Informed Body

Hot Cause Buns Fundraiser earns $2800 for Shelter

2010-12-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

Our 7th annual Hot Cause Buns workout benefiting SaveABunny raised over $2800. Both classes were oversold and our raffle was a huge success.

SaveABunny brought 3 adorable white bunnies to the studio for participants to pet, cuddle and learn how their participation can help. All the money was used for veterinary bills.

For more information about SaveABunny, visit their website at www.saveabunny.org

"Hot Cause Buns" 7th annual Buns Day Fundraiser

2010-11-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

What to wear this week to Pilates

2010-11-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

The Ann Sophie Back Pin Sweatshirt. Perfect with a pair of leggings or tights and a pair of boots. Are we sick of our sweats yet or what?

Win A Free Pilates Session!

2010-10-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Guess which 3 items are in the studio fridge and you will win a free Pilates session.

Hints:
1. Liquid
2. Vegetable
3. Health Food

So far everyone has guessed wrong. Can you get it right? Email us at informsf@yahoo.com with your guesses.

Sit Up on Ball w/Springboard Arm Springs

2010-10-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

Heather Arnett demonstrates a great abdominal and balance exercise using both the ball and the springboard.

Morning Exercise - The Sonicare Squat

2010-09-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

My new favorite exercise is what I call "The Sonicare Squat". While brushing teeth stand in 2nd position demi plie and wait for sonicare to beep at the 30 second mark. Every 3o seconds when your toothbrush beeps squat a little lower. You will get a nice inner thigh burn for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

For those of you who brush 3x a day you could do this everytime and add a heel lift or releve to one of your three sets. Big fun in the bathroom!

Approved Workout Clothes of the Week from beebliss.com

2010-09-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

One of my clients used to come in for her sessions and call her workout outfits "costumes". One of her costumes which I loved was a v-neck cashmere sweater over workout pants and 2 Rolexes on her wrists. I approve this costume. As someone who has banned clients from wearing their saggy butt sweats and anything that says "Juicy", I can say it is important to show people what is acceptable to wear - with the exception of men who just don't listen. That said, here are some gems I approve of this week from beebliss.com:

What Our Clients Are Up To In SF

2010-09-16T17:35:00.001-07:00

We have so many amazing business owners who come to Informed Body. Most of what they share during our sessions is public information (you wish I would tell you the dirt!). Here is a snippet of what they are up to:

1. Chris Ospital, owner of Modern Appealing Clothing
Their new store in the Dogpatch neighborhood is coming along. They will be in a building with Piccino Restaurant and Blue Bottle Coffee. The anticipated opening date is last week of November.

2. Lindsay Tusk, owner of Quince restaurant and now Cotognia
Today's SF Chronicle revealed what we have known for weeks...they are opening soon. Quince is doing amazing in their new space and have had several parties buy out the entire space for special events. Cotognia is going to be a hit with locals in the neighborhood looking for a more casual lunch/evening space to go. Expect amazing cocktails to go with the amazing food.

3. Diana Slavin, owner of Diana Slavin Women's Wear
New Fall/Winter clothes are in store now. This is such an in the know shop on Claude Lane. She carries Martin Margiela shoes, beautiful jewelry, vintage sunglasses and her impeccably tailored line of clothes. She is a master tailor and will make every piece you buy fit like it was custom made for you. Whether you are conservative or hip you can wear her pieces and look elegant. Note to the ladies in their 30's plus - this is a go to shop where you will look fab not frumpy.

4. Julie Elliott, Owner In Fiore
Julie is back from a two month stint in Japan. She is coming out with fresh packaging for her perfume balms. Her products are must have if you care about quality ingredients and the most delicious smells. Your face and body will thank you. I use them and feel sinfully indulgent.

Pilates Barre Thursdays @ 7pm

2010-09-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

First of all let me apologize for my poor video editing skills and lack of music! At Informed Body our Pilates Barre classes are different from any other in that we use resistance training instead of weights and actual ballet choreography. Check out Heather's class Thursday evenings at 7pm. This video is just a snippet of what she will put you through.

Workout Top of the Week

2010-09-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

Jcrew was the last place I would expect to find a great workout cover up and yet there it was. It had a touch of sparkle to the fabric and a bit of fashion with the side zip. I am not going to lie, I didn't buy it, but I do think it would look great on someone else - just not me!

Using the Ballet Barre for Arm Exercises

2010-08-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

Today was the last "Bingo Wings Be Gone" class and it was a blow-out. We started by wrapping Slastix bands around the ballet barre to do Pilates arm exercises like Chest Expansion, Salutes and Hugs. I stealthily (or not) took photos of some of the participants so you can see the set up.

In addition to using slastix, we did push ups against the ballet barre then single arm push aways on the wall. The ladies also used 5lb weights and continued their arm extravaganza on the rollers to keep their chests open while doing presses and triceps. Once they were done with the rollers, I had them all sit up and hold one weight while doing a teaser. They took the weight side to side then bent their knees and did half curls up and down with the weight going to the knees and over their heads.

We did side planks with weights, push ups and dips and of course great back extension/swans holding the bands. The bands were great as well to simulate the Pilates rowing series on the floor. A good time was had by all and I know they will feel the love tomorrow.

Next class series is "chairdevil" which is a chair challenge workout. Stay tuned.

Best Workout/Teaching Dresses for Pilates or Dance

2010-08-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

As a Pilates instructor, it is hard to look stylish when your wardrobe has to be functional to demonstrate movement. One of my favorite ways to dress up my work look is to wear workout dresses. Here are my top three favorite designs:

1. The bamboo Morgan Dress from Omala (www.omala.com)

2. Zohba's Katharine Dress (www.zohba.com)

3. Stella McCartney Adidas Dresses

Throw on a cute cardigan over the dress and leggings or tights underneath and voila - you look fantastic and can still teach and move!

New 4 Week Classes

2010-08-04T16:01:00.001-07:00

Exhibit A: Bingo Wings Be Gone
A Four Week Arm Workout on Thursdays at 8am Starts 8/5 cost $100

Exhibit B: Operation Muffin Top
We aren't saving lives, we are working your abs! Last class in series is Tuesday, 8/10 at 8am.

What's next? You tell us. I was thinking of doing a "Build a Butt" workshop.

Introducing Pilates Barre = Aspirational Exercise

2010-02-28T11:48:00.001-08:00

Buns Day 6

2009-12-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who participated, donated and supported SaveABunny. We had a fun morning of classes and raised $2250!

Photos from Open House

2009-11-26T18:54:00.001-08:00

Who knew it would take so long to post photos from our event? We had a great turnout and a ton of fun. Thanks to Blue Angel Vodka for sponsoring our bar and thanks to Traci Higgins, chef and owner of Lilah Belle's for the amazing food.

Settling Into New Studio at 389 Grove Street

2009-07-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Informed Body moved to 389 Grove Street mid-April. We are putting the finishing touches on our office and making final adjustments to the studio to make it beautiful and clutter free - which is challenging when you have toys everywhere. In addition to having a beautiful new space, we have a resident pet. Mr. Biggs is a 15lb Flemish Giant who was rescued from SaveABunny, an animal rescue in Mill Valley, CA. His job at the studio is to entertain us, keep us calm and to educate clients about rabbits as house pets. Come in soon to meet Mr. Biggs and see our new space.

Fun Food Finds

2009-02-23T21:33:00.000-08:00

Snacks and treats are often challenging. Some have too many calories and taste way too good and others just don't satisfy. Recently two clients exposed me to some serious yummy goodness that I want to share with you.

1. Emerald Brand Cocoa Roast Almonds in Dark Chocolate Flavor (at Safeway)
Per 1/4 cup serving: 150 calories, 13g fat, 6g protein and 6g carbs, 1g sugar

What I like about this "snack/treat" is it is a good dessert replacement and a small handful satisfies sweet cravings and fills you up.

2. Trader Joe's Pleasantly Tart Non Fat Frozen Yogurt
Per 1/2 cup serving: 110 calories, 0g fat, 13g sugar, 20g carb, 1g protein

Ok so this isn't a great "snack" where nutrition is concerned, but it tastes just like the frozen yogurt you get at shops around the city and tastes great with frozen blueberries and walnuts.

Any other new and exciting snacks you can recommend? Let us know.

Healthy Investments, High Returns

2009-01-04T20:36:00.000-08:00

The safest bank to stash your cash in 2009 is on your body. Your value only goes up when you feel good and you can perform at your personal best. Not sure what investment is best for you? Let us help.

FREE:

This offer is good for new clients only. Try one of two half-hour teaser mat classes to see what Pilates can do for you.

Wednesday, January 14 @ 5:30

Wednesday, January 21 @ 5:30

Class size is limited so reserve your spot asap.

HIGH ROUND ASSETS - 4 WEEK CLASS $100:

Wednesday nights from 5:30 - 6:30pm

January 28 - February 18

Jill Harris will lead you through four weeks of booty beauty, abs and arms to restructure your "business". Be prepared to work off excess holiday baggage and have fun. Class size is limited to 5 people.

PILATES MAGIC CIRCLE - 5 WEEK CLASS $100

Mondays at 8:30am

1/12 - 2/9

Join Anne Bishop and learn how to yield the magic circle. Mat Pilates exercises will be enhanced and supported by one of Joseph Pilates original creations. Come to class and find out what Joe's inspiration for the magic circle was and how to get a challenging and fun work out. Class size is limited to 5 people and will accept drop-ins if space permits for $25/class.

PILATES+HAPPY HOUR $35:

Friday, January 30^th at 5:30pm

We are offering a circuit class followed by a healthy, organic, post workout meal catered by Lilah Belle's (www.lilahbelles.com). Every 15 minutes you will switch over to a different piece of equipment. Class will be your appetizer followed by socializing and a light meal. Limited to 12 participants.

PILATES MAT WORKOUT - $200/10 or $25/single

Mondays at 7pm
Wednesdays at 7:30am
Wednesdays at 7pm

Join Katie McMahon for our most social classes of the week. You will use fit loops, balls, rollers, weights and magic circles to tone your body while discussing the latest restaurants, shops, trends and local news. Trust us you will work as hard as you will laugh!

