spider-man.”

That’s because none of those workouts are bungee yoga, the latest craze to combine yoga, resistance training and low impact, but high intensity, cardio.

Angela Yong Sellers, owner of Fit Columbia in Five Points, is bringing the springy exercise to Columbia in February. Sellers says she will begin training a few close friends and colleagues throughout January. She will use that time to also work out any kinks before the first class is offered, and to also work on promotional materials.

Sellers says she bought the same equipment used in this segment of “Live with Kelly and Ryan.”

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/latest-news/article193564139.html#storylink=cpy

New Years Reminder:  LEMON WATER
Lemon water is great for hydration, and the vitamin C in lemons helps detoxify, repair, and heal the body. Your body is dehydrated after a long night of sleep so try to get in the habit of pouring a glass of H2O with a squirt of lemon juice first thing in the morning.

Health Benefits of Lemon Water

• It promotes hydration. 
• It's a good source of vitamin C.
• It improves your skin quality.
• It supports weight loss.
• It aids digestion. 
• It freshens breath. 
• It helps prevent kidney stones.

Brittany Whitlock
Capitol City Gymnastics
Written by: Angie Sellers & Sarah Cooper
Website: http://www.capitalcitygymnasticsinc.com

Fit Columbia and Midlands Anchor honors local women in fitness with a monthly feature celebrating their contributions to our midlands community. These women are the best of the best in the health and wellness industry. These women are local small business owners, active in the community and have a minimum of five years experience.  Our January 2018 feature is Brittany Whitlock. Our feature is written by Fit Columbia’s Sarah Cooper and Angie Sellers.

Brittany Whitlock is the owner and one of the coaches of Capital City Gymnastics. Her interest in gymnastics blossomed after her mom enrolled her in a gymnastics class at a young age. She fell in love with the sport and the life skills she learned through the sport, and the rest was history. Brittany began coaching gymnastics in college, and continued coaching after graduation. She eventually decided to open her own gym and opened Capital City Gymnastics three-and-a-half-years ago.  Classes are offered at recreational and competitive levels. Recreational classes start at 18 months and are offered through adulthood. Gymnasts can compete starting at the age of five through high school.

Brittany and her business partner love that gymnastics teaches people how to stay fit and healthy while also offering life lessons such as determination, work ethic and patience. The sport is constantly challenging. They are super passionate about the sport and love to see the positive impact it has on their students.

Q&A with our Fit Feature:

What was the best piece of advice you were given?

You are not defined by you success or lack thereof. This applies both to gymnastics and elsewhere. I used this piece of advice when opening my business and tell my gymnasts this when they get discouraged.

Do you own any pets?

I own an eight-year-old golden retriever named Piper! She is the perfect family dog.

Do you have any current goals?

I strive to be a better person than I was yesterday. Not just as a coach, but as a wife, mom and business owner.

What are your favorite gymnastic events/moves?

As a gymnast, I really enjoyed bars, but I really like coaching balance beam. My favorite move is a double-back dismount off of bars because of the feeling of accomplishment that follows after finishing a routine.

Notes from Sarah Cooper:

I observed Brittany working with her competition gymnasts on their routines the Monday before a meet. She does an excellent job ensuring her gymnasts are prepared to compete. She makes sure that they are applying her corrections and are aware of how their performances will be perceived by the judges. She keeps her students driven and motivated to succeed. The gymnastics center itself is very well organized with every inch of the space being properly utilized by students at varying levels.

 

Acro-Yoga

Acro-Vinyasa Yoga revolves around one partner (the base) supporting the other (the flyer) in floating through the air in a sequenced series of yoga postures. WORKSHOP DATE: Oct 20 Two time slots available 6:00 and 7:30

Garden Party

You are invited! Oct 19 at 6pm-8pm, we will host a Women In Fitness Garden Party at Fit Columbia. Thank you to our sponsors: Woodforest Bank, RiverRat Brewery, Midlands Anchor, Five Pts Association, LuLuLemon.

Fitness Fundraising

We have more opportunities coming up to raise money for WREN. Click here for more info. https://www.fitcolumbia.com/fitness-fueled-fundraiser/
Donate directly and tag Fit Columbia Fundraising. https://www.scwren.org/donate/

Ashiatsu

Fit Columbia will be offering one of the most popular forms of barefoot massage, ashiatsu. Schedule directly thru Sue Eang: soothecolumbia@gmail.com

Pop Up

Join us Saturday, October 14th at 8:30am for a two free classes. Stretching with Fit Columbia and a Pure Barre pop up class at the original Five Points fountain. 

Aerial Yoga

We have aerial yoga parties up to 16 people by appointment. 
We also have three drop in classes coming up: Oct 8 2:30pm, Oct 21 10:00am & Oct 24 6:00pm

Baby Goat Yoga

At Fit Columbia, our baby goats will have open access to our yogis. Four classes coming up. Oct 14 10:30am, 12:00pm & Oct 15 11:30am & 1:00 

Puppy Yoga

Aerial Yoga with your dog! BYOP: bring your own puppy :)
October 14 at 12:30

1 on 1 Training

Fit Columbia has the best in personal training. We offer a complimentary session so come see us and set your fitness goals in motion!

Yoga Studio Sri

Every Tuesday 8 and 10am
Saturday Oct 7 930-11

Wall Yoga

We offer wall yoga by appointment  up to 10 people. We also have classes on the following dates: Oct 14 10:00am, Oct 16 & 23 6:00pm.

https://colatoday.6amcity.com/8-weird-workouts-to-try/

Fit Columbia raised $240 for Transitions in August 2017 by offering a donation based aerial yoga class.  Thanks to Margaret Deans for helping coordinating the event. 

www.transitionssc.org

Transitions is the largest, most comprehensive homeless center in the Midlands. We are homeless center for homeless men and women over the age of 18. We are a 260 bed facility that is open 365 days a year. We’re more than just a traditional homeless shelter. We provide programs, services, job trainings, and case management to work with our clients to move them from homelessness to permanent housing.

