s
48 - Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
.,
Summertime
self-expression
D uring this 2012 heat- to eplore their day-drinking
wave, the sun has possibilities as the premature
peeked its head out far summer weather makes most
enough to royally disturb the life feel somehow off the hook. My
of plants and animals, but days feelings on the subject are rather
have become neutral.
much live- From a sardonic English-major
lier for human standpoint, the porch/front-
Ann Arborites lawn area symbolizes a midpoint
- porches and between security and insecurity.
front lawns It's positioned openly to the
transform street but remains attached to the
into the most firmly rooted home that is typi-
inhabited tally a space prized for its safety.
parts of all JIA In real-person speak, it's cur-
homes. Spring SMITH- rently trendy to be hanging out
came early EPPSTEINER on the porch because you can and
this year, and because you look relaxed (and
we're all re- usually you are). Finally, it's the
realizingthat we do in fact have finest spot to try out fresh fash-
neighbors - not just walking, ions of which you maybe unsure.
talking North Face fluff balls that In terms of the most obvi-
sleep in the box over. We remem- ous form of style - what you
ber that fashion exists, ice cubes wear - the inaugural weeks of
make drinks tastier, Frisbee is warmth accentuate folks' choices
much harder than it looks and we in threads, walking-wear, shades
are actually happy. and every other germ of external-
June in March: displeased izing our person. In the last days
sharecroppers, pleased students. of March this year, a generous
We gain the right to stare at amount of hair braiding, mint-
people as they walk by, stumble colored everything, sports caps,
by, bike by, throw a football by ... highly saturated denim short
but there is this odd dichotomy shorts and canvas backpacks have
going on. We are all together come out to play. As long as the
in the sunshine in our minimal hair-feather fad remains buried,
clothing, listeningto upbeat jams, I'm content.
but we're isolated on rectangular
plots, observing one another from
a place of privacy - private prop- POrches are the
erty, that is.P
It's like each home is its own a r
animal exhibit at the zoo. pl e r o
Despite this social foible, the to present their
porch is a wonderful venue for
showing off your latest trends personalstyle.
with a sense of comfort and confi-
dence derived from being at your
home with your friends. Butthe
outside world is still able to eye The power of the porch to
your latest harem pants, eyelash- let these fads out seems to be
tinting job, laptop stickers and somewhat specific to the Univer-
smoothie blend made of Farmers sity because many other college
Market kale and beets. I mean, towns do not have such a high
#YOLO, right? #GBGH? "It tastes population of students living
great, I promise!" in homes, and most Ann Arbor
Hammocks, lawn chairs, residences represent a historic,
roofs, towels and the steps are farmhouse architectural style
all superb locations for flaunting that includes porches. The porch
purposes. If you desire passers- is a torch that lights the way to
by hear the sunny electronic trendiness. Do you see what I did
indie-pop magic that is "Closer there? I rhymed. It's not trendy,
Than This" by St. Lucia, there's don't do it.
no better settingthan street-side Send out positive thoughts
to share your taste. If you've got for those whose income depends
a Cabo-induced tan to share with upon agriculture, but then con-
the world before it's faded by the tinue to soak in that unexpected
classroom, your sorority house Vitamin D and the ability to
rooftop or lawn is superlative. If transport ourselves via bikes,
you care to share your hula-hoop-. skateboards and rollerblades.
ing/cigarette smoking multitask- Beyond that, revel in your flip-
ing skills, then your co-op's porch flops, naturally highlighted hair
is idyllic, and porch/front-lawn experience,
Conclusion: The porch which all facilitate your self-
front-lawn Space truly works as expression like a oss.
a trendy outlet for all cultures
within college campuses. And Smith-Eppsteiner is rocking
I've forgotten to mention that it is the porch recliner. To rock it too,
also the perfect place for students e-mail julialixs umich.edu.
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-.5D - U
A 2 gymmixes art, fitness
Sparrow Gym
makes the workout
personal, dynamic
By CHLOE STACHOWIAK
Daily Music Editor
Most people don't go to the
gym for the decorations. They
don't shell out money to be sur-
rounded by the turquoise, glassy
glow of aquariums or to hoist
dumbbells into the air next to
mint-green walls and the black-
and-white photos that adorn
them. A gym's interior is noth-
ing more than the backdrop to
its members' workouts - unless,
of course, those bicep curls and
squat thrusts are taking place
inside the colorful walls of Spar-
row Gym. For members here, the
gym isn't simply a place to pump
iron, but a place to feel inspired.
It's a haven where art, person-
ality and a love of fitness come
together in a single space.
Tucked away in the corner
of Sparrow Market, it's clear
that this Kerrytown gym is
going to stand out from others
the moment you walk past the
meat counter and onto its creaky
hardwood floors. Tom Petty
and Beyoncd hits blast from the
speakers. Movie and music post-
ers stare down at equipment
from boldly colored walls. Even
the unconventional floor plan
begs for a double-take - a junc-
tion of small, equipment-lined
rooms hidden from the view of
the entrance. It's not your typi-
cal, overly sterile gym. There isn't
a single advertisement for protein
supplements hanging onthe wall,
and rows of identical cardio and
weight machines are nowhere
to be found. But for Josh John-
son, the gym's founder and main
trainer, the offbeat fitness center
is exactly how it should be.