Saturday AM Mat Class - 4 WEEK CLASS $100:

Saturday morning from 10:00-11:00 am

January 17 - February 7

The Informed Body's answer to "yogilates"! Lisa Bower is offering a challenging mat flow workout which features stretching (think of those tight hamstrings and overworked neck muscles!) and, of course, core strengthening. Learn, review, or build upon basic principles.

Informed Weekend Circuit - 4 WEEK CLASS $130

Saturday morning from 11:15-12:15 am

January 17 - February 7

Join Lisa Bower on Saturdays and have some serious fun on all the equipment in the studio: the reformer, chair, springboard, and mat. The sky's the limit! Build upon your experience in privates, duets or mat classes, as you learn more about the repertoire and develop your Pilates smarts.

For more information or to sign up for classes, call us at 415-626-1111. We hope to see you in the studio soon and wish you a happy and healthy 2009.

Maintain Balance During The Holidays

2008-12-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

The last "leg" of the year is challenging in that we are ready to move forward, but need to stay present for that last month. How do we maintain balance in our lives during this time and not get caught up in the mayhem around us? Feng Shui expert Katherine Metz shares her knowledge and invites us to practice a few exercises to keep us grounded through different scenarios we may encounter. Before you read what Katherine has to impart, I'd like to take a second to introduce you to her work.

Katherine is devoted to the seen and unseen ways in which physical environment can spark and nurture the individual's natural potential to be as vibrant, receptive and focused as possible. For over twenty-two years Katherine has provided her services in private homes, corporate offices, small businesses, schools, restaurants, and health care facilities, helping her clients create environments where they experience tangible and positive changes. Sleeping gets better, communication becomes more effective, family peace is restored, business multiplies, and people get well. When harmony and success are your goals, she is the person you call on. We are lucky to have her share her wisdom with us.

Take a deep breath and take your time reading!

Choosing Your Holiday (Five Element) Style

Each of the Chinese five elements is a style of being in the world - a statement of experience and expression. Every person embodies each of the elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Yet, when action is demanded, it is our Wood element that kicks into gear; and during the holiday season we are moving as fast as we can. When our usual style is challenged by the pressures of work, family, and the rush of the season, we can easily lose our balance as the extremes of Wood take over.

Usually motivated, resourceful, self-confident and optimistic, and capable of tremendous power, the tendency of Wood under pressure is to keep pushing forward - overdoing and over performing. Instead of backing off, we stay occupied with a vengeance. We may become impatient, hasty, and even reckless. Frustration is common. Tired, we become nervous, irritable, and even angry. At the other extreme, our love of getting things done turns into paralysis, and we may sink into a suffocating depression. Either way, our usual elegance is lost.

During this busy holiday season, we can create both inner and outer environments that encourage our Wood personality to stay balanced and flexible - to gracefully regulate unrelenting intensity, and to retreat when necessary.

If you find yourself becoming impatient as others around you seem to be moving too slowly:

Take a full, deep breath; then breathe it out in eight short puffs and one, l o n g, final exhale. Repeat the inhale and nine exhales at least nine times, or until the emotion has passed

You will lower your blood pressure and heart rate, and tame the part of the brain that triggers anger.

If anger does creep in as you search the Internet relentlessly for the perfect gift:

Pull out and put on clothes that are both green and black. Green lets you tap into your kind side, and black allows your better judgment to take the place of an angry outburst.

If the moon is out, simply breathe in the moonlight. You will cool the anger. If it's daytime, think about the moon and breathe. The effect will be the same if you concentrate.

If you are really headed for a meltdown, add the following:

As your lungs expand on the inhale, visualize that your hair begins to stand on end. See all your hair standing straight up on top of your head.

As you exhale, visualize your hair returning to its natural position. You are, once again, looking neatly coifed.

I guarantee you will begin to smile.

If you become unsettled, unfocused, and out of sorts (even erratic):

Prepare a warm bowl of soup (or cold cereal) and follow the instructions below:

1. Eat from your soup (or rice or cereal) bowl, and then rinse it a little bit.

2. Now, fill the bowl about 80 percent full of water.

3. Take the bowl, filled with water, outside under the open sky. There does not have to be sunlight. It can even be nighttime.

4. Return to the house carrying the bowl with the water. Set it down. The movement will have created ripples on the surface of the water.

5. Focus your eyes upon the ripples until the water becomes still. Your mind will become calm.

6. Now, repeat the procedure beginning by lightly rinsing the bowl once again. You do not need to eat again. Complete all the steps that come after.

7. Repeat for a total of nine times. Even if you feel settled after one time, continue. Your newly discovered sense of calm my just stick around well into the new year.

If your tendency is to withdraw under pressure, and you find yourself hiding under the covers unable to cope:

Peel an orange. The essence of orange is a powerful force to change your mood.

Raid your closet to find something Kelly green, apple green, or reddish purple. You will lift your spirits even if your wear it back to bed.

Clean up any disarray at the front door and you will organize your thinking making it easier to take at least one important step forward. It will also encourage friends to magically appear, bringing friendship and laughter. While they are with you, ask them to help you do the following:

Place nine small, potted plants into the bedroom (or any room where you spend a lot of time). You are adding vitality and the impetus to move forward. If this is the one thing you do today, tomorrow will be brighter.

Whether moving too fast or too slow:

Take some time every night before going to bed to think about things you normally don't think about; adventures, discoveries, art, stories, etc. Think about the exciting things you have pushed aside because of your busy schedule. Have some fun thinking. Erase the worry at this important time before bed. You will awake refreshed and ready to go, full of a sense of adventure and enthusiasm.

You will have reestablished the skillful, inventive, curious, and fearless grace of Wood.

Congratulations. You are a gift to everyone around you.

For more information about Katherine Metz and her services, please go to her website at http://www.katherinemetz.com . If this information was helpful to you in some way, I invite you to leave a token of your appreciation for Katherine in a red envelope which we will have in our office (even a penny denotes gratitude). In Feng Shui, red envelopes are used in Black Sect Tibetan Tantric Buddhism as an honorable tradition of paying the practitioner. Because of the high energy of the color red and the blessings associated with its tradition, it is believed that the client, (presenter), as well as the consultant, (receiver), are both graced with auspicious chi. The envelope also represents the imparting of sacred knowledge. Thank you and happy holidays!

Save Those Buns!

2008-11-16T18:40:00.001-08:00

Sign up for 1 of 2 hour long booty-centric workout circuits
Cost is $25/class and is limited to 12 students
Reserve your space by calling 415-626-1111

Can't make it to class? You can still purchase tickets to win some amazing health, beauty and food packages. The cost is $5 for one ticket or $20 for 5. Package details can be viewed at www.informedbody.com/bunsday.

During the week of November 17th, Informed Body will donate $5 from all training sessions plus 100% of the proceeds from the ticket sales and Buns Day classes directly to SaveABunny. SaveABunny is a Bay Area animal rescue organization. For more information about SaveABunny, visit their website at www.saveabunny.org.

Don't Give Up Your Excercise - Economize

2008-10-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

For the last two weeks we have been inundated with news about economic collapse. Some clients come to the studio stressed and panicked while others are taking a wait and see approach. All we can do is continue to provide people with an outlet to release their physical tension and get out of their heads. This isn't easy for us particularly since clients are thinking about how can they continue to spend the money for Pilates while they are cutting back everywhere else. To that end, here is what I recommend:

1. 1/2 hour sessions
Do a 1/2 hour of focused work for $40-$45 and save $30

2. Join a mat class $200/10 or $25 single
A savings of over $50 from a Private
We have classes on Mondays at 7pm, Wednesdays at 7:30am and 7pm and Fridays at 9am. Make a request for another time and we can try our best to accommodate you if there are others interested in the same time. Ask your co-workers and friends!

3. Grab a friend and split your session
$400/10 per person a savings of over $30 session

4. Continue to come at least one time a week, this is money well spent since it is both therapeutic and will keep your body in shape.

This week the New York Times did a fantastic article about why you shouldn't give your exercise up during these stressful times. Check it out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/fashion/thursdaystyles/16fitness.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

Fall Foods

2008-10-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

How do you decide what foods are best for you when you are inundated with so many differing philosophies on intake? Personally I extract what I like from various professionals, friends and clients. This month I asked a few colleagues to recommend some food and snacking ideas for energy and for staying healthy. I hope you will learn and try something new!

Acupuncturist Janis Feichtmeir, co-founder of Clouds Rest Healing Center (www.cloudsresthealing.com) approaches food recommendations based on the principles of Chinese medicine. According to Jan, lungs are the organ associated with the Fall season. The Lung system corresponds to our immune system, our skin and sinuses. Do you know anyone who gets rashes when the cold and dry of autumn set in? This would indicate that their Lung system is weakened. Ditto if you get sick frequently. Your Lung system is showing signs of weakness. The weaknesses of the Lung system show up more in the Fall. But Fall is also a time when the Lung system responds most to strengthening.

How to strengthen Lungs? Eat apples and pears, preferably cooked. If you're eating them raw, eat them at the end of a meal, when the digestion has been warmed up by other cooked foods. Add a little spice to your foods, like ginger and cinnamon.

The change of seasons are considered crucial times in Chinese Medicine. A lot of change is happening. How well we adapt to change is a sign of how strong our Lung system is. So, if you're under a lot of stress going into the Fall, do your best to get enough rest, exercise and eat well in order to help your body deal with not only the stressors in your life but the stressors of seasonal change. Make an appointment with Jan to learn more and get through this time of year by calling 415-661-0608.

Shona Curley is officially back from maternity leave and looks phenomenal! She credits her minimal weight gain to snacking on foods high in fiber and protein. Here are her favorites (good for the non-pregnant as well):

Greek yogurt with honey and ground flaxseed

Sprouted Manna Bread toasted with almond butter

"Active Greens" Organic Food Bar .

Shona is now working just three days a week, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and has a few coveted openings in her schedule. Shona is looking forward to teaching more pre and post natal work after having such a positive experience with Pilates during and after her pregnancy.

Ami Jampolis, owner of Focus Fitness Personal Training (www.focusfitnesspersonaltraining.com) recommends the following snacks because they are well-balanced and help stabilize the blood sugar:

*cup of 0% greek yogurt, fresh berries, and 1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean (add Splenda to taste)

*Apple with 18 almonds or 2 pcs of light string cheese

*Protein bar - Luna, Dr. Melina.....(Look for bars with at least 5 g of fiber)

*Celery with 2 Tbsp peanut butter

*Raw veggies with 3 Tbsp hummus

Ami is available to see clients at Informed Body by appointment. For more information, click through to her website.

