Happy Holidays and Moderation

I have written about this on my own personal blog but thought I would share my views here on The Edge blog.  Suzanne and I don't really live in any extreme.  We like to sit in the middle of moderation.  Yes, we do eat dessert sometimes.  You might see us at the movies shoveling popcorn in our mouths.  The occasional glass of wine tastes really good and on vacation you wouldn't catch us working out.  Yes, we try to live healthy most of the time.  We enjoy exercising - obviously. Does our weight go up and down? Certainly.  Are we like most of you? Definitely.   


We have both had enough happen in our lives to realize that this life is worth living.  It is worth enjoying. Is it worth eating the cookie even though you will have to work a little harder the next class?  Sometimes. These questions rarely cross our minds though because what is most important to us are the memories, experiences, and people that fill our lives.  We all need a little push time and again to get us going in the right direction and that is not a bad thing.  Starting a diet or exercise program so you can have more time and energy to live your life is important but don't let it "run" your life.  If you mess up, don't think of it as messing up, think of it as creating another opportunity to start over.


If you were to die tomorrow would you regret not getting the laundry done? or eating that extra half a sandwich?  I don't think so.  As we approach the new year many people come up with resolutions.  Mine has been the same for awhile and doesn't just happen on New Year's Day.  Live better.  One simple goal that encompasses so much.  


So this Holiday enjoy your family and friends.  Enjoy the goodness that is being offered to you.  Accept who you are exactly how you are and then growth will come so much easier.  We wish you all happiness and good times this Christmas and every other day of the year too.  We count you in our blessings and love experiencing life with you!

Holidays

The holidays tend to bring out more intense emotions.  Some people really struggle with depression around this time of year and many find their stress level elevated to its highest point this month.  There are many things we can do naturally to combat these issues. Through exercise, endorphin's are released and a natural high occurs.  Yoga and stretching can bring clarity to the mind and help you focus on your tasks better and breathing deeply has been proven to lower stress.  Suzanne and I know this from experience.  The few times we have gone without exercise for more than a few days we have both felt the downward spiral that can often happen without it.  It is very much a natural "drug" for both of us.   When we exercise we have more to offer our loved ones, we feel younger and have more energy.  We challenge you to make some time for yourself in this busy season to get some exercise in.


We have also noticed with the time change that most people are feeling sluggish and uninspired in the evenings. Give one of our evening classes a try - we turn the lights down low and have found that people are letting go more and really moving when they feel un-intimidated and safe.  Our evening Zumba classes are really just a party and a great way to keep your metabolism going long into the night.  Most of us walk around with insecurities about the way we look and act on a regular basis - it is just human nature - but at The Edge nobody really cares and you are free to just "be".  


Our classes are also a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family.  We don't have age limits at The Edge so those of you with kids may want to just bring them along to do a class with you!  As long as they are old enough to follow what is going on in the class they are more than welcome.  For the younger ones we have Zumbatomic on Mondays that is quite popular and might be a good way to get some exercise into their routine during the holiday break.  We have a few husband and wife teams that come to our boot Camp, Fluid Edge and kickboxing classes and have a great "date"!


We wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season this year.  Suzanne and I count our blessing daily and you are very much a part of them.  Take a moment to recognize all that is good in your life and appreciate the little things - that is what life is all about!

Something new!

Have you ever noticed a common thread among older people?  Aches and pains.  It takes a little longer to get out of bed in the morning or get into a car.  There are many reasons for these maladies but quite frankly often it is just a part of getting older.  We all know how important cardio exercise is to our health - keeps our heart strong, increases metabolism and helps us lose excess weight - but did you know how important stretching and strength are to you health?  The earlier in life you start a regime of stretching the less likely you are to have joint and back pain later in life.  As we age our joints and muscles become tighter and less elastic.  We also lose our muscle mass faster.  Consistently working on strength and length will keep our bodies in tip top shape.  Too young to think you should worry about these issues?  Well, if you are only doing cardio exercise you will begin to notice sore joint no matter what age you are.

So, make some time to incorporate these into your workout schedule.  BodyFlow (which we are changing the name to Fluid EDGE) is a wonderful combination of stretching and strength moves choreographed to incredible music.  You will walk away feeling refreshed and whole again.   See you soon!

PARTY!!!!!

Oh Yeah!!! After battling breast cancer a year and a half ago I now treasure every birthday I have. On October 27th I am turning 42 (OMG) and I am having a BIG BASH!!!! The ONLY presents I want that day is your presence at an off the hook Zumba party! Free for everyone! Please bring your dancing shoes and be prepared for a night you wont soon forget! I am just happy to be alive and able to dance! Feel free to bring your friends - I can't wait to see you there! Thursday at 5:30pm! MUCH LOVE and APPRECIATION, Kristin

Seeing Pink!

We are seeing pink on the horizon! Please join us as we participate in the first ever Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk in San Luis Obispo! This is very close to my heart as I have not only lost my mother to breast cancer when she was 45, fought myself last year to beat the disease, but also know so many beautiful women who are fighting or recently fought it as well. We need to find a cure. It is scary to think how many people are still diagnosed daily. Yes we are catching it earlier because of awareness and better screening, and we have higher survival rates because of more effective treatment but this is not enough. We need a CURE. That is why we have formed CURE EDGE (Courage). It takes courage to fight this hideous disease and it takes courage to step up and help find a cure. What better way to spend a Saturday morning than taking a nice long walk in our beautiful town, joined by friends. If you are interested go to our participant page and sign up - CURE EDGE PAGE ! If you know me at all - you know we will be dancing the whole way!

