Who said "Yum" has to be expensive?

I hate how our culture showcases candle light dinners, steak, lobster and the like as if it is something you MUST have if you want to have a good date, or even just a dinner out. Spending $50 or more for one night's dinner is very hard for me as that is one weeks worth of food for our family! Now, have I done it? Yes, but only a few times. Unlike many people, I would much rather go to the grocery store and buy food and cook a fancy dinner at home. I know that it doesn't have quite the same feel as a restaurant, and you do have the work of cooking and clean up after, however it is so much more enjoyable to me when I know that it didn't cost me an arm and a leg for a feast fit for a ladybug (you catch my drift?!).

Source

I heard a great sermon this last Sunday that talked about money and our culture; how we think we are broke and yet if you make $25,000/year, you are in the top 2% richest people in the world (according to Global Rich List). How crazy is that?!?! It got me thinking about what I am responsible for in our budget: food. Where I strive to make sure each meal is around $5 or $6 so that each serving is $1 or less, there are people living on $2/day for all of their living expenses. I can do better than that, right? Learning about the real numbers of our world's poverty made me come to a realization in the realm of preparing meals for my family.

Food is a energy source for our bodies; it's prime purpose is not meant to be an emotional experience. 

Okay, Okay, yes I think that food should taste great, but I think that too much time and effort is put into finding the perfect blend of flavors so that when you take a bite your whole world is made better. While I already knew this to some extent, it really clicked when the preacher was talking about the money aspect of it. Keeping this in mind, I hope to think twice before I pin the "Buttered Lobster, Pillowy White Rolls, with a side of Succulent Lemon Green Beans and Decadent Molten Chocolate Cake with Taiwanese Blueberries" recipes on Pinterest, for example. Sure, I think that all sounds wonderful (I wonder if it even exists...), but I can probably get more nutrition out of a different meal that costs me a lot less. I think there are times when a fancy dinner is okay, but fancy AT HOME dinner is so much cheaper! Try it some time :)

With all that being said, I would like to share with you some sites that I visit often to find inexpensive, nutritious meals to prepare for my family. These particular two sites also break down the costs of the recipe so I know exactly how much I'm spending- which also helps a lot!

Budget Bytes

Pennies & Pancakes

Both of these sites have whole wheat options if desired, and really try to create wholesome recipes on a tight budget. I'm very thankful for these sites as they do a lot of the work for me when it comes to figuring out what recipes fit with the ingredients I have on hand and also what fits into our budget. Below I listed a few of our family favorites from both Budget Bytes and P&P. I hope you like them as much as we have! 

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

Chili Cheese Beef N Mac (we use ground turkey)

Dal Nirvana and Naan 

Best Wheat Bread

Frozen Bean and Cheese Burritos

Wheat Pancakes

**If you are interested in hearing the sermon I talked about, definitely click the link :) It was a great lesson about breaking free from the bondage of debt in our lives...and much more! 

Healthy Fall Outdoor Activities and Tips

Fall is here and if you’re an outdoor enthusiast as I am, you’ll know that the evenings have turned cold (at least here in the Midwest) and the mornings are even colder. As it get’s colder, it gets easier and easier to skip a workout or hibernate inside.

Fall and winter bring with them not only cold weather, but great opportunities for new outdoor activities you and your family can enjoy. As you move your workouts and activities into colder weather, consider the following to stay safe and healthy:

• Dress in layers: You want to make sure you’re comfortable as your body warms up, but you also want to be careful not to over heat. Keep your base layer tight and made of sweat-wicking material. Avoid cotton if you can!
• Stretch: Stretching is incredibly important before and after a workout. Your muscles are more limber when they’re warm, so the longer you wait after a workout, the less effective stretching is. Don’t forget cooler temperatures will cool you down faster. Begin your workout with dynamic/active stretching and finish your workout with static stretching.
• Warm-up: As important as stretching is warming up. When working out in colder weather, remember your body has to work harder to warm itself up. Don’t be hard on yourself it if takes you longer to get into your groove.
• Be forgiving: If you can’t go as far or as hard or as fast as you normally would, don’t be hard on yourself. Remember that there are outside elements that are out of your control – listen to your body.
• Hydration: In colder weather, you likely won’t feel as if you’ve sweat as much. Trust me, you have. Hydration essential at all times, but as the air dies out and moisture is sucked from your skin, it’s more important than ever to hydrate before, during and after a workout.

