Hypfit Total Mind/Body Workout

Above is a promotional video for a new fitness video by a friend of mine, Keri Jenkins, to help women through their pregnancies, both physically and mentally. The video is available at hypfit.com; it is only $19.99, and that price includes shipping and handling. (Continental US only.)

This video is for pregnant women who are already reasonably fit (although Keri does offer modifications on the video for an easier workout). The video is for pregnant women who are concerned they may gain weight; women who want to stay as fit as possible during pregnancy; women who are considering natural childbirth; women who may have difficulty relaxing or getting comfortable; and women who want to get back into shape as quickly as possible after delivery. The video is safe and effective for all three trimesters.

Keri has nearly ten years experience in the health & fitness industry. Her background is in yoga, Pilates, Spinning®, older adult fitness, sculpting, and personal training. As she says on her website , "[Keri's] personal mission is to challenge, motivate and inspire everyone she meets to attain their personal best." She is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and may be contacted by email at info@mindbodymechanix.com.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM RUNWAY READY!!!!

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)

Kittery clairvoyant opens window on the unknown

Does “the other side” really exist? Lately there’s been a surge in paranormal activity on TV with shows like “Ghost Hunters.” Maybe our curiosity to know more about “crossing over” comes from our fear of, and fascination with, the unknown.

Imagine if you had the ability to see a person who has passed over, to communicate with them and use that special gift to help families and loved ones feel that connection. Or work with the authorities on missing person’s cases. I recently had a chance to interview Whitney Boyd of Kittery (VisionsByWhitney.com), a local psychic.

Runway Ready: Whitney, I must say you are an amazing women with many talents such as a background in theater, art, music and ballet. Can you tell us a little about your psychic abilities?

Whitney: The word “psychic” can be broken down into a few descriptions. The word “clairvoyant” means one who sees clearly. I am clairvoyant, as I have always had “visions.” Hence my Web site: VisionsByWhitney.com.

A “clairsentient” is one who can feel or touch something and bring in information for a client. Sometimes clairsentients use photographs or items of jewelry, a pair of eyeglasses perhaps, car keys, a shoe – whatever holds the persons vibrations or storyline. I do this oftentimes in my work.

A “clairaudient” is one who “smells” or understands the knowledge that comes in with scent in a psychic reading. This accompanies psychic input many times for me. I was working with a woman one day and in came the scent of blackberries – and I tasted them as well, so there was no doubt what information I was receiving. I told the woman about this and, before she could answer, a woman from the other side came in to speak to her. It was her mother – and the blackberry scent and taste was because it was her mother's favorite fruit and plant, and she had spent many years growing and harvesting it. Although I’ve lost track of a lot of people that I've read for over the last 30 years or so, I do remember this reading.

A “claircognizant” just knows something. They may not get anything other then a knowing or some event. It may stand alone or come in with other psychic abilities.

A “clairgustant” is one who can actually taste something. I do suppose this can stand alone, but I believe it works with other psychic gifts, as with the story about the blackberries above.

I use all of these abilities in my work. I am also a medium/channel, and work with angels, guides and those who have departed. I always ask my angels to go to the angels of the person I am reading for so that I might know what it is I am to share with them. I always stand with Jesus, the holy white light and all of the Great White Brotherhood, all of the great masters.

Runway Ready: When did you realize you had this ability?

Whitney: When I was 12 yrs old, I weighed 238 pounds and stood barely 5 feet tall. One day I went down to the 40-acre cow field by my home and, in tears, asked God to let me die. You know how cruel people can be to fat kids (sigh). Well, I asked to die and God answered me. He told me that it was not my time to die, that it would be “taken care of,” that when I turned 32 my life would begin to change and I would be called a healer of words. I believe that in my work, I am a “healer of words” ... that those who come for readings leave with a healing in their hearts of some kind.

At that time I wanted to go to camp, and we had to have a doctor’s permission to attend. Well, the doctor would not let me go to camp as my blood pressure was sky high because I was so obese. So, I had to have some blood work done – and that is when the doctor discovered that my thyroid gland was only performing at about 2 percent. So, with that discovery, “it was taken care of.” I was put on thyroxin medication, given a very strict diet and monitored carefully for over a year, when finally I stood on the scales at 121 pounds. Yes, it was definitely taken care of – thank you God!

Soon after God spoke to me, I started to experience someone tapping on my head. The tapping would start at the back of my head and I would see something, or have a vision. In the beginning, I didn't pay much attention to it and tried to dismiss it as best I could. I did not have much of a rapport with my family so I never discussed it openly.

The tapping continued over the top of my head until it reached the third eye area (center forehead) and then the visions really started coming in. One of the most remarkable visions I had was of a woman coming down a dark hallway with a huge gold key in her hand. As she came closer to me in the vision, she turned left to enter a doorway. The huge gold key diminished in size until it fit into the door and unlocked it. The door opened, the woman entered the dark room and, although I never saw her again, the visions become even more powerful and have never left me. I believe the woman was my guardian angel.

Runway Ready: I've been told you also work with the authorities in investigations of missing person's cases. Can you tell us a little about that?

Whitney: I have worked for many years on the case of the missing child, Tammy Belanger (she went missing in Exeter in 1984 at age 8). This child came to me one day while I was driving my car from Portsmouth, along Route 101, past the town of Exeter. I had never heard of Exeter, as I had just relocated from Rhode Island. Anyhow, this child’s spirit hung over my car windshield and put me on a hunt for her body for four years.

I am still working on this case and have had some very interesting breakthroughs recently, although we have not found her yet. I gave her my word that we would reunite her body and soul, and I will never give up. As a songwriter and singer, I wrote a song entitled “School’s Out,” which tells the story of Tammy and what happened that fateful day.

Right around the time that I was working with Tammy, I watched the news and saw the space shuttle Challenger go up into the sky and explode. I asked my husband at the time if one of our launches had gone up and blown up, and he said no. I thought for a minute and I said, “No one went up into the sky and blew up?” And he again said, “No, you are thinking about the one that burned up on the launch pad.” And then I freaked out, because I knew ... I knew it was going to blow up and I was soooo freaked out. I was going to call the White House or the police or someone, but my husband told me that they would think I had something to do with it and he would not let me call; so I didn't. Two weeks later, my husband called me at work and told me the space shuttle blew up in the sky over Florida. I had a really hard time with this and didn't really like being psychic for a while. It's not always glamorous work.

Runway Ready: Can anyone be a psychic?

Whitney: I feel that some people are more gifted then others in any walk of life, so some people might be more open psychically than others. In other words, when I teach a class in Psychic Development, I give very specific techniques for people to use to connect, protect and ground. If they really invest some time and effort into this practice, yes, they will find themselves tuned in and able to gather psychic information.

For example, those who win the gold medals at the Olympics have the greatest talents, and they have worked hard to develop those gifts. While some psychics are born more receptive then others, I do believe most people – with some devotion, practice and perseverance – can develop their psychic abilities, although some more than others, as with any talent.

Runway Ready: What advice can you give people who are looking for a psychic to help them find a good one and not a fraudulent one?

Whitney: I would say word of mouth is an excellent way to find a responsible psychic whose main interest is to serve the client and not grease their palm with gold.

Runway Ready: How’s your track record with predictions?

Whitney: Some of the most delightful people have come back to me many years later, when I really don't remember them or their reading. How could I? I used to do 10 or more readings a day at the Mustard Seed, four or five days a week, plus readings at home on the phone to people all over the place. Anyhow, they have shared some wonderful stories with me and I have stood there smiling, so thrilled with their stories.

