tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33236787615366070452012-02-23T10:42:00.407-05:00A blog to help motivate you to be healthy on a daily basis. Plus we can try and answer your fitness (particularly Pilates related) questions.Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.comBlogger10071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-58197914243709263782012-02-23T10:42:00.000-05:002012-02-23T10:42:00.554-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In August a <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/sfusa/site/SPageServer?pagename=5Challenge_Home">grass roots organization</a> set out to prove that “slow food” could be just as cheap (but a whole lot healthier) than fast food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They set up a challenge to get people to post healthy recipes for under $5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Over five thousand people have taken the challenge so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Do you want to be involved?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You don’t have to join anything to check out the recipes.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5819791424370926378?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-24240175485942587032012-02-22T08:30:00.000-05:002012-02-22T08:30:05.284-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There isn’t much better than laughing with a group of friends or a great talk with an old friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Spending time with the people you love and care about isn’t just fun, it’s good for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Research has show that when you<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>make time for friends you’ll be less sick, sleep better, stay mentally sharper, and potentially live longer.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YzM9sKO80o/TxCEDBvp0hI/AAAAAAAABNU/R6fAlt--lJ0/s1600/IMG_6161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YzM9sKO80o/TxCEDBvp0hI/AAAAAAAABNU/R6fAlt--lJ0/s320/IMG_6161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So is there a friend you’ve been meaning to get in touch with for a lunch date?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Have you been stalling on a game night with friends?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Don’t hesitate any longer, make a plan tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s for your health and wellness.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2424017548594258703?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-58201405891327424912012-02-21T09:55:00.000-05:002012-02-21T09:55:00.835-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I recently read an interesting article in <a href="http://www.pilatesstyle.com/">Pilates Style</a> about whether or not people can actually be addicted to food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It may come as no surprise, but we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>In a study on rats, the animals displayed classic signs of withdrawal when being denied sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As humans in addition to withdrawal symptoms we have also confused signals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We often eat when we are actually thirsty or tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The more we do that, the more we train our brain that to reduce thirst or exhaustion we need to eat instead of drink or rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>That is a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We need to retrain our brain to give our body what it is really asking for.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It turns out that one way to stop indulging in certain foods (for me it’s probably Ben &amp; Jerry’s Fish Food, B&amp; J’s Smores, or a giant bowl of pasta with sauce and cheese) may be to associate them with something bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So the idea is: link the foods you feel you have limited control over and associate them with an image like poisonous gas, allergic rashes, stress, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>(Get an image in your head that you picture with that word that will really turn you off).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then on the flip side picture some of your favorite healthy foods (for me asparagus, broccoli) and picture them with really healthy images like fun, clean, nourishing, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tj9BjAxH5tI/TvLwXBdFQoI/AAAAAAAABMU/EiSUdk8D7OY/s1600/14927_0415a_1_lg%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tj9BjAxH5tI/TvLwXBdFQoI/AAAAAAAABMU/EiSUdk8D7OY/s320/14927_0415a_1_lg%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was in high school at my doctor’s recommendation I gave up caffeine, including chocolate for about two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I didn’t have anything chocolate for 730 days!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Part of how I did it was to convince myself that if I ate chocolate I would feel sick to my stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>On the one hand this tactic seems unhealthy to me, but on the other hand if it puts you in more control and helps you eat healthier, ultimately making you feel better than it’s worth a shot.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5820140589132742491?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-30342635192238851462012-02-16T09:05:00.001-05:002012-02-16T09:05:01.032-05:00We live in a world where we sit. We sit at desks and work; we sit when we drive. It is just the way it is, but our bodies weren’t meant to sit for long periods every day. New research from the Mayo Clinic claims that a the amount we stand can make a big difference in weight. They found that people who stood up 2-hours more per day burned about 350 calories more per day. It’s got them thinking some of obesity epidemic might have to do with how much we sit.<br /><br />So if you have a job where you need to be at a desk, what can you do? Here are just some tips to try:<br /><br />1) Stand during lunch<br />2) Stand anytime you’re on the phone<br />3) Put reminders in your outlook calendar and stand whenever they pop up—start with three a day.<br />4) Grab a co-worker and walk for 20-minutes of lunch<br />5) Grab a co-worker and walk for 20-minutes before or after work<br />6) If you watch TV when you get home, make sure your stand for at least one show<br />7) Walk to a coworkers desk instead of sending an email<br />8) Create a standing and a sitting workstation<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3034263519223885146?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-3164074067541351862012-02-15T09:06:00.000-05:002012-02-15T09:06:00.033-05:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ3HIxKmZIQ/TzBPm3YFtCI/AAAAAAAABN8/gaY0kb7QDxQ/s1600/IMG_0666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ3HIxKmZIQ/TzBPm3YFtCI/AAAAAAAABN8/gaY0kb7QDxQ/s320/IMG_0666.JPG" width="240" /></a>I made a mistake. I told all my classes that I don’t like kale. And apparently I’m the only one. I honestly expected more people to side with me. But it turns out (so people say) that if you cook it right, kale is phenomenal. Well, I’m here to say I’ve been testing it out, and I don’t like kale.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After telling everyone kale and I are not on friendly terms, I got the impression that perhaps I was cooking it wrong by not cooking it. This seemed to explain why I felt like a cow when I ate the rubbery, indigestible roughage. So I tried some suggestions. This weekend I made kale chips because it sounds like everyone likes kale chips. Not me. They just aren’t good. They dissolve in your mouth and have the bitter taste of kale. Really they are just a carrier for salt. No salt and they’d be inedible. I still haven’t decided whether I’m going to eat them or trash them.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then I tried a recipe for a kale and turkey sausage soup. I have to admit this was really good, but I’m not sure it was because of the kale. I think the turkey sausage flavor takes over. But that’s okay. I officially found a way that I can get myself to eat kale. So, please, send me any recipes you have where kale is disguised in a soup or cooked in some fashion other than a chip. I’d like to continue testing this theory because the jury is still out. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-316407406754135186?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-55719139793277704162012-02-14T09:16:00.000-05:002012-02-14T09:16:00.184-05:00This Valentine's Day give yourself a little love.&nbsp; What do you most need or want today?&nbsp; Do you need time to yourself?&nbsp; Do you&nbsp; need a day off from exercise?&nbsp; Do you need exercise because it makes you feel good?&nbsp; Do you need to read that book you've been wanting?&nbsp; Do you need to go see a movie?&nbsp; Do you want to stay in or go out?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZupcSfkiDUE/TzBR0cOaYjI/AAAAAAAABOI/CvwLGxpo0Y8/s1600/red-cupid%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" sda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZupcSfkiDUE/TzBR0cOaYjI/AAAAAAAABOI/CvwLGxpo0Y8/s320/red-cupid%5B1%5D.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Make a point to show yourself that you HEART you.&nbsp; It's wonderful if you have someone else who loves you too, but your love for yourself should be the most important.&nbsp; So show yourself you care.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5571913979327770416?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-88798449713006380092012-02-13T09:46:00.000-05:002012-02-13T09:46:00.711-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMDxP4u-oOE/TuEiapoc7LI/AAAAAAAABLA/K9oVZrHoamI/s1600/DSC01629_crop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683862045965741234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DMDxP4u-oOE/TuEiapoc7LI/AAAAAAAABLA/K9oVZrHoamI/s320/DSC01629_crop.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>This is probably not a question you give a lot of thought to on a regular basis. Most people with knee problems steer away from the squat, and it’s certainly good to be cautious. But if you don’t have knee problems, the squat can be a really important exercise. The squat is basically the muscles we use to stand up and sit down. Most of us stand and sit at work, when we eat, when we go to the bathroom, and when we get in the car. It’s a pretty important exercise for daily use.<br />As people age it’s one of the more important exercises they can probably do to keep themselves independent.<br /><br />Recently I read two articles that argued for the importance of a really deep squat. One where you start standing and lower your glutes until they almost touch the floor between your heals. This isn’t for everyone and some people need to build up to this, but the articles made an interesting case<br /><br />They claimed that we are very sensitive about knees in the west. In parts of Asia and India, the low squat is a part of daily life that can make birthing and going to the bathroom an easier process. The article also discussed a “use it or lose it mentality.” It argued we should bend our knees as much as possible because they are meant to be able to bend that far. We have drifted very far from this line of thinking, but it’s interesting. And I think it makes a lot of sense keeping in mind that every body is different.<br /><br />So, if you are tempted to try a low squat, use caution and build up slowly. It’s not worth hurting the knees, especially if they bother you already. But if you can already do a low squat and your knees are fine consider making it a part of your daily routine. The article I was reading suggested about 10 deep squats per day every day. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8879844971300638009?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-62219643297459279742012-02-09T09:01:00.000-05:002012-02-09T09:01:00.832-05:00I have less than two months to get in the best shape of my life and I’m not sure I’m going to reach my goal. If you checked in with me in October I would have told you I was on my way. But at that time over the course of a month, I ran two half marathons and hiked the Grand Canyon without injury. I felt strong and unstoppable. My challenges throughout the year were really helpful in my staying on track and reaching fitness goals. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-9sz5mKiIo/TzBNrvlTW8I/AAAAAAAABN0/acpEEr3OrbQ/s1600/00001968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" sda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-9sz5mKiIo/TzBNrvlTW8I/AAAAAAAABN0/acpEEr3OrbQ/s320/00001968.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But after October my final challenge was a little obscure. Without any snow this winter I didn’t do the cross country skiing I’d planned. And with all the running and hiking I was doing earlier in the year, I could really get away with eating almost anything I wanted.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And, therein, lies the problem: my food choices. Please don’t be deceived. I’m in health and fitness, but I wouldn’t say I eat well. I’m really busy and I fit food in where I can. Matt and I frequently eat pizza twice a week because we like it and it’s convenient. I could easily eat pasta for every meal. I love cheese and bread. Making changes to what I eat has been hard for me. I appreciate all food types—salty, sweet, fatty. I like vegetables too, but I don’t typically crave them. I easily fall into an unvaried diet where I eat the same things week after week. It’s not just because I like them, but because it’s easy and takes less planning.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When people say that between work and family it’s hard to make time for a healthy diet and exercises, I truly get it. It’s hard. But, it’s unlikely those things are going to change or go away, so we have to do the best we can and try and make time. Because our health is truly the most important thing we have to worry about.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The biggest change I made in the last half of this year was to incorporate more vegetables. I’m doing that. But I wouldn’t say that overall my food choices are healthy. As a fitness professional I feel a little more pressure to eat healthfully. It’s a pressure I put on myself. I think people assume I probably eat better than I do and I don’t want to lead anyone astray. And I think it’s only fair to be honest and admit I don’t eat that well. And I think that is going to be part of my personal process to eat better. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In my youth, I was been able to get away with not making the best food choices, although I think I actually had better willpower. Since I like to exercise, I’ve been able to continue to get away with it. But as I get older I’ve noticed changes in my body. And even besides that, it’s just not healthy to eat the amount of carbs, cheese, and desserts I consume. And my desire to be healthy should be my greatest instigator. I may not achieve this part of my challenge this year, but I’m officially taking ownership of a change that needs to occur. </div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6221964329745927974?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-40190465967822210132012-02-08T09:43:00.000-05:002012-02-08T09:43:00.331-05:00This Saturday I ate three pieces of cake for dessert. Yup, three pieces. That is not a good choice by any standard. Cake isn’t a healthy food and three pieces is far from moderation. It was a bad choice. Anyone can recognize that. The problem is I think when a lot of us, myself included, make a bad food choice like that we feel like we should just throw in the towel and eat whatever we want for the rest of the day. Sometimes, if I make a bad food choice on a Tuesday I convince myself I’ve ruined the week and might as well wait until the following Monday to start again.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI6JwxHypkQ/TzBJZT441qI/AAAAAAAABNk/mKs6OGnTPdY/s1600/happy_birthday_cake-2029%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" sda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LI6JwxHypkQ/TzBJZT441qI/AAAAAAAABNk/mKs6OGnTPdY/s320/happy_birthday_cake-2029%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But obviously this isn’t the way to think about a food or exercise mishap. Making a bad choice should really incentivize us to get back on track. I’m not sure why our minds take advantage of the mistake. Most likely it’s probably just our way of rationalizing wanting to continue to eat poorly. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>So having realized this, I’m now working to change the way my mind thinks when I make a bad food choice. If I overeat or have two too many servings of cake, I don’t have to ruin the rest of the day or week. I could even potentially take twenty minutes to walk and counteract some of the extra calories. I can immediately make a positive chance instead of harping on my failure. <br /><br />No doubt, I’ll probably not alter my thinking right away and all the time. But why would I want to wait a week to become healthier when I can start right now?<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4019046596782221013?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-48456002469973989342012-02-07T09:22:00.000-05:002012-02-07T09:22:01.045-05:00Sometimes it’s hard to drag yourself out of bed in the morning or leave work to go workout instead of head home for dinner. We often think of the bad part of the workout and that can help us convince ourselves to skip it. So next time you don’t want to get up and work out, think of your favorite things about your workout and get excited about them. Do you like seeing certain people in a class? Do you have a favorite exercise or song? Do you feel good when you’ve reached a certain goal on an elliptical? Whatever gets you motivated, let it motivate you. Focus on the positive and skip the negative. You’ll feel better when you convince yourself to move.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4845600246997398934?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-53511270386397807562012-02-06T09:30:00.000-05:002012-02-06T09:30:03.305-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay—who is with me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This week I’m going to try to make sure I do one hour of exercise every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Want to join me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I know sometimes it’s hard to fit it in, but it seems like it will be interesting to see just how hard it is to do if you plan for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is my plan: On Tuesdays I take a private pilates class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I usually run twice a week (and including the walk afterward it is usually at least an hour), I’ve been doing Tae Bo one day a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>For me that leaves three days to make sure I fit in exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’d like to take another pilates class one of those days, get to the pool for an hour, and take a six mile walk with Matt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The weather has to be nice in order for me to complete three of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m going to mark my calendar as if I have a class or a client and make this a priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you had to fill seven days with different types of exercise what would you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How many days are you already getting in a workout?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You may find it’s hard to fit it in, but when you do it, you may find it’s not as hard as you think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Let me know how it turns out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personal Euphoria</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5351127038639780756?