Stace: "Do You Zumba?"

Zumba is one of the newest's fitness crazes to hit the scene, and folks, I thinks it's here to stay :)

Zumba is a dance-based, fitness class done to international rhythms (including salsa, merengue, reggaeton, soca, cumbia, and some hip hop). Ideally, class should be easy to follow, and the instructor should offer modifications (to make certain steps more difficult or easier) to suit your fitness level.


Each class has something different to offer, so it's important that you shop around for a teacher who has the type of energy and teaching style best suited for you. Find a good class, and working out should feel like a mini- party, every time ;)

Try a class somewhere, and let me know if you loved it!


If you're in the Westchester County (New York) area, shoot an email my way for information on the class I teach!!

Stace: "Take Care of Your Body, and it Will Take Care of You."

Oftentimes, I hear people complain that they "just don't have the time anymore," and that's understandable, to a certain extent. Between working a full-time job, cooking dinner, caring for children, working overtime, not getting enough sleep, etc., who has TIME to workout these days?! Who has time to sit down and eat a meal?

Here are some helpful tips to get you back on track, no matter what your schedule looks like:

1- Make YOU a priority.
It's difficult to put yourself first. Usually you can start thinking about yourself only after your kids are cared for, dogs are fed, tasks are completed, dinner is on the table, chores are checked off, etc. but in order to be a good mother, daughter, father, son, brother, sister, worker, friend, husband, wife, it's important to feel good about yourself. If you're working at your prime, you are able to give more to the people and things that are important in your life. Putting your health at the top of your "to do" list is so very important and beneficial, and believe it or not, adds to your productivity.

2- Find time.
"Stacy, you don't understand..."
Believe you me, I do. I have a full-time job that requires me to be in the city by 7am. I don't get home until after 5. After work, I have so many other projects in the works and teaching my dance/fitness classes, that I hardly feel like I have a second to myself. Amongst all the madness, I find myself CRAVING a workout (those endorphins are something, let me tell ya). Usually I go for one that requires lots of physical motion with minimal thinking lol (enter running and yoga, how I love thee). The trick is to find the workout regimen and time that works for you. Ask yourself:
a. Are you a morning person (ahem, no), a night owl, or more of an "after work" exerciser?
b. What days do you have some free time- on the weekends? Mondays and Thursdays? Designate certain days that you will devote to your physical fitness.
c. What kinds of exercise do you enjoy? Weight training, running, pilates, spinning? Write down the things you enjoy and designate the days you will perfrom these activities.

3- Be realistic with your time.
Every little bit counts. If you want to devote 5 days a week to working out, but realistically only have 3 available days, then make the best out of those days. You don't need to be in the gym 6x a week, twice a day, for 2 hours a pop, to see results. If anything, that's detrimental to your health (overtraining), a topic I will write about very soon!

4- Every decision counts.
For once, I'm going to say "don't look at the bigger picture." Instead, look at each decision for what it is. Each time you choose a healthy meal, each time you give your body adequate rest, each time you work out, you are making a positive decision that benefits your overall health. Each small step leads to may-jah progress ;)

5- Just DO IT.
Stop mulling over all the reasons and excuses as to why you can't do something, and use that time to figure out how you can get it done. Most importantly, GET IT DONE! Have an hour to spare? Go for a light jog, do a quick weight training workout, stretch, prepare a healthy meal, read up on new exercise methods, research different recipes and food options. The information is available to you, utilize it!

I'll add more later- gotta get back to work! Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday =)

Stacy: "Training for Personal Training."

Getting a personal trainer can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Employing the help and motivation of a fitness professional can certainly get you into better shape, assure that you execute each movement with correct form, motivate you to keep pushing further, and give you new workouts and ideas to avoid plateaus. Amazing right?! Not so fast...

While the benefits of working with a personal trainer are undeniable, choosing the right personal trainer for you is so very important: your success and health can depend on it.

If you're interested in purchasing personal training packages, make sure you consider the following:

1. Do you mesh well?

You'll probably be seeing your personal trainer at least once a week, so you want to make sure he/she is a person you like being around! If you like someone barking at you, a more militant trainer may be for you. If you're more of a laid back kind of a person, maybe a trainer who is a bit more at ease (yet still as effective) is a better fit for you.

Also consider how comfortable you are with your trainer. Anything "new" may feel uncomfortable at first, especially considering this person's attention is solely on you for the hour (or, at least it should be). While that's understandable, you want to make sure you feel comfortable enough the divulge the eat deets, tell them when something doesn't feel right, or talk about certain medical conditions. After all, this person is a fitness professional, and is there to help you attain your goals.

2. Are you being pushed to reach your potential?

Most personal trainers have a passion for fitness and the desire to help you (the client) succeed.

As your body gets stronger and more fit, your program/fitness regimen should change. If you are on a program, make sure it isn't the "same ol' thang," rather, a progression, that keeps your body guessing. After all, you're paying for a service, make sure your trainer is providing you with an optimal session and constantly pushing you to reach your potential.

In regards to reaching your potential, please make sure you are pushing YOURSELF and not just relying on an outside source for motivation. If you aren't experiencing positive results, first take a look at what you're doing before pointing the finger. Have you been consistant? Have you been working hard during your sessions as well as on your own? Have you been eating healthfully? If your answer to the above three questions was a resounding "YES!" that's when it may be time to move forward and employ the help of someone who may be able to connect better with you.

3. **** Does this person know their stuff?! *****

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, make sure your trainer holds a recognizable certification! Many people don't realize this, but personal trainers can change your life drastically for the better (healthy body, healthy mind) or for the worse (injury). Make sure your trainer emphasizes your safety before anything else, and assists you in performing each exercise properly. Furthermore, your trainer should know all the ins and outs: anatomy, kinesiology, a bit about nutrition, and biomechanics. If they know their stuff, it's more likely that you'll experience positive results and not get injured.

Questions? Feel free to ask me!
LifestyleFitnessConcepts@gmail.com

<3,

Stace