It really makes me happy to be able to give people good information that benefits their lives. The happiest predictions are the babies, and then they bring the baby in to meet me – now that is joy! I believe I am quite accurate, and when I get a vision it’s generally right on.

Runway Ready: I've been told you have many talents besides your psychic abilities such as art, theatre, music, ballet and a love of Arabian horses. Can you tell us about these things and how they fit in your life now?

Whitney: I came in as a Pisces, with many talents, and a mystic rectangle in my natal birth chart that includes my sun, moon, Uranus and Saturn. So, it is my destiny to be psychic and use my astrological gifts, as well as to teach. I have always used my music, writing and singing talents as well, which is part of this “air trine,” and being a ballerina for many years comes from this energy, as well as my being a Pisces, which rules the feet. I have Mars in Pisces, which brings in some of our most gifted artists.

I have always worked with horses, which heralds from a past life in Egypt, when I was a young boy and rode the King’s horses, and lived my life among the deserts and pyramids. My love of falconry as well descended from here. I remember another lifetime in England, with horses again and falconry, and one in Africa. I still work with World Vision (a charitable Christian relief and development agency) and children in Africa, as my memory is so strong.

One night I was sitting in my living room and a child came to me in a vision. There, in my living room, was a young African boy, standing in the desert. I tried to communicate with him, but I could only see him. I have learned over time that when I have a vision and I only get a piece of it, more is soon on its way.

My guides told me to turn on the TV, which I did. Then they told me to change channels, which I did, and to stop at the channel that had the World Vision program on. Now, I really squirmed because this particular TV show is gruesome and it hurts so much for me to see these people who are at such a level of poverty. Anyhow, I stopped at the station and watched.

My guides told me to call the number that was on the screen, so I did. Then when the operator answered the World Vision phone and asked me who I would like to sponsor, I tried to say a 3-year-old little girl. Well, my guides would not let me speak. The operator heard my silence and, as I was reading him psychically, I knew he was thinking that I wasn't sure who I wanted to sponsor, so he said to me, “There are five of the neediest children, two of whom are spoken for. Will you take the next child in line?” My guides allowed me to speak and say “Yes,” and that concluded our phone conversation.

About a week later came the package from World Vision with my sponsored child's photo – it was Alemaehu Shanka, the boy who stood in my living room in the vision. It was an amazing experience and I sponsored him and his family and his tribe, sending food, love, gifts, school supplies. To this day, his photo hangs in my living room in honor of our other lifetime together.

You can reach Whitney at VisionsbyWhitney.com

By Debbie Breneman
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Fox Run Mall Celebrates Safe Trick or Treating!!

Fox Run Mall will celebrate Halloween on Friday, October 31st with mall-wide Trick or Treating from 5:00 – 7:00pm. This is one evening that Fox Run Mall can give back to the community by hosting an event that provides a safe and warm environment for the children.

As many as 3,000 costumed children are expected to take part in the celebration, going store to store collecting their treats. Look for the orange pumpkin face on the storefront of all participating retailers. For further information regarding mall-wide Trick or Treat at Fox Run Mall call 431-5911. At 50 Fox Run Road, Newington, N.H.

Portsmouth Halloween Parade

Don't forget about The 14th Annual Halloween Parade in Portsmouth this Friday, October 31st. The parade route makes its way through downtown Portsmouth and then back to the Mill Pond. Everyone is welcome to dress up and jump in the parade.

Here's a look back at last year's parade. For information and a map of the parade route please visit www.spookyPortsmouth.com

Halloween is Deb Breneman’s favorite Holiday and her inner "Rocker Chick" will come out in full force on Halloween night. Can you guess which rocker she will be? Hint --Leather pants, top hat and lotts of tattoo’s.... "You're in the jungle, baby"... Send your favorite Halloween costume pictures into dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 06:32 PM | Comments (0)

Fall Specials at Top Notch Pilates in Portsmouth

NOVEMBER 1 - 8 ONLY ~ SAVE 20% ON ALL NOTCHWEAR

For the first time ever all the Notchwear is on SALE! Fabulous fitness and everyday comfortable, casual and long lasting fashions by Bella, Soma and Alternative. Shop early for Christmas gifts! Hurry - supplies are limited! First come first serve! NOTE: Grippy socks NOT included.
Thermals & Long Sleeves NOW ONLY$20
Long Pants & Capris NOW ONLY$20
T-Shirts NOW ONLY$14
Tanks & Camis NOW ONLY$12
Jackets NOW ONLY $25

JUST WHAT IS PILATES ANYWAY? Click here to read an article about Pilates by the owner of Top Notch Pilates, Sabrina Svard.

TRY THE PILATES EQUIPMENT!!!

THE PILATES APPARATUS:
Cadillac | Reformer | Chair
Ladder Barrel | PediPull | Spine Corrector
Try out each piece of Pilates apparatus in this NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY class: Apparatus Circuit Training.

Get a great full body workout in an affordable small group setting.
Class is limited to 5 participants.
6 sessions $179 non-members | $149 members.
Choose one time: Tuesdays 8:15am or 7:00pm; Wednesdays 9:30am

SMART START SPECIAL

Three 30 minute private sessions and one month unlimited group classes for only $125. Includes all Group Pilates, Cardio & Mind~Body Classes and exclusive "Members Only" discount pricing on Private, Semi-Private, Small Group and Personal Training Sessions.

NEW! PILATESYSTEM PREP PACKAGE

Sold in conjunction with the above SMART START SPECIAL is the PILATESYSTEM PREP package. This includes 3 sessions on the reformer for only $99 to get you prepped for a group PilateSystem class! Sold ONLY with the Smart Start Special.

Top Notch Pilates is located at 135 McDonough Street in Portsmouth
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ONLY AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER

GO International® introduces the Jonathan Saunders collection, an effortlessly cool update of classic silhouettes. Vivid colors and vibrant patterns drench chic shift dresses, tees and button-downs. Cinch it all together with the must-have reversible belt. This limited-edition collection is available at Target® stores and Target.com/go only through October.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)

Eat, Wax, & Remain Stress Free

Three Chimneys Inn, located at 17 Newmarket Road in Durham, currently has a great deal on gift certificates, available for a limited time. You can get a $50 gift certificate for $25.* There is a limit of four per person, but that's a great price and a great gift, for those of you who are already in holiday shopping mode.

At Three Chimneys Inn, you can treat yourself to a relaxing dinner in the Tavern while listening to live local music in the Maples Room for a special evening out. Lunch is served Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30am-2:30pm; Dinner is served seven nights a week from 5:00pm. They also feature live entertainment on Thursday & Friday evenings. They are open year round. *Supplies are limited. Gift Certificates can be redeemed one per couple. No Cash Value. Dine in only. Does not include Tax or Gratuity.


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October Deals at The Wingate Salon
This October The Wingate Salon & Spa, located at 139 Portsmouth Avenue in Stratham, will begin offering some great new skin care treatments designed to focus on age management and other specialized skin issues. One new service is the Pumpkin Peel Treatment. It is a powerful antioxidant treatment that brightens and rejuvenates the skin. They are offering $10 off the Pumpkin Peel this October and November.

There is also a deal on brow waxing this week (week of 10/13) for $10. Next week, the week of 10/20, the special will change to a Kerastase Hair Masque for $10. As part of The Wingate's 10th Anniversary Special, they are rolling back prices! Classic Facials are reduced to $55 Monday - Thursday for Wingate Premier Clients. (A $20 savings!) If you are not a Premier Client, you simply sign-up on their website to become one; there is no cost. Premier Clients also save 10% off last minute appointments! The last minute appointments are listed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and are posted on the website the evening before at 6pm.