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-14156238045065237512012-02-02T09:49:00.000-05:002012-02-02T09:49:00.428-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturopathy">Naturopath</a> for the first time a couple weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was really impressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m a skeptical person and I was partially concerned (and perhaps stereotyping) that by the time I walked out the door I would be expected to never eat meat again, go gluten-free, and have a handbag full of supplements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was concerned about this even though multiple people had recommended<a href="http://www.ctnaturalmed.com/about.html"> Marina Franzoni </a>to me and told me she was the kind of person who felt like your friend right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If I’m honest I was a little skeptical of that too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But everyone had told me the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I felt comfortable with Marina Franzoni in ten seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It seemed easy to tell her everything about anything that had ever gone on in my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She listened without brushing anything off as if it didn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She took notes and made suggestions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She told me that she didn’t push anyone to be vegan or vegetarian (although she is an advocate for grass-fed meat if you are going to eat meat, but so am I).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She didn’t make me go gluten-free, which makes her a wonderful person in my book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; Although if I was sensitve to gluten I'd understand why she'd want me to get off it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She offered suggested foods I should eat more or less of given some of the concerns I had, and sent me home with a some reading material I still need to go through.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best part was that I really felt listened too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s something that I have often felt is lacking with some (not all) of the doctors I’ve had dealings with.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m early in the process, but if your insurance covers naturopathic doctors, I would highly recommend a visit with Marina Franzoni.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1415623804506523751?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-18076992681078629082012-02-01T09:11:00.000-05:002012-02-01T09:11:00.502-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ezg43B6IVtY/TsWxL0dhjQI/AAAAAAAABJ4/SKZtIOuQZzg/s1600/best_friends%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676137721989532930" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ezg43B6IVtY/TsWxL0dhjQI/AAAAAAAABJ4/SKZtIOuQZzg/s320/best_friends%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>A couple close friends are always better than tons of friends who don’t really know you. Pick your three closest friends and send them each an email with a happy thought about them. It will make you happy and perk them up too.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1807699268107862908?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-87069350640743972362012-01-31T09:06:00.000-05:002012-01-31T09:06:00.464-05:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaCo-ALZDa4/TsWwZ84C_mI/AAAAAAAABJs/wM1NeLfxmIM/s1600/journal2%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 217px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676136865254800994" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaCo-ALZDa4/TsWwZ84C_mI/AAAAAAAABJs/wM1NeLfxmIM/s320/journal2%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>At the end of the day write a two-minute journal detailing one activity you did during the day. Research shows that doing this will tell your brain that your day had a purpose and that you were productive. This is an especially good tip for people who get frustrated at the end of the day when they haven’t completely their entire “To-Do” list. (That’s me.) Apparently if you focus on the details of one event the brain will think you were more productive and you’ll feel better.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8706935064074397236?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-3100315628156250922012-01-30T09:05:00.000-05:002012-01-30T09:05:00.799-05:00Stop over thinking problems, especially things that have already happened and can’t be changed. Next time you catch yourself doing this, stop and immediately come up with a solution to the problem, even if the problem is in the past and can’t be changed.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-310031562815625092?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-80736117601598003152012-01-27T09:39:00.000-05:002012-01-27T09:39:00.560-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll admit not everyone loves the foam roller as much as I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s a great way to get a good work out and challenge your balance and stabilizer muscles, but more than that it can massage you and your achy fascia!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But that is the part not everyone is a fan of sadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One most people have never heard of fascia and then when they actually get down on to roller to massage the fascia, tendons, and muscles they don’t always love the way it feels.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCKJ_adMs9M/TxmKbIS4WbI/AAAAAAAABNc/NiLXSKCv4Ms/s1600/DSC01681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nCKJ_adMs9M/TxmKbIS4WbI/AAAAAAAABNc/NiLXSKCv4Ms/s320/DSC01681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It can feel a bit intense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Some people describe foam rolling like the feeling you have when you press on a bruise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Why would you want to do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Because it’s good for you and it won’t leave a bruise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I think it hurts in a good way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But it’s actually good for your body and will stretch and rub parts that are difficult to work the kinks out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A daily foam roller down the IT band would be wonderful for most people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Can’t handle the weight of your whole body yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Use a rolling pin or the foam roller on the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With Pilates exercises you can always modify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You’re never stuck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The staff at Personal Euphoria likes foam rolling so much that is what we picked in January for our quarterly get together to try something physical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We had a great time with <a href="http://evolutionpilates.com/">Cate from Evolution Pilates</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You can get a great ab workout on the foam roller in addition to rolling out on it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In honor of my younger sister who I’ve been trying to get to use the foam roller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I posted some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/EuphoriaPilates?feature=mhee">videos on youtube</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Check them out and try them if you have a roller.&nbsp; There are types for the following: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Glutes, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">IT Band, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Psoas Stretch, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hamstring, and Quads on my channel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more fun pictures, check us out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/personaleuphoriapilates">Facebook</a>.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personal Euphoria</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8073611760159800315?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-20749343375193023052012-01-26T09:03:00.000-05:002012-01-26T09:03:00.574-05:00Make a list of all the things you are passionate about and all your skills. Then connect the dots. What skills do you have that are good for achieving your passions? Notice the ways in which you have the ability to achieve the things you desire.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2074934337519302305?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-36553513375136505272012-01-25T08:59:00.000-05:002012-01-25T08:59:00.444-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7BG_22J2YdM/TsWuhjJKMeI/AAAAAAAABJg/O6WSqV37i88/s1600/cool_old_lady_203_203x153%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 203px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 153px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676134796762952162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7BG_22J2YdM/TsWuhjJKMeI/AAAAAAAABJg/O6WSqV37i88/s320/cool_old_lady_203_203x153%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>It’s time to fess up about how old you are. Turns out people who have a better view of aging tend to live longer, perhaps seven years longer. And the more positive you are about getting older, the better your quality of life. So today, try listing every way you think you have improved with age.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3655351337513650527?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-90598517860387581222012-01-24T08:56:00.000-05:002012-01-24T08:56:00.161-05:00Start to notice what is around you. Life needs to feel novel to help keep us happy and motivated. So try to notice five new things on your drive to the office, or your walk from the front door to the car, or about your coworker/spouse/child/friend.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-9059851786038758122?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-85531668921906816282012-01-23T09:54:00.000-05:002012-01-23T09:54:00.104-05:00I just read a great article about tools to help you make yourself happier. There is no better time to share it the lessons from the article than in the deep winter when we are all suffering from seasonal affective disorder, or as I like to call it seasonal defective disorder. It turns out happiness isn’t all genetic. Fifty percent of our happiness comes form our genes, ten percent stems from where we are in life, and the other forty percent is pliable. We can do things to help improve it.<br /><br />So for the next week, I’m taking a tip a day from the article and sharing it. Try one happiness tip a day. Or let them build and by the end of the week try five tips.<br /><br />Here’s the first for today:<br /><br /><br />A the end of every day think of three different things that you are grateful for. They need to be different each day and specific. And supposedly if you share these three points with someone else, you’ll get even more happiness from it.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8553166892190681628?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-1174185025403950922012-01-19T09:03:00.000-05:002012-01-19T09:03:00.511-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, so last week I had no idea what I was going to do for my final challenge and now the possibilities seem endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A friend of mine is doing an indoor triathlon and while I didn’t have any interest in swimming or biking this is a very “easy triathlon” in that you can swim the breast stroke and the bike is stationary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is the only type of triathlon I think I’ll ever do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It will be a challenge for me in that I’ll be doing some activities that aren’t up my alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then there is the American Lung Association <a href="http://www.lungusa.org/donate/events/fight-for-air-climb/event-listings/connecticut/">Climb for Air Charity Event</a> in Hartford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You climb 21 flights of stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Although technically this is March 31^st (after my birthday so it wouldn’t be part of my 30^th year).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And there is still the chance it might snow and I could do something that involved cross country skiing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Which do you think would be the biggest challenge?</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-117418502540395092?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-65572216124608704462012-01-18T09:00:00.000-05:002012-01-18T09:00:07.219-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3Cp-IM443o/TxBxEc9kvFI/AAAAAAAABMs/6Uim4Oib6W4/s1600/walking-300x285%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3Cp-IM443o/TxBxEc9kvFI/AAAAAAAABMs/6Uim4Oib6W4/s1600/walking-300x285%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And while I’ll admit I miss the snow (an unpopular opinion, I know), I do enjoy that we’ve had some 60-degree days this winter to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ve been walking 3-5 miles per day at least three times per week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s unlikely it will last long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The days will get colder; I have some busy weeks coming up, but every time I get out for a walk I enjoy it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plus when Matt comes with me it is time we spend together where neither of us is distracted by the TV, PC or phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And as an added bonus it’s one of the best things you can do for your health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s good for your whole body and easy on the joints.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On that 60-degree Saturday a couple weekends ago we went to the West Hartford Reservoir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’d never been there, but I can say this: Go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s a beautiful place to spend the day outside.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6557221612460870446?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-75901766237773262032012-01-17T09:43:00.000-05:002012-01-17T09:43:00.128-05:00Last week I was listening to NPR and heard a really interesting discussion on weight loss based on a New York Times Magazine article called <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/magazine/tara-parker-pope-fat-trap.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1">“The Fat Trap”</a> written by Tara Parker-Pope. Since I was in and out of the car I only heard portions of the radio show, but I came home and read the article.<br /><br /><br />At first I found it so disheartening I wasn’t going to share it, but then I thought that if knowledge is power it might actually be helpful and there are aspects of the article that are very interesting. It discusses just how difficult it is to maintain weight loss. If you struggle with maintaining your weight you’ll either find the article frustrating because it explains why it is so hard and there is not much you can do about it or comforting because it helps explain why you might be having difficulty. <br /><br />I have to question the science a little (which might provide some hope). Most of the studies put people on extremely low (and I would argue unhealthy) calorie diets to lose weight fast. While the article briefly touched on this at the end, I suspect that results might be different for people making small, slow changes. Eating 550 calories a day might enable you to lose weight fast, but it seems like it would obviously throw your body into some level of starvation mode. Dropping your normal intake of calories by 100 per day may make it take longer to lose weight, but it’s a healthier way to get there. And I can’t help but wonder if all the research results would be different for slower weight loss.<br /><br />People infrequently gain 50 pounds in six months. Why should anyone expect to lose it that quickly? Weight creeps on. We need to be more realistic with ourselves and allow it to creep off. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Still, the article provides a lot of interesting information about what our body is doing when we lose weight and how our brains work when we have cravings after weight loss. For me it seems like if you know ways your body might work against you, you can be prepared and have a better shot at finding ways you can work around our basic biology. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7590176623777326203?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-46843291686280611952012-01-16T09:00:00.000-05:002012-01-16T09:00:19.027-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just in case you are already having trouble sticking to those New Year’s Resolutions, here is an exercise challenge for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ll do it to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Can you find ten minutes a day to do Pilates?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Just pick your favorite exercises or put in one of our DVD’s and do it for a little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Coming to class counts of course, but not for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have to do ten minutes outside of class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pY7FoMQv43s/TxB0-JkklEI/AAAAAAAABM8/eKP_24IyaMk/s1600/IMG_5998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="height: 187px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 290px;"><img border="0" height="212" kba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pY7FoMQv43s/TxB0-JkklEI/AAAAAAAABM8/eKP_24IyaMk/s320/IMG_5998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some exercises I rarely skip when I’m doing a quick Pilates workout for myself:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should Bridge</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spinal Rotation</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hip Rolls</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obliques</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Swan Dive</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Otherwise I change it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And I must admit, I often skip the 100, mostly because, as you know, I’m not a good counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And even when I’m all alone working out by myself I can’t seem to count right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; Who is with me?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria&nbsp;</a></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4684329168628061195?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-29012220775042287012012-01-12T09:27:00.000-05:002012-01-12T09:27:00.965-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBhwpgcmNXs/TuEetr5NgtI/AAAAAAAABKo/Xvr9IBNrvW0/s1600/Photo_Nialogo%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683857974943908562" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QBhwpgcmNXs/TuEetr5NgtI/AAAAAAAABKo/Xvr9IBNrvW0/s320/Photo_Nialogo%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Guest Blog: Allison Brooks went to the University of Mississippi and earned her degree in biomedical anthropology. She is currently studying in the field to finish an ethnography on the effects of biomedicalization on Bolivian cultures.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nianow.com/">Nia Dance,</a> short for Neuromuscular Integrative Action, is a new “dance” to reconnect with nature and the body. Most think that spending the nights outdoors, following naturopathic medicine, and eating all natural foods is the only way to become one with nature, but Nia Dance is offering a new perspective. The movements are inspired by everyday interactions in nature and reflect even the simplest bodily actions. Many state that Nia Dance allows one to “dance through life” and stop sleepwalking through their waking-life.<br /><br />Nia Dance is unlike any dance. While must dances like Zumba, Salsa, or Dance Revolution, inspire people to get up and move, Nia actually makes the dancer connect with the body, mind, and spirit. It draws for the movements of nature, the body, martial arts, and healing arts to lead to health, wellness, and fitness. It is not based on skill level or mastery of movements, but is mostly used to become aware of the body and to let go of the unconscious.