In the US, Labor Day weekend is upon us. Monday (Labor Day) is commonly a day off, and it’s known as the summer’s send off, where people barbecue, lounge by the pool or kick back at the beach. Ironically, it’s about not laboring. It has occurred to me that I’ve never ever had an un-laborous Labor Day weekend. It has always felt unsettled as it is a major cusp, where some things are leaving and new things are coming. There’s a subtle panic of,...
I advise not labeling your fitness level, or anybody else’s for that matter. What’s “beginner” anyway? Someone could have been taking Pilates class for years and still call themselves a beginner. And what does “advanced” mean? I had a legit professional cyclist take my class last week. He raced in the Tour de France and had big sponsorship from a bike manufacturer, but he struggled to sit cross-legged at the starting line of yoga. Fitness...
There’s a term in our culture, a woman’s intuition, that references how women can be extra clued into an inner knowing. In fact, upon googling a woman’s intuition, the first thing that pops up is: feminine energy is intuitive. However, to throw a wrench in it all, when you scroll down on that very same page, you’ve got a sponsored medical site that avers, “There’s no such thing as a woman’s intuition.” Well, as a woman, and also as...
Pilates Fusion has arrived, and it’s the type of workout I teach regularly. It’s effective, it feels good, and it works for just about every body. The Pilates Method is a series or exercises, but it is also a way of looking at the physical body in both a zoomed out/big picture way, and in a zoomed in/micro-focused way. The goal of Pilates is better-ing the body. That includes better body awareness, better movement control, better balance and...
When I was a kid, whenever I stayed over at my grandma’s house in Rockville Centre New York, she’s wake up and walk to her neighborhood church, every single morning without fail. I’d scratch my head about it, because six days out of the week, there was no mass or service. She’d go regardless, service or not, and simply sit in a pew all by herself, holding her rosary beads. Church was a non-negotiable for...
The only thing playing on the TV in my household is sports – basketball, football, tennis, golf, baseball….there is always a sporting event on the screen. I’ve learned to embrace it, and I’m actually very inspired by athletes. They are outstanding examples of self-mastery. One of the most universal things among the top athletes, no matter what the sport, is they are their own best cheerleader. They give themselves a fist pump, a subtle head nod and a “Let’s...
There will always be a legitimate excuse NOT to workout. Here are the one’s I’ve heard just this week: “It’s too hot outside.”“I slept horribly last night.” “We lost power during yesterday’s storm & it still hasn’t returned.”“Traffic was bumper-to-bumper.”“I forgot my water bottle.” Sure, they’re all legit. Each one is a perfectly good reason to not workout. However, most excuses are self-sabotage, and you and I need to be mentally on guard and see them as such. Nine times...
I can get really puffy. My puffiness manifests first in my face, especially around my eyes, but then it goes all over, throughout my whole body. There are culprits: air travel really makes me puffy. Drinking alcohol makes me puffy. Eating excess salt (potato chips!) makes me puffy. Not moving makes me puffy. Q: What’s the remedy for puffiness?A: Exercise and water. (Easy peasy!)All forms of exercise will do, but to get slightly more intentional, I...
I often refer to the front body as the sun and the back body as the moon. By waking up the front body you let the sun shine in and it does three immediate things: To my northern hemisphere folks, Summer Solstice Blessings to you. How about celebrating with front body extension? One caveat – it’s gotta be whole front body extension, not just your heart center. That means stretching the tops of your ankles, your quadriceps, hip flexors, and...
A daily theme, a daily workout, a daily mantra, a daily off-the-mat wellness tip, and a daily 30minute Zoom check in with Ellen. In the past our 7DAY CHALLENGE was via email, this time it’s all happening on your Let’s Move! Inspiration Board. Think of it as an extra push, keeping you energized and inspired in the middle of July. The Zoom call will be recorded. This is a free offering to subscribers of Let’s...
