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Archive for the ‘Nature and Stress’ Category

Plan a Getaway to Missouri’s Bull Shoals Lake in the Ozarks

Posted in Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , , on February 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

When its cold and nasty in the winter, it’s a good time to sit back and think about potential getaways for later in the year. One place to get away from it is all is in Bull Shoals Lake, Missouri. The photos I am posting don’t do it justice. But if you are tired of Chicago Winter, take a few minutes and think about swimming in a large clean lake, hiking in Missouri Ozarks or just looking at some pics of something other than cold ice rain!

Bull,Shoals Lake, MO. Photo by J. Porys Photography.

Bull,Shoals Lake, MO. Photo by J. Porys Photography.

For more info on the lake, its history and more, visit this link.

Plan a few lazy days on a boat or shore of Bull Shoals lake, MO

Plan a few lazy days on a boat or shore of Bull Shoals lake, MO. Photo by J. Porys Photography.

Check out this page for a map of Bull Shoal Lake to see how large it is and all the many laces you can boat, swim and explore!

Peace and quiet at Bull Shoals Lake, MO. Photo by J. Porys Photography.

Peace and quiet at Bull Shoals Lake, MO. Photo by J. Porys Photography.

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More Maui Relaxation Photos to Relax Your Mind

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , on April 1, 2012| 2 Comments »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

These past few weeks have been intensely busy for me and I haven’t had time to share my amazingly insightful thoughts about fitness, nutrition, relaxation and wellness with you. I do have some good posts coming up, but in the meantime, enjoy some of the scenic pics we took while in Maui’s Haleakula Crator in January. Even if you have never been to Maui, just looking at these pics can help calm you down, make you plan your own next vacation getaway and let you take your mind off work!

 

The natural beauty of Haleakula Crator, Maui, 2012. Image by Sue Shekut.

 

Another peaceful, breathtaking view of Haleakula Crator, Maui, 2012. Image by Sue Shekut

 

What is it about clouds that is so relaxing! Image by Sue Shekut

 

Vegetation on Haleakula Crator, Maui, is so colorful and varied! Image by Sue Shekut

View of the other side of Haleakula Crator, Maui. Image by Sue Shekut

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California Weather Comes to Tinley Forest Perserve Near Chicago in March, 2012!

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , on March 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Everyone in Chicago is remarking how unusually warm the weather is this march. We are experiencing 80 degree F  days and sun, sun, sun. Not your usually March fare for us Northerners. But this Sunday. my man and I took advantage of the lovely weather and grabbed our bikes for our first bike ride of the season…at Tinley Creek Forest Preserves. Tinley Creek has a paved bike trail and the Red loop is about 9 miles. You can add a route to other nearby Forest Preserves for a longer ride or you can bike a portion of the loop for a shorter ride if you need to.

We did the full loop and my odometer showed we did a reasonably long ride for our maiden voyage: 10.88 miles. Not bad and  nice way to warm up the body after the winter!

BMX biking at Tinley Creek Forest Preserves. Image by J. Porys.

The Red loop was our bike trail. About 9 miles for the entire loop at Tinley Creek Forest Preserves. Image by J. Porys.

The wind in my hair, the path is clear, I take my first ride of the year at Tinley Creek! Image by J. Porys.

Buds on the trees, a slow moving stream, green grass growing tall and proud. It feels like California, but it's Chicago in March! Image by J. Porys.

Tinley's bike trail crosses a few sturdy bridge, I slant into the curves of the path. Image by J. Porys.

Clear blue skies with a hint of clouds in Tinley gives us a scenic ride. Image by Sue Shekut.

I hope off my bike to take more pics! (and let my glut muscles catch a break from the bike seat!) My photographer boyfriend does his best to capture the scene form his angle. Image by Sue Shekut.

As the sun sets, it sends shards of light into this forest, making it look almost haunted! Image by Sue Shekut.

