Lean Body Pilates

I HAVE A NEW HOME...

2011-07-18T11:49:00.003-04:00

I have outgrown my current home and am officially announcing that The Lean Body Pilates Blog is moving to Wordpress! This will be my last post here, so from now on, please visit my new home. I am SUPER excited about the new blog and I hope you all will be too. Here's what you can expect:

More regular blogging including:

Fitness & Healthy Living Tips
Pilates info/exercises/workouts
Favorite recipes
Restaurant reviews
Things I love
Fun places I go

A Better Layout.

and..
wait for it...

GIVEAWAYS! I have some great giveaways coming with some awesome companies, so stay tuned.

Also, if you have been receiving my posts via email and wish to continue to do so, please enter your email address in the subscribe box on the upper right hand corner of the new site.

Thank you all so much for reading and I can't wait to have you over to my new place!

TRAVEL FITNESS...

2011-07-07T15:48:00.003-04:00

I have been traveling a lot lately, and it occurred to me that I am probably not the only one. Planning some trips this summer? Here are 4 rules to live by when you are taking your fitness on the road:

1. A LITTLE IS BETTER THAN NONE AT ALL

Just because you may not have time a full workout like you would do at home, doesn’t mean you should just skip it all together. Sometimes if I don’t have a full hour, I’ll just plop down on the floor and do Quickie Pilates.
Something like this:

Pilates Hundred (Inhale 5 counts & exhale 5 counts 10X)
Half Roll Backs (4X)
Full Roll Ups (4X)
Pilates Series of 5 (8X each exercise, without stopping in between if you can)
Shoulder Bridge (4X each leg)
Back Extensions w/ hands stacked under forehead (8 times)
Quadruped/Watchdog (2X each side)
Plank (hold as long as you can)
8 Pilates Push-ups (1-2 sets depending on time)

Now if that sounds like (insert obscure language you don’t understand) to you… I suggest you stop by my You Tube page and do one of my Lean Body Workouts (10-15 min tops) & I’ll break it down for ya!

If Pilates isn’t your thing, other options include, but are not limited to: quickie Yoga, Walking around the block, jogging around the block, squats, pushups, jumping rope, lunges... the list goes on and on. Just do something that gets your blood pumping and muscles working.

2. DO WHAT THE LOCALS DO

Sometimes the best way to incorporate fitness is find out what keeps the people who live where you are traveling fit. For example on my recent trip to Colorado I took an amazing hike with my sister. The workout was just a bonus really. I got to take in the beauty of my surroundings and spend some QT with my sis. I love workouts that don’t feel like workouts!

If you aren’t traveling somewhere like Colorado that has fitness built in, you can still make this rule work for you. Lets say you are traveling to NYC. Guess what the locals do…

WE WALK... EVERYWHERE!

The majority of New Yorkers do not have a car. We get around the old fashioned way, our own 2 feet (with a little bit of Subway mixed in). Again, it’s a great way to take in the sites and really get a feeling of the vibe of the city. I highly recommend putting on your walking shoes and just going out exploring. I promise it won' t be nearly as scary as it sounds.

3. BRING TOYS!

Fitness toys that is… You don’t need a gym to get fit. I am certainly not suggesting you lug dumbbells around with you. I for one never check bags and would certainly not want to carry waits around the airport. I’m thinking something more like this:

This little magic toy is a gym in itself. If you combine it with this little toy (which can be deflated & fit into any carry on):

and you are set! You basically have a Pilates studio at your fingertips. Here are my favorite ways to use them:

Back Rowing with the Stretch Band:

Sit tall on top of your sits bones with the legs long in front of you and the band around your feet.
Bring your knuckles together in front of your chest with the elbows out to the side.
Pull the abs and ribs in and round back off your sits bones stopping about the top of your pants.
Deepen the scoop in the abs be pressing the belly button straight to the floor and keeping the ribs closed.
Extend the arms open to the side with the palms facing back (think of windshield wipers).
Press the band back as far as you can without moving & then dive up and over your things as the arms reach to the back with palms facing each other.
Lift your abs and ribs as far away from your thighs as you can & bring the arms back around to the front (the band will lose tension).
Roll back up to the starting position.
Repeat 2-3X.

Make sure when the arms reach back that the shoulders are sliding down the back, far away from the ears. Also, even when you lose tension in the band towards the end, maintain engagement in the abs as if you were just at the end of your roll up.

**You can add pulses when the arms are reaching back for more triceps.

**You can add bicep curls before you begin the rowing series by swiveling the arms so the fists & elbows are in line with the shoulders and then extending the arms out front.

Toe Taps on the Small Ball:

Lie on your back with your feet flat& knees up
Lift your hips and place the ball under your pelvis (1/2 way between your lower back & butt)
Deepen the abdominals by connecting the hips to the ribs & bring one leg at a time into table top (knees over hips & shins parallel to the floor)
Without changing the bend in the knee, dip your right toes down towards the floor & then back up to table top.
Switch at dip the left toes down.
Keep alternating 8-10X total

Make sure you are moving from the hip and not the knee. As the thigh moves away, pull the hip point on the same side up towards the rib more. It's not about touching the floor... it's about keeping your spine and pelvis still against the movement of the legs.

**If you want to get fancy, you can try bending the elbows & lifting the forearms off the floor or reaching the arms straight up to the ceiling above the shoulders. (MUCH more balance and core strength required)

**Once you have mastered the alternating legs, try moving both legs together.

4. DON’T GET CRAZY

I am assuming your trip is not much longer than 5-7 days. If you miss a workout (or 2 or 3) DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP! Instead of planning your trip around your fitness, plan your fitness around your trip. If you are on vacation and relaxation is the goal, for goodness sake, relax. Stressing out about how much you are or aren’t working out will defeat the purpose of the vacation. If you are traveling for work, obviously you have to work (& most likely have a pretty tight schedule), so do your “quickie” Pilates or walk around the block whenever you can & be proud of yourself for making the effort.

Do you have any travel fitness tips you live by on the road... go-to workouts, tools, etc?

HIGHS & LOWS..

2011-06-29T16:02:00.007-04:00

That's what Day 2 of the Fitness and Health Bloggers Conference was like for me.

I started on a very HIGH note with a Kangoo class courtesy of Wendy at Body Dynamics in Boulder. Never heard of Kangoo?? I hadn’t either. Then I watched this video… and I thought, “What the h%*l is that?” followed closely by, “It could be fun…” and since the Conference was offering the class for free I then thought, “Why not?”

Here I am in my Kangoo Jumps (The pic is a little blurry, because it is almost impossible to stand still on those things):

Pretty H-O-T right?

I can honestly say that it was the most fun I have ever had in an exercise class! I am seriously considering buying a pair, although I am not sure if it would have the same affect if it were just me in my living room & would probably freak out my cat...

In a group we all looked crazy together, so in turn no one looked crazy. Plus you can’t help but feed off the smiles of the other jumpers around you. I dare you to try this without smiling the whole time… and if you can do it, you better send me a video, because I don’t believe you! Check the video Anne of fANNEtastic food made here. I am in the back corner and mostly hidden, but I assure you I am there...

In addition to the joy and fun factor, there’s the health and fitness factor (oh yeah, I forgot… we were exercising too). Since the shoes are on springs, there is no impact or stress on the joints, so people with injuries or a few extra pounds to carry can get an amazing cardiovascular workout without the stress on the body. It allows for more dynamic movement than may not otherwise be possible and burns more calories- 25% more to be exact! Kangoo also helps to improve balance and coordination. I’m definitely going to get to some Kangoo in NYC! Apparently this is the guy to see.

So riding my Kangoo High I got showered and changed at Body Dynamics before the first seminar, which I was really looking forward to. Since I was staying with my family who lives nearby, I had taken the car to the conference (Kangoo was at 7am and no one seemed to keen on dropping me off at that hour & I don’t blame them). I went to drop some stuff in the trunk that I didn’t want to lug around all day before I headed out in search of coffee in breakfast. I had budgeted my time perfectly and had 30 min to find them. That’s when it happened… One simple thought changed my state from highest high to lowest low. It went something like this:

“I don’t need to take my whole bad and computer to go find coffee. I’ll just leave it in the car.” With the keys in it… Yup.

In the slam of a Honda trunk I was suddenly plunged into the depths of helplessness, AKA locking the keys in the car. So, naturally, the first thing I did was call my dad to come to my rescue… and naturally he said he'd be right there. He’s good like that. I would like to point out that I did NOT cry… which if you know me well is pretty huge. I tend to freak out over things like this that throw a wrench in my life. I calmly asked the front desk at the hotel for the number of a locksmith, called and explained my troubles. Then, I went to the Hotel Starbucks and got some Coffee and Granola (remember I had Kangoo’d earlier and still hadn’t eaten) and had breakfast with myself on the trunk of the car and waited for Isaac the locksmith.


Breakfast of people who lock themselves out of their car.


Long story only slightly shorter, he came and saved the day!

He was pretty easy on the eyes too, which didn’t hurt. He was also very understanding when I told him that it was necessary for me to document this as I was attending a bloggers conference. (wink)

Even better, I was only about 15 minutes late for the session and still got to hear Toni speak... plus I had a good story!

The “low” was very temporary, which is a good thing to keep in mind, I suppose.

*In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that my dad did pay for my blunder, so here is my very public THANK YOU, DADDY!

**In other news, I have decided to become a locksmith, because that is apparently where the money is.

Have you ever had a roller coaster day like this??

FITNESS & HEALTH BLOGGERS...

2011-06-27T14:04:00.008-04:00

are AWESOME!

I had an idea of the awesomeness I may encounter at the 2011 Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference, but that idea paled in comparison to the reality...

I have never been in a room full of more open, honest, and giving people in my life. People all working towards a common goal of helping get the fitness & health word out there to the masses. People so passionate about helping others lead a healthy life that there was no room for pride (the bad kind of course) or vanity.

I admit, going into the conference I felt low on the totem pole as a fairly new blogger wanting to learn how to be better. However, when I got there, I realized there was no totem pole, only people just like me who wanted to help me on my journey and also looking for help themselves. The phrase “Everyone had to start somewhere” rang very true and I realized that no one in that room was looking down on me, but rather standing next to me, ready to hold my hand if I needed.

People who I consider “Blogilebrities” like Stephanie Quilao AKA @Skinnyjeans, Ryan Sullivan AKA @nomorebacon and Toni Carey AKA @BlackGirlsRun were following me on Twitter, responding to things I had to say, sitting next me at dinner and calling me their friend. I almost died when Leah Segedie AKA @bookieboo told me she liked my top. Of course like a nerd I said, “Thanks! I like your blog.” I said the last part kinda quiet so maybe she didn’t hear it… (she heard it).

There are a few women, however, who I would like to give a special shout out to… my tribe* if you will.

From left to right:

Kris AKA @Krazy_Kris, who is easily one of the funniest, most open, infectious and caring people I have EVER met. I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to have weaseled my way into her circle. He he.

Suzanne AKA @WorkoutNirvana, who is not only totally hot and BUFF, but probably as down to earth and honest as it gets. On the road to becoming a Fitness Pro herself, she and I enjoyed so many conversations about fitness, blogging and life in general. I mean I’m not that surprised because she is a CO girl!

Emily AKA @EmilyinProgress who is sweetness personified. Like me she was there to learn and I found her to be incredibly open, honest and easy going... not an ounce of pretension. Plus she is a smarty pants attorney and that is awesome!

Casey AKA @HippieHealthNut, who is so sweet it’s almost unbelievable, but can get snarky when the opportunity arises, which is my kind of gal! We found each other in a sea of people as we stood trying not to look awkward & bonded over our first conference experience and Kangoo!

We are a motley crew for sure , but these women became my buddies. We sat together, ate together, played together, LAUGHED together, and brought out the best in each other if you ask me. I absolutely look forward to cultivating much deeper friendships with them beyond this weekend. You should all be reading their Blogs, following them on Twitter and liking them on Facebook. I’m just sayin…

Rest assured there will be many #FHBC11 inspired posts to come, but this one had to come first. Because what it’s really all about is connections and I feel like I hit the jackpot!

Thanks to Zephyr Adventures, Boulder CO and the 2011 Fitness & Health Bloggers conference for introducing me to this fabulous community!

*I can not take credit for coining "tribe"... That was Kris!

HERE GOES NOTHING...

2011-06-25T18:26:00.003-04:00

My exploration in Live Blogging:

1. Jovial Foods
Bringing back ancient wheat...
Product:
einkhorn pasta
- higher nutrition value than whole wheat
- as much protein as an egg
- vegan
brown rice pasta
- gluten free

Holds sauce very nicely
Keeps well

Also make einhorn & brown rice cookies

Products are available at Whole Foods nationwide
Didn't get to taste the pasta today, but I'll definitely let you know when I do!

2. Rudis Gluten Free Bakery
Product:
Gluten Free Mutigrain Bread
Tested over 100 recipes
bread launched last June
Organic
few ingredients
nothing artificial
no preservatives
mullet seed
cornmeal
sunflower seed

Available nationally at Whole Foods and other large chain supermarkets
IN THE FROZEN SECTION since it has no preservatives

I tried the bread and it is fantastic, and for those of you who have a Gluten Intolerance it would be a great bread alternative!

