When I first started teaching yoga, I had just graduated college and couldn't afford to pay rent on my own in Chicago. So I commuted from my parents house in Bartlett and obviously - it sucked. One day, in one of my yoga classes at DePaul's Ray Meyer Fitness Center, one of my students came up to me and we started talking. Her name was Kitty (I know, Kitty + Cat. So perfect.). She's the most gracefully aged, stylish, badass 70 year old woman I've ever met. She owns a three story house on the most beautiful tree-lined street in Lincoln Park. Throughout our conversation, she found out I was commuting from the suburbs and was like, "What? That's crazy! Do you want to stay at my house? I am leaving for my house in Hawaii for 4-5 months and need someone to watch my place for me. I don't have any pets, just plants. You'd have to water them and send my mail once a week to my house in Hawaii. I just need you to be there to make sure the pipes don't burst when it's too cold. So make sure you use the water." Umm...OK. Of course I agreed. (and of course, the pipes burst - but that's a story for another day lol) I house sat for her in November and stayed there throughout the entire winter. It was a dream and a paradox. I was the poorest I had ever been - massive student loan debt, high credit card bills, I barely had a job. I was getting by teaching a few classes here and there, working probably 10 hours a week - yet I was living in a mansion in Lincoln Park.
Kitty's house had an old school iHome and I couldn't plug my newer iPhone in to play music - so I was left with her cute af pink iPod mini. The music she had on there was all Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Etta James style music. I'd sit in her breakfast nook, in a fluffy robe, drinking hot chocolate, watching the snowfall, living life like a luxurious rich-ass retired white woman, and laugh at how ironic life is. The music on this pink iPod mini gave me so much confidence and faith that everything was going to be ok. So now, if you asked me what winter in Chicago sounds like - this playlist is it: warm, comforting, soulful jazz.
The first Sunday of every month, EAT STRETCH NAP is hosting a special Sunday Stretch Session at Ace Hotel. Think low-key, relaxing, mindful movements to soothing, slow jams.
Click below to sign up for the next session: Sunday, January 6, 2019.
What kind of music do you like to listen to in the winter? Let me know in the comments!