We all underestimate the power of walking, and if you’re anything like us in California, we seem to do anything but walk, even if the destination is less than a mile away.

Yes, it’s pretty sad that we leave everything to the last minute and then are forced to get in the car to drive the kids to school when it could be walked in less than 10 minutes.

Can you imagine overall how many calories you would burn by aiming to walk up to 10,000 steps a day? Read the rest »

The chair is a great accessory for targeting you abs, hips and buns, especially if your balance needs a little help. The following exercises can be done at home or work in just a few minutes. All you need is yourself and a chair. It’s so simple!

Try and do these exercises at least two- three times a week for the best results. Read the rest »

Your chair is more than a place to park. It’s also a secret weapon for targeting your abs, hips and buns, and improving your balance. The following exercises can be done at home or work in just a few minutes. For best results, all you need is yourself, your trusty chair and the commitment to do it two to three times per week. Read the rest »

We all need a little help to get motivated sometimes! Life is hard and we are tired at the end of the day. Who wants to work out? Well, we know we must so we can live a healthy life and look great! Here are some tips to help you keep you motivated!

Have a plan at all times.Try to schedule your workouts the day before or, better yet, the whole week. I know this is hard when you have a busy life, but without at least a loose plan you will find it difficult to be consistent, which can lead to failure.

Don’t procrastinate.
The earlier in the day that you work out, the more time you have throughout the day to focus on your family, work or yourself without constantly thinking, “I need to exercise.” We’ve all been there, putting off exercising until finally we’re too tired and can’t be bothered. I could kick myself for wasting so much time procrastinating! If you just do it, it’s over before you know it! Read the rest »

The first thing you should do in the morning before getting out of bed is to stretch.
I love to do the following cross over back stretch which helps release tension in the lower spine accumulated through the weird positions we put ourselves in through our sleep. Also, if your family is anything like mine, we always end up having two kids in our bed and me sandwiched between them.

Perform the stretch every day and hold for 30 seconds. This will ease any awkward kinks that sleep can bring and place the spine in better alignment. Read the rest »

Parents can be great motivators to teach children that to move the body and exercise is fun and exhilarating. This starts at young age. They watch and mimic you in everything that you do. My daughter’s four-year-old friend commented to his mom “why don’t you exercise like Amber’s mommy?” It took her by surprise. She had no idea that her child was even aware of exercise. This gave her the boost she needed and now she’s finally started to incorporate walking into her weekly hectic schedule. Healthy children’s lifestyles need to start with the adults first. How can we expect our children to be active if we aren’t? Read the rest »

Music is a powerful influence in our lives. It is the backdrop to everybody’s life story. All of life’s biggest experiences are done to the sound of music. Remember slow dancing at prom or with your partner, for the first time? What about grooving with your friends on your first spring break vacation?

My whole life has been inspired by music. I still feel the excitement of the very first time I took ballet class, at the age of three, and the satisfaction I got from many years of voice lessons, perfecting my craft.

Music and dance are pure soul food, rekindling the free spirit in all of us, breaking down inhibitions and releasing a sense of well-being. After a hard, stressful day it’s amazing how music relaxes the body and drains tension. Read the rest »