How to Bullet Journal

I first heard about Bullet Journaling when reading these articles on Well&Good, but I couldn't find a clear description of what exactly it was and more importantly how to do it. I knew it was supposed to be like the Marie Kondo method of organizing your to-do list, but there seemed to be a lack of info that gave a good explanation on how to start one . So after attending a lecture at CAP Beauty on how to #bujo, I am here to give you a step by step explanation of how to start one. 

But first, what is a bullet journal? It's pretty confusing because it can be whatever you want it to be. Weekly calendar, to do list, brain dump, daily journal, gratitude journal, etc. A bullet journal is an all encompassing method of keeping track of "things." Pretty vague huh? I use it for my to do list and keep my actual calendar in a different planner. Simply put, I think the best explanation is that it is a method that takes everything floating around your head or on the notes section of your phone -- shopping lists, future to-do lists, daily to-do lists, birthdays -- and provides different formats for getting this info out of your head and onto paper.

There are three items about bullet journaling that I have found that I really like versus my previous method of writing down to-do lists:

1. Though I am not particularly creative or artistic, I like that it gives you a method to acknowledge tasks that you have started, but are not necessarily completed. For example, you want to make an appointment at the dentist. You call and leave the dentist a message to call you back. This task isn't completed yet. It's in progress, and you did what you need to do, so you mark that. For some reason, that step never occurred to me before I started bullet journaling. Items were either outstanding or completed. 

2. As I mentioned, I'm trying to detach from my phone a little and bullet journaling helps with that. Although, I still have to put a grocery list on my phone because I'm not bringing this book around on my Whole Foods/Trader Joes/Stop&Shop trips.

3. As one of the WellandGood.com articles stated, something about coloring in a box makes completing a task so much more satisfying! I've started writing down the little items in my day, like taking my supplements, so now I not only am holding myself accountable, but I'm checking it off the list!

Now, onto HOW to #bujo:

1. Create an index . Leave a couple pages at the beginning of your notebook which will serve as your index. This is your table of contents. Make sure you number all your subsequent pages and then add them to the index. You could also buy tabs to mark the pages you reference a lot.

2. Create a key. 

3. Make sure to number all your pages and add them to the Index. Here you can be as creative as you choose to be. (I'm looking at you Savannah.) I made a future log next. Which I have to say, I have not filled up or used much. 

4. You can write out more master lists - New Year's Resolutions, books to read, movies to watch, goals, etc. In my opinion, this is a nice way to detach from the Notes app on your phone. 

The main format I am using is a weekly and daily to-do list. I used the format from the video explanation on www.bulletjournal.com. 

There are so many different cool formats. Here is just a quick sample.

GOAL TRACKING

MORNING ROUTINE

Monthly Log

Daily Log

Once you get into bullet journaling, Pinterest is a great resource, surprise surprise. Buzzfeed also has a ton of info on Bullet Journaling. I found this article particularly helpful. 

Tips for exercising while pregnant

Finding a good exercise class while pregnant is harder than I thought. Pre-natal specific classes often seem very long, slow, and boring while my regular boutique fitness classes can tend to not feel so good in my body anymore, and the whole experience has left me feeling a little bit like Goldilocks. 

Up to this point, I have been to 4 pre-natal yoga classes at 3 different studios with 4 different teachers and they have been a bit of a let down. I enjoy the sense of community they foster and I think they could potentially be a nice way of meeting new mom friends but the movement has been so minimal that I am not rushing back to any of the classes. I do see myself going back to these classes as I get further along in my pregnancy. I feel very fortunate to feel good with a high energy level. If I was in a different situation, exhausted or chasing a toddler around all day and the only energy I could muster was for this type class, I think I would feel differently. 

