Spring means it’s time to come out of hibernation and get in shape physically and mentally. It will be easier to get going if you try something new. Here are some ways to re-energize.
Move those dogs: If you meet your pooch’s pleas for a walk by offering him a quick leashed trip around your block, expand the view for both of you. Try several of the more than three dozen off-leash dog areas in the Chicago area. You and your pup will get more exercise and make new friends. (Check at www.chicagolandtails.com for locations.)
Beat it: For some hands-on fun, attend the free Rhythm Revolution Drum Circle from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Fridays in Green Briar Park, 2650 W. Peterson Ave. in Chicago.
“It’s great for stress relief,” said John Yost, the Chicago Park District music instructor who leads the drum circle. “It gets people out of their head and into the moment because what you’re doing is acting and reacting to the music that everybody’s making in the circle.” (For info, go to www.drummingcircle.com.)
Lighten the load: “Let it go” is what Susan Anderson tells her yoga students at Bally’s in Morton Grove and Deerfield. That means clearing your mind of all thoughts while you’re practicing yoga. Anderson also says people should get rid of excess objects at home, because they deplete their energy. And most of all, she counsels, “Let go and forgive yourself.”
Become a stair master: You missed “Hustle Up the Hancock” last month, but this is a great time to start training for next year. Climb a few flights a day in your neighborhood and next February you’ll be ready to tackle the 1,632-stair climb to the John Hancock Center’s 94th floor (www.lungchicago.org/get/hustle.asp).
Use good scents: Custom fragrances can offer a fresh start. Places such as the Aroma Workshop, 2050 N. Halsted St., let you sniff out your favorite combination of fragrance oils. Owner Tedd Neenan said the advantage of creating your own perfume is that you “feel more individual.”
Raise the temperature: Tango is hotter than ever–and it’s great exercise. For just $5, you can practice this passionate dance and refuel at the Mexican Cultural Center Milonga, 702 N. Wells St., from 8 p.m. to midnight on the second Friday of each month. Admission is free if you bring a dish for the food table or a “non-tango person.” Visit www.tangonoticias.com to learn about other tango parties in Chicago.
Have a talk with yourself: Do-it-yourselfers can lift their spirits, lose weight or quit bad habits through self-hypnosis. At least, that’s what some 400 books and tapes listed on Barnesandnoble.com indicate. Even more options are listed on Amazon.com.
Let the sunshine in: “If there’s no sunshine outside, at least you can feel the sun inside you,” said Catherine Lange, who has taught tai chi at the Beverly Arts Center and the Heartland Spa. She recommends the meditation classes at InVision, 3340 N. Clark St., for achieving that inner glow because their method “meshes well with my tai chi experience.”
Run away with the circus: Well, at least be prepared in case the opportunity arises. The Actors Gymnasium offers classes in the circus arts at Evanston and Chicago locations. The spring session starts the second week of April. If you’ve always dreamed of riding a unicycle or flying on a trapeze, go to www.actorsgymnasium.com for more info.
