Stephanie's Farewell

Apologies to those of you who had already left when we took this picture.
I got carried away and forgot to get the group pic early on!

As many of you know, Stephanie's last day as an instructor was this Monday at Schofield. She is moving back to the mainland sometime next month (so you will still get to see her at class as a participant).

We will miss Steph so much. The energy, the humor, the headset!

Stephanie is truly one of a kind. She has added so much to Stroller Strides in the last year. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with her and it's with great sadness that we see her go. If she continues with Stroller Strides or fitness in her future home, well, those lucky devils out there in Ohio!

Receiving one of many leis.

Instructor picture: Michaela & Saskia, Stephanie, Joni, Rayna & Tyler


Good luck Stephanie!

Smile, You're on Video!

Check out our new video highlighting what Stroller Strides is all about.

Thank you to the moms and instructors at the Waterfront for being part of filming and doing it with a smile! Shevaun's daughter begins the clip and there's some great shots of Quinn, Sara and Isabella in there too!

Member Monday

Hi, my name is Liz and I am happy to be part of Stroller Strides and look forward to meeting some new mama friends. I have two boys -- an almost 4 yr. old named Charles and a 3 month old, George. I am thankful that Charles still loves to ride in the stroller! Little George is not such a fan of the stroller yet, but I'm sure he'll come around :)

We live in Kapolei, but I have been attending the Schofield location so far. Soon I plan on trying out the Kapolei location though! We have lived on the island since July and really love it. My husband is in the Army and is stationed at Schofield. By far this is our best post yet!

After I had my first son, running really helped me get back into shape and I even enjoyed it! I had a c-section to deliver my 3 month old so I have taken my time to start again and I hope Stroller Strides will help me get back into a workout routine. I would love to be able to finish a half-marathon in 2011.

I am looking forward to meeting everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy your time with family and friends!

Stroller Strides classes resume next Monday.

(We will be having a class for moms only -- no children -- on Friday, 8 AM at CORP. Come have some post-Thanksgiving exercise fun!)

Member Monday

Hi! My name is Trish. My two kids and I (daughter, Riley 2 yrs old and son, Gavin 11 months) attend class at Kapolei. We just moved to Makakilo from Waipio. I am a stay-at-home mom but we love to get out and do stuff. We love to stay busy!

I have lived in Hawaii for almost 8 years. I moved around quite a bit growing up, and have lived everywhere from Texas to Europe, and when I moved here on a whim in 2003, I decided to finish up my college degree at Chaminade University. Shortly after moving here, I met the most incredible person I have ever met in my life, and he is now my husband and father of my beautiful kids.

I absolutely love to scrapbook and do anything crafty. I also love to cook and bake… which is part of the reason I became involved in Stroller Strides.

I have always been involved in sports and staying really active. I have tried almost every type of workout there is, from Zumba to Bikram Yoga to training to run a 5k…. It’s been hard trying to find the time to do these things when childcare is an issue. Having two babies in less than two years was extremely hard on my body. Bouncing back has not been easy. So finding something that I could do WITH my kids was really important. I am so glad someone mentioned SS to me in a recent conversation... I had planned to get involved after my first was born, but I found out I was pregnant again, when she was only 5 months old (whoops!!)… and I am one of those who used pregnancy as an excuse to lay around and EAT!

I am so happy to have found something that challenges me physically and keeps me motivated to come back. I am currently doing 3 days a week, but hope to work up to 5 (with an occasional Saturday thrown in there!). I can’t wait to get back into shape!

Saturday Class

Our final Saturday class of the year is today, November 20. Saturday class will resume on January 8.

The holiday season has officially begun!

December's MNO

Come join Stroller Strides for a group Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) lesson with Rainbow Watersports.

We'll be exploring the Anahulu River in Haleiwa for two awesome hours.

Saturday, December 11
9 to 11 AM

"It's a water-top magic carpet ride! With a huge, super-stable, surfboard under your feet and a super long paddle in your hand, you'll be gliding across the water in your very first lesson!"

A group lesson typically costs $79. As part of Stroller Strides, our lesson has been discounted to $69 (gear included).

Please RSVP by November 29 to reserve your spot!

Pole Dancing MNO

Group photo after class.
Clockwise, from the floor:
Tarah, Susan, Karina, Tasha, Joni, Amy, Patti, Rainey, Amber, Angela

Well, this was a different sort of MNO! As a person with no rhythm and a horror of looking silly, pole dancing was not an easy fit for me. I am amazed at how everyone else really wanted to do this! And they were good!

Isn't this an amazing shot?
Here's Tarah on our final move of the night, the "Peter Pan."