Total Miles biked = 10.88 by the time we reached our car. Image by Sue Shekut

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Frozen Waterfalls the Only Sign of Winter at Starved Rock This February

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , , on February 26, 2012| 2 Comments »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Last Sunday my man and I went to Starved Rock State Park near Ottawa, IL for a much-needed bit of fresh air, exercise and time in nature. We hiked the Illinois Canyon (Starved Rock has many canyons and this one is the deepest so it allows for much exploring!) on Sunday and saw a few hardy folks with their dogs and walking sticks. Some families treated their bundled up children to the wonders of this canyon along with us.

Since it’s been a mild winter, the ground was fairly muddy and the entire area looked ready for Spring. Yet, it’s only mid February so there are still frozen waterfalls and other cold sights to behold. I am posting a short video of water droplets falling from one of the more intricate waterfalls and some pics of the great outdoors. Check it out yourself before the actual spring comes and the frozen water turns the mud into a much stickier mess. For a map and Directions to Starved Rock click here.

Frozen waterfall at Illinois Canyon of Starved Rock State Park, IL. Image by Sue Shekut.

My hiking poles came in handy as we crossed this stream! Image by Sue Shekut

My favorite waterfall and pool in Illinois Canyon, Starved Rock, IL. Image by Sue Shekut.

Although its February in Illinois, this looks a lot like Spring in Maui. Image by Sue Shekut

My photographer boyfriend illustrates how high the walls of the canyon are. It doesn’t feel like we are This doesn’t look like Illinois at all. And to think, this area was once likely ocean! Image by Sue Shekut

A trio of collie dogs shared the waterfall with us. Image by Sue Shekut.

Crossing the streams of Illinois Canyon requires agility and great balance–or you get wet! Image by Sue Shekut.

Outside of the state park near Ottawa, we saw this car and wondered how what distracted the driver enough to miss the road–and dry land–so entirely! Image by Sue Shekut

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Get ready for Adventure Chicago at The Adventure Travel Show 1-28-12 to 1-29-12

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , on January 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

People ask me, “Sue where did you hear about all these great adventure travel locations?” One way is through my clients of course! Another way is from the Annual Adventure Travel Show that will be at The Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont this weekend (January 28 and 29).

Tickets are only $15 and the vent is well worth the price of admission. (Only $7 if you book online!)

Here is what you can expect (from their website):

• Interact and comparison shop with hundreds of destination travel experts and tour operators representing thousands of vacation options all under one roof.
• Take advantage of free scuba lessons from a certified diving instructor.  Wetsuits, masks, air tanks – even hairdryers – are provided. Visitors 10 and older can dive into the 4-feet-deep, 18,000- gallon scuba pool and even play with an underwater scooter and MP3 Players. Bring your swimsuit and you are ready to go!

• Wake up your senses at the Fiery Foods Stage! Experiencing a destination’s cuisine is a big part of every travel experience you have, so we’ve developed a stage that showcases unique flavors from around the world – with a twist (and a little heat)!

• Photo Clinic–Travel photographer and author Ralph Velasco will be
offering a Photo Clinic at the Calumet Photographic Booth 1006

Saturday, January 28 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Sunday, January 29 11:00am – 12:00pm

He’ll be discussing his best travel gear tips and recommendations for anyone interested in embarking on a trip that has photography at its core. Ralph will also be available for small group and one-on-one questions during this time. Bring your camera!

 

For more info on parking, directions and more click here.

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Visual Delights from Maui, Hawaii to Palos Forest Preserve, in Chicago Area of Illinois

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , on January 17, 2012| 2 Comments »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Two weeks ago we ventured to Maui for a week of fitness and photography. Then this weekend, we headed out to the cool crisp air of Palos Forest Preserves for some winter hiking in the new fallen snow. It’s surreal to go from green mountains and blue oceans to white snow and brown branches. Both are visually striking in their own way.  Enjoy the pics from both trips below. Hopefully viewing them will either relax you, inspire you to get outdoors yourself, or just give your mind a break from staring at words or numbers on the computer screen!

Ocean waves mimic deep breathing...or is it vice versa. Image by J. Porys.

Palm trees and vibrant colored flowers are Maui standards. This photo was taken in front of a church. Image by J. Porys.

Driving up towards Haleakala Crater is like driving off the Earth into the sky.

