Looking for a job in a new city

I picked up an application for the rec center in my neighborhood and eagerly filled it out at home. When I first moved to WJ, I created a fitness-only resume to hand in to gyms when applying to teach. I figured gyms don't care about my experience working at GAP in high school... so I pared it down to relevant jobs and my education.

The following day, I went to the early-morning Pilates class as usual. I yawned through the whole thing (545a is not my best hour) and was startled from my drowsiness when the teacher came up to me afterward to ask about my flexibility.

Although I've kept the information from my instructors until now, I decided to go ahead and tell her that I've been practicing Yoga/Pilates for 8 years, and that I'm certified for both. I didn't want to be treated differently in my classes, so I hadn't said anything the last two months.

But as soon as I shared, the teacher asked if I've ever applied to work at the rec center. I told her I just got an app and was planning to hand it in after class. She. Was. Thrilled. She said they're always looking for more teachers, especially since it's currently really hard for anyone to get a sub.

And not only did the teacher seem thrilled that I was considering employment with the rec center, but she announced it to the whole class as we were packing up our mats and props.

No pressure, right?


When I showed up for the Power Yoga class the next day, the instructor came over and introduced herself as the coordinator of aerobics. She asked me to stay after class and talk with her about my work experience.

She admitted they don't currently have room in the schedule to give me a new class, but once I fill out an employment packet I can go on the sub list. And she has connections with other fitness centers in the area and will help me get in touch with coordinators here and there as well. I've found that in this business it really matters to know someone. Otherwise, you apply online to a gym and your information just gets sucked into a vacuum and never acknowledged. While I'm nervous to be teaching again, I'm also really looking forward to it.

Summer Schedule

Currenly, I am only available to instruct private/group Yoga or Pilates sessions in one studio space:

Farr West Tumblers
3677 N Highway 126 Suite S
Farr West UT 84404

Times are subject to studio availability and can be provided upon request.

I currently teach scheduled, Yoga & Pilates drop-in classes at the same location:
Drop-in at Farr West Tumblers
Monday 10am
Tuesdays 8pm
Pre-pay (24 hrs in advance) = $5
At the door = $10
Childcare = FREE (offered Monday morning ONLY)

Drop-in Yoga classes at Weber State University
Tuesday 6:00am 
Wednesday 8pm
Thursday 8pm (at University Village)
Saturdays 9am Students/Faculty = FREE
Community = $6

We go together like a wink and a smile

I've been loving my 6:30am Pilates class more than I can believe! Attendance is fabulous and early summer mornings are gorgeous.

If you're looking for some great options for working out this summer, check out the WSU schedule, or the Borrowed Earth Emporium, Wasatch Therapy, Yoga Jo's and Farr West Tumblers!

South Ogden Pilates, Yoga and Zumba

Wasatch Therapy in South Ogden is updating its pricing and class availability this spring!

I promise it's really good news, and here's why.

In the past, you bought a 12-punch pass for $100. That let you attend Pilates 12 times, whether you chose to go twice a week, or to stretch out the pass FOREVER. It wasn't a very good system because it didn't motivate participants to work out on a regular schedule, nor did it let them attend other classes like Zumba or Yoga without buying separate passes for another $100.

Starting in May, Wasatch will be offering a flat, monthly rate for attendance in Pilates, Yoga and Zumba classes. That means for $45 per month, you can attend up to 6 classes each week; 2 Pilates, 2 Yoga and 2 Zumba classes. For your $45 monthly payment (no membership required) you can get more bang for your buck!

I'm excited about this change because it'll increase the effectiveness of your workout. Cross-training is key to weight loss, so now having the option of three different types of classes will help you get swimsuit-ready that much faster.

And with no contract required, having a $45 month-to-month fee is a sweet deal. If you know you'll be out of town for most of one month, then you can still attend classes for the $5 or $10 drop-in fee if you'd rather not pay $45 up front.

I don't know what more motivation you need, so I'll see you at Wasatch Therapy soon!

Weber State University Fitness

Ready for summer? Me too.

I'm going to dive right in with parent/child swim classes at Weber State (thanks to Aspen's grandparents!) and if you want to join me with your kids, let me know.

I'm also still teaching Pilates for WSU, and you'll find me there every Wednesday at 6:30am. Pilates will only be offered at Promontory Tower in that time slot, so make sure you get to bed early on Tuesdays!