If you’re not so much a fan of solo outdoor workouts, the following are some of my favorite family-friendly outdoor cold-weather activities:

1. Hiking
2. Sledding
3. Ice Skating
4. Snowshoeing
5. Snowmen building
6. Yard work (who doesn’t love jumping in leaves)
7. Fire pits for roasting marshmallows
8. And finally, my favorite, go for a family walk!

Fall is my favorite time of year as it is full of colorful change, transition and tradition. I hope you enjoy the fall – cold weather and all!

Mom's Story - Witnessing What Breast Cancer Can Do

I honestly do not know what to write. When Erica gave me the opportunity to be a contributor to the blog this week I jumped at the chance to share my side of my mom’s breast cancer survival story. But now, it being 6 a.m. and staring at a blank word document that has been written and rewritten five different times, I’m not sure what to say (& for those of you that know me, this doesn’t happen to me at all, making the feeling even more perplexing).

Source

To be quite honest I don’t know how to put my mom’s story and the series of events I witnessed, felt and went through because of cancer into words on paper.  Although we all come from different walks of life I’m sure many of us can agree on one thing (and to be blunt about it): cancer sucks. It’s a hard, scary, exhausting process for any one and their family to go through. So here is my story and what I witnessed through my mom’s fight with breast cancer…

In late November 2004 my mom, dad and I went out to dinner to celebrate my grandma’s birthday. Everything was normal as usual until my dad made some reference to the future and then my mom cut him off mid-sentence to change the subject. Knowing my parents, it seemed like something was up to me and I was right. Later that night my mom told me that they had found a cancerous mass from her mammogram images and her and dad would be meeting with an oncologist to come up with a game plan.

When my mom told me she had cancer, and even later that night, I didn’t cry. Seems weird right? As a 17-year-old hearing your mom has cancer you would think one would break down and sob hysterically but I didn’t. Although I was scared and had thoughts in my head of “Will my mom see me finish high school? Will my mom see me graduate college? What about when I get married or have a family? Who is going to be there to tell me how to do it – how to get through life?” I still didn’t cry –I didn’t know what to feel because I had no idea or thought on what to expect and what would happen in the next couple of months let alone day when we would find out more news.

After being diagnosed my mom underwent three different surgeries including double mastectomy to get rid of the entire left and right breast and the cancer as well.

I cried hysterically at each surgery. Even after the very first surgery I remember my entire family - dad, sister, brother and me - huddling in the hallway outside the pre-op room. All of us crying, huddling like a team in the middle of the hallway. Of course we were a team, we all had one goal (for mom to get better) and felt the same main emotion that we didn’t know what would happen tomorrow or in a few hours because of breast cancer, but we wanted mom to survive it.

The hardest part of my mom’s breast cancer fight was hands-down the chemotherapy. Again, being 17, I felt like I was living two very separate lives. By day I was going to school, hanging out with friends and talking about whatever issue that was catastrophically ruining our lives at the moment (most likely it was the sheer fact that it was Monday and we didn’t have plans for the weekend yet). By night, I was coming home to see my mom on the couch, tired, dazed and lifeless from the various rounds of chemotherapy.  It was hard to see that day in and day out, but even harder to see it from the one person who, when you’re 17, you count on to take care of you.

