Before there is movement, there is breath. Breath is primordial. It’s the beginning. It can stand alone or it can partner up with exercise. You are always breathing, but how are you breathing? That’s the million dollar question. Show me how you’re breathing, and I’ll tell you who you are.There are fancy, in-depth breathing seminars led by prestigious breathing instructors today. There are books on breathing and breathing gizmos available for purchase. People are getting hip to the fact that breathing quality is important...
Things really start to ramp up this time of year, don’t they? I feel like there’s something extra tacked onto every day, either a chore, a decision, or some sort of outing. It is easy for our daily workouts to get put on the back burner. What’s a girl to do? Well, I just got hip to the term “habit stacking” and it’s definitely something to embrace. Habit stacking is when you layer in good...
Workout with Ellen in-person, and learn how to thrive with her three-part, three-hour workshop spotlighting the two greatest self-help tools of all time, your body and your mind. The first hour is a feel-good fusion flow workout, barefoot, low-impact and for all fitness levels. The second hour is a seated discussion (with demonstrations) of simple yet game-changing mental strategies that direct focus and build resilience. The third and final hour finishes strong with a lovely...
The ability to focus is a superpower. There are two types of focus. One is intensity focus, a honing in on something very very specific, and letting the rest of the world fade into the background. Two is endurance focus, a staying with something for an extended period of time. The first one is a sprint, the second one is a marathon. Your workout needs both and can nurture both. From what I see in myself and from...
From my estimate, the three most prevalent tension spots are: the jaw, the chest & shoulders, and the ankle & foot. Take a moment right now and see where there is tension happening in your body. The jaw along with the chest & shoulder area are obvious and you probably knew about a tendency for tightness there, but the ankle & foot? You probably didn’t realize until now. One of the many reasons why I...
“Let’s go from ground to crown.”I say the aforementioned statement a lot, especially at the onset of classes, as it covers a few bases. First, it’s a check in – how’s it going? Second, it’s grounding – am I here, now? Third, it’s alignment – is everything in the right place? All it is is bringing your mind’s eye to your feet and proceeding to work your way all the way up to the crown of your head. Noticing. Feeling....
Would you consider yourself limber? I bet most of you would, because you see how good it feels and how functional it is. But you know what? You’re a unicorn. Limber is not the norm. When I’m out and about in the world, i see the opposite of limber. I see tight, constricted, stiff joints, especially in men. It’s a real shame because being limber is entirely up to each individual. Sure, someone might be...
Okay, so you’ve planned for a 3pm workout. It’s 45minutes long. You’ve got your exercise clothing on and your water bottle nearby. You’re ready to workout, but there’s one more thing to do – put your phone on airplane mode. It’s 2023, and from what I see in my classes, with clients, and with myself, the cellphone is the #1 workout sabotager. It has a tendency to intrude, interrupt, and disrupt. I know there are...
The idea that “gentle” is for babies or for the injured, but aside from those specific demographics, you should be embracing intensity, is still alive and well in the world today, but not in my world. In my world, gentle is sustainable, nurturing and a winning aspect of longevity. What is a gentle workout? First, gentle might just be slower. It might just be shorter. It might just be avoiding certain ranges of motion that cause pain. Gentle doesn’t mean less effective. Secondly,...
Ladies, it’s our nature to ebb and flow. Our energies and moods fluctuate and our needs constantly shift. One day we’re extroverted and have loads of energy, and the next day we might need to prioritize a good nap. In 2013, the big catalyst for writing the 28 Days Lighter Diet was my realization that our culture ignores – and rewards us when we do – one of the most important aspects of women’s health, the menstrual...
