Get Tickets Now!! Beachfit SB Body Barre on Schedule for Empowered by Gundalow Event

Get out your planners (well probably phones) and mark down September 20th from 11am - 3pm. Empowered by Gundalow is an event that you won't want to miss and there's only a few more days to take advantage of the Early Bird Special.

When: September 20th starting at 11am

Participating Studios:

• Beachfit Baltimore – Soulbody Body Barre with Emily Lobaugh
• REV – Spin with Nick Rodricks (Starts at 11:30am)
• Under Armour Performance Center  – Yoga, instructor TBD
• Charm City Run McHenry Row – Fun Run with Lauren Seserko
• Wellbridge Harbor East – Pilates w/ Jason Williams 
• Baltimore Yoga Village – Hatha Yoga w/ Mina
• Bare Hills – Spin w/ Allison Woodward
• MAC Timonium – TBD
• Pop Physique – Barre with Jackie & Keely Knopp
• Yoga Vibez (Ocean City, MD) – Hot Yoga

What YOU need to do: Purchase tickets online at the Gundalow website. You will need to purchase 2 different tickets, one ticket for the workout which also includes an Under Armour t-shirt or tank and one ticket for the the post-sweat celebration at Ryleigh’s Oyster House. Your post-sweat celebration includes snacks, 2 drink tickets, photos with Pixilated Photobooth and much more. Remember when purchasing your ticket for the workout, you'll need to specify which workout you will attend. I'd love to see the SB Community join be at Beachfit and sweat for such a good cause. 

A portion of all proceeds will go to benefit Kennedy Krieger Institute's Yoga Based Psychotherapy initiative!

If you have any questions or trouble ordering your ticket please let me know. I hope to see all of your beautiful, smiling faces. I may even throw in an extra bonus if we get a packed class so recruit your friends, I'd love to see them too.

Have an awesome rest of your weekend and enjoy this beautiful sunshine!

Emily

Instructor Spotlight; Interview with SB Co-Founder Ann Marie

Well, we made it through the week (sighhhh). Good news is that it's almost the weekend and time to start planning where and when you'll be sweating. This is the perfect time of year to take advantage of any outdoor classes or jog to the gym for SB Barre or Body Barre with your favorite instructor. Speaking of instructor, I'm starting a new Spotlight series where you'll have the opportunity to learn more about your instructors including a sneak peek into their gym bag, their favorite workout snacks, barre moves and much much more. 

"Instructor Spotlight"
Ann Marie Barbour; Co-Founder of Soul Body

Where do you teach and when?

I teach at Beach Fit, Embody and about to join the FX team at Under Armour's newest studio on Light Street! 

Favorite Pre-Workout meal/snack: 

banana rolled in almond butter and sprinkled with A homemade mix of  chia seed, flax seed, hemp seed And cranberries 

Favorite recovery meal/snack:

I usually eat breakfast after my workouts- go to is egg omelette packed with veggies with Ezekiel toast topped with avocado-  with a few berries on the side!

You never leave home without: a bottle of water and drenching my body with any natural oil - i.e almond/jojoba/coconut...

What’s in your gym bag? Cycle shoes, coconut water and basically everything that's in my bathroom!! I'm always at a club or studio either teaching or taking class- need to shower and be ready for the day! 

1. Spin Shoes

2. Coconut Water

3. Speedo Swim Cap & Goggles

4. Under Armour Sneakers

5. Headphones

6. ALOHA Trail Mix (check out their daily greens and protein too)

Favorite workout gear, water bottle, etc.: 

Under Armour is my go-to! My new fave trend is cool bras that cross cross or have lots of straps that you can see through your tanks! 

Favorite barre move: shoulder over head presses with squat and lateral leg lift! I'll have to show you!!!

Favorite quote: "Physical Fitness is the first requisite of happiness" Joseph Pilates 

When you’re not at the barre, where may we find you? 

At the bar- ha ha just kidding! Traveling to new exciting places!

Wine-ing down :)

Share something fun/interesting about yourself:

I had my first baby while on vacation in New Orleans! Literally lived in an apartment on bourbon street!! Crazy - but now we have an incredible connection to NOLA. We call our Maxwell our Cajun baby!:))

"I love teaching both of our programs SB Barre and SB Body Barre and just love the energy of all the amazing people that take our classes! Some of my favorite moments are when I'm in the studio blasting a fantastic new playlist and choreographing!"

Check back next week for more chat with Soul Body's Stacey Vandiver!!

Have fun sweating this weekend!!

Emily

Weekend Wrap Up of Body Barre and Fabletics

Ok Monday, let's do this!! If you are needing a little extra motivation to get your Monday going, you might want to check out a recent post by our friends over at Bmore Toned with their favorite workout mantras. Here is one of my favorites...