Katie McMahon is constantly on the go. Between teaching three mat classes and taking two semi-private sessions each week at Informed Body she works full time for Starbuck's Coffee in Corporate Sales and Marketing. As if this doesn't keep her busy enough, she is training for her first full marathon after completing four half-marathons.

Katie's office is often her car and she knows what it is like to not have time to eat. To keep herself from becoming "homicidally hungry" Katie keeps the following snacks on hand at all times:

- A huge bottle of Crystal Geyser Sparkling Water
- A piece of whatever transportable fruit is in season
- Handful of raw almonds
- Lara Bars. Larabar is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices - energy in its purest form. Made from 100% whole food, each flavor contains no more than six ingredients. All bars are dairy free, gluten free, soy free, vegan, kosher, non-gmo, unprocessed, raw and contain no added sugar. They come in amazing flavors such as chocolate coconut, cherry pie, lemon bar, key lime pie and peanut butter cookie. You will swear you are eating the real thing!

It is always a good idea to keep a few healthy staples around to prevent you from overindulging. A few of my favorites are:

Sugar Free Hot Cocoa
Zen Bakery Apple Cranberry Cakes (80 calories)
Apples
Almond Butter
Laughing Cow Light Wedges
Light String Cheese
Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Akmak Crackers
Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Instant Oatmeal (pay attention to sugar or buy the heart healthy Quaker version)
Walnuts
Baby Carrots
Snap Peas

Eyelash Update Month 1

2008-09-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Before plastic surgery was as prevalent as it is today, it was hard to tell what was different about a person. Next thing you know, you are on an escalator at Barney's in NY saying "rhinoplasty, boob job, chin implant, eye lift" as each person passes you on your way up. Then there was botox and you couldn't take your eyes of the lack of movement in people's faces. Now you can be obsessed by sky high eyelashes thanks to Revitalash, Jan Marini etc....

I am officially one month into my eyelash growing project and I can't help but notice everyone around me is two months ahead. Their lashes are ridiculous! The consensus seems to be two months to three months and you will notice huge changes. At one month I am noticing some growth, but not as much as I hoped for. It is the competitor in me which makes me think my eyelashes should grow faster than everyone else. The game plan is to continue diligently every night and hope that by next month, I will be rocking some serious drag queen-esque lashes.

What brand is working for you and how long did yours take to grow? Let me know!

Are You In The Know?

2008-08-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

How do you stay Informed? Newspapers and blogs can take days to get through and you still won't be caught up on all that is new and exciting in San Francisco. Fortunately, a lot of our clients are moving and shaking up this city and we are the first to find out everything during their sessions. Because we are givers, we have decided to share their news with you. Whether you are a foodie, charitable giver or on a quest for eternal youth, you will find something or some business you have to get to know. Enjoy!

FOOD & WINE

Ever wonder why you are always hungry during your Pilates session? It is because clients are forever talking about the newest restaurants! Thanks to the following four clients you will be chatting even more (but not with your mouths full please!)

Lindsay Tusk is busy planning the design for the new Quince restaurant. She expects to open in the new location at 470 Pacific by the end of the year. Prepare yourself for elegance and an amazing dining experience! For those of you who are more casual, get excited about the cafe connected to the restaurant. Lindsay mentioned a string of descriptions which included lunch, brunch, pizza, open on weekends. Please note: your Pilates instructor might not have pull anymore to get you in at the last minute so book well in advance.

Dade Thieriot, owner of Dee Vine Wines, is hosting a 2007 German Riesling tasting at his shop located at Pier 19 on the Embarcadero. 2007 was the longest growing season on record in Germany. There was plenty of photosynthesis for high sugar levels and cool weather for balancing acidity. Those with experience are comparing 2007 to 1971. In addition to the wines, a selection of artisanal cheese will be served. The tasting is informal, educational and most of all fun!

The fee for the tasting is $25 ($20 if you bring your own glass). RSVP to otto@dvw.com or for more information about Dee Vine Wines go to www.dvw.com

Saandra Nazzal of Burger Joint infamy, will infuse her energy and warm personality into their newest location in Burlingame located at 1401 Burlingame Avenue @ Primose. This location opens on the heels of another recently opened Burger Joint at 242 King Street in San Francisco. For those of you who are veggies, please note veggie burgers are cooked on a separate grill from the Neiman Ranch burgers. Not feeling like burgers? Try the french fries which are made from fresh cut potatoes and fried in peanut oil or a milkshake made with whole milk and Double Rainbow Ice Cream. Be sure you come to your workout after this meal.

Traci Higgins, chef and owner of Dining In, expands her empire to include a new, healthy take out store called Lilah Belle's located at 3801 18th Street @Church. Experience fresh, seasonal and well-balanced meals seven days a week. The weekly selection will include hot entrees under 500 calories, fresh salads, sandwiches, vegetables a la carte and mouth watering desserts under 300 calories. Only organic meat and vegetables will be used. This is the perfect option for those of you who are constantly on the run and need healthy and quick meals. Opening date is September 27th.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Lisa Eddy, owner of Evolution Wellness Center, launched her new boutique website: www.evolutionwellnesscenter.com

With her vast experience in the industry as an aesthetician/salon owner, and as an educator and consultant, she knows good skin care! If you are looking for serious results with more natural/pure products that are in line with your body then she has got something for you! Check out her extensive selection of top-notch skin & body care products for sale online. Not sure what is right for you? Cant make it in for a treatment or consult? that's ok you can do it all via email or phone. You can share what is going on with your skin and what your goals are & she will get you all set up from the comfort of your living room and on your time.

Informed Body clients receive 15% off their first orders! Enter coupon code first15.

Ok, so this is beauty and charity, but Frankee Uno is a busy lady!

Frankee Uno, Owner of Frankee Uno San Francisco Salon & Gallery (www.frankeeuno.com) is working to make people look and feel great! When she isn't doll-ing up people and promoting the local art scene, she is busy with various volunteer efforts. This year, she is on the steering committee for the Annual Polo In The Park Events. Not only is there a Gala and Polo Event not to be missed, but the charities raise money for the James S. Brady Program, giving back to disabled and disadvantaged children.

For more information on the charities and tickets go to: www.sfpolointhepark.com/tickets.html

Julie Elliott, owner and creator of In Fiore, launches her newest skin care creation CREME DE FLEUR Complexe Rejuvene. Creme de Fleur is a nutrient rich moisture complex comprised of 30 effective ingredients that promotes cell renewal and deep hydration. Formulated for dry and mature skin types, and skin exposed to dry and harsh climates, Creme de Fleur provides a protective barrier from the elements while regenerating and strengthening skin tissue. Launches September 15th. For more of Julie's beautiful products, go to www.infiore.net

Our favorite holistic nutritional health counselor Alice Moore led a group of us through an 8-week series where we learned gems like "sugar addiction is not your fault" and "you aren't too lazy to cook, you are busy" and "take a deep breath before you eat and look at what you are about to put in your mouth". Alice has 11 years experience in the art of inspiring women to do the things they know they need to do, but aren't doing. If you are feeling frustrated and wanting to improve your relationship with food and your body, there is a solution. She is offering Informed Body clients a free consultation to see if Emerge Healing (www.emergehealing.com) food programs are right for you. Alice can also be contacted via email at alicemoorehealth@gmail.com.

FASHION

Diana Slavin always looks phenomenal when she shows up for her sessions dressed in clothes from her eponymous line Diana Slavin Womenswear. Her Fall line is to die for, particularly since it is always Fall in San Francisco. This season features layers of rich texture and luxurious fabrics. Her beautiful menswear inspired tweeds and stripes are mixed with soft cashmeres and silky charmeuses. The color palette includes dark neutrals accented with jewel tones of red, burnt orange and sapphire blue. Strong details, minimal silhouettes, and perfect accessories - including hard to find Martin Margiela boots, shoes and bags and Megan Park scarves and wraps. It is a feast for the senses!

The shop is located at 3 Claude Lane. To see photos and get a feel for the designs visit www.dianaslavin.com

CHARITY

When realtor Toni Thomas isn't busy selling houses, she is busy getting involved in causes that effect not just her, but the nation at large. She is organizing a private fundraising event for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign. Toni is committed to raising $10,000. Besides getting involved at a critical time in our history; the event promises to be a great experience with music and an important surrogate guest. The event will take place in late September. Please call Toni at 415-351-4661 if you would like to get involved in an exciting campaign.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

My dance mentor Patricia Reedy has inspired and educated a whole generation of gifted teachers and performers. Her organization Luna Kids Dance is dedicated to bringing dance to all children and to training teachers to inspire creativity in children. The California Institute for Dance Learning (CIDL) a project of Luna Kids Dance, hosts a FREE reception for Bay Area Dance Teaching Artists. Let the CIDL faculty help you launch the 2008-09 with ideas, refreshments, collegial support. Bring your questions and curriculum ideas September 13th, 2008, 1:30-3:30. CIDL, 2138 Cedar Street, Berkeley. 510.644.3629.

Those of you interested in this event or in supporting dance for children should definitely link to this fantastic organization at www.lunakidsdance.org.

In addition to being an amazing food writer, chef and potential Martha Stewart rival, Dionne Wallick is a gifted soprano. She will be sharing her talents with the public in a recital "Songs From The Heart" on September 27th at 3pm at the African American Arts and Cultural Center located at 762 Fulton Street in San Francisco. Tickets are $20 at the door.

Product Alert! Eyelashes for days....

2008-08-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

As a client was doing lunges on the chair I noticed her eyelashes were reaching the ceiling before her body was. Not one for subtlety, I asked her if she was wearing extensions. She stopped her movement, leaned forward against the handles and whispered "Revitalash".

For $160 you can buy this stuff, put it on your eyelashes before bedtime and it is like miracle-grow. Not convinced the output was worth the results, I dropped the idea until another client came in with some major eyelashes. Now I was really coveting this product. I asked Lisa Eddy, owner of Evolution Wellness Center if she knew of this product. She recommended the Jan Marini Lash Conditioner.

Jan Marini made the original formulation and others copied her. Apparently several of these formulas have been removed from the market due to safety issues i.e. you could go blind. Lisa tells me this latest incarnation is the best ever. I took the plunge and bought it from her - you can too by going to her store at: www.evolutionwellnesscenter.com If you can't find the product in her online store, call her or email her.

