Magic Spotlight: Lauren Chiarello Mika
Here on the Little Scraps of Magic Blog, I like to spotlight special mamas & thought leaders who will inspire you, motivate you, & help you realize you’re not alone on this motherhood journey.
Meet Lauren, founder of Chi Chi Life— I met her at the first digital event for mamas that I ever led, and instantly was attracted to her amazing spirit and energy. She taught free fitness classes via Instagram Live for some time, and after participating, I knew I had to have her lead a class for the mamas of LSOM.
Read on for an interview with Lauren, and scroll down for her bio, website, and Instagram handle!
She now offers Pilates Fusion classes on Zoom for $10/class.You can get your first class FREE with code FRIENDSOFCHICHI!
All classes are free for those in the cancer community.
Photo Credit: @dianadaviscreative
Lauren, you’ve beat cancer twice-- can you explain how those experiences impacted your appreciation for your body and what it’s capable of?
There were days I literally couldn’t get out of bed. When taking a shower was the victory for the day. I learned to be kind to myself -- and patient. When I was recovering, I slowly gained my strength back. I knew I had to incorporate the patience I learned during treatment into finding my new rhythm for exercise. The human body is resilient. It is our home. We only get one body, one life. We must be good to it!
We only get one body, one life. We must be good to it!
Six months ago, you became a mama to two twin boys, Jacob & Vincent, but the road wasn’t easy. You were faced with infertility at the age of twenty three after your first cancer diagnosis and then you had an ectopic pregnancy resulting in one of your fallopian tubes being removed. What was it like to discover you were pregnant with twins after all that? Any words to share with hopeful mothers and women who struggle with infertility?
There was such a small chance that we could conceive naturally, so we were truly stunned + nervous -- and also thrilled! We were hoping to have two children -- and poof! There we were, instant full family. I was so excited because I heard the twin bond is something so special. And now we get to experience it. They’re our little loves.
The struggle with infertility is often a silent one. I tried to be as open as possible in the hopes to help others feel less alone. If you are still on your journey to parenthood, I’d say this: try to stay in the present moment as much as possible. And educate yourself! I read Making Babies which was super helpful.
Your miracle babies came into this world, but it wasn’t long before Jacob started experiencing some major health issues, sending him back to the hospital. Thankfully, he’s been back home with you for a while now and is getting stronger all the time (hooray!). Can you share what got you through that impossibly tough time of going back and forth between your two babies (home and the hospital), all while your own body was recovering too? What are the best ways friends and family can support someone who may be going through a similar situation?
I literally took one day at a time and asked for help. It was a truly challenging + traumatic start to motherhood. Friends and family who dropped meals off, sending kind notes / texts truly lifted our spirits. The power of community is invaluable.
Do you have any advice for moms who are thinking about starting something new-- whether it’s a business, a workout routine...or really anything different and outside their comfort zones?
Ask for advice! Try to find someone who has been there before. Do research. And most importantly, just start. Don’t wait until everything is perfect -- simply begin.
Don’t wait until everything is perfect -- simply begin.
This quarantine has forced many people to pivot or adjust their businesses-- how have you felt about the switch to virtual classes and events?
It’s exciting that people from all over the world can take class! And I can reconnect with former students who moved out of New York City. I appreciate the convenience of it all -- I just hit a button + start teaching. Also, I recently started teaching one class per week in person (on my front lawn with mindful social distancing!) + it’s been so wonderful. I truly missed experiencing everyone’s energy + effort.
Lauren Chiarello Mika is the founder of NYC/CT-based Chi Chi Life -- which melds Lauren's passions: fitness, corporate wellness, fundraising + events + cancer advocacy. A graduate from Villanova University, Lauren loves to bring sunshine, positive energy + smiles to everything she does. Lauren is also a Cancer Exercise Trainer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. Most recently, she's a new mama to six month identical twin boys, Vincent + Jacob.