October 2025 Edition
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
Member Spotlight – Meet Ryan Woodruff
Tell us about yourself and why Wembley is your second home!
I work in data and analytics leadership at a children’s hospital, although I actually started my career in healthcare as a bedside nurse. That early experience gave me a deep appreciation for healthcare and the people who deliver it, and it still shapes how I think about connecting data back to real patients and providers. Before that, I explored a few different paths, including time spent volunteering in the U.S. Peace Corps, living in both the Republic of Moldova and Georgia—experiences that taught me a lot about resilience, perspective, and the importance of community.
On a personal note, my wife, Kristin, and I moved here from Denver about three years ago. Her family lives in the Chagrin area, and after spending holidays here, we fell in love with the village and knew it was exactly where we wanted to raise our kids. We’re fortunate to be raising our two children, Elliotte (4) and Lincoln (2), right here in Chagrin Falls. Life is busy, but it’s the best kind of busy.
I’ve only been playing racquet sports for a little over two years, but I quickly fell in love with tennis—even if the passion has developed a little faster than the skill. Wembley has been the perfect place to learn, play, and connect. I love the mix of people and the energy of the club. I’ve even started captaining USTA teams and organizing community tennis meet-ups for singles and mixed doubles, which has been a fun way to stay involved.
Inspiration, Travels + Super Power!
At work, what motivates me most is connecting people with information that matters. It’s not just about building dashboards or crunching numbers—it’s about bringing meaning to data and using it to help providers make clinical decisions that impact real patients. I love being in a role where I can bridge the gap between data and care.
In tennis, I love the competition, but even more than that, I love the community. The sport is a great excuse to connect with others, and for me, the people always come first.
Kristin and I once backpacked around Thailand and Vietnam; Vietnam, in particular, was incredible. We’re huge foodies, so every stop turned into a culinary tour, and the flavors were unforgettable. Portugal is next up on the list, and we fully intend to eat our way through that trip, too.
My dream superpower would be this: every time I leave a room, everyone who was there is left with the unshakable feeling that I was effortlessly charming and said something hilarious—even if I actually did something deeply embarrassing or came off like a raving lunatic.
Join Ryan + Friends
For me, tennis has been more than just a form of exercise. It’s cardio, strategy, stress relief, and social connection all rolled into one. It’s also one of those rare sports you can pick up later in life and still get hooked on—it keeps you moving and keeps you humble.
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve also been helping build community through tennis by captaining teams and facilitating meet-ups. The goal is to get tennis back on the map and as popular as pickleball has become.
Currently, we’re running a Singles Fast4 format every second and fourth Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Matches are first to four games, no-ad scoring, with a one-point tiebreak played at 3–3 or 40–40—an easy, fun way to play quick matches. We’re also launching a monthly Mixed Doubles morning starting September 20, held every third Saturday from 8:00 to 9:30 AM. We chose this time specifically because Wembley’s daycare is open, which makes it easier for couples to play together—or for anyone with kids to join in who might not otherwise get the chance.
Depending on interest, more formats and events will follow—it’s always up for discussion, and I’d gladly welcome any help in facilitating or scaling these efforts.
These meet-ups are open to all, so if you’d like to be included on the distribution list for singles and mixed doubles, you can sign up here.
Member Spotlight – Meet Jill Frankfort
The Power Squat Queen
FUN FACT
I once had a Great Horned Owl imprint on me. He lived in my yard for 3 weeks and would follow me around, looking into the windows of each room I entered. It was time to call a wildlife rescue when he got a little too close while I was outside one day.
FAVORITE EXERCISE
My favorite type of exercise is full-body workouts that combine strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Within that, my favorite move is the squat. There are numerous variations on squats: you can do a narrow, wide, sumo, raised, bodyweight, or goblet… the possibilities are endless, making them accessible and beneficial for every body. In addition to the variety of types, incorporating squats into your workouts offers numerous benefits. Squats work your entire lower body, strengthening your glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves, engaging your core, and improving mobility in your hips, knees, and ankles. Working all of these areas sets you up for functional strength in everyday life by increasing strength, mobility, and balance. Want a cardio burst? Make it a jump squat! Just remember to concentrate on those soft landings.
