Published October 28, 2011
Fall is finally here! Time to dig up those scarves, boots, and cardigans buried deep inside your closet. In terms of fashion, this is definitely my favorite time of year – I especially love the bold pops of color that are trending this season. And of course, the layers!
But unfortunately, being bundled up in sweaters and coats doesn’t quite give me the motivation to work out. I won’t be sporting a bikini any time soon anyways so what’s the point, right?
Wrong! We’re all aiming for that perfect beach body once Spring rolls along, so why not start working for it now? Getting toned and fit is a gradual process—although I’m sure we all wish it would happen overnight. Swimsuit season will be coming around the corner before you know it, so save yourself from the intense dieting and exercise the week before spring break and start now!
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Published October 11, 2011
I thought I'd share some pictures with you from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Pipeline to a Cure Stand Up Paddle event I went to this past Sunday as an Ambassador for NEXT by Athena. For those of you unfamiliar with Pipeline to a Cure:
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Published August 04, 2011
Longing for that perfect beach body? Pilates is the answer! Do twenty minutes of Pilate exercises four days a week, add on fifteen minutes of cardio, and you’ll have a bikini-bod in no time. It’s as simple as that! Eating healthy of course will only benefit your health so be sure to follow that nutrition triangle. Eat those veggies and drink that water!
Here are some Pilate’s exercises that you can easily do in your living room…
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Published July 11, 2011
I was driving to work the other day and thought about how grateful I am for the practice, truly grateful. I was probably late for work but had a nice practice. I practice Ashtanga Yoga and have been doing so for a number of years but only recently I have discovered that in order for me to be the person I am evolving into yoga is an important and necessary part of my life. Once you have the practice no one can take this away from you. It is yours forever and this thought calms me and make me happy. It is a balance of course and I have heard it said that your life will make room for the practice. It is not to say that this powerful practice has not cracked me open or brought out negative emotions. It has and through the years of the ebb and flow of my practice I have learned to respect it. It is a powerful practice and for something that at one time was just asana has become so much more to me. I am learning to tap into the side of the practice that comes to us somewhat unexpectedly, the spiritual side of things or the something that puts you in touch with an inner voice or inner quiet. It is a practice just to notice it and let it happen and to trust in it and have faith. It has been said that asana is not yoga but within asana there is yoga. Something to think about as we flip ourselves from one position to the next. I have found that no matter how my asana looks or feels, if there is breath and prana is developed, it is good. We have to learn to sit and breathe and find the yoga in the stillness. That takes time to feel comfortable in our bodies. This is our temple and we have only one to care for during this lifetime so we might as well pay attention to it. Practicing asana and feeling comfortable will lead us to a place where we can find the stillness and the quiet and become one with body, mind and spirit. That is the yoga I think.
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Published May 25, 2011
SwimSpot had a huge success with NEXT week this past weekend! NEXT week was a celebration of NEXT swimwear and active wear, where FREE fitness/wellness classes were held in the SwimSpot Pop Up Shop at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
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Published May 19, 2011
Our very own NEXT Ambassador and close friend of SwimSpot, Suzanne is holding a Stand up Paddle (SUP) Board and Yoga class this Saturday, May 21st! SUP boarding is a combination of surfing and a paddling with a board. This sport originating in Hawaii has been taking the world by storm and is popular for its strong core workout. So why not hop on board!
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Published March 10, 2011
March is Natural Nutrition Month. Since we have an excuse to celebrate nutrition all month, let’s use this opportunity to kick it up a notch. Here are some suggestions to help you on the road to better nutrition:
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Published February 28, 2011
I just got engaged so it’s time for “Operation Wedding Dress”
I’ve started keeping a food journal/work out journal (it’s called “FitBook” – show it to someone to help you stay accountable. I have to write down everything, even the number of crackers I ate. I can tell you that when you go for that piece of candy you don’t want to write it down so you don’t eat it! Try this yourself and you will catch yourself passing up that cookie or slice of cake (and you can’t lie to yourself!)
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Published February 15, 2011
Happy winter! It is that fun time of year again; we begin to see the season’s change, pull out our fluffy sweaters, and snuggle up to the elements of warmth and fire. Unfortunately, for most of us, this may also come along with an unfriendly bout of the cold or flu. According to Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga, the common cold or flu-like symptoms are a cause of a Kapha, or Vata, imbalance. Plainly put, this signifies an imbalance in the cold and dry or cold and wet inner-workings of the body.
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Published February 07, 2011
Break away from your normal workout that includes the dreaded treadmill by trying out a quick circuit training workout. Yes, you can torch calories without having to do endless amounts of cardio. Kelly Paul, Next by Athena’s Head Ambassador, gives the SwimSpot team, as well as our dedicated readers on “The Spot”, some quick circuit training to do while at the gym or in the comfort of your own home.
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