Memorial Day Weekend ~ manage your expectations...

Aaaahh...it's the official start of summer: Memorial Day Weekend!  I always look forward to this weekend for an extra day of relaxation -- connecting with good friends, riding my bike with no time commitment, walking my dog on the beach, having a cookout with my family without electronics where everyone gets along -- even though it doesn't always work out the way I expect.  Isn't that the way with so many thing?  Manage your expectations, and you will naturally be more positive about your daily experiences.

Ya, ya, ya we all want to go to the beach this weekend -- got your beach pass and towel all ready to go?  Well, it's going to be rainy, damp and cold.  How about buying a ticket to a movie that your neighbor told you was "the best she ever saw" and you are puzzled as to why she thought it was so good!   Try out a new restaurant for the big Saturday night date, and your meal is overcooked~what are you going to do?!

Take a deep breath and manage your expectations, that's what.

Throw on a fleece jacket and hike the beach in boots instead!  Step out of the theatre and shop the mall.    Order another glass of Chardonnay and say to yourself, "It's not the last time I will eat a so-so meal out at a restaurant!"

So as we prepare for a wonderful summer with hopes of rest and relaxation, remember that often times, "life gets in the way."  So try your best to carve out sometime to yourself, in one way or another, but remember ~ if it doesn't meet your expectations, there's always a positive side to it ~ the "silver lining." Step back, and turn it around for the good, to mentally "Keep the Peace."  It's all good!

Warm Wishes for a healthy, fun and relaxing weekend,
Moira

Here's the Skinny~Stay Strong and Keep Moving!

So, why do you want to workout anyway?  Is it because you want to "get skinny?"  Sure, that's fine, but more importantly -- as we grow older, it's critical to keep moving, and build strength.   According to Prevention magazine this month, "Exercise if the very best medicine....it builds muscle, stabilizes joints, increases flexibility -- especially core conditioning and strength training."  And this, my friends, is how you "Keep the Peace" within you....  It only gets more challenging the older you start!!

So get moving today~a walk after dinner with the longer daylight....

Make it fun: grab a partner, a friend at work to walk at lunch this summer!

Keep it fresh: try something new for the next month and see if you like it.

We all know exercise lifts our spirits as well!  Mix up your routine with a little bit of cardio (walking, running, cycling, swimming) and conditioning (try a Barre class or RIPPED).  And just stay positive...Who knows, you may end up getting skinny along the way!;)


Moira

What's so special about Reformer?

The Pilates Reformer was originally designed as a rehab machine, about 100 years ago by Joseph Pilates.  Today's modern-day version looks like a bed, actually, with straps and pulleys.  The machine uses spring resistance so that, as you pull or press your whole body weight, the tension is on your muscles the entire time.   Most importantly, you breathe into every move, so you relax as well.

You sit, or kneel, or stand on a moving "bed," called the carriage, so as you strengthen and tone arms and legs, you build CORE stability.  Many of the exercises you do are in the "neutral"position with you lower back, so it's incredibly good to reduce lower back pain and improve your posture.

It's "intelligent exercise with profound results."  (according to STOTT Pilates)

It's functional exercise.

It's a jungle gym for adults!

Try it and see how you feel.....   Call me if you are interested in learning more about it.  I can teach you the five basic principles of Pilates and how they correlate to the Reformer.  It's all good ~ in fact, it's truly awesome!

"Small Town Girl Trying to make Good in the World"

Do you watch American Idol?  Well, even if you don't, you may have heard that one of the top three finalists is from the North Shore of Boston!  We just came back from visiting the parade in her honor.... What a small town girl "trying to make good in the world."  While we were waiting for Angie Miller to arrive in her limo (no sight of Keith Urban ~ serious bummer), we soaked up the sunshine and struck up conversations with fellow fans.  We met Catherine, a seventy-five year old woman with her boyfriend -- full-blooded Italian, has two sons who live in California.  She said her finger was aching over dialing in for Angie so many times...:)  Then we stumbled upon two Moms and their daughters who had designed their own t-shirts in honor of Angie.  People carried signs, shouted out Angie's name as though she were their relative, and gasped when they saw her turn their way.  It was a small town event but one with lots of good people watching, and overall positive energy, where people were excited to see a celebrity.

So what does this have to do with wellness?  Well, after the Marathon Day bombings in Boston, it just simply felt good to be among people who had something in common, for the common good.  I truly feel as though you need to surround yourself with people who will bring you up, not put you down.  So many of us struggle with anxiety and/or stress and we all manage differently.  But it is so important to make positive choices as we grow wiser, isn't it?

Some of my best friends don't exercise at all.  They probably think I am a lunatic, let's face it.  But as long as they make me laugh and are fun to be around, who cares?   What I care about is when I still remain in contact with stagnant relationships in which people constantly complain and (although it's always good to vent) dump their problems on me.  I have come to realize that we all have busy, stressful lives -- but when we talk, don't bring me into your stress, because I have my own stress, you know?!

That's why today was a positive day that enriched my life.  Catherine  -- "spelled with a 'C,' the old fashioned way!" -- was an absolute joy to talk to and we shared a common bond with our parade experience ~ no TVs, no computers, no cars, no screens ~ just standing together on the street corners, cheering on one of our very own about to make it big in the world.  I hope you have the same type of experience sometime!

You know what they say, "You Only Live Once!"  YOLO!
Moira

Fundraising for the PanMass Challenge at the Fast Chicks 5K

Can you say that five times fast?;)

"Fundraising....for the PanMass Challenge at the Fast Chicks 5K!  Fundraising for the PanMass Challenge at the Fast Chicks 5K!"  Well, my friend Leigh and I created PanMass Challenge t-shirts to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  Sure, we committed to cycling 200 miles in this incredible event (exactly 3 months from today) and we are fortunate to be able to do it, really -- since we do Reformer -- but first and foremost we need to do our fundraising!  So, we recruited corporate sponsors and put their logos on the back.  We had the MeatHouse, one of our sponsors, promote their store and sell beef and chicken skewers at the event.  We arranged for another sponsor, DoodleRoll, to sell their toys as part of the fundraising.  Like any good volunteer effort, it took on a life of its own....  As my sister, Julie says, "No good deed goes unpunished!";)


But, what a good feeling to be a part of the community, meet new people and build awareness for a good cause!   Thanks to Martha Hale-Farrell, from the HW Mothers Club, who organized the event.  Thank you to Christine O'Shea for helping us design the shirts.  And, thank you to the Heavens for giving us beautiful weather!  And, thank you to Pete Locke for finding me, and purchasing a t-shirt for his daughter Daisy.

Finally, thank you to my son Nicholas, who told me today that when he plays in the NFL (we can discuss that later~I am not sure a Pilates Instructor should support this idea?), and "makes lots of money, he is going to give money away to those in need."  In the midst of organizing my PMC bakesale, PMC table and chairs, PMC t-shirts etc...etc...etc... I often worried that I was ignoring my children, but somewhere along the way I successfully taught them something.  And that, my friends, is true happiness.

That really made my day.  Let's keep it in perspective ~ it's all good.

If you would like to buy a t-shirt, just donate to PMC and I will mail you one.  I will even send you a DoodleRoll for free...;)   Here's the link:  Donate to PMC

If you would like to ride with me this summer, email me and we can hit the road!


Have a good weekend,
Moira