I have found the best strategy has been taking a lot of the same classes I did pre-pregnancy but just modifying them to fit my belly, literally. I don't attend any heated classes because I personally believe that those classes are not good for the baby, but I know others who disagree. I also wasn't doing much running before getting pregnant due to a calf injury so I've had no desire to start running now. For cardio, I attend cycling classes, Soul Cycle or FlyWheel, or Orangetheory Fitness (incline walking on the treadmill) but I go at my own pace. I've had a tendency to get overheated very easily during this pregnancy so when I say I take it easy, I mean it! In terms of yoga, I have enjoyed attending my typical classes and modifying. Most yoga, as long as it isn't power or heated, is pregnancy friendly as long as you know which poses to avoid.

Here are top 5 must do's in order to stay active during your pregnancy, regardless of the type of class you are taking:

1. Get to class early. This allows you time to speak to the teacher. Always let the instructor know you are pregnant so they can give you specific modifications. This also allows you time to pee, which I always have to do upon arrival regardless of if I just peed before I left the house, ah the joys of pregnancy!

2. Do the same type of classes while pregnant that you did before you were pregnant. Before I was pregnant I did a variety of yoga, pilates, barre, Orangetheory Fitness, spinning, and lifting weights with a personal trainer. Though I'm not running on the treadmill or jumping on springboards, I'm able to do and enjoy these same type of classes, but modify to suit my needs.

3. Stay hydrated!

4. Listen to your body and stay mindful! I think I speak for everyone when I say pregnancy gives you lots of weird aches and pains and some exercise just are not going to work for you. Do what works for you and realize it's going to change from week to week. Be proud of yourself for taking care of your body and moving! 

5.  Order maternity exercise clothes before you need them. I was able to wear my standard workout clothes until I was about 23/24 weeks pregnant. Finding maternity clothes has been more difficult than I anticipated. Most are available only online. I ordered 1 pair of Athleta yoga pants online on sale before I needed them and I regret not ordering another pair because Athleta's maternity line seems to have been discontinued.

Sakara Life - day 1

Sakara Life is an organic, vegan, GMO free, diary free, plant based, gluten free, superfood intense, GOOP-approved, meal delivery service, made popular by such celebrities as Lily Aldridge, Lena Dunham, and Karolina Kurkova. Sakara Life was founded by 2 best girl friends after being fed up with living toxic lives in NYC.  I've been wanting to try Sakara Life (Sakara translates to "with form" in Sanskrit) since its inception in 2011 but their price point has always held me back. 

Feeling bloated from too many summer BBQs and with a member discount from Parsley Health, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered the 3 day cleanse from Sakara Life. I didn't really know what to expect because I've only talked to one friend who has used it. From looking as pictures and reading the menu, the portions looked a little small, and I was worried I'd be so hungry that it wouldn't quite be a "cleanse." Boy, based on Day 1, I couldn't be more wrong!

So my Thursday got off to a slightly unexpected start. Because my thyroid medicine requires me to wait an hour before I eat, my plan was to wake up, teach an hour yoga class, come home and eat my Yoga Bunny Breakfast. On my way to teach, my personal trainer, Kate, texted me to see if I could come in earlier for my personal training session. This meant that I didn't end up eating my muffin until 11:30am. I was starving, and I was expecting this little muffin to keep me full for about an hour. Granted I had some coffee with almond milk in the morning, this little muffin was so delicious and kept me full for about 4 hours. I'm not even sure what was in it.. quinoa flour and carrots I think. The orange paste on the side was super yummy. NO idea what it was!

Lunch and dinner have been giant salads with some sort of fixings. Now usually, I like to have grilled chicken on my salad and I also end up craving something a little something extra, popcorn, piece of fruit, crackers with hummus, etc. This salad was very satisfying and didn't leave me craving anything additional. I did add avocado and a little dressing to the greens. The dressing that comes with the salads are so delicious but I wish there was about 4 extra tablespoons of it.

