Buddha Belly 2 Beach Babe FITTING IN FITNESS

"If you try sometimes, you might find…" (from Jen)

2011-01-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

Resolutions. Yup, it’s just about that time. I read a friend’s New Year’s blog on the topic, and it was about going after what you WANT, as opposed to what you think you SHOULD. OK, I get it, but maybe it’s because I’m reading Keith Richards’s LIFE that I think sometimes it’s really more about getting what you NEED. And we don’t always recognize it, right?

In September, my office moved away from the yoga studio where I practiced, so I took a breather from it. Frankly, I was not feeling it—a combination of taking fast-paced, advanced classes where I felt my precision slipping away and a lack of community, despite the name on the joint. I thought I’d give my neighborhood branch of the gym a try for yoga, since I loved the other classes there. At the risk of sounding like a yoga snob, I’ll admit my bias—in my experience, gym yoga has not been that good. If I did find a good class, it was condensed with little variety and zero philosophy.

So I set off for class the next Tuesday morning with little expectations, and suffered through a very long opening downward facing dog. Then another. Oh, and another. And then lots of holding everything. I couldn’t wait to leave. And yet, I knew I had to stay. My body (and my mind) needed the discipline, and I needed to take my practice down a notch. Staying at the studio where they know my level (and let’s face it, where there IS an element of competition) wouldn’t have allowed for that. I became a regular on Tuesday mornings. Eventually, I began to look forward to it.

Finally in town for a weekend, I tried a Saturday class, and wow — an hour and a half session with all the trappings of a vinyasa class, complete with a dedication, a heartfelt series of ohms, pranayama, and a proper savasana. I felt lucky to have found this class, so I pushed on to Sunday morning, where I found a third class – this time with an impish dude who was the closest thing to a fellow BuddhaBabe – he pushes the class to the edge, but keeps his humor.

I felt lucky this autumn, having found three new teachers to guide the teacher within me, and I look forward to practicing with them in 2011. Ever the multi-tasker, I’m psyched to be maximizing my gym membership and saving on studio fees. I’m sure I’ll be checking out some new studios this year to stretch and experiment, or I’ll head out on another retreat with the money I’m saving!

So why not try this as your resolution: Try something new this January, and you might get exactly what you need from the class you’d least expect!

perfect timing

2010-11-05T10:34:00.001-07:00

Fitting in Fitness: November

If you think fitting in fitness is tough, try squeezing in time to write about it – ha! (The BuddhaBabes took the summer off, and now that "Indian Summer" is over, we're back to blogging!)

What’s new with us?

Well, the BuddhaBabes have completed the photo shoot for our app – Fitting in Fitness, a 20-Minute Workout to take with you anywhere. We’ll keep you posted on its release date as details emerge...

That, and I think we are counting the dark mornings until Daylight Savings Time kicks in. Some of you have already heard this BuddhaBabe tip, but it bears repeating (and just in time to implement on Monday, when getting up early should be the easiest after that extra hour of sleep over the weekend).

SWITCH IT UP – TRY WORKING OUT IN THE MORNING!

Before you hit snooze, think of how great it will be to not have to think about your schedule and fitting in fitness all day. You might get to take a walk at lunch time, finish that extra project up at work because you’re not rushing out, you may make it home in time to cook dinner, and kick back, watch a little TV – you’ve earned it.

Ok, let's say you had two glasses of wine last night, in celebration of Daylight Savings Time. You hit snooze, but you still have a few minutes. DO try this at home:

Plies of Fire!

Stand with legs slightly wider than hip width position, legs turned out; arms alongside your body, parallel to the floor.

• Inhale: bend your knees into a deep plie
• Exhale: contract your abdominals, squeeze your glutes, return to standing
• Repeat: 10 times

*Challenge: After the 10th repetition, remain in a low plie position, and do 10 small pulses up and down, all while squeezing your booty. Think you're finished? Time to hit the shower? Think again -- do another 10 pulses—try to go two inches lower!

*Extra challenge: Repeat entire sequence (yes, there was cheese with that wine, wasn't there?!)

You’ll thank us later!
Jen & Tracy

Fan-TAN-stic!

2010-05-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Readers, you know how the BuddhaBabes love their multi-task, so this will come as no surprise…

We’ve mastered the wait time it takes to let our deep conditioner sink in, but what to do for those endless minutes until your self tanner is dry enough for the towel, the robe, or the actual outfit?

Follow this fool-proof sequence and never stand before the mirror again, hoping for fewer streaks and maybe a little more tone in the legs … while reading the ingredients list on the bottle (again)!

