Walk-ilates Teacher Training & Springboard Certification with Ellie Herman

Location: Pilates Core Center – Mt. Laurel, NJ
Dates: Sat   6/13/2009
Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Cost: $295 – non-refundable, but is transferable

• Find out how to maximize your MBT experience.
• Learn proper alignment and gait.
• Correct imbalances and compensations.
• Tone your legs, hips and glutes.

What is Walk-ilates?

Walk-ilates was developed by master Pilates teachers Ellie Herman and Nancy Myers to maximize the MBT walking experience. The class begins with special releases and stretches using the ethafoam roller, followed by Pilates Mat exercises using the magic circle and standing balances (all done in your MBT’s). The class culminates in walking outside where proper gait and optimal alignment are stressed. Everyone will receive personal corrections to address their gait patterns.

Springboard Certification with Ellie Herman

Location: Pilates Core Center – Mt. Laurel, NJ
Dates: Sun   6/14/2009
Time: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Cost: $295 – non-refundable, but is transferable

Ellie Herman will teach advanced repertoire and original exercises created by herself or her staff over the last fifteen years. Ellie will also review her favorite cues to help students deeply understand the initiation and muscle sequencing involved in each exercise. For the 3-hour version Ellie will spend more time on teaching cues, modifications, functions, etc.

Ellie Herman is an internationally reknown Pilates instructor, author and innovator who has taught Pilates for 20 years.

Boot Camp Pilates – With Instructor Luray Tobar

The second session (6 weeks) of the boot camp class are coming up!

Tuesday, April 14 – Tuesday, May 19, 2009
6:15 p.m. Medford – $84 ($14/class*)

Saturday, April 18 – Saturday, May 23, 2009
8:00 a.m. Mt. Laurel – $84 ($14/class*)

*Packages are to be paid in advance, classes are not transferable, nor refundable. Classes are limited to 8 clients per session, so get your spot now!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Being a part of or witnessing an act of love rouses deep emotions and often stops us in our tracks. Love can do that. It has the power to still us and encourage us to listen and connect with those around us to connect with nature and to remind us of the beauty and malleability of our own human nature. One of the things we appreciate most about Pilates is how it encourages us to listen to our bodies, to love and respect our abilities as they are now in this moment. We move moment to moment with attention to detail. We work compassionately with our bodies so that ultimately we are stronger in our own skin and on our own two feet. Let this Valentine’s Day be a reminder to each of us to take the time to take care of our bodies. To take the time to be sacredly selfish (as my friend Flossie used to say) so that with our strength we in turn can go out and spread acts of love for others to witness.

A Valentine’s gift for you…for the month of February please chose a complimentary yoga/pilates class, (Wednesday@ 9:30), a cardio dance class, (Tuesday @6:30) or a wall/tower class (Monday @ 1:00). *Cut and paste this sentence to redeem your free class or mention it when you arrive at the studio…no need to sign up in advance.

Love always,

Diane & Sylvia

Visit www.PilatesCoreCenter.com or www.DragonflyYoga.net for directions.

Post Natal Yoga/Pilates

Nothing will ever make you reevaluate your priorities like becoming a mom, either for the first time, or the last time.  It is essential that women, as the primary care givers, learn that first and foremost, we must take care of ourselves, or we will not be able to care for anyone else.

That is why this class is so important.

This is a Transitional Class designed to enable you to get back to your regular fitness routine after your baby is born. This class is limited to no more than 10 new moms and will run for 8 weeks.  After the 8 weeks, you should be ready to return to any activity that is within your fitness level.

We will be concentrating on getting your core strength back, working the abs, the upper and lower body as well as helping to deal with the stresses placed on the “new mom”.  Learning to stay calm and keep strong amid the chaos of life is critical to successful parenting.

Join Nancy and the Post Natal Yoga/Pilates class on Saturday, April 4, 2009 from 11:00 am to 12 noon in the Dragonfly Yoga Healing Arts and Retreat Center, 176 Jones Road, Medford, New Jersey, to begin the next phase of your journey as a new mom!