Dinner was "pad thai" which was basically another huge salad with kelp noodles. Usually, I don't like eating salad for lunch and dinner but I love anything pad thai so I was happy to eat this for dinner. Again, it was tasty and filling. I wish it had more kelp noodles but it was still a great dinner. I did end up eating some grapes and cashews afterwards. Each day comes with chlorophyll water to drink before bed. My one experience with a chlorophyll shot from Organic Avenue made me almost puke so I was a little worried. This chlorophyll water tastes like water, not the aforementioned chlorophyll shot, and goes down easy. 

Overall, I'm really happy I bit the bullet and ordered Sakara Life. I feel like I sound like a broken record but it's filling and delicious. Best of all, as Elle Magazine reported, it takes the guess work out of cooking and eating. Everything is perfectly proportioned. It's nice to come home from teaching a night yoga class and know that I'm going to have a light yet filling dinner that will sit well in my stomach 

Atlanta Update!!

Hi Ya'll, I'm officially settled and loving life in Atlanta. It's time to give you a thorough guide/recap/breakdown of all my favorite #healthyliving spots in and around the ATL. 

photo cred: any2ndnow.com

True Food Kitchen is definitely my favorite healthy food restaurant in Atlanta. With several locations around the USA, True Food Kitchen specializes in an anti-inflammatory diet. There are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options, but there is meat on the menu so it really appeals to carnivores and those with dietary restrictions. Additionally, I recommend this restaurant if you are following the Whole 30 program. All the food is fresh and free of additives. They have the most amazing vegetable crudite bowl with Greek Tzatziki dip. I also like to order the kale salad or inside out quinoa burger.  

photocred: www.pleasurepalate.blogspot.com

photo cred: www.madhungrywoman.com

photo cred: www.spatialdrift.com

Started by a former NFL Quarterback, this happening lunch spot is my go-to for a quick bite. Gusto uses a "Chipotle" style concept to create fresh rice bowls and salads. The ingredients are fresh and the ingredient combinations are full of delicious flavors. My favorite thus far is a grilled chicken salad with either cucumber, tahini, feta or the half rice half salad with grilled chicken and chipotle, mango, avocado garnishes. The best part... all dishes come with sweet potato chips!

photo cred: Gusto YouTube

www.souperjennyatl.com

Souper Jenny and its sister store Juicy Jenny are a "collection of cozy neighborhood cafes." They specialize in soups, as you might have known from the name but their salads and sandwiches are fresh and delicious. In the summer months, they have a couple less soups and more options for those yummy salads. They also have an unbeatable lunch deal: choice of 2 salads, with a drink, cookie, and piece of fruit all for $14. Can't beat that. Though their menu changes daily, I've never had something I didn't enjoy. 

www.handpickedatlanta.com

www.thunderboltpoweryoga.com

Moving on to exercise, I have two favorite yoga studios ( not including the studios where I am working). First up is Thunderbolt Power Yoga located in Buckhead. When I first moved here, I had a really hard finding a good yoga studio that didn't hot classes. Regular temperature yoga didn't seem to exist so I eventually gave up. Thunderbolt uses infrared radiant heat set to about 85 - 90 degrees. Though it does get hot, especially when it is crowded, it's never too hot or uncomfortable. It's hot enough that the class is always super sweaty, but not so hot that I just want to lie on the mat and not move. All the teachers are great with rocking playlists and wonderful/creative sequencing. 

www.thunderboltpoweryoga.com

My favorite classes have been their Friday night Hip Hop classes and my favorite teacher is Caitlin

www.infinityyoga.com

With three locations, Infinity Yoga probably reminds me the most of some of the studios where I would practice in NYC. Although I haven't been able to practice there as much as I would like due to the locations and class times, all the class are top notch. They offer a wide array of classes and I cannot speak highly enough about their Yoga for Athletes class with Jessie Hughes, Foundational Flow with  Todd Delaune and all their Flow classes. 

www.youtube.com

www.coffeewineandyoga.com

Though I wasn't a huge fan of megaformer classes in NYC, I love Stellar Bodies.  I particularly like their  Basics class, something SLT and the other megaformer studios do not offer to my knowledge. It's helpful for me to get down the foundation before moving on to the more advanced classes.  I find it useful to built the strength before trying to move on to more intricate exercises.

