play – Personal Euphoria: Pilates & Fitness Classes in CT

Family Fitness – Fun for the Whole Family!

This is a great time of year to start a family fitness routine because with kids heading back to school we all tend to get back into a schedule after summer vacation. If you are looking for a family fitness routine your whole family will enjoy consider keeping it simple, incorporating variety, and looking for fun ways to move.

Simple

Probably the most basic way to incorporate movement with the whole family is to plan a walk after dinner. You could do this three, five, or seven nights a week if you are feeling ambitious. It would help instill great habits.

In case you’re not sure you could convince your whole family to walk every day, here are some other ideas. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty more and you can come up with anything and try new things daily or weekly, depending on how often you want to move with your family.

Play a Game

You could always use the technology kids love and play a game. The Nintendo Switch has boxing, bowling, and dance games you can play that will keep you moving. Or go old school and pull out a game like twister.

Bike Ride

You can take a […]

Family Fitness – Fun for the Whole Family!Maggie Downie2021-09-14T23:03:26-04:00

Handstand Helper

I’m actually working on my handstand, but this was the picture that had the most of me in it!

For two years I’ve been trying to do a handstand and the planche also known as the Peacock. Two years is a long time to work on something and still not be there. It can be frustrating. My failure at the planche is lack of strength. I’m just not strong enough in my shoulders, back or glutes to support myself in that position. And I can’t find my balance point. The handstand, on the other hand, has nothing to do with strength. I’m strong enough. I just can’t figure it out. If anything I’m not sure my shoulders are flexible enough for me to get in the right position.

I’m not giving up though and that’s the point. So far my experimentation with these exercise has been pretty regimented. Must have strength. Must follow this prescribed format. That has been helpful, but it’s only gotten me so far. My current mode of operation is to be more playful when I’m working on these exercises.

That’s helpful in a couple of ways. I’m less stressed […]

Handstand HelperMaggie Downie2018-02-14T16:16:22-05:00

Plank Story: Elementary school games

This lovely lady helps make life extra fun.

This is an oldie, but a goodie from over a decade ago. My friends were turning twenty-five. It may be laughable now, but we were struggling with aging and growing up. I’m actually more comfortable with getting older now than I was then. Since today is Julie’s, my best friend from elementary school, birthday, it seemed only fitting to pull this from the archive. Happy Birthday, Julie. And to every twenty-five-year-old: it’s going to be okay.

Elementary School Games

Upon turning twenty-five, in Peter Pan fashion, Julie planned a birthday party for herself filled with elementary school games like bombardment, kick ball, and spud.

On average, I’d guess the attendees at the party were between twenty-five and thirty-five. The point is, we would be categorized a young, at least according to my grandma.

After five hours of playing games designed for children, I injured my hip (which would result in a visit to a physical therapist), Julie’s right ear became permanently attached to her right shoulder due to a kink in her neck (that required massage and physical therapy to undo), and Matt hurt his […]

Plank Story: Elementary school gamesMaggie Downie2018-02-14T16:25:17-05:00