<br /><br />During a session, a group listens to earthy, soul-stirring music from all over the world to weave together sound and silence, action and inaction. Some of the moves are slow, while others are playful, and some are completely still. The sequence of the movements and sounds allow for people to become more aware of their conscious movements and understand that every movement of the body is a form of dance. This makes Nia a personalized dance and allows for people to appreciate their gift of life and individualism.<br /><br />Though Nia Dance promotes a healthy lifestyle, its main focus is to empower everyone to look within and reconnect with themselves and nature. Instructors believe that every person can discover, explore, and unleash their individual potential of life. By engaging with senses and understanding their bodies, Nia Dancers can improve their confidence, health, and well-being.<br />Not only do instructors and dancers see this change, but doctors do as well. Nia Dance is becoming a popular way for patients to stay upbeat and positive during aggressive medical treatments. Many men and women with a chronic illness or unfavorable <a href="http://icyou.com/topics/diseases-conditions/cancer/nia-dance-cancer-patients">cancer prognosis</a>, turn to Nia Dance or other forms of integrative therapies to help manage the stress and pain of treatments.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2901222077504228701?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-61221603428824012472012-01-11T09:33:00.000-05:002012-01-11T09:33:00.378-05:00<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HH7-LGf6d-E/TwgSVXS0yeI/AAAAAAAABMk/bWy78wQWDmo/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HH7-LGf6d-E/TwgSVXS0yeI/AAAAAAAABMk/bWy78wQWDmo/s320/IMG_1739.JPG" width="213" /></a>So my final challenge was supposed to involve cross country skiing. I was hoping to get some practice in before finding a race to participate in, but unlike last year at this time we have no snow. And this weekend a 10-mile cross country tour I was going to take got cancelled in Vermont because of lack of snow. In February I’m going to New Hampshire for a <a href="http://www.mwvskitouring.org/chocolatefestival.html">Chocolate Festival</a> where you ski from inn to inn to pick up chocolate, but I’m not sure that is going to count as a challenge. (Although, I could consider the chocolate as energy to get me through the next leg of the trek like goo on a marathon.) So I’m still searching for one final challenge that I need to complete and prepare for before March 27th.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While I’m at the chocolate festival some of my running buddies are going to run a half marathon, but I’ll be too busy eating chocolate. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyone out there have any good ideas of something I can do in New England in the winter that would be a good physical challenge? I’d rather it not involve running as two of my challenges already did.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6122160342882401247?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-7992061545520367652012-01-10T09:19:00.000-05:002012-01-10T09:19:00.541-05:00Do you want to change your mood quickly? In all the holiday craziness and the crowds at the mall do you need to improve your spirits? Try one or all of these three tips to help improve your mood.<br /><br />1) Exercise<br />2) Smile at Someone<br />3) Get Outside Even if It’s Just for a Deep Breath<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-799206154552036765?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-6816926633355150752012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:002012-01-09T09:30:04.286-05:00I want to participate in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52-omtSBws8">Wife Carrying Contest</a>. A few weeks ago in class, a client informed me that such a thing exists. She and her husband came in fourth place a few years ago. The concept seems thrilling to me (the carried), but less thrilling to Matt (the carrier). <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmenANPbGO0/TwgQiXxqKsI/AAAAAAAABMc/PAFSc0EQp7Q/s1600/00000089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lmenANPbGO0/TwgQiXxqKsI/AAAAAAAABMc/PAFSc0EQp7Q/s320/00000089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Knowing this race existed made me consider getting married. But luckily you don’t have to be legally married to participate so Matt and I can totally compete in this race. Nowadays they don’t even make the guy carry the girl, which could end up being a problem for me. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I came home so excited and expecting Matt to be excited too. But what you must realize is that Matt and I basically weigh the same amount. We both weigh in under 140. Matt is pretty convinced that anyone who would do well in such a race must be a big guy (perhaps a former football player) with a wife much more petite that her partner. He’s thinking a 200-pound guy and a 90-pound woman would do well together. Since Matt would have to carry his own body weight, he thought we might not do so well.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We watched a couple videos of the event. I told him I thought we could handle it and that he was strong (he has on many occasions carried me to bed after I’ve fallen asleep). His response to my encouraging words was to throw me over his shoulder and run around our house in circles, to which I responded with screams about how I didn’t want to hit my head and that my head was going to explode from all the blood rushing to it. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He put me down thinking he could rest his case. I think we just need practice. We have until October. Matt and I have a deal. If I lose 12-pounds by September, he’ll carry me. If I don’t, I have to carry him. (Note: Matt wants me to clarify that he doesn’t think I need to lose weight, he just doesn’t think we’ll have a shot at success if I don’t. The fact that the winner gets paid five times her weight in cash is not being considered.)</div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-681692663335515075?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-2470243827339231062012-01-05T09:45:00.000-05:002012-01-05T09:45:00.489-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I found a recent list in <a href="http://www.health.com/health/">Health Magazine</a> interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It listed what different activities burn in five minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Here are just a few…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YstK6rFBFOk/TvLuBlvHqAI/AAAAAAAABMI/-xzcDJNy5LY/s1600/running-stairs-300x198%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="height: 163px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 276px;"><img border="0" height="209" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YstK6rFBFOk/TvLuBlvHqAI/AAAAAAAABMI/-xzcDJNy5LY/s320/running-stairs-300x198%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jump Rope Fast: 68 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walking Lunges Down Hall:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>45 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vacuum: 22 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Snowball Fight: 34 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jumping Jacks: 45 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Up/Down Stairs: 36 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jog in Place: 45 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bounce on a Stability Ball: 58 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Push Ups: 45 Calories</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is my thought on what to do with this info…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>First of all this is only one more reason to get a stability ball at work and have one in your house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Who knew that the most fun option (bouncing on a stability ball, of course) burned the most calories?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>That just about made my day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I thought that you can do these activities randomly throughout the day, but you can also do them when you feel like munching but don’t think you’re really hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Use them as a distraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>After five minutes of any of these you may be okay to pass on a snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Plus there is so much variety and choice you hopefully won’t get bored too quickly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-247024382733923106?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-10306587536811412112012-01-04T09:32:00.000-05:002012-01-04T09:32:00.503-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sure I’ve said it on this blog before, but my main interests when it comes to the body lately are feet and fascia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Perhaps strange fetishes, but it’s not my fault; they are fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’ve been working on some great feet exercises and the nice thing is I see improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And working on them brings all this sensation (although not always pleasant sensation) to my feet.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been working on lifting all ten toes and then tapping just the big toe up and down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then tapping just the pinkie up and down (much harder for me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then I tap the big one then the pinkie and go back and forth between each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiSZAXp9tME/TvLq5EuzoWI/AAAAAAAABL8/b1edjA2JshA/s1600/250px-Toes%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiSZAXp9tME/TvLq5EuzoWI/AAAAAAAABL8/b1edjA2JshA/s1600/250px-Toes%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It reminds me of when I was younger and I wanted to be able to do something with my body and I would practice until I could perfect it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When I was in elementary school I wanted to be able to shake my eye balls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I wasted hours staring at my finger and in the mirror until I could do it (still can).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now as I’m older and have become even more fascinated with the body, I realize that wasn’t wasted time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I wish I had hours to waste now to focus on each particular part of my body and how it can move and improve my control and coordination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The feet are so important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you aren’t already trying to tap your big and pinkie toes, try it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You can do this anywhere if your shoes aren’t too restrictive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I find that I make the most time to focus on it in the shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1030658753681141211?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-45071806954681670312012-01-03T09:39:00.000-05:002012-01-03T09:39:00.640-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are some small changes you can make in 2012 to help keep maintain healthier habits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eat more fiber—studies have shown that eating 24 instead of 12 grams of fiber made women intake about 90 calories less per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do something different—variety in a workout is great for better balance and muscle health</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Butter or salt food on the side that will touch your tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The flavor will hit you faster and you can use less of it.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make exercise fun—go ice skating, snow shoeing or dancing.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5)</span><span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Try to stop eating when you are at a five on the full scale, don’t wait until you’re at a 10</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4507180695468167031?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-91884471943796865072012-01-02T09:27:00.000-05:002012-01-02T09:27:00.117-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_YYKg-mUEGU/TusPYiaEwxI/AAAAAAAABLw/WhmEaPOrfJ8/s1600/1294282013gzkcbO%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686655868712829714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_YYKg-mUEGU/TusPYiaEwxI/AAAAAAAABLw/WhmEaPOrfJ8/s320/1294282013gzkcbO%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Normally I’ve got a few New Year’s Resolutions up my sleeve by this time of year, but I’m a little behind schedule going into 2012. Wait? Is it 2012 already? Yikes! I haven’t completely had the time to sort this out, but I think if I was going to set resolutions for this year today they would be:<br /><br />1) Eat Healthier and Make Time to Cook Better Meals<br />2) Write More (and then actually edit what I write)<br />3) ...<br /><br />There are a number of other items that I’m actually thinking about and would like to do like learn a second language, take singing lessons, dance more, reduce stress, meditate… My list can go on forever. But the thing is, realistically, I can’t do it all, and I’d like to recognize that going into 2012. So, two goals that are really important to me and good for my health seems like the right way to go. Of course, with that I’d like to keep the activity level I had in 2011. For most the year I was training for something that kept me motivated to move a lot. I loved that.<br /><br />If you had to come up with two goals for 2012, what would they be? What are the two most important items on your list?</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-9188447194379686507?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-49265142015839022582011-12-29T09:36:00.000-05:002011-12-29T09:36:02.011-05:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of us spend at least 40-hours per week at work, so for 2012, get your office workout ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It will help you keep motivated and stay healthier throughout the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Here is what I think you need stocked in your office to help motivate you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Excluding the walking shoes, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>nothing on this list should be more than $20.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stability Ball—to sit on instead of an office chair (at least some of the time)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good Pair of Walking Shoes &amp; Socks—so you don’t have to remember to bring them from home</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Foam Roller or ½ Foam Roller—to fit in self massage, or to stretch your calves</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Water Bottles—so when you go for a walk you can hydrate</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FlexBand—so that twice a day for three minute or less you can stand up and give yourself a little resistance training.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Small Towel—In case you sweat on a walk and want to do a quick wipe down</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Outlook Reminders—Telling you to stand up and move three to eight times per day!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Personal Euphoria</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4926514201583902258?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-15285559627696125572011-12-28T09:42:00.000-05:002011-12-28T09:42:00.114-05:00If you have ever taken a pilates class you have probably heard talk of the basic principles. Even if an instructor hasn’t called them that, they have probably told you to “engage your core,” “pull your belly button to your spine,” “engage your kegels,” “relax your shoulders,” “tilt your chin up or down,” or “knit your ribs.” There are thousands of ways to get people thinking about the basic principles of pilates, but the question really is do you consider them outside of pilates class?<br /><br />Here are a few ways to start incorporating the basic principles into your day:<br /><br />1) Engage your lower abdominals and kegel muscles at every red light, stop sign, when you touch a door knob, or while you are waiting for your Keurig Coffee.<br /><br />2) When you are tense or cold, notice if your shoulders are shrugging up to your ears and try to relax them.<br /><br />3) When sitting for long periods of time (in the car or at the office) do some pelvic tilts—rock your pelvis back and forth just a little to lengthen the low back and then return to a neutral spine.<br /><br />4) Check in with your breath a couple of times a day. How many seconds can you inhale? How many seconds can you exhale? Can you practice for a week, or two, or three and improve your time?<br /><br />5) Can you direct your breath to your low back instead of your stomach or chest? Practice next time you are standing in line somewhere. Not only will it help you pass the time, but it might help you distress if you’re in a rush.<br /><br />This is only the beginning. You can think about the basic principles, which all help improve balance within the body, when you are cooking, eating a meal, doing yard work or house work, at a football game, in the movies, or in the shower. <br /><br />Joe Pilates wanted people to think about how they moved in daily life to keep their bodies in better form. You have the power and ability to build a stronger, safer body. And you can incorporate pilates into everything you do. Think about as a New Year's Resolution!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1528555962769612557?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-68624996796832094842011-12-27T09:19:00.000-05:002011-12-27T09:19:00.603-05:00Think of an activity in life where you only move one muscle. Doing laundry? No. Shoveling? No. Walking? No. Cooking dinner and pulling out pots and pans? No. Combing your Hair? No. There is almost no movement in life that just isolates one muscle and has you work it alone. Yet for years we were trained to work one muscle at a time. Stand still and do bicep curls. Then go to a machine and do hamstring curls or inner thigh presses. <br /><br />To me, almost anything that is safe and getting you moving is a good thing. If this is what you do in your workout and you don’t want to change and you feel good, I’m not going to tell you not to do it. But there is an intelligent move to more involved movement in exercise. It turns out that you get more bang for your buck when you move more muscles at once. Your body benefits long term when you move in multiple directions and in multiple planes using multiple muscles at the same time. <br /><br />It’s better for you because that is how your body moves and reacts in real life. You work the muscles in a more balanced way and burn more calories faster. Training the bicep while doing a lunge, for example, puts the muscle into a more “real life” scenario by working additional parts of your body and challenging your balance. You get a lot more out of the exercise. It’s one of the reasons Pilates is so ideal. Pilates asks the body to move different parts and the same time. It’s one of the reasons it can seem so confusing at first. There is a lot going on. But the reasoning behind that is that when you are faced with movement in your real life the body will be prepared. <br /><br />Years ago Joe Pilates had sorted out what science today seems to be proving. So let’s get moving more like we do in life!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6862499679683209484?