Did I ever tell you that I love salads? Anyone that knows me will laugh and say, “No kidding salad queen”. It’s something about the fresh, crisp, clean, and invigorating qualities of raw veggies mixed together in beautiful combinations that I just can’t get enough of. In fact when I traveled around India and decided to eat only cooked foods, I missed salad more than anything else. I was pining for it.

Well I’ve switched things up. Not only do I eat salads, but I drink them. I promise you they are DELICIOUS. Green juice. Ahhhh:)

Abs get extra definition in the kitchen. Yes – not just on the reformer. Pilates strengthens and defines the core muscles beautifully, but unless you’re eating like a lean machine, those abs may be hidden under some pudge. Not ideal. Awesome nutrition through whole foods and an emphasis on greens can get you there.

Trust me – drink up. Green juices fight disease, curb appetite, invigorate, alkalinize, help with elimination, and get your skin glowing. And they are positively delicious!

Emerald Summer
1 organic cucumber
1 large handful of organic kale
1 large handful of organic spinach
1 slice of organic watermelon

This green juice blend is summery and delicious. Enjoy!

Welcome to the Powerhouse Pilates book review! I am a huge book lover and read hundreds of books on health and wellness. You’ll now find my reviews on the blog. I’d love to hear your thoughts too. :)

All Is Well by Louise Hay and Monica Schultz is fantastic!!!!!! Coming from a Pilates/fitness and nutrition background I’ve always viewed food and nutrition as the keys to optimal health. I was never a true believer in the power of affirmations…until now! I’ve always believed that thoughts become your destiny, but was clueless as to how to change my thoughts and core beliefs. Now I know – affirmations!

In the book Schultz delves into the science behind Hay’s affirmation system mapping out the emotional aspects of illness in the brain and body. Specific emotions affect specific organs. She breaks the book into seven emotional centers that mirror the chakra system. Different parts of the body are affected by these centers. For example the first emotional center is called ‘We are Family’ and affects the bones, joints, blood, immune system, and skin. The health of this center depends on feeling safe in the world. Insecurity in this area from a lack of family/friend support can manifest in illness in the bones, joints, blood, immune system, or skin.

Schultz’s treatment system does not focus solely on affirmations for healing, but also incorporates the medical system, alternative healing, and intuition. It’s a multi- faceted approach to healing. She emphasizes that while modern medicine is excellent it is not enough. Intuitions and affirmations play a large part in healing too.

Is anxiety related to not trusting the flow and the process of life? Is gastritis related to prolonged uncertainty and a feeling of doom? Is gout related to the need to dominate? It’s not an exact science but when I apply this book to the people in my life, it’s eerily accurate. Affirmations change these negative thought patterns that play over and over again and promote healing. I’m new to affirmations but already a believer. They are incredibly soothing, positive, and build awareness grounding me to the present moment. This is a fantastic read!

Focus on your breath.  This is one of the key principles of Pilates.  Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth allowing your ribs to come out to the sides like an accordion.  I think we can all agree that breathing is important.  It oxygenates the body, allows you to relax, helps you to engage the correct muscles, etc.  Let’s move beyond that.

When you focus on your breath you enter the present moment.  Say goodbye to all of the useless mind chatter that is holding you back.  Mind chatter you ask?  Yes, let me give you some examples.  “OMG – Are those my thighs I’m looking at in the mirror?  They look like massive tree trunks. Ugggg”, “What am I going to make for dinner tonight?”, “That was the crappiest day at the office ever.  I can’t stand” etc….. Usually mind chatter veers off to the negative and it puts a real damper on your workout (and your life).  If you can’t stop these thoughts, no worries – just observe them and let them go.  Always come back to your breath.

When you focus on your breath and come into the present moment something wonderful happens.  You can feel your body.  Through focus you will be able to move into more advanced exercises with greater ease and you will be able to engage the correct muscles leading to a much more effective workout.  Through ‘presence’ you will know when to push harder and when to pull back.  A greater sense of ease will appear.

