Five to Thrive!

Here are 5 rules to follow for a healthier & vibrant diet...

1. you (truly) are what you eat...make what you put in your body count!

2. eat real food...processed food is, well, processed! Stick to plants & whole grains.

3. cook! get back in the kitchen and know your ingredients...it actually becomes quiet easy after a few meals & smoothies:)

4. try something new...change it good (and healthy too!)

5. go ahead and be a RULE BREAKER from time to time...have fun!

Eat...Pure...THRIVE!
xo Stacey & Ann Marie

That Natural High

How many of us are stressed? MANY! How many of us would love to have a natural high? MANY! It is amazing how great you can feel from exercise when endorphins are released. We know we can all get caught up in daily routine...schedules get in the way and excuses are made. But just that 30 minute power walk with the dog can bring a sense of release like we have it under control. And we know we all can use that!! 

Give yourself that natural high...and commit to something every day...whether it's a high energy cycling class (like our SB Ride!) or just that walk with your dog:)

Here's to feeling goooood!
Stacey & Ann Marie

After School Chocolate Smoothies

As soon as we get home the kids are starving. Of course our first reaction is to pull something from the pantry but WAIT! Real food, whole food is most likely not in the pantry!! If we really think about it, real, whole food doesn't have to take long to make. And if your kids are like ours...they want it to taste good too! Give them a piece of fruit, peanut butter with apples or celery sticks or...SMOOTHIES!

Smoothies are such a great way to incorporate whole food into our kids diets and tasty too. And you can even sneak in some ingredients they don't even have to know are in there:) Today I suggested CHOCOLATE smoothies and of course they jumped!

Here is the simple recipe I made up (so you know it's super easy...lol!)

Chocolate Smoothie
1 cup of organic milk (can substitute for nut milk as well)
1 tsp pure maple syrup
1 tbsp raw cacao
1 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 frozen banana
some ice cubes

Blend together in a high speed blender and enjoy! Play around with quantity of ingredients to taste. 

Here's to whole health!
Stacey

Why Barre?

What can barre class do for your body? Why add a few SB Barre classes to your busy workout week? Why is barre a popular trend that is just getting bigger and more exposure everywhere you look?

1. A lot of the moves focus on your own body weight for resistance which works deep into the muscle which gives you that longer leaner muscle. Think dancer's body! Many of the moves call upon your core and balance which will not only give you stronger abs and leg muscles but will give you better posture and all over better body alignment and strength!
2. With elements of ballet, yoga and Pilates variety is the key! Using the ballet barre as a prop for thigh work and seat work in small isometric moves (think one inch lifts and lowers) burns the muscle to exhaustion and rebuilds it stronger and leaner than before. YES the shake in your legs when doing exercises at the barre is a good thing!
3. So many physical benefits with this workout if you are consistent! Get into the music and going deeper into the moves every time you come to class, the more you come the more you'll get to know the choreo and go a bit deeper each time to really get the results you came for.
4. Cardio anyone?? Yes there is a cardio element to barre. Occasional plie jumps during thigh work or low lunges with both heels up. Also an increased heart rate is promised in the upper body portion of class with lights weights along with lower body work - two in one moves for a higher calorie burn!
5. Small weights - big results! SB Barre classes use small weights again to work deep into the accessory muscles. Shoulders, back, bicep, triceps are all focused upon with unique moves using 2-4lb weights. By calling on the traditional principals of interval training and high repetition, SB Barre classes are designed to get the most work out of the upper body in a small amount of time with just the right exercises that work the muscles in the arms, back and shoulders to exhaustion and rebuilds them shapelier, leaner and stronger!
6. Planks - check, Push-ups - check, Ab Lock -check (if you haven't experience the ab lock, another reason to come to barre), Bridge work - check....
7. OK so to sculpt the upper body, strengthen DEEP into the core muscles, build a stronger body by using YOUR own body's resistance in planks/push up and leg work at the barre, along with bridge and other Pilates mat work, followed by deep yoga stretches to create flexibility in your beautiful body - what else could you ask for in a class??
8. SB Barre Anyone?? Visit us at www.soulbodyonline.com to take a class today! SB Barre, Baltimore's downtown barre studio....