Fit Your Life

Hello followers! This weather has been beautiful! It seems everyone has a touch of Spring fever, including myself! Keith and I have started running again and it feels great. Here is an intense and quick full body workout sure to get you sweating and exciting for a Spring wardrobe .... Set your interval timer to 50 seconds/10 seconds and 12 rounds 1) Shoulder Press using a barbell or dumbbells start with elbows at 90 degrees and weights towards the sky. Press weights above head and keep your spine neutral and abs engaged. Lower to weight to shoulder height and repeat. 2) Jump Squats Position feet hip width apart. Lower into a squat by keeping knees above the ankles and bum behind you. Push up and through into a jump. Land softly on the ground. Repeat. Challenge - keep your hands on your head (prisoner style) 3) Mountain Climber Sprints One of my faves !! Push-up position. Keep your arms and abs strong and "sprint" your legs back and forth. Engage your core to draw your knee to...

I love trying new recipes to bring to parties! This appetizer caught my eye while I was flipping through my new "Power Foods" recipe book! Very easy and delicious! We were too excited to try it, that we did not even take a photo ... The one in the book will have to do! Black Bean Salsa with Baked Chips Makes 2 cups salsa and 48 chips Ingredients 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 1 small tomato, seeded and cut into ½ -inch dice 2 scallions, trimmed and finely chopped 1 jalapeno, minced (ribs and seeds removed for less heat, if desired) ½ cup coarsely chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 limes) Coarse salt 6 flour tortillas (8-inch size) 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil Directions Heat broiler. Pulse ¼ cup of black beans in a food processor until coarsely chopped; transfer to a bowl. Add remaining beans to bowl, along with the tomato, scallions, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and ½ teaspoon salt. Combine. ...

I love healthy and filling muffins to start the day, or as a tasty grab-and-go snack! I recently attempted this gluten-free recipe to bring on a ski trip. Delicious! They are moist, full of fruit, and filling! Fresh out of our oven! Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 55 minutes Yield: About 2 dozen standard size muffins Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 1/4 cups gluten-free all purpose flour mix (if your mix contains xanthan gum or guar gum don't add the additional 1 teaspoon gum to the recipe) 1 teaspoon guar gum OR xanthan gum 1 tablespoon cinnamon 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups grated carrots (about 4 large carrots) 1 large peeled and shredded apple 8 ounces drained, crushed pineapple 3/4 cups raisins 1/2 cup shredded, sweetened coconut 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans 3 large eggs 1 cup light olive oil OR canola oil 1 1/2...

Thirty days.  Over the past thirty days I have attended a yoga class, everyday. This mini-journey has been beautiful, challenging, and rewarding. I have enjoyed much reflection and meditation upon the things which I am grateful for in my lovely life. Sharing these with my blog followers at the end of my challenge seemed fitting ... Breath. This one little word, for which it's meaning we take for granted everyday. When we focus on this one thing, we can be still, open, and mindful. Keith. My wonderful husband, partner in crime, and best friend. Without him, I do not know where I would be. I love you. Family. My parents, siblings, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family, you are are all so very lovely and I am grateful for each of you. Friends. I know that everyone thinks they have the best friends in the world. Well, sorry followers. You are wrong. I have the very best of the best. From those whom I have known for too many years to those I met most rec...

Hello followers! Day 16 :) I am loving this challenge and the wonderful changes I am feeling in my body and mind.  Yesterday and today I had some difficulty arriving to the practices I had intended to attend. I have a couple days off in between sets of night shifts and am determined to "switch back" my schedule as to be a part of the non-nocturnal society. However, this transition helped me to sleep through one alarm yesterday and forget to re-set one today. Frustration and anxiety developed, as my plan had been shifted. With small changes made, I found classes to attend both days.  Looking back, somehow, I think I was meant to attend these two classes despite pre-planning otherwise. Yesterday's Hot Flow Yoga, led by the wonderful Meaghan, was challenging and sweaty, but I felt the strongest I have all week. Such an energizing feeling of liberation and seeking new boundaries and depths within my postures. I left yesterday's classes feeling strong and at peace wi...

Happy Friday everyone! Although it is technically my Monday, I will wish all those who are not working this weekend, a happy one :) I have completed Day 11 of my 30 Day Yoga Challenge! Over one third done!!!! It was a tough week, as I adjusted to a temporary alternate work schedule and finding time for my daily practice, along with everything else we have on our lists in a day. Some mornings I woke up and truly did not feel like going to the studio. It is amazing the excuses one's mind can come up with while laying in bed ... Nevertheless, I arrived at YogaLife each day, with a smile on my face and ready to breathe.  This week I focussed much attention on my breath during class. Most instructors focus on breath throughout the class and this week it was my goal to internalize this. To actually imagine my muscles and connective tissue release and sinking deeper into each pose. I breathed deeper inhales and exhales when the lunges, warriors, squats, planks, and core work ...

It has been a lovely week filled with four very different yoga practices. I began with Hatha, then Hot Flow, Warm Flow, and finished my Friday with a YinYang practice. They were all beautiful and challenging in their own way.  Wednesday morning's Hot Flow was difficult to get out of bed for. Not because I was not excited to go, but the fact that our bed was so warm and leaving the house for the sole purpose of 6am yoga was difficult. However, I did it! Of course, once I was there, I was full of gratitude for the ability of my choice to attend the class and the ability of my body to work through the postures. Great way to start a Wednesday! Yesterday was an emotionally tough day at work, and I was very much looking forward to the YingYang practice. In this class, you begin in restorative poses, using supports such as bolsters, and holding them for minutes. Very relaxing and opening. Lovely. As the practice goes on, we start to move through flows and other postures. Near the end...