October Events Recap and Get Outside!

November strikes again! But before we begin prepping for the holidays, we wanted to look back on this crazy-busy past month and all of our “Get Outside” moments. This October was extra eventful for Pilates Platinum trainers, owner Heather Dorak, and Pilates Platinum members & friends. Filled with charity events, recipe sharing, fall hiking, community events and free workout classes, and the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k Walk—October was one for the books!

We don’t always get to cover everything going on in the Pilates Platinum world here on the blog, so instead we’ve put together a recap to share the month’s highlights for anyone who might have missed out on some of the fun!

As always, we encourage you to spend time Outside each month and share your Get Outside moments online with @PilatesPlatinum by hashtagging #PilatesPlatinum and #GetOutside.

Scroll below to catch a glimpse of what went on in October,

& hopefully this November will bring just as much fun!

Pilates Platinum’s Holiday Special is live! 10 Classes for $150.00. Unlimited quantities may be bought, now through November 15^th. Head over to www.pilatesplatinum.com and take advantage of this deal (for yourself or as a gift!) before it ends mid-month.

Officially, Breast Cancer Awareness Month might have ended, but that doesn’t mean that fighting for the cause has also ended! Pilates Platinum teamed up with @fabfitfun this month because this cause is near and dear to our hearts. Breast Cancer affects 1in 8 women. Here’s a video recap on the Pilates Platinum Instagram page feature a clip from fabfitfun’s pop-up breast exam shop held at the @melrosetradingpost on Sunday. Fabfitfun is doing an amazing job reminding us all that every month is breast cancer awareness month! 

click here to learn more: fabfitfun BCA Challenge

#BCAchallenge #pilates #pilatesplatinum #fabfitfun #cancerawareness #research #cancerresearch #breastcancerreaearch

Speaking of Breast Cancer Awareness, we had such an amazing turnout at the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k walk in Santa Monica this month! Check out some of the photos (and professional stretching moves!) below and on the Pilates Platinum Instagram page. We hope you will join us, and Making Strides, again next year for this important cause.

Another important cause: early October, Pilates Platinum teamed up with Athleta and Run for Her to host a Strengthen, Lengthen & Tone class at The Park at The Grove. The Run for Her event, and the killer workout, were both a success and helped raise awareness in fighting Ovarian Cancer. Thanks to Pilates Platinum Instructors Brian Evans (@btoned) and Celine Wallace (@celine_wallace) for your hard work in making us work hard instead of shop at The Grove (@thegrovela)!

On a lighter note, BurnThis fitness ambassador Heather Dorak shared her Top 10 Favorite Healthy Snacks in her Cupboard on the BurnThis blog. Check it out here to learn why nuts, spices, coffee and raw honey are foods you should keep in stock!

Heather's Top 10 Healthy Snacks for your Cupboard on BurnThis

Did you take advantage of Marie Claire Magazine’s #PeakWeek with BurnThis? We sure did! Pilates Platinum, along with other top studios in LA and NY, offered free community classes during this event and had a blast making our sweat social. Special thanks to everyone who took a Pilates Platinum class and joined in on the #MCPeakWeek fun! Follow @BurnThisDotCom and @PilatesPlatinum to be in-the-know about future events like this.

We can’t leave out all the fun our instructors had over Halloween! Check out west side instructor Lindsay (@lindzwhit) sporting an appropriate outfit for both teaching class and celebrating the holiday. Instructor Ricky (@RickyRebel) dressed up too, but his look was for his 2-set concert on the main stage at the @WehoCarnival West Hollywood Halloween Carnival! And did you spot our Non-GMO Candy post? Take a look at the pilatesplatinum.blogspot post for an easy-to-follow list of PP Approved sweets.

And to round up the October recap, we’re proud to have made the cut on another list of LA’s best studios! We’ve shared how much we love The Tig before, and this past month, @_thetig shared how much they love Pilates Platinum! Check out The Tig's Healthy Living Guide to LA where you’ll spot your favorite SPX Pilates studio (hint…it’s us!) on the list.

Say NO to GMO Candy!

With Halloween just around the corner, it’s almost impossible to stay away from treats. Everything is okay in moderation, right? If you’re going to have a little candy, or let yourself indulge, it’s a good idea to stick to the healthiest option available. Yes, there really is a “healthy” version of most of your favorite candies! Check out this amazing chart created by Vani Hari from FoodBabe (www.FOODBABE.COM).

Here she lists out GMO Candy vs. Non-GMO Candy and it’s an amazing guide to keep your sweet tooth as healthy as it can be!

You don’t have to consume Genetically Modified Candy! There are several (delicious) GMO free substitutes available at local health food stores, online, or even Target!

Thanks Food Babe for making boycotting brands that use GMOs easy!

Have a Healthy and Happy Halloween!

Sugar Craving on a Rage Today?

I think we all fall guilty of getting sugar cravings this time of year...especially TODAY!!!  The Sugar Holiday of the year.  If you want some candy go for it, just remember to not go crazy and stop after your satisfaction is cured.  Listen to your body, really listen.  If you are craving sugar, respond.  I found this chart to be helpful with cravings, especially the sugar one for this week.

Remember if you ignore a craving, you could be setting yourself up for a bigger purge later.  Our bodies are amazingly smart, they know what they are lacking, needing, etc.  Don't be afraid of listening to your body and DO NOT feel guilty.

On that note.  Happy Sugar Holiday!  

If you are feeling overwhelmed with your sugar cravings or other types of cravings I find charts like the one I am going to post below to help.  Instead of reaching for something you may feel guilty about then reach for one of the items on the chart first to see if your craving subsides.  It has helped me a lot in the past.

(chart and recipe from movenourishbelieve)

Before you reach your hand in the candy jar, try reaching for broccoli, chicken, nuts, fruit or a delicious sweet potato that are wonderfully in season right now!

This recipe also looks amazingly delicious

And just for fun, this looks amazing.  Someone please try it and let me know how it goes!

A cake baked in a pumpkin!!!  So delicious looking and perfect for the holidays!