3. Pop Chips
Product:
Air Popped Potato chips
Popped like popcorn
No oil
More chips per serving
Single serve bag is only 100 calories!
Based in San Fransisco
Gluten Free
School Certified

I've seen these before but never had them... Holy Yum! They will defintiely be a staple in my house. Especially since I just won a months supply out of the blue!

4. Recharge
Product:
All Natural sports beverage powdered stick
liquid drinks have been around for years
Sweetened with Truvia
only 10 calories
8 Pack for 3.99
Available in Supermarkets
lemon
grape
tropical
orange
Post or During Workout drink

I tried the orange flavor... It is good, but I am not that big on sports drinks. I don't like to dress up my water too much. If you do like sports drinks however, this would definitely be something to check out.

5. Detour
Product:
Whey Protein Bar
High Protein
Low Sugar
Supports Lean Body & muscle mass
170 Calories
Available nationwide

I tried a cookie dough flavor... I admit that in the beginning it actually did taste like cookie dough... it did have that protein bar after taste though. I don' t really think that is escapable though, so I say they did as good of job as they could to create a tasty whey protein bar.

6. Small Planet Foods
Product:
LARA Bars
2-9 ingredients
gluten free
soy free
dairy free
kosher
vegan

I love LARA BARS! If you haven't tried them you are definitely missing out! Try the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip...

Also represent Muehr Glenn & Cascadian Farms

7. Casa Noble
Skinny Margarita
Distillery in Jalisco Mexico
Sustainable and organic
age Agaves at least 3 years longer than other companies
aged Tequila in French Oak Barrels which makes the tequila more flavourful
3 ingredients
fresh squeezed lime
Casa Noble Tequila
Agave Nectar
$48/bottle
Available nationwide

Of course I loved this! I am a sucker for a great Margarita, and this is just that! Plus we got to sample some straight tequila afterwards and it's definitely worthy of sipping.

If you want links to the companies see the previous post. Like I said this is live people...
Thanks for being good sports!

LIVE BLOGGING...

2011-06-25T15:23:00.005-04:00

As you all know I am here in Boulder, Colorado at the Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference. I promise there will be many recap posts to come, but first... Live Blogging. What is Live Blogging you ask?

According to the conference website:

"Live Blogging is sort of a round-robin, speed-dating style event in which eight or nine companies will each have five minutes to present one food or drink product to a table of bloggers. Bloggers will taste the product, ask questions, and blog, Tweet, or Facebook about the product live on the spot. Organizers will blow a whistle and then the food and drink companies rotate to the next table."

Here are the companies that will be presenting at FHBC11:

1 One Natural Experience
2 Popchips
3 Jovial Foods
4 Recharge
5 Detour Bar
6 Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery
7 Casa Noble Skinny Margarita
8 Small Planet Foods

I just want to give a little disclaimer saying: I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS! Normally it takes me 1-2 hours to write a post, so this should be an interesting experiment and challenge. We'll see how it goes...

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH...

2011-06-22T14:03:00.009-04:00

COLORADO!

The Fitness & Health Bloggers conference is days away and I arrived in Colorado last night. I have to say there is something to amazing and comforting about flying into Denver the the Mountains in the background... It's a view I never get tired of.

The sun was about to set behind them, but I promise you they are there!

I have been moving at a million miles an hour these days... I even gave up my day off for a few weeks- NOT A GOOD IDEA! Needless to say I need some down time. Thankfully I took an extra couple of days here to hang with my family and relax in the Mountain air. It's only been 18 hours and I am already so chilled out and refreshed. There are days when I wonder how I could have left Colorado for New York, but whenever I seriously have thoughts about leaving the Big Apple, my chest gets tight. So, for now I will relish in the fact that I have family and roots in the most beautiful state in the country- in my humble opinion anyway- and can visit any time I want!

After i arrived my folks and I enjoyed an amazing dinner at "new" restaurant in the Denver Tech Center called Chinook Tavern.

The restaurant has actually been around for a while but closed and has now reopened in a new location & new menu. As you may recall... my dad is a bit of a rock star, so the minute we walked in we were greeted by one of the owners & general manager Clemens, professing his gratitude for all the help my dad gave them in getting the restaurant open (which was just the day before). It was pretty cool!

Chinook Tavern is a family run establishment- which I am always a sucker for- run by two brothers, Clemens Georg & Markus Georg (who is the Executive Chef) and designed by their architect father Manfred. Originally from Germany, the family has called Colorado home for many years. They are very in tune with Colorado cuisine and esthetic, but keep to their European roots.
If you live or are are visiting Denver you MUST go to this restaurant! I never had the pleasure of dining at the old Cherry Creek location, but I feel super lucky to have gotten in to this one before the major buzz hits and it's impossible to get a table. It's the perfect combo of atmosphere and amazing food. Obviously we should talk food first:

The menu had me at Mache Salad...

As you can see I was so excited to dig in to it that I forgot to snap a pic until I had devoured almost all of it. It had watermelon radishes, pickled red onions, pomegranate seeds and goat cheese fritters. Have you ever had a watermelon radish?? They are awesome. Not sure where one finds them, but when I do I will let you know.

For my entree I had Colorado Rack of Lamb. Just like if you are in Maine you get the lobster or Maryland you get the crab, when you are in Colorado you get the meat- lamb, beef, bison. This particular dish did my homeland proud!

The lamb was marinated in mint and then topped with grilled cipollini onions and a rosemary merlot sauce.

On the side were grit cakes and tomato gremalade. Perfection!

My mom enjoyed the beef tenderloin.

And Dad had the house signature dish Jaeger Schnitzel.

Both were fantastic!

For dessert we all shared a Creme Brulee. No pic of that... between my mom and I that sugar was cracked in 2.5 seconds. :)

Now on to atmosphere:

The restaurant is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

A fondu room!

Perhaps my favorite thing is in addition to the actual bar, there is a giant community table in the center and other larger tables all around.

Clemens told me that he considers every table in the lounge a community table. He loves sitting at the bar because everyone coexists together, and often times you find yourself having interesting conversations with those around you. His idea is "Why only have that feeling sitting belly up to the bar? Why can't tables be the same?" I for one love the ideas of community tables, but then again I would always rather sit at the bar than a table. Maybe that comes from having worked behind one for 6 years. Jay and I love interacting with meeting new and interesting people while we are out.

Also, there is going to be a European style coffee bar open in the mornings just off of the bar. I am bummed I won't be able to sample that before I go... it opens the day after I leave.

It's no secret that I love restaurants, and living in NYC I get to eat at some of the best of the best. I would certainly put Chinook Tavern on that list!

Day 1 in Colorado was very special and I can't wait to see what the rest of this trip holds. Planning lots of family time, hiking, learning, networking, writing and basking in the mountain sun (wearing SPF of course!)

*In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that because my dad is such a rockstar we were treated to dinner on the house... which BTW was completely unexpected! For the record, that in no way influenced my opinions & I would have written the same blog post either way. The dinner was to say thank you to my dad, I just happened to be lucky enough to have been dining with him...

LEAN BODY LOVES...

2011-06-15T14:48:00.009-04:00

BBQ!

If you follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook, you know that Jay & I attended the Big Apple BBQ Block Party in NYC last weekend, and I thought it would be a great way to bring back "LEAN BODY LOVES"- my favorite series!

What's the Big Apple BBQ Block Party you ask?? Only the greatest weekend ever, or to quote the official BBQ website:

"The weekend-long event occurs every June and brings together the country’s top pitmasters who cook up their award-winning food for over a 100,000 barbecue enthusiasts. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Madison Square Park, the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party attracts people from near and far to sustain and celebrate America’s authentic culinary and musical traditions."

Like I said, the greatest weekend ever. We've been over the fact that I love food centered outings & this is the mother of them all!

**DISCLAIMER** If you are a vegetarian, you will not like this event. It is very meat centered and there aren't really any veggie options. One place served turkey (which I know is also technically meat), but to be honest it didn't hold a candle to the pulled pork.

Ok, now that THAT's been said. BRING ON THE MEAT!

This was our second year attending the block party. Last year I was given Fast Passes by my amazing friend Kira so we could skip all of the lines! You pay $125 and get $100 to spend any way you wish (meat- $8/plate, beer- $6, or dessert- $4). Each pass comes with a guest pass so 2 people can get into the special line on the backside of the tents & you can share the money. Let me tell you... it's worth it! I went 2 years ago without one and didn't end up getting ANY food, because the lines were crazy. Obviously we sprung for them again this year. Once you go FAST you never go back...

The best part was we bought them with a little money from this years tax return. BBQ on Uncle Sam!

It did rain on us this year, but a little rain never hurt anyone.

It separated the true BBQ lovers from the sissies (in other words, cleared out the crowds).

Here's a list of the places where we got plates:

The Salt Lick BBQ- Driftwood, TX: Really great sausage & briskit, and actually the only place I managed to snap a pic of our plate before we devoured it.

Rack & Soul- New York, NY: Finger-lickin' good baby back ribs & fantastic baked beans.

Black Jack BBQ- Charleston, SC: Pulled pork with a really interesting sweet BBQ sauce that almost had a licorice flavor.

Martin's BBQ Joint- Nashville, TN: Tennessee whole hog sandwich with the coleslaw inside with the pork... seemed a little crazy at first, but I really liked it.

Pappy's Ribs- St. Louis, MO: Hands down the BEST ribs of the day!

Ed Mitchell- Raleigh, NC: I absolutely LOVE North Carolina pulled pork with their vinegary sauce! Apparently so does everyone, because this place had the longest line all day. It was definitely worth the wait though. YU-UM!!

That's Ed Mitchell himself in the overalls behind all the smoke:

It should be said that we were there ALL day so we did not eat all of this food in one sitting and we shared one plate from each of the places we went. We ate at a couple places, took a beer break, then went back. After all, what's BBQ without beer??

It was a great day and I am already counting down the days until next year! If you are too, make sure to check the site around March/April to get your FAST PASSES, they do sell out!

Here are a few more pics just for fun!

These guys with their T-shirts killed me!

Clearly they haven't met the right girl...

I'm glad Jay was into keeping it co-ed!

NEW CLASS ALERT...

2011-06-14T13:27:00.004-04:00

This is a super quickie post just to let those of you in NYC know that I am now teaching Wednesday 7pm Mat Pilates Plus at Pilates on 5th...

As you may remember I have been spending time at this studio as a student and now I am super excited to be teaching there! Come take class!!

SERACUSE PARK...

2011-06-09T11:38:00.004-04:00

Yes, you read that correctly, but I'm not the particular Seracuse for which this park is named.

This particular park is named for my DAD! Today is his 78th Birthday (which by the way you would NEVER guess) and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to brag about him a little. I mean how many people do you know that have their own PARK? I only know one:

Jerome Mario Seracuse FAIA (those fancy letters stand for Fellow of the American Institute of Architects)

Because my dad is not only an amazing Architect with fancy letters after his name, but also an amazing man, he was given this little pocket park in the middle of the Denver Technological Center, a complex he helped create and continues to preserve as a member of the Architectural Control Committee.

Not by coincidence the park looks directly at one of his buildings!

We took a little trip to the park when Jay & I were home in CO for Christmas, which is why all the trees are a little bare. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks when I am there for the Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference, so I can take some pictures with everything in bloom!

Here is a close up of the placard:

This site is dedicated in recognition of
Jerome M. Seracuse's service to the Denver
Technological Center. As a member of the
DTC's Architectural Control Committee he was
instrumental in the planning and development of this
entire area, including the extensive network of parks
and landscaping throughout DTC.

Pretty cool huh? If you know my dad you know how special he is, and also how deserving he is of this recognition of his talents & efforts to preserve the beauty of nature in all of his projects. If you don't, then you'll just have to take this totally biased Daddy's GIrl's word for it. ;) I really could not be more proud! Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!

FREE FITNESS...

2011-06-05T09:02:00.006-04:00

is always appealing to me, so I am super excited about the launch of BeFitNYC and a week of FREE fitness events from June 6-12!

I received an email about the launch on Friday from Phil Kiczula at Big Method, a company working with the NYC Department of Health to get the word out to fitness pros like me, so I can get the word out to all of you. To quote the email:

"BeFitNYC aims to connect New Yorkers and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle using our fair city as one big gym. To kick things off, the Department of Health has put together an infographic depicting stats about the average New Yorker’s health, activity level and some great ways to get healthier in and around the city."

As you can imagine, after reading that I couldn't wait to find out more and share the details with you all.

Here is the NYC Department of Health infographic, which I must say, shocked me a little:

And here is the schedule of events for the week:

I am beyond bummed out that I can not shake my groove thang at the Zumba Flash Mob tomorrow at 11:30am, which means you all have to go so I can live vicariously through you...
I will however be at the Fitness Festival on Sunday June 12th, so hope to see you there!

Oh, and I almost forgot the best part... even though the launch is just one week, BeFitNYC has ongoing events all summer! Be sure to check out the website and/or their Facebook App to see all the amazing FREE fitness opportunities in all 5 boroughs. There's fitness to be found all over this great city of ours, and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. No excuses NYC... GET MOVING!