I even remember one time before a basketball game, (I cheered for 4 years in high school) another cheerleader and I were at my house getting ready and she mentioned to me, “I like your mom’s wig. It’s cute.” To this day that comment makes me shutter. Although there were only the best intentions intended from this compliment, these are the things that you hear and think, “I shouldn’t be hearing this. My mom shouldn’t have breast cancer.” Because of breast cancer I was already coming home and witnessing the effects of chemotherapy, having meals brought to us by various people in our church and strangers who I wasn’t even sure how they knew my family and in general hoping, praying and wishing that the whole cancer situation would be done, gone and out of my family’s lives. Hearing this comment was just another reminder of the one thing I didn’t want to be reminded of: my mom has cancer.

Fortunately, after 3 surgeries, 4 rounds of chemo and 4 rounds of radiation, my mom will be 9 years cancer-free this spring. Looking back, I’ve noticed there is a strange thing about cancer: although it has the potential to tear one person up, it has a greater potential to bring that person and the people around them closer together.

As you read and can see, there were a lot of moments throughout my mom’s fight with breast cancer that, as a witness to the process, just plain sucked (are you seeing the common theme here?). Yet, there were a handful of moments that because of going through them, I know my family as a whole, and each person themself, have an unbreakable bond that some families just cannot replicate. You know someone will always be there for you (even in a different city or state) when you have a phone call with barely any words spoken but instead tears and sniffles (my sister and I), you know you have someone who believes in you when they tell you it’s okay your report card has C’s instead of your usual A & B grades (note to the reader: to say I’m a perfectionist is an understatement - anyone who knows me knows that I’m OCD and not only dot my I’s and cross my T’s but will go back and check those I’s & T’s 235 times so C’s were a big hit for me) and you know you have experienced true, selfless love when your mom, in between the various rounds of chemo, apologizes for missing a majority of your cheerleading gigs and you can see the pain in her eyes that she can’t be there to see you, even though that is the one and only thing she wants in the entire world right now.

So, over a thousand words, two cups of coffee and an hour later - that is it. That is my mom’s story and now my story as well.  To confess, this is the first true time I’ve shared my view and recollection of co-surviving breast cancer with anyone and yes, I will answer the question you are all wondering: why don’t I share this story more often or tell people my side of the story? And to be honest, nobody asks.

Cancer is one of those things that for most people unless you’ve had it or witnessed it first hand, it’s just two-dimensional. Yes you may ask what stage it is in, how that person is doing and even offer to help but there’s so much more to it than a simple answer & small talk. It’s a three dimensional process and it doesn’t just apply to the one fighting it, it extends to the family and community around that person as well.

There is a quote that applies to Christianity that says, “I believe in God just as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it but by it I see everything else.” (C.S. Lewis).

Being the daughter of a breast cancer survivor has changed things for me. Like the C.S. Lewis quote, some things are a little more ‘real’ in my point of view because of what my mom went through. My health, how my time’s spent, even Breast Cancer Awareness Month holds a different meaning for me than most people sporting hot pink and ‘liking’ a breast cancer article: it’s real.

My hope is that me sharing my story with you has made the effects of cancer a little more real for you too. I hope that my experiences have given you a glimpse of the true dimension of cancer and what it can do but also bring light to the beauty of not just a person but an entire army of people beating cancer like my mom did.

A Note to the New Grad Nurse Part 2-Things we wish we knew as new grads

I can still remember the day I got my acceptance letter almost 4 years ago like it was yesterday.  It was a crisp fall day when that letter arrived in my mailbox. While in many ways it feels like just yesterday, in reality it was almost 4 years ago.  Since then I've finished my masters, gone through an accelerated nursing program, and now have 2 years of nursing under my belt.  Every day I am still learning a ton, but there a few things my now "experienced" nursing friends and I wish we had known when we first put on those scrubs and proudly put on that badge saying boldly and loudly "RN".

27 Things We Wished We Knew as New Grad Nurses

1. If you feel like you are going to puke before every shift or drive to work in tears... don't worry you aren't alone. Same thing if this is what happens after your shifts. You are most definitely NOT alone.

2. Don't accept just any job.  While it is hard as a new grad to find experience, you will be spending  A LOT of time there it is ok to wait for the right fit.

