Standing Hamstring Stretch – Reduce Back Pain by Stretching the back of the leg This hamstring stretch is perfect for all levels of flexibility and is generally easier to get into position than a similar stretch lying on your back. It’s easy to work into everyday life like…NOW! Stand up behind your chair as you […]

When we gather with my husband’s extended family for Thanksgiving, this is the dish that everyone loves and that I look forward to the most. Plus, I’ve been a personal trainer almost as long as I’ve been going to this gathering and a flavorful dish filled with quality, nutritious ingredients is a very welcome treat! So here’s […]

Regardless of how we approach life, time will pass and aging will occur. While this is reliable and inevitable, the status of our abilities is not pre-determined. We can end up in a variety of places on the aging scale. Where we land and the freedoms and activities we partake in later in life is […]

So many of us are tight in the hips! Tight inner thighs can also impede our ability to become more mobile and flexible in this area. Stretch both areas with this variation of a runner’s lunge and whichever one is tightest, that’s where you’ll feel it! The setup for this hip and inner thigh stretch […]

This intense hip flexor stretch is fabulous at getting deep into the hip flexors! It allows you to relax your leg into the stretch and get a deep hip flexor stretch with a straight and relaxed leg. A lot of the most common hip flexor stretches require knee bending and weight on one knee in […]

Warm, delicious and nutritious! This recipe was provided by our Pilates Instructor’s Mom, Karen. A Birkner family favorite is now a Kelzer family favorite! Like most squash recipes, it takes a little time to prepare, but it is simple and delicious. This recipe also freezes beautifully so you can make a large batch and have […]

Let me start by saying that if you drop your hips during this exercise, it will be way less effective. More on that later, but first let’s talk about the setup. One rule of biomechanics is that the longer the lever, the more difficult the exercise. A great example of this is that pushups from […]

Roasting or baking vegetables on a sheet pan is one of the easiest ways to prepare vegetables. The benefits include: Little to no dishes to clean. Use aluminum foil or parchment paper every time! No fancy seasonings required. A drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper is all you need. No […]

The essence of this exercise is about maintaining low ab engagement and contact of your low back on the mat even as your arms and legs move. Prior to picking your feet up off of the floor, engage your transverse abdominus by drawing the belly button down toward your spine. In order to bring your […]