If there is anything that 2022 has taught me, it’s to not get too comfortable, don’t overthink, don’t complicate.
Maybe you remember that we started this year off with a word: momentum.
The lesson learned for me was I can get out of my own damn way and let that momentum flow freely OR take the route of resistance
but inevitably the momentum will find you, it’s just a super bumpy ride.
Many of you know this, many probably do not, but during last year’s 12x I had to will myself up every single day due to unknown health issues. After feeling worse and worse on a monthly basis the search for answers as to why had begun but it would take much more time to reach final diagnosis.
The point is: without all of you carrying the team through, I don’t think 12x would’ve even happened. Never underestimate the power of numbers but also the power of your body. Take care of it. Treat it with kindness and respect.
This year has still been challenging, even more so. But one thing I witness on a daily basis is we are all facing our own struggles, we all have our strengths and we continuously support each other even without knowingly doing so…which brings us to 12x.
What started as a simple “let’s stay active before the holidays” has turned into a community of baddies with many more layers. I hate to say, if you know you know, but it’s absolutely true.
Please join us this year in keeping movement alive in our busiest and craziest month of the year. It’s easy to put ourselves at the bottom of the priority list, it’s much harder (way harder) to find those moments in a day to do something for our health. We invite you to join us in this challenge. Let’s combat seasonal hibernation and depression together.
This year the 12x will be a little different than years prior
but the motto is still the same: party that bod folks.
Let’s do that.
Make some friends along the way.
Share some laughs.
Spread some cheer.
Take some selfies.
]]>Click here to Join 12X
Just over here realizing that I no longer charge out of the gates full steam ahead on the 1st, which means, we are four days in and it’s been slow and steady baby, slow and steady. Over time you understand that the race is all about sustainability and being able to not only reach your goals but to maintain them. It’s a much nicer process in the sense that you aren’t starting over from the beginning, or worse, each time you hit a wall.
This year at Merge we are fortunate to have a powerhouse of a team on the studio side. So. Much. Variety. Contemplating classes but still waiting to jump? Basically every human I know is reluctant, nervous, self doubting, intimidated etc at the thought of a group fitness class. I’ve said it before and I am saying it now….NOBODY CARES. About that. I mean about that. You just have to get here and experience first hand that whatever scenario you’ve got going on in the mental, it’s not accurate. What we do care about is YOU. We are here waiting, it is 2021, and time is not going backwards. SEE YOU SOON, either in person or virtually.
Ok, so what’s happening in the fashion world Anya? Hmm, good question. How much time do you have and how many characters is a blog limited to? Oddly enough we have the beginning of spring rolling in this month and yet for Montana we still haven’t had winter. Safe to say I think layers are probably a good idea and based on the rain we had last weekend maybe keep your umbrella nearby. Sitting here thinking about what we have to look forward to as a closet staple in Q1…over-sized tee’s seem to be etched in my brain (when you say fashion, I say T-Shirt. Fashion! T-Shirt!). We ordered many. Interestingly enough, we’ve got some floral prints headed our way (which is RARE), flannel jackets are everybody’s thing right now, pj’s as not pj’s are coming(yeah I think about these everyday), Vuori SPRING, cute denim, loungey sets that look professional (or maybe we’ve been trained to think so after last year). The general theme 2021 is starting with? Keep it real.
Come shop with us. Come sweat with us.
-A
]]>
May I present to you: Sweatember.
At Merge we always roll out a spring challenge because it’s about to be summer bod weather and of course we’ve got the sweatness event of the season, 12x, which is just around the corner. This year I felt the need to add in a little extra so here we are kicking out a super laid back, just show up and feel good about it event. Event? That’s not really the word, but just something that provides a little accountability. It’s casual.
In all honesty, it’s all about me. Haaaaa, isn’t it always? I’m just over here hoping that I am not the only one who has had a few rough weeks getting back into the “real” world groove. It has been especially difficult to work in an hour of fitness over here so I thought hey, let’s do a thing. Surely it isn’t just me. (It’s not just me is it?)
Here’s how it’s gonna go down: Sweatember kicks off tomorrow 9/8. Just hit (aka attend) 12 Merge classes between 9/8-10/7 and receive a $20 Merge voucher for that new sweater you’ve been eyeballing. I mean it doesn’t have to be that, but it sounds way better if we say sweater.
I signed up for Christy’s 5:30a.m. Power Sweat tomorrow. Sad I have to blog about this just to hopefully get me in the studio because I totally bailed on two of her classes last week. I AM THE WORST IF I AM NOT TEACHING THE CLASS. Not yelling.
Hope to see you there. Let’s get a little pep in our step, collectively.
One last side note, since we can’t leave out the fashion side of things. You guys, there’s literally like 469 more sweaters on their way to Merge which will bring the store total to like 876. We are bracing for a long cold winter, but that’s fine because we won’t be feeling cold at all. In fact, there’s SO MANY solid styles coming, you all will be stuntin’ like it’s nobody’s business.
TOMORROW. Be there. Or I’ll have to publish another awk blog about it.
Book via MINDBODY. Hit us up if you’ve got questions. We probably have the answer.
]]>Rather than create a huge long post on social, I thought it best to funnel it through here, the blog that you all knew about, I’m sure.
April is the month before what most of us who live here consider to be “true summer”, since it gives us one extra month before our real two month summer comes at us. April is also the month that, for me, I completely sabotage any type of fitness/bikini momentum I had diligently been working towards since December. I don’t understand it, I don’t like it, and honestly it makes me feel pretty crappy. Turns out I can really eat a lot of junk food when I put my mind to it.
Which brings us to this: a challenge. We have decided to promote a fun competition starting April 8th and going through May 10th. You’ll need a team of two, so grab your best human. The rules are quite simple, the goal is to score the most points as a team. You can earn points by attending class (1 point per class per person), checking in on the Merge Fashion + Lifestyle Facebook page (1 point), leaving a Facebook review (1 point), leaving a MindBody review (1 point), posting an Instagram Story from Merge Studio with a tag (1 point), an Instagram post that tags @mergefashionlifestyle, @fitchickinthestix or @bernadetteleigh_ (1 point), a Facebook post tagging @mergefashionlifestyle, @unstoppablefitness&health or @bernadetteleigh (1 point) a FB or IG pic of any time you wear your Merge Merch and tag us (2 points). Team with the most points wins bragging rights and their choice of fitness gear from Merge, $150 value per person. In the event of a tie, a winner will be chosen via names in a hat.
To participate in this challenge simply email merge.it.co@gmail.com with your partner’s name and team name by April 7th!
Get ready for summer!!
**any classes at Merge apply for this challenge
]]>