25 THINGS {BY SAYEH}! 19 Sep 2012

When perusing Mind Body to schedule my classes for the week, I always take a moment to marvel at Brooke Holloway's class lineups. Some mornings I see that she has 4 classes in a row, and they are the toughies like High Mini and Sleeveless and Tight End and Weightless all back to back! I couldn't take TWO of these classes back to back, let alone teach all of them in a row. So I'm thrilled that she's the subject of this week's 25 Things, and we get a little insight into the woman who seems to have superhuman stamina and love for Lithe.

1. I can be really quiet when I first meet people, which often leads to the assumption that I am standoffish. The truth is I am just a little shy and very socially awkward until I get to know someone--after which, I am still awkward; you just get used to it.
2. I am one of the clumsiest people you will ever meet. I often walk into walls, fall down stairs, and trip over my own feet. Fortunately, I have only fallen two or three times while teaching a class.
3. I've had quite a few awkward encounters with celebrities. Lithe instructor Melissa Weinberg would be excited to hear that one of them was Tony Danza.
4. Over the years, my hair has been platinum blonde, black, red, hot pink, super short, and long with microbraids. I haven't done anything crazy to it in the past six years or so though.
5. When I was three, I had a crush on Skeletor from He-Man. I guess I am genetically predisposed to being attracted to bad guys (a habit I can gladly say I have come to break in the past year).
6. I have an incredibly dark and inappropriate sense of humor...sometimes I am too liberal with it and don't realize until it's too late.
7. I have 31 first cousins (25 of whom are from my dad's side of the family)! Even though I don't get to see them all very often, it's always a ridiculously amazing time when we do get together.
8. I have one older brother, Brian. His wife, Kristin, also only has older brothers and I think that this is the reason we are able to have such a sisterly bond.
9. I had my son, Miles, about two months before I turned 19. I have very often been mistaken for his nanny. This used to really bother me, but as I get older I take it as a compliment.
10. I have a toe ring that has been stuck on my toe for nearly 14 years now. My toe has since grown around it and I'm afraid that, if I cut the ring off, my foot will look strange.
11. I have a completely irrational fear of flying, which is quite unfortunate since I travel pretty frequently.
12. I do not regret any major (or minor but memorable) decisions I have made in my life, even when at the time I was told I would come to do so. I trust the fact that I know what is best.
13. My boyfriend, Manuel, and I grew up in the same area of the Jersey shore. We have connections to the same people and used to hang out in some of the same places. However, we never met until a little over a year ago when we went out with two friends who have absolutely no connection to our lives in Jersey, or to any of the mutual acquaintances that we share. The more we got to know each other, the more we realized how closely connected our lives actually are (Lithe instructor Gerri Trooskin's husband has been working with Manuel for the past three years!).
14. I am a total foodie and would eat at a restaurant for every meal, every day if it wouldn't have an adverse effect on my health (and my wallet).
15. Manuel and I have a "Burger Bucket List" and are on a quest to find the best burger in Philadelphia. It was only recently that we realized it might be a good idea for us to just order one burger and split it, rather than both of us eating a whole one. I am always looking for recommendations **hint, hint**
16. I went to Moore College of Art and Design for undergrad. When I started, I thought I was going to go for fashion design. I ended up graduating with a degree in Two-Dimensional Fine Arts with a minor in Art History. Since graduating, I have been showing my work at Projects Gallery, in group shows in NYC, and various art fairs in the U.S., Canada, and London. Before Lithe, I was working for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program in one of their Art Ed programs, which provides art instruction to at-risk adolescents throughout the city.
17. I was supposed to be on Bravo's Work of Art, Season 2. I decided to go to the audition with a friend, though I had never even seen an episode from the first season and despise reality TV. Six months later, I was headed to L.A. to undergo the necessary psych evaluation and to sign the contract. Sitting in the Philadelphia International Airport, while the flight began to board, I realized that being on Bravo was the last thing I wanted. I went to the airport bar, ordered a beer, and let the plane leave without me. (see #12)
18. I still refer to myself and all of my friends as "girls", even though some of them are well into their thirties. I don't see this ever changing...even at 60.
19. In middle school, I was painfully embarrassed of my feet because my toes were long and awkward. I would hide them under the sand at the beach if there were any guys around. This may or may not have led to the toe ring.
20. I started cheerleading when I was five years old and continued throughout high school. I never thought that those years of practice would ever lead to a skill that would be applicable in my adult life -- until I became an instructor at Lithe.
21. I can be very forceful when it comes to making people try the foods I love and often get offended when someone refuses.
22. I went to an all-girls high school and an all-women college. Though I've never actually considered myself to be a girl's girl (probably because of the older brother thing), I seem to always find a way to surround myself with a tight-knit group of strong women. I was lucky to find this in Lithe Method after finishing undergrad.
23. I often break out into random fits of laughter, usually when I am walking alone through the city or sometimes in the middle of teaching at lithe. No, I'm not laughing at anyone or anything in the room, it's likely that I just can't seem to shake the thought of how I managed to embarrass myself once again at some point earlier that day.
24. Brooke is not my first name, it's my middle name. My mom decided to call me by my middle name because no one ever could get my first name right.
25. I fell in love with Lithe from the moment I took Immersion with Krista. I was blown away by her strength and by the fact that I could barely make it through the first set of lunges without my legs trembling. I was hooked! I'm happy to say that since that time, Lithe has been the catalyst for some major changes in my life and I couldn't be happier.