The Road up to Haleakala Crater, Maui. Image by Sue Shekut

Hiking into the Crater we were enchanted by the floating mist as it rolled over the hills, wrapping itself around bushes, rocks and two young men with a jambox playing “I Shot the Sheriff,” reggae style, that passed us earlier in our hike. They were hiking the whole 27-mile path from one side of the Crater to the other side of the National park on the Hana side of the island.

Side of Haleakala Crator interier. Image by Sue Shekut

Of all the beautiful places in Maui, this was one view I could not get enough of! At this point were getting a little altitude sickness so we did not venture beyond this 8000 mile high vista. The actual crater goes up to 10,000 feet above sea level. But even at this altitude, we were able to fill our eyes with great natural beauty to savor for months and years to come!

Haleakala Crater, Maui. Image by Sue Shekut

But Maui isn’t all mountains and fog!

I love these trees and all the green! Image by Sue Shekut

Asian gardens in Iao Valley, Maui. Image by Sue Shekut

And of course, what is a Hawaiian adventure without the underwater sea explorations!

An underwater adventure starts....with big mounds of coral! Image by J Porys.

Maui Immersed. Image by J Porys.

Tied of Maui pics? It’s time to see the raw visual delights of a Northern Winter in Palos Forest Preserves.

Bare trees in Winter in the Chicago area have their own beauty. A stark contrast from the ocean. Image by Sue Shekut

The air was cold but clear and fresh this weekend. The sunlight in Palos casts its own warm glow through the trees.

Palos sunset in Chicagoland. Image by Sue Shekut

If you are really quiet and listen, you may be able to coax a dear to come nearby…or hear the a squirrel chattering up a tree.

This old tree has a lot of stories to tell...Image by Sue Shekut

Palos Forest Preserves are hikeable and mountain-bikeable year round!

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Rest and Relax With Ted Stark’s Nature Photo’s

Posted in Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, Stress Management, tagged , , , , on August 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Recently I gained  a new Twitter follower, Ted Stark. Ted likely found me via one of my many posts about hiking in nature (with pics included). I checked out Ted’s website, and was visually inspired. Ted’s nature photos make me want to travel and see first-hand the many beautiful sights he captures in his pics. Ted also take great pics of wildlife and urban scenes, but it’s his nature photos that move me the most. To go to Ted’s Website and photo gallery, click on this link.

Ted Stark, photographer

For those of us that live and work in an urban environment, simply looking at photo of a restful nature scene can help relax us for a moment.  Nature pics take us out of our fast paced multitasking mode and give our eyes and minds something to focus on.

Check out Ted’s photos and see for yourself if you are moved or inspired. It’s more likely to relax you than a game of Angry Birds. 🙂



Who is Ted Stark and Why is He So Wild About Wildlife Photos?
From his website: Theodore A. Stark is a Colorado native and an avid nature, wildlife, and architectural photographer. He also does limited portraiture work, focusing in the candid style. Stark is a graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in Management Information Systems. He and his wife, Erin, currently live in Centennial, Colorado.

Stark has been involved with photography since 2001 when he experienced a life changing event that, literally, changed his perspective on the world around. Add to that Stark is a Type I Diabetic and, as he puts it, “… I am aware that I very well may lose my vision at some point, so I should share what I can see while I still can.”

Find Ted’s tweets on Twitter here. And, if you are so moved by his work that you must have some for yourself, he does sell calendars, prints and books of his photography here.

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Chicago Urban Adventurers, Venture Out to Naperville’s Riverwalk

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , on July 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Saturday night my man and I wanted to go for a walk. We decided to forgo an urban hike and went on a “mini-vacation” to fabulous downtown Naperville and strolled along the Riverwalk.

Map of Naperville Riverwalk and park system. Image by J. Porys.

With the recent rain, the river itself had flooded. The walking path down along the river was covered in high water.

Naperville Riverwalk at night in high waters. Image by J. Porys.

No matter, we walked along the upper portion of the Riverwalk and enjoyed the cool-ish breezes from the river and the trees and relative safety of the ‘burbs. It was peaceful, fairly uncrowded and beautiful even in the dark of the night.

Naperville Riverwalk at night, 7-23-11. Image by J. Porys.

