You might think that you’ve got your  workout routine all set and that a class like spin or Pilates is a waste of your time, money or both, but you’d be wrong.  Fitness classes offer countless benefits that enhance not just the body, but the mind and soul as well. Here are 5 reasons why you should make your workout routine less routine by mixing in some classes.

1. Shock your system – Boost your  metabolism by mixing up your workouts with some new and exciting classes
2. Partner up – With a workout class, you never have to hit the gym alone and can meet a whole group of people who have at least one common interest
3. Smile more- A rigorous workout is proven to not just relieve stress, but also get your endorphins going, which means you’ll feel happier
4. Forever young – Regular exercise has been shown to delay the effects of aging
5. Get burning - you burn anywhere from 200-350 calories in a half hour just by walking.  Think about what a full class will burn

So if you’re looking to feel younger, get healthier and be happier, the answer might be as simple as taking a class.

- Michelle Lovitt

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Most of our days are guided by appointments and strict deadlines.  We schedule our hair appointments, doctor visits,  even our workout sessions, but what about our food schedule?  More often than not we find ourselves too busy to even think about what we are going to eat, which usually leaves us either reaching for something convenient and unhealthy or just not eating at all (leading to binges later in the day).  To avoid these unhealthy circumstances, we recommend eating your meals on a strict schedule.

One easy way to do this is to use a scheduler or phone reminders to tip you off when its time to eat one your daily recommended three meals and two snacks.  This way you will remember every meal and schedule it with the same priority of a hair appointment or a doctor visit.  Keeping this schedule will help you feel more energized and make you less likely to munch on foods that might not be the healthiest choice out of convenience and speed.  It’s also wise to keep easy staple foods like almonds, apples or even 100-calorie snack packs in your car or purse to help you stay on your eating schedule no matter where you are.

Remember the best way to be productive and successful in your physical and mental well being is to eat well and right on schedule.

- Christina Malizia

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When it comes to healthy living, people are quite simply confused.  This doesn’t surprise me considering all the “advice,” welcomed or not, we are exposed to on a daily basis.

“Eat more protein. You can eat carbs only in the morning. Don’t eat after 6pm. You should spin, it burns a ton of calories. You shouldn’t spin, it make your lower body bulky. Run. Don’t run. Exfoliate, but not too much. Use a serum on your face. Don’t use a serum.  You really just need Vitamin C… ”

All this advice could make even a sane person’s head spin. So, I’m here to set the record straight with a dose of non-head spinning advice:

• Eat Appropriately– When you are hungry and what you feel like eating. If it’s a tuna sandwich at 7am – then go for it. Of course, not a tuna sandwich the size of your head.
• Do Enjoyable and Effective Exercises – Do a workout you enjoy and that works for your body, which means you see results and you feel good doing it.
• Use Minimal Products – Use as few products as possible and only the ones that actually produce results for you. If it’s a $100 cream- Great. If it’s a $20 cream – Lucky you.
• Make Good Friends – Be friends with people you find yourself smiling around and thinking about when they are not around.
• Be Happy -  Pinpoint exactly what it is that makes you happy and do that as much as possible.  It’s as easy as that.

- Carrie Rezabek

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You workout 5-7 days a week.  Your diet is clean and near perfect and your drink plenty or water.  Yet, despite this immaculate routine,  you just can’t seem to take off those pesky few pounds that stand between you and your goal weight.  The answer might be to switch it up.

When you do the same thing every day, your body learns to adapt to the routine and eventually learns to do it all more efficiently.  Meaning, you do and eat the same  thing, but lose less weight as a result.  To counter this effect, all you need to do is mix up your routine.  If your cardio consists of treadmill running, try a trail run or hitting the hills outside.  If you typically lift with dumbbells and machines, head to bands and cables to do the same workouts.  For your diet, try switching up the types of healthy foods you consume.  Trade in your apple for a plum, or your carrot for some celery.

Remember, no”body” likes change… as soon as you introduce a postive change that weight will come off.

- Christina Malizia

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People are always asking me “How do I begin a meditation practice?” This is a difficult question to answer because in reality there is no right answer.  There are many ways to establish your personal practice and you just need to figure out what works best for you.  However, there are some basic steps one can take to get started:

• Step 1: Find a place where you can concentrate without interruption.
• Step 2: Allocate an amount of time and set a timer.  Start with 10 minutes and try to work yourself up to a daily time of 30-45 minutes.
• Step 3: Establish a comfortable seated position on a cushion or in a chair.  It is recommended to sit cross legged, but do what works for you.
• Step 4: Begin by breathing deeply. Lengthen through the crown of your head and ground through your pelvis.  Sitting upright and aligned aids the mind and attention.
• Step 5: Recite inwardly, “May I be happy.  May I be well.  May I be peaceful and at ease.”  You can continually repeat this or just notice what happens with your mind.
• Step 6: Keep observing everything.  Keep your mind open. Don’t grasp on to any thoughts.  Just breath and let go.

Remember, there are no “bad” meditation practitioners and no right answers.  Just follow these steps and see what happens if you dare to just sit still.

- Rebecca “Bex” Urban

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