F IS FOR...

2011-05-31T13:43:00.008-04:00

-Fun-

Jay and I had an amazing memorial day weekend! We originally planned to go to the jersey shore for the weekend, buy plans changed and we ended up staying here & taking advantage of the Big Apple & it's surroundings.

-Food-

Anyone who knows me knows that I love food. And I love food centered experiences. So you can imagine how excited I was to head to Smorgasburg on Saturday!
It's an all food version of the Brooklyn Flea. I must say it was slightly over whelming, only because I wanted to try everything! After a couple laps, we finally settled on Asia Dog. Jay & I each had 2 (for the record they are small).

We both ordered the Wangding with a chicken dog: Then I had a Sidney with chicken too: And he had the Mash with beef: I liked the dogs. The Sidney was my favorite. I liked the thai flavors. For dessert we had Peoples Pops homemade popsicles. We both got Rhubarb Ginger. Yum! We almost went for the giant doughnuts from DOUGH, but we both decided that popsicles were the better choice on the 80 degree afternoon.
I'm glad we went to check out Smorgasburg, but I think going to the actual Brooklyn Flea is a better pay off. I mean the only thing ether than good food is shopping & good food together!

On Sunday evening we took advantage of our amazing backyard & grill and had some friends over. On the menu: Chicken Drumsticks Lamb Lollipops Corn on the cob Asparagus Potato salad Chips w/ roasted tomatillo salsa I only managed to snap one pic because I was too busy eating...

I assure it was all fabulous. Jay is a great grill master!

-Flowers-

Speaking of our amazing back yard... Check out these babies:

Our flowers have literally exploded with beauty this year. Maybe all that rain we've been having was good for something after all!

-Fitness-

Monday Jay & I took a motorcycle trip up to Bear Mountain where we did a 4 mile hike. It's only 50 miles away from our house! The hike we chose was labeled "challenging" & they weren't kidding... This is my OMG I can barely breathe face:

And another priceless expression... check out the nostril flare:

I love hiking because after all your hard work, you are rewarded with a view like this!

And lastly F is for...

-Freedom-

I don't just mean the freedom we enjoyed from a few days off work. I mean the freedom we enjoy every day because of the brave men & woman who fought & continue to fight for it. After all that's what memorial day is really about, right?

Hope you had a Fantastic holiday weekend too!

I ADMIT IT...

2011-05-27T10:46:00.004-04:00

I've been a bad blogger.

One of my favorite bloggers, Teri from A Foodie Stays Fit always says, "When life happens, blogging doesn't." That pretty much sums it up. HOWEVER, I want to be better... so in an effort to beef up my blogging skills I am attending the Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference in Boulder, CO next month!

The best part is, the conference has very generously awarded me a scholarship to attend! I am so grateful to have been chosen & am super excited for this conference for many reasons:

1. It's in my home state of Colorado & I get to spend time with my family.
2. There is an amazing line up of guest speakers & seminar topics.
3. It's a great chance to meet & connect with other fitness bloggers.
4. It will hopefully reignite my passion for this blog and help it reach it's full potential.
5. Did I mention it's in COLORADO?

In an effort to feel like I actually belong at a Bloggers conference, I am going to make an effort to blog as much as I can before June 25th. In my last post (over 30 days ago, YIKES!) I talked about my Keeping it Green 30 Day Challenge. Well, you will be happy to know that I succeeded in that challenge (green drinks every morning!), and I plan to succeed in this next challenge I have set for myself: 30 days of consistent blogging. I am not going to promise a post every day, because that has never been my style.

I will promise 3 posts per week: 1 about Pilates, 1 about food, & 1 fun post.

There it is... I said it and I plan to follow through!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone! See you in a few days...

KEEPIN' IT GREEN...

2011-04-11T10:17:00.005-04:00

30 Day Challenge!

Inspired my one of my Pilates & Blogging heroes, Lisa Johnson, and her 30 Day Challenge, I have decided to do one of my own.

At first I had a hard time deciding what I was going to do... I don't really like the idea of giving something up. That mentality has never worked for me. It only makes me want said thing even more. So I thought, what's the opposite of giving up?
Adding in!
I had my answer... For the next 30 Days (and hopefully a lot longer) I will make sure to have SOMETHING GREEN with every meal. In truth, I am already pretty good at this for 1, even 2 meals a day. But every meal will be an interesting challenge...

One way I plan to keep this promise to myself is by making Green Drinks in the morning. Greens aren't the easiest things to add to breakfast, but I have found that drinking them is so easy and tasty!!

Here is the Green Drink Recipe I am loving at the moment:

Big bunch of Kale or spinach leaves- I'm not going to tell you how many to put in, because it's up to you. I will say this: Imagine it is on your plate and you are eating it with dinner. How much would you eat as an adequate serving?
Big handful of parsley- adds some snap!
1 green apple peeled, cored and chopped
Handful red grapes- Blueberries are another good option.
1 banana
Juice of 1 lemon
Water- How much depends on how thick you want the drink. I like mine to be more like Juice so I add quite a bit.
Splash of Soy milk- optional, but I like the texture it gives.

Throw it all in a blender (or use your emersion blender like me) and viola...Yummy Green goodness- which I promise tastes AMAZING!

*This recipe makes 2, so you can have one now and one later, OR share (Jay is on board and really loving the green drinks).

Eventually I want to start experimenting with other green things/veggies to add in to my drinks, so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them!

Being as it has never been my style to share everything I eat or drink here on this blog, I am not going to be documenting my every green meal. I will however be keeping you all updated on my progress (I'm thinking once a week) and sharing yummy green recipes I come across.

Also, feel free to share in the green goodness and join me on my Keepin' it Green 30 Day challenge!

LEAN BODY LOVES...

2011-04-06T14:47:00.002-04:00

My KitchenAid Immersion Blender

A few months ago our food processor (which was a hand me down from my mother-in-law) finally went kaput, so we set out to Bed Bath and Beyond to get another one. Originally we (I) wanted to get a mini blue one to match our (my) beautiful blue stand up mixer, but we instead came home with this magic little appliance and here's why:

-It's 3 devices in 1! Not only it is a blender, but also a food processor and a whisk. What can I say, I love getting more for my money.

-It's small and easy to store- fits right on the counter.

-It's easy to clean- And along these lines, eliminates the giant mess of transferring soups into the blender or food processor to puree.

-You can make a million (slight exaggeration for effect) things with it!

Here are just a few of my favorite things to make with my Immersion Blender & it's attachments:

-Walnut Canellini Bean Dip-

1 15oz can cannellini beans drained & rinsed
1/2 cup walnuts
2-3 cloves garlic
Fresh parsley to taste (small handful)
Fresh basil to taste (6-10 leaves)
Juice of 1 lemon (approx 3 Tbl)
2 Tbl olive oil
Salt & Pepper

(Throw everything in the food processor and blend until smooth)

-Green Smoothies-

(a new phenomenon for me which I will expound upon in more detail soon)

-Whipped Cream-

-Mashed Potatoes (sweet or regular)-

(which I made on Thanksgiving)

-Frothy (Soy) Milk for my morning cuppa Joe-

-Pesto-

-Fresh Salsa-

-Split Pea, Lentil or Tomato Basil Soup-

If you like being in the kitchen, and haven't discovered the joys of the immersion blender then you are surely missing out!

*Cannellini dip recipe courtesy of Linda Turek.*

** As always, the opinions on this blog are mine and mine alone, and everything I endorse is out of my own genuine love of it.**

TWO YEARS AGO TODAY...

2011-04-04T14:13:00.002-04:00

Jay asked me to marry him in Montauk.
Being the clever devil that he is, he got it all on video.
Some of you have already seen this, but I felt like sharing it on the blog, and also reliving one of the best moments of my life.
So here it is, the proposal I never knew I always wanted... Enjoy!

LEAN BODY LOVES...

2011-03-23T11:22:00.002-04:00

JessieJ!

If you have not heard/seen this fierce creature in 6 inch heels, then you are certainly missing out. In an age where Auto-tune is a pop star's best friend and Real Housewives can cut a single, nothing excites me more than truly talented females!

I saw Jessie J on SNL- which as we have seen, can often be the demise of some performers- a couple of weeks ago and I am still not over it. Don't just take my word for it, see for yourself. Prepare to be amazed!

Her album Who You Are drops in the US on April 12th. I can't wait!

Leave me some comments and tell me what you think... Also, Have something you think Lean Body should Love?? Let me know and I will check it out!

**Once again, the opinions on this blog are mine and mine alone, and everything I endorse is out of my own genuine love of it.**

Photo of The Countess by Jay Sullivan

LEAN BODY LOVES...

2011-03-16T10:18:00.011-04:00

Because I LOVED writing my Valentines Day post so much, and also in an effort to get back to doing some weekly segments- Remember my LIFE ESSENTIALS??- I am starting a new series called:

Once a week I will talk about something I am loving at the moment- products, websites, classes, recipes, TV shows, etc. I thought about just bringing back Life Essentials, but somehow the title seemed too serious. These Loves aren't essential to my existence, just things that make me smile and I hope will make you smile too!

This week, LEAN BODY LOVES...

At the risk of sounding totally crazy, I am borderline obsessed with Jessica Seinfeld (yes that Seinfeld) & her website doitdelicious.com. Here's why:

The Recipes

First and foremost, she cooks amazingly flavorful, healthy, and simple (as in quick & easy not unrefined) food. She also provides nutritional info, helpful hints, a list of tools you need and ideas for what to serve with the dish to make it a meal. Here are 2 veggie recipes that I am loving right now :

Parmesan Kale Chips

Broccoli with Golden Raisins and Garlic

Her first cookbook was about sneaking veggies into meals for kids, but the truth is, sometimes ADULTS need to be tricked too. In fact, I whipped up some of these Kale Chips on a night we were having a friend over for dinner who is notorious for his dislike of most things green (much to the chagrin of his vegetarian fiancee). He tried a chip to be polite, and promptly said "Wait, I actually LIKE these!" as he went back for more. And just like that, another leafy green success story!

The Kitchen Guides

Learn how to stock you kitchen, shop for & store your food, and decifer labels to be a more intelligent consumer. Love it! I took the Well Stocked Kitchen list with me to the store right away.

The Videos

The idea for Do it Delicious was born out of Jessica wanting to help her friend Ally learn to cook. She started making videos for her to show her how simple it can be to make good healthy meals. So, in addition to step by step instructions & photos, there are videos for some recipes. The videos are great because, if you are a visual learner like me, it's easier to see someone actually cooking than to read a recipe and figure out what your are supposed to do. Plus, she doesn't take herself too seriously and has a good time, which make the meals seem even easier. I am going to be making this Peppercorn Steak VERY soon!

Jessica's Blog

It's not only entertaining and personable, but informative as well. This post on being an EATIE is one of my favorites... probably because I am one.

So if you are: busy and on the go/trying to get the family to eat more veggies/ trying to eat more veggies yourself/ afraid of your kitchen & cooking/ excited about your kitchen & cooking/ looking for new recipes/ or just an EATIE like me... check out Do it Delicious!

**All the opinions on this blog are mine and mine alone, and everything I endorse is out of my own true love of that product.**

All photos courtesy of Do it Delicious.

PILATES MYTHS...

2011-03-09T16:20:00.012-05:00

debunked! On my journey I have realized that there are a lot of ideas floating around about Pilates, that just aren't true, so I thought I would address a few.

MYTH #1: PILATES IS FOR GIRLS

I find this myth particularly ironic seeing as Pilates was invented by a MAN.

I'm not sure how or why this stigma was created, but I must say that it troubles me. Men especially can benefit so much from Pilates. For instance, I find that a lot of the men I train (and I pride myself on training quite a few) are strong but not free, ie. locked in the shoulders and hips with tight hamstrings. Pilates addresses all of these issues and helps to achieve more overall fitness, not just brute strength. Muscles are nice, but tightness is not.

MYTH #2: PILATES IS NOT A WORKOUT

I think this generally depends on the instructor. Unfortunately, there are some instructors floating around out there, who guide people through an hour of sleepy time stretching and breathing and call it Pilates. Believe me, I have taken their classes... During my training, an amazing teacher, Ron Speiss, said to me : "Pilates is exercise. It's not physical therapy or rehab. It's not stretching or relaxation. It's exercise, so get your students moving!"
I haven't forgotten this, and keep it in my brain every time I teach. I am not a doctor, I am an exercise instructor. My job is to work people out. Pilates is exercise! For fun, I put together a little list of my favorite First Class Quotes:

"That is the hardest thing I have done in a very long time." -after finishing the Hundred.

"When you see a class from the outside it doesn't really look like anyone is doing anything... And then you take the class and realize that's not true at all!"

"I was expecting something much more... Feminine." -a personal favorite which came from a competitive boxer.

"I'm going to be sore in muscles that I didn't even know I had!"

MYTH #3: YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE TO DO PILATES

Pilates is designed to help you gain more flexibility and range of motion, while strengthening your core so you can support that flexibility. If anything LACK of flexibilty is a reason to get into a Pilates class. I'm just sayin...

** Note, I planned to include a pic of a VERY flexible human here, but they all really creeped me out, so I decided against it. Google "flexible" to see for yourself.

