Tag: Featured

  • Inspirational Interview with Guest, Chicago Fitness Instructor Haley Gunst

    Inspirational Interview with Guest, Chicago Fitness Instructor Haley Gunst

    “The Curve Confessions by Kenzie is a movement inspiring women to find happiness in ourselves, no matter our size or shape; rock the skin we’re in with confidence; openly discuss body image issues we see in the world; and create a safe space where we all feel accepted.”

    I started this new interview series featuring stories from incredibly inspiring women; in hopes of inspiring others in their own journey of fitness, motivation, and life in general. Today’s guest is Haley Gunst, who recently came back to Chicago after finding her love for fitness and the outdoors in Seattle. Let me tell you, we are lucky to have her in Chicago, and I loved interviewing her! Check out the interview and check her out on Instagram @haleygunst.

    CC: Thanks so much for doing this interview, I’m so excited! Let’s cut to the chase. When did you become a yoga teacher and why? 

    Haley: I started my yoga training out in Seattle in October of 2017 and was officially on the teaching schedule in January of 2018. I had been nudged a couple of times by instructors to become a teacher and honestly brushed them off. Yoga was the one place I could go and feel like I could let my mind relax and wander, and I was scared to have that taken from me if I started knowing the ins and outs of teaching. However, I was living in Seattle, in a new stage of life and really needed a positive extra hobby. That same week of feeling a little lost, a teacher nudged me again and I decided maybe it was time to get out of my comfort zone and try it. CorePower was also one of the main places I went when I first moved to Seattle and knew no one. They gave me a sense of community when I felt really alone and I wanted to give that back to my community. I am in the midst of expanding my horizons and really wanting to invest more time into my fitness career. I also just tried out and earned a spot as an instructor at the Equinox Fitness Club. My good friend Lauren currently teaches there and knew they were opening up a new location and needed teachers, so she put me in touch with Julie Bellis, my new trainer and manager at Equinox. To say I’m excited would be an understatement. 

    CC: That’s amazing, I can’t wait to take your classes at Equinox soon – and of course love your yoga classes already. If someone wants to try you out, what are your class times?

    Haley: Right now I teach at CorePower Yoga at the Gold Coast, Chicago location at 6:45 pm Friday nights and 9:30 am Saturday mornings. I am currently getting on-boarded with Equinox and will have to go through a training before I am officially put on their schedule, but be on the lookout! They have a very wide range of classes, but I will be focusing on the strength and toning classes as well as the HIIT – High Interval Intensity Training classes.

    CC: Amazing, I hope people reading can check you out! So what would you say motivates you, and what is your biggest piece of advice to others looking for motivation?
    Haley: Oh wow, that’s a loaded question and sometimes it just depends on the day, haha. However, I have always been a very competitive person, and I think my biggest competition is myself. I am constantly trying to break my own personal PRs or see how much further I can push my body; mentally, physically, based on strength, endurance, anything really. Honestly the feeling of accomplishment after a tough workout, a race, or a new certification is reflecting back and realizing “wow, my body just did that, how much more can it do?” I can’t tell people what should motivate them, it should come from within and whatever their story is, however, your motivation should NOT be for anyone else. Yes a “revenge” body is great, but at some point that motivation will fade. It shouldn’t be to make your parents proud or to get attention from a guy, or even worse, for social media or the pressures that come from social media. These days it is REALLY hard to decipher what is real and what isn’t – don’t even get me started with the topic of FaceTune – but focus on yourself and what makes YOU want to be better, and that motivation will not fade.

    CC: That is amazing advice and I couldn’t agree more – doing things for others won’t get us anywhere. Why is fitness so important to you, and when/why did it become that way?
    Haley: I would say moving to Seattle really changed my life and my health. I got really active and really into the outdoors and my yoga practice and started feeling what it was like to make my body and health a priority. I felt amazing inside and out. However, I have faced some of my hardest personal life challenges this past year and taking care of my health mentally and physically has been extremely important. I cannot stress enough how important it is to take care of your mental health. What that looks like for each individual is different. For me, professional therapy, yoga, long talks with friends and family, journaling and fitness helped clear my mind and regain my self-confidence and mental strength. Physically I try to do some sort of activity whether it be CorePower Yoga, Orange Theory Fitness, Barry’s Bootcamp, Equinox Classes, long runs/walks along the lakeshore path, or trying a brand new class (shout out to that one boxing class I tried when I was holding in a TON of anxiety) at least 5 times a week. When I was going through the thick of some of my tougher days the hour or so of physical activity was honestly the only hour of the day that I could see and think clearly, so I really leaned on it to help me push through each day and slowly I got stronger and stronger, both mentally and physically. It may sound corny, but I am beyond thankful for all of the instructors and trainers I have come across in the last few years because they have truly changed my life and in a lot of ways; they saved my life as well. I hope to have that impact on my students as I grow as an instructor.

