Your spine should not look like this

Good posture is good for our health.  It helps keep our muscles working efficiently and gracefully.  It reduces tension on our necks and lower backs.  And we look better when we stand up tall with good alignment.

Unfortunately, our desks and computers and phones and televisions and couches are out to get us.  A large number of us jut our heads forward, round our shoulders, and slump in our lower backs.

Pilates to the rescue!  Because Pilates works our core muscles, we can develop support for our lower backs.  Its emphasis on axial alignment helps us tune in to where our head is in space, allowing us to get it back on top of our shoulders where it belongs.  Working with shoulder stability strengthens our ability to fight back against the rounding imposed by our poor sitting practices.

A strong and aligned body helps maintain a happy self.

The game is 100% offense, 100% defense, and 100% special teams...

In a broad sense, most exercisers prefer either cardio or weight-lifting.  Yes, some people like both and some unfortunate souls don’t enjoy either one, but most of us have a preference.  Here’s the thing:  we all have to do the one we like less.

If you are a cardio-lover, weight training can help you burn more fat.  Your muscles will look more shapely.  You will be able to open your own jars and rearrange your own furniture.  Posing in the mirror will be more fun.

If you love those weights, cardio can boost your endurance.  Also your mood.  Mixing in cardio intervals increases the workout challenge and forces your muscles to work even harder.  Think of cardio as weight training for your heart muscle.

As Deion Sanders once said, “Both, Coach.”

Pie? What pie? I don't remember any pie...

The first round of the holidays is behind us now.  Whatever happened happened.  Maybe we ate more than we hoped.  Maybe we forgot the way to the gym.  Maybe we didn’t.   Whether we stuck to our plan or to our plates, it’s over.  Today’s mission:  forget it all.

If we did all the right things, great.  Gold star for us.  But that doesn’t mean we don’t have to keep on doing the right things.  Sadly, fitness is a continual process.  We don’t get to reward ourselves for good behavior with bad behavior.

If we dove head first into the gravy, that is also in the past.  We do not need to spend energy on wailing and gnashing of teeth; that energy is better spent lifting weights or running around the block.  Shame and blame do not help us.  That kind of psychic weight lifting does not make us stronger.

Life happens right now.  Let’s choose good things in this moment.