* HAPPY * NEW * YEAR *

"Each moment in a day has it's own value:

MORNING brings HOPE,
AFTERNOON brings FAITH,
EVENING brings LOVE,
NIGHT brings REST."
(~unknown)
AND....WEEKS are full of unlimited visit to the ABC Pilates studio!
May all your days of 2010 be full of all the above!
Have a HAPPY and SAFE*2010* NEW YEAR!!!

XO! ABC Pilates Staff :)

HOLIDAY HOURS:

* * * * * * * * ************ **** **** ***** **** ***** * * * * * * *

Thursday, December 24th 6:00 A.M.-1:30 P.M.

Friday, December 25th *HAPPY HOLIDAYS* No classes

Thursday, December 31st 6:00 A.M.-11:30 A.M.

Friday, January 1st *HAPPY NEW YEAR* No Classes

ABC PILATES HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

* ** *** ** * *** *** ** * *** *** ** * ** * ** * *

When ?? Thursday, December 3, 2009

Time ?? 8:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Place ?? ABC Pilates Studio

ABC Pilates will host their annual HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

with jewelry, massage, fitness clothes, holiday treats,

gift packages/baskets and additional items

to purchase for the winter holidays.

Visit the studio, meet and mingle with fellow Pilates Peeps

(or bring a buddy) and enjoy a variety of vendors.

GLUTEN-FREE CRANBERRY ORANGE PECAN PUMPKIN BREAD
Servings: Makes 10-12 slices

* 1-1/3 Cups Gluten free all purpose baking mix
* 1 Cup orange juice with pulp
* orange zest (optional)
* 1-1/2 Cup pumpkin puree
* 1/2 cup fresh cranberries chopped
* 1/2 cup toasted pecans chopped
* 2 eggs
* 1/3 cup canola or olive oil
* 2 tsp. of cinnamon
* 1 tsp. of nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:

- Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees
- Grease a 9X5 inch loaf pan
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium size bowl and blend well
- Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake in the center of the oven for 50-55 minutes or until tester comes out clean
- Cool in pan for 10 minutes and turn out onto rack to cool completely before slicing

Nicole Beauregard

Nicole Beauregard is a Woman on a Mission

Another success story from ABC Pilates

Nicole Before

Nicole has been coming to ABC Pilates since May 2009. It has been wonderful to watch her transformation. I would like to say that Pilates did it all. But that is just part of it. She achieved her goals by strength, determination AND Pilates. I also have to mention her terrific personality and sense of humor. She has the winning formula!

Her story of transformation actually begins in March of 2009. At that time, she was diagnosed with PCOS – Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. This also led to an additional diagnosis of insulin resistance. Not to be deterred or discouraged, Nicole began changing her nutritional habits and her lifestyle. These changes along with a whole new fitness program helped her achieve an amazing weight loss of 20 pounds.

New Nicole

Nicole is a physical therapist with Professional Physical Therapy in Mission Viejo and she is

Amy’s physical therapist as well. Nicole, has always been a believer in Pilates just never a participant. ABC Pilates was able to change that! She started with private sessions and soon moved on to group classes. Nicole has always been known for her toned, muscular legs (more on that later) but since starting Pilates she has received several more compliments. Along with her Pilates practice, she has added a running program. Nicole says that running has always been a four letter word for her and didn’t believe she had the body to run. Now she has discovered the joy of running and Pilates is a big part of that discovery. Do I hear a 5K in her future?

Ok, here is the little knownNicole Beauregard fact:

In college Nicole was a 1995 All American Honoree in shot put. Don’t believe me? Google it! Still don’t believe it? Check out those legs!

Strength, determination AND Pilates can get you there too! Ask Nicole. The bottom line: Pilates is for Everybody!

Exercises we love! Side legs lifts

Why we love this exercise: This exercise challenges your obliques and you work your inner thighs at the same time! Be sure to keep the abdominals engaged and hips stacked on top of each other the entire time.

Lie on your side with all body parts lined with hips stacked. Now move your legs slightly in front so that you are in a banana shape. This helps with balance and protects the lower back.

You can prop your head up on your hand, or stretch the bottom arm out long and lay your head down. If you prop your head up, you must support your alignment by lifting your rib cage away from the mat.

Exhale:
Use your abdominals and the engagement of your legs to bring both legs up a few inches off your mat.

Focus on keeping your inner legs together, all the way from your sit bones to your heels.

Inhale:
Get longer still as you slowly lower your legs back down on the mat. Use control.