    CC: I love it, that’s great you got that new perspective out there (and we’re thankful you brought it to Chi). And I couldn’t agree more about that hour being so sacred and needed. So, random, but what would your ideal way to spend a day look like?

    Haley: Human connection, the outdoors, and exercise. If I get these three things each day, it is usually a pretty damn good day. Human connection is something I would like to transform my daily routine and career towards a little more. A lot of my day is spent sitting at my desk cranking out numbers (shout-out to my fellow nerdy math brains out there), and while that is great, I do crave more human interaction. That is kind of where teaching fitness classes comes into play, and obviously getting together with friends – new and old – always makes the work week a little less stressful. If I could build some mountains out here in the Midwest, I would. I think that’s the thing I miss the most about Seattle… seeing and exploring the outdoors and how much it has to offer, however, I often walk 35 minutes to and from work each day and will jam out to music, listen to my podcasts, or call my parents/friends. These 35 minutes at the beginning and end of my day have almost become necessary, I take that time to decompress the craziness going on in my life because the craziness never ends…

    CC: I love it, and agree on the human interaction part girl. How do you recommend others get into fitness or a side hustle, based on your own experience?

    Haley: I would say first evaluate what you want to do and why. Don’t get into fitness because you read this interview and felt like you had to. However, once you have a desire to change your routine or start something new, OWN IT. Start telling people what you’re doing so that you hold yourself accountable, start prioritizing your schedule to fit in whatever you need in order to make that change, and plan ahead. Goals are much easier to accomplish when there is a very clear game plan – it doesn’t have to be perfect, but for example, if you want to start incorporating more fitness into your life, maybe that means an early wake up call to get it done – start small – plan which day (yes, start with one day) of the week that will be and make it happen, no excuses, and then grow from there. Habits, positive and negative, are created by ACTIONS. You and only you hold the control to those actions.

    CC: Great advice. Another thing I love asking; who inspires you? 

    Haley: My grandma, who isn’t here anymore, but I always think about her, and I think that living your life hoping to impact people so that they continue to remember you after you’re gone is a great way to live. A lot of decisions I make, or the way I choose to treat people is based off of that motto. Give love and positivity, receive love and positivity back. Also currently obsessed with @MarenMorris and @iamCardiB (yes, I said it) and their bad-ass woman power vibe, both of their albums got me through some tough stuff, @averagefashionblogger who literally cracks me up every single day and is un-apologetically herself, @JasonLoebig who was able to take a leap of faith from his 9-5 desk job to follow a passion and is absolutely crushing it and motivating others along the way, and my dad, because my dad just simply rocks. If you know him, you know. 

    CC: Love all those people. So as you know The CC talks a lot about body image, would you say you encourage all shapes and sizes to take your classes? Why? 

    Haley: YES. When I invite people to my classes the first thing majority of people say is “I’m not good at yoga” or “I haven’t worked out in so long, I wouldn’t make it”, or something of the sort. NO MORE. The person next to you in class at one point in their life had never taken the class before either. Everyone starts somewhere. Also, I promise you that everyone in your class is focused on themselves and themselves only. We are all in this together and just need to continue supporting each other.

    CC: Great for all my readers to know! Well, that’s a wrap. Any other notable things to say about your journey to fitness, side hustles, motivation, etc.?             
    Haley: No one is promised tomorrow, so what are you going to do with today?

    Love that quote & thanks again for taking the time, so inspiring! If you’re interested in checking out Haley in action, look her up on Instagram @haleygunst and DM her for a spot in class! 

    Keep inspiring, Hales! Xoxo.

  • 5 of My Favorite Ways to Love My Body More

    5 of My Favorite Ways to Love My Body More

    I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the complex relationships we have with our bodies – not everyday is going to be a slam dunk, “I feel amazing,” but a lot of our days SHOULD be. And overall it’s important to be comfortable and happy in our skin to put happiness and good vibes out there (speaking from experience!).

    I thought I’d put together my favorite ways to love my body. These are easy things to incorporate into our daily lives — and quite frankly, I need the reminder every once in a while!

