I womaned-up when I became a mother. There was a level of responsibility that whacked me in the face. I thought, “I must have energy for Luca, and always have my wit’s about me.” It felt like I finally took ownership of my life. That was over twelve years ago, but funnily enough, right now in dealing with the covid crisis, it’s like de ja vu – I’m feeling this need to woman-up all over...
Joe Pilates famously said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” He couldn’t have been more right. It is the first requisite. The body is meant to move and wants to move. Feeling strong and capable is foundational to joy. Now, what’s the second requisite? Well, I’d say it’s faith. Faith in it’s broadest sense, meaning complete trust or confidence in something. So for this topic, that means faith in your body’s ability to function, to heal...
Self-help guru, Lisa Nichols, has a big go-to tip for successful living – find your tribe of unicorns. This very much resonates with me, especially this year, as I’ve relied on my tribe of unicorns more than ever. (I include my dog in my tribe!) My tribe encourages me to eat healthy, and to still have fun. My tribe won’t let me get pulled down by fear. My tribe exercises with me, and invites me on...
On Saturday night, I stood in my kitchen, attempting to make dinner for my family, when a wave of fatigue fell over me. I had had a busy week and the day flew by with a bit of rushing around, but I was well rested and hydrated, and it was only 6pm. I quickly realized I wasn’t physically fatigued – I was emotionallyfatigued. I get the sense that a lot of us are experiencing emotional fatigue...
Your body craves balance – balance in every possible way – but one example of balance I harp on incessantly is the one between the front body and back body. (Lucky for us, it’s one that mindful movement can fix easily too.) Most of our days are spent in forward flexion, i.e., sitting, slouching, rounded. This is the posture of sitting, driving, texting, eating and cooking, and if we sleep in the fetal position, sleeping too. Too much...
Spring has sprung here in Connecticut, USA, and all of nature seems to be telling us to level up. The birds are fluttering about, the daffodils have broken ground, and Rey and I spied a big black bear, awake and on the move on Good Friday! Leveling up means pursuing things. It’s action. It’s gusto. It’s rising to a higher vibration. It’s advancing. My son, for example, is in sixth grade, but he will soon be...
You may have heard of this man, Yogananada. He wrote a very famous book called “Autobiography of a Yogi” which transcended the yoga world and made its way onto bookshelves everywhere. The book showcased his journey on becoming an internationally renowned guru. (Some points of the book are hard to believe!) I’ve read Yogananda’s book over and over again and have many highlighted sections. When I’m feeling out of sorts, I pull out “Autobiography of...
This week’s news cycle reported that most Americans gained weight in 2020/2021. I am not shocked at this report. It was very predictable considering our government closed down gyms, yoga studios, public parks and beaches, playgrounds and sports fields. Our government told us to stay indoors, and stay away from each other. I noticed among my friends and family that kids quadrupled their screen time, adults doubled their alcohol consumption, and people of all ages...
“How long should my workout be? Is 15 minutes enough? How about 30minutes?” I get asked questions like these all of the time and I used to be very adamant about workout length being at least 30minutes. I though a 10 or 15minute workout accomplished nothing and real fitness meant putting in the time. I’m happy to report, I’ve evolved! I think 15minutes can be enough – and it can be the perfect amount of time too –...
Comfortable. Breathing easy. In no rush. Relaxed shoulders. Tension-free face and neck. Whether standing or seated, this is the body language of being present. It has become something I look for in myself and others before starting class. Also known as being grounded and feeling settled, being present to me is a warmup before a warmup. It’s like “get your mind and body in one place and then you get to move.” Why does this matter?...
