Fitness

Fitness Myths: Debunked!

Ozwell Fitness Separates Fact From Fiction Article by Laura Harris | Photography by Brianna Richardson Photography Ozwell Fitness is about more than breaking a sweat—it’s about breaking barriers.  “What initially inspired me to pursue this concept was the growing importance of proper recovery,” owner Gemi Ozdemir says. “Yet there never seemed to be enough time in the day to make it all happen. I also noticed that workouts were becoming increasingly fragmented, and I recognized the need to...

Wellness

Dealing With the Darker Days of Winter

Why We Experience Seasonal Sadness and How to Survive and Thrive Article by Amy Adams | Photography by Brianna Richardson Photography The “winter blues” can be common among Midwesterners. According to Kayla Beier, owner of Endurance Mental Health in Carmel, the shorter days and fewer hours of sunlight in winter disrupt our normal Circadian rhythms. This causes less of the “feel good” chemicals like serotonin to be produced in our bodies and more sedating chemicals like melatonin to be...

Wellness

Seasonal Eating for Winter Wellness

Choosing Nutrient-Rich Foods to Boost Your Health Article by Kelly Riley   As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, winter invites us to slow down and turn inward. While it’s easy to reach for comfort foods that may leave us feeling sluggish, eating seasonally and mindfully can keep us energized and resilient throughout the colder months.  Eating seasonally isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way to align our diets with our natural circadian rhythm, providing our bodies with exactly what...

Wellness

Time for a Reset

How Cereset Can Improve Mood, Memory and Mental Function Article by Amy Adams In early 2020, Dr. Don Anderson, a local endodontist, found himself concerned about not being able to cope as well with the pressures of life. “I was having all kinds of issues with sleep and stress and general malaise,” he recounts.  The onset of Covid-19 in the spring added another layer of stress. About that time, Anderson stumbled across information on a patented technology that empowers the brain to help...

Fitness

Bringing Home Gold

Swimmer Alex Shackell and Coach Chris Plumb Know Hard Work Pays Off Article by Amy Adams | Photography by Logan Clark (Thynk Creative) Alex Shackell first crossed a pool at age three . . . and she hasn’t looked back.  By eight, she had her eyes set on Olympic gold. It wasn’t just a child’s dream after watching the Olympics. Shackell committed herself to training and competing year-round. “I wasn’t always an outstanding swimmer,” Shackell says. “I had to work my way up to it.” Although some...

Life + Culture

Shining a Light

Carmel Celebrates Its Many Vibrant Cultures Article by Amy Adams When I was a kid, there was a Coca-Cola ad this time of year where people from all walks of life joined hands and harmonized, “I’d like to teach the world to sing.” Though I am no longer under the assumption that a drink or a song can bring world peace, the sentiment has stayed with me. I see it alive and well right here in Carmel. For many locals, the holidays are synonymous with Christkindlmarkt which celebrates the German...

Arts + Culture

Making A List, Checking It Twice

Kits & Kaboodle Shares Award-Winning Toys That Will Be In Santa's Sack This Year Article by Amy Adams | Photography by Brianna Richardson Photography Each year, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association selects finalists for the ASTRA Star Toy Awards, and winners are voted on by neighborhood toy stores, including Carmel’s Kits & Kaboodle. Here, owner Teneen Dobbs’ recommends award-winning toys for babies all the way up to “kidults.”  Air Toobz from Fat Brain Toys —This STEM toy...

Life + Culture

The Giving Machine

Like Santa's Sleigh, It's Shiny, Red and Full of Gifts Article by Amy Adams The red vending machine is back at Clay Terrace this holiday season, but it doesn't offer drinks, snacks or stocking stuffers. Instead, the Giving Machine provides a convenient way to give to those who need it most.  Sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Giving Machines in 106 locations across the world allow people to purchase and donate items ranging from $5 to $250 and from baby items to...

Arts + Culture

gift giving: All Wrapped Up!

The Westfield Wrapper Shares Her Gift Article by Amy Adams | Photography by Brianna Richardson Photography Ribbons and bows. Tags and tape. So much goes into wrapping the perfect present.  Amber Blakley should know. She’s been doing it since she was 10.  Growing up in Carmel, Blakley started learning how to wrap gifts as a fifth grader through Hamilton County 4-H.  “Never in that time did I think I’d be doing this as a career,” Blakley says. However, when she found herself without a job...

Entertainment

5 MUST SEE Holiday Shows

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas Article by Amy Adams 1. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas Civic Theatre 11/29 to 12/24, The Tarkington  2. Enjoy the Holly Days Indianapolis Wind Symphony 12/8, 4 PM, The Palladium 3. A Viennese Christmas and A Holiday in Vienna Carmel Symphony Orchestra 12/15, 2 PM & 7 PM, The Palladium  4. Handel’s Messiah Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra 12/19, 7:30 PM, The Palladium 5. Festival of...