Health, Beauty & Fitness 07.28.17

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JULY 28, 2017

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HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

JULY 28, 2017

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Free self-defense class aims to empower women AMY SCHRADER

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ore than 30 years ago, Antioch resident Lynn Sorvari was a victim of

spousal abuse.

Now, as the co-owner of Flowing Motion, a family-owned and fully integrated martial-arts school, she and her husband Roy Sorvari are committed to helping women empower themselves through learning self-defense.

Flowing Motion is offering a free women’s self-defense workshop on Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. The free workshop is available twice year and lasts about 90 minutes.

“With one in six girls estimated to become a victim of sexual assault by the age of 18, empowering women with the basic training and tools for personal safety is imperative,” said Lynn. “It is our mission to make a difference.”

The self-defense workshop, which is open to women 13 years and older, will focus on awareness and will teach a few techniques suited to build courage and confidence.

“It will be hands-on, in a safe, supportive and fun environment,” said Lynn. “This is a great opportunity for mothers, daughters, sisters or friends to learn together.”

According to Lynn, awareness, avoid-

Photo courtesy of Lynn Sorvari

Flowing Motion, a martial-arts studio in Antioch, is offering a free women’s self-defense workshop on Aug. 5. ance and de-escalation skills are the foundation of self-defense. “(These skills) can help you avoid some

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violence before it begins, either by sidestepping the need to defend yourself altogether or removing the cause of conflict by giving

your adversary a face-saving way out,” she said. “Sometimes, despite your best intentions, you may find yourself in a situation where there really is no alternative but to defend yourself.”

When you are left with no alternative, it is essential to have some skills to fend off your attacker.

“This introductory-level workshop can give you some of the basic skills, courage and confidence you will need in order to fend off an attack,” she said.

The basic skills will be taught by Lynn and her husband Roy, who has more than 34 years of experience training and teaching selfdefense and martial arts. He has achieved one of the highest levels of qi cultivation, joining the few who ever attain this level.

Before opening Flowing Motion in 2013, Roy taught classes in other studios, while continuing to study under martial arts masters, including with the reknowned Madam Min Ou Yang, who is known as the ‘All Powerful of China.’

Roy and Lynn, who is also a Kung Fu and Tai Chi practitioner, developed their own mission before opening their own studio.

“Flowing Motion is committed to improving your quality of life,” said Lynn.

“We provide a level of expertise carefully see Self-Defense page 5B

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HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

Lifting spirits while lifting weights A LY B R O W N

T

ucked away at the end of historic downtown Brentwood is a new CrossFit-affiliated

gym, which is building a name for itself while building the muscles and overall wellness of its clientele.

Still a young business, Grey Group Fitness opened in October 2016 to improve the daily lives of those who walk into the warehouse, which is home to a host of equipment, including logs and tires. Owner Eric Yunck especially wanted to create a space for everyone to feel like they were part of something more akin to family. As a multiple-deployment combat veteran who was wounded in active duty during a tour in Afghanistan, he recognized the importance of camaraderie and accountability with regard to health and wellness.

In 2014, after nearly 20 years in the military, Yunck left active duty as a 90 percent disabled veteran and began searching for a job. Even with a master’s degree in organizational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in business, he couldn’t find work.

“You’re trying to prove your worth, when not a lot of people understand how the skills you’ve gained during service carry over

into civilian life,” Yunck said, noting this to be a problem for many soldiers seeking careers after their service.

During recovery, Yunck used his CrossFit knowledge to heal his own body, while training friends who were police officers, swat members, martial-arts enthusiasts and more.

“I thought, ‘I really enjoy this, and I’ve always done this,’” said Yunck, who had been a coach and president for the Delta Patriots.

The location of Grey Group’s gym became available when the Delta Patriots’ football program stopped using the warehouse located on Walnut Boulevard. Yunck decided to turn it into a gym to explore the ‘grey area’ within fitness and began searching for loans to turn the idea into a reality.

“When you’re a swimmer – that’s pretty black and white – you train to enhance your swimming skills. But with cops or firefighters, they’re masters of functional fitness,” he said.