3. On that same note though, your dream job may take time, but a good fit is a GREAT place to learn.

4.  Confidence in yourself. It takes TIME. And that is ok.

5.  Sometimes SBAR isn't all you need to tell the MD, PA, or NP.

6.  Those silly code runs that are fake and make you feel ridiculous. They actually are REALLY helpful!

7.  The field of nursing is wide and broad. Don't limit yourself to just bedside nursing if it isn't your passion, that is ok.

8.  You DON'T HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING. It is ok to say "I don't know" and learn for next time.

9.  Asking questions doesn't make you a bad nurse or make you stupid, it makes you SMART. That is the absolute best way to learn.

10.  Every place has its own "Policies and Procedures".  Realize that how you learned something in nursing school may change during your first job... and your second... and your third... and so on.

11. You aren't going to like every patient you take care of and that is OK. You just have to give every patient the best quality care you can.

12.  Driving home from work... crawling into bed after a long night shift you're going to realize "OH MY GOODNESS I DIDN'T CHART THAT 300 mL OF URINE!". You aren't perfect. If it is something that needs attention you can call in to the nurse who followed you, but if it is something that can be let go... let it go. Learn from your mistakes of not charting in the moment and figure out a system of remembering that works for you.

13.  You have to come up with your own system of writing things down, charting, doing assessments, and managing your shift. It is perfectly ok if it isn't like anyone else's as long as it works for you and you can get everything done.

14. The first few shifts on your own you're going to feel like a truck hit you and you're never going to make it. But you will.

15.  Don't be afraid to go in the bathroom, sit on the toilet, and take some deep breaths.  In the end every nurse has taken extra time in the bathroom just to catch their breath for a minute.

16.  When possible.... waste the medications that needed wasted right then and there.  That is just something you don't want to even chance forgetting.

17.  You are your patients's ADVOCATE. Don't be afraid to stand up for them.  And if you're wrong... oh well... at least you can leave knowing you fought for your patient.

18.  Keep your social life.

19.  Try as best as possible to lead a healthy lifestyle outside of work.  13 hour shifts are brutal.

20.  If you're in MedSurg... we feel your pain. But know this. YOU ARE GOING TO LEARN A TON!

21.  There is a person beneath that rude and frustrating patient.  Do the best you can to find that person and care for their soul too.

22.  Find hobbies outside of work that help you unwind.

23.  This is a 24 HOUR institution if you are in a hospital.  Leave the patients with the other nurses. They are trustworthy and capable :-).

24.  Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.  You went to school for this. You've done your training. You've come this far. You don't need to be walked all over.

25.  As you learn your area of specialty things will really start to fall into place. You'll understand things better and you'll be able to tell earlier and earlier when something is wrong in a patient.  Never underestimate the little things. They can in the end be warning signs for something much much bigger.

26.  You are only one person. Do not be afraid to ask for help! And one of the best things you can learn how to do is delegate appropriately... but don't forget to double check that things that have been delegated are done.

27.  When you're tired, warn out, smelly, dehydrated, not sure what is on your shoes, and squinting at the sun light as if you were a vampire know this. YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT! You are an incredibly intelligent person who has fought hard to get this far in your dream.  Keep running after it with your whole heart!  And don't be afraid to try a few different areas until you find your passion (but make sure you give each area an ample amount of time before moving on).

We hope this helps,

Some slightly more experienced nurses

P.S. It is true the more you know... the more you realize you don't know anything :-).

Getting Back Into Exercise After Cancer Part 1

Each day in both my professional and personal life I get questions about exercise, cancer, and exercise post cancer and during active treatment.  Not only does cancer change your body, but the surgery, chemo, and radiation you have change it as well. So where do you start after months or maybe even years of losing your normal work out routine?  Where do you start if you've never had a work out routine? How do you deal with the neuropathy? How do you deal with the weakness of muscles?  The lack of energy and motivation? How do you even start to have a somewhat normal life?

