We are gearing up for a very active fall and one of the programs back on our schedule is Breathe & Eat!  This program was always one of my favorites – a combination of movement, breathwork and eating.  Some of the skills learned include how to manage the speed of the meal with sets, how to sense if the food is a match for your body or not, and how to establish the sensations of your physical body that are unique to you when it comes to food.  The six week program will begin on Wednesday, September 15th.  Space is limited.

After a wonderful meeting with my staff this past week, I was reminded again that the core principles that I established 15 years ago for my work still stand strong today.

1 – Each woman is respected for who she is and there is no judgement.

2 – No woman should ever be discriminated against when it comes to a movement program.

3 – The goal of my program is to teach women how to move safely safely and effectively in their own bodies, no matter their size.

4 – Each woman will be encouraged to pursue other activities or movement styles once a baseline of technique is established.

5 – For the hour we are together, it continues to be my goal and passion to help teach women how to stay connected to her beautifully moving physical body.

With repsect and appreciation…

Each woman arrived to class with her own set of physical, energetic and emotional challenges.  The night may have begun in a frenzy of energy, but with each breath and asana, the energy in the room turned inward.  

Yoga – to yoke – to join together.  In the safety of the space this community of women creates, each is free to experience her own self in a compassionate, kind and gentle environment.  Each woman who experiences this place of peace within, even if only for a few seconds, extends the invitation to the next woman to do the same.

 I feel so incredibly blessed to teach this amazing group of beautiful women.  The greatest gift, my “Ahhh Moment,” is to watch each client leave with peace and breath…having regained a sense of her own personal union. 

Thank you ladies, so very, very much. 

Om shanti…peace.

RochelleRice.com/schedule

Some tips for winter walking:

1- gently stretch feet/lower leg before and after – calf stretch, point your toes, ankle circles.

2 – hold your abdominals in while walking – lift the abdominals and draw the navel to the spine for balance.

3 – eyes on the horizon – once you “feel safe” bring your gaze up and out for optimal alignmnet of the spine.

Breathe and enjoy! :)

The audition was short and sweet – sat at a table with 8 other trainers. My early bird time paid off – I was probably the 17th trainer to be seen!  Resume, application, headshot, few questions…wait in line for 4 hours to get 10 minutes with the casting people.  I love my work!  Really… :)

I hope this inspires you in some way…get passionate, get motivated, live your dreams, get active, dare to live your life, and be sure to eat breakfast!

Mom shot this video and it didn’t take much convincing to get Gram dancing! 

And now I graciously introduce her at the beautiful age of 91, still moving and grooving! 

She does make me smile! :)

1 – Straight Leg Kicks – excellent for the gluteals (buttocks) which may be weak from not being used, hamstrings (back of the upper thighs) which may be elongated from standing in a “spill out” position, and abdominals, again, from standing in a “spill out” (no abdominal support at all) position.

2 – Inner Thighs – generally, the plus woman will stand or sit with legs a bit further apart to make space for the abdomen.  The inner thighs or adductors, need to be strengthened to help support the leg/knee.  As your body changes shape, the inner thighs are needed to help bring the femurs (thigh bones) back into alignment.

3 – Abdominals – breathing and body awareness are essential in this exercise.  Exhale on the effort – as you bring your knees to your chest.  Visualize to sensitize – your abdominal muscles go all the way down to the pubic bone.  If your abdomen flows beyond the pubic bone, it may be difficult to realize the abdominals are under there.  As you draw your knees in, see in your mind’s eye the pubic bone curling toward the navel.  This should help increase the work and sensation to the abdominal area.

The water is an excellent place for movement for the plus body.  Happy Moving!

But when I asked them to join me at Trapeze School (I try and go once a year to shake things up a bit in my life and keep me excited – on the “edge”) they were kind enough to respond “yes” without asking too many questions.  I love those kids!  So here we are, flying through the air!

Bike riding in Central Park seemed more reasonable – I just forgot to mention it was about 5 miles.  I love those kids!  They were certainly my newest BFFs!

Top of the Rock, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, World Trade Center, Hairspray on Broadway, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, Blue Man Group: Tubes, shopping at Century 21 and Virgin in Times Square.  48 FULL hours!  I was a bit lost when they went back home to Massachusetts.  Yet, I felt the pride of living here in this magnificent city.

There is hope that lives in them.  There is wonderment in the world before them.  There is freshness in their vocabulary (example: “that’s sick!” means “that’s terrific!”).  There is the preciousness of life and how quickly they grow.

I'm flying!

Top of the Rock

Cycling in Central Park