You can also win big if you reserve an appointment in October. You'll be automatically entered to win an amazing weekend away to the newly renovated Victoria Inn in Hampton. If you win, you will enjoy a Friday and Saturday night stay that includes breakfast! The Victoria Inn is well over a century old, and over the years has been restored in appreciation of the history of the home and area. Its elegant, comfortable, and home-like feel make it a popular destination.

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Auburn Montessori School Sponsors Online Auction to Raise Funds to Build a Natural Playground

Items auctioned include jewelry, antiques, riding, gym and music lessons, massages, Pilates classes, photo shoot, a personal recording session and more!

The Auburn Montessori School announced its first annual online auction. Open to everyone, the auction will run from October 15th to November 15th 2008. The auction will feature dozens of items including among many other things: Pilates, gym classes, in-home massages, gift baskets, gift certificates, babysitting, horseback riding lessons, music lessons, jewelry, antiques, handmade rugs and afghans, a photo shoot, a private music recital, and for aspiring artists, a private recording session in a music studio!

All proceeds generated by the auction will go towards the creation of a natural playground located on the school’s grounds. Connie Mercier, Auburn Montessori’s Director explains, “Encouraging children to respect the environment and appreciate nature’s beauty is at the core of the Montessori teaching philosophy. We are lucky that our school is located in a beautiful part of rural New Hampshire and it has been our dream for some time to create an outdoor, natural classroom and playground for our students.”

Christina Knickerbocker the principal architect of the auction and a parent of two students at Auburn Montessori, comments: “We considered the usual fund raising methods, but we knew we wanted to do more than sell candy or bake cookies. Unlike traditional live auctions, where the students’ parents are often the only bidders, the online silent auction will allow anyone, anywhere in the country, to bid on any item in the comfort of their own homes.”
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Six Week Course at Yoga East
Starts this Wednesday, 10/15/08
Located at 163-B Deer Street in Portsmouth

Details are available on Yoga's East's website. Cost is $180 for members of the studio & $200 for non-members.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 04:53 PM | Comments (0)

Open House at O2 Yoga - Saturday, October 25

O2 Yoga is hosting an Open House on Saturday, October 25 at the Portsmouth Studio, located at 63 Market Street, downtown Portsmouth. This means classes are free all day!!! It's a perfect chance to take a yoga class, if you've ever wanted to try.

October 25 Schedule
8 a.m. Intermediate
9:30 a.m. Power
11 a.m. Basics
12:30 p.m. Basics

As well as free classes, O2 will have yummy food and discounts on class cards and memberships. There will also be a raffle to benefit the Cocheco Valley Humane Society. Class cards will be on sale October 25 only with the following offers: $50 for a five-class card and $100 for a ten-class card. Also, for new students only, unlimited yoga for three months, $150.
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Slavery Awareness Party on Saturday, October 25 at 7pm

The 10 Ladd Street Shops in downtown Portsmouth, Fa La Lo and Bead Shine, are joining forces to hold an "Awareness Party" at their shops on 10 Ladd Street in downtown Portsmouth. The purpose of their party is threefold: 1) to make people aware of the issue of modern day slavery across the world, 2) to offer for purchase products made by slavery survivors to help the survivors reach self sufficiency, and 3) to celebrate the strength of the human spirit that keeps people optimistic even when facing the most horrific of circumstances.

Awareness Parties are a staple of The Emancipation Network (TEN), whose goal is to end slavery in the world within the next twenty-five years. As they raise money for survivors and others who are at risk of slavery, the parties allow their attendees to know that they can make a difference in the world for women and children who would be victims of modern day slavery.

"The idea of a slavery awareness party is certainly ironic," says Liz Wright, co-owner of Fa La Lo, "but the idea joyously observes how human beings have hope even in the most dismal of situations. Additionally, we need to celebrate that we in the Seacoast area are in a position to help the world end slavery once and for all." Though most Americans believe slavery ended in the nineteenth-century, slavery is still a present evil. Found all across the world, including in the United States, slavery is particularly a problem in parts of Asia.

While most slaves are found in the sex-industry, slaves are also forced to work in fields, homes, mines, restaurant and many other workplaces. The not-for-profit organization Free the Slaves estimates that there are 27 million slaves in the world today, with 14,500 trafficked to the United States each year. Victims of slavery know that if they do not cooperate, they may lose their lives since the average cost of a slave in the world today is $90; life is cheap.

Bead Shine and Fa La Lo want to celebrate the sanctity of human life and help Seacoast residents do the same. Telling stories of people who overcame the horror of slavery, the "Awareness Party" will be a joyful opportunity for Seacoast area residents to join together with food and drink to learn about how we will overcome. The products made for survivors that will be available include handmade paper and notecards, elegant tee shirts, jewelry, home goods, and various women's bags. Everyone is invited. For more information, call Liz Wright at 603-431-0420 or contact Liz via email at fa.la.lo.of.portsmouth@gmail.com.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 06:49 PM | Comments (0)

Yoga: No Shoes Required

(This piece was written by Mary Salmon)

I find it fascinating to talk to different people about what attracted them to yoga in the first place. Why does someone start doing yoga? What keeps them coming back week after week? Last night after a class at O2 Yoga in Portsmouth (www.O2yoga.com), located on 63 Market Street in Portsmouth, I took an informal survey of the six women in the class. Even with a just small sampling of students, there were many different reasons & motivations behind why each person chose to practice.

One of the women in class started practicing yoga in San Francisco. She said in a city so compressed, it’s very easy to lose focus. She was not sleeping, and a friend had suggested that she should try yoga. Her first experience was at an Ashtanga studio, where she found a teacher she connected with and immediately started practicing five days a week. Another woman, age 47, claimed that she had never been an athletic person, and it was one day when a skirt did not fit her that she decided she would try a class. She had seen a flier for O2 in a local bakery, and figured that if she worked slowly, she could do it; she also had a great experience with her first teacher. Another student started with Rodney Yee and Surfer Power Yoga videotapes to slow down and get fit. One woman said that she had to do yoga in high school for junior varsity sports; unfortunately, her first experience was sullied by an inattentive instructor.

When I asked why these women keep coming back, one reason was for emotional and physical well-being. “It makes me a better person,” said Christi Tuck, my instructor. Others mentioned that yoga helps to still them, create balance, and allows them to escape the body. I personally have a mind that rarely stops swirling, and yoga class is only time I can (usually) leave the day behind, not think about future plans, and have the one time of the day that is just for me. When I walk back into the world, I carry that sense of peace that class provided for as long as possible, and the more I practice, the more peaceful I find myself feeling.

In this economy, there is also the financial aspect to consider, especially if you already belong to a gym or a Pilates studio; yoga isn’t cheap, no matter what studio you try. One woman in class said that she bought the membership to force herself to go to as many classes as possible, so she feels that she is getting her money’s worth. (This trick won’t work for everyone!) One positive financial note is you won’t need to spend a lot on gear for this activity like you would on skiing or soccer; you need only a mat, comfortable clothes (including pants that won’t fall down your legs when you are in a handstand), and bare feet, which is a big benefit – no special shoes required! Another student said that coming to the studio and engaging with the different instructors is a big aspect of her practice; she likes the teachers guiding her though class.

