cut. cut.

When you approach yoga, exercise, eating, or basically just about anything, with JOY in your heart you will find so much more contentment in your life.   Yoga can lead us to a more content life by teaching us to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.  Being silly can be uncomfortable, especially if we're caught up in all of our day to day adult responsibilities.  But if you let go, let your hair down and get comfortable being silly I guarantee you'll find some Joy.  Just the sheer attempt of Scissors Pose is sure to bring you laughter and joy.  Approach this advanced arm balance pose with a  balance of
silliness and focus and you just might surprise yourself.  

Stand in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), with your feet separated a bit wider than usual. Exhale, bend forward to Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend), press your hands to the floor outside your feet. Then with your knees slightly bent, slip your right arm to the inside and then behind your right leg, and finally press the hand on the floor just outside your right foot. Work your right arm across the back of the right knee, until the knee is high up on the back of your right shoulder.

Brace your shoulder against the knee and slide your left foot to the right. Cross the left ankle in front of the right and hook the ankles. Lean slightly to the left, taking more weight on your left arm, and begin to lift your feet a few inches off the floor.

With the right leg supported on the shoulder, exhale and bend your elbows. Lean your torso forward and lower it toward parallel to the floor; at the same time, straighten your knees and extend your legs out to the right, parallel to the floor (and perpendicular to your torso). Squeeze your upper right arm between your thighs. Use that pressure to help twist your torso to the left. Keep your elbows in close to the torso. Look at the floor.

Hold for 30 seconds to a minute. Then straighten your arms slowly, lift your torso back to upright, bend your knees, unhook your ankles, and return your feet to the floor. Stand back and rest in Uttanasana for a few breaths. Then repeat the pose for the same length of time to the left.

Lisa Brownstead is a former TV news anchor who believes in the transformational power of yoga and helping young and old alike find more balance, self esteem and joy in their lives through yoga. She also believes that yoga (and a little bit of humor) leads to a significant decrease in stress and keeps those practicing looking and feeling young! As a mom of three kids who love yoga, Lisa has followed her passion teaching yoga to both kids and adults. Lisa is the founder of Pretty Postures.  For more information on private in-home instruction, classes, and yoga parties check out www.prettypostures.com.

friend Lisa on facebook

challenged. LIFE.

if you're whining.

I do not have equipment; I do not have time to get to the gym; it's to late in the day to workout; I will exercise tomorrow. .. sound familiar???  No more excuses!!  It's time to workout!!
On a beautiful spring day, choose to do some walking lunges up and down your driveway, in the backyard, or on the sidewalk while the kids ride their bikes.  Ten minutes later you have given yourself a great lower and core body workout.  Now get some cardio in the mix...a jump rope contest with your children is great fun!  Jumping rope is fabulous for calorie burning, toning your arms and all over cardio fitness.
Is it raining and dark outside?....no worries - turn on the radio or pump up the volume on your ipod and JUST DANCE!  Kids love to have a dance party and it is a fun way to burn calories. Jump up and down, spin around, just move with the beat!!  Before you know it 30 minutes are up and you and the kids have gotten a great workout!

No more excuses....this monday just MOVE IT!!

-Michelle

Michelle is a certified personal trainer with over 15 years of experience. She helps individuals successfully optimize thier fitness potential through personalized programs that combine the latest exercise techniques, nutrition, diet analysis and coaching. Michelle comes to you with all of the equipment needed for your workouts, so making time for yourself around a busy schedule is easy.
email: mleonhardt@carolina.rr.com  phone: 704.277.3713

dancing.

I will spontaneously move into dancer pose almost once a day.  I just love it.  You must achieve equal opposition to find the balance in this pose.  And that can be a great way to approach things off the mat too.  There is a modification for this pose against the wall if you feel too challenged by it.  

Start off standing nice and tall in mountain pose.  Belly sucking in towards the spine, shoulders up back and down, pressing down into the four corners of your feet.   Raise your left arm high to the sky and bend your right elbow at the waist, as if you are carrying a tray.  Then catch the inside of your right foot with your right hand.

Bring your knees together for alignment and then begin to hinge forward while you kick back with your leg; right foot pressing out, right hand drawing it in.  Equal opposition to create the balance of this beautiful pose.  When you are in this pose, breathe deeply for five breaths and really feel this pose. Notice how you feel inside.  Strong, confident, beautiful.   You can modify against the wall by pressing your left hand into the wall while you kick your right leg up.  Be sure to do both sides of your body to remain centered.    Get Moving....  :-)

Lisa Brownstead is a former TV news anchor who believes in the transformational power of yoga and helping young and old alike find more balance, self esteem and joy in their lives through yoga. She also believes that yoga (and a little bit of humor) leads to a significant decrease in stress and keeps those practicing looking and feeling young! As a mom of three kids who love yoga, Lisa has followed her passion teaching yoga to both kids and adults. Lisa is the founder of Pretty Postures.  For more information on private in-home instruction, classes, and yoga parties check out www.prettypostures.com.

friend Lisa on facebook

breathe. LIFE.

 I'll do it tomorrow.

It is 3:00 your kids are out of school its time for homework, dinner and extra activities - you are balancing this with all the other commitments we as parents have , but is there time for exercise?? You and your kids need exercise so get outside.. kids running around in the backyard is good exercise for you and them. Break the mindset that if your workout is not the traditional gym workout it does not count. Just move!

We adults often forget..exercise is suppose to be fun. The goal is to get your heart rate up for 30 minutes or more ...so laugh and be with your kids. Take care of yourself and be a inspiring role model.

My favorite suggestions:

play tag

run relay races(run frontwards, backwards, sideways, skip, leap - just keep moving)

toss the football or kick a soccerball

Take the excuses away - laugh and get fit! This Monday really move it!

Michelle is a certified personal trainer with over 15 years of experience. She helps individuals successfully optimize thier fitness potential through personalized programs that combine the latest exercise techniques, nutrition, diet analysis and coaching. Michelle comes to you with all of the equipment needed for your workouts, so making time for yourself around a busy schedule is easy.
email: mleonhardt@carolina.rr.com  phone: 704.277.3713

no excuses. LIFE.

will my kids like yoga?

Kids are like sponges, soaking up everything you do and say. Now is the time to lead them to a
healthy lifestyle: encouraging daily exercise and mindful, healthy eating.

A great way to get your kids engaged in exercise, without them really even knowing that they are exercising, is to do yoga with your kids. Without fail, every time I roll my yoga mat out on my living room floor, my kids get excited and run over to join me. We do sun salutations together, we bark in downward dog and we meow in cat pose. We have airplane contests: who can hold the pose the longest, we support each other in
headstand and we cheer each other on in crow pose. We even explode like volcanoes.

We move our bodies, we connect and most importantly we laugh. We find joy in our yoga practice together which sets them on the path to enjoying the movement of their bodies.

Lisa Brownstead is a former TV news anchor who believes in the transformational power of yoga and helping young and old alike find more balance, self esteem and joy in their lives through yoga. She also believes that yoga (and a little bit of humor) leads to a significant decrease in stress and keeps those practicing looking and feeling young! As a mom of three kids who love yoga, Lisa has followed her passion teaching yoga to both kids and adults. Lisa is the founder of Pretty Postures.  For more information on private in-home instruction, classes, and yoga parties check out www.prettypostures.com.

friend Lisa on facebook

exercise. LOVE.