As a leader in barre fitness they’ve been toning and tightening for 10 years and want you to be part of the celebration! Join exhale and Women’s Health for a nationwide Core Fusion party and make May 22 your most hard core day of the year.
Wednesday, May 22
Enjoy:
Free classes | DJs | Lite Bites | Giveaways | Appearances from The Next Fitness Star finalists | And more!
Participating locations:
exhale Atlanta | exhale Back Bay | exhale Battery Wharf | exhale Bridgehampton | exhale Central Park South | exhale Chicago
exhale Dallas | exhale Gramercy | exhale Meatpacking | exhale Miami | exhale Soho | exhale Santa Monica | exhale Stamford
exhale Upper East Side | BASK by exhale Atlantic City
Today’s city food find (or should we say findS) is a guided tour from the experts at Urban Oysters that highlights some of the city’s best and most innovative culinary artisans. We found this deal from our friends at Gilt, but hurry, it ends in a couple days!
Get a first-hand immersion in Brooklyn’s artisanal food culture with this comprehensive tour, which will take you along Smith and Court streets and through the surrounding neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill.
With a vibrant collection of small, locally owned food shops and restaurants, Brooklyn’s culinary landscape is rich for exploration—so come hungry.
During the three-hour tour, you’ll visit both old and new spots, experiencing a mix of traditional and innovative flavors along the way.
Italian and Middle Eastern mom-and-pop shops offer a tasty lesson in culinary history, while the growing crop of New American restaurants demonstrates the neighborhood’s evolving food scene.
Urban Oyster was founded on the belief that around every street corner lies a treasured resource. Taking their name from the bivalves that used to proliferate in New York Harbor (before pollution decimated their population), this group of tour guides, city obsessives and food-and-wine enthusiasts hope to show everyone that local neighborhoods should be explored, respected and celebrated as part of a vibrant urban economy and community. Whether exploring borough breweries on a craft beer crawl, enjoying a strolling lunch through the food carts of Midtown or sipping vintages produced at Brooklyn Winery, the company offers dynamic hands-on tours and events that help New Yorkers grow more connected to the small-batch treasures around them.
We’ve all heard of aphrodisiacs – which are wonderful and very powerful – butif certain other aspects of your diet and endocrine system are not balanced, chances are you won’t feel a thing just from eating oysters.
So what foods can boost your libido and improve your love life?
Foods that support your adrenals and rev up your libido are those that keep your blood sugar balanced, your mood stabilized, and your cortisol levels low, while naturally upping DHEA production.
If these factors aren’t in place, you are probably feeling tired, depressed, foggy-headed, having difficulty sleeping, getting frequent colds, or some combination of them. Not only from a nutritional perspective will this weaken your sex drive, but also from an emotional perspective – you just won’t have the capacity to thrive.
So get started on the road to better health and a better love life.
Here are the 5 food strategies you MUST know about!
Switch to decaf – Caffeine first thing in the morning will zap the life out of your adrenals, leaving you even more tired at that 3 or 4pm lull. If you’re an avid coffee drinker, start by switching to decaf or green tea, then eventually switch over to herbal teas.
Skip the salad at lunch– That’s right! Contrary to popular belief that salads at lunch are the healthy way to go, depriving your body of a whole grain carbohydrate source at lunchtime will bring on sweet cravings later in the day and disturb your blood sugar balance. So throw some brown rice into your salad bowl, or eat a sandwich or sushi rolls.
Take shortcuts with your snacks – Instead of mindlessly munching Cheerios or fruit snacks with your kids, keep balanced snacks around for yourself. Always have on hand protein sources like: organic sliced turkey breast (which provides the building blocks for mood stabilization), whole hard boiled eggs, canned salmon and sardines (skip the tuna! Too much mercury and not enough EFAs). Whole grain quick fixes include: Mary’s Gone Crackers and precooked brown rice bowls from Trader Joes. And don’t forget about sliced veggies with peanut butter or hummus!
Nourish your adrenal glands with supportive foods – Load up on sea vegetables (nori, hijiki, dulse, kelp – which come in flakes that you can easily sprinkle onto your food), black sesame seeds, black and kidney beans. These foods work to nourish your tired adrenals.
Get in your Essential Fatty Acids – Especially if you’re breast feeding, your body can be starved of the EFAs, essential for mood stabilization. If you can’t get in things like avocado, salmon, nuts and seeds, then take a fish oil or flax oil supplement.
Spring is here, and that means summer is right around the corner, and THAT means bathing suits! If you’re looking to get your body bikini ready we’ve got the exercises just for you. Fitness expert, Lacey Stone, takes us through three exercises to get in shape in time for summer.
1) Elevated Single Leg Squat: Great exercise to get that booty in shape! Do 15 reps of one leg then switch and do 15 of the other. By the end you will be feeling the burn. Great for your glutes, hamstrings and inner thighs.