I am two days into this expiriment and am having major placebo effects. Maybe my mascara application was better today than it was yesterday. Whatever the case may be, I aspire to have the eyelashes my 2 clients do. Looking forward to sharing my results!

New Health & Beauty Recommendations

2008-07-24T21:26:00.001-07:00

I am constantly searching for the best practitioners to keep me healthy, pain-free and as youthful looking as possible. Following is a list of my latest finds:

Chiropractic:
Dr. Matt Colman, Hayes Valley Wellness
190 Gough St.
415-621-1522

Matt's work includes chiropractic, cranial osteopathy, physical therapy and nutrition. What I really like about his work is that he doesn't just crack you and send you on your way, he looks at your whole system - muscles, organs, etc... and determines how best to proceed to make you well. Not sure what supplements you should be taking? He can test you to see what your body is in need of and make the necessary recommendations.

Skin Care
Lisa Eddy
Evolution Wellness
(See Hayes Valley Wellness for address)
866-933-9322

First of all, Lisa's skin is absolutely gorgeous and she is clearly healthy and radiant. The product lines she carries are fantastic and she will go through your make up and skin care products and test you to see what your body really likes and doesn't like. I was sold once she told me to get rid of my cleanser and moisturizer and recommended Sampar products and cleansing my skin for 2 minutes at least 2x daily. My skin irritations have disappeared!

In addition to skin care, Lisa does massage, Reiki, breath work and nutritional counseling. She and Matt are a great team and you will feel well taken care of in their hands.

Nutritional Counseling
Alice Moore
Emerge Healing
alice@emergehealing.com
646-894-4335

Alice was previously working with Fruition and though still connected, she has linked into another practice. As a holistic health counselor, Alice talks with you not just about what you should be eating, but about how to make sure your life is fulfilling you as much as your food. She guides you to make healthier choices and teaches you not to beat yourself up about mistakes like that entire tub of ice cream. A true nurturer and inspiration!

Kettelbell Workshops at Informed Body

2008-06-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

Kettlebell Workshop with
San Francisco 7x7 Magazine’s “Best Taskmaster”

Learn how to use this amazing cast-iron cannonball with a handle to achieve superior cardiovascular conditioning, core strength, enhanced athleticism, and weight loss. No more slow, boring, ineffective “cardio” on the treadmill or endless grinds on weight machines that produce little functional carryover.

An introductory workshop presented by Cecilia Tom, the RKC HardStyle kettlebell instructor featured in the June 2008 “Best Of” issue of San Francisco 7x7 Magazine, at Hayes Valley’s premier pilates studio, Informed Body. Two identical sections are offered to accommodate your schedule.

Section 1 – Friday 6/27 & Friday 7/11, 3:30 to 4:30 PM
Section 2 – Sunday 7/13 & Sunday 7/20, 3:30 to 4:30 PM

Cost: $85

For more information about the workshop and to register, visit
www.praxiskettlebell.com and click on “workshops” – space is extremely limited so act soon!

Kettlebell lifting will open your eyes (and hips) to a whole new world of intelligent movement and strength training. Come swing some ‘bells with us and get a smoking workout! Appropriate for results-oriented men and women with no pre-existing injuries.

“This extreme hand-held gym delivers an unparalleled mix of all-purpose strength and conditioning, melts fat without the dishonor of aerobics, and forges a classic physique.”

- Pavel Tsatsouline

Kicking Sugar (again)

2008-05-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

Supposedly it takes 21 days to form a habit. Unfortunately the sugar habit can be formed in much less time. After the In-8 workshop with Alice Moore, I made good food choices and was able to kick my nightly chocolate and daily biscotti habit. What killed me was vacation. The nightly glasses of wine, lovely meals and dessert put me over the edge in no time at all. I had to think back to what worked in the past and make the changes immediately.

For a few days I tried to eat my sweet potatoes, but wasn't thrilled. I bought a bunch of different squashes in the hopes this will work on crushing the sugar cravings. Tried a half an acorn squash with a little bit of Agave necter, but still craved sweets! Today is Tuesday and I am officially going to call this day 2 of theoretical sugar busting. My plan is to try acorn squash, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and spaghetti squash every day for one week and see if my cravings go away. Will keep you posted. Other than going cold turkey what works best for you?

In-8 Week 8 Pilates/Week 7 Nutrition Recap

2008-03-30T18:55:00.001-07:00

Our last mat class was somewhat like doing Pilates on crack - Not that I'd know....but it felt like that. Each week we were able to present a new "toy" to enhance your workout and we tried to integrate every one in an hour which was quite a challenge. I will do my best to break it down and please note it isn't in order of movement, but in order of accessory used.

Ball:
bounces
jumping jacks
pelvic circles
1/2 curls
bridges w/straight legs
bridge stabilizer with 1 leg up
leg presses single/double with feet on ball

Magic circle:
squeeze between knees in and out
bridge and squeeze
knee folds
double leg stretch
arm pulses

Theraband:
curls w/band behind head
100's
roll backs w/arm pulses
triceps
biceps

Fit Loop:
Placed at ankles and we walked around the room like penguins
Side leg lifts and circles

Overball:
behind head for support in ab series
squeeze between knees and roll back
under spine - lower and lift legs
swan

Roller:
roll side to side
pec stretches
neck stretches
arm circles
chicken wings
single knee folds for balance
roll at shoulders by shifting roller horizontally

That is the best I can remember!

Nutrition recap:
We all brought delicious food and Alice asked us to take a moment and survey the table we set. We were asked to think about what we wanted and to choose one item to put on our plates. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and then take the first bite. Pay attention to the taste and continue to keep your eyes closed. Once the bite is fully chewed, open your eyes.

Mindful eating can help keep us from over indulging. Set your fork down between bites. Breathe.

We talked about what we gained from our experience over the 8 weeks and each of you had something beautiful to say so thank you again.

Your challenge for the final week will be to eat something green every day. Good luck!

In-8 Week 7 Pilates/Week 6 Nutrition Recap

2008-03-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

Pilates:

We added weights to our mat workout. Everyone used 2lb weights with the exception of Dionne. I recommend lighter weights to most people unless they are using weights at their gym, home practice or with a trainer and are strong enough to not use their necks or overuse their upper trapezius muscles. Keep in mind we were using these for props and not necessarily to build up muscles (this is just a bonus)

Start standing against a wall with your feet slightly forward of your body. Roll down one vertebrae at a time and let the weights assist in carrying your upper body lower. Initially you can just roll down and hang out and then come back up, but I want you to try to contract your bodies back against the wall to create additional resistance as you lower down. The idea is that you are "opening" up your back and stretching it in this contraction.

With back against wall, raise arms to shoulder height using the scapulae as your reference point and then lower. Pressing your shoulders back against the wall will assist you in keeping your pecs disengaged and will help you find your serratus and lats.

Sit with legs straight ahead of you on floor, arms with weights at the height of your shoulders. Roll back to where your stomach can support your back comfortably and then maintain this position as your arms "row" back towards you. You will open your elbows wide to the sides and then press the arms back out 5x and then sit back up.

Roll back again with arms at shoulder height, stabilize and lift 1 leg at a time

On back with knees bent, arms to ceiling do your rib cage arms. You will "float" your arms over your head and back while anchoring your ribs and upper abs and with the weights feel a deeper connection of the arms moving from your back

Bring knees up to chest and do your knee folds with the weighted arms. You can make this movement more challenging by adding ribcage arms to the equation.

Leg stirs/circles with opposing arms. We discussed the idea of cross patterning which essentially is a motor skill which fires both sides of the brain and assists with balance. Lift your right arm to the ceiling and left leg as well, circle your arm the opposite direction your leg is circling 5x and then reverse.

Sit up and find a balance point on your coccyx. Hold arm weights directly in front of you, but keep your shoulders retracted into your back

Rolling with weights - inhale back, exhale up x10. Weights can make your stomach work harder, but also help get you up.

Rotator cuff - lying on side with knees bent, elbow at hip bone and weight in hand. Keep elbow stable as you lift arm slowly and lower back

Straighten legs and reach arm with weight to ceiling, lower arm and lift top leg and return x10 (like a half jumping jack)

Still lying on side, swing arm forward and leg back and then switch x10

Double leg stretch - on back, weights to the ceiling, knees to the chest. Inhale as you extend the arms back and legs out, exhale as you come back to center. head up or down depending on weight and neck strength.

Stabilize shoulders again with arms to ceiling, knees bent at 90 degree angle. Tip your body over to one side without losing shoulder stability then use your obliques to assist in coming back to center.

Weight work can make your neck muscles and upper back muscles tight so we used tennis balls to release and massage our backs. Place the ball under your shoulder blade. if it doesn't hurt you aren't in the right place and will need to adjust the ball until you feel it. Reach your arm to the sky and make tiny circles. Next reach across your body and then open back up. Do a 1/2 chicken wing by opening up your arm and bending at the elbow.

Niceties over - stand up with weights in hands by sides. Lean over laterally and reach your hands towards your feet without twisting your upper back or hips. Slowly come up and lean the other way. Challenge yourself by doing sets of 2, 4, 6, etc....

Back to the wall for another set of roll down stretches.
Pec stretch on wall - stand against wall with arm directly to side, fingers spread, shoulder at wall and turn away from your arm as you hold and breathe.
Side stretch - stand arms distance away from wall with fingers on wall and stretch over to wall and then away.

Nutrition Class:

Special Guest Speaker Savra (spell?) spoke about Raw food

What is raw food?

- Food that isn't cooked or heated above 100 degrees
- Plant based, fruits, veggies, raw nuts and seeds, seaweeds, fermented foods, dried fruits, some grains

Raw food is eaten as they are like salads. You can soak or sprout nuts and seeds, make dehydrated crackers from nuts and grains.

Why?

- Gives energy
- Is fresh, pure, alive and is quickest way for energy to get into your body
- "whole foods"
- tastes good, quality is higher

Benefits include: clear skin, brighter eyes, can help weight loss, increase energy, skin softer, body odors eliminated, emotional and physical clearing

Foods contain a high amount of enzymes and minerals which are essential for our bodily functions. These enzymes diminish when food is cooked and we need these enzymes for digestion. The more enzymes your body gets, you have more energy because you aren't working as hard to detox. More live food helps replenish cells.