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-34377300403712697592011-12-26T09:12:00.000-05:002011-12-26T09:12:00.131-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKyMpl6ghj0/TusMJkhOPfI/AAAAAAAABLk/bHy1bN6Mtyk/s1600/LED%252520Christmas%252520Lights%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686652313046760946" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKyMpl6ghj0/TusMJkhOPfI/AAAAAAAABLk/bHy1bN6Mtyk/s320/LED%252520Christmas%252520Lights%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>I wish we left Christmas lights up until the end of January. In winter it gets dark so early and it is so cold and drab, the lights help to put a smile on my face. I appreciate anyone who lets their lights linger past Christmas Day.<br /><br />I never want this time of year to be over. Heading into winter is hard, but I have found having fun winter activities and plans helps. Last year I started cross country skiing and now I’m actually looking forward to the cold, snowy months. I’m planning on going to a chocolate festival in <a href="http://www.mwvskitouring.org/chocolatefestival.html">New Hampshire </a>in February and that is just something to be excited about during the winter months.<br /><br />Look at your calendar and see what fun you can add to your winter plans.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3437730040371269759?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-63905819572005752642011-12-22T09:09:00.000-05:002011-12-22T09:09:00.276-05:00Here are a few tips to help you have a healthier Christmas holiday.<br /><br />1) Make time for your regular workouts. If your regular workouts aren’t available (like some of our classes that aren’t running) use that time to go for a walk.<br /><br />2) Want to call an old friend? Get on the cell and walk while you talk<br /><br />3) Stay hydrated<br /><br />4) Throw away Christmas cookies by December 28th—kick start the New Year early<br /><br />5) Make at least five minutes a day just for yourself. Sit down and stare at the tree for a moment, or get into bed a little earlier to read, or linger in a warm shower<br /><br />6) Eat whatever you want, but try not to overeat<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6390581957200575264?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-10663590397841334942011-12-21T09:35:00.000-05:002011-12-21T09:35:00.911-05:00Remember, if you are in the midst of last minute craziness and shopping, you can workout while you shop! <br /><br />Do kegels anywhere. Pelvic tilts can be done while driving. Do some calf raises at the gas station. Need to look at an item on the bottom shelf? Squat down instead of bending over. Bicep curl your bags when you walk from the store to the car. Focus on the deep, pilates breath while standing in line at the grocery store. Park far away so you walk farther. <br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1066359039784133494?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-15818137160996616642011-12-20T09:05:00.000-05:002011-12-20T09:05:01.972-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3R4MIfTxpZo/TusKVWqMf_I/AAAAAAAABLY/NmcI-GBzI64/s1600/hanukkah%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686650316461473778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3R4MIfTxpZo/TusKVWqMf_I/AAAAAAAABLY/NmcI-GBzI64/s320/hanukkah%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I love this time of year for all the tradition and celebration that it holds. I hope that all our Jewish clients and friends who celebrate Hanukkah enjoy time with their families and loved ones. The Festival of Lights—it seems like this should be a symbolic time. Between Hanukkah and Christmas lights, it seems like a time to look around and make a point to notice what we see around us and inside ourselves—see what the light reveals.<br /><br />If you have a moment, consider using some of the time this holiday season to take a moment to take stock and focus on the positive. What about your life are you happy and proud of? What about yourself are you happy and proud of? Take a moment to see the light.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1581813716099661664?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-28176278617062699832011-12-19T09:54:00.000-05:002011-12-19T09:54:00.305-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tgNM9lEeKs/TuEkb07bcQI/AAAAAAAABLM/dgJh9EyLx8w/s1600/IMG_5880.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683864265201250562" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tgNM9lEeKs/TuEkb07bcQI/AAAAAAAABLM/dgJh9EyLx8w/s320/IMG_5880.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I make cookies and bread every year for Christmas. I’ve removed a few from year to year, but my list this year includes five different types of cookies and one type of bread. I may make one more type of cookie if time allows. I have it easy. I know someone making 15 types of cookies.<br /><br />I had a little debate going into this holiday season though. I thought that I shouldn’t make the cookies because they aren’t good for anyone and there is always plenty of other food. I thought it might help me and my family and friends eat better.<br /><br />Then two people mentioned they were looking forward to my cookies. It didn’t take much to change my mind. I really enjoy some of my cookies too and I only have them once a year. How could I not make the cookies that only come around during the Christmas season?<br /><br />Was it the right choice? I don’t know. None of us need the sweets and in a world where diabetes seems to be becoming the norm, it’s probably healthier to JUST SAY NO. But then there is tradition and the food that we talk over and remember.<br /><br />I’m making the cookies, but come January 1 I’m going to have some explaining to do to my body. And I’m going to need to get back on the healthy trail bandwagon, especially if I want this to be the healthiest year of my life. Till then, I’ll be biting the heads off of gingerbread men. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria </a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2817627861706269983?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-18655061878237723762011-12-16T09:35:00.000-05:002011-12-16T09:35:01.613-05:00<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1xV23FRqVI/Tr0lFctpF5I/AAAAAAAABIM/nywY9haC8Ew/s1600/200330062-001%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673731881093896082" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1xV23FRqVI/Tr0lFctpF5I/AAAAAAAABIM/nywY9haC8Ew/s320/200330062-001%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> In case you need yet another argument to help motivate you to move, here is a great one. A recent study at a university in Ontario indicated that exercise may reduce the aging process. Who doesn’t want to stay young longer and postpone aches and pains?<br /><br />The study tested mice that were aging more rapidly than regular mice. The mice were made to exercise for 45-minutes three times a week. Some of their mitochondria (the power house of cells) were repaired, which in turn improved their muscle mass and the quality of their fur.<br /><br />So next time you’re feeling old, get out and get moving to stay young!<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1865506187823772376?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-71732655126655992752011-12-14T09:50:00.000-05:002011-12-14T09:50:00.864-05:00I was really impressed by this website and story by <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/">ABC News</a>. It turns out that the average American spends $700 on Christmas gifts. If each person spent $64 of those dollars on an American made gift, according to economist it would create 200,000 jobs.<br /><br />From the ABC Made in America website you can search for goods made in America in your state. Connecticut’s list wasn’t very extensive, but I’m pretty sure if more businesses hear about it, they can add themselves to the list somehow.<br /><br />And while I don’t know if it officially counts, what if instead of buying a good you bought a gift certificate from a small local vendor. It seems to me a service could create a job as well as a good. You could pick a local restaurant, pilates or yoga studio, even a local movie theater, especially a small one like the Parkade in Machester. Maybe you can get a gift certificate to a local farm or buy someone a food share from a local farm. There are locally made wines in Connecticut throughout the state. We have local breweries. Maybe you can buy someone a gift certificate to a local museum or bed and breakfast so they can get away for the night. <br /><br />If you can’t find an American-made item, perhaps you can find an American-made adventure or memory.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7173265512665599275?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-87926412297518401292011-12-13T09:43:00.000-05:002011-12-13T09:43:01.138-05:00Is the holiday season wreaking havoc on your sleep schedule? I know the added “list of things to do” doesn’t help mine. Here are some tips to help you sleep better. I think we all probably know them but do you ever try to follow them?<br /><br />1) No caffeine after lunch<br />2) Exercise<br />3) Go to bed at the same time each night<br />4) Turn off the lights<br />5) Turn off the TV and PC<br />6) Have a bedtime routine<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8792641229751840129?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-67985690970404458722011-12-12T09:40:00.000-05:002011-12-12T09:40:00.410-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nmkUAcy6fFI/TuEhGN6CJ4I/AAAAAAAABK0/WeaFyPOJSOk/s1600/DSC01630_crop.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683860595414280066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nmkUAcy6fFI/TuEhGN6CJ4I/AAAAAAAABK0/WeaFyPOJSOk/s320/DSC01630_crop.jpg" /></a>Recently in my struggle to meditate, a client suggested that I try linking meditation with something I do every day like putting my shoes. That seemed like a brilliant idea, but the problem sort of was I don’t really want to meditate. I’m not motivated to do it. Her suggestion was that I try for five minutes. I suggested two minutes.<br /><br />Honestly, I don’t think I really thought I would do it, but I surprised myself. Two days later I put on one shoe, remembered this should be a reminder to meditate, and so with one shoe on I sat down and began to breath and repeat two words over and over. When I opened my eyes, I had barely lasted two minutes. But I’d done it.<br /><br />Five minutes later I tried again, frustrated that two minutes could seem so long. This time I focused more on breathing and lasted two-minutes, fifteen seconds. Hey it’s a start, right?<br /><br />Although, I have to admit, the next day I forgot to do it entirely.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6798569097040445872?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-58459908004347721172011-12-09T09:29:00.000-05:002011-12-09T09:29:00.390-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-435hz8NY0K0/Tr0j2TS9GGI/AAAAAAAABIA/e8aZ6ozyDAY/s1600/IMG_4541.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673730521356376162" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-435hz8NY0K0/Tr0j2TS9GGI/AAAAAAAABIA/e8aZ6ozyDAY/s320/IMG_4541.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Did you know that what we refer to as the Reformer, Joe Pilates called the “gymnastic apparatus,” which he had patented in 1925?<br /><br />When I read this recently in <a href="http://www.pilatesstyle.com/">Pilates Style Magazine </a>it connected a lot of dots. Some of the elders I have worked with are pretty strict about how you get on and off the equipment. They put the same importance on it that is placed on a landing in gymnastics.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria </a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5845990800434772117?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-14763934133289754852011-12-07T09:33:00.000-05:002011-12-07T09:33:00.088-05:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mf4aWt_7ak/TtflkNOJLjI/AAAAAAAABKQ/gaJsGaO4qgY/s1600/file7861300923963%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681261865138204210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Mf4aWt_7ak/TtflkNOJLjI/AAAAAAAABKQ/gaJsGaO4qgY/s320/file7861300923963%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>I’m not sure that I dealt with food enough this year in my challenge to get in the best shape of my life. I planned all these challenges, but thought little about what I would eat. And to some degree, while I was in the midst of a challenge it really didn’t matter. Well, I was burning calories, which was good, but what I put in my body is still important.<br /><br />My problem is, I LOVE TO EAT. And I’m not good at curbing that. Lately, even though my exercise output has been less my food output hasn’t changed. And all I seem to want is saltly and sweat stuff. Give me guacamole with chips or chocolate and I’m a happy girl. Those seem to be my three favorite foods of late.<br /><br />I’ve been trying to eat well Monday through Friday afternoon. Eating well for me means no desserts or sweets (other than fruit), trying not to overeat, a salad for one meal a day, reasonably healthy foods (not Chinese food or super greasy pizza, although I do make my own pizzas).<br /><br />But it’s been an actual challenge every day. Movement is my area of expertise, not food. So I am more than open to suggestions on tasty, quick recipes or ways to curb cravings that actually work.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1476393413328975485?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-59537479693163305082011-12-06T09:28:00.000-05:002011-12-06T09:28:00.482-05:00Okay, I feel a little stuck in my challenges. It seems like I had a bunch all at once (because I did) and now I have nothing I’m working toward. On the one hand I appreciate the break, but on the other I’m noticing a difference in my body from no longer running three times a week (sometimes up to 12 miles). <br /><br />I’m still not sure what to do for my fourth and final challenge. I planned on doing a cross country ski race, but it looks like most of them are for people who actually know what they are doing.<br /><br />I really want a challenge that isn’t running or hiking. And I really don’t like swimming or biking, so I’m not motivated by either of those forms of movement. Any thoughts?<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5953747969316330508?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-614871642031626062011-12-05T09:48:00.002-05:002011-12-05T09:48:01.222-05:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sat1CYZH2bA/TtfpIj9xCpI/AAAAAAAABKc/pFtiOEzVC2k/s1600/DSC01607.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681265788253702802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sat1CYZH2bA/TtfpIj9xCpI/AAAAAAAABKc/pFtiOEzVC2k/s320/DSC01607.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Every year at my mom’s we get an unusually huge tree. It’s a challenge getting the tree inside the house and up, but a spectacle once in and decorated. This year we got the largest tree we have ever had (12-feet tall by 13-feet wide). It almost didn’t make it in the house.<br /><br />Normally, the tree we pick looks small outside and huge inside. This year the tree looked enormous before we cut it down. But in thirty years I have never been the voice of reason on Tree Day, so I excitedly supported cutting down the tree.<br /><br />Once down, all of us pulling together couldn’t budge the tree. We tied a rope to the tree and a rope to the van and used the van to drag the tree on a trailer behind the van. Once home we lined the tree up with the door. Tied a rope to the tree again, ran the rope through the house, ran the rope out a window on the opposite side, tied the rope to the van and drove the van away from the house. The rope snapped three or four times, we broke the window, and the tree had only moved about and inch.<br /><br />It was time to shave some of the tree. We removed the branches that were getting in the way and the tree came in with what seemed like ease. It took six of us and a rope and pulley system to stand the tree up. And then we saw the error of our ways. Having cut off large branches we had also cut out huge chunks of the tree. Out came the twine. We tied lower branched to high ones to reduce the gaps and screwed cut branches back on the trunk.<br /><br />Fifteen strands of lights later and two trips to Home Depot to get more lights (after blowing strands by plugging too many into each other) it was 7:30pm and we were ready to decorate. Dinner was at 9:30. It was a great day. Life is best as a great adventure.<br /><br />Here you can watch us <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gotjfvvZ084">drag the tree</a> in. And here you can also watch us <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lz3r0TguCc">hoist the tree </a>up.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-61487164203162606?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-22085631443928507892011-12-01T09:51:00.000-05:002011-12-01T09:51:00.452-05:00Even though Thanksgiving was only last week, I feel like my holiday season started November 1st. I’ve been eating like it’s the holidays and working really hard to curb my food intake. And it doesn’t help that as the weather gets colder my cardio activity seems to be declining. I keep telling myself that I need to watch what I eat this month, but I’m not being a very good listener. My nagging is good and I appreciate the sentiment. I’m not wrong, but on some level I’m a little unrealistic. There are so many tempting goodies this time of year. I know I have an easier time adding workouts than curbing eating.<br /><br />So here are some of the things I plan to do this month to help handle the abundant food I suspect I’ll be ingesting.<br /><br />· Pull out my old Tae Bo Tapes<br />· Commit to Running at Least Twice a Week (pick the warmest days)<br />· Get to the Gym Once A Week to Swim or Walk the Treadmill (where I can catch up on some reading)<br />· Do an Extra Pilates Class Once A Week<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2208563144392850789?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-77292567761684485572011-11-30T09:50:00.000-05:002011-11-30T09:50:00.741-05:00You may have heard this story recently during a plank in my class. A few weeks ago I had a regular cleaning at my dentist. He asked me if I’d notice any changes lately and I told him that sometimes, but not all the time, I’m sensitive to cold. He sent me home with sensodyne toothpaste and some fluoride toothpaste. He didn’t seem that concerned.<br /><br />Then I stopped by my mom’s and I told her. I said, “It’s odd because it doesn’t happen all the time so I’m not used to it. Each time it happens it’s like a little surprise.”<br /><br />And this is when my mother, my own flesh and blood, laughed at me. “Oh, Maggie,” she said with a sinister yet loving smile. “At thirty, it’s sensitive, teeth. Surprise!” She said. “A few years later you get up from a chair and oh how your knee hurts. Surprise! From here on out, Maggie, it’s a life of little surprises.”<br /><br />We both had a good laugh. I’m sure she is right. No doubt there are some downsides to the aging process, but it’s just more incentive to keep moving and stay healthy. The healthier I am now, the happier I think I’ll be when I’m eighty even if ice cream stings my teeth.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7729256776168448557?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-37887833151133277952011-11-29T09:43:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:43:00.184-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GXLizB7xjcI/TsWqUHzUhiI/AAAAAAAABJI/NR5pP5qraAk/s1600/levator-ani_muscles%255B1%255D.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676130168038786594" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GXLizB7xjcI/TsWqUHzUhiI/AAAAAAAABJI/NR5pP5qraAk/s320/levator-ani_muscles%255B1%255D.gif" /></a><br /><br /><div>When I trained with Pilates Elder Ron Fletcher he repeatedly quoted one of his mentors who, when encouraging someone to engage their pelvic floor, would say: “And So to Up.”<br /><br />In pilates when we refer to the pelvic floor we are referring to what most people know as kegels. And when engaged, the direction that your kegels should go is up. Picture your pelvic floor muscles like a sheet lying on the floor. When you engage them they should lift up as if you lifted that sheet off the floor from the center. And so to up.<br /><br />It’s important to work the pelvic floor because we often take those muscles for granted, but they are the muscles that in enable us to control our bowels and our bladder. And when you consider that they are the muscles at the very bottom of your pelvis, you realize that the weight of everything inside of our trunks ultimately presses down on these muscles.