MYTH #4: YOUR ABS ALREADY HAVE TO BE STRONG TO DO PILATES.

I hear this a lot, "My abs aren't strong enough to do Pilates," and it confuses me so much.
Now, obviously you need a certain amount of strength to do the advanced work, but no one is expecting that you will come into your first class and do a perfect straight leg teaser right out of the gate.

Just like you wouldn't run a marathon the first time you laced up a pair of running shoes... It's a process. Most people have to learn how to engage- and in some cases even find- their abdominals before they can start strengthening and sculpting them. But if you still insist on getting strong abs before you take Pilates... I suggest you take Pilates.

MYTH #5: PILATES ONLY WORKS YOUR ABS

It's true that the core of Pilates is the "core" but the idea that it is only good for the abdominal muscles is crazy. I dare anyone to get on a mat or any of the equipment and not get a total body workout. The beauty of Pilates is that the abs are ALWAYS working, and supporting the spine during every exercise, which not only leads to a rockin' bod but a healthier and injury free bod as well. What good is lifting heavy weights if you aren't engaging your core and protecting your lower back?

Sure, you may be "working" your arms, but what are you "harming" in the process?

MYTH #6: PILATES IS THE SAME AS YOGA

This is another one I hear a lot. I like to begin my classes by asking if anyone is brand new to Pilates, and inevitably I will get someone who raises their hand and says "I've done Yoga." That's great. Yoga is great! But Yoga is not Pilates. Do they have similarities, yes, but they also have some major differences. This chart from Pilates Supply does an amazing job of breaking it down:

**I realize the chart may be a tad hard to read, so a larger more legible version can be found here.

So next time you feel like using one of these excuses as to why you aren't doing Pilates, you are going to have to think of something else... And then I will debunk that.

THE ABC's OF LBP...

2011-03-08T11:31:00.004-05:00

This little questionnaire has been floating around the blog world and I thought I would join in the fun!

A. Age: 28

B. Bed size: Full...ugh. We are desperately wanting to upgrade to a Queen!

C. Chore you dislike: Taking out the Garbage/Recycling and I don't really know why, because there are definitely way worse chores.

D. Dogs: Growing up I had a Wheaton Terrier named Maggie, but now I have a Bengal Cat named Charlie who acts like a dog- he loves to lick and play fetch.

E. Essential start to your day: C.O.F.F.E.E.

F. Favorite color: Blue

G. Gold or silver: Silver

H. Height: 5'7"

I. Instruments you play(ed): Tried flute and Piano. I got much farther with the Piano, but ultimately just stuck with my built in instrument... my voice.

J. Job title: Pilates Instructor!

K. Kids: Someday...

L. Live: in NYC!

M. Mom’s name: Linda- as in beautiful, which she is!

N. Nicknames: Sweets, Girl, Ferd, & Turkey (that one's from Jay)

O. Overnight hospital stays: Yup, there's been a few of those... However, NONE since my surgery in 2009!

P. Pet peeves: People who play music on their phones on the train without using headphones. Drives me CRAZY!

Q. Quote from a movie: Anything from Mrs. Doubtfire

R. Righty or lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: Heather, Todd, Julie, and Joe

T. Time you wake up: Usually 7-8am except for Tuesday and Thursdays when it's 5am.

U. Underwear: Yes.

V. Vegetables you don't like: Are Pickles a vegetable?? I HATE Pickles.

W. What makes you run late: The MTA!

X. X-rays you’ve had: Right Foot, MRI for my lower back, and numerous CT scans if those count.

Y. Yummy food you make: Apple Pie!

Z. Zoo animal favorites: Elephants because they really blow my mind...

TAKING A DAY OFF...

2011-03-02T13:09:00.005-05:00

Easy for this guy:

Not so easy for a freelancer who loves her job. Seeing the empty space on the calendar- which I have carved out for myself on Wednesdays- is hard, especially when people are wanting me to teach classes or schedule private sessions.

It is so tempting to say "Yes, I am available," and give up my free day. In fact, earlier this week I caught myself thinking: "I don't need a whole day off," and "It's basically a day off if I only teach one class or one private."
And then... I got sick. I'm talking head cold, nothing life threatening or serious, but significant enough to knock me on my a%$. So I here I am on the couch with a box of kleenex, very thankful that I have today off, and also realizing that not having a day off is not an option. There is a difference between ambition and stupidity, and thinking I can work every day is just plain stupid. I am no good to anyone (including and especially myself) if I am burning the candle at both ends and in turn, completely burned out. No one is going to fault me for taking a day for myself... a day when I get to choose the places I go and the people I see- and if they do, they aren't the kind of people I want to be around.
So... I'm officially writing it here to keep myself in check:

Until further notice, Wednesday is my day off and I will not be teaching any group classes or private sessions.

Believe me I am not happy that I got sick, but I am taking it as a sign that I need this day of rest. I urge you to take a look at your own work schedule- especially if you are your own boss- and make sure there is at least one day OFF.

FACELIFT...

2011-02-25T14:50:00.005-05:00

Not for me, for leanbodypilates.com!

Some things will be familiar, but there's lots of new features, including a calendar with all of my group classes. Check it out and tell me what you think...

**Of course, BIG thanks to Jay for the design!**

I'VE STARTED DATING...

2011-02-23T09:11:00.008-05:00

Fitness Dating that is!
It's is a great way to try new things and also cultivate amazing friendships. I have found a lovely fitness date in fellow Pilates instructor, and all around awesome and inspiring chica, Lindsay Lopez (who's also blogging about our experiences). We are traveling around NYC together to find affordable and fun fitness!
As Pilates instructors we run the risk of falling into a couple of traps:

Trap #1. We do too much of one thing. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE Pilates, but I think is beneficial to try all types of fitness methods, if for no other reason than to compare and contrast. How does this relate to my field? What is different/the same? What do I agree/disagree with? Answering these questions makes me a better, educated and more well-rounded instructor. And, like I said before, it doesn't have to be one thing or the other.

Trap #2. We are so busy whipping other people into shape that we forget about ourselves. It's hard to schedule in your own training time when you are training other people all day long. However, as instructors we have a responsibility to practice what we preach and set a good example for our students. Scheduling a Fitness Date is a good way to keep up on our own bodies. I am much less likely to break a date with Lindsay than with myself.

After a successful first date, Lindsay and I had our 2nd date (which, if my single lady memory serves, makes us officially dating) last week at Blink Fitness, Equinox's new affordable gym. We had a free trial- my kind of price- but membership is only $20 a month!

This is most certainly a bare bones work out facility, and for those of you who love to hit the cardio & weight machines and do your own thing, probably heaven.

For a class lover like me, not quite. I have never been a fan of mindless indoor cardio (though having a date on the elliptical next to me seemed to make the time breeze by) and like I said, since I train other people for a living, I kind of want someone else to tell me what to do for a change. That's why I love classes so much.
I will say this: Blink is beautiful, new, and SUPER clean! I was especially impressed with the built in iPod/iPhone chargers on the machines! You don't have to worry about using up the juice on your phone while you work out or it crashing to the ground. Very nice touch!
One last piece of advice: If you plan on showering, BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL!

There are showers, but no towels (or toiletries), so you will be forced to drip dry or take a good old fashioned hooker shower- like I did. TMI?
Needless to say, I won't be joining Blink, but I can totally see why other people are. If you live in NY, go to their website for your own FREE pass and see for yourself...

I will keep you updated on our upcoming Fitness Dates, and if you have any suggestions for where we should go/classes we should try, please comment and let me know.
Also, don't be afraid to explore the world of Fitness Dating for yourself... Grab a friend and get moving!

IT'S OFFICIAL...

2011-02-15T07:35:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow February 16th is the first day of group classes at Gotham Gym!

Classes are FREE February 16-23! Click here to register for a FREE class with me:
Thursday 2/17 @ 7am

Tuesday 2/22 @ 7am AND 7pm.
See you all there!

IN HONOR OF VALENTINES DAY...

2011-02-14T14:27:00.002-05:00

I have compiled a list of 14 things I am loving right now, in no particular order (except for maybe #1).

Being Married to Jay

This really goes without saying, but I wake up every day feeling so lucky to have found my soul mate, and to get to spend the rest of my life with him.

Charlie

He is a crazy, freestyle jumping, booger-faced, snuggle bug, lick monster... and I couldn't love him more!

These Babies

**Just in case you were wondering, the sonogram is not mine, and seeing how it is not my news I shall keep the identity of the belly anonymous. :)

Pilates on 5th

I am "back in school" at Pilates Academy International doing some continuing education and certifications. I have had the opportunity to work with some truly amazing instructors and am feeling very inspired. I am definitely not too cool for school!

My "Girls"

In my opinion, every girl needs girls. I am so fortunate to have some amazing ones in my life: my Mama, sisters, friends I have known for years, and now new friends (who I am super excited about turning into "friends I have known for years"). Here's to you, ladies... Thanks for being there!

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

This is miracle stuff! Try it and you will thank me.

Modern Family & Parenthood

Maybe I love these shows so much because they both remind me of my own family- who I miss like crazy- quirky and fun with a whole lotta HEART.

Joel Gott Red Zinfandel

Yum.

Eataly

AKA: Heaven. I can't get all the way into it, because you will be here reading for hours. What I will say is this: Go to Manzo, sit at the bar and have the Beef Carpaccio and the Pappardelle. When you are finished, grab a glass of wine for the road (BECAUSE YOU CAN!) and walk around shopping for pasta, olive oil, kitchen gadgets, etc. as you sip. Like I said... Heaven.

No-bake Cookies

**Note: not my cookies, but similar looking

I have seriously become obsessed lately. I have made batch after batch trying to perfect the recipe, and I do believe I have done it! The beauty is, there is no added sugar- obviously there are ingredients that already have sugar in them.
Makes a small batch of 8-10 cookies:
3 heaping tablespoons of creamy peanut butter 3 tablespoons of milk
(I used soy milk)
3 BLUE Lindt Truffle Balls (I know this sounds nuts and a little OCD. You can obviously just use chocolate chips, but we found them to be too bitter and strong for our taste...Trust me on this)
1/4 C oatmeal
1/4 C coconut flakes
Heat Peanut Butter, Chocolate and milk in a saucepan until the chocolate is fully melted. Stir in oats and coconut and then remove from heat. Use a tablespoon to form into balls and place on a plate. Cool in fridge for at least 15 min. Enjoy!

My All-clad Pan

All pans are NOT created equal. Jay bought this beauty for me for Christmas and it was love at first sight! I still can't bare to put it away, so it sits out on the stove top to be admired. This is my favorite recipe to make in it right now. Get your own here.

Mumford and Sons

I dare you to listen to Little Lion Man and not love this band. Their performance on last night's Grammy Awards was amazing and totally confirmed my love for them, and made me really want to see them live!

Callen Lorde

This amazing clinic in NYC saved my life! Well, my teeth anyway... and my wallet for that matter. If you live in NYC and don' t have dental insurance, this is your place. They give treatment on a sliding scale based on your income, so what was going to cost me $9,000.00 at a Madison Ave Dentist, cost me under $1,000.00 at Callen Lorde AND I loved my dentist! So stop putting off that cleaning you know you are overdue for...

Colorado

It's where I grew up and where my family is. I love NY, but I am very proud of my Colorado roots. Seriously, just look at it. If you haven't been... GO!

And of course, YOU for reading my blog! Happy Valentines Day!

WHY I AM AN AWESOME WIFE & OTHER NEWS...

2011-02-08T09:28:00.012-05:00

I'm not trying to be cocky, but I truly am an awesome wife. The proof lies in one simple word:

BEER

For Christmas I bought my husband a beer brewing kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop.
**Note to wives: BEST GIFT IDEA EVER!**
I got him the Everyday IPA kit. That is our favorite kind of beer! Hops, hops and more hops...

We decided to brew the beer right after New Years so it would be ready by Super Bowl Sunday. It takes 4 weeks total. I will say this... while fun- and a little like making a giant pot of oatmeal- brewing is kind of stressful. I never realized how many minor details there were to ensure brewing successful beer. For instance, yeast is a tricky little bugger. You have to sanitize EVERYTHING, because apparently it doesn't take much to make the yeast react in a bad way and ruin the whole thing. Also, there is a lot of timing and temperature taking involved. Things have to be done to the minute and to the exact degree to ensure proper brewing. I also never knew there were such fun words used in beer brewing, ie. The Mash, and The Sparge.

Here are a few more tips based on our experience that will hopefully make yours successful too:

1. Have 2 BIG pots. They say 1 and maybe a 2nd, but definitely have 2.
2. Get a big mesh strainer to fit the entire pot. Ours was too small. We made it work, but we will definitely get a larger one for next time.
3. Read the directions many times and watch the video before you start and FOLLOW them 100%. Once you get going there is no turning back (We did do this, and Jay even did some other online research to be sure he knew what to do. I just want to make it clear how important it was).
4. Before you begin, say "I love you" to each other, which will negate any brewing stress related snaps that may come out of your mouth later. ;)

Once the beer is brewed, it has to ferment for 2 weeks in a cool dark place. While we waited, Jay and I came up with a name for our beer and he designed a fancy label. So talented this man!