The physical demands of such fields can be unpredictable from day to day, requiring a broad range of abilities, and while there are many firefighters and officers in attendance, this concept of functional fitness expands to all walks of life.

“This isn’t just a cool-guy firefighter club,” he said. “From the teacher, to the stayat-home mom, the IT guy or the PG&E worker – they just want to be able to get up and be healthy and not hurt.”

The members who didn’t let the logs

JULY 28, 2017

Photo by Aly Brown

Owner of Grey Group Fitness Eric Yunck (far left) stands beside a few members of his new CrossFit-affiliated gym, located on Walnut Boulevard. Serving all ages and abilities, the philosophy is ‘leave negativity at the door and join the family.’ and tires out front scare them away found this message of inclusivity to ring true.

“I was very intimidated to even go to a gym,” said Joannie Leach in a Facebook review. “It was such a pleasant surprise to

not feel judgement for my size or my age. I’m the oldest person so far and not treated any different. Everyone is encouraging, especially see Gym page 5B

JULY 28, 2017

HEALTH, BEAUTY & FITNESS

Self-Defense from page 3B cultivated from decades of disciplined practice and dedicated study with authentic, globally acknowledged masters of Tai Chi, Quigong, meditation and martial arts. Our sincere desire is (to) use that expertise to help you achieve health and happiness, using proven techniques in stress management, energy cultivation and other exercises designed to enhance your overall well-being.”

Their customers not only experience an overall feeling of well-being, but an increased sense of confidence.

“Flowing Motion is the perfect place to go to learn self-defense,” said Antioch resident Lisa Amaral, who has taken selfdefense and Tai Chi classes. “It increased my confidence and is such a warm and inviting environment.”

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It will be a hands-on safe, supportive and fun environment.

– Lynn Sorvari In addition to self-defense classes, Flowing Motion offers classes in Kung Fu, Quigong, Tai Chi and others.

Flowing Motion is located at 3158 Contra Loma Blvd., in Antioch. Women interested in the workshop can visit the studio or call to reserve their spot. For more information, visit www.flowingmotion.com or call 925-350-4000.

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from page 4B

Eric. I watch how he is with everyone, and I am so impressed.”

The fitness center affiliated as a Crossfit gym in order to offer this niche type of training, under the affiliate name of Crossfit Takedown, but the club offers even more. It is also a U.S. Olympic Association Barbell Club and has trained young athletes and assessed individuals looking to get into special military operations. In addition, Grey Group’s proshop supports others who served by only offering merchandise created or sold by other veterans with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Overall, one of Yunck’s essential goals for his gym family is to leave negativity and judgement at the door, while constantly considering the three physical, mental and spiritual prongs of wellness on their journey to a better life.

“We’re not about having cliches in here; if you come in, you’re part of what’s happening,” Yunck said. “I want people to feel empowered to wake up and say, ‘I want to feel good about myself, so I can go to work every day and come home with enough

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This isn’t just a coolguy firefighter club.

From the teacher, to the stay-at-home mom, the IT guy or the PG&E worker – they just want to be able to get up and be healthy and not hurt.

– Eric Yunck, owner Grey Group Fitness energy to play with my kids.’”

Grey Group Fitness is located at 3877 Walnut Blvd., Suite C, in Brentwood. For more information, visit www.greygroupfitness.com or call 925-813-9949.

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JULY 28, 2017

Getting blood work may be a necessity B UBBY’S NICKNAME FOR ME VARIED over the years, but around age 4, whenever we had to go to the doctor and I needed a shot, it was Spider.

I immediately went into panic mode and, with legs and arms flailing in resistance, I became a crazed and Senior animated spider child. orner It took both my mom and my aunt to hold me down, while the doctor did her best to aim and shoot!

It’s not as bad now, but I still have to look away, hold my Marla breath and hum either Luckhardt “The Star-Spangled Banner” or a lively show tune. Don’t even ask what the phlebotomist must be thinking.

It’s a routine necessity as we get older, but I must say, it’s getting easier each time,

C

and the lab I go to seems to have a lock on kindness, efficiency and punctuality.

