Piloxing

Many of you have asked me to do a post about Piloxing, so here it is!

I first heard about Piloxing a little over a year ago when an instructor came to me and asked if I wanted to offer it as a class.  
Piloxing is a hybrid of boxing, Pilates and dance.  Created by Hollywood trainer Viveca Jensen to give her Pilates students a great cardio workout as well.
Being the lover of Contrology classical Pilates that I am, I first cringed when hearing about this modern hybrid class.  I also am not the most coordinated person in the world, so the idea of yet another dance inspired class made me nervous.
But we set up a demo class, I put on a pair of Piloxing gloves, and LOVED it!  The choreography is easy to follow.  The Pilates portions of the class really speak to me and challenge me, and it is just so much fun.

My first-ever Piloxing class!

We were just getting ready to add Piloxing to the schedule when the instructor had an unexpected move for a new job.  Bummer.  No Piloxing.  Then 2013 rolled around and my boss decided it was really time to bring Piloxing to the Studio On Main.  She wanted me to get certified to teach it.  Gulp.  Being a student in Piloxing is one thing.  Teaching a dance/choreography based class is a completely different thing altogether! It is so not in my comfort zone to lead a dance class.  The ever-watchful, spotting, form-correcting Pilates instructor.  That's me.  Waving my arms, dancing about, being the Energizer Bunny...not so much.


But, you know what they say, that if it is something that scares you it is probably really good for you...or something like that.
So, I took the training.  And it was fun.  And challenging.  And something I knew I would need to practice.

From the training class.  So much fun!

For each class there are several blocks of boxing, Pilates and dance.  At the end of class there is mat work that focuses on the core and glutes (booty).  Turns out the the order of classical Pilates that I love so much is somewhat there for Piloxing, too.  With required boxing and Pilates exercises that every class needs to include.  A well-rounded mix of boxing for cardio and endurance, Pilates for sculpting and balance and dance for cardio and FUN.  I am always sore exactly where we all want to see improvement:  abs, booty, triceps (good-bye wiggle wave!) and thighs. Wearing the 1/2 pound Piloxing gloves ads a cardio boost and trims and sculpts my upper body. Also, the class is done barefoot and I have seen a big improvement in my plantar fasciitis symptoms.  I haven't had pain for months.

Half-pound gloves to mimic actual boxing gloves.

You definitely need to try the class to really get an idea of just how fun it is.   Piloxing is popping up everywhere now.  Head to Piloxing.com to find a class near you!

Oh!  I almost forgot!  I just did a local TV spot about Piloxing.  Check it out!

Fitness Focus: Piloxing - KCLive.tv

Healthy Eating Tips From For Everyday

This was originally published on A Complete Waste of Makeup on June 29th.  I am currently hanging out on Neely's sidebar.  Go check out her blog!

As a Pilates instructor and fitness trainer I get asked all the time for recommendations on a healthy diet. Thanks to 24 hours television, the internet, magazines, e-books and blogs we get a nearly steady stream of diet advice, tips and tricks.  Just a quick glance at my Twitter feed at any given time and I would see advice to go vegan!  Cut carbs!  Paleo for the win!  No fruit, no wheat!  All produce and grains!
Phew.  It is enough to confuse anyone.  So, that is why, when I am asked, I recommend a healthy, balanced approach:

Eat smart
Monday - Friday eat a healthy diet of mostly fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, lean protein of your choice and, if you like, healthy grains.

Saturday and Sunday remain on the same healthy track but if you want a cookie crumble frappucino or sushi or a steak dinner, go ahead.  One meal will not set you off course.  I don't mean a weekend spent eating anything and everything in sight, just a little more relaxed than during the week.

Eat real
If it grew at one time, eat it!  Stay away from anything pre-packaged.  When eating packaged food, read the label.  If it has more than 5 or six ingredients and/or ingredients you would have to Google to know, don't eat it.

Stay hydrated
Drink 1/2 ounce of water for every pound you weigh.  Example: if you weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 ounces of water each and every day.

Cut out soda
Ouch.  This one was hard for me.  I love bubbles.  And I still indulge in a good, old Coca-Cola Classic every now and then.  But it is once or twice a month rather than once or twice a day.  How did I do it?  Every time I crave a soda I drink a glass of water first.  Then I think really hard about it.  If I am tempted to stop at a gas station, I tell myself to wait and then, while driving, think about all of the negatives of soda.  I usually am able to talk myself out of it.

