“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?...
Limited mobility is pretty common these days. The way I see it is, it’s a symptom of modern living. It’s very easy in our society to be too comfortable, too sedentary, and have too many conveniences. Those long drive-thru lines make me cringe. We go from plush sofa to a cushy bed to the driver’s seat of a car day after day. Mobility isn’t tapped into in typical life. The good news is the human...
Inhale for 4 seconds ➡️ hold for 4 seconds ➡️ exhale for 4 seconds ➡️ hold for 4 seconds ➡️ repeat  Feeling untethered? Try this breathing pattern for one minute (or more). I call it the 4×4 breath, and it’s a mini-miracle, creating a solid sense of mental stability, however long it lasts. Mental stability is when an individual can cope with the normal stresses of life, and as one of the teenagers I work with weekly said after doing this breathing exercise, “Mental...
Words have a strong effect, whether we are conscious of their power or not.  “I hope you enjoy your workout” is a tagline I’ve casually used over the years, and I never put much thought into it until recently. “Enjoy” is in joy, so to enjoy your workout connotes working out in a sort of self-created vortex of joy. Is this too woo woo, or should I continue? ???? Cooking in joy changes the food, and I think exercising...
Combining two or more of our Mindful Movement video workouts is a FANTASTIC idea. I’m all for it! If you have the time, energy and drive, you can’t go wrong with any combination. Here are five workout combos I’m really into right now: Affirmative Flow/Power Express – 30minutesGet grounded, centered and empowered and then grab those weights and hustle through a quick sculpt session. In 30minutes, you can set a high vibe, can-do tone for your day. BalletSculpt with...
We’ve had a lot of snow lately and my beloved trails are too icy to hike on, so I’ve resorted to taking my daily dog walks on the country roads surrounding my house. Rey (the dog) and I walk by some beautiful fields, a little lake, and a few gorgeous properties, saying hello to horses and ice fisherman along the way. I am forever aware that it is charming and serene, even when there are...
Pain is memorable. I will never forget the pain from my knee injury. I don’t know how I got my knee injury, as the pain just appeared one day, but everyday it is gone, I am aware that it is gone, and am extra grateful. Like all Injuries, mine felt very much like a curse, but evolved into a blessing. It made me cry, it slowed me down, and was very trying at times, but it educated and humbled me, and gave me a deeper appreciation for feeling...
Do you ever really pay attention to how you move? Do you notice how you shift your body weight into each step? How your body expands on an inhalation? How it settles down on an exhalation? We sure do glorify busy-ness in our type-A world, but that busy-ness sometimes needs to be left at the door, especially when it comes to movement. Our latest video workout, Moving Meditation, intentionally focuses the mind and slows down the breath, so we can move...
There was a lot of snow and ice in my childhood and I never thought much about it, but when I moved back to the Northeast as a 30something, after eight years in southern California, I had a big scare with one incident. I had rushed off the Metro North train, wearing sneakers and a backpack, heading to my car which was parked in the New Haven Connecticut commuter lot. It was dark and cold,...
