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!

LEAN BODY LOVES...

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.

I'VE STARTED DATING...

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!

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

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!

NYC IS HOT, HOT, HOT...

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...

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!

WEEKLY WORKOUT #3...

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!

WEEKLY WORKOUT #2...

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...

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!

CLEANING UP MY ACT...

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

LEAN BODY LIFE ESSENTIAL #8...

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.