I was actually first drawn to yoga when I saw an Oprah interview with Rodney Yee. I bought his videotape after I saw that show, but videotapes are not my favorite way to practice. In the studio environment, I enjoy the variety of classes offered as well as the variety of instructors. I also like to feel the energy created in the room by all of the other students. Friends kept telling me I should try it, and I would love it. It was one friend in particular who used to have pretty poor posture who had the greatest influence on my desire to try it for myself, and eventually I attended my first class as her guest. I watched her stand up straighter and straighter as months went by, and she continued her yoga practice. I had always wanted better posture, so I think that was what finally got me to try the first class at the studio, where I had a wonderful experience with my first instructor. At this point, if I skip too many consecutive days of practice, I can feel my joints stiffen. Attending retreats and intensive classes is also a great way to strengthen your practice, and many studios in the area offer both. I was thrilled to take class with Beryl Bender Birch this summer at O2 Yoga.

Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga that was introduced to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures – producing internal heat. In traditional Ashtanga, the postures are always taught in the same sequence. Yoga East (www.yogaeastyoga.com), located at 163B Deer Street, is a traditional Ashtanga studio in Portsmouth. Ashtanga Yoga literally means “eight limbed Yoga”; Yama (relationship to others), Niyama (Self Purification/Study), Asana (Yoga Postures), Pranayama (Breath Control), Pratyahara (Sense control), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana(meditation), Samadhi (contemplation).

O2 Yoga teaches an Ashtanga-based style of yoga. As defined by the owner of the studio, Mimi Loureiro, “O2 Yoga is my dream come true. I have blended my strong background in exercise physiology, my love of Ashtanga Yoga, and my philosophy on life to create a system unlike any other." Mimi has created a less predictable vinyasa-flow format. It is challenging yet invigorating yoga that is also calming and fun. What will you hopefully gain if you start a yoga practice? Hopefully, you will feel a better ability to focus on everyday matters, have a happier daily life, gain the ability to better deal with challenges, and yes, it will help your body look longer and leaner, and you will be stronger. O2 Yoga will be holding an **OPEN HOUSE** at the Portsmouth Studio on Saturday, October 25. This is a perfect opportunity to try out free classes! (8:00 am Basics, 9:30 am Power and 11:00 am Basics.)

There is a Bikram studio located at 801 Islington Street (www.bikramyogaportsmouth.com). Bikram Yoga, also known as Hot Yoga, is practiced in a room heated to 105°F, with a humidity of 40%. Classes are guided by specific dialogue, including 26 postures and two breathing exercises. This Bikram studio in Portsmouth has a great offer for beginners or people who want to try out the studio - ten consecutive days for $10.

If you are thinking about trying yoga for the first time, here are a few things to remember: It’s your practice and not a competition. You shouldn’t push yourself farther than your edge in any pose to avoid injury. There’s an awful lot to think about, so don’t let that intimidate you. Don’t be afraid to try an intermediate class after you have a good number of basics classes under your belt. It can be inspiring to watch people who have been practicing longer than you; they may be able to get into poses that you can only dream about, but it’s super-cool to watch. You will also have classes where your balance is off or you are extra tired. Earlier this week I had a practice where I felt tired, and I barely made it to the studio in time for class, but I held my forearm stand at the end of class for a solid six – seven seconds. That one moment made it worth coming to class. Walking out the studio door, heading back into the world, I have never once wished I hadn’t gone to class.

*****

Blank Aspirations

Meditation is challenging for me
Maybe something so serious can't be easy
I envision myself in a cosmic, out-of-body sort of way,
where I've broomed every last thought away,
nothing left to haunt me from my day,
remind me of a chore or something left unfinished,
(Stop thinking about the dirty dishes!)
It's just pure white light and harmony
in my meditation fantasy
that has yet to become reality

I met a woman who said that chanting helped
she taught me a chant that day
to help cope with this loss of a loved one
I did take notes, but admittedly,
have not been chanting regularly

I breathe in my yoga class
in an endless effort to relax
Working through difficult poses,
with even inhalations and exhalations,
reminded by my teachers to leave thoughts behind
I know, I know - quiet the battlefield of my mind
but mine is never silent
well, it's not a jump drive I can just pop out
with a few gigabytes of memories
that I can now safely remove from my brain

Over and over, I repeat to myself:
Outside the room is outside the room
Inside of my head, keep it outside of the room
Inside the room, stay inside the room
Inside the room is now, and now is all there is…
In a sometimes futile attempt to remember
to appreciate the moment I am in,
Surrendering to the present

The thoughts sometimes refuse to cease swirling around my head
when I'm supposed to be perfectly still in savasana, the corpse pose - dead
Until we are cued to move again and class comes to an end
and as they say... Namaste
I honor the light in you
that is the light in me

-Mary Salmon

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 09:10 AM | Comments (0)

The Truth About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast or a tumor, grow out of control and damages nearby tissue. In women, the most common and fatal type of cancer is breast cancer.

Detection
There are often no symptoms in the early stages. Women should be aware of the screening recommendations and follow them. There are varieties of symptoms that may appear as the tumor grows such as:

- The breast changing in size or shape
- Breast skin becomes pitted or ridged
- Thickening or lump in the underarm or breast
- Discharge from nipple or the nipple turns inward
- Skin on the breast becomes red or scales

If you have any of these symptoms, have yourself examined by a medical professional. This does not mean you have cancer but you defiantly want to have this checked.

Before the age of twenty, is very rare to get it and not often diagnosed in women less than twenty-five years old. The chances of contacting climbs steadily after 25 and peaks around menopause age in women. It increases less after menopause but as they age, the risk to older women gradually increases.

Risk Factors

Nobody really knows what causes this cancer. Some of the elements that are thought to increase the risk are:

Gender: There are more cases of women than men
Weight: Overweight women are at higher risk
Age: From 25 to menopause, the chances increases.
Children: If a woman has not had a child, or had a child after 30
Family History: Women that have a family member that have or had it are at risk.

Male Breast Cancer
Yes, it really does happen. It is certainly not as common as in women but approximately one to 1.5% happens to men. Older men most often diagnosed with it and are between sixty and seventy years old. If a man has had previous exposure to radiation, such as for cancer treatment, their risk increases. Approximately 20% of men with a mother, sister or other close female relatives with breast cancer are certainly at higher risk. Some of the symptoms in men includes swelling or a breast lump, retracted nipple or discharge and scaling or redness of the breast skin or nipple.

Statistics
The statistics are frightening. Each and ever year, over 182,000 women and 16,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Over 400 men and 43,300 women will die from this terrible disease. During their lifetime, one woman out of eight has or will get breast cancer. Most people have family or friends that have or had breast cancer. Always give them your support and encouragement.

Learn more about Breast Cancer and other Health-related issues at: http://www.thehealthyportal.com

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)

Where to Find Low Carb Recipes Online

You may be surprised to find the number of things people are willing to share online for free. The one thing that online life makes easier is helping each other reach our individual goals, and dietary goals are no exception. Low carb recipes abound online, you just need to know where to look.

In this era of fat-building fast foods and preserved snacks, the need to become conscious of our own health becomes more and more urgent. Learn how to cut down on "bad carbs" by going online and checking out user-submitted health recipes! Here are a few sites where you can find quality low carb recipes:

1. Tina and Duncan MacDonald's website hosts the low-carb recipes submitted to the newsgroup alt.support.diet.low-carb. No relation to the fast food company, the MacDonald couple make up a health and human resource consultancy group that is committed to ethical practices in dispensing information. The recipes submitted by users all around the world to the aforementioned newsgroup, and subsequently archived in their site (camacdonald.com/lc/), are free to just about anyone for personal non-commercial use.

2. Low Carb Luxury (lowcarbluxury.com) is the online version of its popular magazine, which contains a fine selection of tasty low carb recipes. Visit the website for some free recipe samples, or buy the magazine to stay up to date on the latest healthy culinary sensations!