Then came time to bottle. We got some big fancy bottles with pop tops, but you can also use regular beer bottles and buy a capper. Bottling is super tricky. I give Jay major props, because he handled this like a pro. You have to siphon the beer into the bottles and it happens FAST! I'd say we did pretty well.

The bottles then have to sit for another 2 weeks, which was torture. We just wanted to try it! Luckily, Super Bowl Sunday was here before we knew it and we each enjoyed a nice frosty glass (or two) of our J&J Brewing Co. IPA: Boogie Brew*.

It was TASTEY! It was a great husband & wife project and we will definitely do it again.
For New Yorkers who are interested: Brooklyn Brew Shop is giving a class on How to Make Beer in Your Tiny Kitchen at the Whole Foods on Houston st. on Tuesday February 22nd @ 7pm.

*FYI Boogie is what we have nicknamed our cat Charlie, since he likes to shoot giant boogers out of his nose when he sneezes.

And now in other news:

- I was recently featured on Healthy Living Blogs as their Friday Feature! It's a fun little Q & A with yours truly, so head on over if you want to learn a little bit more about me and my blog.

- I also just got a job teaching more group classes at Gotham Gym in the West Village! I am super excited about this place and if you are in NYC you should definitely check it out. Classes will start on February 16th and I will be teaching be on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings. Times are TBA, but I will be in touch with more details soon!

Hope your weekend was as great as mine was!

LIVING OUTSIDE THE ZONE...

2011-02-02T12:08:00.009-05:00

The comfort zone that is.
I've been wanting to write a 2011 goals post since January 1st, but wasn't quite sure how I wanted to do it- or what I even wanted to say.
A lot happened in this Lean Body Life between the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011. I quit a job that wasn't making me happy (but afforded me many of life's pleasures), embarked on a new full time career, & decided to go "back to school" and get my apparatus training. All of these things scare the s#@* out of me, but I am doing them... and they are BIG, so why on earth shouldn't I do the SMALL things that scare the s#@* out of me too? This year I am going to do things that make me uncomfortable. Nothing crazy or dangerous (like skydiving: still not happening), but stuff I would ordinarily shy away from.
For instance, I don't ride bikes.

I am terrified of them. I even had to ride a child's bike in a show once, and it was a full day event to get me even semi-comfortable on it. I did it, but I was a mess, and had a minor panic attack every show. You see, when I was a kid, I was always in
dance or theater classes. I hardly had time to ride bikes around the neighborhood like normal children. Then, the older I got, the farther I had to fall, which didn't appeal to me in the slightest.
So here I am, almost 30 and afraid to ride a bike... not good. Thus, I have decided that this year I, Jenn Seracuse, will ride a bike- more than once- fearlessly! Obviously I have to wait until this frozen tundra I am living in warms up.

**Shameless inclusion of cute husband and cat in snow**

So for now... I took a spin class. Those of you who know me well, know that this is CRAZY! The last (and only) time I took a spin class was in high school- when I was most certainly NOT focused on physical fitness- and I vowed NEVER AGAIN!
Clearly, even stationary bikes are out of my comfort zone, so when my new friend Lindsay (who you will be hearing much more about soon) extended the invitation to take the class at Flywheel Sports, my first instinct was to politely decline. Then it hit me... I am not at all who I was when I first tried spinning. It would be silly of me to have the same feeling about it without seeing what THIS Jenn thought, so I accepted.
Was it scary? YES. Was it hard? YOU BET. Did I die? NO!
In fact, I surprised myself. I was working, sweating, jamming to the music and loving it! I pushed to keep up with the RPM guidelines, and most importantly, DIDN'T QUIT. I felt strong and powerful, not to mention euphoric- endorphins are powerful things. I even took away some valuable life lessons from the instructor, Holly (who was great!):

"Figure out where you want to be, and then do what you need to do to get there."

She was talking about RPMS, but it also applies to life. It's important to have a goal and then you can move forward and do what it takes to achieve that goal. It may be hard and you may want to quit, but if there is one thing I have learned in life- and in spin class- once you lose momentum or even stop, it's a lot harder to get going again.

"Leave whatever you don't need- whatever is weighing you down- behind, and just GO."

Again, a great life lesson. The past is the past. Hanging on to past failures, or even past successes, too tightly takes a lot of energy. Energy which could be put toward moving forward.
A great workout and some inspiration? Yes please!

So... I have conquered my fear of indoor cycling, bringing me one step closer to riding an actual moving bicycle. I heard that Punxsutawney Phil Says Spring Will Come Early this year. I better get back to spin class- not for a few days though, as my butt is very sore- and get ready! Rest assured I will keep you posted on my progress.

How about you? How will you live "Outside the Zone" this year??

PILATES @ YOUR DESK...

2011-01-28T10:17:00.004-05:00

with me! I created a Pilates core workout that can be done right where you are sitting reading this...
Curious?? Tell your boss you want me to come and show you how it's done.
I will be at Deutsch Inc today... I could be in your office tomorrow!!

DECEMBER DOESN'T COUNT...

2010-12-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

Clearly, based on the date of my last Blog post, I have subscribed to this silly notion that often gets the better of people this time of year.
Somehow, it is so easy to write off December. "It's the Holidays" becomes the excuse that works for everything. For example...
I can eat/drink whatever I want... It's the Holidays.
I can't start any new projects/business ventures... It's the Holidays.
I don't have time to work out... It's the Holidays.
I don't have time to clean... It's the Holidays.
The list goes on and on and believe me, I have used them all. I woke up the other morning feeling in a total haze and I found myself thinking "I can't wait for January when I can get focused again." and then I mentally slapped myself in the face and said "HELLO?!? What in the world does January have to do with anything??" Seriously, what is so magical about January?
NOTHING!
We we use the "It's the Holidays" excuse to let everything go in December, so we have to work twice as hard in January to just get back to where we started.
So how to we fight the haze? How do we make December count?
*I know it is already December 22nd, but trust me the majority of the damage happens from now until Jan 1st, so here are a few tips for keeping your waistline and your sanity in tact during "The Holidays".

1. Move your body! Schedule your workouts like you do your Holiday Parties. Make them a priority. It's the best gift you could possibly give yourself.
2. Reserve the "whatever I want" days for the big ones- Christmas, New Years Eve- and don't feel bad about it. There are some days when it's impossible to be good...
3. Think before you eat!

It's so easy to munch on goodies and party snacks, but do you really even WANT them? Are they even GOOD? If the answer is Yes, then by all means... but if you even have to think about it, put the cookie down!
4. Find other "Holiday" activities besides eating and drinking- ice skating, shopping, sledding, or simply taking a winter walk with friends are all good options.
These will be my sledding buddies... my awesome nephews Cade and Nash:

5. Don't stress out. Stressing out often leads to mindless eating of things like Christmas cookies and Fudge. When you feel yourself starting to go there, just tell yourself "It's not that serious," because it probably isn't.
6. Try to accomplish ONE thing on your To Do List every day- whether that means laundry, shopping, wrapping, errands, cleaning up opened presents, or returning that sweater that "just isn't you". I know the list is long, but if you can just focus on one thing at a time it won't seem so overwhelming.
7. Allow yourself to take a break from the action and SLEEP. My Bengal, Charlie is an expert at this one!

(Yes, this would be me trying to find an excuse to show a cute picture of my cat)
and most importantly...
8. Enjoy it! MAKING IT COUNT also means, being present and cherishing time with family and friends, so don't get crazy trying to be good either. Cut yourself some slack.
So, this is my first step in making the rest of my December count- picking up my laptop and blogging.
What are you going to do?

MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE...

2010-12-01T09:30:00.006-05:00

Ok, now that I have that, may I have your UNDIVIDED attention please?
I don't know about you, but the latter is a difficult thing for me... For most of my life I have been a chronic multitasker. It's not uncommon for me to be on my laptop, with the TV on, taking on the phone and playing fetch with my cat, Charlie (yes, I have a cat who plays fetch, he rocks). Often times, I feel a little something like this...

Now, I know it is much more effective to do one thing at a time and do it 100%, believe me I do. After all, if I am doing 3 things at once and giving each thing about 30% of my attention, I can't expect to get much more than 30% out of them. I think this mug (which I need to have) says it perfectly:
So what is a girl, who has to do 10 things at a time, to do???
PILATES! That's what.
I know you're probably thinking, "Wait, what? How did we get here?" but just hear me out...
The whole philosophy behind Pilates, is bringing the Mind and Body together, thus the only thing the mind can be focused on during a successful Pilates session is the body.
One thing at 100%- Are you with me now? Good.

There are Six Principles of the Pilates Method:

1) Breath- Properly connecting breath to the movement, which enhances circulation and helps remove toxins from the body
2) Centering- Initiating movements from the core or "powerhouse," and using these muscles to control the rest of the body
3) Control- controling of every aspect of every movement, so you are "in control of the body, rather than at the mercy of it." (I absolutely LOVE this quote by JP)
4) Fluidity- Flowing seamlessly from one exercise to the next, creating a dynamic series of movements and building strength and stamina
5) Concentration- Connecting the mind to the body, and knowing exactly where it is in space and what it is doing.
6) Precision- Proper form is essential to ensure you gain the most benefit.

As you can see, there's really no room to think about anything else, for it to be effective... And I don't know about you, but when I step into a session (or workout of any kind) I want nothing less than 100% of the benefits. Now, I am using what I know about Pilates and working to bring that kind of attention and focus into my everyday life tasks... I can honestly say I have gotten better! So, if you are like me, do yourself a favor, and try engaging in something that it is impossible to turn into a multitask. You will start to find it easier to give your UNDIVIDED attention, and also very rewarding.

image 1: mindcafe.org
image 2: buzzaboutscience.com

BOOTCAMP IS IN & PILATES IS OUT...

2010-11-13T12:32:00.009-05:00

HOT

NOT?

This issue has been floating around the internet a lot this week, do to a study put out by the American College of Sports Medicine, on projected fitness trends for 2011.

I say, "Why not both?" This in or out/hot or not thing is silly. It's likening these exercise systems to over-the-knee boots, or jeggings. I love how people like to call Pilates "trendy" or a "fad". Guess what... it's been around since the early 20th Century, and in my humble opinion it's not going anywhere. If you love Pilates, you love Pilates... period. I realize I may be sounding a little snarky, but clearly I am sensitive to this issue, because Pilates is not only something I believe in, it's also how I earn a living. The biggest argument posed by the article was that Pilates is too expensive. I think people are forgetting that Pilates was originally developed on a mat. A mat is what, $40 at most? And, furthermore, most reformer exercises can be mimicked with smaller hand-held equipment (stretch bands, magic circles, mini-balls, foam rollers).

I love the mat workout and find it very effective. Give me an hour and I'll give you a total body workout. Now, I'm not saying that the reformer, chair, or cadillac aren't effective, rather that the "too expensive" argument doesn't really hold any water.
The truth is, there really is room for it all. I know that Pilates is not for everyone, and neither is Boot Camp. The same could be said about Yoga, or Spinning or long distance running, or kickboxing...the list goes on and on. I think we have to realize that it's amazing that there are a plethora of exercise options open to us, and then try to see the ways in which these systems can work together, as opposed to against one another (I, myself, have been known to take a Pilates class on Tuesday, a Boot Camp class on Wednesday and Yoga on Thursday). In fact, this article in the NY Times from just a few months ago talks about how the Army has revamped its own training and fitness regime to combat (pun intended) less physically fit troops, who were getting injured more often. You should definitely read the whole article, but here is a little snippet I found quite interesting:

The new fitness regime tries to deal with all these problems by incorporating more stretching, more exercises for the abdomen and lower back, instead of the traditional situps, and more agility and balance training. It increases in difficulty more gradually. And it sets up a multiweek course of linked exercises, rather than offering discrete drills...

Some of the new routines would look familiar to a devotee of pilates, yoga or even the latest home workout regimens on DVD...“It’s more whole body,” said First Lt. Tameeka Hayes, a platoon leader for a class of new privates at Fort Jackson. “No one who has done this routine says we’ve made it easier.”

So, you see, even the ARMY (who invented Boot Camp) thinks there is room for both. What more proof do you need? I mean, I certainly would want this guy in my Army...

I don't know what is going to happen in 2011, but I do know this: I teach a Pilates mat class at the same time there is a Boot Camp class in the studio next door, and BOTH classes are always full. I'm just sayin'...

photo 1: mscareergirl
photo 2: Jay Sullivan
photo 3: Yogamad
Joseph Pilates Photo: I.C. Rapoport

CAN YOU BAKE A PIE??

2010-10-29T09:34:00.021-04:00

YES I CAN!
One of the things I have been wanting to cross off my Life List, is going apple picking in New York, and then making an apple pie... after 6 years of living here, I have finally done it! Jay just got a motorcycle(!), so I hopped on the back with a backpack to bring home the goods, and off we went.
It was, literally, the perfect weekend for a ride. The sun was shining, and the leaves were at their peak- the colors were amazing! I maintain that the best way to see the fall foliage is on the back of a motorcycle. It was so nice to get out of the city for a day and get some fresh air. Check me out playing Biker Chick:

We ended up about 75 miles north of the city at Fishkill Farms.

