How about this…how about we all stop, take a minute, and think,”Hey, do my off-the-mat habits negatively influence my exercise routine?” As a trainer, I’ve learned it’s not on-the-mat that’s the problem – it’s simply getting to the mat in the first place! Here are what I deem as the top five biggest habits that set us up for exercise success:1. Organization (a.k.a., get your sh!t together!)Know where everything is – your keys, your water bottle, your life. Do you know...
I’ve known many people over the years who just didn’t have any inspiration, for workouts or otherwise, and I see a lack of inspiration as a root cause of a lot of suffering, a lot of dreams deferred. The mistake is that people wait around for inspiration to strike. They think it comes from the outside. And sure, inspiration can come from the outside. For example, I watched US Open Tennis and was so inspired,...
Wherever I’ve lived, I have always, always found workout buddies. I’ve found people to hike with, to take group exercise classes with, and even to run 5k or 10k road races with. It goes way back – as a grade school kid, I found kids that wanted to ride bikes and play tag with me too. I’ve come to see the act of connecting with workout buddies as a crucial first step. It’s foundational. Having people that encourage exercise,...
Can movement create confidence? Can movement remedy anxiety? Can movement eradicate stress? To tell you the truth, I don’t know. What I do know is that everyone has ups and downs. Life is not always sunny. Things shake us up. Movement doesn’t change those outside “things” but it does one very significant thing to our inside state – it brings us back to the body. Anxiety, stress and low confidence happen in our heads. They are thinking....
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...
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...
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...
The opposite of love is contraction. I know this doesn’t seem like it has anything to do with fitness, but it has everything to do with fitness. I must preface this by saying contraction is great when it’s on our terms. When we intentionally contract like during a crunch or a biceps curl. Contraction is not-so-great when it happens without us wanting it – like when we experience stress, grief, fright, worry, or when we...
