The Barrett Blog

A Few Thoughts On Aging

Ellen Barrett

Yes, I am getting older. Yes, I feel the societal “pressure” regarding women and aging. And yes, I have a few things to say about it!  For one, I like myself. Why is that so radical? I like how I look and I like how I feel and I like what I’ve grown to be. I don’t want to go back in time and I am excited for what’s to come. I do not have media to...

Are You “Caring For the Self?”

I cringe at the term “self-care.”  I feel like it has been turned into sort of therapy-speak, and can get a little too indulgent for my taste. Like everybody else, I love massages and bubble baths, and sleeping an extra hour and saying no to too many obligations – all are a part of self-care. However, there is way more to caring for the self than that.  Caring for the self is “in everything.” It’s from what dish soap you use to how you organize your closet. Caring for...

I’m Moving!

Are you ready to move? It has dawned on me that I tend to dress for a certain kind of success? Movement success! My clothing, my shoes, my accessories – even my hair and makeup – are never too fussy so as not to sit on the floor, wrestle with my dog, or do some manual labor around the house. I look at the British royal family and all of their social committments and (sort of) feel sorry for...

Strong in Spirit

Ellen Barrett Blog Post

One of the big blessings of this year is it has heightened my awareness of my spirit, and to be honest, I’ve become a little obsessed with strengthening it. It’s hard to put a finger on it, I mean what exactly is a strong spirit? Well to me, it equates to one thing: a deep knowing that one’s life is “on purpose.”  Strong in spirit says there is a lesson to learn with every hardship. Strong in...

“I Surrender.”

We had a fierce, non-stop downpour on Friday afternoon into the evening, and it stunned me. All I could do was wait it out. I woke up this morning still thinking about the intensity and drama of it all. Mother Nature really is awe-some. It got me thinking….there are things out of our control – we can’t control the weather, stop time, or force others to think in a certain way. Over the last few...

We “Eat” With Our Eyes

Ellen Barrett Fit Tip

In 2018 and 2019, I went to see Amma, the hugging mother. She is a cherished woman from India, who has such a high vibration, people like me wait in line to receive a hug from her.  I love her and hope to see her again the next time she tours North America. Both times, there were vendors at this event selling Indian goods, like clothing, jewelry, candles and meditation cushions. One vendor sold an eye exercise...

Grumpy Quadriceps?

When stretching the quadriceps, I not-so-jokingly say, “This stretch is not a crowd pleaser.” Over the years, I’ve learned that nobody really enjoys opening up this muscle. As a trainer, I am tempted to skip it and avoid the grumpy looks, but our quadriceps are really tight – begging for a good stretch! The more we sit, the more we need to stretch our quadriceps, and even when we don’t sit all day we still spend most of our lives...

Make a Date With Exercise

Ellen Barrett Mindful Movement

I teach regular classes at a hotel called Troutbeck. It has a wellness spa that includes a nice little yoga program with a gorgeous yoga barn. Locals are members and attend classes, and classes are also open to guests of the hotel. I bring this up because I’ve been very inspired by the guests. Many guests have never done yoga before, or they haven’t been in an in-person exercise class setting before, yet somehow, they sign up and make it to...

Going the Distance

Ellen Barrett Mindful Movement

All I wanna do is go the distance.” – Rocky Balboa Rocky, the self-help guru? I think so! My family and I watched one of the Rocky movies over the weekend and there was one scene where Adrien is trying to talk Rocky out of fighting Creed. His response is, “All I wanna do is go the distance.” I immediately felt a ping upon hearing it. I thought, “That’s what I want to do too, Rocky…just not...

Set Your Sights On…

Ellen Barrett Blog "Drishti"

“Where the eyes go, the body follows” is (sort of) a famous yoga saying and it’s actually really profound, and layered. It’s about one’s drishti, which is Sanskrit  for gaze AND focus. It begs the question, “Where are you putting your attention?” In pure movement terms, where your eyes are IS where the body goes. Think Cobra pose – a big part of the pose is looking up. That upward gaze helps the body “snake” upwards into a more robust position,...

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