2) Tricep Dip: Make sure hands are securely gripping the bench. Keep feet at a 45 angle on the floor, and dip down until your bottom almost touches the floor. Do 15 reps and feel the burn! To make this exercise even more intense, lift one leg. Great for sculpting those arms for summer.
3) Push Up/ Star Jump!: Bring out your inner star with this fun and challenging exercise. Do a full push-up and then bring it to the next level by boosting off the ground into a star-jump. This hits all the major spots on the body (arms-core-legs), and gives a good kick of cardio to take it all to the next level!
All of these Exercises can be done in or outside of a gym. If not in a gym, make sure to use a sturdy bench when doing the squat and tricep dips. Each exercise should be done for 10- 15 reps (depending on your level). They should be done in a circuit (squat-tricep-star jump) and the circuit should be done 3 times!
I’ve been hearing a lot from people who are unhappy at work, so this seemed like a good topic for a Monday morning- after all, most of us spend more time working than doing anything else, so we should love what we do. If you’ve lost the passion for your job, and long for “something more”, keep these 4 tips in mind:
*Work to Use Your Talents, Not Just Make Money
If you’re working just for the money, you aren’t giving your all to the job. It’s easy to forget that we all have unique gifts. So, let’s use them! Ask your employer for specific tasks related to your talents. By focusing on our natural abilities, we give back to the world. The Universe will thank you, and send more abundance in return.
*Why Search? You May Be in Your ‘Perfect’ Job Now
Sometimes we are so caught up in the day-to-day, that we forget what we’re passionate about or why we chose the career path we did. And, then, we get a case of “Greener Grass Syndrome.” Take a little time to write down why you took the job when you did, and what you love about it. By focusing on the positive aspects of your job, you will attract positive energy. Your energy will be contagious, and not only enhance your performance and productivity, but you’ll also improve your work relationships.
*Flip the Focus to What You Want
OK, so maybe no matter how you look at it, your job is just not your life purpose. You know you are not happy with it. You know you want more. But what? The irony is, we get exactly what we focus on, so if you’re focusing on what you don’t want or don’t like, you’ll get what you don’t want or like! Flip the focus by figuring out what you want, and you will be sure to receive it.
*See It and You Will Be It
When you see yourself doing something, you are sending a message to the Universe. The more often, the more vivid you can imagine it, the more likely it will become reality. Vision is the one common success factor shared by countless people in all fields, in all age brackets. They saw themselves doing it, and so it came to be. You can manifest anything by the power of your vision and faith. See what you want for your career, and really believe it. Picture it so clearly, and act as if you are already in the position. We have so much more power than we give ourselves credit for, so use that energy to bring your perfect job to you.
Have a great week!
Perhaps you don’t realize it but there is great power in scent! So why not make your home a real haven with a little aromatherapy? Whether you’re looking to unwind and relax, or add a little extra zest & energy to your day, the right scents can often do the trick. Designer and Author, Carole Shashona, shares how to set the perfect mood through scent, in just about any room of your home.
Working and living in a comfortable environment can actually nurture you, and I always set the mood of a room through scent. I first consider what is the function of this space for my client– is it for relaxation with quiet with soft scents, or is it for work where productivity is the key, and energizing scents are key? The fragrances in your home radiate specific energies with specific destinations.
Here are some room, mood, and scent matches to help be more productive, relaxed or inspired!
Cleansing & Revitalizing Scents (Kitchens & Bathrooms) The Kitchen is often a critical room for many of us. It is often a space of activity and productivity, whether cooking up a nurturing meal or getting work done at the kitchen counter. It is also a place that often uplifts and energizes! Fresh herbs such as basil and rosemary in your kitchen are uplifting and stimulate productivity. Lemon also brings an energizing element to this important room
The Bathroom: a room where our day often begins, is a place that should awaken and revitalize. It also has a big focus on cleansing and refreshing. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus, and chamomile are great cleansing, revitalizing scents.
Romance & Intimacy Scents (Bedrooms) The Bedroom should be a place of comfort, and often is one where intimacy and love bloom fully. Scents like Lavender, Lemon or Rose inspire intimacy and love in the bedroom.
Harmony & Comfort Scents (Living Rooms)
The Living Room is a gathering place for all, this room should inspire harmony. It also is a place of comfort for most. Gardenia, Ylang Ylang or Cinnamon stroke the fires for romance and harmony.
Empowerment & Focus Scents (Home Offices & Work Space)
Whether home office or home yoga studio, empowerment and focus can be encouraged in any room. Scents like orange, gardenia, patchouli, rose, white magnolia, ginger, or blooming florals will bring peace and empowerment.