For a link to info about the Riverwalk, including its history (built in 1981) and directions on how to get there, click here. For an artistic rendering virtual tour of the Riverwalk, click here.

Naperville Riverwalk in low waters and daylight. Image from http://www.napervillesdining.com/photo/Naperville-IL/riverwalk-naperville-water

Now, for those that live in Naperville, you may think, Sue, how can you live in Chicago and not know how wonderful our city is? As a long time city dweller, I admit my lack of suburban experience is evident. In venturing out of the city to explore new parks and forest preserves, I’ve come to appreciate what the areas surrounding the city of Chicago have to offer: Peace and quiet, lots more space and open areas, lovely parks and a nice change of pace from the hustle bustle of city life.  And shock of all shocks to us big city dwellers, Naperville has clean, safe, parking garages that offer FREE parking in the downtown district.

And Naperville has another big gem to explore in the daytime: Centennial Beach. But that’s the subject of yet another blog post! More on Naperville’s Riverwalk here from the Naperville blog.

Address of Naperville Riverwalk:

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Celebrate Summer at Blackwell Forest Preserve

Posted in Fitness, Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , on July 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

We took a nice long hike this past weekend at Blackwell Forest Preserve. Although it was hot, we were able to hike along meadows, in the coolness of a few forests and along Silver Lake and the McKee Marsh.

Map of Southern section of Blackwell Forest Preserve. image by J. Porys.

Map of Northern section of Blackwell Forest Preserve. Image by J.Porys.

According to the DuPage Forest Preserve Site: The Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville is located on land that the retreating Wisconsin Glacier shaped 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. The glacier’s meltwaters left behind much of the soil that covers DuPage County today. After the glacier’s retreat, savannas with widely spaced oak trees formed on the higher ground while the lower-lying ground became home to marsh and prairie plants.

McKee Marsh. Image by Sue Shekut.

And we found out that the 13,000-year-old skeletal remains of a wooly mammoth were found within the marsh area many years ago.

Woolley Mammoth remains found in Blackwell Forest Preserve area. Image by Sue Shekut.

Blackwell offers boats for rent and has many campgrounds of Youth activities and family camping and picnicking events.

Rent a boat at Silver Lake in Blackwell and enjoy the day! Image by Sue Shekut.

You can rent canoes, kayaks and rowboats for use on Silver Lake by the hour or the day at Blackwell’s boat-rental area.  Oars, paddles and personal flotation devices are provided for rentals only and cannot be rented separately for use in private watercraft.

The boat-rental area is open weekends from the beginning of April through the end of September from 8 a.m. until sunset. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, it is also open Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. until sunset.

Boats for rent in Silver Lake in Blackwell. Image by Sue Shekut.

There is no swimming allowed in Silver Lake though and I wouldn’t want to swim in it.

The fish can swim all they want but not us humans in Silver Lake! Image by Sue Shekut.

It’s too full of algae!

Future biodiesel source in Silver Lake? Image by J. Porys.

Still the cool lake water did provide us with some relief from the heat. Any many happy boaters paddled along the still lake waters the day we hiked there.

Silver Lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve. Image by Sue Shekut.

It’s OK to fish in Silver Lake where you can catch bluegill, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye.

Fishing at Silver Lake. Image by Sue Shekut.

After Hiking a few miles in the hot sun, the forest provided welcome cool relief! Image by Sue Shekut.

Blackwell Forests offer a visual cornicopiia of colorful berries! Image by J. Porys.

As the sun began to set, Silver Lake became Mirror Lake in Blackwell. Image by Sue Shekut.

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What Do Flowers Do For You?

Posted in Health and Wellness, Nature and Stress, tagged , , , , on July 11, 2011| 1 Comment »

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

Image by Sue Shekut

Flowers make me feel better,  more relaxed and give my overworked mind a rest from planning, analyzing and overall thinking. I send flowers at times to say I am thinking of you to those recovering from illness or for holidays and birthdays. My garden has some very pretty flowers and I can tend to them for a nature fix every day!

Tell me, what do flowers do for you? How do they make you feel?

For an article on the Therapeutic Effect of Flowers, click here.

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