Call Today! 860-748-7574|maggie@personaleuphoria.com
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About Maggie Downie

Thank you for giving your time to stop and read my blog. I hope it encourages you to keep moving. Move and the body will be happier. And when you're moving you can hike, run, swim in Jell-O, race over non-Newtonian fluids, travel the world or build igloos--if that's your thing. If not, you can watch me do it. This is just a spot to try and feel good about life.
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Meet Your Instructor: Rob

Years ago we asked all our instructors to answer a few questions so YOU could get to know them a little bit better. We decided to follow up with some of the instructors you’ve been enjoying through our virtual season during this pandemic.

Here’s Rob. You’ll find him teaching Pilates and Strength classes with Personal Euphoria and we always hear good feedback from you about his classes!

When you aren’t teaching classes, what are your favorite ways to move?

My favorite ways to move outside of classes include skiing, cycling, golfing, skating, tennis, basketball, hiking, gardening, and chopping wood.

What songs motivate you the most?

It really depends on the day. I like old school Rock and R&B, Jazz, Classical. The band Rush is motivating and inspiring.

What is your favorite food?

Sushi and Buffalo wings. I make sushi at home these days.

What time do you normally crawl out of bed?

It depends on the season and my schedule. I wake up earlier when we have more daylight.

What skill would you most like to master?

Home improvements

What would be the most amazing adventure you could go on?

A backpacking or cycling adventure.

What is your favorite season? Why?

Winter […]

Meet Your Instructor: Rob2021-02-01T12:19:40-05:00

Home Office Ergonomics

Home office ergonomics is about making sure your home work station is set up in a healthy way that doesn’t create pain and discomfort.  There are ideal configurations and better positions, but there is no one perfect way.  Even the perfect position will start to create pain in the body if we stay like that for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  Here are some tips for improving your home office to create a healthier happy body:

Home Office Ergonomics Tips

  • Variety

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look to change your position as often as possible (every 45-minutes would be ideal).  Remember it’s being in one position for extended periods that create pain and strain over time (or for some of us pretty quickly).  You can make a quality work station out of a couch, a kitchen table, a counter, and even a bed.

You can sit on a pillow on the floor, facing the couch, using the couch as a desk.  You can flip around and have the base of the couch give you back support and use a chair as a desk.  Think outside the […]

Home Office Ergonomics2021-01-21T19:22:30-05:00

Shed Light on COVID Positives

Each New Year Matt and I take a long walk where we review the prior year and pin expectations, hopes, and dreams on the coming one.  What struck me as I ended 2020 feeling exhausted and a bit deflated was how much joy filled our year was we started reminiscing.  That joy lingered well into the COVID months. It was good to shed light on the COVID positives.

Canada Shed Light

We opened the year on an adventure in Canada to freeze our hair.  The weather worked against us. Canada had a random warm spell bringing the temps hovering around freezing, but not the negative temps required to freeze our hair until we looked like abominable snow people. Instead the weather provided one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.  The Aurora Borealis danced green and slightly purple in the sky.  I was in awe and wonder of the world—a state I often find myself.

Birthday in COVID

My birthday came first in my family in COVID-land.  Since Broadway was shuttered and I couldn’t see Hamilton my family acted out a duel in my front yard.  I was grateful for every Broadway show I’d […]

Shed Light on COVID Positives2021-01-11T13:25:13-05:00

Relieve Stress with these 3 Tips

Sometimes when we have been stressed for a prolonged period of time it can start to feel normal and we forget that we have tools to relieve stress that are available anytime we need them.  The best part is those tools to relieve stress can be free. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but they can be helpful if we can tap into them.

  • Breathing to Relieve Stress

Diaphragmatic breathing (a big, deep belly breath) is known to lower blood pressure and heart rate, ultimately relieving stress.  But many of us don’t naturally take a deep breath.  Take a moment to try to focus on breathing into your belly and letting it expand versus breathing into your chest and letting your shoulders rise.  Try placing one hand on your stomach and another other on your chest.  When you inhale you are looking to feel your stomach rise before your chest.

Or count your breath pattern.  You can also pick a variety of rhythms, but one that has been researched is to inhale for a count of five and exhale for a count of five.  Play with that pattern until you feel yourself start to relax.

  • Mediation Calms the Mind & Can Relieve Stress

Meditation […]

Relieve Stress with these 3 Tips2021-01-11T14:59:00-05:00

Enjoy Exercise

When was the last time you enjoyed exercise?  If we change the word exercise to movement, when was the last time you enjoyed moving?  It’s time to enjoy exercise again!

Enjoy Exercise Like A Child

Not long ago I was teaching my 2 and 2.5-year-old nephews to plank (as you do).  One of them was really taken with it.  He’d hold the plank for about two seconds and then pop up out of it (as you do when you’re two), look at me and say, “AGAIN!,” with earnest excitement.  Then he’d shout an eager, “YES!” as he set his hands up on the ground to come back into plank.  This cycle was repeated multiple times.  I was overjoyed to see someone so unabashedly enjoy exercise.

What Moves Do You Love?

I love to move.  That doesn’t mean that I never have to coax myself into it.  There are times when getting started is hard for me.  But overall I love the way moving feels. I look forward to taking a Pilates class, walking with Matt when he gets home from work, and running with my friends.  I like the way it feels when a tough […]

Enjoy Exercise2020-09-18T15:13:33-04:00
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