Do you have favorite spots in Atlanta that I need to check out? Comment below!

 

Buddhi Box - 3 month review

In case you don't know, Buddhi Box is the Birchbox of yoga . I received a 3 month subscription.  Here is my 3 month review. 

Month 1: This was a little disappointing. The items included a magnet that said "get your buddhi on the mat,"  sandlewood incense, a lotus necklace, a small tin of shea butter, coffee, and a discount on downloadable meditations. 

Here are my issues. I think these subscription boxes are cool because you get things that are hard to find in a store, and items you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself. My problem with this box is that none of the products except the incense and shea butter are items that I would consider difficult to find or buy for myself.  The items seemed to be more gimmicky things you would be given for free at a yoga festival, for example. I can buy coffee on every street corner in NYC. I don't need it mailed to me, even if it is fair trade and organic. My other big issue is the perceived "value" they placed on these items. $8 seems a little steep for a magnet. A discount on something you still need to buy, such as the meditation downloads, is not a product with a perceived value.  

coffee and recipe

magnet and discounted meditation podcast

Incense Sticks 

incense and shea butter

necklace

Month 2:

Month 2 (pictured above): So much better than month 1 !!! My opinion of BuddhiBox did a 180 after receiving my second box. This month's items included a vegan macaroon, laundry detergent for sweaty clothes specifically, hair & body butter, a spice blend packet, Headache Relief Rollerball, reusable snack pouches, and a 1 month membership to streaming yoga classes. The reusable snack pouches were my favorite item and have gotten a lot of use! They are dishwasher safe which helps too!

photo cred: subscriptionboxramblings.com

Month 3: 

Month 3 was pretty good! Not as good as month 2 but I still prefer it over month 1! The most useful items for me are the Jiva Clothing Health Wicking Headband, People Towels reusable towel set, intention candle, and Thieves Blend Optimal Health Oil. 

I can never have too many candles and headbands. In an effort to cut down on my paper towel use, the reusable towels from People Towels are great too!

Overall, I hate to be a negative Nancy, but for $30.95/month, the price is a little steep for the items I received. Though I have used a couple items in each box, there hasn't been a single product that I wanted to run out and buy once I ran out. BuddhiBox is a great gift idea for a yogi friend, but I would skip buying a subscription for myself.

NYC Bucket List

My husband recently accepted a job offer in Atlanta. We are going to be moving at the end of March. I have called NYC home for the last 6 years and I will miss the endless new restaurants and boutique fitness options. I have an extensive #NYCBucketList in several different categories so here we go:

305 Fitness. Photo courtesy of WellandGood.com

Restaurants

• Bar Primi
• Dirt Candy
• Bkb
• Huertas
• Tijuana Picnic
• Javelina
• El Rey
• Nourish
• Wassail
• Superiority Burger
• Prune
• Inday
• Copper Kettle Kitchen

Spas

• Naturopathica in Chelsea
• Pratima Ayurvedic Skin Care

Classes

• Ballet Beautiful
• Barre Method
• Barre3
• Katonah Yoga
• Jivamukti Yoga
• AKT in Motion
• Yoga Shanti
• Dharma Mitra
• I am You
• 305 new Sculpt, Core, and Yoga class

photo cred: wellandgood.com

WIAW

I used to read a lot of Healthy Living blogs that participated in something called "What I Ate Wednesday" (WIAW) which was hosted by Peas and Crayons. Peas and Crayons would aggregate all the photos and link all the photos. As usual I'm about 2 years late to the party. Also FYI - I don't think anyone should give a rats ass about what I ate on Wednesday. Nevertheless, I present to you: What I Ate Wednesday:

Green protein shake - coconut milk, coconut water, greens, protein, flax seed oil, and probiotics

Coffee with a mix of almond milk and coconut milk

Kitchen sink salad... mixed greens, turkey, cauliflower, broccoli, avocado, Trader Joe's siracha hummus, and balsamic vinaigrette with a side of seltzer.