Depending on how often the doctor requires lab work, an appointment is not offered or needed for a blood test. If you have to do a fasting draw, it’s likely you will go early, so ask your lab of choice in advance when the slower time might be. Lots of people who go to work will go as soon as they open. I tend to eat midmorning, so I can always go about 9:30 or 10 a.m. and walk right in. If fasting is not required, the best times to go are between 9:30 and 11 a.m. or after lunch, between 2 and 4 p.m.

Many times, the doctor is checking your cholesterol, sugar levels and creatinine. The panel will also include a potassium count and a few other things, depending on what his or her concerns are for you. If you have an annual checkup, discuss in advance with your doctor’s office what may be on your mind about your health, so they can add that test to your work up.

Most medical groups will send you an email within 24 hours with your results. It’s almost like getting a report card from school to see if you got good grades or at least passed! It will also usually include a graph of past levels, so I was able to compare and see if that chocolate dessert a few nights ago had any impact on my sugar level.

When Grandpa and I got home from our recent vacation, I was slightly panicked about those wonderful cruise ship desserts, but I sighed with relief when my glucose level remained the same as before.

Most of us take some sort of vitamin or herbal supplements, and for the most part, they are helpful and not harmful. The levels of certain components like calcium and magnesium, as well as potassium, can be monitored properly with these blood tests and will determine if the additions are needed. Too much of a good thing is as bad as too little. A lot of our numbers can be regulated or aided by supplements, so

discuss this with your doctor for your best regimen.

Fish oil has a great impact for me on my cholesterol level, and I don’t really like bananas, so I use potassium, but again, too much can be a problem. Calcium is good for bones, teeth and nails, but use that only if needed, as it can result in stones if not taken correctly.

The golden years can be a juggling game, and monitoring health with proper testing can be lifesaving. The days of wondering if I will get a shot is the least of my issues. Now it’s shrimp or no shrimp, cheese or no cheese, and let’s not even talk about fried food or candy!

Oh, and I bet Bubby would have nicknamed me Braveheart now.

Marla Luckhardt is a Brentwood resident who works with several local senior care and advocacy groups. Email her at marla2054@aol.com.

♦♦ Know your skin type It helps to have a cursory understanding of your skin. This includes whether it is dry, combination, sensitive or oily. When considering your skin type, also keep in mind potential allergens that may have irritated your skin in the past. Avoid cosmetic products with these ingredients. ♦♦ Weed out the ones that don’t work Certain ingredients, such as retinol or alpha hydroxy acids, can cause some irritation. However, dermatologists say cosmetic products should not burn, cause redness or inflammation. If a product does, discontinue use. Skin or hair should not get worse before it gets better.

♦♦ Give products time Read the instructions on the packaging or bottle. Certain cosmetic products are designed to work quickly. Others, particularly those that treat wrinkles or dark spots on skin, may need two weeks to a month to produce the desired results.

A good rule of thumb is that the longer an issue lasts, the more time a product will need to produce the desired results. ♦♦ Go out in the sun The best way to determine if a shade of makeup matches or if a product looks flawless is to go out in the sun. Although cosmetics have come a long way and digital color-matching is some of the most advanced technology, natural light is the best way to

determine a skin-tone match. If the makeup looks great during the day, it should work well under other lighting situations as well. ♦♦ Do a consultation Visit a department store and head to the beauty counter. Ask about the newest products available and request a trial. This enables you to see firsthand how items feel and look, and you may learn some professional application tips as well.

Similarly, when at the hair salon, ask your stylist which products are ideal for your hair type and desired results. You don’t necessarily have to buy them at the salon, but you can comparison shop or look for similar formulations later.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

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How to choose the right cosmetic products

T

he global cosmetic and

beauty industry continues to evolve and thrive.

Each day, new formulations for skin, hair, nails and more arrive on store shelves, beckoning shoppers to give them a try.

According to Allied Market Research, the cosmetics market is expected to generate $429.8 billion by 2022. As men and women all over the world contribute to these impressive sales figures, one may wonder just how to navigate through the extensive waters of the cosmetics industry.

Certain factors should be considered before trying the newest product available.

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