Congratulations to our September Athletes of the Month, Rachel Peterson and Bruno Lima! Rachel Peterson is a superstar of the 5:30am class. She has worked quietly and consistently to build her strength and skills with very impressive results. When she first came to the gym, she had one of those kinda scary squats(!), but she has trusted the process, taken it one class at a time,...
Happy June, everyone! So many reasons to celebrate this month: It's summer, it's Solcana's 5th birthday, and it's PRIDE month! This month we are recognizing two very special athletes, Ruben Soto-Acosta and Ry Macarayan! They are both inspiring people who have been working hard so give them a high five when you see them around! Ry is nominated by Coach Jenn: "Ry is a body adapt...
Spring is finally here! Congratulations to our May Athletes of the Month, Katie Fritz and David Bradley! Katie Fritz told us that she always saw herself as a solo exerciser before Solcana, but she took a chance on us and has been really putting herself into everything she does here. Coach Jerik says "Katie started at Solcana as part of the Outdoor Program, and appears to...
Welcome Spring, and congratulations to our April Athletes of the Month, Pat Staiger and Margaret Perry! "Pat joined us after doing CF at another gym for a while, and once he tested the waters with us, he was hooked" says Coach Hannah. "He is now an integral part of our community and I can't remember what it was like before he was here. Pat is a...
Welcome to MARCH! It may look like a moonscape outside right now but the promise of spring is in the air! I am thrilled to announce our Athletes of the Month for March: Sparkle Jones and Martin Van Boekel! Sparkle started with Body Adapt about a year ago and has shown SUCH consistency in showing up and doing the work! Coach Hannah says "Sparkle is one...
I joined Solcana in April 2017, when I was twelve weeks pregnant. If you’ve ever been pregnant, known anyone who was pregnant, or somehow gotten sucked up in the (awful) social conversation surrounding pregnancy, you probably know two things. First, you’re not supposed to try new physical activities because you might hurt yourself or the fetus. Second, lots of people have Opinions -- Strong ones!...
Hi. Lauren here. You know, once in a while, there are some rare mornings when I wake up, without being prompted by my over-active bladder. I lie there nestled in my bed, and realize I am awake just moments before my alarm starts its round of annoying beeps and boops. And on these rare mornings, I am not bothered by the loss of those precious few...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Solcana has given me a life I never thought I could achieve, one where working out is not about plowing through the hard and the painful, but rather building blocks to a happier relationship with my body. It wasn’t always this way. My mental health has always run my life. From disordered eating, body dysphoria, and being surrounded by others who also suffered from negative body...
Congratulations to our two amazing Athletes of the Month, Steph James and Max Poessnecker! Steph is one of those surprising people who seem quiet and reserved on the surface until they just knock you over with their badassery. Over the last two years, Steph has worked consistently, with a curiosity about movement and about her own body that has allowed her to push through some challenging...
I came to Solcana in May because I was feeling, for lack of a better word, crappy about myself. I had top surgery in December 2016. After top surgery, I thought everything would be different. I thought I was going to automatically love my body because it would finally look the way I knew in my head it was supposed to look. But I still...
Last week I played Getting to Know You Bingo at a meeting – that game where the bingo grid is full of things like “I’m the middle child” and “I play an instrument” – to help strangers learn little facts about each other. One of the squares said “I’m an athletic person” and I caught myself skimming over it because it wasn’t the square about...
Shevaun Church and Katie Burgess are two of the most fascinating people you'll ever know. They are both the type of people who like to constantly learn new things, and are willing to try anything. Shevaun is a woo-woo goddess. She is a magical skin-care guru as well as a food-lover. She is always thinking about ways to improve her gut health, experimenting with how food...
Congratulations to our November Athletes of the Month, Martha Williams and Marit Peterson! Coach Jenn Schaal nominated Martha: "She's been a diligent crossfitter since body adapt and I love seeing the progress she's making (even though i haven't coached her since BA). Seriously, her consistency is awesome!" Coach AJ adds "Martha is awesome to coach. She’s been consistent in her evening attendance and been working on her squat form which...
As a child I was very active. I was that kid that parents would have to go out looking for because they lost track of time climbing trees, building forts, or knocking on all of the doors to get a baseball game going in the cul de sac. During recess you could find me playing soccer, dribbling a basketball across the court, or running to...
Hey ya’ll! Betty here, checking in one last time. I am writing to you from the finish line of a very tough race, and you know what’s here at the finish line? Pumpkin spice lattes! Pumpkin spice lattes and what turns out to be another leg of the race. Re-introduction of the forbidden foods is the home stretch! In recap: for the past 21 days I...