Cancer changes your whole body and one of the biggest side effects is exhaustion. A lot of times people feel defeated, especially when they were super active before the cancer.  I'm here to tell you that it is perfectly OK to feel defeated.  It is ok to be angry. And you know the perfect place to start getting back in an exercise routine? Start by expressing your feelings about the cancer and how it changed your life.

I could tell you all the benefits of exercise in this first post, but I won't. What I am going to tell you is two things.

1. Get out a journal and write down every feeling you have towards the cancer that overtook your body and changed your life and body forever. Be honest. Recognize the battles you are facing. Truly let your emotions out.

2. Start by taking a walk each day to start to process everything and get your body moving a little.  I don't care if your walk is 3 minutes long. If you walked, it is a start.

Don't try and conquer the world in one day, this will be a process, but I promise you, the benefits will be with it!

You my friend, are a warrior!

Why You Should Get a Basic Facial!

Last week, I posted about different ways a person can deal with the stress in their lives. Stress wreaks havoc in our lives whether we mean for it to or not. It is just a part of life and I want to let you know that there are some perks to relieving it especially in the salon!

Each salon's menu is a little different. Some specialize in relaxation, like your day spas, while others might not offer such an extended variety. If you are stressed, I would recommend a trip to a spa specific salon and "go get a basic facial!"

Why You Should Get a Basic Facial

Basic facials, as much as they have so many benefits to your skin, offer you so many other health benefits.

1. Facials help purify the skin. When you feel a blemish coming up to the surface, a facial can help alleviate and draw it out. The basic facial uses the process of cleansing, exfoliating, massaging, applying a cleansing mask and finally moisturizing the skin. This will help your skin appear like it is youthful and glowing. Each step has a specific purpose in aiding in the overall product: brighter, clearer skin. Not only do facials open your pores, but they awaken your face to an experience of cleansing, relaxation, healing and purification. You would be amazed at how, if received regularly, a facial will improve the condition of your skin.

2. Facials can help increase our circulation and blood flow. Not only will a facial open your pores, it will get your blood flowing. Because you have so many blood vessels, the use of light massage portion of the facial will promote this blood flow even more so. When you get the blood flowing it actually will give your face more color and give you the glowing affect. This increase in circulation will also help your Lymphatic System get jump started as well.

3. Facials can help flush and purify body through also increasing flow of the lymph fluid through the body. Lymph nodes can be found everywhere in the body. In your lymphatic system, the body has a network of nodes, vessels, and fluid that help promote good health and immunity in the body. It is our defense system against intruders such as viruses, bacteria, and other such invaders. When the face and neck are being worked on, especially when receiving a facial, it helps awaken and stimulate the nodes and circulating the lymph.  This will help push out any unwanted toxins present. This is why some individuals might be sore after a facial. It is always important to drink more water to help assist in the soreness factor.

4. Facials can aid in alleviating headaches, sinus infections, and other similar ailments due to stress or tension. A good facial will hit on the points of the face that will help alleviate tension. Your face is very vascular and contains nerves and muscles to which play a large role in feeling pain/pleasure or experiencing movement. When we are tense, we may throw our body into a tension headache. OUCH! During the massage component, relief will be seen in relaxing the tense area, soothing the sore spots, and applying brief pressure in the general sinus cavity areas which will help release the toxins present while relaxing you.

I personally enjoy receiving a facial now and then especially when my stress load is high. This is one way to help alleviate stress and help you feel better in coping with your day to day work load. I have found it makes me happier, more focused, and my head aches less. Since I have been receiving facials on a semi-regular basis, I have had less sinus issues and haven't had a sinus infection in a great while. (knock on wood!) Who would have thought all of that from a facial?

—     Catie Manning

Pilates: Know Before You Go

Greetings, Blog Friends!