Quick tip for any room: Mist fragrance in a room by walking around in a counter clockwise direction as this creates positive energy flow. I particulary love the scents of sage and cedar. Enjoy using scents for the function and purpose of the space you are designing. Let them bring harmony & balance within, and make your home the ultimate Wellness Center
.
Creating a wellness center in your home is a perfect place to center you~ Carole Shashona
Carole Shashona is widely recognized as a design innovator for creating environments that reflect her experiences and spirit. World-renowned for designing spaces that enliven the senses and engage one’s imagination, she utilizes energy with elements of design. Author of Feng Shui Chic, published by Simon & Schuster, Carole’s earth-conscious philosophy balances her projects with structure and flow that are more than visual. She passionately believes that good design can support well-being. For more information on Carol visit her website.
We all know that life spent navigating the hectic pace of New York City can be overwhelming, even frustrating. I ran into a friend the other day, and when I asked how she was doing, I got a shrug and an “eh…” like she was some crotchety old grandpa about to tell me about her sciatica. Apparently the city had been wearing on her. But why let it be a buzzkill? Life is way too short to be kvetchy.
If you ask me, Groucho Marx had it right: “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead; tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”
Of course, we’re only human; I, too, get into ruts, succumb to fits of rage and have my fair share of meltdowns. I am Jewish, after all, and I fight my neurotic, negative tendencies every day. I think Moses must have included these lovely traits with the Ten Commandments when he passed them down to my people.
Here are some techniques that keep me focused on happy, calming thoughts. And yes, unicorns, rainbows and cute little black dresses are included.
Focus on What You’ve Got
You can’t afford your favorite sushi restaurant, the pressure of the holidays is getting to you and the last time you cuddled with someone you liked, Obama was still popular. Well, we all have our share of inconveniences. But what in your life is going right? When you put your energy toward dwelling on what’s wrong, you get stuck there. Instead, focus on the good things you have going on. Soon you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll also draw more good things your way. Having trouble finding a few things to be grateful for? Hot showers and sugared cereal count!
Lose (the Illusion of) Control
Dharma Punx leader Josh Korda once explained to me why we get so down and out in the big city. He said we base our identity on things that are constantly changing: work, friends, our bodies… Everything in life is constantly in motion and out of our control. Korda’s advice? Let it all roll around you, but base your true identity on your deeper self. Really, the only thing you can control is the way you react to the changes around you. So sit back, flow with the chaos around you and don’t let it make you nuts.
Forget Your Goals
We put so much pressure on ourselves to be the best, the smartest and the fastest. When we fall short, boy do we get cranky. Not even Superman himself could be the perfect hero. Yoga principles teach us to be goalless, which might make any city-dweller go mad. But what if your goal every day were to feel joy or simply to be content? You might be surprised to find your greatest achievements grow from that peace.
Endorphin It Up
Sure, you can drink all night, but exercise and yoga give you the same or better effects naturally. Serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is released in your brain when working out. Yoga shifts life’s energy around in your body so that you’re in balance, which leaves you feeling happy and slightly stoned. Nothing wrong with that! Throw in a little meditation and green juice and you’ve got yourself a lovely, happy-go-lucky cocktail.
Be in the Now
You’ve heard it a million times on “Oprah” and from Eckhart Tolle, who writes, “Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now.” We are only stressed when we are thinking about our future and past. If you concentrate on the present, you’re golden! This moment creates the next, then that next moment creates the following one, and like a domino effect, you’re on the right path.
Life’s too short (or too long, for that matter) to feel miserable. Only you have the power to redirect yourself into the feel-good Now.
This is a recipe that I came up with on my vacation, and something I strongly crave almost every morning now. The combination of fresh fruit and mint, ginger and lemon will awaken your taste buds and provide you with a nice energy boost for the day. Fresh mint is rich in essential vitamins and minerals (A, C, B12, thiamine, folic acid, manganese, copper, potassium, iron, zinc) and aids in headaches, digestion, cramps, colds, bloating, acne and is also related to optimal hormonal functioning. If you want to go wild and spice up this recipe even more, add a touch of super healthy cayenne to stimulate your metabolism and digestion.
Ingredients:
Sliced fruit of your choice
Juice of half a lemon
Juice of half a lime
1-2 tbs of grated fresh ginger
Handful of fresh mint
(Touch of cayenne – optional)
Make your favorite mix of fruits (orange, apple, pear, banana, cantaloupe, grapes etc.) and add some berries if you wish. Add all the above ingredients together and mix. Enjoy for breakfast with happy and positive thoughts for the new day!
This first week there were plenty of asanas (poses) but the real focus was on the spiritual aspect of yoga. Yoga after all means connection– connection to breath, connection to others, and connection to what lies within us. For many the physical practice is what allows us then to really relax–to quiet the business in their head and just “be”. I know for me this is why I fell in love with yoga. It was one of the few things were I could quiet my chatty mind and let go of all that was going on there, and really connect in to what I know is true and important. Sometimes in the craziness of life (especially in a frantic city like NY) we get caught up in our thoughts, our issues, and in all the incidentals in our life and lose focus on what’s truly important.
