Truer words have never been spoken!  Honestly, if we don't prioritize ourselves, who else will?  Our children, our husbands, our friends, our partners?  Nope.  Self love is the most important gift you can give youself.

Now before you start groaning and thinking "yeah yeah yeah",  I am not talking about the "I deserve it" retail splurges or the calorie ridden desert (although both have their place in my world...there are many shoes that have made their home with me that way!).  I am talking about the kind of love that comes from a deep respect for your body, your soul and spirit.

You are your most incredible creation!

You are your best work of art!

Are you taking care of your creation?  Embracing your art?

You already know that the single most important thing you can do for yourself is exercise your body, mind and spirit.  Exercise is an incredible gift that keeps you healthy, strong and beautiful.  It will improve your mood better than chocolate and keep you healthy.

Of course you are busy.  Somehow we are all busy - crazy busy - running our businesses, our families, our homes, our friendships, our partnerships.  If you don't take the time to care for  yourself, no one will do it for you.

You are your first priority.  Love yourself.  Take care of yourself.

Your body reflects you in all its human beauty:  flawed, fabulous and beautiful!  You are a living monument of your life and experiences.  How exciting!

Charlotte Moss states that "living is a luxury and we should enrich our lives and delight our senses."  May I suggest that we begin with ourselves?

xoxo

Pamela

Twyla Tharp on the Creative Process

Tharp on Creativity

Arabesque is an art/architecture term which refers to flowing lines, intertwined together.  In the Islamic art world, an arabesque is an infinite pattern that extends beyond the visible material world.  Mmmm - like our energy.

The beautiful art, by Dana at Ninetomatoes.com is a fantastic image of arabesques...the energy is the design is incredible.

In the ballet world, an arabesque is a line of the body where the leg is extended behind you, lengthening in opposition to the midline of the body.

Again, a beautiful line of energy...also an infinite pattern which extends beyond the visible, material world...

The BalletPhysique barre fitness version of arabesque...

Holding onto the barre (or a chair or countertop) extend one leg into an arabesque. Lift it to waist height, then return the toe to the floor.  Repeat 16-32 times.

This will cause your hamstring muscles to intertwine into a flowing line with your gluteus maximus muscles, resulting in a taut, firm derriere.

And that's a beautiful line we all can create!

Barre for balance, stability and support

Dancers begin their day at the barre, moving through a series of exercises designed to warm  and strengthen the body.  In use for nearly 200 years, it is a method of exercise which truly shapes your body.

You don't have to be a dancer to experience the benefits of exercising at the barre. BalletPhysique takes traditional ballet exercises and modifies them into a program for everyone at all fitness levels.  The exercises target the hips, inner thighs, hamstrings and derriere.  In addition to specific muscle training, you will also work your upper body and increase flexibility.

The barre itself is used for balance, stability and support.  By keeping a light grip on the barre, you can focus on isolating specific muscle groups.  In addition, the barre helps maintain proper aligment and creates beautiful posture.

A dancer's body with strength, grace and beautiful posture?  Sounds good to me!

Want to make more of your everyday chores? We are only looking for thirty minutes to stay in shape...I call these maintenance days rather than get ahead days.

It may sound corny, but adding little pieces of exercise to your chores will increase the amount of calories you burn as well as maintain the hard earned muscle you already have. Try adding straight leg releves while washing the dishes or lunges while vacuuming. Try not to vacuum or mop hunched over. Engage your abdominals and push the mop/vacuum from your arms and legs. Brushing your teeth? Add a few plies!

While cleaning won't necessarily help you lose weight, people who incorporate physical fitness into their everyday life are more likely to achieve their long term fitness goals. There is only good to be gained - a beautiful garden, a clean house and a sweet physique!

Sounds simple, right? For everyone struggling with weight, health and fitness, it's a daily grind of what to eat and how or when to exercise. (Lets save what to wear for another day!) The statistics are staggering:  over 30% of the population is obese, over 65 % are overweight. Childhood obseity rates have topped 17%. Diet, weight loss and exercise have become a multi-billion dollar business - 5 billion to be exact.  It's also confusing. Eat less carbs, eat more protein. Skip dessert, eat dark chocolate. Alcohol is bad, but red wine is good. How do you know what to do?

Life is about joy and love and passion - not diet, not exercise, not numbers on the scale or on the label of your jeans.  A lifestyle choice is about being happy, healthy and strong with energy to share. Eat more of the good stuff, less of the bad stuff. Eat foods that are high in fiber, low in saturated fat. Eats lots of colors!  When you do choose a decadent treat, don't waste your choice on something that fills your tummy but not your soul!

Move more! It feels wonderful and releases endorphins that make you want to sing (or at least hum...). You are always just one workout away from a good mood! Did you know that inactivity can cause stress, anxiety and increased fatigue?  Walk, run, take a BalletPhysique class... you will sleep better and feel better.

Lastly, take a good look at how beautiful you are. Congratulate yourself on all the wonderful things you do in a day, for yourself and for others.  Be grateful for the love in your life and, most importantly, love yourself!

Stay tuned for updates...