The PERFECT apple:

They give you a big bag and you can fill it for $20! We (ok I) may have gotten a little carried away...

Note to self- 20lbs of apples is kinda heavy- especially on the back of a motorcycle.
But we made it home and I got to work!
Prior to this I had made 2 pies in my life, both pumpkin for Thanksgiving, and I was super happy with the Martha Stewart crust or- if you are fancy- Pate Brisee recipe I used, so that's the first place I went. Martha has never let me down when it comes to baked goods...
For the filling, I found her Classic Apple Pie Recipe, which I modified a little: I did a traditional top instead of the leaf cutouts, and I eliminated the egg wash (egg yolk and heavy cream), and used a little water on top instead.
I also used a technique I found on this video (still Martha) for the bottom crust. Instead of rolling out the bottom crust you press it in the pie pan a little at a time. It cuts the dough rolling in 1/2, plus it makes an awesomely rustic and thick bottom. I will do pies like this from now on. **I didn't use the recipe from the video, so feel free to just skip ahead to the crust pressing part.

The first one was so good (And we had enough apples for 4 pies), I decided to make another one!
This time I got a little fancy and went for some leaves.

I found a star cookie cutter from Christmas and turned it into leaves by making the veins. Worked like a charm! I could feel myself channeling Martha!

Of course we didn't get any after it was baked because we were just too excited to eat it. I am sure there will be many more pies in our future, though... and many more Pilates workouts to counteract that butter crust!

THE GSMtm...

2010-10-26T15:05:00.004-04:00

worked for me! My lovely -and very smart as you will see- friend/walking buddy Jen is the mastermind behind the GOAL SETTING MATRIX(tm) and she was kind enough to share it with me on one of our walks back in September and I am now passing it on to you!
First, I want to give you a little background and tell you about my own personal GSM. As I have been hinting at, I am making some big changes in my life that have been a long time coming and are now actually happening!
Some of you know that I got my college degree in Musical Theater. After school it was Broadway or bust- in other words, find a restaurant job. And that is exactly what I did. I started bar tending right when I moved here (completely by accident by the way, I didn't know a margarita from a martini). It seemed like I perfect gig... and it was. My days were free to audition and I only worked 3-4 nights a week.
Fast forward 4 years... I had done some regional shows and also a tour, and every time I came back I start another bar job, and at this point, despise them all. I was also in an awesome relationship, and could see myself marrying this man and quite honestly don't have much interest in leaving for another tour or anything. I needed something more stable. There had to be another way... which brings me to PILATES and the joy of finding something that I love AND can make money doing! Heaven.
Fast forward 2 more years (this past September to be exact)... I am MARRIED- just had our 1 year anniversary! A certified and working Pilates instructor! And still bar tending... : \ I realized this was necessary in order to get my Pilates business off the ground, but right now, if I am not teaching I am bar tending and I would like to have a life and maybe even see husband every once in a while. So the time had come. I was ready to take the plunge into being a full time Pilates instructor!
Enter, Jen with her GSM. It was unbelievably helpful to me and I hope it will be for you too:

JEN's GSM(tm)

"So the Goal Setting Matrix or GSMtm...after reading a lot of self-help/goal-setting/be an effective person type books, I figured out a way to boil down goal-setting into a one-page reference.

Take a piece of paper, turn it horizontally and draw a rectangle covering the whole page. Draw a cross so that the rectangle now has four boxes in it. Each of these boxes is a quadrant in your GSM:

Quadrant #1 (top left): Write what you want your goal to be. Use the statement "I will" so that the universe knows you mean business. For example, "I will become a pilates instructor."

Quadrant #2 (top right): Write down the date you want to complete your goal. You have to have a "finish line" in order to know if you've crossed it!

Quadrant #3 (bottom left): Write down the people you will tell about your intended goal, along with your date. The reason for this is threefold: some or all of these people can support you and encourage you to complete your goal; some of these people can actually help you achieve your goal; by telling other people you make your intention real -- no backing out now.

Quadrant #4 (bottom right): Break down your goal into manageable steps for achieving your goal (you can also make individual GSMs for any of these steps if it helps you), preferably with target dates to keep you moving along."

And now, I give you my GSM:

You'll notice the date is November 1st, which is NEXT WEEK! It feels so good to be so close to the finish line! Here goes nothing...

**** VERY IMPORTANT: I, in no way, want anyone to think I am knocking or judging bar tending as a profession. It is a great and valid job and requires a lot of skill. It has given me so much in my 6 years of doing it- including my husband. It just isn't for me anymore and in order to move forward with my Pilates career it was time to let it go.

PROMISES, PROMISES...

2010-10-19T12:49:00.006-04:00

Yes, a musical currently running on Broadway, but also... something you shouldn't make unless you intend to keep.

With that being said, I apologize for (unintentionally) not keeping mine. As you have probably noticed there haven't been any new videos this month, which I promised there would be. I should have known better. The truth is, that whole "overwhelmed state of being" hasn't really let up, and something had to give. Thus, the videos have just been put on hold for a little while. I am also taking the Weekly out of the titles. I hope to have Lean Body Workouts back online soon. In the meantime, please continue to watch the videos that are up, and if you are in the NYC area, come take a real-live Lean Body mat class (see schedule to your right), or private session from me.
I am working on some really cool upcoming posts-including my first ever apple pie and an awesome goal setting and achieving method- so I hope you will stay tuned even though my appearances have been rather sporadic lately. I don't promise to do better, but I do intend to. I pinky swear...

Just kidding.

GIVE ME THE MUSIC...

2010-10-06T10:24:00.006-04:00

I have been playing around with incorporating music into my Mat Classes, lately, and I must say, it is quite enjoyable! It's been pretty gloomy here in NYC and my students and I needed a little pick-me-up. Music always puts some pep in my step, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Until now, I never used music, mostly because that is how I was trained, and quite frankly it's a lot of pressure to choose the right soundtrack... I have taken classes with and without music, some successful, some not. The best playlist is one that you notice but aren't tuned into, so that the mind can still focus on the body. The music should enhance the movements, not distract from them.
So without further adu, I give you a Lean Body Pilates Mix for your listening and Pilates-ing (not a word) pleasure. Enjoy!

1. Dog Days Are Over- Florence and the Machine
2. Black and Gold- Sam Sparro
3. Sweet Disposition- The Temper Trap
4. Giving Up the Ghost- Dj Shadow
5. Drum Song- The Temper Trap
6. Tight Rope- Janelle Monae
7. Terrapin (Mr. Scruff Mix)- Bonobo
8. Forever- Chris Brown
9. Chaimbermaid Swing- Parov Stelar
10. The Last Dance- Parov Stelar
11. Wanna get- Parov Stelar
12. Spy Game- Parov Stelar
13. Let the Drummer Kick- Citizen Cope
14. Shine- Black Gold
15. Shot in the Back of the Head- Moby

IT'S OFFICIAL...

2010-10-05T12:58:00.003-04:00

I am overwhelmed! My current state of being can best be described by this cartoon:

There's a lot happening with me and with Lean Body Pilates, and it's all starting to catch up with me. I tell you this, because ordinarily I would be releasing a new Lean Body Weekly Workout today, but I really needed a week off and regroup. I hope you all understand...
I promise to be back next week with something great! In the meantime, you can view and do past Lean Body workout on my You Tube Channel or the Lean Body website.

WEEKLY WORKOUT #8...

2010-09-29T13:22:00.004-04:00

Side Leg Series #2!!!

There are so many variations on the Side Leg Series, so I wanted to do two videos. And, honestly, don't be surprised if somewhere down the line Side Leg Series #3 pops up. I just can't get enough of this amazing hip, thigh and butt workout...
The key word for this series is "rotation". Once you check it out you will see what I mean. You can view it on the Lean Body Pilates website here OR on the Lean Body Pilates You Tube channel here.
Have fun!

WATCH ME...

2010-09-26T12:38:00.006-04:00

and WORK OUT with me on the new Lean Body Pilates You Tube channel!
Check it out!

WEEKLY WORKOUT #7...

2010-09-21T09:35:00.004-04:00

is all about the side leg series!

I must admit this is one of my favorite parts of the Pilates workout. Get ready to feel the burn and sculpt sexy hips, thighs and butt!

*Quick reminder it's not about range of motion, it's all about the control... so, for example, it's no use kicking your leg all the way up to your face, if your hips fall completely out of alignment. Remember: Hips stacked, shoulders stacked, abdominals engaged, and crown of the head reaching to the opposite wall keeping the neck nice and long.

Enjoy!

LEAN BODY IS EVERYWHERE...

2010-09-20T16:03:00.006-04:00

Ok, maybe not everywhere, but I have found some new online communities that I am psyched to be a part of.
As you can see on my sidebar I have become a Foodbuzz Featured Publisher! Foodbuzz is a San Fransico based company that is essentially "facebook for foodies". It's a great way to share recipes/cooking tips/restaurant reviews... all things food related. Featured Publishers get their content highlighted, an opportunity to actually make a little money through advertisements, and lots of other cool perks- bring on the samples! Lean Body Pilates may not be a traditional food blog, but I do LOVE food- from eating (obviously), to learning to make new things and incorporating healthy recipes into my life. It seemed like a good fit to me and I am glad they thought so too!
The other site where you can now find Lean Body Pilates is Healthy Living Blogs.

Healthy Living Blogs is a new resource for the health blogging community. Created by Lindsey of Sound Eats- a great blog BTW, HLB is designed to enhance the positive community of the healthy living blog world. Once again... good fit! I love fitting in!
So, check me out in my 2 new spots!
**And if you happen to join foodbuzz, be sure to become my friend and buzz me!

I HAVE FOUND FOOD HEAVEN...

2010-09-16T15:56:00.003-04:00

and it is Joseph Leonard.
Jay and I happened upon this West Village gem quite by accident a couple of months ago. We just had drinks there then, but last week we finally went back for dinner, and I am already dreaming of going back...
Everything about this place is PERFECT as far as I am concerned. There is even a chefs counter you can sit at and watch the magic happen! We almost sat there, but it was a little warm, so we opted for stools at the bar (in fact, the exact spot in the pic below), but near to the chefs counter so we could still watch a little. ;)

The decor is amazing! Check out all the mirrors... Plus there's this:

I was in love right away... Thank God the food lived up to the decor (nothing worse than awesome atmosphere and not so awesome food).
I love sitting at the bar! We had an awesome bartender who was super helpful with the menu and the WINE LIST. It was hot, so we knew we wanted something white and refreshing. They didn't have our usual go to Marlborough Sauvigon Blanc, so we were a little unsure. He recommended a Muscadet... New wine to add to the love list for sure! So now that the evening was off on the right foot, we were ready for food.
We started with oysters on the half shell and octopus. Oysters are my FAVORITE, so that was a no-brainer. Jay and fell in love with Octopus when we were on our honeymoon in Positano, Italy, so there were some huge shoes to fill. The chef nailed it! I am still getting used to the whole taking pictures thing, so I didn't get a pick of it. But seriously, trust me and try it.

I DO have a pic of the pan roasted chicken I had for my entree...

It was served with golden beets, spinach and a spicy-onion relish.
I'm telling, there is nothing better than perfectly cooked chicken... lucky for me I found the recipe online on the Village Voice Blog. Score!
Jay had a New York strip steak with fingerling potatoes and a jalapeno relish.
Our bartender also sent us a complimentary side of "summer stuffing." What's that you say?? Stuffing in the summer? That's crazy...
Crazy good!

And as if that wasn't enough... then came dessert. Oh the dessert... We definitely felt like splurging so we each got our own! I had the salted caramel pudding.

There really aren't words to describe it's goodness. It was topped with whip cream and crumbled sugar cookies... need I say more? Jay had Carrot Cake.

I only had a bite (or two) because I was very busy with my pudding, but it was delicious! Both were a perfect ending to a perfect meal!
What it all boils down to is, Joseph Leonard is my kind of place.
Amazing fresh and seasonal ingredients+ awesome decor+ super friendly and knowledgeable staff+ a VERY handsome dinner date= Heaven!

food photos:serious eats NY
interior photos:Sam Horine

WEEKLY WORKOUT #6...

2010-09-14T12:14:00.004-04:00

Even with my new walking obsession, I still found time for my Lean Body Weekly Workout. Check out #6!

It's a shorter video this time, but has a big pay off... lots of balance and strength work with quadruped and planks. Hope you are ready for a great total body workout!

WALK THIS WAY...

2010-09-13T17:21:00.013-04:00

to better physical and mental health!

I admit that I never really gave walking too much thought. Maybe, it's because I am a New Yorker, and that's what we do... walk. A lot. I recently read an article in Whole Living magazine (formerly Body and Soul), that got me thinking about walking. It discussed walking from three different angles:

Walking for fitness
Walking for therapy
Walking for meditation

I was so intrigued! Maybe walking's not just a way to get me from home to the subway and vice versa... Maybe there is something more to be gained from putting one foot in front of the other. I set out on a mission to try all three...

