Fit Your Life

Being present is something I think many of strive towards in this society where we want to do everything, be everything, and make it look pretty at the same time. I am no different. I thrive on having a full schedule of things that make my heart and mind happy , but sometimes struggle to be completely focussed on where my feet are, not where they are headed next.  The past few weeks have been exceptionally busy with weekend getaways, an amazing friend's wedding celebrations, shifts at the hospital, a new round of fitness classes with more clients signing up every week, and trying to enjoy the beautiful weather with Brooke and Keith. At the end of each day, I reflect on the events, laughs, memories of the past 14 or so hours with my hands on my growing belly and connect with the Littlest Willie kicking and rolling around inside.  People tell you that your pregnancy will be different when chasing a toddler. You don't have as much time to enjoy each f...

I love learning new techniques and ideas! I find it is so easy to get stuck in the same fitness routine, whether is be my own workouts or creating fresh classes for my clients. After attending AFLCA's 2016 Fit Rendezvous, I felt inspired to create new and fun classes using everything I learned.  Fresh & Fun! full body workout was created the week after the fitness conference. I love this new-to-me technique of combining basic combination movements for a short amount of time, but with many sets. My clients loved the fresh format!! It is a struggle to push through this many sets, but they were so thankful they had each other and made it through! Fresh & Fun! full body workout My incline push-up on the MoveBALL from my knees prenatal exercise modifications are in blue Warm-Up | 5 minutes 30 seconds per exercise Prisoner walk lunges Plank | Reverse plank Prisoner walk lunges with added one lunge at bottom Plank with walk | Reverse plank with walk...

Engaging and connecting with our core during pregnancy is so important. A strong core protects our pelvis and low back while baby grows and shifts within and around it. Strengthening these muscles throughout our pregnancy also helps to prevent injury and decrease discomforts. Engaging our core during pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period is very different than when not pregnant or a new mom, as our goals are very different and there are precautions we need to be aware of. During pregnancy, our goals for a strong are not to develop defined "abs" or a "flat tummy". These more superficial muscles are called the Rectus Abdominis (RA), and are the group that is stretched the most as baby grows. We no longer do sit-ups, crunches, or v-sits to develop the strength of this muscle group, but instead learn to engage our deepest core muscles. We avoid these "crunching" motions, as the excess strain on the RA can cause or worsen Diastasis Rectus (DR), wh...

Keep your body active all summer long with our classes tailored for your stage of life and fitness level! Fit Your Life offers Prenatal Fit for mamas-to-be of every gestation, Mom & Me Fit for mamas on the move, and Fit Bootcamp for all women who want to have fun and get fit! Enjoy the fresh air. Laugh too much. Develop healthy habits. Learn to love your body. Surround yourself with those who lift you up.  Summer 2016 Schedule June 6 - September 1  (no classes​ July 6, 7, 11, 12, August 1) Prenatal Fit Mondays  | 7pm | Ogilvie Ridge Park  (combined class with Fit Bootcamp) Wednesdays  | 7pm | Ellingson Park  (combined class with Fit Bootcamp) Mom & Me Fit Tuesdays  | 9:15am | GHV Bulyea Park (June 7, 14, & 21) Tuesdays  | 10am | Magrath Heights Park (June 28 - August 30) Thursdays  | 11am | Ellingson Park Fit Bootcamp  Mondays  | 7pm | Ogilvie Ridge Park  (combined ...

During pregnancy, our body is ever changing.  Some days we are full of energy, our skin is glowing, and we are high on this little life growing inside of us. Other days we are exhausted, eat everything in sight and never satisfied, and cannot imagine that we need to "last" another however-many-months in this condition.  Butt Blasters Photo by Roughley Originals Photography   Despite the few rough days I have experienced during my pregnancies, I absolutely love the journey! I love learning of others experiences and their interpretations of it all. I love that our bodies grow these little humans and shift whatever needed in our existing state to do so to the best of it's ability. I love that each pregnancy can be so different for some and for others, two pregnancies are nearly identical. The one thing I love most about pregnancy is embracing my changing body and learning to work with these changes through exercise.  My fitness goals started thei...

I love a satisfying breakfast!  When it's delicious and easy, even better! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it tells our metabolism to kick in, wakes us up from the inside out, and fuels us for everything the day holds.  One of my lovely clients shared this recipe with our group and I could not help but try it on my first opportunity. Since you can prepare it ahead of time and it is good in the fridge all week, it's the perfect quick, easy, delicious, filling, and customizable breakfast bowl! It is also gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan for those who need it.  Seedy Breakfast Bowl (modified from...  Dr. Axe ) Makes 8 servings Ingredients 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut 1/2 cup chia seeds 1/2 cup hemp seeds  1/2 cup ground flax seeds  1/2 cup dried chopped fruit (I used dried unsweetened cranberries) 1/4-1/2 various spices (I used cinnamon & nutmeg, however cloves & allspice wou...

This 25 minute workout is meant to leave your arms feeling amazing!! ...in that Jell-O sort of way :) Pregnant Mamas - please be extra careful with all the push-ups! Make sure you're engaging your core and on an incline. Alternatively, you can substitute other arm exercises with weights (shoulder press, biceps curls, incline chest press, etc). If you have diastasis recti, or think you do, please modify the push-ups with alternate exercises!!! xox Here we go.... Exercise Descriptions Butt Kicks Standing. Lift heels of the floor to find the balls of your feet. Begin to jog your feet while trying to kick your butt with your heels. Low impact version is to walk this out while moving as quickly as possible, shifting your weight side to side. Frogger High plank (from hands) and jump forward into a low squat. Hands back on the floor and jump back.  Stepping back and forth is a low impact variation! Wide Push-Ups Have hands wider than shoulders and begin from toes ...