Okay, Brooke. I hope you are okay with the fact that I am now on a mission to get a load of your 15 year-old toe-ring situation. As a fellow sufferer of long-toe embarrassment, I feel your pain. To boot, I have giant toeNAILS. Yes. Giant. If I painted the big ones white, we could project a film onto them, and all watch it with relative ease. When I was younger, I would also hide my toes and would only get a French manicure on them, thinking that the white part would some how make my toenails look smaller. I've accepted it as I've gotten older, however, and just paint them in all kinds of bold colors without a second thought. It's funny to think of the things that made you so self-conscious growing up. It feels pretty great to realize none of it really matters, and to be able to walk down the street laughing to yourself about your foibles. Thanks so much for sharing!

Image of Lithe instructor, Brooke Holloway, her boyfriend Manuel and son Miles celebrating Brooke and Manuel's birthdays (they're 2 weeks apart) and Brooke in Lithe's Hotstepper dress via Dom

 

Comments

[Christina]

My friends and I are also on a burger tour of Philly. So far the best has been Village Whiskey. The least favorite, believe it or not, was Rouge! Check out this link - http://vstphl.ly/KSYCaY !!

[Sasha]

Brooke's classes are always killer! I loved reading this list, the toe ring story is rather hilarious. Also, I personally have not tried Village Whiskey, but I am a big fan of Good Dog's burgers!

[Laura]

I am obsessed with Sketch Burger's truffle butter with mushrooms burger. Amazing! Also…I need to see the toe ring! Lol.

[Lauren Boggi Goldenberg]

Brooke, I too had a toe ring on for 15 years! They had to remove at the hospital right before I had Mars. I still have an indentation from the ring.

[Anon]

Brooke is one of my favorite instructors. Her classes are always super challenging.

Long toe girls unite!

[Krista]

You are such an asset to Lithe! We are so lucky to have you! xoxo

[Vchin74]

For #15: Royal Tavern (Passyunk & 7th?) is an absolute must-try-at-least-once requirement.

[Kim S.]

Yeah Brooke! Love YOU and love reading about your 25 things ;) from the minute I met you in tryouts you were warm and inviting (I didn't think awkward at all!)....I laugh out loud thinking about all our practices when we first started and how funny we were! hahahaha :)

Are we revealing the actual first name?!

[Brooke]

Thanks for all of the kind words and burger suggestions, ladies!

Lauren - when I had Miles, I was certain that they'd end up cutting the toe ring off, but somehow it remained intact.

[Jeanette B]

I'm totally with you on #21 :)