Cut our the fake stuff
This is really important.  Don't drink diet sodas.  Don't drink or eat diet anything.  Google the names of all sugar substitutes (aspartame, stevia, xylitol, sucralose, sugar alcohols, etc.) and STEER CLEAR of them!  I tell my clients that real sugar is better than fake.  Not that you should eat sugar all the time, but on your 20% day(s) have a cookie made with real sugar rather than a chemical-filled "sugar-free" cookie. Sugar substitutes have been linked to things like bloating, headaches and even some cancers.  It just isn't worth the risk.

Pack snacks
I am hungry quite often.  I am also on the go all of the time.  The number one tip I have is to never leave the house without a few healthy foods.  When I go to work I take celery, carrots, grapes, berries and nuts.  I like to keep a Larabar or small bag of nuts in my purse at all times.  This way, when I am out and about and starving I have something healthy to grab and will not be tempted to go through a fast food line or grab a bag of chips.

For more tips on healthy eating, workouts to do at home or anywhere, and more, visit me at
Forward From The Heart!

My Week In Clicks 7.13.13

JF and I were outside with Ivy last night and came in to find L sound asleep, DS still on, light saber stylus in his summer-scratched hand.  L is known for partying until he drops, right in the middle of an activity.  I love these little moments and wish they could last forever.

I love these Warrior Bracelets.  New words and a sale!

Living a balanced life.

I say both, but advice on picking Pilates or Yoga.

I remember finding out my dear friend had carried a single twin to term.  This post gave me the same fluttering heart beat, feelings of sadness and happiness, that I got back then.  

I met a gnome name Jerry Yardcia and I fancy him.

Mommys and Daddys will relate to this bittersweet post on the "firsts" our children make without us.

I love planning and setting goals!

Homemade Pretzels!

Fascinating (and beautiful) Fibonacci Spiral.

A slice of real life.  I feel like it's a page from my journal.

Confession session.

I can't part with my boys books.  Ever.  

Are we losing sight of what women fought for years ago?

May I be kind to myself right now.  And more on how to not let guilt grip your daily life.

Just 20 minutes of yoga can help your brain!

Fresh Summer Friday

Phew!
What a week!  I have been so busy with work that my brain has been on fire the past few days.  That is okay though.  Busy is good, and we have some really great events coming up!  I will be embarrassing myself teaching Piloxing on TV next week so stay tuned for details a good laugh.

Time for the Fresh Friday link-up with Katherine.  I still think it is just so fun and inspiring to look back on the week and think of 3 things that made it great!  Join us here.
Time for the 3 things that made my week fresh and fun!

Shrimp and cactus in a garlic tomato sauce.  I think I want it for dinner tonight, too!

Summertime craziness with my boys and our puppsy.

Long summer evenings.  I just love it when the sky is still light after 9 pm.

So, how about you?
What has made your week fresh and fantastic?
What do you love about summer?

Let me know!

5 Reasons I Love Energy Bits!

Thanks to Energy Bits and Vitality Bits I have had spirulina algae and chlorella algae as part of my diet for several months now.
These little bits are not a supplement, they are food.  100% dehydrated organic algae.  No side effects, no chemicals, no filler.  Just great algae.  For more info on bits, click here.

I love adding bits to my diet SO much and I am sure I will continue to share, but for today, here are the top 5 reasons that I love Energy Bits:

1.  I never worry about being hungry.
I deal with low blood sugar and when my blood sugar is low, I start to feel "not real."  This triggers my anxiety and it just isn't a fun situation.  I try to pack healthy snacks and to make sure to eat small snacks throughout the day.  But you and I both know that it is easy to run out the door without grabbing anything or to get stuck at a ball game or in traffic and being starving.  Thanks to my travel tin of bits I know that I will always have a great source of fuel with me.  I will have 10-20 bits when I am hungry but not in a spot to eat a full meal.  The bits fill me up, regulate my blood sugar, and keep me feeling great until meal time!

2. Plant Protein!
That's right, algae is really high in protein.  All of the bits contain at least 60% protein per serving.  A steak or piece of chicken typically contains 20-30% protein.  So, not only am I getting more bang for my buck, so to speak, I am also getting protein without eating an animal, something that I am always on the fence about.  So, to all of my vegan and vegetarian friends...you need bits in your life!

