We’ve recently had some brutally gloomy days with cold rain and weird fog. It was a “driving with the headlights on during the day” kinda day, and you couldn’t tell what time it was because the lighting never shifted. It was very low vibe. Even the dogs just wanted to stay home, curled up, snug in their beds. Working out on days like these can appear against the grain. It can seem forced. The last thing you’re thinking of...
Ever since I read, “The body is a sacred garment. It’s your first and last garment. It’s what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor,” I’ve been intrigued with Martha Graham, the famous American dancer/choreographer (and the author of the quote). I just learned that Martha Graham created not just dances, but also her very own, very specific, body conditioning method. I’d describe it as...
I live in rural Connecticut these days and when I have to go into New York City, I drive in. I’ve gotten really good at driving into the hubbub of Manhattan, and I know all the ways in and out. I even know the best parking strategies. The repetition of going in and out of the city month after month, year after year, has given me a keen sense of awareness, and has strengthened my...
I really do pay attention to things and I am a bit worried about the state of health in the US. There is a lot of chronic conditions and chronic pain, and so many people, women especially, go from doctor to doctor seeking help to no avail. From what I’ve gathered, the ones that tend to break out of the never ending doctor visit-to-doctor visit cycle, go on the offensive by doing these three things: ...
Have you noticed people looking down and keeping their arms tucked in tightly to their sides? Think of rainy day posture…eyes focused on the ground, small steps, contracted body language. There’s nothing wrong with this physical alignment in certain situations (like when you’re walking in the rain!), however, when it becomes your default mode, it’s a problem. To this I say, reach up and look up. Go on and physically extend your arms overhead and physically turn your gaze to the space above...
Fitness is a self-help tool for authentic wellness. The goal is wellness. Or another way of looking at it is, the destination is wellness. And you and I are never not on a journey towards wellness. We never get to the top of the wellness mountain and stick a flag in it and say, “Done!” If you’re breathing, you’re journeying! Remember when Oprah showcased her dramatic weight loss on her talkshow? She even wheeled out...
I love feeling strong. I love having good balance. It feels good to stand up straight. Cardiovascular endurance is such a great asset. My mobility is on fleek! These are affirmations that just rise to the surface – and become facts – when you move a little bit every day. The daily habit of moving is an open secret. When we see fit and vibrant people, we always want to know, are they kickboxing, bootcamp-ing, or do...
Struggling to get to your at-home workout space as often as you’d like? Make it feel more sacred. The space we workout in should be a sacred space. First, because we spend a solid amount of time in it. Second, because we work hard on ourselves in it. And third, because we shut out the noise of the world and connect to ourselves in it. Often, we think a space is sacred because it’s connected to religion, like...
You may have wondered how I create each week’s inspiration board, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to explain my rationale. There are some very practical factors, specifically with the workout rotation. For one, I don’t want to have back-to-back weighted workouts. I also don’t want back-to-back seated workouts. Movement variety is important. Second, a variety in terms of length is nice, so you’ll always see pretty much every duration represented each week. I truly...
You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” I have found this to be a thousand percent true. It’s true for me personally and for people I work with. As a personal trainer, the clients that never cancel are ironically the one’s with the fullest plate. At the root of this, it’s because the busy person has a tight schedule and he or she intends to keep it. There’s no time for procrastination. Kids procrastinate...
