Category Archives: new things!

by Heather | May 17, 2013

One Thing a Day: Teaching Yoga

If I had to pick one quote that has completely transformed the way I think, approach situations and make decisions, it would undoubtedly be this:

Eleanor & Chip are onto something…

If it doesn’t scare you, it doesn’t change you. If it’s not challenging, you’re not growing. If you’re never willing to step out of your comfort zone, you’ll never know what you’re missing!

Am I certified to teach yoga? Not yet. But when the door opens…

Thanks to a few Twitter interactions, Alana got in touch with me last week in regards to leading her & a crew of “Socialites” for a 5k morning run this week. All 20 Socialites were traveling to DC for two full days of training, so why not start the day off with some movement*? I’ve done things like this before for conferences downtown, and of course I was in!

I mapped out our route, ran it once with Kate before we started (yep, all roads are clear and sidewalks are safe: check!). Starting at 7am, we ran with an impressively energetic crew of 11.

Thanks to Kate & Elyse (far right) for joining!

Alana also thought it would be great to do a yoga class Thursday morning. I reached out to some local yoga teachers with no luck (short-notice, early morning, Pentagon City, etc.). We did have a yoga-mat donation from lululemon Georgetown, so there was that.

Would I be willing to teach it? Well, YES, but, um, I’m not certified…I have no formal training to do so…again, I am not certified to teach yoga!

But, could/would I?

Absolutely!

With my fresh mats from lululemon (Georgetown store, I heart you!), a beginner-friendly sequence typed up straight from my head and a successful practice class done (thanks to my roommates!), it was all-systems-GO.

I wasn’t nervous, and everything about it felt like I had done it before. Come to a comfortable seat at the top of your mat, place your palms open on top of your knees and close your eyes. Relax. And enjoy the next 45 minutes!

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I know there is a “formal training” in my near future – once my budget agrees with it – but in the meantime, this box is checked and waiting for more! I would teach anytime, anywhere, for anyone. I would actually really love to teach something advanced – to challenge people and bring them out of those boxes – but beginners are refreshing. We were all on the same page!

Thanks to the DT-Socialites for practicing with me!

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*If you’re going to a conference or training, request some sponsored workouts! Get moving before your day starts & rope in your crew – it’s a great way to meet people there with you and a great way to see the city you’re in. I’m taking on more opportunities to do this in DC & find it to be right in line with our WCS healthy-on-the-job mission.

5 Comments

Filed under challenges, DC, Goals, Lululemon, new things!, running, Yoga

Tagged as DC, Teaching, yoga

by Heather | May 2, 2013

SCAN 2013: Creating Healthy Corporate Cultures

This past weekend I traveled to Chicago with a group of coworkers to present at the 29th annual SCAN (Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group) Symposium. We hopped on our western-bound plane early Friday morning to get in a full weekend of the conference, and Chicago played along nicely by greeting us with this:

Sidenote: the past two times I’ve been to the windy city have involved presenting + conferences. One of these days it will be all play, no work!

The backstory: we attended the annual SCAN Symposium in Baltimore last year and sat in on a presentation about various certifications available for registered dietitians (RDs) interested in Wellness. Juliet, our Senior VP and Co-Founder, asked a few questions and spoke from experience. Then the mic was handed over to her – a lot of people had a lot of questions for us!

It was clearly time to put together a proposal, a presentation and a way to share our expertise with the SCAN group.

Our timing couldn’t have been better: the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will soon change things in the Corporate Wellness world, and our company has continued to grow exponentially in response to the increasing desire for healthier office cultures.

We shared our Ground Zero – to – Business story, the changes coming with ACA in 2014, and the way we tackle corporate culture creating as program managers, coaches and health educators.

We met some amazing RDs looking to enter the world of screening events, health education and wellness coaching, which was the idea! If you’re looking to join a corporate wellness network, or to team up with us in creating a healthier workplace at your office, send us a note!

info@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

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Presenting and work-things aside, we picked a GREAT weekend to explore the Windy City. I joined fellow Ambassador Dave at his Chicago run club on Saturday morning for a 75-minute adventure along the water, and we got plenty of extra steps in exploring all of the other touristy things:

Chicago handed us all spades – it was a gorgeous weekend to be there, explore, join a lululemon run (thanks, Dave!) & present with some of my favorite wellness people!

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What’s your take on Corporate Wellness? What do you want to know about the world of healthy office cultures?

5 Comments

Filed under Lululemon, new things!, on the job, running, travel

by Heather | March 14, 2013

Ex2 Adventure’s Backyard Burn: Trail Racing in Wakefield Park

When we signed up for this race it just flat out did not occur to me to consider the difference between 10 miles on the road vs. the trail. If I have an option of running a 5-mile vs 10-mile race and no “good” reason to not do the latter? I choose 10!

We totally lucked out with what was deemed the “flattest” course of this Backyard Burn Trail Race Series (5 total). It also seems to have been the least technical, only including “a few shallow stream crossings” and a lot of twisty, windy, up-and-down sections. But, nothing so steep that we had to walk and nothing so deep we had to sacrifice our non-trail running shoes. Win!

We arrived expecting a 60-degree day, but were greeted by a 28-degree morning. Layers = on! It was very well organized; our race-brief began promptly at 8:50 in the parking lot, and we promptly started by lining up in the street and…going!

Photo credit: Anne @ Fannetastic Food

The first mile had a few paved parts and a lot of wide spaces – plenty of time and room to make some passes, settle into a pace and get your feet ready to dodge, weave and stream-hop!

Photo credit: Anne @ Fannetastic Food

Kate, Jill & I took it pretty easy and settled into a line. The course was a 1 mile start followed by a 4.5 mile loop that us 10-milers would do twice:

Round 1 was a lot of head-down, don’t-fall, conserve-some-energy running! When we closed in on the Finish Line and were directed toward Round 2, it was go-time.