Since we have opened our doors in 2011, we have placed over 1620 people back into permanent housing and have served over 1 million meals to homeless men and women in our community!

This partnership with Midlands Anchor profiled local women in fitness who are influencers in the health and fitness industry. Fit Columbia interns and staff members spent one year meeting, interviewing and training with the fitness professionals and captured the experiences in monthly interviews in Midlands Anchor. The series culminated in a public event that honored the women, and "raised" thousands of dollars in through a Fitness Fueled Fundraising Series of donation based classes.  The public event will be held October 19, 2017 and we will present a check to WREN from each of the event series participants. 

A lot of times our furry family members are stuck at home while we are at work or just out and about. One Midlands aero yoga instructor created a class for you and your dog. Watch more. 

How I Go Columbia: Angela Sellers

BY JANET JONES KENDALL

As a personal trainer, Angela Sellers (who recently married and was formerly Angela Yong Wolff), offers a range of disciplines that keep her clients engaged, excited and in top physical condition.

In 2011, Sellers opened Fit Columbia, a versatile personalized training center on Devine Street that focuses on yoga, Pilates, martial arts, group fitness, speed and agility training, and strength and cardiovascular conditioning. Recently, Sellers relocated Fit Columbia to Blossom Street in Five Points, where she continues to instruct clients in the fitness center’s popular wall and hatha yoga, as well as yoga for cancer patients, pregnant women and new mothers.

On Thursday, June 30, Sellers and Fit Columbia host a “Women of Fitness” Garden Party and Benefit for Innersole, a local statewide nonprofit shoe drive for children co-founded by University of South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley. 

EAT: I love the farm-to-table movement and eating locally. Vanessa Bialobreski does a great job with these dinners. I also love Motor Supply and the Korean restaurants on Decker Boulevard.

DRINK: I love a double mocha at Drip, but the right answer should be water with lemon – stay hydrated, everyone!

PLAY: About three years ago, I was introduced to tennis, and it’s safe to say I’m addicted. I played college volleyball, so tennis was an easy transition. I love to be outdoors and physically active. If there’s an opportunity ... to compete in something, I want to do it – and win. I love Rockbridge Club. They always make people feel at home and welcome. The facilities are kept up and events well organized. Beyond sports, I love going to the theater and local art exhibits with my husband.

LISTEN: I listen to music that makes me calm or happy. I want to sing along and feel good about the world. Christian music, Van Morrison and Michael Jackson are commonly playing on my headphones.

SEE: Five Points has become a place I really enjoy, especially from the front window of my studio. I’m so proud of our city when I see the runners, skateboarders and walkers pass by my studio at all hours of the day. I love the people-watching, going in and out of the small shops. Five Points is home to a lot of small-business owners and I’m proud to be among them.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/entertainment/local-events/article86855592.html#storylink=cpy

JULY YOGA SCHEDULE
We book aerial and wall sessions for private sessions parties, team events and corporate events. Call 803-529-4075 to schedule your appointment. 

July 8 Saturday
9:00am Yoga with Pam Meriwether $15
11:00am Donation Based Class for Transitions
12:30 Puppy Yoga $20
2:00 Puppy Yoga $20
Pay online: https://squareup.com/store/fitcolumbia

July 15 Saturday
10:00am Wall Yoga with Juliet
https://squareup.com/store/juliet-hewitt

July 17 Monday
6:30pm Wall Yoga with Juliet
https://squareup.com/store/juliet-hewitt

July 24 Monday
630pm Wall Yoga with Juliet
https://squareup.com/store/juliet-hewitt




 

By Allen Wallace

The downward-facing dog is a common yoga pose, but in one yoga class Saturday in Columbia, the dogs were facing every conceivable direction.

Fit Columbia in Five Points hosted Yoga with Puppies, inviting participants to bring their canine friends to join the exercise. It might sound strange, but Fit owner Angela Yong Sellers said there is sound reasoning behind it.

“There’s a lot of mom and dad guilt when you leave your pet at home all week long while you go to work, so this is one less missing opportunity to be with your pet,” she said. “When you’re totally at peace and your dog’s there with you, it’s nice.”

Sellers hosted her first Yoga with Puppies event last month, and with successes then and Saturday, plans to make it a monthly event. She added that she keeps a higher than usual ratio of staff to participants so that staff can handle duties like taking a dog for a walk if needed.

“We haven’t had one problem,” she said, and there were none on Saturday, as humans and dogs alike mingled happily.
Wednesday is International Yoga Day, and Sellers said that annual focus on the practice comes at a time when it is already drawing more attention in Columbia.

“Yoga is becoming extremely popular and there are a lot of studios opening up in Columbia,” she said, adding that she thinks the different studios should be on good terms and at times work together. “We just wanted to vary ourselves because we don’t want to be competition. The way that we can complement other studios is to offer things that they are not.”

“We bring a lot of youthful energy to our yoga,” Sellers said. She added that Fit Columbia offers something for all experience levels, beginner to expert, and instructors who will help people along the way.

Balancing your knots, increasing comfort & support in your shoe laces. Watch this video:  http://www.midlandsanchor.com/todd-moore/

I’ll be honest.  When my alarm went off at 7:30 a.m. this Sunday morning, I really, really did not want to get out of bed.  After working very late the night before, I groggily arose, tugged on a yoga outfit that, although well-worn, had yet to actually be seen in a yoga class, and headed out the door to visit Fit Columbia for the first time. Read More.