<br /><br />Both men and women have kegel/pelvic floor muscles. It’s not just one muscle we are pulling up on, but multiple. In the picture above the group of levator-ani muscles and the coccygeus are the muscles of the pelvic floor.<br /><br />Anyone up for a couple of kegels? You can do them right now and no one will be the wiser.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3788783315113327795?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-19694680087137309642011-11-28T09:40:00.000-05:002011-11-28T09:40:00.138-05:00When I was a little girl I went through a phase where I kept a gratitude journal. At the end of every day I wrote down five things that I was thankful for that day. It’s funny to look back on, and, surprisingly, the single line items provide a lot of memories. <br /><br />Try it. Even if you don’t write anything down. When you get into bed each night this week try to think of five things you are thankful for.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1969468008713730964?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-31935841047148014122011-11-24T09:21:00.000-05:002011-11-24T09:21:00.165-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSUzZ9RQ90s/Tr0wLLTqhUI/AAAAAAAABI8/PGK2xWYdmgM/s1600/IMG_5687_crop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673744074128655682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSUzZ9RQ90s/Tr0wLLTqhUI/AAAAAAAABI8/PGK2xWYdmgM/s320/IMG_5687_crop.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I may have dreamt it, but I’m pretty sure last year my Dad asked us all to say what we were grateful for before we dug into Thanksgiving dinner. And I’ll admit, while it feels a little cheesy, it is a nice concept, and I liked it. So here are just a couple of the things that I am so lucky to have in my life in 2011:<br /><br />· Matt<br />· My family<br />· My clients (who make me laugh and ensure that my job so much fun)<br />· The people I work with<br />· Classes that I look forward to going to teach<br />· The Old Wethersfield Boot Campers who have become my running buddies<br />· Bees that are alive (so far)<br />· Neighbors who have been really friendly and helpful since we moved in, especially during Irene and Alfred<br />· Sunny days<br />· Kurt Vonnegut who is a genius and I’d never read him until this year<br />· Having the means and health to be able to travel and go on adventures<br /><br /><br />I’m pretty sure I could play this game for ever.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(Picture: Me and my siblings being silly after Thanksgiving dinner last year.)</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3193584104714801412?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-91882518671258192612011-11-23T09:46:00.000-05:002011-11-23T09:46:00.244-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-go3pOpGHiA8/TsWrhPJaynI/AAAAAAAABJU/GZttZUZ66_c/s1600/thanksgiving-plate-ENTERT1106-de%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676131492860447346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-go3pOpGHiA8/TsWrhPJaynI/AAAAAAAABJU/GZttZUZ66_c/s320/thanksgiving-plate-ENTERT1106-de%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Don’t know whether or not I’ll stick to them, but here are some of my plans to make my Thanksgiving a little healthier. If you’d like to try any of these, feel free:<br /><br />· Only drink water<br />· Cut my own SMALL piece of dessert (albeit every dessert)<br />· One serving of dinner (this is going to be hard for me, I know)<br />· Workout in the morning<br />· If the parade is on, be in motion; don’t just sit and watch it<br />· Take a little walk with one or more of my relatives between dinner and dessert<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-9188251867125819261?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-3394907225820900322011-11-22T09:06:00.000-05:002011-11-22T09:06:00.783-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVvOYwvdeLM/TrxLGcTsM_I/AAAAAAAABH0/2wuiu60Cgj8/s1600/IMG_7838.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673492204630062066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVvOYwvdeLM/TrxLGcTsM_I/AAAAAAAABH0/2wuiu60Cgj8/s320/IMG_7838.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>So they suggest building up slowly. I walk around barefoot a lot and they felt so comfortable that I think I might have gotten a little cocky. I took a two-mile walk around Wethersfield in them and all was good. That seemed to motivate me.<br /><br />So last weekend when Matt and I went to Ogunquit, Maine, I went on a five mile walk. We walked to the beach, across the beach (where I discovered that <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.htm">Vibram Five Fingers </a>leave the most awesome footprints because it looked like my bare feet had designs on them), back to the road, along the cliff walk, and back along the road. Three miles was my peak. After that I was in agony. My toes were really cramping—maybe it was the colder weather, but my feet didn’t feel that cold in them, so I think it was the walking.<br /><br />We stopped for lunch and I thought the break would make it all okay, but it didn’t. My toes cramped immediately when we starting up again and only got worse. The balls of my feet started hurting and I had to stop for frequent breaks. My left foot hurt worse than my right, which surprised me but I found that interesting because it implies that I have a different gait on each leg.<br /><br />Even with the pain when we got back up to the road and I could actually feel the leaves on my feet, I was back to being happy with my new shoes even though I was still in pain. The next day I opted for some comfy, winter boots.<br /><br />To be continued…</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-339490722582090032?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-78693907169453263602011-11-21T09:35:00.000-05:002011-11-21T09:35:00.188-05:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hF12laAjUXY/TrxElV_pMTI/AAAAAAAABHc/IXVCtfpGgJs/s1600/compliment-300x300%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673485038929916210" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hF12laAjUXY/TrxElV_pMTI/AAAAAAAABHc/IXVCtfpGgJs/s320/compliment-300x300%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Okay, just for fun and because I think it will make everyone involved feel good, try to give out a sincere compliment each day this week. Make a point of noticing the people around you—your family, friends, coworkers—and see the good in them and let them know.<br /><br />If you try and it makes you feel better or someone else feel better share with us.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7869390716945326360?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-60169104453252518252011-11-17T09:26:00.000-05:002011-11-17T09:26:00.650-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2rx-iQM0Ko/Tq7angHnivI/AAAAAAAABCM/-LNjRZ41clo/s1600/IMG_0456.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669709353077672690" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2rx-iQM0Ko/Tq7angHnivI/AAAAAAAABCM/-LNjRZ41clo/s320/IMG_0456.JPG" /></a>I am not anti Dunkin Donuts. I like them and I go there—usually for donuts, muffins, coffee rolls, or egg sandwiches. As long as it’s not coffee I’m usually good. But there are things that really bug me about Dunkin Donuts (if you will listen to my rant for a moment).<br /><br />I don’t like their ad slogan: America Runs on Dunkin. It bothers me the way commercials that try to make women think they need longer lashes; perfectly slender, hairless legs; flawless skin; and perky breasts to be valuable and beautiful bother me.<br /><br />They aren’t wrong. We eat and drink a lot of Dunkin Donuts, but we probably shouldn’t. Not only is the food unhealthy, but the caffeine we need to get through our insanely busy days seems a little excessive. I think we all need to calm down a little, myself included.<br /><br />And, I’ve noticed that when I walk out of DD some stores now have a sign that says, “See you soon.” They are right, but it drives me bonkers. It’s like they know their greasy, salty, fatty, caffeinated food is a drug we all need and they aren’t even shy about it. They are part crack dealer.<br /><br />Okay, I’m exaggerating a little. Like I said, I like DD. I do. And I go there, but I think they are an example of a bigger societal problem that we have.<br /><br />I’ve been holding this blog in for a while, but when I got behind a giant DD Coffee Car, I couldn’t resist.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6016910445325251825?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-62640528532583647832011-11-16T09:39:00.000-05:002011-11-16T09:39:00.196-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVA8yEHVD3w/Tr0nclBIcVI/AAAAAAAABIw/1jvj89KcNIA/s1600/IMG_7803.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673734477483372882" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bVA8yEHVD3w/Tr0nclBIcVI/AAAAAAAABIw/1jvj89KcNIA/s320/IMG_7803.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673734183072640898" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6RtINNa720/Tr0nLcQJL4I/AAAAAAAABIY/yy86zuRH7X8/s320/IMG_7815.JPG" />I have to admit I didn’t have it as bad as some in this recent freak October snowstorm that made half of Connecticut look like a war zone. I got my power back Wednesday. I had a woodstove to keep us warm. We have gas so we could cook on the stove and didn’t lose our hot water. It was a huge inconvenience and pretending I was on Little House on the Prairie got old by about day three, but there were some pluses. Here is how I’m making lemonade out of lemons with Alfred:<br /><br />· Instead of emailing people for a quick question I called them (when I could)<br />· I enjoyed many a night by the fireside (something I always wish to have time for)<br />· I came to appreciate how nice it is when the toilet seat isn’t 50-degrees<br />· I had time to complete some home projects that were on my list for months<br />· When the snow was coming down before it started breaking the trees, it was beautiful<br />· The white snow on the colorful leaves was truly a rare and magical site.<br />· It will leave all of use with a great story that we will talk about forever</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6264052853258364783?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-67322556111762026262011-11-15T09:44:00.000-05:002011-11-15T09:44:00.891-05:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mI3fj7epXAE/TrxHCWjabsI/AAAAAAAABHo/Qp9GmRFmppw/s1600/IMG_0599.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673487736319405762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mI3fj7epXAE/TrxHCWjabsI/AAAAAAAABHo/Qp9GmRFmppw/s320/IMG_0599.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>So I got myself a pair of <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.htm">Vibram Five Fingers</a>. I’ve wanted them because I’m really curious about whether or not they are better for your feet, but I’ve hesitated because I think everyone looks downright silly in them. And I think they might be a bit of a fad, and I never really like getting caught up in fads.<br /><br />But my fascination took over. And I tried a pair. They are so comfortable on my feet. I’m going to start slow, just with walking around. I don’t know that I’ll ever opt to run in them. I’m more apt to try hiking someday.<br /><br />It’s not as hard to get my toes into them as I expected. After about the first five times I put them on most of the time they go in fairly easily. So far I’m really happy and hoping I can get enough wears in before it gets too cold.<br /><br />I do look really silly in them though and every time I look at my feet I want to laugh.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6732255611176202626?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-81299828190146414932011-11-14T09:32:00.000-05:002011-11-14T09:32:00.127-05:00A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog about the importance of small changes and then this week I saw an article about small changes being vital. The article said there really isn’t much research on small changes and the difference they make, but that we know many people try to lose weight by making big changes they don’t stick to, inevitably winding up back where they started, only more discouraged each time.<br /><br />The current guidelines for maintain a healthy weight suggest the following moderate-intensity physical activity:<br /><br />30-Minutes: To Maintain Weight<br />60-Minutes: To Lose Weight<br />90-Minutes: To Keep Weight Off After Initial Loss<br /><br />Only 26% of the population does the 30-minutes of exercise recommended to maintain weight.<br /><br />A 17-member task force was put together to figure out if small changes could make a difference. They concluded:<br /><br />1) Small changes are more realistic and therefore easier to maintain<br />2) Small changes can make a big difference. (Since most people gain weight over a long period of time and the weight creeps up slowly, it’s safe to assume that small changes will make a big difference, it just might take a while.)<br />3) Small changes increase an individual’s belief that they have the ability to make a big change.<br /><br />One example of a small change is to wear a pedometer. Research has shown that wearing a pedometer increases your steps by about 2,491 per day. That is extra calories and extra activity. But you’ve got to play the pedometer game. You’ve got to start parking further away from the store so that you walk more and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Little differences that can add up.<br /><br />Ultimately you have to find what works for you and what inspires you to be healthy. If a big change works, that’s great. If small changes are more your style try that. Try each. Do what you need to do to feel good and healthy about your body and your mind. Everyone should try to fit in 30-minutes of physical activity. It’s important, but if for whatever reason you just can’t, try a small change.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8129982819014641493?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-7825057749782180392011-11-11T09:07:00.000-05:002011-11-11T09:07:00.437-05:00In our society we tend to categorize skinny people as healthy and heavier people as unhealthy, but a new study out of England suggests that it isn’t as clear cut. They studied over 75,000 people searching for a gene linked to lower body fat percentage. They found IRS1. In addition to having lower body fact, the gene seems to be connected to higher glucose levels, higher cholesterol, and more visceral fat. <br /><br />The study claimed that men in particular can appear lean, but still have a change of developing heart disease and diabetes. They suggest that all people—no matter our weight or size adhere to a healthy lifestyle and exercise routine.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-782505774978218039?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-6252724318166266862011-11-10T09:17:00.000-05:002011-11-10T09:17:00.054-05:00Have an iphone or ipad and want to be able to carry pilates exercises with you all the time? Here are some apps that were recommended in Pilates Style Magazine;<br /><br />Shape Slim Down with Pilates $1.99<br />Pilates Day-by-Day 15 Minute Workout $5.99<br />Pilates Moves $1.99<br />Michael Miller Pilates Lab (free initial download $.99-$5.99)<br />Pilates Interactive from BASI Pilates $3.99<br />Mindbody Pilates (free)<br /><br />(The last one is for finding classes near you—so great if you travel a lot. The rest are instructional and all sound fun for different reasons. I don’t have one on my phone yet, but as a pilates practitioner, I’m most excited to try Pilates Day-By-Day 15 Minute Workout and the BASI Pilates.)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-625272431816626686?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-57330038000987392312011-11-09T09:14:00.000-05:002011-11-09T09:14:00.546-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhDcORHZ59s/Tq7X0vwB8iI/AAAAAAAABB0/WQJqANqHEe0/s1600/oldTV-763565%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 311px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669706282077123106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhDcORHZ59s/Tq7X0vwB8iI/AAAAAAAABB0/WQJqANqHEe0/s320/oldTV-763565%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>Research has shown that people who lose weight and keep it off have fewer TV’s in the home. The connection seems to be about making changes in the home. The fewer TV’s the less likely you are to sit down and watch it.<br /><br />I’ve gone without TV for long periods of time, but I think when I wanted to relax I still sat down and read a book or watched a movie. And even though we only have one TV in the house, we have three or four computers and we can watch TV on all of them if we want to. I wonder if all the advertisements on TV for food gets people off track. I wonder if the real question isn’t how many TV’s you have, but how often you have them on, even if it’s just on in the background.<br /><br />So how many TV’s do you have? How often do you watch TV? Would you be willing to challenge yourself to go one day, or one week, or one month without TV and see if it positively affected your lifestyle or weight?<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5733003800098739231?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-73686767519978756262011-11-08T09:12:00.001-05:002011-11-08T09:12:00.282-05:00I’m one of those people that likes seeing the calories listed on menus. I wouldn’t mandate it, but the more information the better. Sometimes if I’m debating between two meals the calorie listing could be the deciding factor. But recently I read that the calories restaurants post may not be accurate. I was disappointed, but not too surprised. <br /><br />It turns out, according to a study by the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging that most food items actually have 10 more calories than the menu claims, but 19% of the food items had at least 100 calories more. So next time you go to a restaurant ask them how accurate the calorie count is. Either way, assume you are getting 100 more and you should be safe.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7368676751997875626?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-77237422624024543072011-11-07T09:09:00.000-05:002011-11-07T09:09:00.184-05:00You may know that I have a hard time with meditation. And, quite frankly, it’s a self-improvement I’m not working very hard to improve. However, when I read a mediation tip that I think might be helpful to me, I assume it might be helpful to others who have a hard time meditating. This one seemed like it would be calming and that I might be able to focus on it (at least for a little while). Try it:<br /><br />Close your eyes and notice the darkness behind your eyes. Then focus on your breath. Inhale and exhale as deeply as you can. Feel the air coming in your nose and notice that it is cool as it flows in and warm as it flows out. <br /><br /><br />Or try this:<br /><br />Do a couple of your favorite pilates exercises—pick one or two—and focus on syncing the breath with the movement. Really just concentrate on the breathing moving in time to the motion. Then try the exercise above.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7723742262402454307?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-43233816986725401142011-11-03T09:20:00.000-04:002011-11-03T09:20:00.910-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ial6OXgbu4/Tq7ZuoKA3SI/AAAAAAAABCA/ngODuNGBytY/s1600/dan%2Band%2Bisa%2Bbacherlorette%2B018.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 213px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669708375982660898" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ial6OXgbu4/Tq7ZuoKA3SI/AAAAAAAABCA/ngODuNGBytY/s320/dan%2Band%2Bisa%2Bbacherlorette%2B018.jpg" /></a>Matt and I have been together for ten years today. And I think we are both pretty lucky to have found each other. We are a good match, and I’m happy to have him by my side in life. He is a good person to have next to you when times are good and when times get tough. He’s also a good inspiration for me.<br /><br />It was Matt who helped coax me to start my own company. I was very nervous to leave my job and take the leap to being self-employed. Matt kept suggesting it was the right decision and that once I made the decision I would feel good about it. He was right. I love what I’m doing and I haven’t regretted the decision yet.