I settled into the front of our line and took advantage of the space ahead. Knowing what to expect on a trail makes a big difference! It had warmed up enough that I shed a layer, and we had sped up enough that our second loop was an average 1-min/mile faster than the first.

There was one steep up-hill section within the last 1.5 miles that stole any energy I might have held onto. Lesson learned: don’t sprint up those. The last 0.5 mile was flat, open, leave-it-all-out-there terrain. I chased Kate across the Finish line….

1: 25: 55 – 10 trail miles – 8:35 min/mile

…immediately thought I might vomit, and then thought I am definitely doing another one of those.

Aside from dirt, climbs, streams and rock-hopping, the main difference between a road vs. trail race is this:

Food swag!

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Color us muddy & impressed – we had a great time! It was a small group of 400 runners that very graciously spent some time in close quarters on the trails of Wakefield Park, VA. I’ll definitely be back for another run in the woods!

9 Comments

Filed under DC, Goals, new things!, race report, running

Tagged as DC, running, Trail Running

by Heather | March 8, 2013

Friday Four: New Eats (Larabar & Chobani), Step Feats & Trails

I tried to come up with a synonym for running, racing or hiking that rhymed with “eat”: mission impossible.

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With a handful of new-to-me things in this corner of the world, it’s time to group a few of them together & share with you. Because it’s Friday. Welcome to the end of the week, where brains function at 50% and {our trail-racing} minds are looking at the “63*, Sunny” forecast ahead, internally singing repetitive rejoices!

Let’s start by grabbing a bar & a spoon:

1) NEW: LARABAR – ALT (Protein bar)

I’ve heard talks of this bar but had yet to see it on the shelves! I am a huge fan of the regular ol’ LB – and even worked with them for a while back in 2010 – but a lot of bar-eating clients seem to focus on that comparatively-low protein content.

C’mon, they taste great and they’re only made from nuts, fruit and spices and in theory you could make your own in your kitchen!

While I think added-protein is a bonus but not a necessity, it seems I’m an outlier. These bars use plant-based protein powders to up the ante and join the ranks of companies that cater to vegan/vegetarian-friendly high-protein food options. Nicely done, LB!

2) NEW: Chobani Bits & Bites

More on this Chobani love to come;this team has clearly been hard at work to bring out some new options for greek yogurt-lovers! You know I’m not much of a dairy eater these days, but I still admire these CHOlks and am pretty impressed by the all the creativity here. Flips, bites, champions and new flavors? They’re changing the yogurt game, here.

Specifically, they’re wooing us with CHOcolate, and I’m intrigued:

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3) STEP it UP: Wellness Corporate Solutions’ Fitbit Challenge

We’re 5 weeks into our steps challenge at work (WCS) and it’s getting competitive. I battle these two gals every week, usually having to accept that no matter how many times I walk or run in circles around NW DC, they will beat me.

Then, I had this moment:

One down, one to go! (JP is probably relentlessly stepping all around NYC as I type this.)

An update on this steps-challenge to come, but trust me when I say that we’ve all done some crazy things to get “more steps!” in. Incentives and friendly competition go a long way with corporate fitness.

4) Backyard Burn: Trail Racing, Round 1

Photo credit: flickr user Swim Bike Run Photography.

The race-season has officially kicked off, but for this round we’re ready to switch gears! At the recommendation of my friend/fellow local-race-junkie Rebecca, a carful of runners have agreed to join me in the hills of Virginia on Sunday.

I signed on for the 10-mile option. There might be an ounce of in-over-our-heads and a dose of humility to come with this – all in the name of good, muddy running adventures!

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What’s new to you this Friday?

7 Comments

Filed under DC, food, new things!, random, running, running hills

by Heather | March 1, 2013

Friday Five: Thinks & Links

Every week seems to end with a long list of bookmarked pages, articles and blog posts that I really want to remember, to go back to, to absorb. Some weeks I think if I went back to school there would still be enough information to fill another four years, and I will enroll in a heartbeat!

Some weeks I just decide to share them with you, too.

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This week…

I think there is more to know about Saturated Fat, where the recommendations came from and why we’re so terrified of it. I think – strongly believe – there is a difference in saturated plant fats vs. animal. I wonder about the “Saturated fat is always bad” mantra.

Friday read: 8 Reasons Not to Fear Saturated Fat
(Not saying I agree with this 100%, but I appreciate the sources listed.)

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I think DC has decided to stick with this windy semi-winter, not giving us snow but instead plenty of gusts, rain and cloudy days. I think my skin has noticed, too.

Friday read: 4 Essential Oils for Natural Winter Skin Care
(Does anyone actually know where things like “Sandalwood” are sold?!)

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I think junk food might finally be on the way out the door. Sure, it could take decades before we can slam that door behind it, but we don’t mind screaming until that happens.

Friday read: The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food
Insanely long; cancel your plans, grab a comfy couch and soak this in.

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I think I’d rather make progress.

No matter how much time that takes.

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I think these posts are invaluable – entertaining blogs, amazing videos and hilarious tweets, all in one….

Friday Read: Stuff {Dooce} F0und While Looking Around
Let’s end on a mindless note – it is Friday, after all.

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What are you thinking?

5 Comments

Filed under about me, food, new things!, random, things that make you go Hmmmm

Category Archives: new things!

One Thing a Day: Teaching Yoga

SCAN 2013: Creating Healthy Corporate Cultures

Ex2 Adventure’s Backyard Burn: Trail Racing in Wakefield Park

Friday Four: New Eats (Larabar & Chobani), Step Feats & Trails

Friday Five: Thinks & Links

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