What people really look like!

Happy Thursday everyone!  I came across an article I want to share with you all.  It's a short and lovely description of bodies from a massage therapist that puts a lot into perspective.  If you have a couple minutes, take a read here.  Hope you enjoy!

Expansion!

After what seems to be months of rounded shoulders and hunkering down this winter, it was lovely to see Angela and Clint practicing Qi Gong and getting BIG in the studio today. 

Expand!

Pilates Perfect?

I heard something last week that made a lot of sense to me. We call it "Pilates Practice" for a reason. You try, you might fail, you try again. It's not called "Pilates Perfect"! It's a PRACTICE. Evolve. Move forward. Don't strive for perfection. Just make progress and enjoy the process. :)

Beauty from 14 inches off the floor

I love this view of our timber loft from the reformer. 

Quote to live by

10 Science Based Reasons To Start Meditating

Need to Recharge?

I found this article recently and can't wait to check out some of the spots once the weather clears up!

18 Places in Chicago To Go When You Need to Recharge & Feel Inspired

Next time the noise, chaos, and commotion of urban life gets overwhelming, try taking a mini break to one of these nearby meccas.  Maybe you'll see me at the Osaka Gardens…..

Confusing Branch And Root

The traditional Chinese martial art way is first strengthen yourself, including all your internal organs and life-function systems. Then, as the result of strengthening you can perform any exercise better, including push-ups, jogging and sit-ups. The Chinese martial art way pays great importance to gradual progress; it is utmost important not to over-train yourself.

The western approach is reverse. You do the exercise first, and hope that by doing the exercise you strengthen yourself. Chinese masters call this “confusing branch and root”, or confusing effect and cause. In western terms, it is putting the cart before the horse. Strengthening yourself is the cause; being able to do exercise well is the effect. The western approach has reversed cause and effect. Consequently the western approach gives only an appearance of fitness.

Resolutions losing steam?

If you've reached the point in the year when your resolutions are starting to feel stale, maybe it's time to re-think your goals.  I was reading through another great article from MindBodyGreen the other day and wondering if some of these ideas would make better resolutions than 'lose weight' or 'eat less'.  Take a look, and let me know whether you agree.  Here.

Summer is coming (I promise)...

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

Albert Camus
French existentialist author & philosopher (1913 - 1960)

How to make your iPhone battery last longer….

If you have an iPhone and find your battery drains so quick that you can't make it through the day, check out this article. Finally I can keep a charge and not worry about my phone dying. Good tips in here!

http://www.payetteforward.com/why-does-my-iphone-battery-die-so-fast-heres-the-real-fix/

I have really been learning this one lately...

What's inside that protein bar?

Do you know what's really in your protein bar?  Check out this article in the New York Times - A Look Inside the Protein Bar - for an interesting read.  For example, did you know that the PowerBar ProteinPlus has 20 grams of protein, more than a large turkey or ham sandwich?

No Bake Fudge PB Oatmeal Cookies

This is my very favorite cookie recipe, I make these all the time! It's quick and easy!

2 TBS Cocoa
1/4 cup Butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup PB
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix cocoa, butter, sugar and milk. Bring to solid boil for 1 min. Remove, stir in oatmeal, pb and vanilla. Drop by teaspoon on wax paper. Should harden in 10-15 min. Enjoy!!!