If you take digestive enzymes, use ones that are plant based and close to whole food.

How to add raw foods into your diet:

- In the morning try fruit before you eat anything else or instead of your normal breakfast eat fruits and nuts for fat.
- Try to make a smoothie with fruits, flax seed oil, can add greens.
- Salads - make them simple and use what you like. Add a few nuts and use oily dressings.
- try some dehydrated crackers or breads

Homework:
2 Raw foods a day, bonus points for 4

In-8 Week 6 Recap

2008-03-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Foam Roller Workout;

Foam rollers are a great tool to use for a variety of reasons:
1. They are an unstable surface which forces your body to recruit muscles which don't typically do too much work and allows the overworked muscles to take a break.
2. Rollers are great for stretching your arms, back and legs
3. It is like having a cheap massage therapist at your fingertips
4. Cost is only $25/roller and can be purchased through optp.com, pilates.com, some sporting goods stores carry them as well.

Exercises on the foam roller:

On your back with the roller running from top of head to base of tailbone:
- Roll side to side
- As you roll right, turn your head away and switch as you go left for neck release
- Arms to ceiling and as you roll side to side reach your fingertips to ceiling as your shoulder blades lift off the roller
- circle arms 10x each direction
- chicken wings - arms overhead, place back of hands as close to floor as you can as you bend your elbows and pull them towards your back pockets (this is a great pec stretch)
- knee folds single and double
- try to balance by first lifting left arm up and right foot off floor then switch
- do the same thing with both arms and one foot off floor
- upper back curls
- hundreds breath, but don't pulse arms
- single leg stretch with head down or up and don't use arms
- double leg stretch without arms

- Shift off the roller and turn it horizontally. Place roller at your bra line and support your neck with your hands. Lift your hips up off floor and roll up towards neck and back down to bra line.

- Place roller under the arches of your feet and do your bridges
- Stretch hamstrings
- Lift back up to bridge and roll the roller away a few inches and back in
- In bridge, take one leg off and reach toes to ceiling

- On stomach, place heel of hands on roller and send your shoulders down your back as you roll the roller towards you and lift your chest off the floor for your Swan

- lie on your side and place the roller under your ankles. your legs will be stacked on top of each other. bend your elbow right under your shoulder and reach your top arm towards your feet. press your elbow into the mat and your legs into the roller and lift your body off the ground into a side plank - only do 3 since this is tough on the shoulders, lats, obliques, serratus

- Roller is horizontal and placed under the small of your back and your legs are up to the ceiling
- lower one leg towards the floor and keep the other one up to the ceiling and then switch. You can add a pulse. Pay attention to your leg tracking straight down the midline of your body
- open both legs wide and then rotate one leg towards your face and the other one towards the floor then reverse (helicopter)
- bicycle your legs 5x each direction. Try touching your toe to the mat, reach out and bring the leg back up

-Roller is again horizontal only this time you are on the side of your leg close to the hip on top of it. Slowly massage down your leg. This will hurt like no one's business, but it releases your iliotibial band and helps with knee and low back problems
- on stomach with roller at top of thighs. Roll forward and back at least 10x with legs together, turned out and then wide open

In the end you will feel great!

Nutrition recap -

We discussed proteins and fats and Alice reminded us to use fats mindfully. Good fats include but are not limited to:
avocado
nuts
beans (fat + protein)
Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Hot pepper sesame oil (spicy), Flax Seed Oil
Safflower and Sunflower oils are good for cooking
Avoid Mazzola oils and Crisco
Butter - use good quality, organic
Ghee as a butter substitute
Nut butters - peanut, almond
Cheese, Yogurt - pay attention because too much dairy can cause mucous
More fermented cheeses are easier to digest
Also note if you are using organic or not because animals who are fed hormones can affect your hormones.

If using salad dressings, check labels since sugar is often hidden. Alice recommended Annie's Goddess dressing.

Proteins :
in addition to meats, we talked about Salmon being protein and good fat
Soy products:
edamame is good
Tofu is highly processes
Tempeh is better - more fermented than tofu, builds intestinal flora
Soy has a lot of estrogen

Alice went on to make some suggestions for how to integrate what we have learned so far. Examples included:
Cook your grains in advance
Saute carrots, onions, mushrooms and add leftover rice
Make soup in advance
Breakfast porridge can be made from grains
Millet - can be cooked like rice and used as b-fast porridge
Whole Grain instant cereals are great to have on hand like oat bran or cream of whole wheat
Buy already chopped veggies
Boxed soups
Frozen Veggies are good emergency food (birdseye brand was recommended)
Hard boil eggs
Bake your sweet and root vegetables in advance
We discussed the cleanse at Fruition and what cleanses are
Canned beans - saute and put in tortilla
Raw Salads - shred veggies like cabbage, bok choy, carrots, broccoli slaw

Dressings can be made with lemon juice and apple cider vinegar
Try umeboshi vinegar

In-8 Week 5 Recap

2008-03-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed class Monday (which was everyone except for Dionne & Lori) your inner thighs and abs will be bummed! Katie and I ganged up on those two and make them do a "Magic Circle" workout. The magic circle is often referred to as a "ring of torture" or as Lori put it "that Suzanne Sommers thing the thigh master." Whatever you want to call it, we call it good old fashioned fun! Here is what we did and it all was with the magic circle which by the way can be purchased on the cheap through Target or at any sporting goods shop.

Squeezes with circle at knees, pelvis remains neutral
Upper back curls while squeezing circle (helps engage pelvic floor)
Upper back curls with a twist still squeezing circle
Bridges with circle at knees
100's with circle at either ankles or knees
Roll-ups (new this week) with circle between heel of hands
Hamstring Stretch w/leg in circle
1/2 curl up with one leg in circle (tricky!)
Rolling with Circle at hands and then between ankles
Single leg stretch with arms holding circle overhead
Double leg stretch w/circle at ankles or between hands
Side kicks with circle between legs

Arm exercises standing:
circle in front of body then squeeze 10 times; lift to head and squeeze 10 and lower and squeeze 10
circle resting on hip, arm presses circle into body
circle resting on butt, arm presses with a slighly bent elbow
Circle at forehead and press in with one hand to strengthen neck extensors (weird looking and feeling)

Legs standing
circle between ankles stand in a narrow stance
lift and lower heels and try to balance
shift weight to one leg and pulse in and out then switch weight to other side

on back again and use circle to stretch legs again

In-8 Week 4 recap

2008-02-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Pilates Class on Monday Recap

We spent the entire class on the physio balls. The balls we used were 65 cm in case anyone is interested in buying one for their homes. 65cm tends to be the best size for most people (even if you are short like me!)

Seated on ball:
Bounce up and down (remember to not let the ball feel your weight - like sitting on someones lap)
Continue to bounce and add in arms - lift and lower, side and down
Jumping jacks on ball
Slow down your bounces and come to a still position
Coccyx curls - don't lose height or compress low back
Hip Circles - right and left
Crunches - ball at bra line and tailbone is anchored down (like 1/2 curls on mat)
1/2 curl with a knee fold - tricky! one side of your body is trying like mad to stabilize you and the ball needs to stay still.

On backs on the mat:
Bridges - knees over ball, straight legs with heels on ball
Single leg balance - in bridge, take one leg off ball and hold then switch legs
100's - ball in between ankles, legs in air
1/2 curls with ball resting on stomach; roll ball up to knees as you curl upper body off mat - keep tailbone pointing towards heels - no tucking
Knee folds - from the 1/2 curl keep your head up, arms straight and ball at knees. Feet lift off mat and lower and lift the legs with ball staying put at knees.
Double leg stretch - ball between ankles - extend legs away from center and pull back in - range can be small if you aren't strong enough to support low back.
Rolling/Balance - hold ball in air and find your balance point on your tailbone - roll back and up each time trying to balance
Spine stretch - sit with legs mat width apart and roll the ball forward as you stretch your back and your hamstrings
Swan - on stomach over the ball, legs hips width apart - anchor your pubic bone and rest your arms to the sides of the ball as you lift your chest slightly off the ball
Kneeling Side Kicks - kneeling with one leg straight out to side and knee closest to the ball is bent - wrap your arm over the ball and press your hips laterally into it as you lift and lower and then circle the straight leg
(modification - try standing with ball against wall, hips pressing into ball and lift outside leg)

Standing with ball on wall, backs on ball
roll down to stretch pressing back/butt into ball
Squats - only go as low as you are comfortable

Plank - kneel in front of ball and place elbows on top - lift body off mat and press ball away until your legs are straight and you are holding your abs to steady yourself. Lower after a few breaths and repeat 2-3 more times.

Arch over ball to get a big back stretch then sit up again and finish with the bouncing you did at the beginning of the workout.

Nutritional Counseling:

We did finally get to talk about greens and green vegetables, but first Alice talked with us about our negative speak when it came to our food preparations. For example - Sonia said she was too lazy to cook and Alice said "You have a full time job, live in a city and lead a busy life. That is not lazy. Lazy is lying on a couch all day. You just haven't developed the 'self-care' skill to make the food which is appropriate for you."

Another discussion ensued about stress eating and again wise Alice proclaimed "we don't have to eat over our stress/feelings." She brought to our attention the idea that maybe we are missing something else in our primary foods. During this discussion, Sarah coined the term "sugar tooth" to describe her recent activities in the sweets department.

A shopping list was passed out as was a list of "amazing greens"
In oriental medicine, green is related to the liver,emotional stability and creativity
"Bitter" is the flavor associated with the liver based on the 5 element theory of fire, water, earth, air and metal. Alice explained that each organ system is associated with a flavor such as sweet, bitter, pungent, salty and sour.

Women tend to lack in minerals and dark, leafy greens contain a lot of minerals.
Greens also contain phytochemicals which boost our immune systems and help fight disease.
Fermented foods help build intestinal flora.

The handout really says it all so if this recap seems lean, I apologize. Don't forget to pick one up next week. Our homework was to try a new green and here are some suggestions:
Kale
Collard Greens
Dandelion
Spinach
Arugula
Endive
Watercress
Bok Choy

Most of these can be blanched, boiled or sauteed. Recipes were included in another handout.

