The Fall Challenge has officially wrapped! This year was incredible, we had so many athletes complete the challenge and really put everything they had into those final test out days. Testing your lifts and metcons for 3 days in a row is so rigorous, and you all really rose to the challenge in a way that testifies to your internal strength as well as your...
This year we were able to make enough money on our Black Friday sale to sponsor 10 athletes of color for a full-year membership with us in 2019! We are so excited to do this again. Last year we gained some incredible athletes and we are so thrilled to add even more. A couple of important changes to our process this year: All selected athletes will...
As we approach the holiday season, Solcana Fitness wants to give back to our community by supporting Good in the 'Hood's Shopping with Dignity Program. Last year, nearly 1,000 families that included more than 2,500 children, had a merrier Christmas because of this program. Our friend Kira is helping to run this awesome effort! How does it work? Unwrapped donations are placed at seven host sites where parents...
Happy December! As we wrap up 2018, we get to reflect on how strong and amazing our Solcana family is. This month we get to honor two people who light up the gym and bring a lot of sunshine to every class: Skye Vang and Jessie Johnson! "Skye is so awesome!" says Coach Hannah. "They have been so committed over the last year. They did the...
I can’t believe it’s been a year already. It’s been a year since my early morning trial workout with Morgen and even more notably it’s been a year since I walked into a Wednesday evening Powerlifting Team training for the first time. Folks were working on the bench press. I was all sorts of lost, but Coach Sampson explained it to me and I gave it a try. I mean, you get to lay down, it couldn’t be that bad! (It wasn’t At the time I had only lifted casually at the YWCA after spending most of the year recovering from some minor hip issues. I would deadlift and squat alone; sending videos of my progress to a couple of friends who would do their best to help me virtually. They were my safety net, but I knew I wasn’t going to...
The fall challenge is over, and we are diving headfirst into the next cycle! I will post fall challenge results next week, but so far it's been incredible watching people PR their lifts and improve in a million different ways. The next cycle will start Monday Nov 26th and run until January 6th. Believe it or not, that is only 6 weeks long! The theme of...
I have never been an athlete. Growing up I tried every sport you could think of and never stuck to any except dance. Culture always said dance wasn’t a sport, so I just assumed I was never an athlete. As an adult I always went to the gym, but never knew what to do while there. A year ago, my friend Molly Murphy, told me she...
Welcome to November, and congratulations to this month's Athletes of the Month, Beth Hilliard and Krystal Harper! Beth is thoughtful, kind, empathetic and endlessly loving toward other people. She has so much heart to give and she is not stingy about it. She moved here from Arkansas (I am almost positive), and immediately joined the gym because she knew she wanted to keep this style of...
Hi Homies! Emma Vasseur here to introduce a super fun, super cool idea to help you reach your goals and make meaningful changes happen in your life: SOLCANA-BILI-BUDDIES! Solcana - a space full of inspiration, growth, change, strength, transformation,... Accountability - an essential element to making change happen, as we are social creatures afterall Buddies - Solcana’s badass, compassionate, caring, connected community! Combine these three components and you have a...
It's the most wonderful time of the year! We love fall, cool breezes, colorful leaves, and our amazing athletes. Congratulations to our October Athletes of the Month, Andrea Shaker and Shannon Kerr! Andrea "Dre" Shaker Written by coach Morgen Dre has been doing CrossFit for many years, and wound up walking through our doors in January of this year, looking to switch it up. What I notice about...
For years, I would compile an empowering playlist on my iPhone, double-knot my shoes, and embark on a solitary evening jog. Running was always my primary method of exercise. I relished exploring new frontiers outdoors, discovering new running paths and learning the intricacies of each hill. Running was my method for escaping from my thoughts and life stressors, losing myself in the verdant green of...
The fall challenge starts testing next week! I wanted to post a few quick updates so you knew what to expect. First, A BONUS. A handful of eager athletes asked me last week, "where is the metcon?" Apparently, these folks loooooooved them some beep test (last year's fall challenge metcon), and were hoping for something like that again. Well, I am happy to oblige! A reminder...
It is time for the annual Solcana Fall Challenge! The Fall Challenge is a really awesome opportunity to crush some goals, reinvest in your fitness and put your skills to the test. It’s meant for everyone, all levels of experience, from brand new athletes to long-haul Solcanauts. This year our Fall Challenge is the combined total of: Deadlift + Snatch + Shoulder Press I am calling this...
Happy September! I hope you've gotten the most out of this Minnesota summer, and are ready to dive into fall because we have soooo many exciting things planned for you this month! First of all, allow me to announce our September Athletes of the Month: Daphne Sidor and Erik Nielsen! Daphne Sidor has been with us just over a year, and in that time has revealed...