3. The Low Carb Cafe (lowcarbcafe.com) is an online community where people interested in healthy low fat cooking can meet up and exchange ideas. Members have submitted over 1,400 recipes so far, and the number keeps growing! This site is for the true enthusiast of healthy eats.

4. Simply Recipes (simplyrecipes.com) has a wide selection of detailed recipes, including some for popular low-carb dishes. Simply do a search for "low carb" at the home page, and browse away!

5. Low Carb Recipes (lowcarb-recipes.net) is a website that compiles recipes that aren't hard on the arteries. It also contains a rating system that allows site visitors to view the recipes by consumer rating! If you're not sure what to cook, but want to start off on the right foot, this site should be among the ones you should visit first.

Some other popular cooking sites should also have "low carb recipes" on their menu. Remember that low carb doesn't necessarily mean poor-tasting! Take your time window shopping online, and see which recipes would best suit your budget and your taste.

Try one of my favorites..

Banana Sour Cream Bread

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup full-fat cream cheese
4 eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup Splenda
1/2 cup Erythritol
2 teaspoons Brown Sugar Twin
1 3/4 cups almond flour
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 2.5-oz jar Gerber Banana Baby Food
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon banana flavor extract

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Cream butter, cream cheese, pourable Splenda, Diabetisweet (or erythritol), and Brown Sugar Twin well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Set aside.

In separate large bowl, blend almond flour, Vital Wheat Gluten, baking powder, and salt.

In small bowl mix baby food, sour cream, and banana extract. Add to butter/cream cheese mixture and beat well.

Mix wet and dry ingredients with large spoon or mixer until fully incorporated. Pour into greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan and bake for approximately 50 minutes (oven times may vary — don't overbake!)

45 grams of carbs in entire recipe.
Makes 12 slices: 3.75 net grams carbs per slice.

Optional:
Like a sugary topping? For an extra few grams for the loaf (almost doesn't change the amount per slice), sprinkle a bit of Erythritol over the top of the bread in its last 20 minutes of baking.

Walnuts or pecans can be added to this recipe as well. About 1/2 cup broken nut pieces added just before adding to loaf pan to bake works nicely.

Carb-Club.com provides you with info on Low carb recipes and much more, come take a look at http://www.carb-club.com/

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. You can contact her at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)

Alexis Mason's got moves

One of the hottest shows on TV last season was "America's Best Dance Crew," featuring street dance crews from all over America. Hosted by Mario Lopez, the second season will premiere Thursday, June 19, at 10 p.m. on MTV with 10 high-energy groups duking it out to be named America's Best Dance Crew.

Hip hop is one of the highest energy, versatile styles of dance today, with some fierce moves that I'm not sure I can do (without hurting myself that is). With so much hype surrounding hip hop, I got a chance to interview a local Portsmouth dance instructor to get the 411 behind the crunk and grind.

Alexis Mason is a hip hop and ballroom dance instructor at the Portsmouth YMCA (formerly of the Music Studio of Rye). She's also a certified personal fitness trainer and group exercise instructor, holds certifications in senior fitness and serves as a lifestyle coordinator for the Mark Wentworth Home in downtown Portsmouth, where she manages enrichment classes, presentations and events. And if that wasn't enough, she also teaches aqua-fitness.

Runway Ready: What inspired you to become a dance instructor? And how long have you been an instructor?

Alexis: As any dancer will say, I love to dance! I can't keep still when listening to music I enjoy. I love to work with people of all ages. My inspiration comes from seeing the joy music brings to people. Regardless of technical steps, everyone has an inner beat. I find dance to be a very easy, very comfortable way for me to express myself. I want to help others uncover and explore that side of them. People attend a class and say, "I don't know how to dance." I say, "But you're here! … So just make it your own and do whatever comes naturally to you."

I taught my first dance class over 10 years ago. Of course, I have worked outside of the industry in the interim. I have been teaching dance regularly for the past three years.

Runway Ready: What's your formal training?

Alexis: I took tap and jazz as a kid, but friends, boys and the mall got the better of me. While living in New York City as an adult in the mid-90s I took hip-hop classes at two dance studios. I fell in love with it. Hip hop appeals to my natural rhythm. I knew immediately that I could help others learn how to dance. At that time I also took ballroom dance lessons at a Fred Astaire studio. I do not ballroom dance at a competitive level, but find many of the dances come very easily to me. When I returned to teaching dance on a regular basis, I decided to develop a basic ballroom course to add to the schedule. I teach ballroom for the weekend or wedding party dancer. With both hip hop and ballroom, I always teach easy-to-learn, easy-to-recall, simple steps. People enjoy learning basic steps they will be proud to take to any dance floor.

Runway Ready: I'm a huge fan of the show "America's Best Dance Crew." I loved last season with crews such as JabbaWockeeZ and Kaba Modern. Did you see a big interest in the hip hop classes at your studio after that show aired? And how similar is that style to the style you teach?

Alexis: Yes. JabbaWockeeZ and Kaba Modern focus a great deal on popping and locking. Popping and locking stems from breakdancing. It is the robotic movement we all love to watch hip hop dancers do. It is comprised of muscle tension and contraction, paired with typically short, fast limb movements. Whether break dancing, b-boy, pop and lock or C-walk is your "thang," it is all lumped into a pile and thought of as hip hop.

No, there wasn't an increase in interest. Enrollment has always been strong in hip hop classes. Hip hop was just breaking through when I was a kid, but this generation has grown up with it. Most of my students have been watching hip hop since the show "360." Heck, hip hop is MTV's primary focus, when they actually play videos anymore. These kids don't see it as the newest thing or as a fad; hip hop has always been there for them. They're thrilled to see it getting some "play" on mainstream television.

Runway Ready: Describe to our readers what hip hop is? Where did it originate?

Alexis: Hip hop took rise in NYC and the Bronx in the late '70's early 80's when DJs began isolating breaks and beats from disco and funk songs. Various MCs added improvisational spoken word and poetry to these newfound grooves and through this practice, rap was born. Of course, the roots of hip hop are deeply entrenched in reggae and African music. More than any other music, hip hop crosses and breaks through proverbial cultural boundaries.

Runway Ready: What age group is most interested in hip hop?

Alexis: Merriam-Webster includes in its definition of hip hop the phrase, "a subculture, especially of inner-city youths." I say the genre is proudly casting off the cloak that such phrases have encumbered it with. Hip hop reaches the young and young at heart far and wide. American hip hop artists have wisely collaborated with the likes of Sting, Tim McGraw and Punjabi MC, to name a few. Remixing classic or unlikely tunes, such as country western songs, with dance-type beats helps to bridge the gap between different generations, bringing together people who might not be regularly exposed to one style or another.

Adults who were kids when road pavers such as Grandmaster Flash, Doug E Fresh and the Sugarhill Gang hit the scene are approaching, if not passing, the age of 40. The Beastie Boys are a perfect example. They continue to lay down tracks and hit the stage with their salt-and-pepper do's. Someday our grandchildren will cleverly remix the hip hop music they hear on the oldies station in the nursing homes.

Runway Ready: Is hip hop dance hard to learn? And what are the benefits of hip hop?

Alexis: Hip hop is not hard to learn. I always leave the music playing, even when marking out the moves (walking through the steps slowly). What hip hop asks of dancers is not necessarily skill, but a willingness to give in to the rhythm and simply feel the music. I try to teach one move during each one-hour class and a portion of a larger routine. The routine will include most of the individual moves we work on. Over the duration, we will compile these portions and by the final class most students are able to dance through the routine with few, if any, hitches. Some moves come more easily to one person than another, but that is the beauty of the individual moves. Another benefit is students can help each other learn. If a student wants to go off on their own and spend the hour practicing one move instead of the routine, that's just fine. They come for their benefit. If they learn one new thing, than it's all been worth it. I think that asking for perfection often detracts from the joy of the experience. The difficulty comes not from hip hop dance, but from the hurdle of confidence we sometimes have to jump to allow ourselves to get funky.