You can find Jill on Mondays at 11:30 am, Tuesdays at 9:30 am, and Thursdays at 8:30 am teaching a deadly Power 45 class. Lots of squats, burpees, biceps, but also chaos and fun!
Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
SWEET POTATO ROUNDS
1 large sweet potato, sliced into 1/2 inch thick rounds
1 tablespoon avocado, coconut oil, or ghee
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
black pepper
SLOPPY JOES
1 1/2 pounds grass fed ground beef (option to use ground chicken or ground turkey instead)
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons avocado oil, coconut oil, or ghee
1 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoons coconut sugar (omit if you’re using coconut aminos or like a less sweet mix)
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons coconut aminos, Worcestershire sauce, or tamari
TO GARNISH
thinly sliced jalapeño
thinly sliced red onion
cilantro
Instructions
Toss sweet potato rounds with avocado oil, melted coconut oil, or melted ghee, sea salt, smoked paprika, and some black pepper. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tender and starting to brown.
While sweet potatoes are roasting make the sloppy joe mix.
In a large saute pan, heat oil of choice over medium high heat. Add ground beef, finely diced onion, and sea salt, and cook until onions are soft and ground beef is browned – about 6-7 minutes.
Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, coconut sugar, paprika, coconut aminos, and sea salt, and reduce heat to a simmer.
Simmer for about 12-14 minutes, until slightly thickened and color has darkened.
Taste and season with a little more salt if needed. Serve over the roasted sweet potato rounds topped with jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, and radishes.
Wellness Tips
Sync Your Caffeine with Your Body Clock
Most people grab coffee right after waking up, but cortisol (the alertness hormone) peaks 30–45 minutes after waking. Drinking caffeine too early can blunt its natural effects. Studies suggest waiting 60–90 minutes after waking for your first coffee gives you a steadier energy boost.
Try “Exercise Snacks” for Brain Health
Research shows that even 1–2 minutes of vigorous movement every 30–60 minutes (such as squats, brisk stair climbing, or jumping jacks) improves blood sugar regulation and boosts attention span. Think of them as “exercise snacks” sprinkled throughout your day.
Featured Work Out – Jill Frankfort
Sample 20 minute lower body squat workout
Work through each move for 40 seconds with a 20 second rest in between. Do this 3 times giving yourself a minute rest in between sets.
Wellness Tools
Ritual of Rest: A Mystical Key to Better Sleep by Vishali Gupta
In the wisdom traditions, it is said that massaging the soles of the feet with warm oil helps to settle the restlessness of the mind. By calming the nervous system and grounding the senses, it gently prepares the body for deep, restorative sleep.
Begin by washing your feet, rinsing away the weight of the day. Then massage the soles lightly with oil. Sesame oil is warming and grounding, coconut oil is cooling and soothing, and lavender oil calms the heart and mind. Choose whichever feels right for you. This touch awakens the energy channels (nadis) in the feet and balances the flow of the life force (prana) , throughout the body.
Lie down comfortably and set aside all distractions. Bring awareness to your breath as it flows in and out of the nostrils. With each cycle, allow the breath to lengthen naturally. Feel the belly rise and fall. This simple rhythm signals the body to shift into its natural state of rest.
If the mind begins to wander or ruminate, remember it often sees through a lens clouded by perception. Gently remind yourself: I can loosen my grip on these thoughts.
Allow thoughts to drift into the background. If they return, quietly say: let it be. Do the same with any sensations. Nothing needs fixing in this moment.
Give yourself full permission to rest. Trust the breath to carry you. Trust the body to know what to do. In this moment, everything is already whole.
May your body find ease, your mind find clarity, and your sleep be deep, healing, and restorative.
Vishali is a yoga instructor at The Wembley Club, Chagrin Falls. She also writes and dialogues for Insight Timer, The best meditation app with the world’s largest free library of more than 250k guided meditations.
Feeling stressed? Here's five ways to manage it better.
By: Dr Xand van Tulleken on BBC Online
As life picks back up after summer, many people feel stretched thin. While stress can sharpen focus in small amounts, too much harms health, mood, and relationships. Cortisol — the “stress hormone” — isn’t bad in itself; it helps with alertness and resilience. The key is balance, not elimination. Here are five science-backed strategies to keep stress in check.
