November 2013 Newsletter

Presenting at the 2013 ACE Fitness Symposium
Igniting the Plus Size MOVEment!

There is a time for stillness, for quiet and meditation, a time to take a seat and go inward. There is also a time to act, to speak and be heard– a time to stand and outwardly defend beliefs. Those who subscribe to my blog or follow me on Facebook may know about my stand on The Biggest Loser. This television show is a disgrace to the fitness industry and I have zero tolerance for the trainer to client abuse deemed appropriate by this program. The harassment of contestants has been sensationalized and in no way does the the show foster a healthy body mind connection. I do not want Michelle Obama to appear on the show for this reason. It would be so much more constructive for her and other influencers to engage in the advocacy communities centering around weight stigma. This campaign has been sent to the White House and we are currently awaiting a response. I will continue to move forward with my beliefs that ALL people deserve a movement program that works for their body. Stay tuned!

A major, indispensable piece that is missing on The Biggest Loser is size sensitivity. This is exactly what I spoke about at the ACE Fitness’s annual symposium in October. I presented to groups of trainers about how to train the fuller body and what this client’s specific needs may be. There is a unique anatomical approach to training this population that should not be ignored. This is a message I have always been passionate about and I am so grateful for the audience of trainers who deeply cared to learn about size sensitivity. Despite what the media has labeled an “obesity epidemic” only 14% of the American population goes to the gym. This number CAN change if fitness professionals were to become more size friendly. I have done and will do all that I can to move the fitness industry in this direction.

Master of Movement

Marianne masterfully executing a box burpee!

This month’s Master of Movement is Marianne Stephan, who began with me in my pilates classes in 2008. Marianne was hesitant to start a movement program, and today she herself works in a gym and has developed a passionate love of movement. She likes boxing, kettlebells, TRX, and high aerobic ativities such as “burpees” which she describes in our interview.

Not only has Marianne been on an incredible fitness journey, but she has done so while struggling with some serious health challenges. After being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and undergoing a 7 and 1/2 hour surgery, her oncologist told her that her passion for movement was critical in her recovery. Her focus on getting active was inspired by her quest to heal. Today, she has come so far and is working on her personal trainer certification. She is a true inspiration.

She went from almost no movement to being a Master of Movement. She did this by finding the kinds of movement that work for HER body. Everyone has individual movement needs and preferences. Acknowledging this can be your first step toward finding an active lifestyle that works for you! Listen to our interview to hear more details about her journey and to hear her advice about how to begin. Here is the link to the recording.

Muscle of the Month

Many people experience neck strain as the result of daily tasks. Activities like cradling a phone between the ear and shoulder, hunching at the computer, or sleeping with a pillow that is too high or firm can instigate neck strain. Fortunately, stretching the muscles of the neck can release some of this excess tension.

The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle allows the head to rotate the head and flex. It also activates when you extend, or elongate, the neck. Try a simple ear to shoulder stretch like I teach in my yoga class series. Begin by sitting or standing tall. You can stand against a wall or use the back of a chair to help you feel spinal length. Allow your shoulders to drop as if there are weights attached to your elbows. Slowly allow the right ear to drop toward the right shoulder while maintaining length in your spine. Take 5 breaths in and out, shoulders still heavy. As you breathe you can reach the left fingertips toward the floor to feel the stretch more intensely. You may also want to place the right hand on top of the left ear and apply gentle pressure to encourage a deeper stretch.

When you are ready slowly release the hand from the ear and return the head to center. Repeat on the left side. You should never feel pain during this exercise so don’t overdue it! Remember to take it slowly– ONE molecule at a time, as I like to say!

Moving Forward

The leaves are actively changing!

This month is especially full of movement for me. Between the complimentary yoga classes (Tuesday and Thursday!), Zumba with Melissa Mace (this Saturday!), my yoga class series (beginning next week!) and moving forward with my stand on weight discrimination– I’m living an active lifestyle! And this is what movement is to me: a lifestyle. Because everyday we have the ability to make choices for ourselves and how we move in our lives. Whether it be physical, emotional, or mental, movement of all forms is imperative for our mental, physical, and spiritual wellness. The personal choices we make each moment have the power to move us forward. What have you been choosing for yourself lately? Are you moving in the direction of the kind of lifestyle you want and deserve?

I invite you to consider making a different choice today. Try ONE choice that is different, one choice that will move you differently. By experimenting with new choices in our lives we become more open to curiosity, hope and possibility. This improvement is not about appearing a certain way but rather about feeling a certain way. Empower yourself by making one choice to move today!

Make an active choice for yourself. Choose to move forward!

Yours in health,