Dean & Deluca Falafel chips - so good!!

Rainy day savasana

Gluten free pumpkin scone. Post teaching yoga treat courtesy of Butterfield Express. I don't usually eat baked goods but this pumpkin scone was calling my name. 

Trader Joe's cauliflower rice (!!!) with homemade bison tomato sauce with a side of chicken soup with yucas (also from Butterfield Express)

Regenerate Fitness UES

This place is totally off the radar but it is a total GEM! I like to think of this place as the original Orange Theory Fitness. When you arrive they give you a heart rate monitor (no additional charge) and you try to keep your heart rate in level 4 (orange zone) or at 80%. You do four 5 minute sessions on a Helix which kind of feels like an elliptical interspersed with other exercises like TRX, lunges, squats, burpees, bicep curls, etc.   

The bottom line, what I like best about this place is that it's a challenging class but it isn't TOO challenging. It's a method that I believe can get you into very good shape and transform your body if that is what you are looking for, but it's not going to KILL you.

Helix machine

Been There, Done That, (Barely) Lived to Tell the Tale - Cryotherapy

I'm a huge wimp when it comes to cold water. I have a hard time getting in a swimming pool that isn't heated. I've never taken an ice bath and I hope I never have to. I first saw cryotherapy on Instagram (of course) when one of the Soul Cycle instructors I started following went. A couple days later I saw Lindsay Lohan posted a similar picture. 

I did a little research and found that cryotherapy is a process in which you subject your body to extreme cold for a couple minute in order to reduce inflammation. It is used in the treatment of muscle soreness and swelling. Its also been credited with boosting the metabolism, reducing cellulite, stimulate collagen production, and increase energy.  Wouldn't you know, a couple days later, Kryolife had a deal on Gilt City. 

I show up and am instructed to take off all my clothes and use a towel to dry off any moisture to avoid frostbite. Of course it's a rainy day and I immediately start to panic about my hair or a limb freezing off. I put on a robe and nervously sit in the little waiting area. I tried comforting myself by reminding myself that if I could survive 45 minutes in a  150 degree bed, I can survive 3 minutes freezing. 

The moment I step in the room I am engulfed in a cold wipe vapor that comes out of the machine which looks like a rocket ship. Apparently it's between -184 to -292 degrees Fahrenheit. They leave it on the "warmer" side for newbies so it was probably -184.  I keep telling myself, 3 minutes, 3 minutes. I step into the machine and hand my robe to an attendant. The attendant is the best part. He talked me through the whole process step by step. Once inside the machine, the attendant keeps talking to me. He asked me why I was there, what I did for a living, etc. I really enjoy the distraction and definitely thinks it helps me take my mind of how f@**ing freezing I am. 

So here's the bottom line. It's not that cold and I wasn't that uncomfortable in terms of my body temperature. My issue was that I had extreme shortness of breath like I was worried I was having a heart attack. It felt like I was having the worst ever case of the hiccups or when I've been hysterically crying and tried to talk but my words sound like hiccups (does this ever happen to anyone else?). I've been to two sessions and this happened both times. I spoke with the owner and he said that it's my body adjusting to the temperature and absorbing the liquid nitrogen which is producing the cold air. The next time I go, they can raise the platform so that I'm still freezing my butt off, but I'm not breathing in and absorbing through my nose and mouth the liquid nitrogen as much.  In terms of all the other promises, it takes 10 times to notice a difference. Given the cost, the location, and the uncomfortable-ness, I think i'll resort to icing my sore muscles with some frozen vegetable bags.  

