Blog: Community Feature for the Month of January
While sharing the goodness of Finally, Truly Healthy Chocolates®, our community has grown as clients have become friends.
This month we shine our spotlight on Mari Chirinashvili, Founder of Connect Pilates UAE, a passionate Pilates advocate, and a certified chocolover.
Curious to learn more about Mari, we asked her a few questions:
1. How and when did you first hear about Co Chocolat?
I started to look into my food choices back in 2019 and since that time I have been exploring healthy or healthier options of the food and treats. Chocolate was one of the hardest to find I think I came to know about Co Chocolat through my friend's Instagram, visited with my daughter and even though we could not participate in the tour ( as it was fully booked ) we heard part of the story of the brand and owners and I felt so connected to it and of course, the taste and the quality of the chocolate is just fantastic.
1. How and when did you first hear about Co Chocolat?
I started to look into my food choices back in 2019 and since that time I have been exploring healthy or healthier options of the food and treats. Chocolate was one of the hardest to find I think I came to know about Co Chocolat through my friend's Instagram, visited with my daughter and even though we could not participate in the tour ( as it was fully booked ) we heard part of the story of the brand and owners and I felt so connected to it and of course, the taste and the quality of the chocolate is just fantastic.
2. What inspired you to start Connect Pilates, and what was the journey like in the beginning?
My journey with Connect Pilates began through my own pain. I had been struggling with lower back pain for years after my second pregnancy and had tried countless ways to find relief, but nothing worked—until I found a Polestar Pilates teacher. I started moving more mindfully, and each positive movement experience made me fall in love with Pilates. I felt so inspired and I decided to bring Polestar Pilates Education to the region.
Connect Pilates Studio is an exclusive education provider for Polestar Pilates Education and is dedicated to working with people who want to create healthier and happier lives.
Connect Pilates Studio is an exclusive education provider for Polestar Pilates Education and is dedicated to working with people who want to create healthier and happier lives.
3. How would you describe Pilates to someone who has never tried it before?
Pilates is a full-body movement experience and at Connect we are dedicated to making it accessible for EVERYBODY. You don’t need to lose weight to start doing Pilates and you don’t need to wait to become more flexible to start doing that, we are absolutely inclusive space, where you will feel supported through your Pilates journey.
4. Any advice for our community of mindful chocoholics and those who haven’t explored Pilates before?
Move, move, move—movement is life! Find the type of movement you love and go for it!
If you've taken a long break from physical activities, started and stopped going to the gym multiple times, or feel like you're not ready for intense workouts, start with beginner Pilates classes. Build your foundation, and from there, you can progress to any level.
Pilates should be a positive movement experience. It shouldn't leave you feeling drained—it should uplift you! After a class, you'll leave with a great mood and lots of energy.
If you've taken a long break from physical activities, started and stopped going to the gym multiple times, or feel like you're not ready for intense workouts, start with beginner Pilates classes. Build your foundation, and from there, you can progress to any level.
Pilates should be a positive movement experience. It shouldn't leave you feeling drained—it should uplift you! After a class, you'll leave with a great mood and lots of energy.
5. Which Co Chocolat products do you love the most?
Depends on the season . During winter it’s hot chocolate 65%, and Traditional Mayan! I love mixing two blend as well to spice it up! During strawberry season I love the Gianduja, and my go to snack is the Post-Workout luvv bars!
Depends on the season . During winter it’s hot chocolate 65%, and Traditional Mayan! I love mixing two blend as well to spice it up! During strawberry season I love the Gianduja, and my go to snack is the Post-Workout luvv bars!
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Co Community Feature of the Month
What do they all have in common? The same values and love for honestly good chocolates while savoring wellness and health may it be physical or mental.
What do they all have in common? The same values and love for honestly good chocolates while savoring wellness and health may it be physical or mental.
Those fun encounters with our customers that started with chocolates and food eventually led to interesting, and inspiring conversations. We discovered their passions through these exchanges and with our community growing bigger and more diverse each day, we figured it would just be awesome if we can inspire more people with fun and interesting features about our friends in the Co Chocolat Community.
Could you be our next featured member?