What better time to work the inner thighs AND core? Your feet are already hip distance apart, aren’t they? With legs externally rotated (turned out), rise up on those tippy toes to a releve from ballet: inhale, zipping in the tummy, spreading collar bones wide as you rise up; hold position for 3 breaths, then exhale back down. Repeat 5 times.

Now, step a bit wider to plie, with feet turned out: inhale, lower down, focusing on maintaining a tight core and a clinch in the butt, hold for 3 breaths, exhale, rise back up to standing. Repeat 5 times.

Now, if you’re wearing white, you know you need to give it another minute. Combine the releve with the plie--stay in the wide leg stance, inhale lower down, and raise up first on the left side to the toes, then back down and raise the right, alternating for a count of 10, then lowering down on the exhale. Repeat 2 times more. There, you’re ready—-go on and get dressed!

Ok, if you really want to pass up this 2-minute toner, the least you could do is organize your medicine cabinet, right?

Have a fun, safe, and healthy Memorial Day Weekend, Babes!

Even BuddhaBabes Get Busy....

2010-04-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hey, what ever happened to the Fitting in Fitness blog from the BuddhaBabes? Yes, sometimes even a BuddhaBabe has a rough time fitting in fitness and her fitness blog. How about a little something on being busy?  

"I have so many things to do I don't even know where to start...so I'm just not going to and where is my remote...Gossip Girl, here I come!”

With so much information available to us at all times and with US being available at all times (on all devices) is that it's hard to not feel like you're being torn into a zillion pieces.   So how do you deal with the stress of day-to-day life? What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? How do you manage your work life with your personal life? How do you manage your family responsibilities and still feel like YOU are in there somewhere? How do you keep yourself from exploding?   Try this:

5 SECRETS TO KEEP YOUR SANITY (as well as your job, family, and friends too!)

MOVE! No, don't pack up and go, MOVE YOUR BODY! We get stagnant when we're stressed out, so one of the easiest ways to clear the mind is to get up and move. Take a walk! Walk your dog! Go to the park! Get in nature! If you are in the city, even a walk around the block will be great! Or put on some music and dance. Sometimes as little as 3 deep breathes, reeeaaally deep breaths that fill your belly up with air and move the energy within your body, is all it takes to calm the "f" down and realize it’s not so bad.

WRITE IT DOWN! Take a sheet of paper and write down whatever it is that is making you feel overwhelmed. Hash it out on paper, with detail! Is it a project that you don't know where to begin? Is it a deadline that is freaking you out? Is it a decision you have to make? Get it on paper and let it live there for a bit. You don't need to carry everything on your shoulders ALL the time. Dump it on the paper, create a dump sheet. No one ever needs to see it but you.

STOP LOOKING AT THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN! If you want to accomplish something you consider BIG, don't look at the whole mountain! Imagine yourself at the bottom of a really tall mountain. It's so easy to think, "there is noooo way I can make it to the top!" If you look at the entire picture of what it is that you are trying to accomplish, it can scare the bejesus out of anyone, and then the temptation arises of just not doing anything, and quitting. Take your "dump sheet" from above and break it down. What is one step that I can accomplish right now? What is one thing I can do by the end of the day? What is one thing I can do that I know for sure I can do by the end of the week. Focus on the little steps, not on the whole mountain. How do you climb the mountain? Step by step!

EXPERIENCE COMPLETION! In giving yourself small, attainable tasks you are giving a signal to your subconscious brain that you can complete things. Develop the skill and the habit of completion. If every day you wake up with a list of stuff that you wanted to get done, but just didn't...that feels pretty crappy! What would it feel like to wake up and know, YEAH! I did what I said I would do! I rule! I get the job done! Sweeeet!

CELEBRATE YOUR WINS! Who doesn’t like the feeling of saying I'm going to do something, and then doing it! It feels great! BUT what we often forget to do is slooooow down, and celebrate! It’s so important to look at all that you have accomplished and to feel GREAT about it. Even if it was a simple thing like, "I am going to write this email tomorrow" and you did it, great! Try treating yourself as you would your best friend. If your best friend told you he or she finished a project that was important for him or her, you would never just say, "huh, whatever...on to the next.” Celebrate and Reward yourself! Give out that little boost and makes you feel good.

 Practice IMPLEMENTING these 5 steps, and see what happens for you! Now, you’re fitting in a little fitness with a lot of room to breathe, break stuff down, and get it done. What’s better than that?

Happy 2010: Resolutions to Reality!

2010-01-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

Help! My boss is a workaholic – when can I work out?