In-8 Week 3 Recap

2008-02-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

This week we used the Thera Band to enhance our mat workout and here is what we did:

Our workout started seated with the band at our feet and we pointed and flexed 10x
On our backs we extended one leg up in the air with the band at the ball of our foot and we gave ourselves a hamstring stretch and then did ankle circles x10
We then sat up and placed the band across our feet and rolled down through our spine and back up again
On our backs, we placed the band behind our heads to support our necks and we did upper back curls which allowed us to really access our abs without engaging our neck muscles.
Double knee folds came next with our upper bodies lifted and supported by the bands
100's with band supporting head and pulsing our arms holding the band
Leg circles - extending our legs out into the band allowed for greater stretch
Rolling - band at balls of feet. This was a big challenge!
Double Leg Stretch - first we did this with the band supporting our heads as both legs extended away from us and then back to center and then we placed the band at our feet and changed the resistance.
Open Leg Rock - harder than rolling since our legs were higher in the air with the band around our feet
Arm Exercises Seated -
We held the band and stretched our arms over our heads to open up our chests
Rotator Cuff - band between hands w/palms up, elbows at sides and press arms open without disengaging the elbows from waist
Arm Exercises Standing
Bicep curls - band under left foot, hold with right hand and reach up with palm facing in
Triceps - one hand behind back at waist, opposite hand holds band by ear with elbow pointing forward, extend band up and out and slowly return
Lunging triceps - one foot forward standing on band (hips stay squared off) and both arms press band back and up
Lunging Bicep - switch feet and pull band forward and up
Side Legs with Fit Loop
Band at ankles lying on our sides - lift and lower top leg then do circles - 10x each
Swan - on stomach, hold band with arms long behind back and pull band out as you extend spine up

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING SESSION:
What started off as "Greens and Green Vegetables" quickly became "deconstructing your cravings."

Alice explained this as if we aren't getting a balance of tastes and textures, our bodies will find a way to get them.

There are 5 different tastes and here are some examples
Sweet (sugar, fruits)
Salty (salt, nuts)
Sour (grapefruit)
Bitter (arugula, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens)
Pungent (garlic, ginger, radishes)

We discussed how if you deny yourself sweet in your diet, you are more likely to find it in a not so positive manner - i.e. muffins + coffee. Aside from the multitude of side bars and Trader Joe's recommendations we discussed how we push ourselves to the point where our blood sugar drops and we make poor food choices especially when we reach the point of "homicidal hunger" (a Katie term)

Some people lean to the savory more than the sweet and those people find their sugar in other ways like with bread or other processed foods. Alice suggested trying sprouted breads, European sourdough, hemp bread or women's bread. For the coffee/muffin combo the suggestion was made to try Kashi Go Lean cereal with Soy Milk, or toasted bread with cheese, tomato. Instead of PB and Crackers, try PB and Apple.

Our "homework" was to pay attention to the 5 different tastes and see if we are lacking somewhere and how we can integrate them all in. Also we were asked to see how we felt when eating one way and then making subtle changes.

In -8 week 2 recap

2008-02-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Great work this week! We saw some great changes in your form during your mat work out. I hope everyone stays healthy and does their homework. Here is what we did this go around:

Mat Class:
We incorporated the overball which was used for keeping the neck supported and for assisting with alignment. Some people treated it like a pillow and you know who you are....exercises we accomplished are listed below and the ones in bold were new:

coccyx curl w/ball at knees
bridge w/ball at knees
upper body curl w/ball at chest and then at knees
double knee folds w/ball at knees
100's w/ball under neck
seated curls back with ball at knees
balance w/ball at knees
rolling w/ball at knees
Knee stir/modified leg circle w/ball at opposite ankle
Single leg stretch - ball at head
Double leg stretch - option of ball at head or ankles
Spine stretch - use ball to roll away from center
Corkscrew modified with ball at ankles or knees
Swan using ball under hands for leverage
Swimming kick stabilizing ball w/arms/back
Side kicks w/ball - clam w/ball at ankle, straight legs double leg lift w/ball at ankle, place ball under top knee and lift/lower then circle bottom leg for inner thighs

Our nutritional counseling session was really interesting in that we discussed sweet & root vegetables, but we also got into a discussion about Yin/Yang how it relates to food as well as acidity in our bodies. I hope you can follow my notes!

In the beginning of our session we went over what we had tried during our week and Alice said we should all incorporate good quality fats into our diet as our bodies will streamline these.

Sweet & Root Vegetables include:
Sweet potatoes
Yams
Carrots
Beets
Onions
Parsnips
Daikon Radish (a blood cleanser & fat burner)!
Spaghetti Squash
Delicatta Squash
Butternut Squash

Alice recommended we pick 2-3 of these and either roast them or cook on stove. The oven could be heated to 425 degrees and we can place these veggies which should be cut into small pieces in the oven. Another option would be to saute in olive or sesame oil with a few inches of water for 10-15 minutes.

This would be a high fiber, complex carb snack which would stabilize your blood sugar. When your body gets sweet, it doesn't crave sugar.

Several of the squashes we discussed are shaped like women and have seeds in the middle and help balance hormones.

In Chinese medicine there is a 5 element theory of:
Fire
Water
Metal
Earth
Air
Different organs are associated with each element.

We look at our diet as 5 elements as well:
Whole Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Oils/Proteins
Primary Food (vacation, sleep, family etc.)

At this point we began discussing Yin (of the heavens, expansive) and Yang (of the earth (contracting) and how it relates to our lives and what we eat.

A standard american diet consists of salt which is a contracting mineral (yang). Excess salt contracts the organs. For example, if our livers are contracted we are often angry.
The salt we eat is poor quality. The purpose of salt is minerals. Table salt is just sodium chloride which is void of minerals. Integrate high end salts like sea salts.

Primary foods are both yin and yang.
Living in a city is yang
Living in the country is ying
In the middle is movement, sleep, sexuality, breathing

We lead yang lives and we crave yin like sugar and alcohol which are expansive. Vacation to us is yin. We are also balanced to the extremes. In the morning we want caffeine and sugar and in the evening we want meat and cheese. Where we need to be is in the middle where whole foods such as fruits, grains, beans and tofu exist.

We decided that Fish and Chicken are more Yin and Beef is more Yang.

Eating whole foods cleans out mucous in our intestinal linings. More acidity in blood exacerbates joint pain.

We were given recipes which incorporate sweet and root vegetables as homework.

In 8 Workshop Week 1 Recap

2008-02-07T11:29:00.001-08:00

We covered a lot of ground in one week and want to keep the information fresh for you. Starting with Pilates, here is what we did:

Pilates Mat Work:

Breathing - relax, imprint your spine onto your mat, feel the bony landmarks
Coccyx Curls - begin articulating your spine from the very base
Bridges - low, keeping ribs on mat, feeling hamstring stability
Neck Curl - a proper sit up where your spine stays neutral (no tucking)
Single Knee Folds - in neutral, lift one foot off the floor and stabilize your pelvis
Double Knee Folds - more challenging to stay neutral, small range of movement
Double Knee with Head Up - adds a level of difficulty, can hold your head w/hands
100's Modified - arms pump up down, knees at 90 degree angle, inhale/exhale 10
Knee Stirs - circle knees in socket from the joint to release hip flexors
Seated 1/2 curls - sitting up you curl your spine back and hold a C-curve
Balance - roll back to the "meaty" part of your butt and lift feet off mat, hold legs from deep belly muscles not hip flexors
Rolling - from the balance, roll back to small of back and up with a complete inhale and exhale - maintain the C-curve so you actually roll
Single Leg Stretch - on your back, head curls up and you extend the right leg out while holding your left knee and then switch while you inhale 2 legs and exhale 2 legs. Keep legs at an angle which is comfortable for your back.
Double Leg Stretch - both legs extend up and away from the midline of the body and your arms simultaneously go behind your body. Exhale and pull back into the center. Again, watch the angle of your legs and support your neck if necessary.
Spine Stretch - sit up with legs in a small V and reach for your toes while contracting your low belly muscles away from your feet - don't hunch upper body forward
Modified Corkscrew - legs bent and up in the air. Make a circle on your sacrum as the legs swing right around and center and then left back to center. Limit range of movement to what is appropriate for your spine.
Modified Swan - on stomach with arms at sides, fingers reaching to heels, exhale and anchor the pubic bone into the mat as you lift your upper back and arms off the mat
Side Kicks - on your side, lift and lower the top leg while extending the feet past each other and then small swings forward and back without shifting your spine forward and back.

I know that is a lot of information so sit with it and we will re-visit on Monday.

Nutritional Counseling Session:

We discussed changing our relationship to food.
Overview points to think about:
You are what you eat
What you put inside your body becomes you because it goes into your blood
Your Body is smarter than your mind - physiological and psychological responses to food
What effects does food have on your body?
Primary food is fulfillment, Secondary food is what you eat

WHOLE GRAINS:

Simple Carbs - white flour, white rice, pizza, pasta. These are addictive which becomes psychological. These process in fat cells like sugar.

Complex Carbs - these raise your blood sugar slower and keep it steady.

Note that neither one of these is bad.

Alice recommended the following book whose title has changed:
"Potatoes not Prozac" or "Sugar Addicts"

Homework was given to try one new complex carb. Examples were passed around such as Soba noodles, 4 grain plus flax cereal, trail mix with tamari almonds, cranberries sweetened with apple juice and raw pumpkin seeds, goji berries.

January 28 Informed Body on ABC 7 View from the Bay

2008-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Tune in today before Oprah to watch Informed Body on View from the Bay. They came to our studio to film and show people what the equipment looks like and to get an idea about how we do things. It occurred to me after I was interviewed that they were going for a "mind/body/spirit" bent which is great, but not really how we roll.

My take on the mind/body aspect of Pilates is if you are paying attention to your body while you are in movement of any kind, you will be less likely to hurt yourself and more likely to be moving efficiently thus achieving better results in terms of posture, strength and flexibility. I am definitely not one to tell people to stop talking during their workouts. As long as you are doing the exercises properly and are aware of the task at hand, I am happy.

We had a lot of fun showing off our studio and I hope it comes through in the video that was shot. Many thanks to Katie McMahon, Cami Clark, Traci Higgins, Trina Hancock, Shona Curley and Alice Moore for participating and for being hilarious. I am not going to name names, but some ladies brought hair dryers to make sure their hair was perfect and another had her makeup done. Hmmm...

