Happy Friday!
Take a moment. Take a breath. Look around you and be thankful and then just RELAX. You are okay. We are okay. Even if just in this moment, enjoy the safety of where you are at.
FRESH FRIDAY
The three things that made this week fresh and fabulous for me:
Prepping for the Green Smoothie Challenge. I have been having so much fun creating new juice and smoothie recipes to share next week. Sneaking in veggies and fruits makes me feel so much better!
Finding Liz Lemon Ben & Jerry's. Lemon Yogurt with a Lavender Blueberry swirl. Sounds so fancy and tastes very refreshing. And a fraction of calories and fat compared to real B&J's ice cream!
L falling asleep on my back. E used to fall asleep this way ALL the time when he was between 1 and 5 or so. L never did, he is more of a sleep by himself kind of guy. So it made my mommy heart melt when my babiest baby fell asleep on me after a long, fun day.
Okay...so tell me what made your week fun, fresh and fantastic? You can do it! Think of 3 things. Small. Big. Whatever made you smile on this stressful, sad week. Bloggers, link to Fresh Friday here.
Not a blogger? Let me know your 3 things in the comment section. Please!
Are you doing the Green Smoothie Challenge with me next week?
It's really easy, all you have to do is add 1 green drink each day starting April 22. You will feel so much better, I promise! Adding greens like spinach, kale, even seaweed to your diet will help you to get much-needed nutrients and be energized and revitalized. Go to Katherine's blog to officially sign up for the challenge. You will also get lots of recipes, tips and motivation from Katherine, myself and the other co-hosts throughout the week. If you are not already, follow me on bloglovin' so that you can stay up-to-date. Or enter your email in the box to get email updates!
Questions about the challenge?
Just let me know!
Thank you so much for stopping by. With so many blogs to choose from I am truly honored that you choose mine :)
xoxoxo
Sally
Have you ever had uncomfortable gas pain? Where your stomach is cramping up, you feel bloated and don't even want to move?
About a week ago I felt that way. I am not sure if it was caused by the steroid I had been prescribed for allergies or the fact that I ate hummus and jalapenos before bed, but I woke up not even able to stand up straight. But I had to go teach that morning. What's a girl to do?
Pilates, of course! With a dash of yoga.
Here are two moves that can get you from uncomfortable to ready to roll:
Common sense reminder: any and all pain should be reported to your doctor. These exercises may help relieve gas pain, but only you and your doctor know what the cause of pain is. Figure that out first and then workout :)
Child's Pose: Kneel on your mat or floor, toes together, heels apart. Sit back onto your heels and round your spine. The closer your legs are the more gentle pressure you will feel on your abdomen.
Swan Dive: This move helps to strengthen your entire core, especially the low and mid-back. Because of the rocking motion it also helps to stimulate the intestines, providing relief from gas pressure. Take this exercise slow in the beginning.
Step 1: Lie on your mat, hands under shoulders, navel drawn in and up. Shoulders away from ears.
Step 2: Lift your upper body, keeping your lower abdomen on the mat. Inhale.
Step 3: As you exhale lower your upper body and lift your legs. Only lift your legs as high as you can and still keep the navel drawn in and up. This starts as a slow back and forth movement and can become a rocking exercise. Repeat 5 times.
Finish up holding Child's Pose for another 20-30 seconds. For me, this did the trick. I burped 10-15 times in the half hour following doing these and the pressure went away as well as the pain.
If this post has you thinking that you never want to step into a Pilates or yoga class due to embarrassing noises, click here to have your fears soothed.
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget, the Green Smoothie Challenge starts Monday, April 22! Add a green smoothie each day for a week and reap the nutritional benefits. I hope you join us!
What should you wear to Pilates class? How can you go from yoga to a trip to the mall or dinner with friends? How do I piece together an outfit that can take me from teaching cycle to meeting with my boss to interviewing a new instructor? This is what Studio Style posts will be all about!
Shirt: OmGirl; Jacket: Gap; Leggings: New Balance Running Tights; Shoes: Naturalizer; Neck Warmer: lululemon
A silly car shot, but it's a great close-up of my mint & black neck warmer. I love it! So soft and warm and adds a stylish pop of color!
I hope you enjoyed the first Studio Style post.
If you aren't already, I would love it if you followed me on bloglovin'!