WALKING FOR FITNESS:
The first thing I did was to be more mindful and aware of the walking I was already doing- this seemed like a good place to start, because like I said... It's A LOT. I implemented the principles I read about walking for fitness into my everyday walking commutes:

-Practicing correct posture with the crown of my head reaching to the sky and shoulder melting down my back and of course my abdominals engaged up and in.
-Keeping my strides short, quick and light, rolling from my outer heel to my big toe (not as easy as it sounds)
-Keeping my elbows bent at a 90 degree angle swinging from the shoulder joint bringing my fist up as high as my chin and back to my hip (I have lovingly named this "Barbie Arms") -And lastly trying to make sure I am at at least 75% of my max heart rate and no slower than 3mph

Now, instead of dreading my walk to the train, or gym, or grocery store, I look forward to it! It's like I get a mini workout without taking any extra time out of my day. It is less of an annoyance if I am getting some physical benefits out of it. PLUS... I have been able to incorporate fitness walking into one on my private clients' routines, by going to the park and coaching her as she walks. She needs more cardio on top of the Pilates, but has a hard time staying motivated and focused, and also has troubles with her knees. Having me there to remind her "how" to walk has been so good for her! She has already made great strides- pun ABSOLUTELY intended! ;)

WALKING FOR THERAPY:
I have a little bit of experience with this one, because Jay and I like to walk together. We would much rather walk than take a train if we can. We even walked to Manhattan from Queens over the 59th street bridge to avoid the subway. My favorite tradition of ours, is walking around the Jackie O reservoir in Central Park on Thanksgiving Day. It's so beautiful, especially in the fall! Plus we feel better about stuffing ourselves later...
He was the only person I ever really walked this with, so I thought why not try out this therapeutic walking business with some girlfriends. I happen to be going through some pretty big life changes (which I will discuss here when the time is right) and I knew I wasn't alone, so I was hoping I could get some gals on board. I was right! I have had successful walking dates with a couple girlfriends (one of whom is a new mom, so we combined fitness and therapy in one) and plan to have many more! It's a much healthier- not to mention inexpensive- way to hang out with the people I love, than grabbing a drink or eating out. It's also a great way to explore. I found two new places I never even knew existed in Central Park the other day with my girlfriend, Shea: check them out here and here; and I went to Astoria park- which is very close to my house and which I had never been to in over 3 years of living in Queens- with new Mommy, Jen. I highly recommend taking a walk next time you are craving some girl time or spouse time. It's a wonderful way to connect, talk, listen, and burn some calories in the process.

WALKING FOR MEDITATION:
This one has been the hardest for me but I am working on it... I think it's because there are so many distractions here in NYC. Even if I wanted to quiet the gazillion thoughts traveling around in my mind, the fire truck blaring it's siren has other plans for me. I am sure meditating is a lot easier in a place like this:

I think another trick is not having a destination in mind, or a time that you have to be anywhere at least. I do walk by myself a lot, but I am always going somewhere.
I'm going to keep trying to figure this one out, and I'll keep you posted.

I am extremely thankful to Whole Living for opening my eyes to walking, and how much more there is to it than just getting from one place to another. If you are like me, and live in a city that requires you to walk from place to place, I encourage you to cherish that time, and use it to your advantage. If you live in a "car culture", find a trail or path, and a buddy and move those feet! Relish in the fact that your body has the ability to propel you forward- literally and figuratively- and move you where you need/want to go in life.

WEEKLY WORKOUT #5...

2010-09-08T08:40:00.003-04:00

It's time to flip it over and do some back extension work!

** One quick tip/reminder: When you are on your tummy, relax the legs and butt on the floor and press the hip points down into the mat, as you draw the belly UP and IN away from the mat- keeping it engaged- so it is never splayed out on the floor. This will keep your lower back protected as you work those back muscles! Have fun!

NYC IS HOT, HOT, HOT...

2010-09-01T13:44:00.006-04:00

and I have a cold! Ugh.
The only comfort of a summer cold is how awesome icy treats feel sliding down a sore throat, so it seemed like the perfect time to let you all in on my new favorite frozen treat.

BANANA SOFT SERV!

This is some I made yesterday

I found this gem of a "recipe" on Choosing Raw on a post entitled "This Post Will Change Your Life." I had to try it! I use the term recipe loosely, because literally all you do is stick 2-3 cut up bananas in the freezer- I put them in a tupperware- for a few hours and then throw them in the food processor. Process for a about 5 minutes and I kid you not you will have super creamy banana soft serve! It has to be a processor, not a blender, otherwise you'll just have a banana smoothie.
Once you have the base you can mix it up with melted dark chocolate, chocolate chips or peanut butter (Jay's favorite). I kinda just like it plain though.
This definitely fits into a Lean Body Lifestyle... It's a great way to enjoy a sweet frozen treat without the guilt.
IT'S BANANAS!
Sorry for the pun... I think my husband is wearing off on me. Enjoy!

WEEKLY WORKOUT #4...

2010-08-31T09:35:00.005-04:00

This video is all about ABS! Get ready to work... It's a doozy! Check it out here.

P.S. I am loving all the feedback on facebook, but I would really love to get some more commenting happening on the blog... Thanks for all your support!

COOKING LIGHT...

2010-08-27T11:10:00.007-04:00

is probably my favorite magazine at the moment. I swear, it's like Christmas when it comes in the mail every month! I was particularly looking forward to this months issue, because I was in a serious food funk. Over the past several months, I have developed a true love of cooking, but lately I have been feeling totally uninspired by food... which for anyone who knows me is TOTALLY CRAZY. Enter the September issue of cooking light to save the day... I read it twice and am totally back on track!

Last night I made salmon* and a Golden Corn Salad with Fresh Basil from the magazine. It was soooo good and totally easy! I got the ingredients from this AMAZING (but super expensive) grocery store on the Upper East Side called Eli's. They have the most beautiful produce! I snapped a pic of the heirlooms in my basket to send to Jay.

It is right across the street from my Thursday night mat class, so I tend to find myself in there after I teach. I am glad I am only in that neighborhood one day a week or I would be broke!

So, here is the magazine version:

and mine (Jay's plate turned out to be prettiest):

Not too shabby, right?? I wish I had better lighting and composition, looking at it now, but we were hungry and anxious to dig in... I swapped the regular cherry tomatoes for heirlooms- my favorite- and bought white corn, because it was fresh and local. To quote Jay, "This is one of the best meals you have ever made!" It will definitely become a staple around here. Thank you Cooking Light!
Oh and, as a bonus, this issue also has a great article about Pilates! It's good for anyone thinking of giving it a try for the first time...

*We just really wanted Salmon. You could serve the salad on it's own or with almost anything really.

WEEKLY WORKOUT #3...

2010-08-24T14:00:00.004-04:00

is all new!
The location is new. The format is new. And we have seriously beefed up the audio. I am so excited!
This week we are working on leg circles and shoulder bridge... I hope your abs, legs and glutes are ready for a great workout... check it out here!

TURNING WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH...

2010-08-18T11:08:00.021-04:00

How I went from this:

to this:

Long before I became a Pilates Instuctor my life was centered around my core. In 2001 I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. For those of you who may not know what that is- I certainly didn't- it is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the GI tract, especially the colon. Lately I have been thinking about how far I have come in the last (almost) 10 years since that diagnosis. I was 18 years old, and it was devastating. It would have been very easy to allow my disease to control my life and defeat me. In fact, I did for a little while. I let it win at first. I stayed in bed for a whole month straight, and I could have easily stayed there forever. The word "chronic" felt so final and hopeless. I felt horrible and sick and was totally depressed. There were a lot of "Why me" moments. Until, finally, there came a moment when I had to say- "What do I want my life to be?" and the answer was not "Crohn's Disease," so I got out of bed. Did I feel like a million bucks right when I made that decision? Not even close, but I had a life to live, and that wasn't going to happen lying in bed feeling sorry for myself.

Fast forward (not forgetting that it took a lot of time and patience to get here) to now, which brings me to Pilates... honestly, if on the same day I got my diagnosis the doctor also told me I would be teaching Pilates in 10 years, I probably would have laughed; but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense... Maybe it was because of the "weakness" in my middle, that I was so attracted to the core strengthening of Pilates... And now, here I am actually earning a living from it; and feeling happier (and healthier) than I have in years! How beautifully ironic... I am so grateful for my "weakness", because it showed me how strong I really am.

For those of you who, like me, have been dealt a less than desirable hand, that's no excuse not to do and experience everything you want to. There don't have to be boundaries, obstacles maybe, but that's what makes us who we are.
Instead of "I can't do this because...", say "I can do this...(period)" Who knows, maybe you will find your calling... ;)

**All of that being said, I can not stress enough that you know your own body better than anyone. Please listen to it. And if you are seeing to a doctor, listen to him/her. If rest is what you need, then rest. It's not only about pushing yourself physically, it's about pushing yourself mentally. What I am encouraging you to do is not let your brain dwell on, and get overwhelmed by the negativity that can come from bad news - whether it be a poor health diagnosis, a death, a break up/divorce, a lost job... the list goes on and on. Take the time you need to cope (remember my month in bed?) and then get up. I promise it will be worth it.

Photo 1: Getty images
Photos 2&3: Jay Sullivan

WEEKLY WORKOUT #2...

2010-08-17T11:09:00.006-04:00

is up! Check it out here and "roll" with me. I am planning some new things (new locations and format) for the videos coming up, so please keep watching every week!

P.S. I have had a post formulating in my brain for a few days now...

I am hoping it comes out in complete sentences soon. Thanks for bearing with me!

IT'S HERE...

2010-08-10T13:21:00.007-04:00

The first Lean Body Pilates Weekly Workout!
Check it out here! I will be releasing a new video on my website every week, focusing on a different part of the Pilates mat workout. Enjoy!

AS I MENTIONED...

2010-08-03T11:32:00.004-04:00

I am going to be filming a series of short Pilates workout videos for my website... I want to hear from YOU:
1) Are there any specific exercises you are having trouble with or would like to have broken down?
2) Are there specific body parts you would like to target?
3) What do you look for in a workout video, and what are some of your favorites?
I would absolutely love the feedback so please comment and feel free to share with others. Thanks!

P.S. Project clean eating is going well! Here are the heirlooms I scored at the farmers market yesterday!

CLEANING UP MY ACT...

2010-08-02T10:14:00.012-04:00

As some of you know, I am going to be making some short online videos which I will release once a week on my website. I am SUPER excited about this project and I have decided in an effort to make these videos portray the very best version of myself, I want to clean up my eating. Unfortunately this means... (cue ominous dun, dun, duuuun music) cutting carbs, sweets and wine, and sticking to lean protein and fresh veggies and fruit.

=
CLEAN

Lucky for me my husband has agreed to clean up his act as well- which makes cheating impossible since I also have to answer to him. I really want to believe that I wouldn't cheat, but anyone who knows me, knows how I love the bread... and the chocolate... and the wine. Oh the wine. As Jay has oh so lovingly pointed out, "A little discipline would be good for you." I do have to admit, it was fun to go to the grocery store and fill our cart with produce every color of the rainbow. We made absolutely beautiful salads for lunch yesterday- I have to get better about taking pictures of my food.
Today I plan to take a trip to the Union Square Farmers Market as a treat in between teaching...

I absolutely love farmers markets! Heirloom tomatoes anyone??

Chicken photo: kraft.com
Union Square photo: theweblicist.com

NEW CLASS ALERT...

2010-07-30T11:32:00.003-04:00

I will be teaching a group mat class at Zen and Yoga in Forest Hills, Queens!

Class is Saturday from 1pm-2pm. The studio is new and absolutely gorgeous! Come and see for yourself...

NO PHONE ZONE!

2010-07-29T14:54:00.004-04:00

Pilates class is no place for your cell phone...

I really thought this was a no brainer, but apparently not, given the amount of cell phone ringing (not to mention cell phone ANSWERING) I have experienced in my classes lately. That goes for texting too. Why on earth would you be reading or sending a text in the middle of side legs?? Pardon my rant... the thing is, it's rude. It's rude to me, rude to the other students, and actually rude to yourself- you can not possibly be getting all you want out of your Pilates workout if you are paying attention to your phone. It's an hour of your life that I would hope you would give your self the gift of being unavailable.

TIS THE SEASON...

2010-07-26T09:23:00.009-04:00

Tomato season to be exact!

Being an Italian, I am naturally tomato obsessed, and I feel like this obsession only gets stronger every year as tomato season rolls around. In fact, this year, Jay and I decided to grow our own! So far the venture has been mildly successful. We are still semi-patiently waiting for the abundance of lycopene deliciousness we fantasized about. However we were able to grab a handful of sun gold tomatoes off the vine......and were inspired to make our favorite tomato-centric recipe: Tomato Basil Bruschetta. We discovered this particular recipe from watching the movie Julie and Julia and basically drooling all over ourselves as she fries up (yes fries up- I know, I know) peasant bread and loads it with all different colors of our beloved tomatoes. Seriously drooling. I am drooling now as I write this... Get the recipe direct from the food stylist on the movie here.
Obviously our small handful was not going to do the trick, so we took a field trip that I have been DYING to take ever since seeing this Martha Stewart Episode. We headed out to the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Yes, you read the correctly ROOFTOP FARM! It is a real working farm up above it all with a killer view of the Empire State Building, and I have the pics to prove it.