Don't forget to watch or TIVO today!

Must Read Book - Options

2008-01-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

If you are in need of being humored, this book will make you glad you have a strong pelvic floor since you will be laughing so hard. The fake Steve Jobs is at his best when he asks Hillary Clinton if she has ever heard of Pilates which clearly she hasn't given the shape she is in. I love that he pokes fun at Larry Ellison for his tea ceremonies and plastic surgeries and then Bono for his save the world antics and his blatant disregard for everyone else.

So many parts of this book had me crying. I passed it on to a client who suggested we pen the "fake Brittany Spears" blog which lord knows I would if I could. Read this book now!!!!!

Buns Day - In Theory not in Practice

2007-12-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

The fourth annual Bun's Day won't be happening as a booty beauty class this year. Instead of me begging everyone to come early on a Sunday morning for an additional workout, I am asking you to Give Back in one of three ways:

1. Buy Omala clothes at Informed Body and we will donate 10% to SaveABunny (see photos of clothes)

2. Bring a check to the studio and at the end of the month we will pass those on to the shelter

3. Go directly to the website at www.saveabunny.com and donate via paypal.

SaveABunny is a non-profit animal rescue organization that saves rabbits from euthanasia at shelters across the Bay Area. Most people aren't aware that after cats and dogs, rabbits are the third most frequently euthanized animal at shelters around the country. Donations go to covering medical expenses, food, shelter and spay and neuter programs.

I hope you will join me in supporting this organization this holiday season and check back next year for Buns Day 5 - we will be working out with a vengeance.

Mat Certification Class

2007-11-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

Today was the last day of our teacher training classes for the Pilates mat work. The five ladies who took our course were great students and I have faith they will make great teachers in the future.

In addition to sharing my 11 years of teaching experience and Shona's 9 years of teaching experience, we had them read several books about the work to use for referencing the exercises. When we were at a loss to explain to them why they'd do certain exercises like Rocking (an advanced move I never like to teach) or Swan Dive (not comfortable on men, full bladders etc...) we'd refer to the book "Rael Pilates". Who knew the answer was "to harness your energy". I have never told a client to harness anything. Descriptions like that are almost as priceless as a teacher asking you to breathe through orifices that aren't so obvious.

At the end of our two weekend workshop, we were all exhausted and sore, but we learned a lot. Trainees will be asked to complete 88 hours of class time, practice, observation and practice teaching. If you are interested in working with one of the trainees as a "guinea pig" please let us know.

Finally - a decent article about the "core"

2007-10-29T06:08:00.001-07:00

As a general rule of thumb I can't stand the word "core". Often overused and not completely understood, this buzz word of the moment makes everyone believe they are in the know about the body by slipping it into a sentence. An example "We did core work in our exercise class."

I always have to ask what the heck that means to people and 9 times out of 10 they have no clue. They think because they worked their abs, they used their core. Not so. The core is all the muscles in the torso which stabilize the spine and the connectors as well from the legs up. Just yesterday I was reading the NY Times and came across a great article which actually had a good description of the core. Follow this link and learn:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/sports/playmagazine/28physed.html

OMALA at Informed Body

2007-10-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed the trunk show for Omala last weekend I want to share some of my favorite looks. I love a lot of things about this line. It is owned by a lovely woman named Kate Gaertner who also owns a store in NY. Supporting a small business is always a good thing. Kate is planning on producing future lines in the US which is another good thing. She uses sustainable fabrics like Bamboo which is very green. The styling is different from most other activewear lines out there and looks great whether you are wearing it in your workout, dance class or hanging out with friends.

We will carry some of these pieces at Informed Body and rotate them out every few weeks so check back with us. To view the line in its entirety, go to www.omalausa.com If you aren't sure how the items look in person, just ask me (jill) I think I bought ever piece made this season and love them all.

It Pays to "Lose"

2007-10-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Today the studio was buzzing with discussions about Al Gore and his Nobel prize win. Not winning the presidency or having it "stolen" from him hasn't hurt his cause. Since not being the president, he has won an Oscar, an Emmy and now a Nobel. I likened this phenomenon to American Idol where it really pays to lose. Take Jennifer Hudson for example. She didn't win Idol, but she did win an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls in spite of the fact Simon said she'd never make it.

That is a very dumbed down version of the discussion, but the point is we love those underdogs!

Barneys

2007-09-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Ok so this isn't fitness or health related, but it is news. Barneys New York opened in San Francisco last week which to me is very exciting since I have a serious shoe fetish. I will break it down for you all quickly:

1. The Good
It isn't huge. This space is so well edited and easy to navigate. Where other retailers make us dig or enter a store within a store, Barneys is all open and the racks aren't crammed with crap we don't need or want. The shoe department carried some brands not seen in other stores like Lanvin or Givenchy and once again was not overwhelming. Is it just me or does Neiman's need to stop buying the entire Manolo Blahnik line? I can't stand the way they have 5 million pairs poorly displayed. I digress....Great ambiance. Interesting lines are being carried. Loved the Christopher Kane clothes.

2. The Bad
I ask myself "why god, why" does this store need to carry that horrid Juicy Couture crap? No offense to you Marc Jacobs, but your clothes are inundating the retail scene here. I worry you will become the Liz Claiborne or the Jones New York of my generation and I don't mean that in a positive way if you know what I mean. Let us not forget the oversaturation of Diane Von Furstenburg. I get it and yet I don't want to buy it. Clothing aside, the only other criticism is the fact that all racks against the windows are hard to see since the light coming in is so bright. Might I suggest putting a film on the windows?

I am just thankful to have a store that I can run in and out of quickly and potentially find something unique and useful without having to search high and low. I am begging the GM Richard and the shoe Manager Carlos to allow me to host a shoe party one day soon. Interested in attending? Let me know.

Healthy Snacking, Healthy Portions Lecture Recap

2007-09-20T18:52:00.001-07:00

First of all I want to thank Traci Higgins our lecturer for doing a phenomenal job. I understand parking was a nightmare out on Hayes Street due to the Symphony gala, so my apologies to those of you who were unable to get there. Regardless, I'd like to share some of the highlights with you:
1. We learned that a Big Mac, a Starbucks blueberry muffin and a small, non-buttered popcorn all have the same amount of fat. Very scary!
2. Traci discussed how to cut calories throughout your day.
a. instead of eating a huge Noah's bagel with cream cheese, buy whole grain mini bagels and put Laughing Cow cheese on it instead. You get the same taste and save over 200 calories.
b. when buying yogurt, get the smaller container and you save calories there
c. Ben & Jerry's and Haagen Das each have come out with single serving ice creams. Instead of buying the pint size and eating too much, buy the single serving. You will save yourself close to 200+ calories
d. the food industry has created "monster" fruits which do not truly reflect the serving size we are meant to eat - buy the small apple not the one the size of a basket ball.
3. Traci's restaurant tips
a. When out at a Mexican restaurant, say no to the chips and ask them to bring out corn tortillas instead. Cut these into quarters put salsa on them. It is much more satisfying than chips and you save hundreds of calories.
b. always order soup or salad before your meal. Ask for a side of fresh herbs with your salad - basil, rosemary, dill whatever. By adding these to your salad, you create more flavor and you just need a bit of olive oil to make it taste even better.
4. Never skip breakfast. If you store your calories up for a big meal out, you will inevitably overeat. Try to have fiber in the morning, like a high fiber cereal and a piece of fruit.
5. All meals should contain a protein, a fat and a carbohydrate. Do not fear carbs, your brain needs them to function.
6. Eat several small meals throughout the day so your body doesn't crash. A particularly unsatisfying lunch is a salad with nothing else. Try nuts, an egg, a slice of cheese, perhaps some hummus or even peanut butter to round out your experience.
7. If you eat a sugar like a chocolate, you must combine it with something like a fruit to balance it out so your insulin doesn't spike. Don't eat crappy chocolate, get the good stuff and savor it.
8. Most people only eat a variety of 15 items. She recommended we go to the grocery store produce section and go through everything there and list what we buy and what we don't. The list will amaze us. We should all try something new each week. Whether it is a new fruit or vegetable or a recipe we found online, we need to make the effort to try new things.

So much more was said, but those were some good points. Traci also recommended snacks like 1/2 cup of hummus and 1/2 whole wheat pita; whole wheat tortilla with 3 oz meat, 1tb cheddar cheese and black beans heated and accompanied by salsa or avocado or even an apple, pear or banana with 2 tb reduced fat peanut butter.

It was really eye opening to be shown the appropriate serving sizes for cereal and other snacks. Yes a quarter of a cup is depressingly small, but it is even more depressing to constantly be dieting. For more information about Traci, go to her website at www.dininginsf.com.

Enzymes & Energy Bars

2007-09-04T21:25:00.000-07:00

I make a lot of my health care decisions based on recommendations from colleagues. Often I test what they suggest and then if I am happy, I tell everyone I know. My latest products I am testing are Digestive Health enzymes from a company called Wellzymes and Cinch bars from Shaklee.

A friend who is both an Acupuncturist and Pilates studio owner in Switzerland told me I had to try these digestive enzymes she was taking. According to her she lost 4 Kilos from using these and many of her clients have lost several kilos as well. You lose me with the whole Kilo thing, but 4 sounds like enough to intrigue me. She explained the enzymes help you process your food better which makes you feel fuller since you are getting the full value out of your nutrition. These enzymes also helped her get rid of her sugar cravings. I figured they couldn't hurt me so I ordered a bottle. By the time by shipment arrived, my friend called to say she had lost even more of those darned kilos. I couldn't open my bottle soon enough.

My initial findings are exactly what she said - I am feeling fuller immediately and am not as inclined to want to eat sugar (i.e. chocolate) following each meal to satisfy me. It has been one week and actually do feel like I have more energy since my digestive system isn't sluggish. This product is definitely on my must try list. I subsequently ordered their metabolic balance pills. My only criticism of this product is I find it really challenging to take two pills two hours after I eat and or one hour before I eat. That is a lot to think about. Regardless, I am happy and would order these and other products from them.

