I HEART COSTA MESA

Karen Ellis: Costa Mesa’s Pilates Nerd

by Samantha Chagollan | Jan 17, 2020

Karen Ellis knows a lot about Pilates, but she pushes to keep learning more. In fact, she loves it so much you could call her a Pilates nerd. Karen has owned Prana Pilates on East 17th Street for almost 18 years. But her infatuation with Pilates started long before, when she was a dancer captivated by the strength and stability the practice brought her. “The first time I did Pilates, I really fell in love with it,” Karen says. “It was like, ‘where have you been all my life?’” Karen has a musical laugh, and a warm smile that instantly puts you at ease…

No Place Like Om: Home Yoga

by The Mesa Maven | Dec 19, 2019

Westside Costa Mesa has always been a dynamic part of town – but these days, it’s changing by the day. A new coffee shop, MoonGoat Coffee, recently opened. Semi Tropics Wines is in the works. Genuine Property Management just renovated a 5,000-square-foot warehouse off Placentia Ave. The hum of activity, and quickening pace of investment, runs like a soundtrack for the ‘West of Harbor’ set. Home Yoga OC – emphasis on ‘om’ – is part of this new life and livelihood infusing Westside Costa Mesa..

Take The Heat: Perspire Sauna Studio

by Samantha Chagollan | Dec 12, 2019

Surely you’ve heard that saying, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” But what if…you did sweat out the big stuff? Like toxins and stress, for example. As a fan of hot yoga, I’m no stranger to sweat. And I had heard of the benefits of infrared saunas before. But it sounded like something extra fancy that I’d have to go to Beverly Hills to try. Turns out you can turn up the infrared heat right here in town, at Perspire Sauna Studio. While they have grown to offer locations throughout the country, Perspire’s flagship location is right on the corner of 17th and Irvine in Eastside Costa Mesa…

Grant Broggi: The Strength Co.

by The Mesa Maven | Dec 6, 2019

On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa podcast: U.S. Marine, and former White House Intern, Grant Broggi, wants to whip all Costa Mesans into shape! Broggi is the founder and owner of The Strength Co. – a strength-training gym here, off Newport Blvd., based on the Starting Strength philosophy. We talk about Broggi’s time in the military, the importance of fitness, why strength-training is for everyone, why you definitely need a standing desk – and, of course, our mutual love of Costa Mesa. You’ll feel stronger just *listening* to this episode… check it out!

Thomas Curran: Moving On West

by The Mesa Maven | Nov 8, 2019

When Chef Thomas Curran’s much-hyped, Costa Mesa restaurant didn’t pan out, he found himself at a fork in life’s road. Fifty, spent, and yearning to rediscover meaning – after years “head down” in the restaurant industry – he was ripe for a change. So, he shuttered Taco Brat, boxed up his stuff, and flew to the East Coast to embark on a journey few would have the courage or fortitude to take: walk across the country…

Rockreation: Costa Mesa’s Social Climbers

by The Mesa Maven | Aug 22, 2019

Some people choose a career path, and spend their life pursuing it. But for others, the career chooses you. Take the case of 46-year-old Blaine Eastcott, owner of Rockreation Climbing Gym, off Logan Avenue in Costa Mesa. “For me, Rockreation was the summer job that never ended,” laughed Eastcott…

Leah Stewart: The LiveLife Movement

by The Mesa Maven | Apr 19, 2019

Leah Stewart wants you to move…. your body, that is! This Westside Costa Mesan is going all-in on wellness, movement, and getting people (especially women, especially moms,) into alignment at every level of their lives. In this episode, we go deep on the topic of Pilates. We also talk about juggling business with motherhood, her backyard chickens, and why “nobody wants to pee in their pants.” Stewart is the kind of bright, knowledgeable neighbor that makes the very best podcast guest…

Avanti: Best Feet Forward

by The Mesa Maven | Mar 18, 2019

There are few things in life more magical than people who have discovered their personal gift, and make expressing it their life’s purpose. It takes courage, conviction and a willingness to stand out from the crowd. Our city of Costa Mesa is a hotbed for this kind of magic, and the story of local studio, Avanti Dance Company, is the consummate “born talented, fully expressed” situation. This local gem doesn’t just shimmer, it shines.

Joey Lopez: Shreducate Academy

by The Mesa Maven | Mar 15, 2019

Episode 2, of Season 3, is here! We’ve got Joey Lopez, founder and owner of Shreducate Academy, on the podcast today. Lopez is at the forefront of school skateboarding leagues, kids’ sk8 lessons, and the movement to turn skating into a legit, internationally-recognized sport. We cover so much with Lopez, it’s hard to enumerate! He’s got big plans to make his mark on the skate world…

Jamie Reidling: Let Them Skate

by The Mesa Maven | Nov 23, 2018

Jamie Reidling is “OG Westside” – a musician, surfer, skater, dad, community organizer and hardcore Costa Mesa local – and he’s on a mission to bring a skatepark to Westside Costa Mesa! On this episode of the podcast we talk about what it was like coming up in Westside Costa Mesa “back in the day,” what he’s up to now, and why he thinks it’s totally ridiculous that Westside youth don’t have a skatepark of their own…

Karen Barloon: Eleven Years Running

by The Mesa Maven | Sep 14, 2018

Karen Barloon never meant to spearhead a yearly 5K / 10K race – heck, she doesn’t even run. But she cares deeply enough about kids and local schools to bring it all together (beautifully, we might add) anyway! Get the story on the 11-year running tradition that is the Costa Mesa Community Run…

The Full Spectra

by Samantha Chagollan | Aug 24, 2018

When you walk through the doors of Costa Mesa’s Spectra Yoga, there’s a little bit of palpable magic. And that’s the intention of studio owner Aileen Pham. “We are kind of a one-stop shop for your mind, body and soul,” Aileen says with a jovial wink and a smile.

Listen: “Coach Q: Everything Fitness”

by Mister Mesa | Jul 7, 2018

On this episode of the I Heart Costa Mesa Show, we’ve got a guest host: our very own Mister Mesa! He interviews local fitness coach, Quentin “Coach Q” Pullen. Coach Q is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and ex-bodybuilder who has been a fitness trainer in Costa Mesa for over two decades. In 2014, Coach Q was responsible for creating the PlayPen OC, a military-style obstacle course at the Newport-Mesa YMCA…

Raising the Barra

by The Mesa Maven | Nov 23, 2016

Costa Mesa is an active place. Maybe it’s the inviting weather, the health-conscious culture...

Biker Babes

by The Mesa Maven | Sep 15, 2016

A great way to better know your city is to “get lost” within it – find new routes home from work, drive through random neighborhoods and generally learn to take a tourist-eyed view of your very own town. With this sense of newness and discovery, even the most ordinary, Costa Mesa days can reveal extraordinary finds. This exercise is adventure is fun enough to do by car, but the experience is tenfold while tooling around on two wheels. There’s just something about cycling through our city that makes the whole experience “more than.” More real. More sensory. More neighborly. More active. More enjoyable. But if you’re feeling a little shy about getting in that saddle – maybe because you haven’t ridden in a while, feel too overweight for the endeavor, or never learned to ride at all – today’s featured Costa Mesans are here to tell you: anyone can (and should) cycle.