Many of the conveniences of modern life have made our range of motion smaller, our muscles weaker, and our cardiovascular capability reduced. We have garage door openers, drive-thru’s, and escalators. As the late great Anne Marie Benstrom said, “Do you know how much effort it takes to churn butter? No, you don’t!” It is no coincidence that the rise of the fitness industry coincides with the rise of modern conveniences. Society had to add intentional...
It’s very early in the morning as I type out this newsletter, and my house is totally still. The dogs and I are in my office with only one salt lamp turned on behind me. It’s orange glow gives me just enough light. It’s cozy and calm all around. I feel grounded and centered. And while I’m not pumping iron or breaking a sweat, I do consider my morning time a big part of my...
At times, a 15minute workout may be enough. Other times, it may leave you wanting more. Here are some of my favorite 15minute workout combos. They’ve got great synergy and they’ll extend your workout to 30minutes while maintaining a sense of invigoration. Quick Fix + Yoga Mat Work activate and warm your muscles, then settle down and stretch (equipment: a yoga mat and a blanket)💚Power Express + Stretch 360 get the heart pumping and your body warm, then it’s all about circles!(equipment: a yoga mat...
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...
I’m a fan of hanging out on a yoga mat. Whether I’m teaching or taking, I get to class early and simply hang out. It’s a habit, but it’s also a craving. On the mat is one of my favorite places! I contemplated this lately, asking myself, why am I so lured to on the mat? It really is so ingrained. If, by chance, I don’t get to class early and miss my mat hangout, I do notice the...
Seasons change. Right now, wherever you are on Earth, there is a shift. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, we’re leaving summer and entering autumn. When we think season change, our minds go to weather change, wardrobe change, schedule change. Lots of change outside of us. There’s energetic change within us too. Personally, as I approach autumn in New England, USA, I feel a little more ambitious. Like the squirrels, I feel an urgency to get things...
Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, teaches the art of folding, for folding well keeps your belongings safely, cleanly, and beautifully stored. You and I fold things every single day. We fold laundry, linens, and yoga blankets, and we probably do most of this folding intuitively. Well, the body folds too, and the benefits are vast. From a standing and seated position, we can fold forward. From a supine position, we...
If you’ve ever experienced knee pain, you know we use our knees a lot! If the simple act of standing up from a seated position hurts, how are we supposed to workout? Well, knees always need TLC, not just when you feel pain, and painful workouts are always a big no in my book, but we can still keep moving even when our knees limit us. The key is to feel out what you can do without pain. This will be...
People have been asking if I am going to be offering weekend retreats again, and after deeply contemplating it, the answer is no. My 10year run at Kripalu with Yogini Workshop was a blast – I met so many extraordinary women. However, my passion is in creating workouts and bringing movement into daily life, and retreats are a very different wheelhouse. Also, a huge part of the retreat experience has nothing to do with me...
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...
