May 2024

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What a gorgeous spring bloom we've been having!

The 5:00 pm time for Thursday night is now the permanent time. It's been delightful to start and end a bit earlier. I appreciate everyone who has adjusted their schedules for this change. 

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a random assortment of things that Bea recommends

Mindful.org has a podcast, 12 Minute Meditation, that is lovely. I have listened on a walk, or doing a jigsaw puzzle, or sometimes sitting quietly. 

I have fallen in love with small balls to squish in my hands. I am a wee bit calmer while driving in the car or waiting in line. These don't have the ultimate squish and stretch, but they're freaking adorable. Find an assortment of sensory toys and squish balls at Color Wheel Toys on North 4th St.  

 

Music That's So Good

Listen to Jacob Collier's newest release, Djesse Vol. 4. Collier is like a big playful happy puppy who's also brilliant and focused. He adores music, loves people, loves hearing all the voices together because isn't life amazing and aren't people wonderful? See this and this, then go listen to the album. 

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Listen to Beyonce's super catchy "Texas Hold 'Em" back to back with Rhiannon Giddens' "The Ballad of Sally Anne." Both songs blend genres and fulfill musical roots in very different and interesting ways. Giddens plays banjo and viola on "Texas Hold 'Em," which deepens the song's folk roots.  After that, listen to sing D'orjay sing "A New Kind of Outlaw" and remember that what Beyonce is doing is not new, not by a long shot, and she's not alone; she's simply the biggest talent out there. 

 

Then, full cap, listen to the entire Beyonce album Cowboy Carter.  It is varied, audacious, interesting, brilliant, and stimulating.  It's not truly a country album because it intersects so many genres. 

Singer/songwriter Jensen McRae writes music that, like Jason Isbell's work, is evocative, precise, and sometimes haunting. 
 

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Barefoot Shoes and Studio Shoes

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We've got 29 muscles in our feet. Our feet are meant to be active. What we choose to put on our feet can help them be healthy and strong. 

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If you need just a little bit of sole underneath you while you dance at Studio Sway, consider these from Amazon. They have a mesh upper, so they're not too hot; are very low to the ground, which is great for balance and stability; super flexible and wide so you can spread, flex, and wiggle your toes in all directions; and inexpensive (most colors and sizes are $20).  Size down to wear without socks. They can be a bit floppy. Available colors and sizes change all the time, so check all the Geweo listings.

Other minimalist/barefoot shoes on Amazon by Hobibear and Whitin may work for the studio or also may be great for you if you want a foot-shaped shoe that's light and zero drop. 

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Barefoot or minimalist shoes usually are zero drop, which means no difference in height between the ball and heel. They're often not just wider but shaped as our feet are shaped. There is very little or no arch support. Some have very thin soles for optimal ground feel, and generally they are flexible so the foot can move and flex while we walk. 

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Not all minimalist shoes have thin, flexible soles. Some options are shaped-like-feet and zero drop yet are quite stiff or have very rugged soles. Topo Shoes and Lems (find locally at Happy Hiker in Old Town) and Altra shoes (find at REI) are examples of these. If your feet are narrow, there may be some Merrell options that work for you. 

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Happy Hiker in also has Bedrock sandals that are zero drop, no arch support, and more flexible than a Chaco sandal. These are available online at REI along with the 3D versions that do have some arch support. 

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 If you want to throw down some bigger bucks for cuter shoes, go to Anya's Shop. I also like some of the options at Splay. Find more brands as well as learn more about barefoot shoes in general by reading this post. 

 

Heads up that sometimes these shoes have an odor left over from manufacturing (preparing the canvas? the glue?) that can take a long time to fade. Leather shoes seem less likely to have this odor than the fabric ones. 

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I'm enjoying toe socks. They feel good. Are they good for my feet? Maybe! This guy thinks so. Find Ininji locally at REI. There are less expensive options online -- no show, walking, hiking. Message me if you want to know more.

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Activewear Suggestions

Locally, I like Savers for used and TJ Maxx or Marshalls for discounted wear.

REI has a great return policy for members, so go ahead and wear that bra or walk in those shoes for up to a year and return them if they don't work. 

Athleta has excellent quality clothing, and they've opened a store at Academy and Wyoming. Lululemon is also excellent quality, but like Athleta, they're expensive.

I found on Amazon a pair of tights that feel a lot like Lululemon Align leggings. There isn't much compression; my digestive track really appreciates not being squeezed. These tights fit true to size. The quality isn't as good as Lululemon as they are a bit thinner, but they're also a fraction of the price. 

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