HIGHS & LOWS..

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...

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!

NEW CLASS ALERT...

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...

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...

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!

PILATES MYTHS...

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.

IT'S OFFICIAL...

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!

LIVING OUTSIDE THE ZONE...

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...

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!!

BOOTCAMP IS IN & PILATES IS OUT...

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

THE GSMtm...

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.

IT'S OFFICIAL...

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...

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...

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

WEEKLY WORKOUT #7...

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!

WEEKLY WORKOUT #6...

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...

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...

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!

WEEKLY WORKOUT #4...

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!

TURNING WEAKNESS INTO STRENGTH...

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