Yoga Tip: Seriously Intense Ab Exercise

If you're working on core strength, or trying to tone up in time for summer, this is an exercise you should try out. It should be done three to five times with brief rests between sets. Tip: Make sure your butt is in line with your body (the tendency is for the butt to either sink really low or be up really high). Hope you enjoy! 

PS: I wrote an article about what to bring to yoga teacher training that was published on Do You Yoga, a gooey peanut butter oatmeal recipe, and a playlist for cardio exercise.

Amsterdam Musings

I'm writing from a window seat at a little coffee house in Amsterdam sipping a freshly squeezed orange juice and waiting for the rain to pass. We spent the past few days balancing relaxation with exploring the city. Highlights of the trip include eating fresh sushi, having high tea at a hotel on the water, and putting the pup in a giant clog for a photo.

Vacations are rejuvenating because they get you out of your routine and familiar surroundings, but I'm always reminded that the world really is very small and no matter where you are, you're never very far from home. Yesterday, for instance, I met a wonderful woman who just opened Milk & Honey, a little pastry and sandwich shop in the south of Amsterdam. She sold Harney & Sons tea there, a brand from my tiny hometown in Connecticut. I told her my connection to the tea company, and she beamed, saying she lived in New York for a brief period and fell in love with their teas. When she moved back to Amsterdam and opened her little shop she called the tea company and asked if they would consider selling to her. To her surprise, since they only sell to high end hotels in Amsterdam, the company agreed and the large tins of quality teas appeared on her shelf. We continued to talk, and her genuine sweetness radiated throughout her little shop. Chance encounters like these are what are most memorable to me, far more important than any photo in front of a monument or walking tour I could've taken. We head back to Germany today, but we had a great time in Amsterdam and look forward to coming back sometime.

Dog in a clog

A bell in a sea of  bikes

3 Ways to Eat Healthy on Vacation

It's difficult to make smart food choices when you're on vacation, but it can be done with a little preparation. This isn't to say you shouldn't indulge at all- you definitely should- but maybe indulge once a day instead every meal of the vacation. ;)

1. Bring snacks

Packing a couple healthy snacks will curb road trip cravings when your only options are gas station snacks. We brought raw bars, mixed nuts and some fruit for our trip to Amsterdam.

2. Research restaurants

I have the worst luck trying to find a decent restaurant when I'm hungry. Fast food restaurants will spring up everywhere, but any place serving something halfway nutritious will be no where to be found. Try to make a list of a few restaurants ahead of time that serve healthy options you know you'll like, and make it a point to get there. 

3. Check your drink

Avoid sugary drinks like soda which will give you a quick burst of energy before a total crash. Instead, choose water or tea which will hydrate you better. If you choose to drink alcohol, always choose something simple and relatively plain. A margarita, for instance,  has 740 calories and 56g carbs while a gin and tonic has 200 calories and 14g carbs.