It'll be a real change for me, getting out of the house by 6am, but it'll be worth it when I'm not embarrassed to be seen in my swim suit at Aspen's swim lessons!

Classes will still be free for participants with active Wildcards, and only $6 for community drop in. See you bright and early starting May 4th!

Pilates at Borrowed Earth Emporium

I'm thrilled to be joining Borrowed Earth Emporium in their quest to satisfy Ogden's need for Yoga, Pilates, Crepes, local music and so much more.

Starting May 10, I'll be offering a Pilates class at 9am Tuesday at BEE, so come on by and kick-start your summer by getting into this habit now!

BEE also offers massage, a co-op, a cafe and just a cool place to hang out and enjoy what local Ogden has to offer. I love the feel in Borrowed Earth and I'm grateful I'm now a part of it.

See you Tuesdays at 9am!

Pilates and Yoga Certifications in Utah

If you're interested in Stott Pilates certification in Utah, then visit Intermountain Pilates Training Center in Salt Lake City. They have trainings scheduled for April of this year and they not only offer extensive mat training, but they delve into Pilates for injuries and prenatal participants.

FiTour is another organization offering Pilates certifications (which is where I received my Mat training) for very reasonable prices. The textbook is a great resource to have and I refer to mine often for my classes. FiTour also does Yoga certs so be sure to check them out for that as well.

Powder Blue Productions is another great organization (where I received my PiYo training) and they have a lot of certs available in Utah. Certifications are held in Tremonton, Taylorsville and St. George, so it's a pretty good spread. I loved training with Michelle and still use cues that she taught us during that workshop.

I trained for Yoga via YogaFit, which has an aerobic approach to Yoga instruction. It was a two-day cert when I participated and even 4 months pregnant I had a great time. They have a lot of trainings scheduled for 2011 that you should definitely consider. Like Stott Pilates, YogaFit offers certs with specific concentrations, such as for seniors or those with back concerns.

Ten minute tone-up

Work your buns with Bonnie!

Child's Pose to Rabbit Pose

Child's Pose is a resting posture in both Yoga and Pilates. It gives the participant an opportunity to refocus on proper breathing techniques as well as any intention that was set for the practice.

To perform, you can keep the knees together or spread while folding the torso over the thighs. It's meant to be a comfortable resting posture, so let those hips sink as low as you'd like, and extend your arms either overhead or along-side the body.

From Child's Pose you can easily stretch the neck in Rabbit Pose. Placing the crown of the head on the mat, roll the hips skyward and interlace the fingers behind the back. You can stretch the arms skyward as well or let them rest along the torso wherever comfortable. Although Rabbit is a semi-resting posture, it is important to keep the core engaged to protect the neck.

Another pose to which you can easily transition is downward dog. Honor your body and let your practice flow.

Free Yoga and Pilates

Don't miss out on a chance for free Yoga and Pilates classes at Farr West Tumblers for the month of March!

If you refer a friend (by passing along a voucher) you'll stock up on a free class for each one who comes. Share the love and invite as many friends as you'd like. We've been having great classes at Tumblers and I love meeting new people.

The kids are welcome if you'd like to bring them; Annette will keep them busy with books, puzzles, movies and all sorts of toys. I bring Aspen and she has a blast. It's a great way for her to get used to making new friends, even at only 7 months old.

Classes are 8pm Tuesdays and 10am Fridays. Take advantage of a free class and while you're at Tumblers you can pay in advance for future classes, making them only $5 each.

Ten minute tone-up

I like Bonnie's brief but effective routines that can be found on YouTube. Try doing some of these exercises today at your own level- she includes modifications. They're a lot of fun and they make you feel great!

Ogden Yoga & Pilates

This week I get to be all over the place in classes at Weber State University. I'm really excited and I hope you'll take advantage of all the classes they offer this semester.

You're welcome to join me at the following times, along with other students, faculty and community members (free with an ID card, $6 to drop in).