Classes will run for 8 consecutive Saturdays.  You can choose which 8 week session best suits your time frame.  Your baby should be at least 6 weeks old, and your doctor has advised you that it is safe for you to return to exercise.

There is no babysitting offered and you must contact Nancy at gernan16@aol.com or 856-816-1486 for more information and to reserve your spot.

Space is limited and will be given on a first come, first serve basis.
All payments must be made in advance of the first class.

2009 Sessions are as follows:

April 4 – May 23
June 13 – Aug 8
Aug 22 – Oct 10
Oct 24 – Dec 19

Total cost for one 8 week session:  $120.00

Nancy Davis, RYT 200 is a certified Yoga and Pre Natal Yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance.

Exercise during pregnancy benefits baby too. Any interested parties should e-mail or call the Pilates Core Center and/or Dragonfly Yoga studio.

Happy New Year!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday (we did) and indulged in “moderation”…(I can’t speak for Sylvia, but I had more than my share of cookies…thanks, Mom!).

Kudos to those  who were able to stay on their Pilates and yoga regiment during the holidays.  For those who hosted the holidays, had houseguests or managed to get away for vacation and may have over-indulged…today is a new day and there is not a better time than now to commit to good health and well-being.

Staying healthy and maintaining well-being is even more of a challenge during these tough economic times.  We are feeling the pinch like every other small business owner and are committed to keeping our staff employed.  We know some of you have heard “rumors” of a price increase and we regret that inacurate information was circulated during the holidays causing some upset.  The truth of the matter is we will be implementing a slight increase – we simply have no choice.  Details of the increase can be found at PilatesCoreCenter.com.

Pilates Core Center has not had a significant price increase since we opened our doors in June 2005.  Multiple times a year we show our appreciation to our clients by offering a free class, or reduced price classes – most recently our $10 mat class offer during November and December.

Our committment to our clients and our sensitivity to the current economic climate was evident when we proactively changed the classification of our springboard/wall tower classes from equipment to mat to offer clients an equipment alternative at a low mat class price – $15 drop in, $14/class with a 10 class card, $12.50/class with a 20 class card – you will not find equipment classes anywhere at those prices.

Our committment to our staff is to do all we can to keep them working during these trying times, and the price increase is necessary for us to operate our studios.  We are proud of the quality of our programs as well as the quality and integrity of our staff.   Our instructors take Pilates and yoga seriously and are diligent about their continuing education and sharing what they learn with clients and each other.

Thank you for choosing Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga.  We wish you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2009!

MRK Naturals – Homemade Skin Care Products

Did you see the new beauty products being sold at Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga? MRK Naturals is a new line of affordable, homemade, all natural skin care products for health and beauty. These 100% natural, home-made beauty products with anti-aging properties won’t clog pores. After first use you will notice your skin looking and feeling younger. Mandy Renee Keilwitz, founded the product line from her motto: never put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth.  Following in her sisters’ footsteps and for the sake of her children’s bodies, Mandy began making skin care products at home, using every day, natural, healthy ingredients, such as coconut, grape seed and vitamin E oils, naturally preserved with salt and sugar.

“When I made the decision to pursue a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family, I quickly realized it was not very cost effective for a ten-person household to go all natural, so I began investigating new ways of being healthy that would work within our budget, such as growing vegetables in my green house, planting berry bushes, fruit trees, goji berries, vegetable and flower gardens, and most recently creating my own skin care products,” explains Mandy.

MRK Naturals’ salt scrubs, sugar scrubs and lip balms are made in a variety of scents and flavors from eucalyptus to chocolate. These products are made to order and shipped straight from the Keilwitz farm in the Lower Columbia River Valley of Washington State, to reach you in time for holiday giving. You can visit the website to learn more about these products and their maker, Mandy, at mrknaturals.weebly.com

 

 

 

 

Bring Balance Home

There’s a reason we refer to our yoga as “practice”: It’s an opportunity to practice whatever qualities we want to see more of in our lives. Sometimes we do yoga to cultivate patience, clarity, or bravery. Other times, our list is more tangible. We want a strong upper body, increased energy, or open hips. The reasons we practice inevitably change as we go through career moves, love affairs, pregnancies, and other life transitions.