    Here are my favorite ways to love my body (take them or leave them!):

    1. Not comparing myself to others. If I’m being honest, I used to be terrible at this. I have really skinny and beautiful friends and I used to find myself constantly wishing I looked like them. The day I accepted I was my own kind of beautiful was a good day, but it took a lot of self love on my part. Another woman’s beauty does not impact your own and stopping comparison is SO important in loving my body more. Yes, that includes Instagram scrolling and magazines with stick thin models. Don’t fall victim!

    2. Complimenting myself & speaking positively to/about my body. It sounds vain, but I try to give myself compliments all the time. “Damn you look good today!”… or whatever compliment that’s positive works! The positivity radiates and can really make a huge difference in how I see myself. If I’m constantly talking down to myself, that sets a horrible precedent, right? I see it as, I spent a lot of years being extremely mean to myself, so I’m making up for it 😉

    3. Creating a daily affirmation and/or gratitude list. I’ve talked a bit about this on my Instagram, but I’m obsessed with daily affirmations and gratitude. I have daily affirmations that I tell myself out loud or in my head, and I also try to write down what I’m grateful for constantly. It keeps me grounded and it definitely helps with my overall love for myself, including my body. I do want to work on doing my daily affirmation every morning though!

    4. Incorporating foods that I love but also make me feel good. Eating healthy foods that give me energy… man what a game changer in my overall feelings about my body. I’m not always the strictest (which I think is good), but overall finding foods that make me feel good helps me immensely with my body love. Veggies, eggs, avocado toast, the list goes on!

    5. Exercising regularly & doing workouts I love – but also incorporating stretching & yoga. I love exercising now, but not everyday is a situation where I’m sprinting the gym excited as all hell. Haha, some days I’m dragging myself there, honestly, but it’s all for how it makes my body feel. It’s pretty amazing to see what my body is capable of and how much confidence and strength it gives me. Yoga has changed the game for me too, because some days I just need some zen and stretching. Listening to my body is the ticket here, but I always remind myself how great it makes me feel at the end!

    That’s all folks. Do you like this list? Does it resonate? Tell me your favorite ways to love your body, I’d love to chat!

    Xoxo Kenzie

    @thecurveconfessions

  • Inspirational Interview with Guest, Chicago Fitness Instructor Lauren Zerante

    Inspirational Interview with Guest, Chicago Fitness Instructor Lauren Zerante

    “The Curve Confessions by Kenzie is a movement inspiring women to find happiness in ourselves, no matter our size or shape; rock the skin we’re in with confidence; openly discuss body image issues we see in the world; and create a safe space where we all feel accepted.”

    I can speak to the fact that fitness is a way to find happiness and confidence in ourselves, and that’s not just for our physical appearance, but for our overall emotional well being, inner strength, etc.

    Lauren Zerante is someone who helped me find my love for fitness again and is an inspiring instructor and fitness connoisseur in Chicago. She also happens to be my best friend of over a decade. Read our interview to get inspired and learn more about her side hustle and motivation (if you get to the end you can find a way to try her classes, too)!

    CC: Thanks for joining me Lauren! So let’s cut to the chase, when did you become a group fitness instructor and why? 
    Lauren: Thanks for having me! I received my yoga sculpt certification from CorePower Yoga in April of 2015. I had been going and taking class religiously after graduating and moving back home, and one day I thought about taking the plunge and doing teacher training. I had been looking to fill the void my college volleyball career provided and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. I love being around people, leading groups, and it’s no surprise that I love working out. Fast forward a few years later and I found myself wanting to focus on studying more forms of exercise, specifically HIIT- high intensity interval training, outside of the yoga studio. I decided to get my NASM personal training certification and later pursue group fitness at Equinox. I started teaching classes there in April of 2018.
    CC: Amazing, obviously I love your classes 🙂 Can you tell my readers where/when you teach?
    Lauren: Yes! Here they are.
    Corepower Yoga Sculpt schedule: Monday mornings at CPY Old Town 5:45 am, Thursday evenings 5:45 pm at CPY River North
    Equinox: Saturday METCON3 11:45 am at Equinox Lincoln Park
    CC: I hope some readers can make it to your classes! Can you tell us what motivates you, and what is your biggest piece of advice to others looking for motivation?
    Lauren: It sounds kind of cliche but, myself. I am a super competitive person but I’ve found that I get the most gratitude when I see myself improving in things over time vs doing ‘better’ than someone else. I like to run and usually run 1-2 half marathons a year. My biggest motivation for those is doing everything I can to beat my last race time or learn something new in the training process. My biggest piece of advice would be to find something that you truly enjoy. Motivation will always lack if you view something as a chore. In today’s fitness world there are sooo many studios and different ways to stay active. My advice would be to explore all those options until you find something that clicks.
    CC: I can definitely vouch for that and totally agree. Tell us, why is fitness so important to you, and when/why did it become that way?
    Lauren: It’s the best ‘me time’ that I’ve been able to find. When I’m working out, no matter what the workout is (alone or in a class) I’m able to completely disconnect from what’s going on in my life and my (usually) long to do list. Teaching group fitness is just as important for me because it’s a way to connect with others on a really unique and special level. Seeing people come back each week and put in the work, transform their mind and body, and do things they didn’t think they could do in the past has been extremely rewarding. I know that for a lot of people, that one hour in their day is as special for them as it is for me so it’s definitely a big deal to be leading that time.