I've been addressing these posts to the Pilates novice. My hope is that if you've not tried Pilates, you'll give it a try. If you're terrified of trying Pilates, I alluded to the fact that you should absolutely do your homework when searching for a teacher, and that you should take a few private lessons with a well-trained teacher prior to joining a group class.

I'm including a link to a fun news clip from this past weekend, featuring my mentor teacher, Rael Isacowitz, and my friend, the amazing Lisa Hubbard. In it, Rael makes mention of these two things, namely being afraid to try Pilates for the first time, and the fact that finding a well-qualified teacher is paramount to your enjoyment of and success in Pilates.

As I've mentioned, it took me many years of research, study, practice and teaching to find what works for me. My earnest hope is that you will TRY Pilates. It rocks SO MUCH and makes you better at everything else you do. Please let me know if you have specific questions regarding the work. I am a teacher; I thoroughly enjoy answering questions!

Before I close, there is one other thing Rael mentions in this clip: Pilates was invented by a man, originally only for men! Stay tuned - there are some surprises coming up in June (just in time for Father's Day)! You'll going to hear from more men who do Pilates!

Happy practicing!

P.S. Click here for some of Rael's videos available on Amazon, and here for Lisa's!

The Dreaded Scale

I remember in high school at my parents' house the scale was in my siblings bathroom.  Every morning when I woke up I would run down the hall to weigh myself.  The agony of the number and the worth it gave me or didn't give me.  The knowledge of when I woke up could I feel my hip bones sticking out enough?  How did I feel?  And the number on that scale.  Those 6 months of my life where my world revolved around that scale and the number were more than enough for living that lifestyle.  I was not eating and exercising far too much. I was in a state of exercise anorexia. I was unhealthy.

Since that year of high school I have not allowed a scale in my bathroom.  In fact, I limit myself on the amount of times a year I weigh myself because it very quickly can become an unhealthy obsession.  I know when I gain weight by my clothes, my energy, and my overall feeling.  Sadly, because I got on the scale so many times I can pretty much tell you spot on how much I weigh at any given time.  I can also give you an exact number of the amount of pounds I need to lose to get to my comfort point.  So why do I a personal trainer, nutritionist, and nurse not keep a scale around?  For many reasons.

1.  The scale taunts me because even when I'm at a healthy weight, I don't like that number and I want to keep that number going down. I want that number to be a number that isn't healthy.  After those  months of my hair falling out, my nails breaking, my period stopping... I'd much rather have a few extra pounds on me then to go back to the way I was when the scale ruled my life.

2. The SCALE does NOT define my beauty.  My beauty comes from what is inside.  The first place when I'm feeling self conscious that I need to go is on the inside and to those around me who will build me up.  In the last year and a half because of going on and off night shift my body has had a mind of its own.  One month I'll be trying to gain weight and the next month I can't seem to get weight off.  No matter what that scale says right now, I want you to know you are beautiful just the way you are.

3.  Your body can fluctuate in water weight throughout the day.  I see it every day I work in the hospital.  The number on the scale is not as accurate as some may hope.  Can it give you a good warning sign that you are unhealthy or headed towards an unhealthy zone? yes. But day to day, your energy level, your clothes, and how you feel overall is a much better assessment of the direction your headed!

So my advice?  If you have a scale, hide it. Limit the amount of times you weigh yourself.  Focus on loving yourself from the inside out. Focus on being healthy.  As your focus on being healthy increases, as your outlook on where your beauty comes from changes, your confidence will soar.  Confidence that can't be shaken by a few numbers on a scale.  

As one of my favorite sayings right now goes "Focus on being healthy and the weight will take care of itself".  My dear friends, healthiness is not limited to that number on the scale but how you daily view yourself. YOU are beautiful. YOU are incredible. YOU are intelligent.

What words describe you?  Show us your pictures with what you are going to see when you step on that scale!

Invite Mr. Sandman Over for a Night Cap!

If you hare having sleep issues, or are feeling physically tired lately-- this is for you! :) (Just as a disclaimer, I am not writing this for new parents' that are not sleeping because they are up at night with a new baby-- unfortunately, that is something that will only get better with time... haha). 

