Hey there, Friday! We're officially 10 days away from Spring! It's something about the start of Spring that gets me motivated, focused, and ambitious. Maybe it's the warmer weather and the flowers blooming. There's a lot I want to accomplish in the next few weeks and months both for myself and well to keep our house running smoothly. Hello Spring Cleaning.


Here's what I'm going to work on in the next few weeks:

O N E//
Organize, Box-up, and/or Donate Clothing.
This one makes me shutter. I know sorting through my clothing and the kids' clothing needs to be done, but it's really the last thing that I want to do. I know it would help with having more space in our closets and dressers to put laundry away. I still have a few maternity pieces in my dresser, which I don't need right now, so it's long overdue to box them up. Speaking of which, I'm 9 months postpartum today...I just can't believe my baby is 9 months old already! Oh and don't even get me started on the number of mix-matched socks in my sock drawer. Why are socks so hard to keep up with?

The baby's dresser could also use some serious reorganization. Like I'm talking there's still some 6 month clothing in his dresser and he's out growing his 12 month clothing. I just want to know how that happened!

A very ambitious, not fun goal for me. And I'm just gone to be realistic and say that this is one is going to take me some time!

T W O//
Fold and Put Away the Laundry.
I always start a load of laundry in the mornings, but I hate to admit it- that laundry doesn't always get folded. Half the time it ends up in our extra bedroom and then I have to fold a massive mountain of laundry at once, which is miserable. It would be much easier if I just washed, folded, and put away one load of laundry a day.

T H R E E//
Read More.
This has nothing to do with Spring cleaning, but I haven't been reading lately. It's really something I enjoy doing, so it's time to make it happen! I want to read at least one book before March is over.

F O U R//
Sleep More.
I'm lucky to have to two kids that sleep through the night, so there's no real good reason why I shouldn't be getting enough sleep. I've felt really exhausted lately, so I know I need to get more rest. Basically, I just need to prioritize getting in bed earlier...simple enough, right?

F I V E//
Work with the Magic Circle.
This goal is totally Pilates specific, but I want to bring the Magic Circle back into my matwork. Never heard of the Magic Circle? It basically is a great tool for helping your work deeper to engage the powerhouse and inner thighs for example. Below I'm using the Magic Circle between my calve muscles for Open Leg Rocker, which is a rolling exercise in the matwork. You can even use the Magic Circle for some arm work as well.



And If you need some ideas for some core work- check out my post earlier from this week here about The Series of 5 aka The Abdominal Series. I'm off to a Pilates Mat Workshop today and I'm really excited! Have a great weekend! And Spring, I'm ready for you! 

I'm all about taking care of yourself and doing things you enjoy to fill yourself up. Making time for yourself on a regular basis to do things you enjoy. Even if it's only 5 to 10 minutes out of the day- you'll feel less stressed and happier. I learned the importance of this during grad school and my time as a school counselor.

In counselor lingo, we call this self-care. Basically, the idea behind a "self-care practice" is to spend regular time (whatever length and schedule fits in your daily life) doing something that you enjoy that relaxes and refuels your mind and body.

My favorite assignment in grad school was to do something each day for self-care for a whole week. So when I was given this assignment, I initially thought this is such a joke...I'm really being told to do this in a graduate level course?! So the joke was on me. Believe it or not, I really struggled with this assignment. But it taught me an important lesson.

My schedule gets filled with so many different things, work, kids, household chores, and the list goes on. If I do not plan on "me time," it does not happen. I need the balance in my life. I need to refuel myself so that I can be the best version of me for others around me. For example, if you are so stressed and fixated about something going on at work, you can't be fully present for your kids. Many people find that exercising helps release the stress, which also decreases the feeling of being burnt out with your job.

I really believe we don't take seriously enough taking care of ourselves. We also can't make "not having enough time" an excuse. I recently heard some statistics that we spend an average of 90 minutes a day on our phone, which adds up to 23 days in a year. That's a lot of time wasted.

Still confused why you need some self-care in your life? Check out this TED Talk. It is such a good reminder of why our emotional health and well-being matters.