    CC: Absolutely agree girlfriend. Random question for my readers; what would your ideal way to spend a day look like?

    Lauren: I love working out with friends, so my ideal day would be either teaching a class with friends in it or taking one with them! Catching up after over coffee/dinner/drinks is always an added plus. Now that it’s warm out in Chicago my ideal day would be hanging out on some kind of roof top/patio or taking a walk along the lake. And my ideal day would probably end with ice cream… duh.

    CC: Sounds like a fun day hehe. How do you recommend others get into fitness or a side hustle, based on your own experience?

    Lauren: Community is the biggest thing that comes to mind when answering this question. The Chicago fitness community is pretty unbelievable, and I know a lot of other cities have similar dynamics. Take classes, don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to fellow classmates or instructors. Research fitness events- there are tons. ASweatLife is a great resource and way to meet people who have a passion for fitness as well as check out the many studios around the nation.

    CC: That’s great advice. Who inspires you?
    Lauren: Oohh this is tough. I have a lot of ‘favorite’ instructors in the Chicago area the list would be very long. One of my favorite ‘insta inspirations’ is @rksolidnyc. She’s a former Barry’s Bootcamp/current Peloton instructor and I find her approach to fitness to be authentic, dedicated, and relatable. I also enjoy following @ashwilking, a Nike Trainer and Rumble boxer trainer in NYC. She’s a total bada** and I absolutely loved taking her class in person at Rumble in NYC recently.
    CC: Inspo to the max, I’m following now! So on the topic of body image… Do you encourage all shapes and sizes to take your classes?
    Lauren: Absolutely. All shapes and sizes, all ages, and all fitness backgrounds. Modifications are always an option in my class and I will never force someone to do something they are a) not comfortable with or b) have physical limitations doing. One of the most common things I hear from people prior to doing my class or really any workout class is “I’m not good at x”, whether that be yoga, running, lifting. Group fitness classes aren’t about being “good” or “bad” at something. And in my classes, being “good” at yoga sculpt or “good” at HIIT will never be a thing. It’s about showing up, being around others, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. I say this a lot in my classes but you have to “trust me and trust yourself”.

    Thanks for the inspiring interview, Lauren!

    Readers: if you want to try Lauren’s class, DM her on Instagram at @lzerante. You won’t regret it!

  • My Favorite Spring Looks & Pieces Giving Me Confidence 

    My Favorite Spring Looks & Pieces Giving Me Confidence 

    I’m so excited for a few things – one of them being the weather getting warmer, and another being a change in fashion seasons. With that change in seasons always comes the apparent awkwardness in my fashion choices – what the heck do I wear?

    Some days, I’ve been able to throw on sandals, while the next day it’s snowing. It’s up in the air, but that’s not stopping me from transitioning my favorite pieces over to spring. Even though it’s awkward with the weather, my number one fashion rule remains – be comfortable and confident.

    Personally, my favorite things to wear are those that express my personality; red, leopard, etc. are obvious choices. But some days, I just want to be comfortable. Some days, I want to be fierce and out there. No matter what, I think our style is part of our identities and confidence – so it’s so important to be true to ourselves.

    I love bargains and love finding pieces that work for various seasons. Here are some of my top spring looks I’m bringing into this new season:

    I’m not sure what makes this outfit more – the pants or the red jacket – but I’m obsessed with both pieces. This is definitely an outfit on the bolder side, but is great for spring days because it’s dressed up, and the red jacket acts as a light coat. It can always be taken off (see look below) and thrown off the shoulder or carried.

    Red jacket: Zara 

    Leopard pants: Nordstrom Rack

    Combat boots: Nordstrom

    Sunglasses: Mulberry and Me

    Outfit #2:


    This outfit is comfortable yet a little edgy! I’ve been looking for a black jean jacket for FOREVER and finally found this crop one from Topshop and am obsessed. I also love rocking combats with the unusual outfits, and this was definitely an opportunity for that. If it’s really hot, I can take off the jean jacket and/or sub out sandals for the combats to make this outfit more weather friendly.