They also change from day to day. Developing a personal yoga practice allows us to devise a specific program to give ourselves what we really need at any given time. We get on the mat whenever we can, for whatever length of time, in whatever amount of space is available to us. This practical approach is a first step toward integrating yoga into everyday life.

Today, why not try unrolling your mat and practicing a little on your own. Even if it’s just for 15 minutes at a time, the work you do at home will strengthen your practice by making you a more conscious and independent yoga practitioner. Even if you prematurely give up on a pose that makes you feel uncomfortable or forget a sequence you’re working on, each small home practice session will help you build up to a longer, more meaningful home practice.

 

~ Article by Yoga Journal

 

2009 New Years Resolution Challenge!

This is one New Year’s resolution you’re going to want to keep!…

Everyone wants to get fit for the New Year… but THIS New Year we are going to add a little incentive! Sign up for our 12 week “2009 New Years Resolution Challenge,” and you will receive a complete makeover package for $500, valued at over $1,000! Sign up before the program start date of January 19, 2009 and you will receive:

• A comprehensive wellness evaluation by Health Goals Chiropractic
• A nutritional evaluation with NuBalanced Nutrition
• A guided meditation session & discount coupon from Advantage Hypnosis Counseling
• 12-weeks of classes (2 per week) with Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga
• A discount coupon for Julian Hair and Color Studio
• Three $20 discount coupons for skin care with Donna Radcliffe of Skin Basics
• Three $20 discount coupons for massage with Joan Dighton
• New Years Resolution Challenge Party on Saturday, April 4, 2009

You will be given a punch card with a spot for each class, evaluation and session! Upon successful completion of this 12 week makeover program, you will be eligible for a drawing.

 

First Prize:

• 20 class package from Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga
• Complete Make-over from Julian Hair and Color Studio
• 3 one hour massages with Joan Dighton
• 3 one hour facials by Donna Radcliffe of Skin Basics + more!

 

Second Prize:

• 10 class package from Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga
• Hair Cut and Color from Julian Hair and Color Studio
• 2 one hour massages with Joan Dighton
• 2 one hour facials by Donna Radcliffe of Skin Basics + more!

 

Third Prize:

• 5 class package from Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga
• Hair Cut from Julian Hair and Color Studio
• 1 one hour massage with Joan Dighton
• 1 one hour facial by Donna Radcliffe of Skin Basics + more!

 

All participants:

• 10% off any class package (except 8 class auto pay) at Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga
• Discount from Julian Hair and Color Studio + more! 

At the end of the program Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga will host a party complete with deliciously healthy refreshments. A photographer will take the “after” photo of the group, followed by the prize drawing. Contact Diane Grossman of Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga Healing Arts & Retreat Center to register.

 

*Makes a great gift!*

 

Asparagus with Wasabi Dip (Recipe)

Look no more if you’re searching for an easy appetizer that will disappear!

Ingredients:

• 3 lb thin to medium asparagus, trimmed (two pounds works for me!)
• 1 cup mayonnaise (you can adjust by using part mayo with Greek style yogurt or sour cream)
• 4 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons wasabi paste

Directions:

1. Blanch asparagus in 2 batches in a large saucepan of boiling salted water 1 minute. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking. Drain well and pat dry.
2. Whisk together mayonnaise, soy sauce, sugar, lemon juice, and wasabi paste until sugar is dissolved.
3. Serve asparagus with dip.

Note: Asparagus and dip may be prepared 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Apple, Walnut, and Mixed Greens Salad with Zinfandel-Cranberry Vinaigrette (Recipe)

I love salads.  This one is reminds me of fall and winter and would make a nice addition to your holiday menu.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries (such as Craisins)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 tablespoon walnut oil
• 1/2 cup zinfandel or other fruity dry red wine
• 10 cup gourmet salad greens
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail
• 3 cups cubed Gala apple (about 2 apples)
• 3 tablespoons minced shallots
• 1 cup thinly sliced Walla Walla or other sweet onion (about 1 medium onion)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts toasted
• 1/2 teaspoon salt