So here's how I've been practicing self-care lately:

O N E
Exercising:
So given that I teach Pilates, it's probably no surprise that I like do Pilates, but I enjoy Yoga as well. I would also love to start taking dance classes again.

My current weekly exercise routine looks a little like this:

• 2x a week- Pilates Reformer Workouts (I may use other equipment, but mainly focus on the Reformer,)
• 1x a week- Pilates Wunda Chair and Cadillac Workout, 
• 1-2x a week- Pilates Mat Workout with Standing Arm Series (using small weights),
• 2x a week- Yoga Class,
• And one day of rest thrown in the mix.

T W O
Reading:
I love to read. Some weeks it happens more than others. But I'm a book worm and if I find a book I enjoy, I don't want to put it down. I find reading is a nice escape and I love having a quiet moment for myself to read. Lately, I just finished reading The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth.

T H R E E
Baking:
The past few months I've picked up more on baking. I definitely have a sweet tooth, but I hate how much sugar and processed ingredients are in store-bought desserts and pastries.  So, I've been experimenting with a lot of recipes using healthier substitutions like bananas, yogurt, coconut oil, whole wheat flour and honey.
I seriously make these muffins once a week and eat them for a snack, breakfast, or as a dessert. The recipe is here. This week, along with a few plain banana muffins, I made a few muffins with blueberries, strawberries, and organic dark chocolate chips.


So to wrap it up...Here's some easy steps to take to begin practicing self-care.
Step One:  Choose one activity you enjoy.
Step Two:  Do it for at least 10 minutes a day for a week.
Step Three:  Notice the difference it makes in your day.
Step Four:  Work on increasing the amount of time you practice self-care.

I totally understand how hard it is to workout with kids- especially when your kids are young and need a lot from mommy, including diaper changes, nursing, help using the potty, something to eat, and the list goes on. There is so much to get done everyday...right?!? Get laundry washed and folded. Prep dinner and get the dishes washed.

Some days look like this too if you stay home with your kids. They both need mommy (or in this case I jokingly say- poke your eyes and pull your hair out.) Even with all of that going on- it is SO important and good for you to workout! These are some ways I try to get my workouts in during the week.

1. Workout early in the morning before the kids get up and/or during the kids' nap time. 
Obviously this is my goal on days I am not teaching in the studio or I do not plan on going to Yoga class. Yes, this my ideal goal, but does it always happen? No! There are days I really do not want to get up early and I want to stay in bed for as long as possible...until little ones starting calling for me. And I love it when both kids nap at the same time, but this does not happen everyday either. And if they do nap at the same time- sometimes I've got to choose between working out OR making dinner, doing the dishes, and tackling the mountain sized pile of laundry. Even though I'd be sooo happy if I could accomplish all of this during nap time, but I'm not superwoman.

2. Go to a group fitness class WITH childcare.
I think it's such a genius idea for gyms, yoga studios, and fitness centers to offer childcare. I don't have to use this option very often, but it's nice to have available. Kids get to play and have fun and you get to workout (without distractions) sounds like a win in my book.

So when #1 or #2 doesn't work out, I result to either #3-6 or all of the below!

3. Roll out an extra mat for the kids and workout (or at least try...)
So I think my oldest LOVES Yoga/Pilates mats. In fact, I think she's claimed them as her own. And if I can't find my mat, it's probably because she has been playing with it. And its not uncommon to find toys on the mat. See below. Yes, Anna and Elsa do Pilates. My oldest loves to roll herself up in the mat like a burrito or pretend the mat is her bed (she folds the mat in half to make a blanket). So there you have it- mats double as toys in our house.

4. Encourage your kids to follow your workout and copy you!
I think it is so important to model a healthy, active lifestyle to your kids. Little ones love to mimic what they see grown ups do around them...and they pick up on so much that we often don't even realize at the time. That being said- my oldest loves to get on her mat beside me and try to do what I am doing. Yes, she'll do The Hundred and try Rolling Like a Ball. And we have fun together!