It’s that time of the year again. Time to make resolutions a reality. Friends and colleagues are frequently mystified by our “dedication” to working out. We’re busy; when do we find the time? We get those same old stories from our clients about best-laid plans laid to waste by a demanding boss (or a tyrannical two-year-old). Our working friends diligently pack the gym bag with hopes of taking a class at lunch or just skulking off for 45 minutes for a quick run and a quicker shower, but the unpredictability of work these days makes the sneak-away just about impossible. Forget after work, what with long hours at the desk, social obligations, dogs to walk, and/or families to get home to – it’s just not an option. What’s a budding BuddhaBabe to do?

OK, this is just not that complicated. There is a clear solution, but it is going to sound like madness to some of you, especially our friends who close down the clubs. WORK OUT BEFORE WORK.

We know, crazy, right?

The BuddhaBabes recall life before 6 or 7 am wake-up calls, but really, what’s an additional hour or so in bed? Once you get used to it (and this does require packing your bag the night before, trust us) it’s really a great way to streamline your morning. No endlessly changing outfits, dilly-dallying over sale mail and gossip blogs before breakfast, or lingering at Starbucks as you dread what awaits you at work. Put simply, as a morning worker-outer, you are on the go and committed, even if you’re dragging through that first 5 minutes on the elliptical, lounging a little on the Pilates reformer, or choosing knees / chest / chin over that chataranga.
That’s right, the BuddhaBabes are morning peeps, ladies, and you can be, too.
You’ll be amazed by how great you feel as you face the chaos of the office after yoga, Pilates, or a good run – calm, refreshed, standing a little taller, sitting a little straighter, maintaining your inner poise just a little longer.

And at lunchtime, guess what? You can eat lunch. And after work? There might be time for a movie or a cocktail with a friend. If you’re dating, isn’t it great to know you’re starting your day with an activity, putting in a full day at the office, and facing the fix-up with your full attention (even if he’s not Mr. Right) and no guilt about skipping the gym? We thought so. So the next time you set your alarm an hour earlier, squeeze in an extra bedtime story with your tyrannical two-year-old, cozy up with your honey or a good book to end your busy day, take a moment to admire that fine core you’ve been honing in the morning. Before you know it, they’ll be asking you what your secret is. It’s OK, go ahead and confess – you’re a morning person.

VOICES

2009-12-09T07:22:00.001-08:00

I’m too busy. I have to take care of everyone else. I can’t afford it. I don’t have time. My body will never change. I‘m too tired. My family comes first. My life is out of control.

Any of these statements ring true to you? Really? Take a moment and ask yourself if they really, really do.

So often we get caught up in the daily stress of life that we don’t even recognize the negative thoughts running around in our heads. Negative thoughts are having a pity party—a “poor me” fest at our expense. And there is a HUGE cost for these negative thoughts. The BuddhaBabes live the philosophy of Henry Ford “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

What is your attitude about working out? Do you enjoy it? Are you fully present while doing your cardio, or are you reading the gym’s picked over gossip magazines and instant messaging? Do you look forward to your Pilates sessions, or do you find them a chore? And what about those voices in your head? Is your internal monologue saying “Yes—I can do this and MORE!” or “I think I want to kill my trainer... I should cut this session short so I have time to drop off my laundry.”

We’re not saying that you need to police your every thought, but why not start to become aware of what is going on internally? Pilates is a mind/body practice; you can’t have one without the other. What you’re thinking about INternally will certainly impact you EXternally. If you constantly hear yourself saying “I can’t!” or “I don’t want to!” or “I’m tired!” or any other limiting thoughts, take that voice and turn it around. Start affirming, “I CAN!” or “I’m strong now!” or “I can do more!” Say what you need to hear to help get that annoying, negative little voice inside you a little quieter, and eventually it will be gone for good.

Ok, you may feel a little silly or find this “self talk” a little bit hokey, but it really works. Simply thinking positive thoughts and feeling positive feelings will make a change in your attitude. Don’t just read this, shrug your shoulders, and forget it. Put the affirmation in the NOW, not someday or in the future or after your kids are teenager—now! Say it today, say it tomorrow, maybe feel it next Thursday and but believe it NOW.

Affirmations don’t take a lot of time, and it doesn’t mean you have to necessarily talk about it, either. The BuddhaBabes live in NYC where some days can feel like the negativity surrounding us can literally swallow up…if you let it. For prevention, we take our affirmations with us on the subway! The point is, there are so many reasons why we CAN'T do something. What if we really examine all the things we CAN do?

We all want our lives to be in balance, but if the scale is tipped solely on the external side of fitness, it is not balanced. We assure you that you WILL look better and feel better if you get those voices aligned with your external goals, strength, stamina, a firmer booty, a sexy posture…whatever your personal goals are. It’s so much easier to stick with your Pilates and fitness lifestyle when your mind is aligned with your body. Think of it right on top of the crown of your head. Maybe it’s a crown of positive energy, radiating inward and outward as you maintain that balancing act.