Now that we are ready to take on the day and the week, let's get to a recap what went down this weekend. For those of you who don't already know, there is Fabletics store opening at the Mall in Columbia mid-September. I'll keep you posted on the actual date, but I believe it's around the 27th. I recently became a Fabletics Master (Ambassador) and had the privilege to check out the store, meet the store managers and work with their team in getting some great swag for my Body Barre class at Beachfit Baltimore. Their workout gear is amazing and I absolutely LOVE everything. What's even better is that your first outfit is only $25!! For this class I rocked the Sabrina Capri and the Norwalk Tank. The Oula Tank and Lima Capris are also at the top of my list. You've worked hard this summer so treat yourself with a new top or a new pair of leggings. And if you came to class don't forget to use your coupons and my personal link. 

I had a great turnout and some first timers for SB Body Barre which is even better. Sydney from November Project even joined us and if you haven't heard of #hillsforbreakfast or #freeworkouts, check out their page here. Just Show Up and I promise it will be worth it. You'll be hooked and setting your alarm for either the Wednesday mornings at 5:30 or 6:30am at Rash Field or Fridays at 6:30am at Patterson Park (or both). I'm there every Wednesday and would love to see some of you join me. 

These ladies rocked in! Thank you SoulBody and Beachfit Community for your energy and motivation at 10am on a Saturday. 

Congrats to my sister, Marie, who is only in her fourth week of living in Baltimore and survived her second SB Barre class (first Body Barre) class. She LOVED it!!

Special Thanks to Fabletics for the bags of goodies, Christine from KIND for post workout snacks and to Gundalow Juice for keeping us well hydrated!!

Do you LOVE barre and want to teach? Don't forget we have a training coming up in a few weeks for both SB Barre and Body Barre. Sign up here. We'd love for you to join our group of amazing instructors and grow the SB Community. 

Remember: It's a good week to have a good week!

E

The One Move You Need to Know for the Rest of Your Life and a Challenge

 A PLANK!

Having a strong core is key for preventing injuries, protecting your inner organs and nervous system as well as helping you get a strong, confident posture Most importantly, it will help you look great  :) 

Try these simply plank and ab workouts. 

1.  Plank Series...

• 60 second straight arm or forearm plank
• 15 second child's pose 
• 30 second side straight arm or forearm plank each side
• 15 second child's pose
• 30 second forearm plank with knee taps
• 15 second child's pose
• 30 second straight arm plank alternating knee ins
• 15 second child's pose

Complements of NutButter Runner

Complements of  Nutbutter Runner

Complements of Women's Health Magazine

Is anyone up for the 30 day plank challenge?

Matcha...what is it and why is it the next big thing?

So what is Matcha? Matcha (from the Japanese “ma” meaning powder and “cha” meaning tea) is actually a powdered version of green tea. Instead of steeping the leaves and drinking the liquid, you’re drinking the whole leaf. 

There are so many reasons why you should try Matcha. It's an easy and simple way to add powerful health benefits to your everyday diet. 

Here are a few of the many benefits:

• Is packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg
• Boosts metabolism and burns calories
• Detoxifies effectively and naturally
• Calms the mind and relaxes the body
• Is rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins
• Enhances mood and aids in concentration
• Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
• Prevents disease
• Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Read more about Matcha here.

After reading a few articles, I was convinced that I needed to give it a try. I found this Organic Matcha from ENZO. 

After talking with a good friend about Matcha, she sent me this amazing recipe from Secret Marmalade. Check out the full recipe and her blog here. These Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls are DELICIOUS and super easy to make.

Chocolate Matcha Energy Balls

Yield: 14 balls, 1 serving each

Ingredients:

½ cup dates, pitted

½ cup whole raw almonds

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 Tbsp. Matcha powder, plus more for rolling*

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. 100% maple syrup

Preparation:

1. Place dates, almonds, cocoa, Matcha in food processor. Pulse until well mixed.

2. Add extract and maple syrup. Pulse until well mixed.

3. Roll into 14 balls, each about the size of a tablespoon.

4. Roll balls in Matcha powder

5. Enjoy or store in refrigerator until ready to eat.

Pretty happy with my first attempt at this recipe. YUMM!!!

(oh and the plate is from  CB2 ...so many fun ones to choose from)

Enjoy!!

Have you tried Matcha? 

What is your favorite brand or recipe using Matcha?

Thank You Thursday

Just wanted to drop in a quick Thank You to the entire Soul Body Community. Without you, this program would not be where it is today. We are continuously growing and expanding into more and more clubs and it's all because of "YOU". Thank you to the amazing group of instructors who have captured some moments over these past few weeks with their members and have helped to spread the word about SoulBody.

Visit the Soul Body Website for the list of clubs where you can take a Soul Body Barre and Body Barre Class.

Who's sweating with us this weekend?

A Taco Tuesday Twist

I know I'm a day early, but let's face it . . .  we all LOVE Taco Tuesday. And the more I talk to people, the more I realize that so many people make this part of their weekly routine. I stumbled across this great recipe when reading a post from one my favorite bloggers NutButterRunner . I figured I'd post it now to give you all a chance to hit the grocery store and make sure your pantry is stocked for tomorrow! 

Calabacitas!