Plantar Fasciitis Update

Can I cure my plantar fasciitis... Yes! Because I don't have it. Turns out I'm not actually a doctor, and therefore, I should never try to diagnose myself.  I have been dealing with pain in my calves to some degree for over a decade. Honestly, I thought my calves were tight, and if I just foam rolled and stretched, I would be fine. In the last couple months, this pain was so severe that when I got out of bed in the morning, I couldn't walk. So after years of thinking that I had plantar fasciitis, I finally went to a physical therapist for active release therapy (ART) and learned that though, I need to work on strengthening the arches of my feet, I have weak glutes which are causing the muscles in my calves to overwork, leading to pain. 

The plus side of this diagnoses, is that I have discovered an AWESOME physical therapy practice, Bespoke Treatments in Midtown Manhattan. I always thought physical therapy was something you did after an acute injury, torn ACL, rotator cuff surgery, etc. I never considered it an option for the type of chronic overuse injuries I've dealt with since I was my early teens. I have learned so much about my body since this diagnosis, where I am weak, where I am tight, what areas I need to work and appropriate exercises to strengthen those weaknesses. 

I have Dan Giordano at Bespoke Treatments to thank for this. He spends so much time and energy working on my pain and muscles that I immediately feel a difference when I leave the office. It would describe the visits as a combination of Active Release Therapy (ART), massage, and physical therapy. 

I've had to modify my exercise routine due to this injury because I'm unable to run or jump, which means no dance cardio for now. I'm hoping that I can be pain free and back to my regular routine soon!

The 10 Rules of Weight Loss that Lasts

It's that time of year again... New Year, New You. With so many people making New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, I thought this article in Shape Magazine's January/February 2016 issue by Beth James, offered good comprehensive advice to help you stick to that resolution. Here is a condensed version:

1. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle.   To shed weight and keep it off, you need to make permanent changes. It's ok to indulge on occasion, but the diet mindset leads to yo-yo dieting. 

2. There's a right way to exercise. Cardio gets all the credit but strength and interval training are the real heroes. Be mindful that your cardio workout isn't making you eat more.

3. Don't overreact to mild hunger.   Some women have a hard time losing weight because of hunger anxiety. If you are someone who carries snacks with you, don't eat the snack because it is there or obsess over the KIND bar in your purse. The fact that it is 3pm shouldn't send you racing to the vending machine. Try to put off eating until you are truly hungry. The way to determine this, is what I call the fish and broccoli test.  Are you hungry enough to eat fish and broccoli or do you just want that energy bar because it tastes good.

4. Not all calories are created equal. Take in fewer calories than you burn, right? Simple. Not quite. Process foods can disrupt the hormone signals that tell your brain you're full. Try to eat whole, unprocessed foods. 

5. Protein,produce, and plant based fats are your weight-loss trinity.   Eat the three P's regularly to drop pounds. Aim to incorporate each of the three P's into every meal.       

6. Meal skipping, juice fasts, and crash diets don't work. Always

7. How you eat is as important as what you eat. Slow down. Remove distractions. Smell it. Chew slowly and don't put another bite on your fork until you swallow. 

8. Weigh yourself

9. Sleep

10. You will hit a plateau and you can bust through it. Strength train or cut an extra 100 calories per day. 

Weekend Links - Celebrity Edition

Karlie Kloss Shares her Summertime Fitness Tips

Olivia Munn was hypnotized into working out?

Nikki Reed writes a beauty & nutrition column for Elle

The Balance Project

Run! Don't Walk to SkyTing Yoga

Two of my favorite yoga teachers, Krissy Jones and Chloe Kernaghan from Yoga Vida opened their own studio in Chinatown and it’s totally worth the trek through Canal Street. The studio as gorgeous as they are. I went to the Saturday morning class taught by both Krissy and Chloe and I cannot recommend it enough! They have a new student, two week unlimited membership for $20.

Although the studio is at the mouth of the Manhattan Bridge and pretty inconvenient for everyone I’ve talked to, it’s worth it! At least, you aren’t in Brooklyn. As an added bonus, you are close to healthy food spot Dimes.

