Music can be that extra motivational push you need! Music not only has true motivational qualities, but experts say it can make you work harder.
Read moreSome of My Favorite Reads and The Little Changes they have Inspired:
I love to read and try new things. In the past I have had a little bit of a compulsiveness when it comes to finding new books I love. I find them, read them, and do everything they say and buy everything they suggest. That behavior has lead to spending a lot of time doing things I don't quite like and owning piles of things I probably don't use. So, this is yet another area in my life I am trying to find balance and good judgement. Trying to balance learning new things with doing new things that fit my lifestyle and actually work for me, and steering clear of the quick fixes I used to be attracted to. Here is my list of what I am reading and loving right now.
Read moreWhat Is The Ideal Exercise?
I get asked this question all of the time... My answer is, “barre, obviously..." No, but in all seriousness, I do feel that the type of barre classes I teach do come pretty close to hitting the three key components of fitness that I believe are necessary to being fit and healthy. The goal is also to keep people healthy in order to complete every day activities: Cardiovascular health, resistance training and flexibility. How you combine these three components may vary depending on your health and fitness goals, the time you have, and the intensity at which you workout. So after being asked this question “what is the best workout,” I decided to do more research to support my answer that barre comes pretty close. We all are always looking to find the "perfect workout” that helps us reach our goals as fast as possible. It is important in this quest that we think about how we can be exercising as “smartly” and effectively as possible, as well as staying in that balance between over-exercising and what is good for our bodies. For example, for runners, a recent finding published in an article in the Journal of Physiology showed that just three 30 minute sessions of SIT (spring interval training) were as effective as five hours worth of steady-state exercise. That is a huge time saver! However, the study also shows that doing too much SIT and too intensely, becoming over demanding on your body, can actually slow your progress. So finding the balance is key, and determining that balance can take some time - which requires the ability to pay attention to your body. My gauge for myself, is post workout. I want to feel challenged, but still energized and not depleted, and eventually want to see results (sooner rather than later). If you have a workout that you love, but seems to wipe you out, look for ways to cut down the intensity and duration, or reduce the number of times per week you do it.
Read moreKeeping Energy and Motivation up With Crystals:
Happy New Year! I wanted to share a unique tip to help keep you motivated toward reaching your New Year goals....Crystals. Crystals have been used throughout history for their healing and energy capabilities and were considered sacred in many ancient civilizations. It would take the span of many books to cover crystals, the hundreds of different types, and their many uses, roles in traditions and rituals, place in healing and meditations, history, and the many different beliefs that surround their “powers,” so for simplicity I am just going to share a few of my favorites types (specifically the ones that just may help support new goals for 2016). Wearing or carrying crystals is a very simple tool for adding a little positive boost to your energy and motivation! I have had quite a few impactful experiences with crystals and now they are always around me. In the years since incorporating them into my life, I seem to continually meet many new “crystal people” and healers, and it is so fascinating what I have learned from them, specifically how differently people’s reactions can be to different stones. For example, some people will feel a heat, others will feel a coolness, vibrations, exaggerated heaviness, etc.. I even met a woman from New Zealand whose crystals shattered after they were done “doing their job” of removing negative energies. Many healers claim the crystals choose you, not the other way around. There is even a crystal for increasing fertility, like the chrysanthemum crystal (I have given this one to so many of my friends trying to get pregnant. Warning: So far, all have had babies). I have also heard this many times, crystals seem to have a way of disappearing or moving on to other people that need them.
Read moreDecember is the New January ... Why Wait
This year I am going to start in December! As of today, I am starting my plan to take it to that next level now instead of waiting for January 1st. I want to start 2015 already in-progress. For me, health and fitness these past six months (post-surgery) have been pretty up and down. I had to take some “time off” because of recovering and some health issues and have since let myself use “recovering” as excuses to let myselfease up on the routines that I know make me feel my best, eg. keeping a regular exercise schedule, trying new things here and there (which I love to do), and eating the ways that make me feel my best.
Read moreIt is Officially Holiday Party Season! Get Ready for it with the "Party Girl Dip"
Happy December!!!! A sure way to feel party ready this holiday season is to get those arms ready for any sleeve style, even a fitted long sleeve looks better with shapely triceps. The "tricep-dip" or "reverse push-up" is easy to do at home and requires no equipment. This is a foundation exercise in Barre and can be really effective if done consistently and with the correct form.
To set up:
Read moreEndless Summer Plum Jam
I don't usually make jam... but my kids and I picked these beach plums from my mom's house on Plum Island, MA and we figured we would give it a try:
Endless Summer Plum Jam
Ingredients
This is How We Roll...Out Pain
I posted a quick picture about the book Melt Method, by Sue Hitzmann a few months ago but now feel that it is in need of a real blog post to do it justice. Melt stands for Myofascial Energetic Length Technique. I never thought I would actually stay focused for 293 pages of a book just dedicated to a foam roller, but I sure did! And happily. I actually found this book fascinating and also truly helpful in reducing pain (and in some areas) actually resolved pain. For example, if you are someone with shin splints.. WOW, give it a try on your shins.
Read moreRise, Shine, & Shake
Breakfast shakes are a staple for me. I incorporated them into my diet about 2-3 years ago when I got serious about losing the weight that I had gained during my pregnancy, and I also just wanted to feel healthier.
Read moreFinally Sharing Them...My Before and After after Photos: Bouncing Back Post-Baby
I often get asked from people who have known me pre, during, and post pregnancy: What did I eat to lose the baby weight after having my two children (I gained almost 80lbs .. twice) and how did I get started back into exercising? There are no short answers to these questions and I have no formal education in nutrition, but I love sharing what worked for me. Note: I had a really hard time finding pictures of me post-baby. I would never let anyone take any pictures of me. All of these are of my daughter or son 4 months old or older. Looking back that is just so silly. Every pound was worth it. I would do it a million times over. I just wish I could say that extra weight didn't bother me during such a happy time, but it did. Especially since the weight didn't start coming off until I got serious about my eating and exercise plan once my daughter was 9 months old.
Read moreBooty With A purpose
Now that summer is over (unofficially), it's time to focus on all the things that make fall great. The most important being, your fall wardrobe, and within that, everybody's staple, their jeans. For anyone that knows me, knows that I've never really been a jeans kinda gal... somehow over the last few years, I've gotten away with rocking leggings, skirts and dresses... ok, on occasion, I've donned a pair of jeans, but for the most part, I've been denim free. This year, I have rekindled my love for jeans, I think, partly due to the fact that I've literally gotten my ass into gear this summer thru my barre workouts. And what better way to show off those buns than in a pair of denim beauties.
Read moreLife Isn't a Sprint..It's a Marathon
Boston Marathon and the intense motivation the thousands of marathon runners must have to challenge themselves to running 26.2 miles. I mean, that’s pure motivation, drive, spirit, endurance, strength, will, bravery and passion… that’s moving two legs just one step, one pace, one mile at a time to achieve one single goal. Motivation is an amazing force. It can take you from one place in life to somewhere you never imagined in your wildest dreams.
This really got me thinking about the role motivation plays in each of our lives. What is your motivation? Do you have any? Is it easy for you to find it or is it a constant battle? Is it to drop a few lbs. (or 60), lose an inch, run a mile (or 26.2), increase your strength, get a new job, get out of bed, get over someone or something? All goals, no matter how big or small, how easy to realize or out of this world they may seem, have to start somewhere.
Read moreThe Importance Of Stretching
Stretching has been proven to enhance athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury during physical activities, improve flexibility, reduce stress, and increase circulation (among other benefits.) I also personally find that stretching helps calm the mind.
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