Currently Minneapolis is dealing with a health crisis right in our own Solcana neighborhood, and we have the opportunity to help. Close to Solcana, on the intersection of Cedar and Hiawatha is a very large and growing homeless encampment made up of mostly American Indian folks who are currently unable to access the resources they need. This encampment has been here for years, but recently...
We’re willing to bet most Solcana members know the “what” part of the equation when it comes to a healthy eating pattern. But, like many others, they might lack an understanding of “how much” of that healthy food is enough to support their goals. If you’ve got goals for your health, body composition or athletic performance, it’s important to get more precise about that side...
Can you believe it's August already?? This summer has FLOWN by. We are here to announce our two Athletes of the Month, who are both quiet badasses and also both part of the morning crew! They also have in common a big commitment to showing up, and have been around all summer working hard and being part of our community. Melissa Butler has started a #sunsoutgunsout crew...
I remember when I first heard of CrossFit, I was initially put off by what I thought was a culture deeply rooted in things that I had been trying to actively distance myself from, or quite frankly had actively tried to oppress me. I imagined the typical member would have “Don’t Tread on Me” tattooed on their massive bicep as they squatted 700lbs, while all...
We are so excited to announce our athletes of the month for July: Jonathan Popko and Maggie Staiger! We are so lucky to have Jonathan in the gym. He is an incredibly sincere, gentle, caring and considerate human being and an absolutely pleasure to be around. He has committed so hard to the gym and to his own growth. He is genuinely curious and thoughtful and...
Emily Field RD has been unofficially partnered with the Solcana community for the last year, as she works one-on-one with head coach and owner, Hannah, and many other members on their nutrition. Her non-traditional methods include behavior change coaching and flexible dieting by tracking macros so, when tailored around Solcana’s effective programming, her clients are getting stronger, feeling leaner and more confident. They’re ditching depriving...
We are honored to name our athletes of the month for June: Erin Melzer and John Hathaway! Erin Melzer has been with us since February 2017, and all of the coaches were shocked that she hadn't been picked yet for AOTM. Maybe because it seemingly goes without saying that Erin is an all-star athlete and friend, so much so that it feels like she is AOTM...
At the end of this week, we are closing the mobility building on the corner. Starting June 1st that building will be demolished and that area will be turned into a communal courtyard and garden area. As a result, we are moving our mobility classes into the Vulcana room, and making some other changes to the schedule that you should check out! There is a lot...
Have you been on the edge of your seat waiting to hear what's been happening with Shannon in her Essential You 101 experience?! Sorry to keep you waiting. Both Shannon and I lost track of time and here we are three weeks later. Here is a recap from Week's 3 and 4 complete with important reminders and powerful realizations: Week 3: Stress Stress Baby Another super informative...
My journey starting CrossFit came about when I decided to apply for a career in law enforcement one year ago. Before then, I didn't really know anything about the sport. I did a Google search to find a place where I could learn how to use and train on a Concept 2 Rower so that I could pass a physical readiness exam. Thanks to my...
Congratulations to our two athletes of the month for May: Rachel Schoepf and Ross Wolf. I giggled a lot about the fact that Ross + Rachel were selected this month (get it? Friends?!), but that is not why they were both chosen. These two incredible athletes have become major assets around the gym, and it's time we honor their awesomeness. Rachel came to us because she...
Those Sugar Cravings Tho This week in Essential You the topics were Body Awareness and Blood Sugar Regulation. Unfortunately, I missed our group session. I over did it over the weekend and was feeling rather poorly by the time class came around. Chronic illness is such a pain, literally and figuratively! But, Emma was kind enough to share the materials and I worked through them on...
Hello Solcana Community & Solcana Enthusiasts! It is my pleasure to bring to you Shannon's words and wisdom as she embarks on her second round of the Essential You 101! This time with me, Emma, as the facilitator. If you haven't yet read Shannon's story, I encourage you to pause, read it, and come back. It's powerful and moving and one that I revisit when I'm...
My dear community! Hello! Emma (and Puff) checking in today to let you know about some updates I’ve made to the Essential You programming. The pre-existing programming is phenomenal and spoke to Lucia’s incredible knowledge and experience. I’m taking the magic she already had in place and expanding it a bit to include a more whole person approach! We are going to be looking at how social,...
Our athletes of the month for April are two folks who bring it on a daily basis with how fierce they are. Babs and Hector!! Babs Powell is well known around the gym for being seriously fit and seriously friendly. She is a natural ambassador and always extends a smile and a welcome to a new person. I remember the day that Babs joined, she showed up...
According to Psychology Today one of the main reasons people don’t exercise is their desire to avoid any experience of discomfort. Regardless of the discomforts we know that a consistent workout regimen reduces stress and increases your mental well-being. When you work out regularly, your body releases endorphins that enhance your mood. You have probably experienced these positive feelings after finishing a cardiovascular workout. You...