Open for just a week, Sky Ting has already received great press in:

Well + Good

Elle

Vogue

The best part is even with all this fabulous press and awesome studio, Krissy & Chloe haven’t lost their down-to-earth style of teaching. They are funny, sticklers for technique, and always have a good playlist.

Can I cure my plantar fasciitis?

I have suffered from plantar fasciitis for as long as I can remember thanks to spending years in ice skates. My feet often hurt at the end of the day and if don’t foam roll before running and even sometimes if I do, I have sharp pain in my calves. It most bothers me, however, during yoga standing poses. I often have to stop and shake out my calves. Right now, I “treat” my plantar fasciities with foam rolling and using a long green stick to roll out my feet, although I think tennis balls work better. Recently my friend Dave alerted me to a couple YouTube videos that offer techniques to help cure plantar fasciitis quickly. The 2 minute fix offers the following tips:

1. Roll out foot before weight baring for 2 or 3 minutes every morning

2. Using a strap, point and flex feet for 2 or 3 seconds to stretch the calf

3. Foot drills: 25 – 50 meters walk on outside edge of feet, crunching toes; walk on inside of feet; walk curling toes pushing toes into ground; walk on heels

4. Sleep in a night splint — I am sure my husband would love this

5. Seeing a specialist in active release & foot adjustment

The one week fix

1. Rolling the feet using a tennis ball or rolling pin. Since I’ve never baked, I’m glad to have a new use for my rolling pin! 2-3 times a day 2-5 minutes.

2. deep stretching on a set of stairs.

3. 500 mg/day of magnesium relaxes tendons. Vitamin B5, Fish oil, vitamin C. Anti inflammatory diet

4. Wearing bare foot shoes! – On the dirty sidewalk of NYC??? — no thank you!

My plan is to do everything recommended in the two minute fix and #1 and #2 recommended in the one week fix. I will let you know if I see an improvement!

Model unFit

If you read a list of celebrity workouts, they have one thing in common, their intensity — Barry’s Bootcamp, Body by Simone, Soul Cycle, The Class, Tracy Anderson.  These aren’t your grandma’s zumba class at the local YMCA. After reading so much about ModelFIT and the seeing the occasional photograph of Taylor Swift leaving, I was excited to finally try it!

The studio is in a nondescript location. (These celebrity workout spots are so hard to find!) I walked up 3 flights of stairs, rung the bell, and took my shoes off as a sign directed. A young Asian girl answered in her pajamas. Turns out I was at her apartment and ModelFIT was one floor down. I was already running late due to a slow 6 train so I run down the stairs, shoes in hand and arrive at ModelFIT. This isn’t a barefoot class and no one was amused when I arrived with my sweaty running shoes in hand. Fortunately, there were enough Diptyque candles to mask the smell.

The class was taught by Justin Gelband, founder of ModelFIT. I have to give him credit for actually teaching group classes. I’m sure he could make a lot more money building his brand/training private clients. He gave a lot of corrections which I appreciated. However, point blank, this class is LAME. Justin was drinking a large bottle of artificially sweetened water. Why don’t you just eat a Snickers bar while teaching.  I’m all about working small muscle groups and love going to a barre class, but the movements in this class are so minor and small, I don’t think you end up working anything. I was hoping that I would be surprisingly sore the next day or day after, but no, nothing except the desire to do a real workout.

Weekend Links

The best air-cleaning houseplants – I’ve read a lot of articles on the best plants for small NYC apartments but this is the best air-cleaning plants!

Yoga, more yoga

The Muscle of the Soul

At home with Kristin Cavallari – I read this article and realized someone has created a 500 day “countdown”  until her book comes out… And I think I have a lot of free time

In case you missed this!

Weekend Links

This weekend, my husband and I will be heading down to his lake house in Georgia to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary!

