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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Plank Story: Moby Bring Sally Up

Matt will be very active with me.  He will hike, kayak, and a can be convinced to run once in a very rare while or if he’s worried I’m running somewhere unsafe.  While he likes movement, he loathes exercise.  Pilates would be great for him, but he’ll nearly never do it.  But I figured out his Achilles heel—the secret that will get Matt down on the mat. The trick involves Moby Bring Sally Up.

Last night I was inspired to sing to him, “Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be, close to you.”  Those were the only words I remembered, so I sang them on repeat.  His face shifted to this look of angsty compassion.  His cringing brow declared, “I love you, but the sound coming out of your voice is causing intense pain,”  He wouldln’t admit it, but his face, and the bleeding ears, couldn’t hide the reality.  At first I thought he might just not like the Carpenters.  But then I realized it was me.  I stopped singing and asked if he wanted to try this plank challenge I’d heard […]

Plank Story: Moby Bring Sally Up2018-05-23T15:48:32-04:00

Perspective

All is right with the world with this addition to our family–now that’s a little perspective!

After a whirlwind trip to Texas to visit my brother and sister-in-law before they became parents, my family and I flew back to Logan airport in Boston and called the shuttle to take us to our car.  Twenty minutes later, no shuttle.  Twenty minutes later, still no shuttle.

Hangry, sleep deprived, and generally irritable, I was growing more and more frustrated with the shuttle service.  In our modern world, I struggle with unnecessary inefficiency and unknowns.  It’s not a trait I love about myself.  Nearly twenty minutes later, the shuttle still hadn’t arrived.  Each time we called, the service would tell us to stay put, suggest we wait outside in the frigid New England cold, and hang up on us.  I sat down on the baggage carousel utterly exasperated.

Then I saw a man my age or a little younger walk by.  He had one leg, and I thought, “Oh, I’m okay.  My life is great. I can wait for this shuttle.”  It was a little perspective on how good and easy my life actually was.  Sadly, […]

Perspective2018-05-16T17:34:23-04:00

Fatherly Advice

Earlier this year my best friend’s father passed away unexpectedly. Julie has been my best friend since elementary school, so her whole family played a role in my childhood, and I was grateful that even though we are all grown up her parents were still in my life.  His death was news I wasn’t ready for—one of the deaths I’ve had to live through that shook me.  The loss made me especially appreciative to have my father.  Moments after hearing about Julie’s dad, I called mine, happy to hear his voice. This father’s day, at Julie’s suggestion, I thought I write about some of the amusing fatherly advice I’ve received over the years.

From Julie’s Dad

Mr. Wernau’s advice stands out.  I’ve thought about it daily since the moment he filled my thoughts with horror.  Julie and I were in high school. Her dad was driving us somewhere so we were a trapped audience.  He must have been having a rough day because he announced, “Girls, enjoy every good BM you have because one day will be your last good one.”  I cringed at “BM” because I detest the term, but I took his […]

Fatherly Advice2018-06-11T12:17:11-04:00

Instructor Highlight Maureen

So Maureen isn’t one of our instructors, but she’s an integral part of Personal Euphoria.  Maureen handles all the money and ensures our whole team gets paid.  She works with the towns, invoices, and processes payment.  And, if you’ve ever tried to watch Maggie count, you know it’s important that she has help in this department.

Get to Know Maureen:

When you aren’t teaching what are some of your favorite ways to move?

Walking the beach, and walking it again.  It’s like a new landscape appears with each tide.  Each tide brings you a new gift. A piece of sea glass, a shell, or just a view. I say it all the time “The beach is my happy place.”

What song motivates or picks you up the most?

Happy… Pharrell Williams (it’s a feel good song and reminds me of Maggie)

Favorite Food?

Hmmmm mostly anything edible. I am sitting here trying to decide what my favorite really is and I realize I don’t have a real favorite, how odd. I certainly have cravings, but if I had to choose, I couldn’t.

Time you normally crawl into bed?

Weeknights 8:30-9:00, Weekends when I wake up […]

Instructor Highlight Maureen2018-03-21T15:43:40-04:00

Instructor highlight Jeannine

Jeannine was the first instructor to come on board with Personal Euphoria.  She has a great sense of humor and a strong work ethic.  We are so lucky she is a part of our team.  She teaches all over the place: Wethersfield, Glastonbury, Rocky Hill, Portland, and for some of our corporate clients.  While you are most likely to find her teaching Pilates she also teaches traditional ballet and strength classes.  She’s always willing to sub when needed. Here’s Jeannine’s instructor highlight!

Get to Know Jeannine

When you aren’t teaching what are some of your favorite ways to move?

When not teaching, I power walk, run trails, ride horses, and do a lot of gardening.

What song motivates or picks you up the most?

Music favorites vary depending on the mood I’m in. I prefer classical music. “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana comes to mind.

Favorite Food?

I like to eat what I make. A year-round favorite is home-made pureed vegetable soup with a couple of scoops of whole grains such as quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice, wheat berries.

Time you normally crawl into bed?

Bed time depends on wake-up time, so it can vary from 9 if I wake up at 5:30 […]

Instructor highlight Jeannine2018-05-25T07:26:46-04:00
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