"You see alot of places look the
same when you go to the gym," he
said. "It can be intimidating and
overwhelming when people see a
bunch of equipment. I wanted to
create an atmosphere where peo-
ple wanted to walk in every day."
The gym is striking on an aes-
thetic level - bright hues wash
each wall and clusters of photos
cover nearly every inch - but the
purpose behind Sparrow's deco-
rations isn't just paint-deep.
"I think the art is something
that makes people not think
about what they're doing," he
said. "If you're doing an exercise
and you think it sucks, and you
look over and see a picture of
Marilyn Monroe doing the bench
press, you probably won't think
Sparrow Gym was founded six years ago and is located in Kerryotwn's Sparrow Market.
about that exercise. Instead,
you'll just think it's an amazing
photo. You're' kind of making
people forget about where they
are."
Opened by Johnson and Spar-
row Market owner Bob Sparrow,
the Sparrow Gym has only been
in operation for six years, but
it has already made a name for
itself as a business and quasi-art
showcase. It houses pictures of
everything from Muhammad Ali
to the University Hospital stairs,
and has a membership at nearly
full capacity to boot. It's a color-
ful success storyfor such a young
fitness center, especially since it
was born out of an idea the two
had when they were working out
together.
"I was just getting out of grad
school, and I was looking for
a job in some kind of financial
position," Johnson said. "I had
been working out since I was 17,
but it was something I never saw
myself doing professionally in the
future. But helping people feel
good about themselves - that's
what made me think doing this
would actually be an option."
Transforming the gym space
- and his customers' experi-
ences there - didn't stop when
Johnson first designed the gym,
though. He is constantly updat-
ing the gym's interior, with paint
jobs occurring almost monthly
along with frequent changes in
pictures and wall art. While the
endless makeovers might pose a
tedious challenge for some, John-
son's interest in art and photog-
raphy keeps the design process
as fresh as the end product. Some
of the pictures hanging are given
to him by clients, but the rest are
taken and printed by the trainer
himself. a workout for you thatday," Kant-
"I try to snap a picture when- ers said. "He recognizes if you're
ever I'm working out outside in a show or notfeeling that great.
and a shot really stands out," he He pushes, he always pushes, but
said. "I like to throw people off you're comfortable with him."
by hanging something beautiful For Johnson, maintaining this
and artistic that still has a fitness level of personalization means
edge. I want to show them beauti- creating specific workout plans
ful places in Ann Arbor that they for more than 140 people per
didn't even know existed and day. He and the other trainers
encourage them to get out and also keep in constant touch with
aboutto see them." their trainees, even if that means
This attentiveness to the atmo- picking up the phone and sending
sphere doesn't go unnoticed by messages directly.
Johnson's clients. For School of "The communication here is
Music, Theatre & Dance senior awesome," Golliday said. "You
Melissa Golliday and junior Zoe might get a text message from a
Kanters, these artistic touches trainer that says, 'Hey, are you
keep their workouts from becom- working today?' or, if you haven't
ing monotonous while still feel- been to the gym in a while,
ing relaxed. 'Where are you?' That's a huge
"It's a great environment," motivator."
Kanters said. "He definitely cre- It isn't easyto keep this level of
ates a space where you can make connection between trainers and
it your own." clients. Johnson is no stranger to
, Added Golliday: "He lets 15-hour workdays, shifts spent
everyone put a splash of color on bustling about Sparrow while
the wall if they want to, and that's offering friendly words and
really somethingthat appealed to detailed exercise instructions to
me when I saw people I knew on the members training there. He
his wall." also requires newcomers to get
"I was like, 'Oh, ok, this is a referrals from friends who are
good, safe place to be where I'm members before they're admit-
going to feel comfortable.'" ted, a way for him to maintain the
Still, it's the personalization , atmosphere in the gym. It's a lot
of the workouts themselves that of fuss for a man who also trains
really stands out to Sparrow cus- Olympic swimmers on the side,
tomers. Unlike traditional gyms, but when you factor in the sense
which can force clients to fend for of community and personal com-
themselves in a dizzying array of fort his efforts create for clients,
fitness equipment, the trainers maybe the fuss is worth it.
at the Sparrow offer each per- "We're artists, and Josh knows
son their own workout plan. This that," Kanters said. "We need
custom list of exercises is often workouts that cater to our breath,
created on the spot, based on that cater to our flexibility and
members' specific fitness levels, stamina. They're really good
goals or even moods when they at understanding what people
walk through the door. need, and that's what makes the
"Josh is reallygood at creating Sparrow Gym so unique."
Josh Johnson, a co-founder and the head trainer, infuses the facility with his passion for photography to keep the clients' minds off their workout.
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Undergraduate Program in
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PPE
Deadline is March 30, Visit
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