Fia Jane Sanford

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 14:53:42 -0300

Hi everyone :)
I am currently in love with my new little baby girl Fia Jane Sanford!
Motherhood is amazing and i look forward to coming back to teaching in January sometime.

Christy’s Belly News

Wed, 6 Apr 2011 14:37:33 -0300

Yup, I'm Pregnant!

Just in case you've seen my thickening waist and wondered if maybe Pilates wasn't so effective for abs after all, don't worry. Pilates still kicks abs, so to speak, it's just that I'm four months pregnant!

My husband, Neil, and I are thrilled with the news and as someone who is very body aware, I'm finding the changes happening to me to be fascinating! I know that there are a number of students at Studio IN Essence who either are pregnant themselves or may be thinking about it as part of their future so I thought it might be helpful if I shared a little bit about my experience each month - how I'm staying active and healthy, what exercises I find effective, how I'm adapting my fitness routine to meet the needs of my ever-changing body and more.

First of all, I'm so happy and relieved to finally be able to share our good news with friends and family. Since I'm 36, my age put me in the high-risk category for miscarriage so we wanted to wait until I was past 12 weeks before telling anyone about the pregnancy. Aside from almost busting inside from excitement, I didn't find it too hard to keep the secret until about week 6 or 7 when the exhaustion and nausea started to kick in. Pretty much anyone who knows me knows I am normally a high energy, go-go-go kind of person so it was very difficult to try to maintain my normal pace when all I wanted to do was lie down and sleep! I thought for sure someone was going to figure out what was going on with me.

Like most women, the nausea was the worst in the morning, which made me sad since my normal breakfast of plain yogurt, berries, flax, muesli, and nuts drizzled with honey, is my favourite meal of the day. Dry toast it was! As with most challenges I've faced in life, I found that exercise really helped - if I did some sort of cardio within 30-45 minutes of waking up, I could eat breakfast, come to work and function somewhat normally. Fortunately, I've come through that phase and feel pretty much myself again, enjoying breakfast and my busy life!

So far I haven’t had to change my workouts too much. I haven't experienced any back pain yet, which is probably due to my strong core. Keeping up my Pilates routine feels really good and I know that it will help me not only have an easier labour but also an easier post-natal recovery. Since every woman, body and pregnancy is different, I know that it's crucial to listen to what my body is telling me and make adjustments. While staying active is important to me, I need to do it in a way that is safe for both me and the baby.

If you have any questions about Pilates during pregnancy or maybe you'd like to share your own experience with me, I'd love to hear from you!

Cheers,
Christy

Pain Be Gone

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:24:31 -0400

Jesse Keane broke off the top of his hipbone when he was 12 years old. As a result, 2 pins were put into his hipbone, which were then taken out 18 months later.
To compensate for the reduced mobility, the muscles and tendons surrounding that hipbone had to work much harder. The bottom 4 bones of his pelvis, the S1 joints, began to compact and compress his vertebrae.
In having his hipbone reset, the toes on his left foot also reset to a 25-degree angle. A further side effect was that he was effectively 1 and ½ cm shorter on his left side.
While his back has never fully “gone out”, at the age of 35, Jesse has lived with a pain and discomfort for the past 23 years. Each time his back acted up, a trip to the massage therapist was in order and yielded only temporary relief
Jesse decided to try Gyrokynesis, a form of yoga developed by dancers, in September 2010. He’s been coming twice a week ever since and has seen a marked difference in his body and physical well-being. The turning point came in the 5th session, when the class did a move called “thread the needle”. All of a sudden, Jesse experienced an immediate sense of relief as his lower vertebrae all popped into place.
The lasting result? No more back pain.
In the morning, the vertebrae pop into place on their own. Jesse is quick to point out, however, that if he’s away from it for a week or so, he slowly starts to stiffen up.
In addition to this amazing increased range of motion and release from constant pain and discomfort, his core and abdominals have become stronger and tighter.
If you’re interested in trying gyrokinesis and taking your yoga practice to a higher level, check out our online schedule or call 405-5500.

One Ab at a Time: How Pilates Changed My Mind, My Body and My Life

Wed, 6 Oct 2010 11:32:56 -0300

People often ask me "How did you get so strong?" "How do you have so much energy?" While it helps that I have a passion for being active and I love teaching, it's Pilates that is my secret weapon.