The second product I am currently in love with are the Cinch bars from Shaklee. My co-worker Shona brought them in one day and said they tasted great and filled her up. Her mother sells Shaklee products and is constantly sending stuff to Shona to try out. It helped the bar was called Chocolate Decadence. These bars are much smaller than the ones I was eating before and their calorie content was 40 calories less. I was worried that a bar with 120 calories would leave me hungry. I was wrong. These bars have 10 grams of protein and 15 grams of carbohydrates. Most notably these bars are "powered by leucine". What the heck is leucine I thought? I dug deeper to find out it is an amino acid that helps with the regulation of blood sugar levels and the growth and repair of muscle tissue. This makes sense to eat after a workout or even before. Their small size is perfect for throwing in your coat pocket or in your bag and they are great to have on hand when you need quick energy. Shona also recommended the Cinch line of teas and shakes and if you are interested in trying any of them, let us know and we can order through her mother Jayme.

Jill Harris in the news

2007-08-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

In case you missed the San Francisco Chronicle this Sunday, August 12, I have copied the "On The Town" interview for you to peruse. Enjoy!

Jill Harris is the owner of Informed Body, a popular fitness studio in Hayes Valley that caters to bold-name socialites and well-toned neighborhood folks alike. She gave us a list of the places she gets to indulge after an intense week of Pilates and yoga instruction.

Cloud's Rest Healing Center, 2717 Judah St. "As a fitness and wellness professional, I am always looking to find a balance between doing things that are good for me and indulging without guilt. For example, I am completely Type A and get so overwhelmed with myself that I get on my own nerves. When this happens, I go to Cloud's Rest Healing Center for an acupuncture treatment with Janis Feichtmeir. I love that they have the most current People magazines in their lobby next to holistic reading materials. She is slowly getting me to sit still and relax for more than fifteen minutes at a time, and has cured my migraines."

Delessio Market and Bakery, 302 Broderick St. "Chocolate is a serious issue for me. I am addicted to the dark chocolate with peanut butter bubble wrap at Delessio. I justify eating this concoction by walking up the Hayes Street Hill to get there. My cardiovascular strength is unbelievably strong from this walk, which makes it well worth the calories."

Citizen Cake, 399 Grove St. "Enlightening Choices nutritionist Nancy Bennett (2475 Washington St.) advised me I needed to make time in my day for a 'chocolate vacation' to de-stress. I consider a trip to Citizen Cake for a chocolate espresso cookie the ultimate getaway."

Barneys New York (currently under construction), 47 Stockton St. "Shoes are another addiction of mine. I wear socks to teach all week long so I can spare my legs for the weekend when I wear heels that are always at least 4 inches high. I am beyond excited to shop the new Barneys in Union Square rather than wait for my Barneys.com shoe deliveries to arrive on their monthly basis. Clients are often surprised that I can walk in the shoes I buy, which just goes to show how great Pilates can be for balance and leg strength."

SaveABunny, www.saveabunny.org . "I rarely like silence and love that I talk with people all day long, except for on Tuesdays when I go to Marin to volunteer at SaveABunny, a nonprofit rabbit rescue group that rescues bunnies from shelters across the Bay Area. It is nice to be around animals who don't talk back and who appreciate the love and attention you can give them. Each year I host a fundraiser called 'Buns Day' for this group. It is a 'booty beauty' workout that supports their spay/neuter program and facility upgrades."

Dining in S.F., www.dininginsf.com . "Cooking is not one of my strong suits, which is why I love Dining in S.F., a personal-chef service that delivers on a weekly basis. Each week Traci Higgins, the chef and owner, sends out menus that list the calorie counts and options for fish, veggie or meat. The meals are delivered to my house and all I have to do is reheat. Only organic products are used."

ODC Dance Commons, 351 Shotwell St. "I never have to think about what I am going to eat when I am running between teaching and taking Modern Jazz Blues dance classes with Bayan Jamay and Elvia Marta at ODC Dance Commons. If you are looking for the key to staying young looking, try some classes here."

Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley. "For the best dance performances in the Bay Area, I go to Zellerbach Hall, where one of my favorite companies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, makes a yearly appearance."

Quince Restaurant, 1701 Octavia St. "For an indulgent meal or special occasion, Quince is a favorite. The pastas are always over-the-top fantastic. If you adhere to the Atkins diet, break it to try one of their dishes - you won't regret it."

E-mail Aidin Vaziri at avaziri@sfchronicle.com .

Informed Body 2007 Lecture Series Announcement

2007-08-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce our 2007 Lecture Series. Mark your calendars for the following dates:

Wednesday, September 19th @ 7:30pm - Traci Higgins, Dining In SF Founder and Executive Chef will discuss "Healthy snacking, healthy portions: Finding the balance in order to eat what you love"

Wednesday, October 24th @ 7:30 pm - Anne Krantz, Ph.D., ADTR will talk about Moving Your Body Image

Wednesday, November 14th @ 7:30pm - Julie Elliott, Creator and Founder of In Fiore will educate us about Beauty Remedies and Integrative Skin Care

Hint Water is sponsoring these events and they are all free of charge. We hope you will join us and stay informed.

InFiore Parfumerie

2007-07-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to InFiore Body Balms several years ago when we carried them at InForm Pilates. Julie Elliott who owns and created this company impressed me greatly with the care she put into her products as well as the quality of the ingredients. Recently I revisited her product line at her store on Post Street.

Once in the door I felt like I was in a shop in Paris. It reminded me of being in the shops at the Jardin du Palais Royal in Paris. In addition to her body balms and oils she stocks perfumes by Serge Lutens, beautiful candles and even a tincture called tonic gold. Everything is so beautiful I wanted to open each jar and smell each scent. Unfortunately my time was limited and my quest was for the perfect moisturizer for my face.

Julie pointed me over to her skin care oils and suggested I try her Calme formula. It smelled wonderful and felt really light on my skin. Even though it was an oil it didn't feel greasy or heavy. I was sold. At the counter I couldn't help but stare at this jar filled with bottles of a tincture called tonic gold. Julie excitedly explained this liquid helped her find clarity in her day, made her sleep better and change her behavior patterns. The more she talked about what it had done for her friends and customers, the more I felt the need to buy it. Here I am a week later with both my oil and tincture and these are my findings:

a. My face
Within 24 hours I was getting comments on how great my skin looked. I felt like my skin was smoother and hydrated and it actually glowed. I am a total convert and my face feels super soft.

b. My mental state of being
I am not going to lie. The directions said wait 20 minutes before eating after you take the tonic. You are supposed to take it as the sun rises, right when you get up. I can't function for 20 minutes without coffee and decided that coffee wasn't food. Julie set me straight. I took the tonic and hit snooze over the weekend and slept deeper than I had in a really long time. Am I more focused? Not sure yet. I am still trying to have a greater sense of clarity and am trying to meditate a little bit on what it is I want/need in my life. The jury is still out so I will get back to you, but I do like the idea of drinking gold in the morning.

Julie's products can be viewed online at www.infiore.net

A Chocolate Vacation

2007-07-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I sat down with nutritionist Nancy Bennett to discuss my bete noire which is sweets. She said something to me which made perfect sense - "when you eat your chocolate or other desserts, treat it as though you are taking a vacation away from your day." My days are crazy busy and eating food often feels like another task. So much so that I rarely enjoy my Trader Joe's dark chocolate squares or the salted caramels from Miette Confiserie.

I took her advice to heart, picked up individual sized Scharffenberger dark chocolate bars (which p.s. are a little spendy for their size) and gave myself a moment of quiet as I sat down to enjoy one. Though it was completely foreign to me to actually relax and enjoy my treat, I followed her instructions. After a few deep breaths, a bite here and there and complete silence, I felt much more relaxed and even satiated. A baby step I know, but I am willing to try to make a ritual out of enjoying treats so I don't aimlessly eat and overindulge without being satisfied.

Nancy spent a lot of time discussing not just what I ate, but how I approached my food. Together we came up with a list of chocolate that I could eat as snacks. My choices included the Scharffenberger bars, Chocolate Covered Biscotti, Chocolate covered fruit (portion controlled) and Hot Chocolate. Don't get me wrong, she also gave me a handout which recommended yogurt and dry roasted edamame as snacks as well, but I wanted something geared towards my trigger foods. She also gave me a "travel bag" to bring with me to work where I could pack away healthy snacks to always keep on hand. The bag included cups for portion control to make it easier to pack the right foods in the right amounts.

I'd highly recommend using Nancy to discuss your food issues. Be forewarned though, she will ask your commitment level to making changes before even meeting with you. When and if you are ready to make changes no matter how big or small, she can be reached at 415-346-1475 by phone or via email a info@enlighteningchoices.com.

Amazing VedaBody Thai Massage

2007-06-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

Ending a long week with a Thai Massage was a treat! Gina Ayon, owner of VedaBody is an amazing practitioner. Even though I am a complete chatty-patty, she still took a moment to quiet me down and center herself before working on me. She worked a lot on pressure points through my feet and finished up with my beyond tight upper back and neck. It was heavenly.

We discussed how the tightness in my body related to my organs and how ayurveda can help me. Gina was incredibly nurturing, knowledgeable and talented. If you get a chance to work with her you are lucky! She is seeing clients on Fridays from 11am-6pm. For more information go to www.vedabody.com.

Just a few more photos!

2007-06-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

I can't help myself - the studio looks so great I want to share as much as I can.

Voila!

2007-06-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

Not sleeping, eating a lot of chocolate, stressing and relying on the help of others was worth it! Today, June 4, Informed Body opened up and was about 90% ready. The studio looked great and energetically it was the type of place you want to be in all day. Maybe the energy was coming from across the way at Blue Bottle Coffee where I could smell the coffee and hear their grinders working all day long. Anyways, I am excited to share these photos with you and hope once our website www.informedbody.com is up, you will see all we have to offer. Our staff is amazing. Aside from me, our Pilates teachers are: Shona Curley, Anne Bishop, Whitney Archer and Lynn Welch. Personal Trainer Karen Dantzler and Yoga Teacher Katy Fox round off the group. We are blessed to be joined by VedaBody owner, Gina Ayon who will be available for Ayurvedic consultations and Thai Yoga Massage.

build out updates

2007-06-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

In case you missed all the chaos of the last few weeks of May, I wanted to share a few photos of what the space looked like in the eye of the storm. Enjoy.

2007-04-15T20:08:00.000-07:00

Photos of New Studio Pre-Build Out

2007-04-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here is what the studio looks like prior to the build out. Keep checking back for progress reports.