Banana Bread Smoothie

I know, another smoothie recipe.  It's okay, I'm obsessed.

PALEO BANANA BREAD SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup hemp, cashew or almond milk
• 2 frozen bananas, sliced
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• fresh ground nutmeg, to taste
• Optional:  cinnamon!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients in high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
2. Garnish with fresh nutmeg.

Trampoline time!

We got our new trampolines in the studio and they're a hit!  Check out these pics from Annie's class last week -  (you can't tell from my photos, but they have big smiling faces!)

You need more INTENSITY

I guess it's not shocking that I'm writing this post since I'm most frequently dubbed as "intense."

I hear a lot of folks talking about how they don't have enough TIME to exercise and if they had more TIME they would be in better shape.

Totally WRONG.

I know people who spend a crapload of time exercising and still don't look like the stepped off the cover of fitness magazine.

It's not what you do, it's how you do it that matters.  I would say that I exercise a total of 4-5 hours a week.  But guess what, my workouts are very INTENSE!!  Not intense to the point of injuring myself but I push myself to the point of discomfort in a very focused and controlled way.  

The right FOCUS (which requires a lot of mental energy) and INTENSITY are really the formula for success when it comes to exercise and creating the change you want to see in your body!

Veterans and Pilates: Rehab after War

Members of the Royal Danish Ballet are using their knowledge of Pilates to help veterans wounded in war.  Check out the inspiring article here.  Beautiful use of mind/body awareness to create self-confidence as well as health.

Posture as a hot topic today

Clients were discussing long-term goals in a group reformer class this morning.  One mentioned was the almighty 'good' posture. When I saw this image, I had to repost it.  You want to be the middle guy now so you don't look like one of our predecessors on all fours later (or that poor guy at the computer)!

A very important pilates exercise is the Swan.  To help the desk situation going on above, practice this at least once a day. Keep your pubic bone anchored on the mat to protect your low back and use your core muscles, including your upper back, serratus, transversus and obliques to move into this position. Keep it small at first and then gradually increase your range of motion with your feet remaining on the floor.

Boston Marathon - Meb Wins!

Today Meb Keflezighi (USA) won the 2014 Boston Marathon and had a personal best at 38 years old! Amazing!

This couldn't happen to a better guy. In November he ran the NY marathon and was not having the best day. Instead of dropping out, Meb finished to show his support for NY and Boston. After struggling and being caught by a much slower sub-elite named Mike Cassidy (who was also struggling), Meb decided to finish the last three miles with him. Mike wrote an article about his experience and here is the part that really touched me….

It was readily apparent that all the stories I’d heard about Meb’s remarkable attitude were true.

As we entered Central Park at Columbus Circle, I turned to Meb and told him as much. “It’s an honor to run with you,” I said.

His response is something I’ll never forget.

“No,” he said. “Today is not about us. It’s about representing New York. It’s about representing Boston. It’s about representing the USA and doing something positive for our sport. We will finish this race holding hands.”

I’m a believer that running brings out the best in people. Running inspires. Running unites. Running uplifts. By pushing us to our limits and across them, running takes us to places we never thought possible—or even real. A good run can turn a dark day bright and make a bright day shine brighter. Performed on the scale of a marathon, running can transform communities and change lives.

If you want to read the full article, you can click here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2013/11/time-life/

Collard greens are the new kale (in case you didn't know)

So apparently collard greens are the new Kale……so I found a collard salad recipe that sounds like it's fantastic.  Try it out and lets compare notes :)

Collard Green Salad with Strawberries & Tahini Dressing

Serves 4

For the dressing:
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon white miso
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

For the salad: 
1 bunch collard greens
1 cup cooked quinoa (see how to cook quinoa)
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced in half
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

To prepare the dressing whisk all of the ingredients together until smooth. This works best with an immersion blender or food processor. However, a hand whisk will be fine too. Taste test and set aside.

Thoroughly wash and dry the collard greens. Fold each leaf in half and slit away the the tough stem. Stack the collard greens on top of each other and then roll them up (like a cigar). Chop the greens into thin ribbons.

In a large bowl toss the collard green leaves with half the dressing, massaging the dressing into the collards. Add the quinoa, avocado, strawberries and walnuts. Drizzle with the remainder of the dressing and serve.

Spinach Pear Salad Recipe

If you like spinach salad and want to mix it up, try this old faithful recipe of mine. I love it. Although it's snowing outside at this very moment - IT IS SPRING! Think warm thoughts, sunshine, bbq. Enjoy!

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spinach-pear-salad-10000000231719/

Easy Greek salad (in a jar?)

I made this quick salad (actually I made 4 of them at once in an assembly line format) for easy lunches on the go. Use your favorite ingredients with a vinaigrette of your choosing. I used olives, roasted red peppers, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and tofu. Protein packed!

Peace out!

The calm before the wellness begins!

Of course Batman does Pilates!

Men do Pilates Only When.....

They NEED help!!!  It's harder for men to admit they need help.  We all know this.  It is only when they are really in pain or not felling well that they seek it out.  My brother FINALLY started doing Pilates even though I have been encouraging him to do it for over 7 years.  And guess what?  He LOVES it.  So, to all they men out there whose wives and lady friends have been hounding about them about trying Pilates, Just Do It!  Bonus - the ladies will think you are cooler and your abs will look sexier ;)

How we're all feeling about now...

Build your green smoothie and then drink it!

Part of the fun of a morning green smoothie is playing around with the ingredients until you find the balance that you love to drink.  I came upon this comprehensive list today which gives you lots of options!

HOW TO: BUILD YOUR OWN GREEN SMOOTHIE |

1. Smoothie meal: 3 parts greens + 1 part fruit + 1 citrus + 1 part protein + 1 part healthy fat OR carbohydrate + superfoods + liquid to your desired texture
2. Smoothie snack: 2 parts greens + 1 part fruit + 1 citrus + 1 part protein OR healthy fat + superfoods + liquid to your desired texture

Liquid } filtered water, coconut water, matcha green tea, homemade nut milks

Greens } the king green kale, spinach, romaine, celery, swiss chard, mustard greens, dandelion greens, cucumber, wheatgrass, herbs such as mint, cilantro, parsley, and basil, and more!

Fruits } bananas, apples, green apples, pears, kiwi, pineapple, peaches, mango, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, papaya, blood orange, figs, dates, plums, açai, and more!

Carbohydrates } sprouted buckwheat groats, gluten free rolled oats, pumpkin puree, etc.

Healthy fats } avocados, nuts, seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seed, flax seed oil, coconut oil, coconut meat, young coconut meat,

Citrus } lemon, lime, grapefruit, Meyer lemon, orange

Protein } plant-based protein powders (I love Sunwarrior and Vega), hemp seeds, spirulina, nuts/seeds (which also contain healthy fats)

Superfood toppings/add-ins } bee pollen, maca powder, lucuma, cacao nibs, spirulina, chlorella, cinnamon, cayenne, baobab, etc.