Even though I started off the night feeling totally ridiculous and couldn't even complete the first "Goddess Glide," by the end of the night a new sense of possibilities had settled over me. I even went to Wal-Mart afterward with a different (sexy?) spring in my step. Sliding up and down a pole will do that for you!

This is what I was good at -- laughing!

Tarah and I tried to demo our moves on the basketball pole after Tuesday's Waterfront class, but alas, you really do need a proper pole to spin:=)

Thanks to all the women who joined us for this highly unique Mom's Night Out. OP was particularly well represented!

Iroquois Point Co-Op Auction

Need to start or finish your holiday shopping? Looking for a fun way to hang out with some of your fellow Stroller Stride mommies while supporting a local nonprofit? If so, come join Joni, Sharon, Jill, Beth, Jessica M., Jennifer, Melissa, Eve, Tarah, Amber & Laura at the Iroquois Point Cooperative Preschool's 35th annual auction! (SS is taking over the preschool!)

The auction will be held on Saturday, November 20 at 5 PM. There will be door prizes, games, live & silent auctions, and a free Hawaiian-style dinner catered by Aloha Motion Picture Catering Company. (Click here for directions if you aren't familiar with the Waterfront.)

Some of this year's auction items include: Stroller Strides Membership, Yoga 4 Ewa classes, Ewa Swim lessons, spa basket, superhero basket, Pampered Chef knife block set, Discovery Toys Preschooler explore & learn set, and lots more.

Click here for more info and to see a more extensive list of the auction items. I attended the Auction last year before Sara enrolled in the preschool and it was a blast! There really are so many things to pick up for Christmas presents and you can't beat all the free food!

Member Monday

Aloha! My name is Hazel and I have an 11-month baby girl named Victoria. We attend classes at The Waterfront at Pu'uloa, which is also the community where we currently live.

I grew up here in Hawaii until I was ten years old. My father was in the Air Force and was transferred to Florida. After graduating from high school in Florida, I attended college in Las Vegas at UNLV.

I finally moved back to Hawaii two years ago. I still have a lot of relatives here, including my brother and his family.

I enjoy surfing, SUP, golfing, tennis, scuba diving, wake boarding, water skiing, playing the piano, horseback riding, shopping, reading a good book and relaxing at the beach with my family. I especially love to travel! My fitness goal is to GET FIT AGAIN! I would like to gain strength, build my muscles, and increase my endurance. Victoria and I are very happy to have found an awesome group of moms and babies that we can workout with every week!!!

Holiday Schedule

The Holiday season is quickly approaching!

Stroller Strides will have a slightly modified schedule throughout November and December due to the holidays.





Thanksgiving Break

• No class on Thursday, November 25 through Saturday, November 27.

(All classes will be held as normal on Wednesday, November 24.)

December

• Saturday classes are canceled for the month of December.
  
  
• Class will be held at Central Oahu Regional Park only on Friday, December 24 (Christmas Eve), and on Friday, December 31 (New Year's Eve).
  

No class held on those days at OP, Kapolei, and Schofield.

(New Year's Eve class will be the final Assessment Day for the Get Fit Challenge. Come for class and to take the sit-up, push-up, squat, and step-up Assessments. We'll have a celebratory GFC party after class!)

• No Saturday class on New Year's Day.

Have a great Holiday Season!

It's A Boy!

It's a boy!! Tyler Ray Labine was born at 3:19 pm on Halloween weighing 7.07 lbs and 20.5 inches long. It was a fast labor and he is doing really great.

Kai loves his new little brother and is doing well adjusting to Tyler being here.

It has been an easy transition so far since Tyler sleeps all the time at this point. When that changes I hope I can keep up with the two!

I am looking forward to going back to Stroller Strides. I miss everyone at class and can't wait to see everyone again soon!

Congratulations Rayna!

Restaurant Club

Get into the holiday spirit by joining us at one of the most historic and festively decorated hotels in Waikiki, the fabulous Moana Surfrider.

Dinner at the Beachhouse is a luxurious experience not to be missed.

A holiday gift exchange will be held. If you would like to participate, please bring a wrapped gift with a value of $20.

Due to the season and popularity of this venue, the restaurant has a very strict RSVP policy. Three days before the event we will close the RSVP list. At that point, those who have stated they will attend but are unable, will be charged $55 (the charge assessed by the Beachhouse for no-shows).

Please RSVP via Evite!

3 Days Till Pole Dancing!

I admit, I am participating in our November MNO with a generous measure of hesitation. This activity is brought to you by popular demand!

Pole dancing at Fit for a Goddess
Saturday, November 13, 4 to 6 PM
Pearl City location
$35/person

The studio can accommodate 15 women and we currently have 13 signed up, so if you're game, join us!

Check Us Out on GMA!

Enhanced Instructor Training

Last Saturday at Kapolei Park saw all of the franchisees and instructors on Oahu working out and learning from Farel Hruska, the National Fitness Director for Stroller Strides. It was awesome!