Do this exercise 5-8 times. Turn over on your other side and repeat.

Tips:
Modify this exercise by leaving your head down on an outstretched arm.

The front arm is just for balance. Use your core.

What's for dinner?

Don't even think about getting back to school or the new fall fashions!

It's still summer!

Get in that kitchen with your hubby, a friend or even your dog and try out one of these cool recipes from Women's Health.

You can use fresh local ingredients from your farmers market for these recipes and get the cooking done in a jiffy.

Black bean and mango salsa with some grilled chicken sounds great for dinner tonight, and great for leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Enjoy!

Student of the Month- August

Michael Weinberg



1. How often do you attend class at the ABC Pilates studio? Four classes in three days

2. How long have you been practicing Pilates? Two years

3. Who inspires you to practice Pilates? No one in particular. I was looking for an exercise program that I felt safe and that I could do by myself. With my vision limitations there were certain restrictions

4. Favorite Pilates class? I have no favorite

5. Do you have a history of injuries? When I first started I had severe shoulder and neck pain and range of motion issues with my shoulder

6. What type of significant improvements have you noticed with your body since practicing Pilates? My neck and shoulder pain have been eliminated and my range of motion issues have improved dramatically. I have also experienced increased strength, improved muscle tone, increased flexibility, and weight loss

7. What advice can you share with fellow Pilates students? I think the most important thing is to be patient. Improvement and change takes time and consistency

8. Has Pilates changed your daily diet? Yes, but I know I should do better. Coming to the studio regularly helps because all the staff are so dedicated to our improvement

Welcome Summer Goals!

Happy Summer!

We recently celebrated Summer Solstice and with the change in season comes the long days of sunlight and a great feeling of renewal. Try to ignore the kids running around driving you nuts and check in with yourself for a quick moment....

This is a great time to check in and see how those goals you set back in January (did we forget about them?) are going.

Are you making progress in your career, personal, life and health?

So you say, "What is a goal?"

Glad you asked!

A goal is a written, measurable statement with a specific subject and a deadline. A goal is a milestone in the creation of your ideal life. A goal is what inspires you to do the work everyday.

It might sound overwhelming but it can be as simple as spending 10 minutes a day reading a book to your children, cooking a new recipe once a week with you husband, or trying out that new pilates class! Its all about baby steps....

You all know we love love love lululemon! No suprise there! Check out this great tool called Goal Tender. Its a way to define your values and keep track of your goals and progress. Think of it as a way cooler version of a diary.

Click here for Goal Tender

If you would like to share your goals or stories with us, we would love to hear them! Send them to amy@abcpilates.com. We love to hear what our community is up to outside of spending time in the studio!

I Met My Goal!

Back in January, ABC Pilates along with our clients set our goals for 2009. I decided to set a personal goal for myself and committed to run a 1/2 Marathon by August of this year. I actually met my goal May 2nd running for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation's Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon. It was a challenge that I was not sure I could keep. I am so glad I did it and proud for making the effort and committment to myself. I and am grateful that I had many people support me in my 5 month preparation for this worthy cause.

Since this was my first 1/2 marathon, (well, technically I ran one at age 26 but hey that was at 26 not 42) I wanted to test Pilates to see how much it could really help in my training. So, I ran 3 times a week and did Pilates 3 times a week alternating days. I took Pilates Express and Cardio Reformer with Katherine to amp up my cardio output for training and of course daily stretching. I kept suprising myself each week at how much stronger I felt in my legs and how much longer and faster I could run. During the process, I did hurt my hip but it is a common running injury. My IT Band and piriformis were so tight in my right hip that it was sometimes painful to walk. I went to Dr. Emily and she was able to treat me with her laser and other equipment that helped heal the hip. Plus she gave me supplements that helped with overall energy and nutrition. I felt blessed that my training included such supportive colleagues.

I felt tired after the run and actually was a Zombie all that day but in the days after, I expected to be in pain and stiff and actually was not. I started Pilates within 2 days of the race and was out running again within 3 days and felt great!

So my test was postitive and I highly recommend doing Pilates during any training program to help with flexibility, strength and endurance. Yes, I know I own the studio and of course I would recommend Pilates but now I have truly lived the experience and have seen the results on myself and am here to tell you it works.

I am now going to set a goal for a triathalon in August. Does anyone want to join me in my training and do their own test?

I would love to hear about your success stories with Pilates and will keep you posted on my training this summer.