The secret to true fitness is to keep doing it! Do it often! Do it well! Enjoy yourself while doing it!

We dare you to try focusing inward as you work your body on the outside! Notice what happens, and let us know.

Tracy Campoli

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

We just celebrated Tracy’s birthday – good friends, great food, delicious cocktails, and most important: no guilt.

Why? Active dancing and fresh ingredients.

Our advice? Go ahead and indulge this holiday season with these two thoughts in mind:

Ingredients – keep it fresh and simple by making meals yourself or choosing prepared foods without unnecessary additives. Using bountiful seasonal produce and experimenting with herbs and spices are perfect substitutes for processed food and high sugar options.

Movement – during this busy season, it’s easy to make excuses for skipping work outs – after work parties, busy days at the office, family obligations, travels, sniffles – these things catch up with all of us. Try to sneak in some activity by walking from point A to point B when time and climate allows. Choose the stairs over the elevator. Before you hit the shower and shampoo, hold plank for 60 seconds. You’d never skip your conditioner, so why not earmark a minute for your middle? Take advantage of the holiday spirit by dancing. Give up your seat and choose to mingle!

You’ll thank us later!

Unexpected Error

2009-11-16T05:59:00.000-08:00

Finally – a weekend without an endless to-do list. Daylight savings time makes it easier to get up early, and on Saturday, I’ll just get up when I get up. It’s easy fitting in a run or a yoga class around brunch or a movie. I’m looking forward to relaxing for a change. Yeah, right.

The first sign of things not going as expected was the “spinning beach ball of death” icon on my Mac. I’d been having some issues. Hmm, why no Firefox? Oh, I’ll download it. After it fails to start 5 times and quaintly “quits unexpectedly” I start to get a little agitated. After a couple hours, I have almost no programs, and my blogging hour is long gone. So is my planned run. I barely make it to brunch. Ten hours later and I’m wide awake, so I try to have a go at the blog. I click open Word and I get an “unexpected error” – I’ll say. I attempt to read the help documents and fix it myself. When that gets me exactly nowhere, I call the help line, which is remarkably fast in the wee Sunday morning hours. Nearly two hours later, my help experience ends with a gray screen and apologies from the other end of the toll-free number. Diagnosis: bad software install or dead hard drive, and I decide to be first in line at the Genius Bar at the Apple Store on Sunday morning.

I figure three hours is plenty of time to get live computer help, get coffee, and get to noon yoga. I set out, and my throat’s got that tickle. I better not get sick. I don’t have time for that. I'll cure myself with a steam after yoga and then I’ll pick up something for dinner. Easy. After about 90 minutes, the genius solves the problem – the hard drive is irreparably damaged. He advised me to take it to Tekserve, for cheaper service. There, the technician confers, and I'll have a new hard drive by Tuesday. He congratulated me for backing up, and gave me a cough drop. I barely noticed that I barely had a voice. At this point, I’m clearly not feeling well. I also realize yoga started 20 minutes ago. ugh.

OK, I’ll just walk to the gym, do the arc trainer, and steam. I haven’t worked out since Thursday when the Yankees parade blocked me in my office at lunch time. I missed my Saturday run. I missed yoga today. I have to do something! I better pick up the pace. But I’m sluggish. I keep walking past the gym, and all the way home. It’s official. I’m sick. But I have to do something! Does this count as “fitting in fitness” – yes, it sure does.

See, I’m kind of a stickler about my fitness routine. I have to laugh when others find me flexible, as it’s not really my natural state – on the mat or off. But I do what I can. I’m not good at picking up the signals (that I’m tired, that I’m sick, that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do what I’ve planned), and when my plans don’t go as, well, planned, I get really irritated. I tend to run my life a little close to the bone – a few too many appointments, a few too many to-dos on my list, and always a few things I never get to. Rarely do I fail to cross “work out” off my list. But I’m trying to be more… flexible.

My friends think I love to work out. True, I don’t hate it, but given the choice, I wouldn’t mind sitting around eating bon-bons. I’m just a pragmatist. I like to eat good food, I like to go out and have a few drinks here and there, and I like my clothes to fit well. Working out is a trade off. I really do think that yoga and pilates make me more calm, more, present, and more strong in every way, and I like that feeling. But also, I know how good I feel after a run. It’s one of the few times I’m alone, where I can let my mind wander. I get ideas. I relieve a little stress.