The benefits of hip hop are endless. As is the case with any cardio movement, it raises your heart rate, gets your blood pumping and puts the muscles and limbs in motion. We all know that with any type of cardiovascular exercise we will burn fat and firm and tone our muscles. Alternating limbs requires a good deal of left-brain, right-brain activity, so we experience the added benefit of improved coordination and a strengthened sense of balance and control. With so many layers of beats and breaks in the music, hip hop enables the dancer to change their speed, direction and rhythm continuously during one song. It also finetunes our sense of hearing, by teaching us to listen for the changes in the music. And it's about as close to free as exercise gets – roomy clothing and a pair of sneakers are easy to come by.

Runway Ready: What are some of the moves called?

Alexis: There are so many! I've heard moves given a few different titles depending upon where in the world you are when you learn them. The Crip Walk, the Cross Over, the Dead Leg Walk, the Body Wave, Popping and Locking (more a style than an individual move), the Glide, great versions of the Moonwalk, the Scooby Doo and Running Man are out there... I could go on and on.

Runway Ready: My famous last question? Is there anything else you want readers to know that we haven't talked about?

Alexis: If you like the music, you can learn the moves. It doesn't take a dance background, learning dance theory or being athletic to get something out of it. Hip hop is forgiving. It's all about freestyle. It doesn't care if you lose your place. You learn moves which you can link together as they come to mind. By the end of the first class you'll have something you can show your friends.

***

Alexis offers evening classes through the Seacoast Family YMCA on Peverly Hill Road in Portsmouth (you do not need to be a YMCA member to take the class). Please call the YMCA for information on the upcoming sessions at 603-431-2334.

Check out last season's winner of "America's Best Dance Crew" The JabbaWockeeZ.

Debbie Breneman

When Debbie Breneman isn't shopping she's reading your emails. If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com or debreneman@gmail.com.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 06:13 PM | Comments (0)

Belly dancing is hip

( video by ashianavideos)

Mysterious. Exotic. Belly dancing has always held a certain mystique, and this was especially true back in the 1890s when it was first introduced to the western world.

Due to cultural misunderstanding about the nature of the dance and misrepresentations by the many imitators in burlesque halls and carnival sideshows, westerners considered belly dancing risqué, leading to the stereotype of an erotic, suggestive dance. The rapid hip movements and the fact that the dancers were uncorseted was considered shocking to the Victorian sensibilities of the day.

Belly dancing has come along way since then, earning more respect as many women in the U.S. and Europe use it as a tool for empowerment and strengthening of the body, mind and spirit. Issues of body image, self-esteem, healing, sisterhood and self-authentication are regularly addressed in belly dance classes everywhere.

Runway Ready had the pleasure of interviewing Johanna Erickson (aka Zeina), a local belly dancer who speaks enthusiastically about the art form, about dancing for baby showers and weddings, and about honoring the feminine spirit in all women.

Runway Ready: How did you get interested in belly dancing? And how long have you been dancing now?

Johanna: I first became interested in belly dance when a friend of mine started taking classes and performing. I loved the movements and the beautiful costumes. I just had to get involved. I've been dancing now since 2004.

Runway Ready: Where did your style of belly dancing originate?

Johanna: This is basically a tribal fusion style, a dance created from the roots of belly dance. That simply means it's a combination influenced by many styles.

This style started in the United States, with influences from Egyptian cabaret, folkloric and other styles. I think that there are many styles that influenced belly dance as we know it today.

The origin of belly dance is widely debated, but it has been done for different reasons over the years. Some of the reasons are entertainment, birthing rituals, celebrations, religious ceremonies, etc.

Runway Ready: Do you consider belly dancing an art?

Johanna: Yes, because you can express yourself through the movements and the music.

Runway Ready: Where do you take classes?

Johanna: I take classes in Rollinsford, N.H., with Sabrina Lichtenwalner (603-942-7998; email: bellydancegirl@msn). Sabrina offers intro, beginner and intermediate classes. I have also taken classes with Helena Malone.

Runway: Is the technique hard to learn? Do dancers use their abdominal muscles for hip movements more than any other muscles?

Johanna: The basics are easy to learn for anyone. Abdominal and other core muscles are used a lot. Many muscle groups are also used and incorporated into the movements. You can stick to one style or combine styles as you like. There are different venues to showcase the many belly dance styles. Belly dancing has no set rules to follow.

Dancing with props is also an option, such as veils, zills (finger cymbals), snakes, swords, fire, wings of Isis (attachments that look like wings when arms are spread out) drums and tambourines.

There are so many ways to show your own personal style through belly dance. You can be a glamorous cabaret dancer in a restaurant or club, an earthy tribal dancer, embodying the spirit of womanhood or anything in between.

Runway Ready: Do you do shows? Where, and who is the audience?

Johanna: I dance with a troupe called BlessingWay. I dance under the name Zeina and the other members are Lilymoonstorm and Meghan Rice. We have performed in a Hafla, which is a belly dance celebration/party. We also perform in the traditional way, honoring childbirth, at baby showers, weddings etc. We dance to honor the feminine spirit in all women.

The audience is mostly made up of belly dance admirers and party attendees. Many dancers also perform solo or in a troupe in restaurants and other events. You can choose to perform or not, in whichever venue you prefer. The belly dance community is very positive and welcoming. There are belly dance pageants and shows all across the country.

Runway Ready: Is belly dancing a good workout?

Johanna: Yes, it's a good cardiovascular workout as well as a great way to improve muscle tone and posture.

Runway Ready: What type of clothing do you wear? And where do you buy it?

Johanna: You can wear whatever feels comfortable to move freely in. Costumes can be as elaborate as your imagination or as relaxed as what fits your needs. I created a lot of my own costumes from items I found on Ebay, partnered with everyday bras, skirts ets.

A lot of the pieces in tribal style can be found under "kuchi". If you search for belly dance items, you will find a ton! You can specify cabaret or tribal etc to refine it. A local seamstress and my dance partener can be reached at www.lilymoonstorm.com/unique_items.html or www.melodiadesigns.com (the best bellydancing pants ever!)

Runway Ready: What type of music do belly dancers dance to?

Johanna: Arabic music is traditional, but you can dance to anything you like. You can express the music you are dancing to through your movements.

Runway Ready: What advice would you give to anyone interested in belly dancing?

Johanna: Start checking out videos of performances and try some of the moves. Classes are fun and you can go at your own pace. There's no pressure. Belly dancing is for all body shapes and activity levels. All you need is a desire to move your body and enjoy it.

By Debbie Breneman
Shoppingista

I love hearing from you! If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business (breath) you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com If your having problems reaching me with this email? try debreneman@gmail.com

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)

Losing that holiday weight with Pilates

It’s estimated that most Americans put on anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds during the holiday season – and for some of us a cookie or two more…

And it’s been proven the best way to take off those extra pounds and to maintain that desired weight is through a healthy diet and regular exercise routine.

In my quest for a regular exercise routine, I headed down to Spinlates (a Spin and Pilates studio) on Islington Street in Portsmouth to talk to owner and instructor Jill Prosser about the art of Pilates and its many benefits for the body.

Runway Ready: Hi, Jill. Can you tell us where Pilates originated?

Jill Prosser: Pilates is actually the last name of the man who created this movement system around 1912. His background in body-building, gymnastics and self-defense training influenced his repertoire of exercises. He originally referred to his system as “Contrology,” related to encouraging the use of the mind to control movement.