    Romper: Urban Outfitters

    Crop jean jacket: Topshop

    Earrings & sunglasses: Mulberry and Me

    Outfit #3:


    This outfit is similar to above, except it has the red pop with this red jean jacket. I’m obsessed with this jacket – it literally goes with anything. The red jacket can definitely be thrown over different types of outfits, too, but this one is comfy yet adorable!

    Red jean jacket: Nordstrom

    Outfit #4:


    This outfit makes me feel like a sassy chick. It’s comfortable yet professional, and could be swapped to a tank and sandals for warmer weather. These pants were so cheap but are a nice material so I don’t feel like a slob wearing them. And duh, they’re so fun!

    Black top: Nordstrom

    Leopard pants: Nordstrom Rack

    Combat boots: Nordstrom

    Outfit #5:


    Athletic wear is usually what you can find me in – whether I’m running to a workout class or running errands around town, this jacket was a must have from Zara. I actually saw a girl wearing it at the airport once and then coincidentally found it – it was fate! It’s super clean looking and could even be dressed up with jeans!

    Jacket: Zara

  • The Recent Step I Took To Get Out Of My Comfort Zone And Chase My Happiness And Dreams

    The Recent Step I Took To Get Out Of My Comfort Zone And Chase My Happiness And Dreams

    The past few weeks have been unconventional (and exciting) to say the least, because I kind of did a thing – I quit my job that I’ve been at for the past four years.

    Let’s start from the beginning of my career. I’ve been working since I graduated college, which was almost five years ago. I landed at a large PR agency that at the time was my ‘dream job’ and dove right in to agency life.

    I started my internship there and learned a lot, stayed for 8 months; then got offered a position as an intern at another agency. And four years later, here I am. I’ve been promoted a few times and am now a Senior Account Executive. I have so much great experience under my belt and have met so many great people along the way, and I won’t ever take that for granted. But two weeks ago, I quit.

    Here’s why:

    1. My favorite motto of all time is that life is too short to be anything but happy – but that’s because it really is. And that quote makes me realize that if god forbid something were to happen, I wouldn’t want to spend another minute unhappy in my day to day. There are a lot of things that go into my decision and I’m not going to go into detail, but in the self reflection I’ve worked on, I realized my job was no longer serving me and it was my time to move on and take a mental break from it all. So I made the serious decision that working part time and freelance gigs, making my own schedule, and de-stressing for a little while I look for opportunities was an immediate way I could get there. So I took the plunge.
    2. I’m looking for day to day work that ignites my soul and brings out my passion. And my next job will be exactly that – a brand that I’m amped to get behind and work for, an opportunity that allows me to write and extend my writing skills, and allows me to work towards my goals of being a writer and author. Or maybe even a completely different path that allows me to focus on my writing on the side – it’s still unknown. And it may have been an uncomfortable decision to leave what’s been known to me for so long, but it’s ultimately going to get me closer to my long-term goals and help me grow. And this decision also means I’ll be dedicating more time to those things that do ignite my passions – like writing for my blog, working on my book, and looking for freelance writing/content gigs.

    Honestly, what held me back from doing this for a long time was my fear. What will people think of me? Will I ever get another corporate job? What if I fail? These are just a few of the fears running through my head.

    But I was finally ready to face my fears and take a chance. I know it’s not the most conventional decision – quitting a job with a steady paycheck for something unknown – but in this moment, I know it’s what I want and need. And remember the whole life is too short thing? At least I can be happy that I stuck to my gut and am following my happiness and dreams.

    I will get another corporate job soon, I’m sure. But after this break I’m taking, I want to make sure it’s bringing me closer to my goals and serving me happiness. Because if it’s not – what’s the point?

    I’ll leave this last quote that I don’t think I’ll ever get out of my head – “how you spend your days is how you spend your life.” And with that I say, follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise (not even the voices in your head).

    And if you’re interested, here are some steps I took that might help:

    1. Write down your 5 and 10-year plans and what it will take to get there
    2. Make a list of everything in your life and evaluate if/how it’s getting you there
    3. If you’re finding things not serving you and your happiness/dreams, cut ties with those things
    4. Make a decision about what you’re going to do to change and do it; then move on
    5. Make a plan and next steps for how you are going to hit your dreams and goals – then go for it!

    Special shout out to my Mom, Dad, family and friends, who always lift me up and show me nothing but support through everything. I couldn’t do it without you all! XOXO.