5. Have your kids help you workout.
It is as simple as that. Have your kids help you get things you need during your workout. "Hand mommy the weights, or the yoga block, the strap, the magic circle..." My oldest loves to help mommy, so this keeps her occupied at least for a few moments.

6. Pull out your their favorite snacks, toys, and you name it- and power through your workout.
Sometimes I'll work out when my oldest eats a snack in the afternoon. I'll get the snack out and then start working out. Or I'll pull out activities that she can do by herself that take a little time, such as play dough. One thing I don't do is turn the TV on while I'm working out. Maybe it is a silly rule I have, but I want to instill in my kids being active and I just can't justify turning the TV on just so I can workout.

I hope this motivates you or gives you some ideas to try so you can squeeze whatever workout you prefer into your day when you have little ones.

Happy Monday! Where did the weekend go?! Anyway, today I'm sharing my confessions with you today...

While you may think your Pilates teacher is an indestructible super human, who eats all things fresh and healthy, commits to working out a minimum an hour every single day of the week, and the list goes on...You may be surprised to find out that your Pilates teacher is human just like you AND isn't the health whiz you imagined.

I confess:

1. I don't work out everyday.
Ideally, as Joseph Pilates would probably advise you if he were still alive today, you should aim to workout 5 to 6 times a week and incorporate 1 day of rest a week into your fitness regime. HOWEVER, does that mean that I always get that number of workouts in every single week? No! For example, this past month the stomach bug went slowly around our house for two weeks. Between taking care of sick ones and then getting sick myself- there were about two weeks that I only got maybe 4 workouts in. AND it is okay. The next week I got myself back on track because even if I don't feel like I always have the energy to workout- I'm happier, less stressed, and energized when I do Pilates. This makes me more able to take care of the little feet running around my house, my sweet husband, and even my Pilates client that walks in the door.... like the saying "If mama is happy, then everybody is happy." I know it is the counselor in me coming out, but I really think self-care is important and you should too!


2. I love Pizza, french fries, and did i say ANYTHING sweet!
Yes, I admitted it. I like to eat all of those things. Do I eat them every single meal? No, but on occasion I do enjoy them from time to time. The key here is in moderation. I don't follow a certain diet rather I strive (and am still learning) ways to live a healthy lifestyle. I talked last month about my goal being working on cutting out processed food in my diet. And I should probably say most processed foods. I may eat something that is processed, has way too much sugar, and isn't organic from time to time. But for the most part, I try to incorporate easy, practical ways to eat healthy. For myself, I've found things that make this lifestyle work for me. I like to cook with organic unrefined coconut oil for most recipes- such as banana bread muffins. I buy fresh or frozen organic produce as much as possible (especially the produce on the dirty dozen.) And I could go on...but my point is my goal is to eat well most of the time.

Pictured above is some of the food items that I try to buy Organic. Did you know you can buy a lot of Organic products at Aldi?! Keeping the grocery budget in line while buying organic sounds like a win to me! I'll have to share more of my Organic grocery finds at Aldi soon.

3. I won't think you are cheating on me if you take a fitness class besides Pilates.
I've talked about Yoga and Pilates the past two days (here and here.) I myself LOVE yoga and especially fell in love with it during my second pregnancy. In fact this weekend, I took two Yoga classes and did not do much Pilates. I've actually recommended to clients before to try out a Slow Flow Yoga class or Long Slow and Deep Yoga class. I think any exercise is good for your body and will complement the work you are doing with Pilates. I know it's nice to have variety in your workout from time to time as well. So whether it's Pilates, Yoga, Cycling, Boxing, Weightlifting, Dancing, Swimming and I could go on and on- just live an active lifestyle! I think the idea I'm getting at here is do what feels good to your body and enjoy it!

Pictured above is the Foot Work Series on the Exo Chair (a Balanced Body version of the Wunda Chair.)

That's all of my confessions for now. I probably could share more, but then you might not want me to be your Pilates teacher. All jokes aside- we are all human. We aren't perfect. I like to give room to live a little bit in a healthy lifestyle and give myself grace- while finding the balance of not making excuses.