For those of you with children, you know firsthand just how important and valuable "nap time" is in your household. For those of you without children, you may or may not get to bask in the glory of taking the occasional nap for yourself. Being twenty-five, I can say that I am sadly having to say goodbye to the days of taking naps regularly. Granted, I wouldn't have dreamed of taking a nap in between the ages of five and fifteen-- but as soon as I turned sixteen, I began to remember just how excellent they were. So from then until now, every single time I am home in the afternoon and get an opportunity for a siesta, I grab it by the horn and hold on tight!

Are you having difficulty falling asleep at night?

Of course, it is extremely rare for adults to get in a good nap during the day. Whether it's due to work (usually the case), having to take care of children, or cleaning up while your children are napping, it isn't exactly common for two hours to open up every day for us to say, "YES! My naptime is here!" So what does that mean? Hit up Starbucks for a caffeine boost? Sometimes, and only sometimes, that is the best solution - we are all guilty of relying on heavy amounts of caffeine to keep us going on certain days. But is that really the solution? Definitely not :) All I know, is that in this day and age, we expect a lot out of ourselves, and sometimes keep ourselves awake by worrying that we didn't do enough in the day. I honestly blame it on our overly busy schedules, not getting enough quality sleep, and too much sugar/caffeine. All of those things combined together are a recipe for sleeping disasters :)

Pilates: Like Yoga, Only Different

If You're New to Pilates or Yoga, This One's For You!

In last week’s post, I introduced you a brief history of Pilates, and what you might experience in the first 5-10 minutes of your first lesson, and I promised that in this post, I’d continue in that vein. However,I have been hearing the same question quite a bit this week, and think it would be best addressed at this time.

The question is:  “Pilates is like yoga, right?”

Well, yes and no.

Yes, in that apples, like oranges, are fruit, have skin and seeds, are in similar biological classification systems, may grow in the same climate, but usually don’t, and in most circumstances, the two fruits are quite compatible. They are very different, but are both very nice.

No, in that their history and the purpose for practicing each is very different. I often explain that yoga is a sacred practice that has been around for thousands of years, and it is primarily focused on using the body and mind to pursue and open to the spiritual. Pilates has only been around since the early part of 20th century, and it's primary focus is on the mental controlling the physical.

When discussing Pilates and yoga, they tend to be lumped into the same classification system, which is that of mind-body exercise. More on that in a later post. What you need to realize is that the history of each method is vastly different and though they share similarities in movement and benefits, at their “core”, (great word, huh?!), they are as different as an apple and an orange. Practicing either method should be based on personal preference and the needs of the individual. Both practices are valid, beneficial, and very enjoyable, but they are not the same, and can have very differing benefits.

The following are some things to think about if you're new to Pilates or yoga.

When you’re exploring the methods for the first time, it is very important to consider safety. Both methods are like swimming: Neither should be attempted by yourself or in a crowded class the first couple of times you practice. If you didn’t know how to swim would you jump into the deep end of an unattended swimming pool and hope for the best? Along the same lines, would you jump into the same pool in the middle of a really crowded class with only one teacher present and no lifeguard and hope for the best?

I am speaking from personal experience. I am a student of both Pilates and yoga, but a teacher of only Pilates. I have also been teaching for almost half my life, and spent a portion of that time teaching in physical therapy clinics where I worked with patients who had been injured in both methods. I’ve been injured in both methods. I’ve also been tremendously helped by both.

The key to success in both modalities is research, especially when you’re starting out. There are a myriad of different schools of thought in both the yoga and Pilates communities. I researched and practiced several different methods of Pilates before I became certified to teach. I kept up my studies and research, and realized a few years into my career that there were other teachers and methods that resonated more with me, and felt better for my body, so I pursued studying with those teachers and practicing those methods.

The same goes for yoga. I've studied and practiced several methods and enjoy and benefit from some more than others.