<br /><br />He may not do pilates himself, but he is a good advocate for pilates. And if you take one of our classes and love it, you have Matt to thank, at least in part. Not only did he help give me the nudge I needed to start the company, but in the beginning he was the guinea pig for every exercise. He probably had to do the 100 one hundred times early on.<br /><br />I love him and it’s been a good ten years. And for five of them he has willingly appeared in plank stories. If nothing else, he deserves some credit just for that. He’s a good sport.<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>I've tried to come up with a better name for Matt than boyfriend. Years ago I wrote an OpEd about it. If you'd like to read it, <a href="http://articles.courant.com/2008-11-26/news/freshdownie1126.art_1_boyfriend-new-age-21st-century">here is the link</a>.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4323381698672540114?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-50236335268151654482011-11-01T09:49:00.001-04:002011-11-01T09:49:00.315-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwvJZ2COIO8/TqB75H3xN5I/AAAAAAAABBo/7UhZq5JYB9w/s1600/psoas_image%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665664552527804306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwvJZ2COIO8/TqB75H3xN5I/AAAAAAAABBo/7UhZq5JYB9w/s320/psoas_image%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>There are so many people who have written about <a href="http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/497/The-Opinionated-Psoas-Part-1">this muscle </a>better than I can, so think of this post as trying to entice you to read more...<br /><br />The “p” is silent and you pronounce this very fascinating muscle so-as. So, as in, so what? Well here is what makes the psoas so interesting and why you should know about it.<br /><br />A few months ago I went to a workshop lead by Liz Koch who has devoted her life to the psoas muscle. One of her most interesting descriptions of the psoas was that it is the filet mignon muscle. She said that chefs will tell you it looks and tastes different and that is has a different color than any other muscle in the body. She claims that in most people’s body, the psoas looks less like filet mignon and more like beef jerky.<br /><br />I don’t know whether or not that is true, but the visual is pretty poignant. If you went to a nice restaurant and ordered filet mignon and got beef jerky, you’d be rightfully upset. This problem with most of our psoas muscles is that we live in a world that strains the psoas. We sit a lot, keeping the psoas short and often tight (but not necessarily strong).<br /><br /><strong>So where is the psoas?<br /><br /></strong>We have one on each side of the body. It connects to the inner thigh on the femur and runs over the pelvis and then through the pelvis to attach in multiple places along the spine. It is the only muscle that crosses through the midsection and contacts to the front of the body and the back of the body, which makes it very unique.<br /><br />It is the muscle most vital to walking. We often thing of our legs just moving us forward, but there are actually muscles in our body doing all the work. The movement starts in the psoas, which means when you walk the movement should first come from your spine as high as where your lowest ribs connect.<br /><br />If the psoas is too short (tight) it can put pressure on the hip socket and restrict range of motion. It can also pull on the low back.<br /><br />Plus since it cuts through the body it is intertwined with our internal organs and diaphragm. Our psoas can actually play a role in breathing. While it’s not connected to the ribs, tendons and ligaments from the diaphragm attach alongside the psoas and even wrap around it. Plus nerves that connect to the QL (a muscle in the low back) tend to activate the QL and the psoas together. The QL is supposed to help in breathing so there is another connection there.<br /><br />Here is a muscle that you likely have never heard of before and yet it is probably most vital to our upright posture.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5023633526815165448?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-32608283404079627852011-10-31T13:04:00.001-04:002011-10-31T13:07:19.221-04:00I love this time of year. I even love the candy, but that’s not such a good thing.<br /><br />Can you set a candy deadline in your house and throw away any leftover candy on that day? It’s okay to throw food away when it’s not healthy for you. Try not to eat it all before the deadline. Limit your candy intake each day and then trash the rest.<br /><br />Maybe you can give your kids a penny/nickel/dime for every piece of candy they throw away.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3260828340407962785?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-79274285976659004502011-10-28T08:56:00.000-04:002011-10-28T08:56:00.107-04:00We live in a society where sometimes you have to tell kids to stop fidgeting. Right or wrong it is the way our society works, and it makes sense for basic functioning in public places, but it may not be good for the body. Figdeting is natural. The body likes to move. So the next time you tell a child to stop fidgeting wait for a minute. If you are alone in a car or in your own home and it’s not bothering anyone can you let them fidget a little while longer?<br /><br />Our bodies would want to be in motion all day long and then sleep if they had their choice. The muscles want to move. We inhibit that often.<br /><br />And if you are sitting in an office right now, feeling antsy and it won’t bother anyone maybe you can let yourself fidget a little. Its okay and it will make your body happy.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7927428597665900450?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-76448582128586264652011-10-27T09:44:00.000-04:002011-10-27T09:44:00.905-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqzFAxJTJRo/TqB6xfluP9I/AAAAAAAABBc/vSKcq890630/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665663321943982034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqzFAxJTJRo/TqB6xfluP9I/AAAAAAAABBc/vSKcq890630/s320/IMG_4534.JPG" /></a> Last week I was taking a private pilates class. I was complaining about how my ankle has been supinating (<a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-326-435-0,00.html">rolling outward</a>). It wasn’t painful, but I know it’s not ideal and I wanted to work on it. I was doing basic footwork exercises on the reformer and when I had someone to look at me tell me exactly when my ankle was in the right place I could feel not only the work in my ankle, but I felt a change in my body all the way up to my hip flexors.<br /><br />It was one of those moments that make me so proud I’m a pilates instructor, and I immediately wanted to make all my clients feel what I had just felt in my body. The footwork, which seems like a really simple exercise was suddenly a huge challenge because of what was going on in my body. All I was doing was lying down and bending and straightening my legs, but suddenly my whole entire body was working to help my ankle stay where it was supposed to it. It was a team effort, and when everything was tracking just right it was hard work.<br /><br />Our bodies are so used to pulling us off track—our stronger muscles working harder and our weaker ones going along for the ride. It’s what I love about pilates. The exercises work to balance everything and keep the body in sync, but it is sometimes really hard to find that perfect balance and it’s even harder to maintain it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7644858212858626465?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-80705283308636481422011-10-26T09:33:00.000-04:002011-10-26T09:33:00.246-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8bE0NQkrv4/TqB4Qj-WowI/AAAAAAAABBQ/U1McOlCyTqw/s1600/IMG_5400.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665660557162095362" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z8bE0NQkrv4/TqB4Qj-WowI/AAAAAAAABBQ/U1McOlCyTqw/s320/IMG_5400.JPG" /></a> I am not a dietician, but I’m interested in food and nutrition and how food affects our ability to move and feel good. So my first half marathon this year, as is suggested by many people, I laid off salty, greasy, cheesy food and had carbs and protein for lunch the day before and a light dinner the night before. I ate half a bagel with peanut better the morning of the race because I knew I wouldn’t be able to wait until 9:30 to eat breakfast. By mile ten my gut was pretty unhappy with me.<br /><br />A couple weeks later I met some runners for a 12-mile practice run. The day before I’d eaten almost everything the Big-E has to offer including a bacon-cheese-burger on a donut. I thought I was in it for it, but I felt fine.<br /><br />The night before my most recent half marathon, I’d planned to eat a light dinner, but I didn’t get home from work until 8pm I was starving and had called home to ask Matt to have pizza waiting for me. In a fit of starvation I downed way too much pizza, immediately regretting my choice. On the day of the run my stomach felt fine. My body was really sore, but intestinally speaking, I was a happy girl.<br /><br />So I guess all I’m saying is I’m confused. I don’t know if I lucked out or if my body needs different things. I just don’t understand. But if pizza and burgers work before a race, I’m happy to stick with them.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8070528330863648142?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-60230420957599251742011-10-25T09:39:00.000-04:002011-10-25T09:39:00.165-04:00This blog is by request. A client said she saw this <a href="http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/truth-about-pelvic-prolapse-pt-1">Doctor Oz show </a>(the video is in three parts) where they discussed pelvis prolapse and she thought it was a very important topic that women are probably uncomfortable talking about if they even know about it. She asked me to spread the word.<br /><br />I’ve heard of pelvic prolapse because I know of women who have had it. Pelvic prolapse is when the rectum, uterus or bladders falls out of the vagina. It can vary in degree. In pilates we work to engage the pelvic floor in every exercise—a good habit for men and women—and one way to attempt to reduce pelvic prolapse.<br /><br />While I’m not sure how accurate these numbers are, I have read that 30-50% of women have some degree of pelvic prolapse. Most of these women have had children, a hysterectomy, and/or are over the age of 40 and past menopause. It is also true that up to 50% of women have difficulty engaging their pelvic floor (kegel muscles) on command. The two situations are obviously linked.<br /><br />So if this is something you are concerned about, you should talk to your doctor and not feel ashamed. You are not alone.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6023042095759925174?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-57004508925698253222011-10-24T09:28:00.000-04:002011-10-24T09:28:00.137-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkqY4qdLyaw/Tpx1d10DokI/AAAAAAAABBE/9V5cVjdZ3RY/s1600/fourseasons7%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664531586847318594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rkqY4qdLyaw/Tpx1d10DokI/AAAAAAAABBE/9V5cVjdZ3RY/s320/fourseasons7%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I asked what you wanted to hear about in the blog and someone asked for a discussion on how seasons affect exercise. For me, anecdotally, the change of seasons are always a time to turn over a new leaf or start something new. It’s like we have four quarters to breaks activity up.<br /><br />Some of the ways the seasons tend to effect exercise are obvious. We are all more likely to do more outside in the summer. There are different sports in different seasons, so if you like skiing, but hate the heat you might get in better shape in the winter months.<br /><br />We all know that colder weather can be felt in our joints and our lungs. Hot, humid weather can make exercise miserable, so what really changes in our body during different seasons? Here are just some examples.<br /><br />• A <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7078580.stm">US study </a>shows that blood pressure increases during the winter. They tend to think this is because we generally work out less in the winter and eat more, but it might also be because of the cold air restricting blood vessels. </div><br /><br /><div><br />• <a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2007/09/21/a-season-for-mood-disorders/1318.html">Mood</a> can also be effected by the season and the amount of light we can get. Generally speaking we are happier and feel better in summer months than winter months. Our mood often effects our instinct or desire to exercise so the problem can just be exacerbated. It’s probably smart to have a good exercise plan for the winter that you can stick to even when it’s dark and cold because your mind and mental state will thank you for it. </div><br /><br /><div><br />• We tend to blame the weather for achy joints, sore muscles, and worse asthma attacks and now there might be science to back it up. This <a href="http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/the-weather-wreaking-havoc-on-health">WebMD article </a>is fascinating and even talks about how allergies may not be caused by pollen, but actual temperature changes. We may actually be allergic to certain seasons and that can effect breathing and the motivation you have to get outside and move. </div><br /><br /><div><br />• But is it fair to blame achy joints and migraines on the weather? <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/safety/2005-02-21-health-pressure_x.htm">It turns out maybe not</a>. Since the 70’s researches haven’t been able to pinpoint a connection between dewpoint, barometric pressure, temperature and headaches or arthritis. Patients who claim to be able to predict the weather based on how they feel, apparently can’t predict it that accurately in studies. Still most doctors seem to think there is something to the claims. And it makes sense, when the pressure drops outside, it’s like being on an airplane—the pressure around us changes outside before the pressure or air inside our head can change and our ears suffer. That might happen to nerves around the joints too. They may sense the pressure change outside and be effected by it—at least that’s what it seems like might be happening to rats. So the connection is there, it’s just not clear how significant the connection is for humans yet—ah the body, always surprising us. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5700450892569825322?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-29014573433329351882011-10-21T09:07:00.000-04:002011-10-21T09:07:00.271-04:00For two days after I ran the half marathon, I slept so soundly for a good eight hours. The great sleep I got makes running another half marathon very tempting. But 30-minutes of any aerobic exercise should do the trick. Whenever I am extremely physical, I tend to get great sleep.<br /><br />And there is research to prove it. According to a study in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michael-j-breus/the-heart-of-the-sleep-ma_b_750928.html">journal of Sleep Medicine </a>20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise will help improve sleep by enabling you to fall asleep faster and stay in a deep sleep longer. One of the reasons they think this happens is that exercise raises the temperature of the body. It can stay raised for four hours, but when it cools off the temperature is usually lower than prior to exercising, which may help in falling asleep.<br /><br />The benefits of better sleep are huge. The longer you are in a deep sleep the more growth hormones you produce, which helps you to rebuild and heal your body. But for me, I just love the feeling of waking up and feeling refreshed.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2901457343332935188?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-38203874817328888892011-10-20T08:56:00.000-04:002011-10-20T08:56:00.526-04:00I didn’t feel like running, but I did. It wasn’t one of my challenges. I saw it more as topping off a busy season of challenges. I signed up last minute. I knew I’d be glad after it was over.<br /><br />Even though I’d hiked the Grand Canyon so I was in shape, I hadn’t run much for two weeks leading up to the race, so I was a little nervous. (Although I’m starting to recognize that I think I get a little nervous before all of my challenges/races/activities. I kind of think those nerves a good for me though. It’s the kind of nervous you get before speaking publically or going on stage to perform.)<br /><br />We had beautiful weather and a perfect race day. I finished the race in almost exactly the same time as my half marathon a month earlier—differing only by seconds. Two hours and six minutes, which isn’t half bad since the course was harder. It’s funny how the same distance can feel different on any given day. I remember with the Surftown Half the first three miles were tough, but I felt great from four to ten. Eleven and 12 were tough. This time, I felt great the first three and okay until mile eight when my legs started to feel like lead weights. I wondered how I would finish like that. The last three miles were a killer and it was all mental to finish. I even felt like I was limping and all my joints were sore by the end. I was so glad when it was over and so proud.<br /><br />The next day I wasn’t sore, just stiff. All I could think about what how next time I wanted to finish in under 2 hours. I have a goal and I’m excited to do it again. It’s funny how quickly we forget or how addictive running is.<br /><br />But it is vital to have a goal set that makes you want to challenge yourself and people who help push you to do so.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3820387481732888889?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-24347721259513361182011-10-19T09:19:00.000-04:002011-10-19T09:19:00.032-04:00If you’ve ever taken a pilates class you know there are some odd names to the exercises—the elephant, the boomerang, the seal, the Captain Morgan. The seal I can understand, but I’ve never thought the elephant looks like an elephant. So now it’s your turn to name an exercise. Come up with a fun, or creative, or interesting sounding name that you think could make a good pilates exercise. Post your new pilates exercise name on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/personaleuphoriapilates">Facebook</a>.<br /><br />We’ll pick our favorite new name, design a new exercise (using the pilates basic principles, of course) that fits the name, and do it in all our classes. You don’t have to take one of our classes to submit a name. Anyone can play. You can submit multiple names if you want. Just have fun—like the kind of fun you have when you get to do the seal.<br /><br />Just coming off a trip to the Grand Canyon some names that come to mind to me are “The Landslide” or “Scorpion Tail,” but I’m pretty sure you can top that!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2434772125951336118?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-82180434352061892172011-10-18T09:07:00.000-04:002011-10-18T09:07:00.310-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcHXn5FRo08/TpxxF6E-v6I/AAAAAAAABA0/eNMShXHLE6Y/s1600/DSC01460.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664526777628671906" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcHXn5FRo08/TpxxF6E-v6I/AAAAAAAABA0/eNMShXHLE6Y/s320/DSC01460.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SnUN1Qt71w">Hiking the Grand Canyon </a>was my 3rd challenge of my 30th year. I didn’t get to do as much hiking as I’d hoped for to prepare, and Irene washed out our regular backpacking trip in the White Mountains. I was nervous about so many things—my knees, having enough water, the temperature, the terrain, heights, falling off into the great abyss. Luckily, I didn’t have a problem with anything I anticipated. The trail was easier than the trails I am used to in the White Mountains, but it was covered for good portions in small rocks that I termed “ankle biters.” It would be so easy to roll or sprain an ankle in the Grand Canyon. We had no ankle sprains and perfect weather—about 80-degrees during the day and we were able to hike in the shade for good portions of our trip.