Mindful Pilates

Lets be honest...we are all guilty of just going through our lives and days without mindfully being present.  Think about it...do you ever have an instance where you were driving and you don't remember passing certain landmarks on your route?  You are not alone...

We are all guilty of it as scary as that may be.

Sometimes our days can go by without even acknowledging a sense of self...

(here is an idea)

COMMIT PILATES TO YOU!!!

You are taking pilates for you anyway right?  Why not take full advantage of your class time to completely dedicate and worship you!  When is the last time you remember feeling your back muscles contract during news paper or feeling your abdominal muscles tighten together while performing catfish?  We all are guilty of just going through the motions.  

If you take an extra moment to focus in on your body with your mind, you will not only gain more mindful awareness but your body will thank you too!  You will see quicker results being mindful to your body and muscles during the exercises.  It is when your muscles fully contract and isolation occurs in specific targeted muscles that the physique you are looking for will shine through!

Even right now...

Take a moment...

Deep Breathe...

Squeeze your abs

(how simple was that)

That was mindful muscle contraction!

Post Workout Fall Smoothie

I have stressed before how tasty eating to the season can be...it is when the fruits and vegetables are at their finest and no farms and manufactures trying to push the produce out.  Seasonal produce is the time to take advance of a fruit or vegetables finest fresh most natural state...

Today lets talk about those other greens.  Sure we are all used to spinach, lettuce, romaine, spring mix...but it isn't spring or any other season.  It is fall.  

In fall we get the dark greens.  Yes, I am fully going to say right now that the darker the more nutrient dense, so lets make a smoothie that is even MORE nutrient dense than those spring counterparts :-)

This smoothie is a great one to have after a workout.

Jonagold Crisp Seed Smoothie

(serves 1)

1 medium Jonagold apple 

(this is a hybrid of a blush crimson Jonathan and a crisp Golden Delicious, the perfect crisp and sweet combo-you are welcome to pick any apple but I recommend one that is crisp and sweet)

1 bunch of kale OR green chard (stems removed)

(this is our nutrient dense green)

1 stalk celery

10 mint leaves

2 TBS flaxseeds

2 TBS chia seeds

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

(some added fall flavor)

1/4 tsp ginger

1 TBS raw honey

(or agave or maple syrup)

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

(or other milk of choice)

Add all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth!

This smoothie is great post workout fuel.  It will restore your glycogen levels lost during the workout without the body storing it as fat!  Another great time to have this smoothie is upon awakening!

Blend Baby Blend

Pilates and Running

When I think about fall a lot of things come to mind...

pumpkins

leaves changing color

cooler temperatures

sweat shirts

apples

holidays

A side from many many other wonderful things fall brings, it is a time when I feel the most motivated to participate in some outdoor exercise.  For a lot of people the summer heat of Los Angeles can be a little overwhelming.  Sure we all love to be outside in the sun but do we want to exercise in the sun.  Sweating without even elevating the heart rate is sometimes all we mentally want...

I find that fall is a great time to get in some excellent runs.  The temperatures are comfortable where you can have to work up a little internal heat to keep you warm.  If you aren't building that heat then you aren't working hard enough, therefore you are cold and unsuccessful in your workout.  The air just seems a little nicer as well in the fall time.

All of the pilates work you have put in is going to give you a better run.  Even if you aren't a runner, doing pilates will put you a step above the rest...it isn't just about strong legs and lungs, it is about a complete strong and balanced body without the extra bulk

PILATES

-strengthens your core (abdominals and lower back)

-corrects posture imbalances

-helps to develop strong lunges

-elongates muscles for a longer gate in your stride aka flexability

-reduces the risk of injury

-strengthen legs laterally (which running does not do)

It has been proven that even just once a week, pilates is very beneficial for a runner.

Put that pilates body to use and go run outside!  Make a path of your own and find your running adventure.  Nature is there, YOU just have to hit the ground running!