Align Pilates® Minneapolis

Okey-dokey boot campers, tomorrow is Friday. This means we have almost reached the end of the very first week of our challenging 3-week endeavor. First of all, congratulations to all! I bet it feels pretty good (if not a little sore) to have the first couple days under your belt! Yes, boot camp is a challenge. (That’s why we signed up, right? Um, this is the part where you nod and say ‘yes.’) But by now, we know what we are in for, and we are a little more familiar with the goals we’d like to accomplish during the next two weeks of camp. So in honor of the almost-completion of our first week, we’ve found a few tips and tricks to compliment what we have accomplished thus far. (And might I add, I think we have come a long way). Consider these little healthy nudges to help you keep up the strong work:

It’s all in the hips. Kettlebells is all about form. At least, that’s what my screaming muscles are telling me. If your body is urging to you get your form in order too, check out Live Strong’s KETTLEBELL WORKOUT TIPS.

Self medicated. Whether you love it or hate it, the medicine ball is now a part of your life, so you might as well get to know it. And what better way to get cozy than to MAKE YOUR OWN BALL (as seen in Tuesday’s cardio class).

To wear or not to wear? That’s a good question. Especially when you’re off to Pilates at 7:00 in the morning. Perhaps this QUICK STYLE GUIDE to comfortable and sensible Pilates attire will help. (Even though I’m pretty sure it’s so early, no one would even know if you showed up in your PJ’s.)

Captain Curry. In this week’s nutrition workshop, we discussed the amazing and super-hero like health benefits of curry (among other things). So if you’re curious about curry, give this MIXED VEGETABLE CURRY recipe a whirl. It looks might tasty.

We are pleased to announce that Align’s Summer Boot Camp Series is back…and it’s bigger and badder than ever! This year’s new and improved series offers Kettlebells, Pilates Mat classes AND outdoor cardio classes at Lake Calhoun. And just to make sure you get the most out of your experience, we’ve also added a camp kick-off Yoga class, a nutrition workshop, a special closing Prana Stretch class plus UNLIMITED floor classes throughout the entire series. All this means you’ll get toned for your summer tan, and there’s no tent, flash light or fear of chiggers required. Now that’s my kind of camp.

What: Align Pilates Summer Boot Camp Series

When: June 7th through June 25th
Visit the AlignPilates for class times and rates.

Where: Align Pilates Studio / Lake Calhoun

Boot Camp is limited to 20 people. Sign up today!

Did you ever think that Boot Camp would be anti-aging? According to Dr. Oz it is.

You know him—the famous Dr. Oz who gives the inside scoop about our health while guest appearing on Oprah. He was just on Oprah today (a rerun) and revealed his anti-aging secrets. These sought after secrets to the “fountain of youth” will add years to your life while helping you look and feel younger. And if you are a Boot Camper at Align Pilates, you are already on your way! The combination that Align Pilates Boot Camp offers is everything Dr. Oz recommends. (Maybe Oprah will want to sign up!) Read on to find out how Boot Camp fulfills Dr. Oz’s recommendations for a youthful and healthy life.

It’s common knowledge that regular exercise is key to great health…but what type of exercise, exactly? Dr. Oz recommends the following:

• Get your heart rate up for 20 minutes 3 times a week (Cardio, Reformer and Yoga) Check!
• Strength training such as lunges, leg lifts, etc. for 30 minutes weekly (Cardio, Reformer and Yoga) Check!
• Stretch and meditation (Prana Stretch) Check!

More Dr. Oz Tips

Of course there were tips on diet:

• Antioxidants: blueberries, broccoli, tomatoes, acai berries: 5 servings a day (one serving = 1 fistful)
• Green or whit tea or tea: 4 cups a day
• Fiber: brown rice, 100% whole grain bread, beans: 25 grams a day
• Omega 3 fatty acids: walnuts, flax seed, olives, spirulina algae
• Olive oil: 1 to 2 tbsp a day
• 1 glass of red wine a day
• Anti-aging spices: cinnamon, ginger, curry, paprika, and cayenne pepper

Daily vitamins:

• Vitamin D 1,000 U and 10 minutes of direct sunlight
• Calcium/ Magnesium
• DHA Omega 3, 600mg
• Multi- Vitamin
• If over 40, 2 baby aspirin

Rest and relaxation:

• Sleep at least 7-8 hours a night
• Have sex 2-3 times a week!

For the whole story, go to oprah.com. To start working toward your fountain of youth, go to alignpilates.com and sign up for the next Boot Camp. It will add years to your life!

Yours in health,

Stacy Seebart (Prana Stretch teacher Tuesday’s and Friday’s)

It’s Friday and the first week of Boot Camp is complete. I feel fantastic! I am undoubtedly proud of myself for committing to five workouts this week, but fitting these classes into my weekly schedule was no easy feat. If you are a fellow Boot Camper, I am sure you can relate. Your time management skills probably went into full effect in order to go from home to work to studio and all the stuff in between without having to make some exceptions.

But it’s worth it, and believe me, it is doable. And I think it’s the little things that make the transitions much more easy and enjoyable. This quick how-to article from eHow gives some great suggestions for freshening up while you’re on the go. After last night’s yoga class, I pulled the baby wipe trick out of my bag so I could meet a friend for dinner without feeling like Stinky McStinkerson. When you are running from workouts to other daily events, it’s nice to have tools that help you run a little more smoothly.

Now I’m a happy and freshly-scented camper.

When I signed up for Align’s first session of boot camp,

I knew I was in for a high-energy series of body changing classes. What I didn’t know was that Align had taken cardio boot camp to the next level. Enter April Podhradsky. April is a veteran of the Iraq War, where she led Physical Training as a sergeant in the Army National Guard.

Personally, as an avid kickboxer for the past couple of years, I’m no foreigner to intense cardio and strength training. But April’s class is by far one of the best workouts I have had. After completing the first day of her routine, I’m pretty sure you don’t get closer to butt-kicking training without enlisting in the army. The mix of cardio exercises, drills and strength training that April has incorporated into her one-hour boot camp class, along with her genuine spirit and positive attitude, will have you saluting and screaming, “Thank you sir may I have another!”