</div><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664526771728849506" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a4J_YOTLAko/TpxxFkGWmmI/AAAAAAAABAs/9TvwqPCb99M/s320/DSC01415.JPG" /><br />The hike was not as hard as I’d expected. Down was harder for me than up. It took me eight hours to get down and eight more to get back up. I’m a much better hiker when it comes to going up. I felt like I was in good shape for the hike, but I was really sore after hiking down. The second day my whole body was stiff and my muscles ached, but not in the belly of the muscle like normal. They were sore on the ends near all the attachments, but it felt like muscle pain, not ligaments or tendons.<br /><br />I was so sore by the end of the second day that I was a little nervous about hiking up. But once I got started I was fine. (That is true about so much in life.) I was sore after the hike out, but by the next morning, except for a lingering reminder in my claves, I felt like I hadn’t hiked at all. <br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 70px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664526770283283458" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmqT9MIhVSs/TpxxFettBAI/AAAAAAAABAg/7ExRQZzJJaQ/s320/DSC01381.JPG" /><br />In my challenges so far this year, I do feel really strong. I feel like I am stronger than I have been in years, but I also feel like after all the training I’ve been doing, I’m ready for a break. Good thing I have some time before my 4th and final challenge (which isn’t even set in stone yet, so I’m still taking ideas). <br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664526753162155266" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u7OXdU9yvoM/TpxxEe7tVQI/AAAAAAAABAY/Rb1j6_YYReE/s320/DSC01370.JPG" /><br />I also have felt that each challenge was easier than I expected. I feel like I need to push myself harder for the next one.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664526746742151858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7hRG9k292U/TpxxEHBD2rI/AAAAAAAABAI/E7ah3-THUlM/s320/DSC01352.JPG" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8218043435206189217?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-73521813130264935152011-10-17T08:58:00.000-04:002011-10-17T08:58:00.641-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRQ53n9L8SM/Tpt0z23R8LI/AAAAAAAAA_8/6Ii6QfeHhSA/s1600/DSC01510.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664249390598058162" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRQ53n9L8SM/Tpt0z23R8LI/AAAAAAAAA_8/6Ii6QfeHhSA/s320/DSC01510.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>The name is fitting. If nothing else the Grand Canyon is certainly grand. The size is enormous. There are rocks of every color. Red, oranges and yellows I expected, but the blues and greens in the landscape surprised me. When the moon sets in the morning, but before the sun comes up the stars are super bright and look like silver pinholes in the sky. But what impressed me the most was the silence. Once a mile down in the canyon, if you stop walking and just listen, you’ll find there is nothing to listen to. No helicopter tours; no raging Colorado River (unless you are within ear shot of the river because that is loud), no animal noises, no buzzing electrical wires, no people, no cars, no wind in the trees. I think it is the quietest place I have ever been. I would have thought that might be eerie, but I loved it. It was calming. For someone who can’t meditate and quiet the mind, it seemed great. It drew me in to appreciate the stillness and desert peace.</div><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664249388643893538" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7szfuyd0a_k/Tpt0zvlXwSI/AAAAAAAAA_w/goqSKOxMtmw/s320/DSC01471.JPG" />The serenity is deceptive because in that quiet, seemingly peaceful place everything seems to want to prick. In fairness it was foolish of me to touch a cactus to see just how sharp it was (pretty friggin’ sharp), but even the aloe is sharp. Trees there are prickly. And many of the rocks are sharper than you’d think. Everything is on the defensive in the desert, but somehow, I found it invited me to let my guard down.<br /><br />From a mile down it becomes more beautiful. In fact upon driving up, I don’t find the Grand Canyon beautiful. It’s massive and impressive, but it isn’t beautiful to me in the way that a snowcapped mountain is. But a mile from its flat top it becomes stunning.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664249383281970050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bt3S-qV8Kc/Tpt0zbm_S4I/AAAAAAAAA_k/2pxeXe-rFpo/s320/DSC01365.JPG" /><br />On my first morning there I got up to watch the sunrise. Sitting on a cool, giant rock alone I waited for the sun to creep over the landscape, and I noticed something obvious that seemed rather deep to me at the time. Everything I was looking at, everything here that inspires awe in everyone who comes is only visible because of the huge pieces that are now gone—that which has been eroded away. In the empty space where something no one remembers is gone, the loss of something once solid and grounded which created empty space is what enables us to see the remaining stone and find it awe inspiring. Without what is gone it would just be solid Earth like everywhere else. It wouldn’t be grand at all.<br /><br />I’m not sure what to make of that thought yet, but I think there might be something very profound in that reality of what was missing if I could settle my mind a little longer to think about it. Or perhaps it just proves the saying: “Something lost; something gained.” And me being me, the rock being the rock, and the empty space being the empty space, I got antsy sitting still and hopped off the rock to feel the freedom of movement in the space around me. And if felt good.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7352181313026493515?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-6622896154161268262011-10-14T09:16:00.000-04:002011-10-14T09:16:00.154-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qf_9S5K_z8/ToWXqMEk7OI/AAAAAAAAA9U/Qt49iBU-onA/s1600/24838_w600xh400%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658095257911618786" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qf_9S5K_z8/ToWXqMEk7OI/AAAAAAAAA9U/Qt49iBU-onA/s320/24838_w600xh400%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> There is nothing you can do now. You’ve done all the preparing and you’ve eaten what you’re going to eat. Try to relax and take a few deep breaths before you take off. In Pilates we are always trying to control movement, but you simply can’t always control the body.<br /><br />You have given it all the preparation you can and you have to trust in that. How running feels today, how dinner reacts, and whether or not you need to make a pit stop is somewhat out of your hands. Run and have fun. Good luck<a href="http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/"> Hartford Half and Full Marathoners</a>. Have a great run!<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>For information on <a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria </a>&amp; Evolution Pilates upcoming runner's workshop <a href="http://pilatesct.com/events.html">click here.</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-662289615416126826?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-73174868789946472832011-10-13T09:14:00.000-04:002011-10-13T09:14:00.492-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZUY3wb4YqY/ToWWlOpgRiI/AAAAAAAAA9M/JKLSz62n6D4/s1600/glute-max3%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658094073192400418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZUY3wb4YqY/ToWWlOpgRiI/AAAAAAAAA9M/JKLSz62n6D4/s320/glute-max3%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>When you run, you should run your butt off—literally. It is the largest muscle in your body: USE IT. That muscle should give you the burst on each step. It should be what springboards you into your stride, especially going up a hill.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For information on <a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria </a>&amp; Evolution Pilates upcoming runner's workshop <a href="http://pilatesct.com/events.html">click here.</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7317486878994647283?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-55091718043248853512011-10-12T09:00:00.000-04:002011-10-12T09:00:09.066-04:00Today we are posting two videos for runners. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD2d5xfwt5o&amp;feature=related">first is a how-to </a>of five different exercises and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3xpsU8BSGI&amp;feature=related">the second </a>is less than five minutes long and I do the same exercises without explaining them so that you can do them with me as a routine.<br /><br />These are five standing exercises, so they are great for right after a run. You can even keep your shoes on. Once you get the hang of it, you can do these exercises anywhere—while pumping gas, waiting for the microwave, or waiting in a line at the supermarket (and some of them are so subtle you may not even get any funny looks). The exercises challenge your balance while working your hip stabilizers, abs, and glutes.<br /><br />For info on our upcoming runner's workshop <a href="http://pilatesct.com/events.html">click here</a>.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5509171804324885351?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-52495846628235883112011-10-11T09:05:00.000-04:002011-10-11T09:05:00.316-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzHgLXqO3kE/ToWVLb0v76I/AAAAAAAAA88/NKpTKMyPhGI/s1600/balance%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658092530540998562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzHgLXqO3kE/ToWVLb0v76I/AAAAAAAAA88/NKpTKMyPhGI/s320/balance%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>Earlier this year I was working with a group of runners. We met post-run, and I was really surprised at the general lack of balance in the group. The group had varied ages and that didn’t seem to make a difference.<br /><br />I got to thinking that running really has a lot to do with balance. When you think about it with each step we are only balancing on one leg. The moment that we need to balance is quick and short, but I couldn’t help but wonder if we improved our balance how might we improve our stride or reduce injury?<br /><br />The great thing is that pilates is all about balance. We try to balance the muscles to create neutral joints throughout the body, but doing that should help someone actually balance better. We work stabilizer muscles and those are the guys that work the most to keep us balanced and aligned. Our big muscles tend to pull us in one direction or another. So if you are a runner try some different balance exercises. Tomorrow I’ll be posting a video of standing pilates exercises that challenge balance.<br /><br />In this <a href="http://www.betterrunner.com/Articles/balance_training_for_runners.htm">article</a> a physical therapist claims that he noticed runners who lacked balance were more injury prone. So experimenting is worth a shot.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5249584662823588311?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-1639650785498203932011-10-10T08:54:00.000-04:002011-10-10T08:54:00.165-04:00In honor of the <a href="http://www.hartfordmarathon.com/">Hartford Marathon </a>this Saturday all our blogs this week will be about running.<br /><br />Today we are posting two videos for runners. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClSvseK2GS0">first is a how-to </a>of five different exercises and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBh4gHfMMMo&amp;feature=related">second is </a>less than five minutes long and I do the same exercises without explaining them so that you can do them with me as a routine.<br /><br />These five exercises are fabulous for runners—they stretch your quads and hams and work your glutes and abs. It’s like a runners dream all in five minutes or less.<br /><br />For information on our upcoming runner's workshop<a href="http://pilatesct.com/events.html"> click here</a>.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-163965078549820393?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-76918796543563440822011-10-07T09:21:00.000-04:002011-10-07T09:21:00.741-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Rbs_2Eehj4/ToWYmAxzcUI/AAAAAAAAA9c/LxPO6WnlQtE/s1600/bilde%255B3%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 223px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658096285672239426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Rbs_2Eehj4/ToWYmAxzcUI/AAAAAAAAA9c/LxPO6WnlQtE/s320/bilde%255B3%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Nick Miller and I went to high school together. Since then we have found each other on Facebook, and he has been such an inspiration to me. I’ve been debating whether or not to run the Hartford Half Marathon based on how I feel. And then I read this article on Nick and once again he inspired me. I have no excuse.<br /><br />I was interested in what Nick said at the <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20110929/NWS01/309299958">end of the article </a>in the <a href="http://www.theday.com/">New London Day </a>about change and challenge. At first I was stunned because I spend a good portion of my life trying to convince people that starting small is worth it. I’ve even tried to convince people to start smaller because sometimes if you take on too much at once you can get injured or it will be so overwhelming you won’t stick with it. Small steps really can make a big difference. And if you go from doing nothing to walking even 20-minutes a day, you will start to lose weight, assuming you don’t change anything else. Small steps may take more time to make a dent, but they can also make a huge difference. You have to start somewhere.<br /><br />That being said, I really liked Nick’s use of the word challenge. I have found this year that having a goal and a self-created challenge really motivated me to work out in ways and at times that I wouldn’t have. I am positive I wouldn’t have run 12 miles this year if I didn’t start training for a half marathon. There would have been no point. Your challenge doesn’t have to be a half marathon or a hike down the Grand Canyon, but if you find a goal that truly motivates you, I really think it will help you stick to your fitness plan.<br /><br />Kudos to Nick for finding what worked for him and sticking with it. Let him motivate you.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-7691879654356344082?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-48119359351821907392011-10-06T09:52:00.000-04:002011-10-06T09:52:00.406-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CoqeoBSmrd8/TomUMtwWx5I/AAAAAAAAA_c/Nu1Ps4UZSts/s1600/DSC01334.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659217352929494930" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CoqeoBSmrd8/TomUMtwWx5I/AAAAAAAAA_c/Nu1Ps4UZSts/s320/DSC01334.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Last week Katy and I went to the <a href="http://www.essexpilates.com/">Essex Pilates Studio </a>to try a class down in her neck of the woods. The class was wonderful. It was in intermediate mat class and we used the Pilates Circle. We didn’t break for a second. Once the class started we just kept moving for 60 minutes. It was a challenge and Vicki the instructor seamlessly flowed from one exercise to the next with funny quips and words of encouragement like, “you’re okay,” when she heard us start to moan. If you’re in the area, I’d really recommend the studio.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4811935935182190739?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-24826039896643655942011-10-05T09:26:00.001-04:002011-10-05T09:26:00.399-04:00It’s okay not to be productive, at least some of the time. I think in this day and age where we assume it’s so easy to be productive and it’s so easy for everyone to get in touch with us to tell us how they would like us to be productive, it’s easy to get caught up and feel like you can never just relax. I know. The Type-A personality inside me has a very hard time relaxing.<br /><br />But I’ve been working to get better at relaxing. Funny that I even make relaxing work. So I’m writing this blog for you and me. It’s okay. It’s really okay to just take a few moments, even an hour, even a day and just relax.<br /><br />Yesterday I saw a calendar with a quote: “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” I thought about it and realized that I have to let myself enjoy my wasted time more. I think I should have made that part of my challenge to get in the best shape of my life this year.<br /><br />Maybe today is a good day to go on strike against Productivity.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2482603989664365594?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-28643097596897753382011-10-04T09:35:00.000-04:002011-10-04T09:35:00.325-04:00Today, I think a picture really is worth a thousand words. Here is a picture of everything I ate, even if I only had a bite or two. Thank God I had friends who were willing to share everything with me or I don't think I would have made it through the day!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1wkXZhUhME/TomRKY7YpzI/AAAAAAAAA_U/1vdFLrL85rE/s1600/DSC01335.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659214014443988786" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1wkXZhUhME/TomRKY7YpzI/AAAAAAAAA_U/1vdFLrL85rE/s320/DSC01335.JPG" /></a><br />Baked Potato--Nothing special<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RR5WaRQxG6I/TomRKNfB-9I/AAAAAAAAA_M/fgQA8qwwIiM/s1600/DSC01336.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659214011372272594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RR5WaRQxG6I/TomRKNfB-9I/AAAAAAAAA_M/fgQA8qwwIiM/s320/DSC01336.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zO7qj8wxouk/TomRJ1LZZkI/AAAAAAAAA_E/o_xCE7OZHfw/s1600/DSC01341.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659214004847470146" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zO7qj8wxouk/TomRJ1LZZkI/AAAAAAAAA_E/o_xCE7OZHfw/s320/DSC01341.JPG" /></a><br />Swiss Pancake--YUM!<br /><br /><br /><br />Fried Oreo--Yuck<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mlpK8-13stY/TomRJsudy6I/AAAAAAAAA-8/MAIPPtThjXI/s1600/DSC01342.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659214002578639778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mlpK8-13stY/TomRJsudy6I/AAAAAAAAA-8/MAIPPtThjXI/s320/DSC01342.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmAYKTF2lFU/TomRJZ4DmNI/AAAAAAAAA-0/165Jw0CnVcQ/s1600/DSC01343_crop.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 254px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213997518592210" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bmAYKTF2lFU/TomRJZ4DmNI/AAAAAAAAA-0/165Jw0CnVcQ/s320/DSC01343_crop.jpg" /></a> Bacon Cheeseburger on a Donut--Amazingly Delicious<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Fried Butter--Nothing Special<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKxmDBBYYTs/TomQ5m2DF7I/AAAAAAAAA-s/bsurNRa4ylc/s1600/DSC01347.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213726121924530" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKxmDBBYYTs/TomQ5m2DF7I/AAAAAAAAA-s/bsurNRa4ylc/s320/DSC01347.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8cqV4MNVxJs/TomQ5DneP1I/AAAAAAAAA-k/C_tWjgrlxaM/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213716665548626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8cqV4MNVxJs/TomQ5DneP1I/AAAAAAAAA-k/C_tWjgrlxaM/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Beef Jerky--Good<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bEg1BqxCI8U/TomQ4yLg4AI/AAAAAAAAA-c/M_RZkM_afRg/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213711984877570" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bEg1BqxCI8U/TomQ4yLg4AI/AAAAAAAAA-c/M_RZkM_afRg/s320/IMG_0614.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Raspberries--I'm getting healthier!<br /><br /><br /><br />Mac &amp; Cheese--So Good<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7YH-GbW_VOI/TomQ4444xqI/AAAAAAAAA-U/F3xarlaVqHs/s1600/IMG_0615.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213713785800354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7YH-GbW_VOI/TomQ4444xqI/AAAAAAAAA-U/F3xarlaVqHs/s320/IMG_0615.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qux2iK1wv54/TomQ4UeGzlI/AAAAAAAAA-M/VwcyLubJoHE/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213704009797202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qux2iK1wv54/TomQ4UeGzlI/AAAAAAAAA-M/VwcyLubJoHE/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Clam Fritters--Great<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wlAkRintckc/TomQlYGXKNI/AAAAAAAAA-E/E3yoku6nEYs/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213378566432978" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wlAkRintckc/TomQlYGXKNI/AAAAAAAAA-E/E3yoku6nEYs/s320/IMG_0618.