Cleansing also came into play this week— physically, mentally and emotionally. We discussed things like letting go and giving up the things that don’t serve us, for these cover our truth and only through shedding layers can it truly and fully experienced. School Yoga Institute uses the Sadhana Yoga tradition which focuses on spiritual practice, which was what attracted me to this training program. We’ve delved into a variety of meditation practices, chanted and talked all about methods that can help us further turn inward.
A physical cleanse also went along with it all, and I experienced my first “raw” cleanse (only taking in foods that are uncooked and pure–no preservatives, etc). Luckily for this crunchy, salad eating, hummus loving yogi, it wasn’t at all jilting. Sure I gave up my coffee with cream, and brown rice and cooked veggies, but there were SO many delicious, creative dishes here at Present Moment that I never felt like I was missing out. Big tropical fruit plates, coconut salads, sprouted quinoa and a plethora of made-to-order smoothies and healthy juices. I certainly never felt deprived, and I was amazed at how light and bright and energetic I was. GO raw! Aside from the clay drink we also took down twice daily, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
So, all in all it was a great week. I’ll chat more about what’s happening on the mat next post. I’ve got my first “test” tomorrow, and a 6am daily wake up so this yogi must go to bed. It’s all good though, and I am actually amazed at how much I already know about the different poses, alignments, and adjustments. It’s definitely already deepened my practiced and I can’t believe that I’ve learned a whole hatha sequence (class) in less than a week! It’s definitely been a riguourous program, but one that has been so worth the investment.
Ah, Spring. The weather is warming up, the trees blooming, and everyone is ready to get outside and play. If you’re a mom in the big city, we’ve found some great options for you and the kids! From workouts to playgrounds, NYC offers many great outdoor activities that everyone will enjoy.
If you’re looking to get a good workout in while still spending time with your little one, Stroller Strides may be the program you’re looking for! Stroller Strides is a franchise company with locations all over the map. Essentially, it consists of a group of moms and their babies (in their strollers, of course), who participate in a 60 minute workout of power walking and body toning exercises, led by a specialized instructor. All you need is yourself, your baby and your stroller – and let’s face it, you have to haul your stroller everywhere you go anyway! Visit http://www.strollerstrides.com/ to find one of the many classes that take place in all areas of the city!
If you’re eager to give your child as well as yourself a fun, hands-on and educational experience, you may consider heading to the zoo! There are few kids out there who do not find themselves absolutely thrilled and intrigued in seeing and meeting adorable and interesting animals! The Prospect Park Zoo features mammals, reptiles and amphibians from all over the world. There are daily feedings and shows to catch, as well as some specialized seasonal exhibits, along with all the regular zoo favorites. This is definitely an activity that both moms and kids will learn something and enjoy!
Another idea could be venturing down to the Brooklyn Bridge Park! With many different expansions on the horizon for the next year or so, one still can’t argue that the view the park offers is absolutely beautiful! The Cove in Brooklyn Bridge Park is breathtaking and is a great beach walking spot for the warmer months. In the upcoming summer months, free movies will be played every Thursday night at the newly renovated Pier 1! The “Main Street Lot” houses a nautical themed park and playground area for kids and families too. Everyone can enjoy and tire themselves out while using the climbers, running around and playing in the sandbox for the day! To fully discover what the Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer, see their website: http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/
One hidden spot that you may not have even thought of to take the little ones is the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum. As the farmhouse itself dates back to the late 18th century, the museum works to tell the story of the transformation from farming community to the urban neighborhoods we now live in. With a full calendar of events such as tours and “History Play Dates” geared specifically towards kids, along with a garden full of beauty and history, the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum may be the perfect spring activity for yourself and the kids! For more information and museum hours, visit http://www.dyckmanfarmhouse.org/
If you’re looking to get a good workout in while still spending time with your little one, 
If you’re eager to give your child as well as yourself a fun, hands-on and educational experience, you may consider heading to the zoo! There are few kids out there who do not find themselves absolutely thrilled and intrigued in seeing and meeting adorable and interesting animals! The 
still can’t argue that the view the park offers is absolutely beautiful! The Cove in Brooklyn Bridge Park is breathtaking and is a great beach walking spot for the warmer months. In the upcoming summer months, free movies will be played every Thursday night at the newly renovated Pier 1! The “Main Street Lot” houses a nautical themed park and playground area for kids and families too. Everyone can enjoy and tire themselves out while using the climbers, running around and playing in the sandbox for the day! To fully discover what the Brooklyn Bridge Park has to offer, see their website: 
One hidden spot that you may not have even thought of to take the little ones is the 