Summer Corn, Zucchini, Green Chiles and Lime

Recipe by: gluten-free goddess

This Mexican flavored vegetable side dish is perfect for this time of year. It's a great side dish, but can also be used as a one-dish meal. Add in two generous cups of cooked chicken or drained canned black beans, pour into a casserole, cover and bake in a moderate 350ºF oven for 20 to 25 minutes or so, until heated through.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 smallish zucchini squash, sliced into half moons
3 ears of fresh corn, kernels sliced off
3 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded, diced
1/2 cup roasted mild green chile, chopped
4 oz. chopped jalapenos
4-5 cloves fresh peeled garlic, chopped
Sea salt, to taste
Lemon pepper, to taste
2-3 good pinches of ground cumin
A drizzle of raw agave sweetener
Juice from 1 fresh large lime [more juice, or water if needed]
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Lime wedges for serving

Instructions:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and saute the squash for three to four minutes, until it starts to turn a bit golden.

Add the corn, tomatoes, green chile, jalapenos, garlic, sea salt, lemon pepper, cumin, a drizzle of raw agave, and lime juice; stir to combine.

Cover and cook for about 15 minutes, until the veggies are tender-crisp. Add more liquid if needed. 

To serve, stir in the fresh cilantro. Top with lime wedges.

Serves 4 to 6

We would love to see some of your recipes on social media and share them on the blog. Feel free to post your recipes and favorite dishes to the Soul Body Community page on Facebook and tag your photos. You can also email them to me directly and I'll share them on the blog :)

Do you celebrate Taco Tuesday?

What's your favorite Healthy Mexican dish?

Feature Friday

Happy Friday friends. What a week?!?! I'll keep this brief, but wanted to highlight another great move that you see in the final track of SB Barre or Body Barre. You probably also know this move if you have ever practiced yoga. Today's Feature Friday move is .....

BRIDGE POSE 

or 

Setu Bandhasana (if you want to get real technical)

Setu – Bridge; Bandha – Bind, Lock; Asana – Pose, Posture

1. Lie supine on the floor, Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible

2. Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward toward the pubis, and lift the butt off the floor. 

3. Lift your butt until the thighs are about parallel to the floor, keeping your knees directly over the heels, away from the hips, and lengthen the tailbone toward the backs of the knees. 

Option 1: Feet Flat

Option 2: Come high on the balls of the feet.

There are so many moves you can do with bridge. 

You can add weights or the body bar to your lap 

Like in the last release, you can use the band over your lap for added resistance

 Try using the ball for more inner thigh work

Add some squeezes and pulses in high bridge

Extend one leg

Hip Swings

Have fun exploring this pose and learning about your body!

So why do bridge? Here are just a few of the many benefits:

• Stretches the chest, neck, and spine
• Calms the brain and helps alleviate stress and mild depression
• Stimulates abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid
• Rejuvenates tired legs
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Relieves menstrual discomfort when done supported
• Reduces anxiety, fatigue, backache, headache, and insomnia
• Therapeutic for asthma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and sinusitis

Have a great weekend. Get out and get active!!! 

Where are you taking barre this weekend?

Cheers,

Emily

have

Tuesday Tips to Keep you Looking and Feeling Fabulous at the Barre

Whether you believe it or not, your skin reflects your health. It's your body's canvas and one of its most valuable assets. It's also the only skin you'll ever get, so your daily habits mean everything. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Because let's face it...we all want to look good at the barre :) 

One of our favorites is Coconut Oil which seems be all the rage these days as this super-food has so many great health benefits. It can be used to moisturize skin and remove makeup, but that's not all. You can apply it as a hair mask, body oil, lip balm, under eye cream are just a few of the ways you can incorporate coconut oil into your beauty routine. Check out this awesome chart below for everything that it can do for you.  

                                     Okay...let's break it down and talk about some of our favorites. 

Sea Buckthorn Nourishing Facial Cream

- Rejuvenates damaged skin

- Preserves youthful skin tone & texture

- Protects against environmental stress

- 100% natural

Jojoba Oil

Ideal for healthily hydrating skin and hair because it mimics the natural oils our bodies produce (more uses here)

Baobab Oil

Rich in riboflavin, niacin, and vitamins C, A, D and E, it has incredible anti-aging properties

Also...I recently was introduced to Lemongrass Spa Beauty products through my sister. One of the many reasons to love their products is that they are made in the USA, affordably priced; gluten-free, sulfate free, no parabens or isopropyl alcohol. They use all natural, organic ingredients that you can identify and pronounce. 

Here are just a few of the products that I've purchased. 

- Tea Tree Cleansing Gel and Face Cream

- Cucumber Eye Cream with Witch Hazel 

- Almond Body Polish 

- Healing Elements (good for bug bites, rashes, burns, and even acne spots)

Prebiotic Wash

Check out the website if you want to read more on their entire line of beauty products. They have some great specials going on now and if you are unsatisfied with anything you buy they have a 60 day return/exchange policy no questions asked. 


What are some of your favorite, go-to beauty products?

Have you tried Lemongrass or any of these other amazing oils?


Have a healthy day!
Emily