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Pumpkin Ravioli--Inedible<br /><br /><br />Ginger Bread Whoopi Pie--Okay<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KW7j65C2aE/TomQlLnWW-I/AAAAAAAAA98/0kyfKHwco7I/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213375215131618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7KW7j65C2aE/TomQlLnWW-I/AAAAAAAAA98/0kyfKHwco7I/s320/IMG_0620.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sU--0AjUUYM/TomQkxHIbSI/AAAAAAAAA90/bZcP-PuvqNg/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213368100678946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sU--0AjUUYM/TomQkxHIbSI/AAAAAAAAA90/bZcP-PuvqNg/s320/IMG_0629.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Smore with Bacon--Not Bad<br /><br />Chocolate Covered Bacon--Bacon tasted burnt.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6hmG9ymQn8/TomQklOdYqI/AAAAAAAAA9s/IhRCWK5F1pc/s1600/IMG_0630.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213364910187170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6hmG9ymQn8/TomQklOdYqI/AAAAAAAAA9s/IhRCWK5F1pc/s320/IMG_0630.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4V2W7i4WD8/TomQkZ0wXHI/AAAAAAAAA9k/vCLZqB3ydjk/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659213361849588850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4V2W7i4WD8/TomQkZ0wXHI/AAAAAAAAA9k/vCLZqB3ydjk/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Ben &amp; Jerry's Schweddy Balls--Very Good<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria<br /><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2864309759689775338?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-42763437686068566932011-10-03T09:39:00.000-04:002011-10-03T09:39:00.167-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9eUBUP-znzc/TnuPwtnzigI/AAAAAAAAA8U/iR6kT-7h0ao/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655271824136833538" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9eUBUP-znzc/TnuPwtnzigI/AAAAAAAAA8U/iR6kT-7h0ao/s320/photo.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>I don’t know about you, but I’m a fast driver, probably too fast most of the time. And as fast as I drive there are still people that make me look like I’m doing a slow crawl. I should probably be more worried about speed than I am, but what really annoys me is when I see people not allowing others to merge and being generally rude while driving. I’m guilty of this too. Being in a car makes it easy to bypass being courteous as quickly as we bypass another car.<br /><br />So I have a goal for this week. I’m going to try to slow down, stay calm in the car, and be a more courteous driver. I anticipate forgetting sometimes, but at least I’ll be trying.<br /><br />Want to try with me and see if you actually feel better about driving at the end of the week? Maybe you’ll even find that you think about engaging your core more while driving and get a double bonus out of it. </div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4276343768606856693?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-48528422053728775602011-09-30T09:11:00.000-04:002011-09-30T09:11:00.117-04:00It better not be raining today because I’m supposed to be at the Big E for the first time in my life. I have every intention of eating myself through <a href="http://www.thebige.com/fair/">The Big E</a>. I think it will cost an arm and a leg, but I want to taste a bite of everything.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.courant.com/entertainment/restaurants/hc-big-e-food-pictures-gallery,0,6137844.photogallery">Fried Kool-Aid</a>—what’s the point? I don’t know, but I’m fascinated to know what it’s all about. On one level the food that is offered at The Big E seems like the epitome of what is wrong with America and yet I can’t draw myself away. I’m fascinated, and I want to know what it all tastes like. I wonder if I actually only eat one bite of everything just how much I will have consumed by the end of the day.<br /><br />It’s a good thing I have a 12-mile training run planned for tomorrow. On second thought, maybe that’s not such a good thing.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-4852842205372877560?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-27855194076859439372011-09-29T09:45:00.000-04:002011-09-29T09:45:01.249-04:00If you read my blog last week you may have noticed that I planned a pilates workout one day and then skipped it. When I skipped the workout in the morning I promised myself that I would make up for it later and fit in an afternoon workout. I don’t know why I continue to promise myself things like that. Ninety percent of the time I don’t follow through.<br /><br />It is really important to make the time for exercise when it works for you. If I don’t exercise in the morning it is really unlikely that I will do it at another time. By mid afternoon I’m tired. I’m at my peak in the morning, and I have the most energy. It’s just not in my nature to want to work out later in the day when my will power is exhausted.<br /><br />It’s okay to skip a workout now and again, but planning a workout for when you know you will make the time is essential to staying on track. If I planned to exercise in the afternoon every day and didn’t get up early to exercise, I wouldn’t never move.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-2785519407685943937?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-34711508819279373012011-09-28T08:47:00.000-04:002011-09-28T08:47:00.240-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEnyQos4VmA/TnuR7Dfe09I/AAAAAAAAA8c/7dt9KSKpczg/s1600/post%2Bhalf%2Bmarathon%2Bbreakfast.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655274200829449170" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEnyQos4VmA/TnuR7Dfe09I/AAAAAAAAA8c/7dt9KSKpczg/s320/post%2Bhalf%2Bmarathon%2Bbreakfast.JPG" /></a>The day before my half marathon last week I passed on garlic fried dough (being served at the Mystic Garlic Festival), a glass of red wine, and fried cheese that a friend of mine had made. It took a lot of will power, but I did it. And then the morning of the run the friend who’d made the cheese sent me a link about a <a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/eat-only-mcdonalds-for-a-month-and-run-a-marathon-one-womans-crazy-challenge-2556030/">woman training for a marathon </a>while only eating McDonalds for 31 days. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had it all wrong. This woman is getting ice cream and burgers every day, plus a number of major news networks picked up her <a href="http://mcrunnerette.com/Home_Page.php">story</a>. The local news didn’t highlight the fact that I didn’t eat cheese the day before my race. Apparently not eating cheese doesn’t make for much of a story.<br /><br />I guess I just have to feel good that my arteries are hopefully a little clearer than hers. Although maybe not considering the breakfast sandwich pictured here is what I ate after running my half marathon. <a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3471150881927937301?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-91347340408237513012011-09-27T09:17:00.000-04:002011-09-27T09:17:00.179-04:00The Hartford Marathon is creeping up and will be here before we know it. I’m debating about running the half marathon, but plan on deciding last minute. This year in addition to hours of running to prepare for the Surftown Half Marathon I ran last week, I added a lot of very specific pilates exercises to help keep me going.<br /><br />In the past, when running, I’ve had some knee issues that made running a little less enjoyable. Like many runners I pushed through them, but the pilates instructor wouldn’t let me continue that for two reasons. One, trying to resolve the problems seemed like a good challenge, and if I don’t have my body in good working order my job gets a lot less enjoyable.<br /><br />In the past when I’ve gone to doctors for my knee they tell me something I think a lot of women (especially female runners get told). “You have an imbalance in your quad and you need to do inner thigh exercises.” That’s true, and I’d do my exercises and it would help, but the exercises didn’t withstand miles and miles of running. And I’d get discouraged and stop doing the exercises. It didn’t seem like enough.<br /><br />With pilates, I worked my inner thigh, but really focused on my knees tracking properly on some of the reformer exercises (like footwork, running, heel lifts, single leg series). I went to the precision of pilates to help balance the muscle during actual movement. In addition to that I started strengthening my hamstrings. As runners I think we assume we have tight hams. I know I did, but I really think in my body it was the hamstrings that were tweaking my knee and causing most of my problems because they were actually weaker when compared to my quads. I’ve been doing specific exercises to stretch my quads more and tighten my hamstrings and I think my knees are thanking me (knock on wood).<br /><br />Combing my love with pilates and running (especially now that I’ve seen first hand how they can benefit each other) I’ve partnered with <a href="http://evolutionpilates.com/">Evolution Pilates </a>(another local pilates company) and we have created a<a href="http://pilatesct.com/events.html"> runners workshop </a>that we are going to offer this November.<br /><br />If you are a runner, especially a runner that has ever had a running injury, I think this will be a great event. I’m really excited about it and hope you’ll join us.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-9134734040823751301?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-38577948260498087692011-09-26T08:57:00.003-04:002011-09-26T08:57:00.487-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELss8GbJea4/TnuUwtyEIWI/AAAAAAAAA80/ioYVvaw93XQ/s1600/096.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655277321738002786" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELss8GbJea4/TnuUwtyEIWI/AAAAAAAAA80/ioYVvaw93XQ/s320/096.jpg" /></a>When I was 25 I ran a marathon. I’m proud of that, but I foolishly ran it without training, so training properly for a half marathon, while a much shorter distance, was a whole new experience for me. I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to set a goal that was more than “just finish the race,” like I said when I ran the marathon, but I had no idea how to guess what my pace would be. I wished that I could run it in under 2 hours, but thought that was unrealistic. I hoped to do 10-minute miles, but thought that was highly unlikely. I wanted to at least to 10-minunte, 30 second miles. I thought that would be doable but hard.<br /><br />I ran the race in 2 hours and 6 minutes (a 9-minute, 39-second mile). I was so proud. Luckily for most of the race I was running with people I had been training with all along—good conversation serves as a great distraction.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jsFXmbrcQU/TnuUwnGvHiI/AAAAAAAAA8s/GEEBSdPeHBs/s1600/094.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655277319945657890" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jsFXmbrcQU/TnuUwnGvHiI/AAAAAAAAA8s/GEEBSdPeHBs/s320/094.jpg" /></a>The first three miles felt really tough. I remember thinking it was going to be a long race. Mile four through ten felt great. It wasn’t until mile ten that I started to think I’d been running for a long time. Mile 11 and 12 were the hardest (stating the obvious). I felt tired and sore and knew I wasn’t going to give up but really wanted it to be over. At the very end I felt like I was sprinting, but I was probably going my normal pace. I was just happy that I did it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was a little sore the rest of the day, but by 9am the next morning I was good as new and felt great. I attribute my lack of soreness to all the training. Unlike when I ran my marathon and could barely walk for three days and hated running for about a year and a half, I was ready to run again three days later.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0_japByalA/TnuUwYBl6gI/AAAAAAAAA8k/SLS4k8h0gh0/s1600/2011-09-18%2B09.41.45.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655277315897551362" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R0_japByalA/TnuUwYBl6gI/AAAAAAAAA8k/SLS4k8h0gh0/s320/2011-09-18%2B09.41.45.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div>I am so happy I decided to do these challenges throughout this year. I know I’ve said it before, but I can’t recommend it enough. Now the question is, do I run the Hartford Half Marathon? If I get under 2-hours, I’ll be thrilled, but if I do worse than I did in this last race even if the course is harder, I’ll be totally bummed. So do I stay on a good note and not risk it or risk it? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-3857794826049808769?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-66557416320756847222011-09-23T09:10:00.000-04:002011-09-23T09:10:00.204-04:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V11FEQcqA1g/TnJAKI-6D1I/AAAAAAAAA8E/cPQ1APWBcxs/s1600/IMG_5622.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652651025257598802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V11FEQcqA1g/TnJAKI-6D1I/AAAAAAAAA8E/cPQ1APWBcxs/s320/IMG_5622.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Fall is officially here. This season has some of the best weather for being outside. It’s not too hot and it’s not too cold. Fall is just right. So how can you take advantage and be moving at the same time? Here are some of my favorite ways.<br /><br />• Hike (I love Devil’s Hopyard and just recently discovered the blue trail at Castle Craig)<br />• Walk a town green<br />• Get one last walk on the beach in<br />• Run with a friend<br />• Pick Fruit in a local orchard, but walk to the fruit and skip any hay rides to the fruit<br />• Bake a pie from scratch—skip out on electric mixers and mix by hand for a slightly higher calorie burn<br />• Take your favorite exercises (pilates, yoga, kick boxing) and do some moves outside in a nice park </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(Picture: Me and my dad hiking last fall.)</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6655741632075684722?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-62703816562147379432011-09-22T08:59:00.000-04:002011-09-22T08:59:00.497-04:00Technically the half marathon I ran on Sunday was still in summer and my hike to the Grand Canyon in October will be in the fall. They are in two separate seasons, but they are only separated by a couple of weeks. I sort of accidently wound up with two of my four challenges back-to-back. I was using these challenges to get myself in the best shape of my life throughout the year. I’ve been hiking and running a lot and I actually feel like I’m in pretty good shape right now, but my concern is that I will crash and burn and have a few months of nothing. I don’t want to lose all my progress.<br /><br />Right now my final challenge isn’t planned until the winter (meaning February). So I think I need another challenge to get me excited and push me to prepare for it between now and then. Any ideas?<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6270381656214737943?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-90967258594922091192011-09-21T09:23:00.000-04:002011-09-21T09:23:00.204-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-667CZmtAimA/TnJDI0myrvI/AAAAAAAAA8M/bJRt4mlmGxw/s1600/IMG_4427.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652654301142757106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-667CZmtAimA/TnJDI0myrvI/AAAAAAAAA8M/bJRt4mlmGxw/s320/IMG_4427.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Today is my mom’s birthday. Happy birthday, Mom! In honor of her, I thought I’d mention some types of movement/exercise I remember doing with my mom while growing up.<br /><br />Walking to Leary Park and back (in Waterford, CT)<br />Doing Raquel Welch videos<br />Tae Bo videos<br />Dancing to show tunes in the living room<br />Dancing to whatever was playing on the radio while we made dinner<br />Swimming at the pond at Misquamicut Beach<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-9096725859492209119?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-63430235560688072022011-09-20T09:52:00.000-04:002011-09-20T09:52:00.314-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zsIRR_pj0hw/TnI8Wz5yR3I/AAAAAAAAA70/XMOQRx4T62w/s1600/anti%2Bgravity%2Byoga.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652646844890761074" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zsIRR_pj0hw/TnI8Wz5yR3I/AAAAAAAAA70/XMOQRx4T62w/s320/anti%2Bgravity%2Byoga.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>So I’m always up for trying something new in my body and seeing how I like it. In the past I’ve tried anti-gravity yoga (awesome, but incredibly challenging), bikram yoga (better than I expected, but not for me), Zumba (okay). I’ve given up sugar for a month; I went vegan for a month. If you’re in my classes you heard all about these events more than you probably wanted to.<br /><br />I have a couple new ideas up my sleeve, but I’m also up for suggestions. Anything you’d like me to try? Anything you want to try but want to see someone else try first?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-6343023556068807202?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-19767093473562576392011-09-19T09:02:00.000-04:002011-09-19T09:02:00.740-04:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PfXxUBgUrqI/TnI-vykplzI/AAAAAAAAA78/RICwXcywtl4/s1600/workout_schedule201753%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652649473053660978" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PfXxUBgUrqI/TnI-vykplzI/AAAAAAAAA78/RICwXcywtl4/s320/workout_schedule201753%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>If you’re finding it tough to fit in your workouts, maybe you should consider creating a schedule. You can do this for each week, so you know what’s coming. Sometimes planning for a month is a lot to take in. One week at a time is something we can all commit to. Think of making time to work out as important as a meeting you have planned. If you only have twenty minutes one day that is okay. Use that time to walk or do a few stretches.<br /><br />Here are a few tips to help you stick to your schedule:<br /><br />• Pick a type of movement you like, even if you wouldn’t normally think of it as exercise.<br />• Have variety in your workout.<br />• Schedule it at time that will work for you. If you aren’t an early riser maybe it’s better for you to plan workouts at the end of your day.<br />• Ask a friend to join you for two or three of your workouts. Working out with groups helps the time go by and helps you stick to it.<br />• Know which day or two days (out of seven) you are going to give yourself off from exercise based on how busy you are on a particular day. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here was my schedule from last week:</div><br /><br /><div>Monday: Run 4 miles</div><br /><div>Tuesday: Run 5 miles, 1 hour Pilates</div><br /><div>Wednesday: Swim 45 minutes, 15 minutes pilates</div><br /><div>Thursday: 1 hour pilates (I skipped this because I felt I had some work I needed to catch up--never worth it in my mind)</div><br /><div>Friday: Run 3-4 miles</div><br /><div>Saturday: OFF (but plan long walk 5+ miles)</div><br /><div>Sunday: 1/2 Marathon</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://pilatesct.com/">Personal Euphoria</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-1976709347356257639?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-82761491950570117162011-09-16T09:59:00.001-04:002011-09-16T09:59:00.727-04:00This link with take you to the video on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6xihqtfk1s">teaser</a>. Good luck! <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-8276149195057011716?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323678761536607045.post-58077825725027499092011-09-15T09:03:00.000-04:002011-09-15T09:03:00.898-04:00Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH0h1drPry8">here to wiggle your toes </a>with me. Seems simple, but it's pilates, so it's never quite as simple as it seems. <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3323678761536607045-5807782572502749909?l=personaleuphoria.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Maggie Downiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06925483233851399599noreply@blogger.com0