We know you didn’t really need another excuse to pursue Pilates—once you start practicing, it’s hard to deny the positive effects. But, as they say, the more you know, the more you grow. Check out this Natural Health article to find out more about the internal benefits of proper physical alignment.

If you apply the principles of Pilates to your workday and take just a few moments to move and stretch the body, you can do wonders for your stiff and angry muscles. It can be as easy as rolling out your shoulders or readjusting your posture. Take some tips from NeverSayDiet.com and start making small adjustments in between your keyboard taps and mouse clicks. Before long, you’ll start feeling the tension ease and release from where you feel it most. Plus, it’s better than taking your aggression out on your computer monitor…or that creepy co-worker with the Metallica breath. But he’s a different story.

Don’t worry. There’s help for you yet. Check out these 9 select fruits, vegetables and meats that have the natural power to reduce tension and strain in the body. They pack essential vitamins and nutrients to trigger satisfaction, without making you feel like you’ve ingested an inflated birthday balloon.

Now, put down that baked potato and read up on these accessible and easy-to-eat stress-fighters. Your waist line will thank you.

This article is great if Pilates has peeked your interest, but you are not quite sure where or how to start taking a class. It offers 8 key steps for choosing an instructor that meshes with your goals. However, may we suggest that your make a small edit? Print out the article, grab a red pen, and above step 1 write: Go to Align Pilates.

It’s Monday afternoon, it’s raining, and I’m testing website functionality. And I have to gain enough momentum to make it to pilates tonight. I. Need. Coffee. Now.

Thankfully, the coffee gods have provided the world with Medaglia D’Oro. It may be hard to say, but it’s not hard to swig. This rich espresso-style coffee may be about as authentic Italian as you can get without packing a bag and running to the airport. Some call it the Italian Stallion of coffee (and by ‘some’ I mean me), and others just call it damn tasty. Whatever you name it, it’s sure to put the pep in your step or, at the very least, get you through ‘til Tuesday.

Sweating through a tough pilates class? Cool. Being photographed after you’ve sweated through your tough pilates class? Not cool.

Patti Stanger, the so-called Millionaire Matchmaker, is a bit annoying but does make a good point. Looking for women? Hot women? They do yoga and pilates.

Join now.

Whether my weekend was bustling or relaxing, Mondays often find me stiff, tired, and unfocused. Once I hit the office and wake my computer from its own weekend slumber, I find myself craving a yoga or pilates class to regain focus and help me put my thinking cap on. So this got me wondering: since I’m attached to my cube for the better part of the day, how can I use what I have to help me get the mental/physical workout I want?

In between mouse clicks and page turns today, I tried a few stretches I found on the websites below. Lo and behold, I worked out a few Monday kinks, right from the comfort of my own chair. Some of the arm/leg/back/neck stretches I stumbled upon include the Chair Twist, Seated Hamstring Stretch, or my personal favorite Warrior 2 (posers beware: if your chair resides in an open workspace, this last one requires the ability to ignore quizzical stares from coworker passersby).

Go on, take another look. Some of these sites even come with pictures or videos, because words, like Mondays, are way overrated.

Yoga at Your Desk
Yoga at Work
Workplace Wellness

…or not. But you really should be. Align Pilates retreat in Nosara, Costa Rica is a mix of heaven, peace and true bliss.

Check it out here and put it on the books for next year. Believe me, you will thank me for the push.