When I was in my early 20's going to NSCAD, I started breakdancing. I loved the challenge, freedom and artistic expression it offered and as one of the only girls in Halifax doing it at the time, I was lucky to get a lot of support. After a few years of training and competing, I started to earn a reputation for being a really great b-girl - a girl breakdancer.

Around this time, I started practicing Pilates and my skill level skyrocketed! Pilates taught me to move from my core, giving me more control over my movements and my body. My flexibility and balance improved so much that crazy moves like handstands, windmills, head spins and air babies not only became easier to do but I felt stronger and more confident doing them. I went from being a good b-girl to competing (and sometimes beating!) alongside bboys here at home and across Canada and the U.S.

Pilates enhances all athletic activity and rehabilitates your body in a meaningful way. Whether it's your golf swing, a soccer game or your next ultimate Frisbee tournament, Pilates retrains your body mechanics so you get optimal and pain-free performance. That's why many of the players in the NHL practice Pilates as part of their regular conditioning.

But you don't need to be a breakdancer or a football player to reap the benefits of Pilates. Sitting all day at your computer with poor posture and a weak back can take just as much toll on your body as being tackled at the 50-yard line. Pilates builds strength in your core so your back is supported, your neck and shoulders are aligned and you won't feel as exhausted at the end of the day.

We offer a lot of fun classes at Studio in Essence - Zumba, pole dancing, hula hoop and more - but the foundation of it all lies in a strong core - a body that moves with power, finesse and balance. Pilates gives you that foundation, allowing you to improve your participation, reduce the risk of injury and help you enjoy whatever you do to the fullest.

Pilates isn't just my business - it's my passion. I am inspired daily by the positive and transformative effect it has on my students of all body types, fitness levels and injuries. I believe it, I live it and I love spreading the word.

Christy Sanford

Gyrokinesis with Julio Harvath in Germany 2010

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:13:57 -0300

Getting away is not always the easiest thing to do, but if you are able to pair your work with your passion it makes it a little easier to justify. This is how Christy and Rosalynn made there way to Europe, to reach aerobic heights and Gyrokinesis dreams. On the way to Germany we swung by the Swiss Alps, hiking 1350m inclines, cycling through glacier valleys and purchasing a large some of chocolate (gifts!) then we headed towards the Eaglesnest in Munstertal, Germany. Located somewhere in the Black Forrest where we would chase a spiral tower into the sunset to train with the inventor of Gyrokinesis, Juliu Horvath, for 7 days.
The focus of the workshop itself extended beyond movement; a program designed by Juliu Horvath to rejuvenate the bodies, minds and spirits of Gyrokinesis/tonic teachers worldwide. During the workshop our meals consisted of a non-strict macrobiotic diet, emphasizes alkaline based foods. The water we drank and cooked foods in were cooked in Kangun water (water that is transformed from acid to alkaline). Our breakfast was a buffet of nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, miso soup and fruit. Green tea was served at every meal. The scenery for this adventure was green and luscious, at the start of our day we would weave along a path by the river or through the pastures of mooing cows. The first class was 3 hrs, starting with “scrubbing”, during which we used scrubbing gloves to exfoliate and stimulate the skin. Then “waking up the senses” a series of self-massage to stimulate the fascia, muscles and bones, which inherently stimulates the lymphatic and increases blood circulation. Then we began working up a sweat with Gyrokinesis mat work, a rhythmic sequence of arching (spinal extension), curling (spinal flexion), twisting and side-bending with vigor. For those of you who know Gyrokinesis you know that it can be quite the workout and stretch. In addition to the heat (25-40 degree weather, and not a day without sun) we took infrared saunas, which offer a different type pf heat, one that encourages a deep sweat using the same band of light present in sunlight. This experience was both positively refreshing and educational.
The workshop was internationally attended, from Brazil to Japan. For two Gyrokinesis/tonic advocates who live in an area the words Gyrokinesis or Gyrotonic elicit the response is “gyro… what?” it was both exciting and encouraging to be surrounded by others with the same passion as well as hear stories of the growing global interest. For more information on Eaglesnest see: www.gyrotonic-eaglesnest.com, for more information on Gyrokinesis/tonics
check out www.gyrotonic.com. Rosalynn Iuliucci will be offering a Gyrokinesis workshop Saturday, August 21st, limited space, for more
information contact Studio in Essence, 405-5500.