Our Recipe for an EPIC Bohemian Summer…
July 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment
The Power of Pilates, Barre and Fitness: My Top 8 Reasons to get sweating and get smiling.
May 15, 2014 By 1 Comment
Okay sure, we would all love to hear the secret workouts that have shaped, sculpted and stopped the clocks of aging for celebrity bodies like Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and the Kardashians’, and I hate to break it to you, but there is not a “secret workout” that will solve all problems. There are, however, hints and tips available to help enhance your workouts so you can get the most out of them…consistency, variety and challenging yourself are KEY!
As a fitness fanatic, I LOVE changing up my workouts; whether it’s getting my om on in a hot yoga class, enjoying the fresh air with my pup on a light jog, building my booty-strength deadlifting, or participating in one of the Pilates classes at my studio, I love the way working out makes me feel. Most importantly, I have FUN doing it! At my new studio, Breath of Fresh Air Training Facility, I have been able to offer all of my favourite types of workouts: athletic conditioning, yoga, Barre, Learn to Run and my absolute favourite Reformer Pilates. Pilates is SUCH a great way to gain lean, toned muscles, get stronger and improve flexibility at the same time.
Check out my Top 8 Reasons why I choose to get sweaty and have fun!
1. Progress – I workout to get stronger, faster, hold longer, improve form, etc. There are always ways to intensify your workout, even intensifying the same exercise (especially in Pilates, as many of my clients will know).
2. Be Present – I love being able to turn my mind off, to focus on just one thing. When I am deadlifting a new person best, holding snake on the reformer or pushing through to finish off that 10km, I can’t think about the million other things, you have to be present and stay with the moment.
3. Muscle – We all enjoy the aesthetic benefits that come with working out and while I love what squats have done for my glutes, I also love the FUNCTIONAL aspect even more. Strong glutes help to rehabilitate and prevent injury for your low back, hips, knees, ankles – you name it; they are important! I love educating my clients on why it is important to work the muscles that we often target in Pilates: glutes, abdominals, deltoids (shoulders), etc. Sure, they look GREAT in tank tops, but more importantly they keep your body safe from injury.
4. Health – After two kidney transplants and back surgery to correct a scoliosis curve, I am extremely health conscious and do everything I can to ensure my body is getting the proper nourishment, training and care it needs to function optimally.
5. The Cycle of Wellness – Everything is connected. When you have a great workout, you don’t want to go home and grab a bag of chips for snack, you WANT to fuel your body properly. In addition wanting to eat better, you typically drink more water (especially when you have your instructor telling you to DRINK UP), you sleep better, you are happier and less stressed, and as a result, you want to do it AGAIN! Consistency is key to getting the most out of your lifestyle and the more you do things, the more they become an enjoyable habit!
6. Talk the Talk & Walk the Walk. – As a fitness instructor my clients inspire me every day with their progress and hard work and I enjoy attempting to return the favour by continuing to keep myself in shape and challenge myself to do new things. Otherwise, who am I to advise my clients on how to live a healthier, fit lifestyle?
7. Socialization – I love the atmosphere of group classes in my studio, they are fun, friendly and totally kick ass. I love when I have the opportunity to hop into a class and get my workout in at the same time as passing around a couple of jokes here and there. It’s nice to feel like you are a PART of something and that is exactly the type of clients I am lucky enough to attract at the studio.
8. Chocolate, Sunshine, Tea, Warm Socks & Mala Love – Things that just make everything better! It warms my heart to have clients come a few minutes early to class and enjoy a cup of tea to help them unwind before their session or to meet up early and chat up with a friend they are meeting for the class. I love the simple, little things that make life so special!
Stay Connected:
Website: www.breathoffreshairtrainigfacility.com
Email: morser@outlook.com
Facebook: Breathe of Fresh Air Training Facility
Instagram: http://instagram.com/megan_orser
An interview with Kate, voice of Sunshine and the Bear
March 6, 2014 By 1 Comment
Hi, I’m Kate! I’m a 28-year-old fitness nut living in Charm City (aka Baltimore, MD). I love food and working out (oh, and did I mention food?). Until about a year ago, I thought I was a badass. I’ve played sports starting at a young age, going all the way through college and I always loved how strong that made me feel. But, over the past year, I’ve discovered a new type of strength – a more silent power that I unlocked by finding my way onto a yoga mat.
As I mentioned, I’ve always been an athlete. So you’d think that at some point I would have tried yoga…wrong. I was too busy training doing stairs or plyometrics or lifting at the gym (or being a scaredy cat). It took me a long time to finally admit to myself that of all the things the fitness world had to offer, yoga was one of the most intimidating for me. It’s only now that I realize why – when you’re practicing yoga, it’s you and only you. I’ve almost always been part of a team. The idea of opening up, and maybe failing, on my own was daunting. There’s so many pressures in the world to be perfect, particularly for young women. We say we know ‘perfect isn’t a reality’, but that doesn’t stop us from trying to keep up with the proverbial Joneses…
Long story short, someone finally got me to a yoga class. I’m pretty sure my friend tricked me, but either way I’m glad I got there. I immediately loved it. Where I had feared I’d be judged for my lack of knowledge and practice, I was pleasantly surprised with an overwhelming welcome and support. What was I afraid of all this time? Letting go. I had to let go of my fears. Let go of my closemindedness. Let go of the path I was on and give myself the opportunity to look at all the amazing things going on around me.
So I did. And in that letting go, I found strength and the power of intention I never knew I had. I discovered that you can always begin again, even if you fail. It wasn’t a hard on-switch, but more like a sunrise…slowly creeping light in.
So that’s my tale of finding strength in letting go. Letting go of my fears and trying something new. Allowing myself the opportunity to fail and begin again. I’ll leave you with this parting thought: we are ever-evolving and growing on this journey we call life. Right now, we’re just somewhere along the road so if it gets hard or scary, just know that there might be something amazing around the bend.
I hope to see you on the mat. <3
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