In closing, each discipline is beautiful and beneficial and both are a great compliment to any fitness regime. Practicing one or both will give you so many rewards. Do your research. Invest in learning and in your health and you’ll reap the benefits. Be safe, be smart and be strong!

Run, Ride and Relax

Hello everyone! I'm Courtney, a social media publicist, exercise nut and healthy eating (re: food-loving) twenty-something contributor/behind the scenes girl for Erica Smith Fitness and Lifestyle. I live in downtown Indianapolis, IN and enjoy all kinds of physical activities - especially those that take place outside. I'd consider myself a runner and a cyclist, but I'm also a TurboKicker, a spinner and a wannabe weightlifter.

As a contributor (and good friend of Miss Smith) I felt compelled to share a bit about myself and my story. 

Without further ado, a VERY little bit about me: 

Some call them goggles, I call them bug deflectors.

I was overweight/borderline obese most of my life. I attribute it to lack of knowledge regarding nutrition and exercise. I grew up playing volleyball and softball, but because of our busy schedule (both of my brother also played sports), meals were generally on the road/from the freezer section.

After college/circa 2011, I decided I had had enough of being "the big girl." I started counting my calories and exercising every day. I was amazed to see how simply being conscious of what I ate and consciously exercising changed my body. Within a year I lost 75-80 (+ or - depending on the season/what I'm training for).

In the place of the 80ish pounds came an addiction to exercise and a very disordered eating mindset that I still battle every day. Physically I looked amazing (to a point) but emotionally I was crumbling. Through the help of friends and family (particularly Erica) I was able to find the strength to get myself out of that pit and recognize that my worth isn't in my body, but in my heart and actions. My biggest fear was becoming fat again. Now my biggest fear is not living a life worth remembering.

I still work out most every day - because I love working out. I'm still conscious of what I eat - because my body is my future. A few weeks back I did the Spartan Race in Laural, IN and came in 6th among women, second in my age group! I went home and had a cookout with some friends and cocktails - there's balance! I also attempted my first 100 mile bike challenge last weekend (The Three State Three Mountain Century in Chattanooga, TN - it was cut short because of the weather). I run half marathons and finish sprint triathlons. Exercise is a joy to me. I love to have something to train for, and to be honest, I still have trouble treating my body well (nourishment and rest don't come easy...yet). It's a process and I wouldn't be where I am today without Erica's help.

I also LOVE encouraging, coaching, supporting, helping/butt kicking anyone who needs it. If you're feeling down or need a boost, please feel free to friend me/message me - sincerely!

-- Courtney Skells, Publicist and adventure junkie

Faithful Readers

Hello to all of Erica's faithful readers!

My name is Amie Avi. I mostly teach Pilates these days, but have done about every job one can do in a health club or a restaurant, and would have preferred to play those roles on TV.

In the following few posts, I'll be introducing you to Pilates. Posts unrelated to Pilates may follow. I'm looking forward to getting to know you, and to sharing with you all about something I really enjoy. Please leave questions or comments below, and Erica and I will do our best to respond.

All that said, let's crack on, shall we?

Though Pilates has become a bit more ubiquitous since I first started teaching, thirteen years ago, it is still synonymous with circus acts, knife-throwing, and oddly-named cocktails. It is an odd-sounding word, and most people have no idea what Pilates is.

I will never forget the evening I overheard a hapless, yet blindingly attractive, membership sales representative at a gym where I taught, explaining to a prospective member that Pilates is the American form of yoga. (With his model-esque smile, even I might have believed it, but that’s beside the point.)

Pilates is not the American form of yoga. It also does not involve jumping through hoops of fire, (though working with certain Pilates apparatus called the “Magic Circle” conjures up such images), and is not an obscure liquor native to a Baltic State.

In the next few posts, I’ll introduce a bit of the history of Pilates, why it rocks so incredibly much, and why everyone from competitors in the octagon to octogenarians should be doing Pilates.

Cheers and peace,

A.