He believed that the “modern” lifestyle, bad posture and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. Stott Pilates is a contemporary approach incorporating modern exercise principles, including contemporary thinking about spinal rehabilitation and performance enhancement. Unlike the original approach, which promotes a flat back, Stott Pilates exercises are designed to restore the natural curves of the spine and rebalance the muscles around the joints. They also place more emphasis on scapular stabilization.

Runway: What type of equipment do you use when doing Pilates?

Jill: A complete Stott studio contains a reformer cadiallac/trapeze table, ladder barrel, spine corrector, arc barrel as well, as smaller props such as Fit balls, foam rollers, bosu balls, Fit circles, toning balls, etc. Springs are used for resistance. Stott Pilates equipment provides gradual resistance as your muscles contract. There is greater resistance at the muscle's strongest point of contraction and less at the initiation and completion of the contraction so there is less stress on tendons and ligaments.

Runway: Who is best suited for Pilates?

Jill: Anyone from rehab patients to professional athletes. Stott's motto is, “Intelligent Exercise, Profound Results.” Many sports teams now have their own trainers as well as equipment. I have personally worked with people with paralysis in one limb to help balance out the body from dysfunctional movement patterns, as well as the elderly, pregnant mothers, ironman triathletes, dancers, etc. The application is universal due to the understanding of correct bio-mechanics in functional movement.

Runway: Is there any health risk when doing Pilates?

Jill: I always begin Pilates private instruction by taking a medical history, a thorough postural analysis which helps me to see muscle imbalance and less than optimal positioning of joints. I then design an individual program that will address these issues, modify exercises taking into account individuals’ physical restrictions. Relief from chronic tension and pain is my first priority, as well as moving the person toward a more neutral spine and pelvis.

Runway: Is Pilates hard to learn?

Jill: Pilates is a discipline, which is why results can be seen very quickly. Instead of mindless repetitions, we emphasize a quality of movement that can be applied to everyday life. The workouts can be quite demanding, depending on the goals of the client. Every person has a different program and progresses at their own rate.

Runway: What problems areas do Pilates work best for?

Jill: The wonderful and challenging thing about Stott Pilates is that all the muscles work in either a stabilizing or mobilizing role at the same time. The weaker muscles become equally strong as the strongest muscles for a balanced muscular system. This reflects in an ideal posture. As far as the “appearance aspect,” the nature of the workout creates a longer, leaner look with no bulkiness. This results in greater flexibility and stronger muscles.

Runway: Is proper form important when doing Pilates and what does exercising the core mean in Pilates?

Jill: Proper form is essential in order to derive the benefits. Much Pilates is being taught by improperly trained instructors. This results in classes being offered that are really just Pilates choreography that miss the essence of the exercises. A thorough knowledge of anatomy and proper biomechanics is required of the instructor to reap the benefits.

Exercising the core begins with firing into all the muscles of the pelvic floor, the transverses abdominis, as well as the deep spinal stabilizers of the back, the multifidi. Emphasis is then placed on stabilizing the 17 muscles of the shoulder girdle as well as the oblique for the proper placement of the ribcage. Then we begin to layer on the other muscles and the limbs.

Runway: What can people expect from their participation in your class?

Jill: We offer personal and duo instruction, as well as mat classes which utilize some of the smaller props and barrels. The classes are small so that each individual can receive personal help and correction. People can expect their necks and backs to feel much better, sometimes after only one session.

I always look for my clients to leave with what I call the “Pilates glow.” Breathing and moving properly contribute to a wonderful sense of well-being. Change is quick. Strong abs, back muscles and flexible toned limbs result and many people find that they actually measure out at a taller height. You become much more controlled and graceful in everyday movement and are far less injury prone, which is one of the reasons it is so popular with athletes.

Runway: What inspired you to teach Pilates?

Jill: I was formerly a professional violinist and played full time in the Florida Orchestra. For most of my life, the violin had under my chin for many hours every day. After being X-rayed by an orthopedic surgeon, it was pronounced that I had the neck and back of a 68-year-old woman and I was only 35! I was in constant pain and although I was an avid cyclist and busy Spin instructor who also worked out with weights and other exercise, I spent as much as a month in bed every so often from extreme degeneration in my neck and back, osteoarthritis, muscle spasms and an S-type scoliosis.

I received an arthroscopic surgery for my shoulder due to “over-use” syndrome. All of this was created by my many years playing the violin in a horrendous static posture. Pilates quickly improved my pain level so that after three sessions I was able to find a position to sleep in through the whole night without waking up. I was eager to teach other people and see the same results in them.

Runway: Is there anything you would like the readers to know?

Jill: Come on down and receive the penny tour. I also have a great indoor cycling program. Check out our Web site at www.spinlates.com for more information and feel free to call with any questions you might have.

By Debbie Breneman
Fashionista

I love hearing from you! If you have a shop, a sale, event, fun fashions, products, celebrity fashions, gossip, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com If your having problems reaching me with this email? try debreneman@gmail.com

All rights reserved. This material may not be republished, copied or distributed through any medium
without prior permission.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)

A new business in town: Spinlates

When Jill Prosser was just 35, a concert violinist with the Florida Orchestra, she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and told she had the neck and back of a 68-year-old woman. She was frequently bed-bound and in excruciating pain, due to her life of playing the violin as well as an S-type scoliosis.

“My neck has severe deterioration and at one time I could not turn my neck to the left or the right,” she said. But then, “I discovered Pilates and after three sessions I was able to sleep through for the first time in many years.”

Convinced of the benefits and rehabilitative principles of Pilates, she said, “I became interested in helping others find relief from pain, as well as restoring functional range of motion.”

Before long, Jill became an instructor certified through the Stott Pilates Intensive Certification Program. She has also received specialized training to tailor Pilates programs for activities like tennis and golf.

She tested with master trainer Matthew Comer at Pilates South Beach and opened her own Pilates center in Tampa, where she “worked with athletes and dancers, as well as people wanting an intelligent exercise that will improve posture and create a long, toned look with increased flexibility.”

Now, after some 15 years as a Pilates and spin instructor in Florida, Jill has traded palm trees for pines and moved her family and business to New Hampshire.

“I love, love, love it here. You guys have everything. I love the mountains and look forward to cycling in them as the weather is warming up now. I love the accessibility of everything from the mountains, to the beaches, Canada, Boston, New York City, etc. I love all of the history and the old buildings, the small businesses and wonderful shopping and restaurants in Portsmouth. Oh, I forgot about the seasons!”

A charming Nor’easter dumped some New England flavor and a hefty amount of snow onto her Feb. 15 grand opening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Steve Marchand.

Portsmouth Pilates and Spin LLC (she has recently decided to change the name to Spinlates) is located at 621 Islington St., Suites B & C, in the big red building opposite CVS and next to Papa Wheelies on Islington and Bartlett.

“My studios are very aesthetically pleasing. My front studio is for group instruction (limited to eight participants). I utilize a lot of props in these classes, including but not limited to: arc barrels, BOSU balls, fit balls, flex bands, fit circles, toning balls, etc. I also have 11 spinner bikes and a wonderful sound system,” she said.

“The music I use for spinning is much more high-energy and I have compiled all of my own CDs to fit the goal of the particular ride we are doing. I advise newbies to come 15 minutes earlier to class so that I can properly fit the bike to their frame and show them what to expect in their first session,” she added. “My back studio is peaceful and serene so that one can really enter into a true mind-body experience, with soft background music. Attention to form and proper biomechanics is emphasized and a dialogue between instructor and client is encouraged.”