But every now and then I can’t get the class or the run in, and I’m mad. But today, after an exceptionally annoying 12 hours nearly consumed with my laptop woes, I slowly continue that stroll home. I’m trying to roll with it, to be flexible, to take what Sunday’s handed me. With nothing on my agenda today except a few tasks I created, I didn’t miss out on anything, and the accountable person for that to do list is just me. I can give myself an extension on, well, everything. I don’t need the gym or the steam, and I think we’ll order in some take-out.

MOTIVATION TAKING A VACATION??

2009-10-27T05:36:00.001-07:00

Motivation taking a vacation?

As much as we are loathe to admit it...we BuddhaBabes are human. No, not super heroes in our orange and pink tank tops, with matching capes flying over NYC, spreading the word on fitness, health, fun, and a life of balance. No, we are actually JUST LIKE YOU. Really, exactly like you. Sometimes sticking to our workouts and eating healthfully is a breeze and we feel so good we just want to shake the whole world and say...HEY WORLD! Do this, and you'll thank us later! But there are times when it's not so easy.

Tracy here, and right now is one of those times for me. I’m feeling not-so-motivated. Fall is in the air and I’m such a beach lovin' girl, that I feel a little blue when I know the leaves are turning and the weather starts to get cooler. After all of those years in school, I’m programmed to feel like autumn is really the beginning of the year. The Type-A part of me is feeling like I "should" have accomplished more by this time of year. Before long, Thanksgiving will be here and it’s such a challenge to complete things, let alone squeeze in workouts (not to mention into my tightest jeans) before New Year’s Eve.

Thankfully my job dictates that I work out. I’d feel like a big (fat) fraud if I don't work out, but honestly, while I’m up and out the door nearly every day to meet with clients and get them motivated, I’m having a hard time getting fired up for my own work outs. How can I motivate my students and get them excited about working out when all I want to do is snuggle up with a blanket and catch up on the guilty-pleasure reality shows that I'm just too embarrassed to view in front of others? I’m feeling not-so-secretly lazy.

In times like this I know that I need to stimulate myself in ways beyond my normal routine. I negotiate with myself. Okay, watch your reality shows but only while jumping on your mini-trampoline so you’ll burning calories while feeding your dirty little TV habit. What else? Dancing always refreshes me. Taking dance classes doesn't feel like exercise, and the next thing I know I’m DRENCHED in more sweat than if I maxed out on the toughest cardio machines at the gym. Sometimes I dust off my rollerblades and take a ride along the Hudson River and see how much the city has changed since I first moved here. I might get a new exercise DVD, take a yoga class at a studio I have never been to, or just mix it up and go to a different branch of my gym. The point here is to do something.

Sure we want to look better, but feeling better is the best result of getting active. Ask yourself, what makes you feel your best? When do you love working out and moving? While I’m on vacation I find I’m very active. I love to hike, to bike, to surf, practice yoga, things that I often don’t have time or the space in my New York day to actually do. These are clues! These are things that I do with joy! Don't get me wrong, I love Pilates and I love working out. Sometimes I just need to mix it up a little and find new ways to stimulate and challenge myself.

Notice when you feel this way, and without judgment just say, okay, it’s time to mix it up! Make it a game. What's one way I can change up my workout? Run a different route, try a new machine at the gym, try a class that intimidates you—like boxing or kettle bells, adding Mat classes to Pilates, trying hot yoga. And on the flip side, know it's temporary. Change up your work out and get-up and go! You will feel like a super hero! You'll thank us later!

FITTING IN FITNESS

2009-10-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

You enjoy working out, but sometimes....a lot of the time... it’s so hard to FIND the time. We all know we SHOULD be working out, just as we know we will FEEL better after stretching our limbs and challenging our limits. But life often gets in the way, and just like that, it’s another day with another missed workout. If “work out” is at the end of your seemingly never-ending to-do list, then FITTING IN FITNESS is just for you!

Rather than letting yourself get overwhelmed and frustrated, we will help you squeeze in some power-packed, multi-tasking exercises that actually work. Or if you are looking for a flowing sequence or some suggestions on building strength, you will find those, too. Along with some of our favorite tried-and-true moves, we’re going to tell you a little bit about ourselves and what we do – both on and off the mat and the machine. You’ll hear about how we fit in fitness for ourselves. Check back with us frequently, follow us on Twitter, become our friend on Facebook and learn to sneak in a little time for you –time to feel stronger, leaner, healthier, happier… fitter. Time to fit fitness into your lifestyle.
You’ve got a busy life. Leave your fitness to us.
Tracy and Jen (The BuddhaBabes)
Fitting in Fitness
Pilates / core / yoga
Buddhabelly2beachbabe.com