fitness

7 Free Physical Fitness Resources

Friday, January 06, 2017


Happy New Year! I know the new year has inspired a lot of us to set new fitness goals so I thought that I would share a few free fitness resources for you. All of these programs can be done at home and usually with minimal (or zero) equipment.

1. Yoga with Adriene - I love Adriene's attitude and the welcoming atmosphere she creates in her videos. She is all at once calm, funny, and inspiring. The YWA Youtube channel has something for everyone, including several job related or situational yoga programs. I just started her newest program, Yoga Revolution which is a 31 day free guided yoga practice.

2. Fitness Blender - FB provides absolutely free workout videos and has everything from HIIT training, strength training, core work, and pilates. The website has a really useful search function where you can narrow down workouts by time (here are all of there 10 minutes or less videos), difficulty, training focus, and equipment (here is the search I did for all workouts that require no equipment.).

3. Couch to 5K - C25K is a training plan that starts you off by walking and builds up your endurance so that you can eventually run a 5K race. I think that this plan is great for beginners and individuals looks to set a running goal. The plan is available online and via a free mobile app.

4. 7 Minute Workout - The 7 Minute Workout is a free app that is available (from several different developers) for both Apple and Android device. I have linked one here, but as I mentioned, there are several different ones to choose from. I think this is a great option for people who really feel like they are challenged with finding time to workout. The exercises are voice prompted and there are video and text descriptions of each exercise. Bonus- no equipment necessary! 

5. BeFit - BeFit is a YouTube channel that has a comprehensive library of workout free workout videos. You might see some familiar faces, like Jillian Michaels, Billy Blanks, Jr., and Denise Austin. There is definitely a wide range of options (to include yoga, stretching, core work, cardio dance, post natal exercises, and body weight work) and videos average about 10-12 minutes long.

6.NerdFitness - Shoutout to all of my fellow nerds! The team over at the highly successful NerdFitness.com created a few body-weight workouts for those of us who want to unlock our inner superhero. Check out the 20 minute hotel workout if you're on the road a lot, or want a workout you can do in your home office.

7. Dr. Paul Lam- Tai Chi for Health - I was looking for some alternative movement resources and came across Dr. Paul Lam's YouTube channel. The videos are older but there are quite a few instructional and informational videos. If you are looking for something that is low impact and can be done at home (or in a park) I highly recommend trying Tai Chi. I was so intrigued by his Tai Chi for Beginners- Free Lesson and Introduction video that I think I might be picking this up on active rest days.

** Photography by Erin Ammons- Lifestyle Photographer

change

Setting Intentions for the New Year

Wednesday, December 28, 2016


2017 is almost upon us and, after losing several talented artists over the last year, I'm sure most people are with me when I say "I AM READY." For me, the new year brings a sense of hope, opportunity, a sense of adventure, and the chance to make a fresh start. I always get a feeling of renewed energy and this year is no different.

When you start to set your intentions for the year I invite you to ask yourself how you would like to FEEL, THINK, and BE.

I intend to think about progress instead of perfection.

I intend to be open and ready for new opportunities that come my way.

I will make kindness and gratitude the focus of my encounters with others.


Here are a few self-reflective inquiries to ask yourself as you set your intentions for the new year.

1. What do I want to be different?

2. What are my strengths and how can I use them to help me make a positive change?

3. What do I want to be doing more of?

4. What do I want to be doing less of?

5. What feelings do I need to embrace/let go of to help me move forward?

The final step in setting intentions is visualizing your success. When you can picture yourself  achieving something, it is much easier to see the path that will take you there.

Find a quiet spot where you will 5-10 minutes of uninterrupted time. Seat yourself comfortably and focus on taking deep breaths. Think about the intentions you created for the new year. Imagine having already achieved your goals. How does it make you feel?




vegan clothing

Vegan Fall-Winter Clothing Essentials

Friday, November 11, 2016

The leaves are turning, the temperature is dropping, and all I can think about are cozy sweaters, bad hair day beanies, and warm scarves. Since adopting a vegan lifestyle I've been trying to not only pay attention to the food that I eat, but also to things like clothing and shoes.

If you want buy clothing free from animal products, here are a list of materials to avoid:

  • Wool (read this article on mulesing if you are wondering about the wool industry)
  • Leather
  • Cashmere
  • Alpaca
  • Shearling
  • Sheepskin
  • Angora
  • Down
  • Pashmina
  • Mohair
  • ANY type of animal fur

After seeing that list, you may be asking yourself if there is anything left to wear, especially in the colder months, or if you live in a generally colder climate. The answer is YES. The items I have curated below are just a few of many vegan options that are available. I just wanted to give you an idea of some stylish accessories, tops, coats, and boots that were available, since those are the items that usually contain animal products.



Oversized Blanket Scarf via Urban Outfitters//Mittens via Nordstrom
Beanie via Athleta//Headband via BuffUSA





V-Neck Sweater via Nordstrom *//Long Sleeve Tee via Amour Vert *
Oversized Cardigan via Nordstrom Rack *//Pebble Knit Sweatshirt via Make It Good *

Camel car coat via Oasis//Faux Fur Collar Belted Coat via Oasis

Puffer Jacket with Primaloft via Patagonia//Winter Parka via Hoodlamb


Clogs via Mooshoes//Pumps via Wills London//Sneakers via Mooshoes//
Flat boots via Wills London//Waterproof Winter boots via Sorel


*Made in the USA

Do you have any favorite vegan clothing resources?