We began with a one-hour Stroller Strides class with Farel. Oh boy! You don't get to be National Fitness Director without having some serious creativity and it was such a hard as well as interesting workout. And very Go Go Go! Since I teach most of my classes at Kapolei, I also got to see the park in a new way. There are so many possibilities that I hadn't thought of before!

After our workout, we had several lectures, such as ways to make class even more fun for baby and how to incorporate abs into everything we do (I know you'll like that one). It's all about creativity!

Special shout-out to all our pregnant and newly delivered instructors: Becky (Honolulu) and Jill, 5 months along, and to Lauren, who brought 5-week-old baby Luke and her mom to help care for him. That's dedication! Rayna came for a section of Training as well even though she gave birth to Tyler just one week earlier. I'm telling you, these women love Stroller Strides:=) Naturally we didn't have Rayna work out but she was able to meet Farel and catch the Abs workshop.

Here are a few photos from Exercisepalooza -- aka "A Ton of Tubing Ideas." Imagine doing two Stroller Strides clssses in a day and you'll be able to imagine some of the grimaces and exhaustion going on. We all slept very well that night!








All of us love Stroller Strides and what it can provide for moms. Health, fitness, community, friendship -- we all began as members and loved it so much that we are now instructors and franchisees. I loved being able to go back and be a member again with my fellow instructors who are such great friends.

We learned so much and it will only benefit the franchise and all of you with even better classes and a new sense of energy. Thank you for coming to Hawaii, Farel!

Back row, left to right: Becky and Michelle (Honolulu), Rosy, Farel, Joni, Lauren and Luke, Jill. Front row, left to right: Rachel (Honolulu), Emily and Usanee (Windward), Stephanie, Michaela

Member Monday

My name is Shannon and I have two girls, Kylie (almost 3) and Keira (7 months). I primarily go to Kapolei but need to kick it into high gear and go to CORP as well. I've lived in Hawaii my whole life and am just a local girl looking to shed the baby weight.

I love to golf and play tennis but haven't been doing much of that. I also love to SHOP and would love to be a smaller size so that I can do more and more shopping! I've always been heavier but when I'm my "ideal" size I love my curves and feel great. Not looking to be bone thin or lose all my boobs:)

Stroller Strides helped me lose a lot of weight about a year ago and I am turning back to it to help me once again. Have to train my body to do what my mind wants it to! Thanks for all the support and inspiration. I'm looking forward to reaching my goals and feeling great again!

Get Fit Challenge Update

Week 1 is underway for the Get Fit Challenge and it has been such a fun week!

I love seeing all the comments on Facebook when we announce the day's MVPs, and I really love seeing all of you at class! We've had some huge classes this week -- nearly 20 on Monday at Schofield, Tuesday at CORP, and Friday at Kapolei. Keep it up!

Everyone who is participating will receive a Points total this weekend, as well as a Top 5 list of the top Points earners. Right now, I expect to see a lot of ties. After all, there have only been 5 classes to attend so far. The real challengers will begin to emerge around weeks 3 and 4.

Competition is fierce with 31 women participating in the Get Fit Challenge, so read and apply your daily GFC email, attend class, and rock this holiday season!

No Saturday Class

Due to our Instructor Training Meeting this weekend, there will be no Saturday class at CORP.

Snuggle up in your blankets for what looks like a very rainy weekend!

Disney Cruise!

All past, present and future Stroller Striders are invited to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary aboard the Disney Wonder Cruise Ship!

We will have special Stroller Strides activities just for you and your family, such as a Welcome Reception, Adult Only Cocktail Party, Family Scavenger Hunt and of course Stroller Strides, Fit4Baby and Body Back Classes just to list a few.

WHEN? October 9, 2011 (7 Days)

WHERE? Mexican Riviera: Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, 3 Days at Sea

DON'T WAIT! This cruise will sell out, so reserve your stateroom early with these 3 easy steps:

1. Print and complete the RESERVATION FORM
2. Fax or Scan and Email to Amy Hunter 586.566.8834 or ahunter@cruiseholidaysmi.com
3. Pay FULLY REFUNDABLE deposit of $75 per person by FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5th.

**I plan on going and I've heard of a few other SS moms who are going to do it too!**

The November Newsletter is Here

Click here to read all about it.

Member Monday

An Aloha from Angela, one of our new moms at Schofield!

· Three kiddos
· Live and enjoy the Schofield SS group!
· Air Force needed us in Hawaii (third tour here); arrived this past summer
· Love scrapbooking, activities with the kids, Church, and softball
· Stroller Strides is DEFINITELY helping me reach my healthy weight and toning muscles I thought were lost after the third kiddo.