3.  I have stamina and energy.
When I have a handful of bits between classes or before a workout I feel great.  It isn't a jittery, crazed feeling like energy drinks, etc, provide.  I just feel great.  You know, that feeling that it's your best workout ever, you aren't tired, you just feel good.  And I love that.  As much as I love a good cup of coffee, I hate feeling nervous or overly energized.  EnergyBits are all natural so it's basically like I sat down to a giant salad, not a giant bucket of chemicals.

4.  My hair, skin and nails are so healthy!
I didn't really pay attention to that part when I was gathering information, but after adding bits to my diet I noticed how strong my nails are now.   And how I don't need to put lotion on my hands, that are normally chronically dry.  And my hair is growing faster, it seems...take a look at my roots if you don't believe me :)  It was an unexpected bonus for me and I am really enjoying it!  I noticed the benefits in less than a weeks time.

5.  They come in handy when I am at work.
A typical shift for me looks something like this:  teach a private Pilates session, teach a group Pilates session, teach a cycle class, teach a yoga class, teach a private session.  With less than 3 minutes between each of those it is difficult to grab a bite to eat and I used to end up starving and feeling horrible.  (See #1)  Thanks to bits I can pop 10-15 in my mouth, sip some water, and I am good to go.  It's a meal in astronaut form!  I don't feel very professional, even if my students understand, munching on nuts or carrots during their warm-up.  It is hard for me to talk, spot, etc.  Energy Bits have allowed me to get past this without starving.

Have you tried Energy Bits or any of the bits line?

Do you have questions?  Let me know!  I love talking about bits and the benefits.
Check out the bitsofhealth.com site, also Google away.  I am a googler and before giving them a try wanted to do as much research as possible.  The only negative I can possibly find or think of on my own is that bits taste like fish food.  But you can swallow them whole, so that negative doesn't really count, does it?  :)  

Forward From The Heart readers get 15% off of their order, just use the code HEART at checkout!

Pilates and Running

Hi friends!
I just love doing guest posts on blogs.  It is a way for me to meet and get to know even more of you out there in the blogosphere.
So, a few months ago, when I saw on Twitter that Robin was looking for guest posters I jumped, or ran, for the chance!
Check out my post on Pilates and Running here.

Also, I want to know:

What has helped you with your running?

What has Pilates helped you with?  Do you run faster,  sit more comfortably, hike farther thanks to Pilates?

Fighting Temptation

On my way home from work in the evenings I pass a brand new Quik Trip gas station that has soft baked pretzels.  A carb-loaded treat that always sounds so good after an evening of teaching.  I have yet to stop and get one and last night, as I was driving home, a tweet popped into my head:
"I am just as tempted as the next person to stop and get junk food.  The difference is that I don't."
A snarky humblebrag that popped into my head but I decided against tweeting.  Instead, I am blogging about it.  I don't want it to sound snarky, I want it to be motivating.  To myself and to others.  It is a testament to my willpower that I don't stop, and sometimes I feel like my willpower is zero.
While I don't usually stop for junk food, I do tend to over indulge in sweets, pizza with the boys and late-night snacks.  I have even talked to my therapist about what I feel is a lack of willpower.
He told me that I do  have strong willpower.  When it comes to exercise.  To fighting and facing my fears and anxieties.  To working hard for what I want.  And, as it turns out, to saying no to drive-thru and gas station fare.  Driving home last night I realized that if I can just eek out a little bit more willpower I can stop defeating my fitness successes with sweet treats and carry-out.
I had planned to not have any refined sugar from last Monday through July 4.  Day one I had a cookie at E's baseball fundraiser.  Day 3 I had a milkshake after L got his 5 year shots.  I don't want to deprive myself of fun moments.  But I know I need to give up sugar for the most part.   Again, I need to squeeze out my last little bit of willpower in this sugary sweet area of my life.  On the other side of that, I don't drink...okay, one or two drinks in the entire month, maybe.  I don't smoke.  I drink black coffee. I gave up soda, again, one or two a month rather than every day.  I guess I feel like having a cookie or a  couple scoops of ice cream is like my evening cocktail.  And I am not sure if that is so horrible.  I think that is why it is hard for me to completely go sugarless.

What areas of your life do you have incredible willpower in?

What area(s) do you need to channel a little more in to?

Do you have an indulgence that you just don't want to give up?