Maggie Downie, Author at Personal Euphoria: Pilates & Fitness Classes in CT

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.

Plank Story: Matt’s Birthday Nap

Matt is better at relaxing than I am. I’m improving though. This year on his birthday, as always, he got to pick the activities. So we napped in the living room. We napped in bed. And we napped on the deck. Sadly, this isn’t code for anything else. We actually just took three names in one day and then went to bed around nine. When we got in bed he said to me, “This was a great day. We napped on the couch. We napped in bed, and we napped on the deck.” Cheap date. I’ll remember that next year.

Clearly, we both needed some sleep. And I know I’ve gotten more chill because once upon a time that kind of day would have killed me.

My plan for Matt’s birthday involved a trip to Specter, Alabama—the faux city from the set of Big Fish. There he tossed his only pair of shoes up on the line running along the town limits. We had to drive to JCPenny in stocking feet to go buy a new pair of shoes.

If you’re a Tim Burton, Ewan McGregor or Big Fish fan, check out […]

Plank Story: Matt’s Birthday NapMaggie Downie2017-12-29T20:57:01-05:00

Client Corner: 100 Days of 100 Complete!

Sue doing the 100!

Sue has been taking Pilates in Glastonbury for over 6 years. While some people groan when it’s time for planks, Sue’s personal nemesis is the roll up. Her goal is to one day do it without using a flex band.

With that in mind, when her instructor Maggie mentioned an abdominal challenge in class, Sue was interested to see if it could help her build core strength for the roll up. She thought to herself “this is probably a challenge I should take on.”

The challenge was 100 days of the 100, where participants were asked to do the Pilates exercise the 100, one hundred days in a row. The 100 is an exercise that you’ll find in almost any Pilates class. It consists of lying with your back on the mat, upper body curled up, legs in the air (usually) and completing 100 arm beats while holding the position. It typically comes early in class and gets the entire body warmed up by getting you in tune with your breath and your blood pumping. To read more about why we do this challenge check out […]

Client Corner: 100 Days of 100 Complete!Maggie Downie2017-12-29T20:59:00-05:00

Client Corner: Katy Hall on Feet & Firewalking

Meet Katy

“My cousin and I were always rubbing each other’s feet when we were younger,” Katy Hall reminisces.

Many years later, Katy found herself treating her clients to a foot rub after their facials and she soon realized what a great addition it was to the services she offered. Katy was officially bit by the reflexology bug.

Reflexology uses therapeutic essential oils while applying pressure to the feet through a variety of techniques. These techniques claim to dissipate energy blocks within organs and systems and breakdown crystalline structures within the body. Stimulating the circulatory lymphatic systems, electro chemical energy, and the body’s natural immune system helps encourage the release of toxins and enables the body to heal itself.

While there are mixed reviews as to whether or not the claims reflexology makes are true, and some studies may be flawed, the University of Minnesota, compiled a list of studies that do seem to show there may be benefits to organs and the rest of the body. Studies have shown an impact on organs, a decrease in pain, blood pressure and other symptoms, and an increase in relaxation. Ultimately, no matter what […]

Client Corner: Katy Hall on Feet & FirewalkingMaggie Downie2017-12-29T21:04:59-05:00

Plank Story: My First Mammogram

My first mammogram was fine—the process and the results. Women should inform other women that the experience is not that bad. I’ve always heard horror stories, and the procedure is a breeze. It’s not as fun as having the ear doctor suck dry skin out of your ear, and it’s not how I’d choose to spend an afternoon, but it wasn’t painful. I can see how it would be tough if you have tender breasts, but if you can schedule your appointment whenever you want, I think you can adjust accordingly.

I figured I’d make conversation with the mammographer (a title I prefer to technologist) while my bosom was being squished between the plastic plates. That’s what I do with the phlebotomists to pass the time. I asked whether it was easier to do a mammogram on a busty woman or someone flat chested (the category I’d put myself in). She explained that they were hard for different reasons. A big bosom is hard on her wrists as she places the breast on the machine. A small bosom can be hard to grab a hold of. And she added, “But your breasts are just perfect.” I’m assuming that the rest of […]

Plank Story: My First MammogramMaggie Downie2017-12-29T21:06:37-05:00

The Saga of the Microbiome Diet

I’m three weeks, two days, fourteen hours and fifty-three minutes (as of writing this) into my three month Microbiome Diet challenge. When this blog posts, I’ll be further along in case you just felt as bad for me as I did writing that.

Our obsession and need for food is fascinating. Obviously we need to eat to live, though I have always been someone who lives to eat. I love food. This may be the first time in my life I’m eating to live. I’ve cut gluten (which I’ve done for the past five years anyway), dairy, and sugar (including maple syrup and honey, but excluding fruit). Whole foods do taste good, but on this diet I never overeat, and I find I’m not actually that inclined to eat.

Here’s my problem. I love carbs and cheese. And apparently if I can’t eat them I don’t really want anything else. I would never have told you that I didn’t like meat, but I find myself having to force feed myself meat. I’ve discovered I don’t like chicken. I’ll eat it. Sometimes it even tastes good, like when it’s wrapped in bacon, but I could happily pass on the stuff. When I was […]

The Saga of the Microbiome DietMaggie Downie2018-01-13T16:18:32-05:00

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