This increased awareness will filter into the rest of your life.  You’ll know when you’re hungry and when you’re full.   You will be more present with your children.  Tasks at work will be completed more effectively etc.

So take a big breath, be an observer of the now, and enjoy.  As they say, ‘Take good care of this moment and life will take good care of itself’.

Get ready for some scissor action!  This one stretches the backs of the legs while delivering a killer ab workout. 

1) Lie on your back.  Pull both knees into your chest.  Lift your head.

2) Grab your right ankle or calf and reach it straight up to the ceiling.  Stretch your left leg out in front of you.

3)  Anchor your chest into the ground and curl up into an ab curl.

4)  Inhale and pull your right leg towards your head with a small double bounce.

5) Exhale and switch legs by scissoring them past each other.

6) Repeat with the left leg grabbing the ankle or calf.

7)  Imagine that your legs are like pistons working very hard.  Keep a steady rhythm!

The double leg stretch is dynamite for working your powerhouse and stretching the body.

1) Curl up into an abdominal curl with your knees bent and hands resting lightly on the outsides of your shins.  Scoop your belly button deep into the spine.

2) Reach your legs out to a long diagonal while you reach your arms out to a long diagonal in the opposite direction.  Hold your torso steady and keep your shoulders down.  Imagine that you have a heavy weight resting on your stomach.

3) Reach for the side walls and you circle your arms around to meet your shins (starting position).  Imagine that you are backstroking through honey.

4) Repeat, inhaling to reach the arms and legs out and exhaling out all air in the lungs to curl back up into your abdominal curl.  Repeat 5-10 times.

Dynamite.

All the best!

Jody

There’s no doubt about it.  If you do the work, you’ll see the results, and below are some of the results you’ll get to enjoy.  Go abs. Go!

1. Your stomach gets flatter.

2. Your low back pain subsides.

3. You can do the movements with more ease.

4. You can tighten your abdominal wall when you lift heavy objects.

5. Your neck and shoulder strain subsides.

6. You feel like you stand straighter and taller.

7. You sweat doing simple Pilates exercises because you are engaging more muscles and, in effect, working harder!

This concludes our three part smoothie extravaganza.  Hello health and hello yum.  Blend, enjoy, and have an AWESOME day!

The Immunity Builder Loaded with boosters like beta-carotene and vitamin C from mango, cantaloupe, and pineapple, this smoothie primes your infection-fighting army for action. “Vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells and antibodies,” says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R. D., author of The F-Factor Diet. Finally, the duo of almonds and almond milk delivers plenty of defense-fortifying zinc.

What You’ll Need

1 c peeled, pitted, cubed mango

1 c chopped cantaloupe

1/2 c cubed pineapple, fresh or canned

1/3 c ground almonds

1/2 c unsweetened almond milk

1 c ice

Garnish with sliced almonds after blending. Makes 3 servings. Per serving: 150 cal, 6.8 g fat (0.5 g sat), 22 g carbs, 41 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein

Joseph was the man (sorry Steve).  He believed that to be happy you must first gain mastery of your body.  I have to agree.  Fit people seem happier to me.  He believed that if at the age of thirty you are stiff and out of shape then you are ‘old’.  If at sixty you are supple and strong then you are ‘young’.  Yipeeeee.  I don’t know about you but this gives me a real feeling of ‘hurahhhh’.  The clock is ticking and we are all getting older, but who cares when we have the power to feel young!  Strong bodies, good food, lightness, fun, and happiness…roll back the numbers folks!  And smile – let the happiness rise to the surface.

Pilates first began with the exercises but his vision evolved into one of an ‘ideal lifestyle’, than can be attained through proper balance of our physical, mental, and spiritual selves.  Sorry for those of you who wanted to come to a session and then jump on the couch, eat chips, smokes cigarettes, and cuss. haha.  Kidding aside, Joseph’s vision was a wise one.  With Pilates visualizations you will establish a mind body connection.  The physical strengthening will have you feeling as strong as an ox and as sleek as a cat.  The stretching will improve your mobility which feels amazing.  According to Joseph, you will also feel happier.  I’m smiling.

Cheerio cats,

Jody