Monday YOGA 8:45p Swenson Gym
Tuesday YOGA 4:30p Student Union
Wednesday YOGA 8:45p Swenson Gym
Thursday STRENGTH & TONE 7:30p Swenson Gym
Thursday PILATES 8:45p Swenson Gym

I'm really excited to be doing so much with WSU on top of my usual schedule:

Monday PILATES 4:30p Wasatch Therapy
Tuesday YOGA 8p Farr West Tumblers
Friday YOGA 10a Farr West Tumblers

This is why all my summer clothes fit, people! I got my pre-baby body weight and shape back by doing Pilates and Yoga every week (plus a teeny bit of cardio walking the Ogden River Parkway with a baby and a dog in tow).

Hope to see you at some of the classes before the semester is over. The summer schedule at WSU will offer fewer classes due to budgeting, but I'll let you know what's available as soon as the times are set.

The Frog

This exercise may be done with or without an exercise band to increase resistance. It's completely up to you.

The Frog works the core as well as the legs. It encourages you to utilize the major muscle groups in the legs (calves and quads) and to engage the core for stability.

To start, find your neutral spine; your shoulders and tailbone should be connected to the mat. Each vertebrae should be nestled into your mat as you prep. Legs lift with knees bent, whether or not you're placing the band across the balls of your feet. The heels should be touching and the toes should be turned out, NOT touching. Knees should be about shoulder-width apart when they are over the torso.

If you're using the band, keep your elbows planted at your sides while pressing the legs long. These photos depict the model lifting her elbows off the mat; I find this may hinder your ability to maintain proper posture. While extending those legs, be sure your tailbone does NOT come off the mat. You can choose whether or not the head is lifted in this exercise.

Your legs can extend at any degree of difficulty that you'd like depending on the challenge you need. As you extend, the knees come together while you maintain turnout in your feet. Use your exhale to extend and your inhale to pull the legs back into the chest.

Repeat 6-8 times, building up your stamina and challenging yourself to eventually extend the legs closer to the floor in the future.

Pilates and Yoga in Ogden this week:

Monday: 4:30p Pilates at Wasatch Therapy
$10 drop in

Tuesday: 8pm Yoga at Farr West Tumblers
$5 pre-pay (24 hours in advance)
$10 drop in
*check out the March special!

Thursday: 5:30p Pilates at Wasatch Therapy
$10 drop in
8:45p Pilates at Weber State University
FREE with active ID card
$6 drop in

Friday: 10a Pilates at Farr West Tumblers
$5 pre-pay (24 hours in advance)
$10 drop in

Tummy Toners - The Hundred

Oh how I love the Hundred. Doesn't it sound fun? In Pilates, the Hundred is a posture that requires you to do 100 repetitions of breath- 5 counts in and 5 counts out. Too bad it's not just about the breathing though.

Level 1 is to keep the back on the mat with the legs in the air at any angle you want. The tailbone needs to stay connected to the mat though, so if it lifts, the legs are too low. While in this position with your back on the mat, lift the head and shoulders slightly while the arms are elevated at your sides. The arms will pump with each breath, like you're slapping water.

Level 2 is to lift the torso to a V posture with the legs, balancing on the tailbone. The knees are bent, and the arms are still at your sides, moving with each breath.

Level 3 involves lengthening the legs while the torso is lifted.


Work your way into the posture that works best for you on any given day. Some days your hips might feel too tight to elevate the legs, other days you may just feel too tired to straighten the legs. It's completely up to you. Just remember to breathe in and out for 5 counts each, forcing those abs to MOVE with each breath.

In any of the levels, imagine you have a string connected to the top of your head, allowing you to pull and lengthen the neck. The spine must be straight if your torso is lifted. If you find that your back is curling, you're not yet ready to be in that posture. Take it down a level until you have full control over your posture.

Once you've counted 10 sets of inhales and exhales (100 total beats) you're done! Relax that body back on the mat and stretch.

Tummy Toners - Criss Cross

Criss Cross is one of the fundamental exercises I almost always require in my Pilates classes. It's a great way to target the entire core, especially the obliques, which can be a hard muscle group to work.

For criss cross, begin with a neutral spine on the mat. Supporting the head with your hands, lift it off the mat while bringing the knees to a 90 degree angle.


From here, you'll cross the shoulder to the opposite knee while lengthening one leg. One leg comes in, one leg goes out. With each exhale, your legs move and your shoulders cross up and over the torso.


It's important to keep the elbows wide and the neck long. Attempting to bring the shoulder across the body, rather than the elbow, will increase the effect on your core. It will take more abdominal strength than if your elbows just flopped around to touch your knees. Repeat this criss cross exercise at least six times.