Jill invited me to check out the some of the classes for myself. Of course, my first question was: “What’s the latest in frocks for a Pilates or a spin class?”

Jill says Pilates dress should be comfortable and non-constricting. The more form-fitting the clothing is, the more easily she can see the person's body for the purpose of correcting their form. Most people opt for dancewear, gym-aerobic or yoga style of clothing. For spinning, she highly recommends padded bicycle shorts. She also has attachable padded seats for the bikes. Some people prefer both, especially in the beginning. Sneakers can be worn, as well as bike shoes with cleats.

I showed up at the studio feeling confident about my first spin class. After all, I’m an ex-fitness instructor. I’ve never taken a spin class before, but how hard is it to ride a bike, I thought? Jill’s studio was clean and bright with a rubbery floor surface and walls covered in mirrors. The Schwinn spinner bikes were positioned in a half circle with the instructor’s bike facing the group.

It was a full class with a variety of ages – some of the spinners were advanced, some intermediate and some beginners, like me. Jill started by adjusting the bikes for each individual, going over what to expect and doing a little warm-up stretch.

I found out very quickly that spinning is not just riding a bike – this is a workout. In fact, this was the best workout I’ve had in a long time. Jill takes you for a virtual ride up and down a mountain, then back up again. The music pumping in overhead took me further into my imaginary ride. I pictured the fresh mountain air, a stream of water off to the side. Lance Armstrong was there, too. (“What? It’s my imaginary ride.”) I left my troubles behind, entering that wonderful endorphin euphoria. It was great. I used muscles I haven’t used before and I’m a little sore, but in a good way. I like the fact that I was in control and could go at my own pace. If I wanted to go a little faster with a little more resistance, keeping up with some of the more advance riders, I could. If I wanted to slow down, I did.

I tried to mimic a fellow spinner, Annie Brewer, across the room from me. She looked like she knew what she was doing, with good form and speed. I chatted with Annie after the class and asked her impressions. “I love it. I’m a workout junkie anyway and my routine was getting boring. Around the time Jill opened up her studio, I was looking to do something different and I signed up,” she said. “Jill knows how to motivate you, and keeps it fun and exciting. And when class is done, you know you’ve just had a good workout.”

Jill has kindly invited me back to take her Pilates class. I’ll let you know how it goes, but I’ll need to rest up first.

Stop by to welcome Jill to the Seacoast and sign up for one of her classes. She can be reached at 603-766-SPIN, or visit her Web site (www.spinlates.com) for more info and complete class schedules.

In addition to the classes listed JIll also offers private sessions which are available by appointment.

Debbie Breneman
Shoppingista

If you have a shop, a sale, or fun fashions or products, or a new business you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 05:57 PM | Comments (0)

Here’s the skinny …

Wanna lose that extra weight you’ve been lugging around? All you’ve gotta do is swallow a bunch of pills. At least, that’s what they’d have you believe if you watch TV.

Zantrex, Lipitrex, Lipovox, Xenical, Metabolene, Relacore, Cortaslim. There’s even one called Anorex.

I’ve occasionally joked about going on the TrimSpa diet. Actually, I just like to make fun of it, and of course the loony antics of its featherbrained spokes-psycho, Anna Nicole Smith.

Like the rest of those magical pills on the market, I think the whole TrimSpa diet is a total scam. As one of the couple hundred people who watched her reality show a few seasons back (train wreck, I couldn’t turn away), I noticed she seemed to be walking around holding her stomach as if she was in pain. Then poof, she resurfaces a couple months later, 70 pounds lighter and preaching the wonders of TrimSpa. Maybe she tried the Star Jones diet. (Can you say gastric bypass?)

Some people are willing do anything to lose the weight. I’m willing to bet if someone could bottle up the virus gastroenteritis and distribute it as a diet system, people would line up to buy it. Hey, what’s a week in the bathroom
for 15 pounds?

Or you could try something really radical – it’s called eat less, and exercise more. See your doctor and get on a healthy diet prescribed for your body’s needs. Get on a regular exercise plan, and get off the merry-go-round of diet lies.

I’ve always been a big advocate of working out. I’m an ex-fitness instructor, and I know how important exercise is and what a difference it makes when dieting. It kick starts your metabolism, giving you energy, and willpower to stay on a healthy diet. Exercise is therapeutic, especially during the winter blues. One of the biggest bonuses is the emotional boost it gives you – it can lift your mood, as well as your butt.

I’ve been procrastinating about going back to the gym, and I seriously needed to get rid of a certain unwanted 10-pound Christmas present. My life has changed since the old step aerobic days of spandex leotards, sweat bands, and leg warmers. Finding the time and commitment has been challenging for me.

I’m not completely lame and without exercise. I tend to work out more in the summer, I play on a volleyball pick up league, and I try and jog a few times a week. However, the brutal frozen depths of winter hell put an end to any outdoor exercise for me.

I needed to find a warm place to work out, where I can’t make excuses anymore. It’s amazing how many excuses we can think up when the thermometer says brrrrr. (“Can’t find my left sneaker,” “the cat didn’t want me to go” or “hey look, there’s something on TV again!”)

But I finally rallied and headed down to Spinnaker Point gym. I really like it – the facilities are excellent and well-maintained, it doesn’t seem over-crowded and it has a nice, clean environment. It doesn’t smell like a sweaty ironman gym, with posing musclehead Arnolds strutting around. The staff is helpful and pleasant, ready to answer questions and assist in any way possible. Manager Dick Bondi gave me a tour, explaining Spinnaker’s wide variety of fitness and health programs.

There is a cardiovascular and circuit-training area, with treadmills, eclipticals, stairmasters and bike machines with great views of the televisions (anything to take my mind off the burning pain in my legs while working out on the stairmaster).

They have a great indoor track that wraps around the gym; it has a tunnel like feel to it, with windows. The best part is nobody can see me panting as I’m running, unless they are, too. I met Philip Rolse making his rounds on the track. He’s an Exeter High School cross-country coach, and he’s been a member at Spinnaker for five years. He likes the quiet atmosphere and friendly people, and his favorite features of the gym are its unique track and its weight room.

One of my favorite features is the gigantic heated pool to do laps. Spinnaker also offers aquacise aerobics classes with Jason Pendergast, a super nice guy and one of the many instructors at the gym. He also teaches some of
their yoga classes.

Perched on a loft overlooking the pool, there’s a great Jacuzzi which provides some privacy to sit back and relax after a long workout. Or you can sweat out some tension in the sauna or steam room.

The weight room has a complete free-weights section and multiple machines where you can pump it up (grrrrr). There’s always some fun class going on: spinning, yoga, aerobics, dance exercise, Pilates and Tai Chi. Even belly dancing.

Plus, how many gyms do you know of that actually have a gym? Spinnaker does. It offers basketball, tennis, volleyball… Stop right there, you had me at volleyball.

The locker room is safe, cozy, clean and filled with great features – hair dryer, bathing suit dryer, with plenty of lockers and showers. This place has it all. (Note: This is an adult gym. Sorry kids, 18 and older is the age limit.)

Portsmouth residents pay just $160 for a one-year membership (or start with $5 per visit). A small price to pay to feel good.

Spinnaker Point Recreation Center
30 Spinnaker Way,
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: (603) 766-1483 & (603) 766-1484
Fax: (603) 766-1485
Opening Times:
Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.cityofportsmouth.com/recreation/spoint.htm

Debbie Breneman
shoppingista

If you have a shop, a sale, or fun fashions or products you'd like to see mentioned here, email dbreneman@seacoastonline.com.

Posted by Debbie Breneman at 08:34 PM | Comments (0)