WellcommDC [9.14.26]

WellcommDC is the email newsletter bringing you the best of the DMV’s wellness community. Get On The List and get Wellcomm sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who would love Wellcomm? Then please forward our email or tag them on our IG.

[High Five] We gave a High Five to Marianne Koleng, an Instructor at CorePower Yoga in Austin, TX who also splits time with Miami, FL.

Wellcomm: Where do you work out?

Marianne Koleng: Realistically, I work out everywhere and anywhere I can; whether it’s running on the Town Lake Trail or swimming in the ocean, the world is my gym. But you can always find me teaching and practicing at CorePower Yoga or working out at HOTWORX whenever I’m traveling. I love trying local studios and mixing up my routine while supporting local instructors!

WC: What does wellness mean to you?

MK: Wellness to me represents an amalgam: it’s not only how you show up physically, but also how you find mental and emotional regulation within yourself each day. It’s not one place to me, but more of an active state that may look a little different each day. It’s about finding ways to grow by one percent each day. Even our bad days teach us something, and wellness to me is about finding ways to grow from both the good and bad days to become our best selves.

WC: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

MK: I’m really focused on finding balance across my career as a physician while maintaining my training and connecting with people as an instructor. I realize there may be weeks when one aspect of my life requires more devotion than the others, but I hope to find an overall balance and use that to encourage others to believe they can do anything they set their minds to and become their best selves.

WC: Who are some people who inspire you, motivate you, or keep you accountable when it comes to your wellness?

MK: My Day One inspiration will always be my mom. She has always encouraged me to pursue my passions and supported all of my goals, whether they’re fitness-related, personal, academic, or anything else. My students also motivate me and keep me accountable. Seeing them come from all walks of life and continue to challenge themselves in class motivates me to do the same. I also love taking CorePower Yoga classes from different instructors because I can build on my own practice and get great ideas for songs and poses to try in my own routines.

WC: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

MK: “Find what you love, and let it kill you,” metaphorically, at least. That’s not my original quote; it’s from a writer I love, Charles Bukowski, who changed his own life to become a prominent author of the 20th century. Wellness is not about doing what seems vogue or “in” on social media. If you don’t like to run, that’s okay: you don’t have to go for runs every day. Find what you love to do and do it, whether it’s running, dancing, doing Pilates, or finding something else. If you’re making time for yourself, your movement, and your progress, you’re practicing wellness.

Know a fitness instructor or personal trainer who deserves a High Five? Click here to submit your nomination so we can consider them for a future High Five profile!

[WellcommDC Hit Event] Thursday, September 17th: Pilates + Pints Events

So how do we pick our Hit Events? They’re curated exclusively for our WellcommDC Community from former High Fives. Each week, we’ll highlight one standout fitness event in the WellcommDC email. This could be:

• a group workout

• a pop-up fitness event

• a race or charity run

• a pickleball tournament

• a cycling ride

• a recovery event or

• anything else fitness-related

These events will be shared with all Wellcomm email subscribers, but submissions from former High Fives who are subscribers are prioritized, ideally for events they’re organizing, leading, or personally involved with.

We’ll feature one event per week, so spots are limited. We’re grateful for our High Fives and are excited to share these exclusive ongoing updates from the best of the DMV!

That’s this week’s edition of WellcommDC. Like what you read? Get On The List and get future editions sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who needs to read Wellcomm? Forward our email to them or tag them on our IG. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommDC Team

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.