Favorite Links from around the web:

Just learned about the Marie Kondo phenomena

My girl Joannie Rochette on healthy eating

SUMMER crockpot recipes

Career Advice from Emily Hughes

LLBalanced's Apple Cider Muffins

Laura Lea’s website, LLBalanced.com is my go to site for healthy comfort food. Disclosure, Laura Lea and I went to elementary school together and briefly reconnected in NYC before and during her time at the Natural Gourmet Institute. Observing her journey from afar, I am so proud of the business she has built in Nashville, and recommend that all of you check out her website, especially the baked goods! You might be intimidated at first at her ingredient list, because they are not your typical household ingredients (think almond meal, coconut flour, flax) but once you commit to making one recipe, all her recipes include the same ingredients so you are able to keep using the bag of coconut flour that you bought.

The first recipe I made was her Apple Cider Muffins. I am NOT a baker. In fact, I have ZERO childhood memories of baking cookies. My husband, on the other hand, expects a bakery in our kitchen every day, and not the healthy kind. These muffins not only passed the picky husband test, but ALSO passed the mother test. I made them for my mom one day when she was in town and she took them home with her! SUCCESS. Thank you LL!

June Goals

There are certain yoga poses that I want to improve so I have made it my goal to practice the following everyday for the month of June

– Handstand

– Headstand

– Side Crow

– Full Split

– Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (extended hand to big toe pose)

I also want to:

– foam roll every day

– look into volunteer opportunities that align with my passions

– go to a dermatologist for a mole check ( I don’t think I’ve done this since I was 18)

Do you set goals for yourself?

Seattle Recap

Over Memorial Day Weekend, I took my first trip to the Pacific Northwest, visiting Seattle and Portland. I loved Seattle for its vast biking and running trails, abundance of yoga studios, and surplus of grass fed beef. After I stepped off the airplane (see my airplane snacks here)

Airplane healthy snacks ready to go ! @kravejerky @epicbar @lesserevil_healthybrands @mattsmunchies @larabar

My first stop was Pike Place Market where I had the most delicious lunch at Market Grill. You can’t beat grilled salmon, salad, and brown rice!

After lunch and ample digestion, I decided to go to Urban Yoga Spa for a hot power yoga class. I have mixed feelings on hot yoga. I liked working up a good sweat after sitting on a plane for 6 hours, but it was soo hot! The teacher said it was 100 degrees! I think it’s a good workout, my heart was certainly beating quickly, but I just wonder if it is a better workout than regular yoga or a workout in a standard temperature where your heart rate is rising because you are doing more strenuous exercise ?

Another meal of fresh fish was on deck for dinner! Umi Sake House was so delicious that my husband and I actually ate there twice in three days! You know when a meal is so good, you just want to eat it again? That’s what happened at Umi Sake, especially with this Ahi Tuna Tower

The next day, I woke up and went for a run at the on the trails along the Puget Sound that are part of the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Post run breakfast was at Evolution Fresh. I know this brand from their green juices sold at Starbucks, but I had no idea that they have brick & mortar cafes in Seattle and San Francisco. I had the lemon, ginger, cayenne shot and green smoothie bowl (fresh kale, pineapple, mangoes, greens juice, pineapple coconut water, topped with granola and seasonal fresh fruit). I actually went here twice during my trip and have to say it’s a little disappointing. The service is slowwww. They were out of ginger, and gave me the wrong dish. Their menu looked really yummy so I wonder if possibly they do a better job with lunch than breakfast.

In the afternoon, my husband and I did a light hike in Discovery Park, but not before eating another Asian inspired meal. Can you see a theme here?

On Friday, we drove to Portland, and did much of the same things we had done in Seattle with the addition of wine tasting in the Willamette Valley. I went to my first Core Power Yoga class which I really enjoyed. This time the heat was a cool 85 degrees! After class, I had another first, my first pitaya bowl!

The Pitaya Bowl was from a bicycle powered juice bar. You could pedal the bike in order to make the blender run.

For more info on my travel adventures follow me on instagram at @LauraScheuHealthCoach

I welcome your comments and travel recommendations!

How do you feel about hot yoga?

Do you ever eat a meal and then immediately start craving it again?