Happy New Year! Kicking 2022 off with Classic Cardio. In this 30minute workout, true blue cardio moves take center stage. It’s an easy-to-follow, low-impact aerobics class, complete with “half jacks” and grapevines. No equipment necessary. Shoes are optional. *This video will appear on Ellenbarrett.com on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 9amEST.
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,...
A new workout just arrived on Ellen Barrett Let’s Move! called Power & Balance. It’s a 30minute Ballet-inspired strengthening experience with lots of grounding, core connection and stability challenge. We filmed in a new location and I’m happy to report, Amy and Krystal joined me again, so you’ll see their smiling faces throughout class. Power is more than just strength. Power is strength integrated. Power is the entire universe of your body working as one, and it hinges on two things: 1. accessing strength and...
Extend and bend your way to an elegant Ballet-inspired strengthening experience. A “sticky” yoga mat and light handheld weights (1-3lb each) are recommended, and barefoot is best. *The video will appear on Ellen Barrett Mindful Movement by 9am EST on September 13.
The affirmation of the upcoming week on our ellenbarrett.com inspiration board is: ‘I’m up for the challenge.” This is a very powerful affirmation and applies perfectly to fitness. As a trainer, whenever I hear someone say it, I get psyched. It means that individual has a winning mindset and the possibilities for her are endless. Many many people quit before they start and it has nothing to do with reality. It’s only because their self-talk snuffed out their dream...
Grab your mat and join us for 15minutes of deep breathing and big stretching. This seated movement series invigorates the body and is especially great for limbering up the spine. *The video will appear on Ellen Barrett Mindful Movement on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 9am EST.
The other day, when I was stuck in traffic, I just started to take big deep breaths. I actually put my car in park and closed my eyes and just breathed in and out slowly and mindfully through my nose. It was quite soothing actually, and I felt like it helped minimize my frustration. And then yesterday, I had carried a pretty heavy bag around on one shoulder, all day. By nightfall, I could tell...
Whether you’re sleep deprived or not, there are moments when one needs more energy. It’s easy to fall into a coffee habit when experiencing a lull, and I certainly went through that phase, but there are way better techniques for bringing energy in. Here are my top five instant (and free and painless!) energizers: Do Five Minutes of Meditation – often we feel fatigue because our minds are on overdrive. Mediation helps slow the mental chatter which in turn settles our nerves. I love an open-eyed mediation,...
Joe Pilates famously said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.” He couldn’t have been more right. It is the first requisite. The body is meant to move and wants to move. Feeling strong and capable is foundational to joy. Now, what’s the second requisite? Well, I’d say it’s faith. Faith in it’s broadest sense, meaning complete trust or confidence in something. So for this topic, that means faith in your body’s ability to function, to heal...
