Courtney's Testimonial

How Are you doing? I'm finally publishing this video we recorded last year... A special thanks to Courtney who made this happen! A HUGE Thanks for sharing the love Courtney!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

How are you Doing? 

I'm in Peace... Just had a lovely dinner! 
I love this photo... it's very peaceful Can you see someone doing Yoga right in the center of the Photo?
Anyway, I just wanted to say This to you in case I haven't said it yet:

May your Thanksgiving be filled with gratitude. May you share many wonderful relationships that nourish you even more than the food. May you have an abundance of blessings and happiness.
I'm very Grateful and really blessed to be surrounded by such great friends, instructors and clients! 

Happiness

Happiness Cannot be Owned,
Earned, Worn or Consumed.
Happiness is Spiritual Experience of Living
Every Minute With Love, Grace and Gratitude.

Be Happy!
Katia

Hmmm... Water!

Our body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.
Don't forget to drink water!
Xoxo,
Katia

Class on Monday night Level 2-3

How are you doing? I have been so busy and sleepy this week, but happy! Nothing makes me happier then see my clients performing such advance exercise with so much grace and sophistication! This is a Variation of the "Tree Stretch". Beautifully executed huh? I hope I will see you there next time :)

Love ~

Move of The Week: Double Straight Leg Stretch

 •Lie on your back and extend your legs straight up toward the ceiling. Rotate the legs out slightly, keeping the heels together and inner legs pulled in the center line, in Pilates stance.

• Place your hands behind your head, keeping the elbows and wide and chest open.

• Inhale and on the exhale, pull your abdominals down to the floor. Allow that motion to press your lower back into the floor as your curl your upper torso up off the floor. You will maintain this core strength torso position throughout the exercise.

• Inhale: Keeping abdominals pulled in and the back pressed to mat, lengthen your legs out of your hips as you lower them.


Go only as far as your can maintain control and good alignment. Do not let your back pop up off the mat. Use your upper abs. to maintain the lift of the chest. Don't try to hold your self up by pulling on your head and neck with the elbows and hands(a common temptation)!

• Exhale: With control deepen the abs. even more as you return the legs upright.

• Check your position - Pilates stance, open chest, wide elbows, abdominals pulled in.

• Repeat the exercise 6 - 8 times.

Breathe. Your abs. are pulled in and working hard, so this is a good opportunity to practice breathing deeply into your back and sides.

Think About This...

“ Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ” 

Carl Jung (1875–1961) Swiss

psychiatrist

.........................................................................................................................................................


How are you doing?
Had a great Pilates class? Hope so :)
After a good fitness class, I always like to think about how can i improve my existence...one of my favorites Gurus is Carl Jung. His theories are really hard to understand, not everybody can get it. I've been studying him (on my own) for over 10 years and I'm fascinated! 
He was really beyond his time! Great Mind! 
Some of his amazing theories include: collective unconscious, synchronicity, archetypes etc.
Here are some websites worth it to check: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/jung.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Jung


"Mens sana in corpore sano" - "A sound mind in a sound body"
See you soon XO

I Love Cats!

Aren't they cute and funny?

Move of The Week: Single Leg Stretch

Single leg stretch is all about learning to move from center. It trains the abdominals to initiate movement, and to support and stabilize the trunk as the arms and legs are in motion. Many people find it especially helpful in targeting the lower abs. There is an element of coordination to this exercise as well.

1. Prepare: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your shins parallel to the floor. This is tabletop position for the legs.


Take a few moments to breathe deeply into the back and lower abs. See Sequential Breathing for more on working with the breath. 

2. Inhale 

3. Exhale: Pull your abs in, taking your bellybutton down toward your spine, as you curl your head and shoulders up to the tips of the shoulder blades. As you curl up, your left leg extends at a 45-degree angle.


The right leg remains in tabletop position with the right hand grasping the right ankle and the left hand moving to the right knee.


You will maintain your upper-body curve throughout the exercise. Be sure to keep your shoulders relaxed and your abdominals deeply scooped. 

4. Inhale: Switch legs on a two-part inhale. Bring air in as the left knee comes in, and bring more air in as you gently pulse that knee toward you.


Now the left hand is at the left ankle and the right hand at the left knee.

5. Exhale: Switch legs. Bring the right leg in with a two-part exhale/pulse and extend the left leg.


The hand to leg coordination continues with the outside hand of the bent leg going to the ankle and the other hand moving to the inside of the knee. 

6. Repeat: Switch legs up to 10 times. Release the exercise if you are finding tension in your shoulders and neck or if your lower back is taking the strain.