Definitely more impressive than our "Patio Farm in Queens". Baby steps...

The farm has a store that is open every Sunday from 10am- 4pm where they sell whatever popped up that week. Lucky for us they had tomatoes. We stocked up and headed back (the farm is a good 2.5 mile walk from our place, so it makes me feel less guilty about the whole frying in olive oil thing... wink. wink.) to make our bruschetta!

With the farm tomatoes, our tomatoes and not to mention basil from our "garden" it was pure heaven!

WHY CAN'T I ROLL UP??

2010-07-22T09:58:00.005-04:00

The roll up...

It's one of those exercises that people love to hate. Unfortunately for them it's a very integral part of the classic Pilates workout and is (or should be) found in every class. Since this question of "why can't I..." has come up a lot lately in my classes, I thought I would address it. First things first: Don't beat yourself up! This is not an easy exercise. In fact I find it to be one of the most challenging. There are many factors that contribute to difficulty with the roll up. The most common are 1) weak abdominals and 2) tightness in the hamstrings, lower backs and hips- yes, I am talking to all you desk sitters. So what do we do about it??
First of all, we make sure we are engaging the abdominals. Imagine you are wearing a tight corset around your middle that is pulling all those muscles in toward the center of your body- your belly button pulls in to your spine, your sides move in away from the walls around you, and even your back muscles hug up away from the mat. The truth of it is, you are wearing a corset- your TRANSVERSE ABDOMINALS. This band of muscle wraps around your waist from front to back. Yes, you have abs in your back! As you roll up, keep these muscles engaged and think of sliding your ribs toward your hips. I like to imagine I have springs on the sides of my body and they are shortening as I roll up off the mat.
Second, we MODIFY! Modifications have such an ugly stigma that I would love to get rid of. If you are tight and need to bend your knees... BEND YOUR KNEES, and if that's not enough bring your hands behind your hamstrings, and USE YOUR ARMS to help you roll up with control. You have to train the right muscles to fire in the right order, which will not happen if you give in to momentum, hurl yourself off the floor and let your feet fly up in the air. Speaking of feet flying up in the air... ENGAGE YOUR GLUTES AND LEGS! If your legs are straight, glue the legs together and down to the mat. If they are bent, press into all four corners of your feet and keep the knees tracking right along with the hips. Engaging the glutes and inner thighs will help keep the feet on the floor. A prop like a yoga block or ball between the thighs (above the knees) can also help keep the legs engaged. If these modifications are still not enough of you are dealing with serious medical issues, stick with the half roll back. For this, start sitting up tall and roll back half way (about the top of your pants) and stop and then roll back up and round over the legs as you would in the full roll up.
Lastly, I've said it before and I will say it again... Patience. One thing that most definitely will NOT help you is frustration. Be patient, and allow your body to get used to the idea of the roll up and it will come. I promise!

image1: bombshell bride.com
image2: easyvigor.com

BRAVO! BRAVO!

2010-07-13T14:42:00.005-04:00

I am a big fan of clapping at the end of my classes. Why do you ask? Well, it's simple, who doesn't like a little round of applause?? I want my students to feel awesome about what they just accomplished for their bodies and minds. It feels good to clap and say "Great work!"
Now obviously, I would be lying if I said I didn't benefit from the applause as well... I feel like I have done a great job when I look out and see my students smiling and clapping their hands. It ends the class on a such positive note.
Not a clapper?? That's ok... it's not required, but next time you take a class, just try it. I bet you feel good. :)

SUMMER SUPER FRUIT...

2010-06-19T13:54:00.004-04:00

Cherries!!

These little red gems are definitely on my list of top five favorite things about June. I decided to do a little research on my summertime snack of choice, and found that on top of their sweet yummy goodness they are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties, providing powerful pain relieving benefits. Score! Go to choosecherries.com to learn all the ways cherries can help you live a healthy life... not to mention make an awesome Cherry Chocolate Recovery Drink. Yes please!

SAN FRANCISCO...

2010-06-10T11:19:00.004-04:00

A city I can get behind... and by that I mean: get a "ROCKIN" behind!

I recently took a trip there for the first time, and I was lovin' those hills! It can be hard to find the time to sqeeze in exercise on vacation, so it helps to go somewhere where the workout is built in...

LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #8...

2010-05-10T17:30:00.008-04:00

Patience!

I have been thinking about this a lot lately,and noticing a great lack of it in people- from waiting in line at Starbucks to getting on and off the subway... to weight loss. As much as would like to use this opportunity to vent and rant about the impatient woman at starbucks or the man who pushed me on the trian, I shall refrain (kind of). What I want to address is our impatience with our bodies. This is something I myself have been struggling with lately. Some of you readers know that I had abdominal surgery in November of last year. Before the surgery I was in the best shape of my life. Now am in good shape by any standard, but I can't help but wanting to rush the process of recovery and restrengthening, and get right back to where I was before. I finally had to remind myself that I didn't get into the best shape of my life overnight in the first place, so why should getting back into it be any different? I have been much happier and able to focus on my body as it is right now. I'm doing my best to take care of it and strengthen it and the rest will fall into place. If you are looking for a way to tone and strengthen your body for life, Pilates is definitely for you. If you are looking for a way to drop 10lbs in 2 days... I believe there is some sort of "cookie diet" you can try...

Riiiight.

I'M BACK...

2010-04-28T10:27:00.006-04:00

on the BLOGwagon! I am slightly ashamed of the amount of time that has passed since my last post. Which I suppose added to it, because when I am embarrassed or feel bad about something, I tend to avoid it... not my best quality, I admit.

That being said I have a confession to make... In my quest for a healthy body, mind and overall life there is something that I have been neglecting- my teeth! I brush twice a day and floss- sometimes, but I have been avoiding the dentist like the plague, mostly out of fear and shame that I hadn't been in so long. I know. I know. Ridiculous! Yesterday this neglect came back to bite me in the you know what.

I was in so much pain that I was forced to swallow my shame, and fear and call a dentist (who had been recommended to me about a year ago, by the way). Long story short, he was super- absolutely not to be feared- and I had to have a root canal due to a broken filling. Not the best day of my life, and it could have TOTALLY been avoided had I just gotten routine check ups like a good girl.
It doesn't matter how much you work out or how well you eat, if you are not taking care of your teeth and gums, you can't have a completely healthy body. I recently read a quote from Sarah Silverman: "Death creeps in through your gums." I will remember this next time I am too tired to floss, or avoiding the dentist. A little maintenance goes a long way. It can save you a world of pain and stress, and not to mention, a lot of money. Plus... IT'S YOUR SMILE, why wouldn't you take care of it?

So I am out of my blog funk and done avoiding things. Expect to hear from me again soon...

WELCOME TO THE WORLD...

2010-03-22T19:35:00.005-04:00

Violet Ruby Zugel!

One of my best girlfriends gave birth to this amazing little lady on March 15th and I couldn't help but show her off...
Plus this picture is just amazing and will surely make anyone who sees it smile! I love her.

MY NEW FAVORITE TOY...

2010-03-18T09:01:00.011-04:00

The Mini Ball!

I recently took a workshop with Linda Farrell on incorporating this little toning gem- a "mini" version of the large inflated balance ball you all may be familiar with- into my classes (and workouts). It looks relatively harmless, but I assure after one hour with the mini ball you'll understand why its my new favorite toy. It's a great way to rev up classic Pilates mat exercises. There are so many ways to use it...

Squeeze it:
- between the inner thighs
- between the shins
- between the palms

Roll it/Balance on it:
- underneath the feet
- underneath the palms
- behind the lower back
- underneath the side waist
- underneath the pelvis/hips

AND WHEN YOU ARE DONE...

Take a nap on it:
- underneath the head and neck ;)

IF THIS IS HEALTH FOOD...

2010-03-16T11:34:00.007-04:00

Sign me up!
I have made this amazing Lemon-Walnut Chicken from a recent Fitness Magazine for dinner three times now, and every time it rocks my world. I substituted the brown rice for quinoa (another new obsession) and also made brussels sprouts (surprise, surprise) and most recently asparagus to go with it. Eating healthy has never been so easy and tasted so good! It just goes to show that you do not have to sacrifice flavor to eat well. Try this and more flat-belly recipes here!

image: Fitness

WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME...

2010-03-12T10:35:00.006-05:00

And they're always glad you came!
You all know how it goes, but I say: Why does this familiar tune only have to refer to your neighborhood bar? What about your neighborhood Pilates class ( or any class for that matter but I am slightly biased)...

One of the greatest reasons for taking a group fitness class is community. You are surrounded by people who, like yourself, are trying to incorporate fitness into their lives. I have a strong group of "regulars" in all of my classes, and we all delight in seeing each other week to week. Many people shy away from classes because they are afraid for one reason or another:
-everyone will be better than they are
-they are not in good enough shape
-the instructor will judge them
Rubbish! Having other people around you when you exercise can be a very good thing... And it's not just the teachers who may motivate or inspire you, but the other students as well. In fact, I had an experience in a class of mine that was the inspiration for this post...
A connection was made between two women who were new to my class (and Pilates in general). After class one women said to me "I am a woman on a mission... I just quit smoking, and I am trying to lose weight and get healthy." The other woman chimed in "I haven't smoked in 13 months... I promise you it gets easier!" This led them into a deep discussion, and they were still talking when I left the gym. It was so wonderful to see these women form that bond after my class. And I am confident they will be back (and maybe even be regulars), because now they know they are not alone. So don't feel shy or apprehensive about taking a class. You never know who will be on the mat next to you and what they might have to offer.

SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS...

2010-03-08T13:59:00.007-05:00

Makes me happy! It is truly a BEAUTIFUL day in the neighborhood! It's amazing what some sunlight, blue sky and about 15 degrees can do... I have been feeling the negative energy-zapping effects of those cold, gray February days. Last week, I cringed at the thought of leaving my house. I wanted to hibernate on my cozy couch. Today I suddenly feel rejuvenated and motivated! Not only was I excited to get out of the house, but I RAN to teach my class... and then I RAN home! It was glorious to breathe in the outside air and sweat with the sun on my face (SO much better than trudging to and from the gym in clunky winter boots, down coat, hat, scarf and gloves, fighting wind and rain or snow). I also noticed that my students were working extra hard today. They must have caught the sunshine bug too! If you are like me and let the winter get you down, take advantage of a day like this, and go out and DO something. Let the sun work its motivational magic and MOVE you!

MY APOLOGIES...

2010-03-03T10:14:00.009-05:00

I've been a bad bad blogger. Hopefully, when you see my newest Life Essential- and the reason I have been so absent lately- you will forgive me...

Ladies and Gentlemen, LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #8:

Charlie Bird Alouicious Sullivan

This little 3 month old Silver Bengal kitten has brought so much joy into our lives! My husband and I have only had him for a week, and I already can't imagine life without him! They say pet owners live longer, and I can feel the years adding on. In fact, there are many health benefits to pet ownership- they can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, encourage exercise, fight depression, etc. Check out this article for more. Those of you who have animals know what I am talking about, and for those of you that don't... I strongly encourage it!

I AM CURRENTLY OBSESSED...

2010-02-19T10:15:00.007-05:00

With Brussels Sprouts!
I seriously can't get enough... I have made them with dinner three times in the last week. Luckily my husband is on board!
I usually make this Rachel Ray version for Thanksgiving, but lately I have been choosing the less indulgent (no pancetta) method of simply boiling them until they are tender- NOT MUSHY. Throw a little salt and pepper on 'em, and you are good to go.
For more about the health benefits (included cancer prevention) of this high fiber and vitamin rich super food, check out The World's Healthiest Foods.

THANK GOD FOR PILATES...

2010-02-17T09:57:00.010-05:00

Without it, I probably would end up much like this guy on the solid sheet of black ice that is the walk between my front door and the train. My core has been working overtime lately! If you are like me, and live in a place where you are basically ice skating around during the winter (or you are just prone to falling down- which, let's face it, is like me too), Pilates can help keep you on your feet.

I love to incorporate balance exercises into my classes. Here is my personal fav...

The Quadruped

I like this one, because it's a great way to focus in on the transverse abdominals that wrap all the way around your core like a band. In order to maintain balance and keep your spine and pelvis neutral, you must tighten that band- as if someone is tightening a corset around your waist. Let's break it down...

1. Come onto all fours with your knees directly underneath your hips and your wrists underneath your shoulders.
2. Keep your back nice and flat like a table top and pull your navel in away from the floor and tighten all the muscles around your waist hugging them in towards your spine.
3. Without changing anything in the torso, lift your RIGHT arm and LEFT leg off the floor, reaching them in opposite directions and balance.
4. Repeat with the other arm and leg.

** Important things to remember:
- Keep pressing your spine up in between your shoulder blades. Your blades should feel like they are moving away from each other on your back, rather than pulling together.
- Spread your fingers nice and wide and press into all your knuckles to avoid too much strain on the wrist.
- Always keep both hip bones pointing down towards to floor. Don't let the hip of the extended leg turn out and lift higher.
- Don't hang your head! Keep your gaze about a foot in front of you on the floor.
- If it's too much with both an arm and a leg up at first... just do one at a time and work up to it.

bottom image by Jay Sullivan Photographer