Tummy Toners - Double leg lift and lower

On Monday, my Pilates class did this leg lift, and my abs are still sore today. I love when that happens!

It's optional to have one's head lifted off the mat while doing this leg lift/lower, so choose what suits your needs today.

To begin, start with some warm up exercises, and ensure that your spine is connected to the mat. Throughout the double leg lift/lower, the tailbone should not lift from the mat. Use that as an indicator you've reached your max if you feel the tailbone lifting.

The starting position is pictured below; sealing the legs together, lift them skyward. Contracting the abs and inhaling, slowly lower those pointed toes to any degree of difficulty, remembering to keep the tailbone connected to the mat.


Your legs may end up at a 45 degree angle, or they may be more parallel to the floor. It's up to you and your abdominal strength. Grow into the pose with practice!

When your legs have reached their target, exhale to lift them back to the starting position. Your spine should be long, your tailbone should stay connected to the mat, and your core should always be engaged.

Repeat the double leg lift/lower at least 6 times.

The Pilates Body

Save 50% today only on a month of unlimited access to The Pilates Body in Ogden. Located on North Washington Blvd, this studio is ready to help you use your own body to get fit and have a whole month to fall in love.

For only $40 you can come and go as you please, sampling the Pilates, HOT Pilates or Zumba classes to your heart's content (literally!).

Other Pilates opportunities can be found HERE.

Pilates Mat Exercises

There are a number of fundamental exercises that make up an effective Pilates routine. Throughout any of the postures, it's always important to use the core and breath to maximize effect.

A good warm up is essential to having a safe practice so try some of these before getting started:

-Imprint your spine on the mat. Lay flat with knees bent, arms at your side. Moving with your breath, gently rolling your tailbone up away from the mat and back into it again. Focus on deep inhalation and exhalation to help warm the body internally. Imagine the mat is cradling each of your vertebrae as you gently roll the tailbone up and down. Repeat at least four times before moving on.

-Roll like a ball on the mat. Using the core as the powerhouse for this exercise, place your hands behind your knees as you lay on your back on the mat. Begin rocking gently with your breath, working toward lifting the shoulders off the mat in a seated position. Continue rocking, rolling back onto the spine, tucking the chin and lifting the glutes off the mat. Repeat at least four times before moving on.

These two exercises help "wake up" the spine and increase awareness of the core.

A third warm up exercise is the swan. It encourages use of the muscles surrounding the spinal cord, and it helps warm the gluteals, hips and core.

-After rolling like a ball, stop in a seated position. Gently move onto all fours and lower your body onto the belly on the mat. It is important to imagine lengthening the body from head to toe in Swan. With this in mind, use the core to lift the shoulders and chest off the mat. The legs may lift as well, as long as length is maintained. The hands hover above the mat and are not used to press the body up off the mat. It may be helpful to imagine that the mat is freezing cold, and you must pull the abs up away from it. There are many variations depending on strength, so work on the fundamentals of Swan before adding a greater back bend to the posture.

These are just a sampling of the warm up exercises found in a Pilates workout. Every body is different, so adjustments can be made to compensate for your needs on any given day. The best part of Pilates is that it uses your own body as resistance, and can be done without any fancy props.

I'll have more workouts later in the week, so stay tuned!

All images from Pilates.about.com.

Where you can find me

Currenly, I am available to instruct private/group Yoga or Pilates sessions in one studio space.

Farr West Tumblers
3677 N Highway 126 Suite S
Farr West UT 84404

Times are subject to studio availability and can be provided upon request.

I currently teach scheduled, Yoga drop-in classes at the same location:

Drop-in Yoga at Farr West Tumblers
Tuesdays 8pm
Fridays 10am
Pre-pay (24 hrs in advance) = $5
At the door = $10
*Bring a new participant and get a FREE class
Childcare = FREE

I teach scheduled, Pilates drop-in classes at two other locations:

Wasatch Therapy
5349 S Adams Ave. Parkway Suite A
Ogden UT 84405
Mondays 4:30pm
Drop-in is $10; a 12-punch pass is $100
*First class is FREE

Drop-in Pilates classes at Weber State University
Thursdays 8:45pm
Students/Faculty = FREE
Community = $6