Fall!

What a beautiful time of year - my favorite in fact. I love how the sun sits in the sky and the colors of everything. For some reason everything seems more crisp and vivid. It is also a great time for change. As we settle in for winter now is a great time to create good habits. Instead of slumping down on the couch at night make it a point to get some sort of exercise in. Maybe it is a walk around the block or a few sit ups while you are watching your favorite show. Or maybe you will join us at The Edge for a class or two. For once we are exited for the sun to set early - our lights in our studio are so much fun and we can't wait to share them with you! After a long day a "party" at The Edge will be just the ticket to help you unwind and revive!

Mark your calendars. We have an amazing Master Zumba class on October 1st (master only means it is taught by a master instructor - still just Zumba). It is from 9:45 am to 11:15 and is $10 at the door (BodyFlow will be cancelled that day).

We are also very excited to be creating a team to walk in the first ever Making Strides 5K walk to end breast cancer in San Luis Obispo! This event is October 22nd and the more people we can get to walk with us the better! Let us know if you would like more information.

We continue to be inspired by all our Edge family members. Your dedication and positive outlooks make this world a better place. The best part is we get to watch you get stronger, healthier, and more confident all of the time. Life is about LIVING and you are all doing that..... on THE EDGE!

Contest!

Hey Everyone!
We are giving away an 11 class pass and there are several ways to win! All names will go into a drawing that we will reveal next Wednesday. First you can make a comment right here with any sort of suggestions you have for us. Second, you can share a link to our club on your FB page (make sure to let us know) and third you can write a review on Yelp. We are solidifying our next schedule and would love your feedback! The Edge is all about YOU so we want it to be just right. Good Luck!

By the way our website is www.theedgefitnessstudio.com!

Chili?

We LOVE living here on the Central Coast. Part of what makes it great is the small town feel that we have. Rarely do you have to wait more than 5 minutes in the grocery store line, traffic is almost unheard of and you better be ready to run into someone you know when you leave the house. This Sunday we will have a booth set up at the annual Chili Cook off sponsored by the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club. They have a lot of fun things to do along with great entertainment (Kristin's daughter's band will be playing for the second year in a row). Come on out to Biddle Park where the sun is sure to be shining and stop by and say hi! The chili is pretty dang good too!

The Best Job!

We seriously have the BEST job in the world. It has been so fun getting to know so many new people and watching you all smile while taking a class! Even better is watching over the weeks as people gain confidence and start to really let go in class. Giving just a little more each time. We get to see someone who starts out timid in the back row gradually move closer to the front and eventually help someone else learn a step or two. We get to watch an amazing transformation - even from the beginning of class to the end. Some of you arrive tired and stressed from your day but you leave with a bigger bounce in your step even though you just physically worked really hard. Most of all you are all an inspiration to us. You are the reason we are so excited to come to "work" everyday. Thank YOU for enriching our lives so much. We are all a part of this big family - different ages, different personalities, different desires but when we all come together we are fabulous!

Cancer Club

OK Peeps. Time to tell all of your loved ones who are survivors to come on over to The Edge on Monday night at 6:45pm for our first "class". It is completely free and you can even come with them if you would like. Just wear comfortable clothes and bring a mat or towel to sit on. This first class will be pretty mellow but also rejuvenating and empowering. Hope to see you there!

Vacation!!

It seems like everyone and their brother is taking this week or next week off for their vacation. Good for you! Letting your physical as well as your mental self rest is very important for your health. If you happen to be in town next week please stop by for one of our classes. We have Naomi teaching Zumba Monday and Wednesday mornings. Suzie will be joining us for BodyFlow on the same days. We have Brea coming in to teach For Life and an amazing fluid yoga class (see schedule) and Stephen will be our fearless Zumba leader next Thursday night.

Here is a good recipe I tried this week from Better Homes and Gardens. Our family enjoyed them but I would add a little pepper, tabasco and garlic salt next time to kick it up a notch.

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Makes: 6 servings
Prep: 25 minutes
Bake: 25 minutes 400 degrees F
Cool: 10 minutes


ingredients
Olive oil
1 lb. sweet potatoes and/or carrots
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp. water
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. olive oil

directions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly brush a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with olive oil. Peel vegetables and cut into thin wedges that are 3 to 4 inches long. Toss vegetables with 2 teaspoons of oil. Place the vegetables on the prepared pan and roast them for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Transfer vegetables to a tray to cool until they can be handled (about 10 minutes).
2. While vegetables are cooling, in a shallow bowl, mix together the flour and salt. In another shallow bowl, combine eggs and water. In a third shallow bowl, stir together the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
3. Coat the same baking pan with the 1 tablespoon oil. When the vegetables are cool enough to handle, dip them a few at time in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then the bread crumbs, coating them evenly. Arrange coated vegetables in a single layer in the prepared pan.
4. Roast for 15 minutes or until vegetables are brown and crispy on surface. Serve warm.
Teaching Note for Fries: The easy bread-crumb coating adds delicious crispy flavor without frying. These fries are high in vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. You can substitute carrots for the sweet potatoes.

Cancer Club and Vacation

Little bug in your ear. If you know anyone who would be interested in our cancer club please pass on our information. Our first free class will be on August 1st. A great way to meet other people in the community going through similar things.

On another note. Suzanne will be taking a vacation that has been planned for a long time. While she is gone we will be lucky enough to have some fabulous instructors coming in to sub for us. Please give them your support and give us your feedback! This will be happening the first week in August. Look for a one time class of fluid yoga too! More later with details!

Blogging!

Hey everyone! This blog will be specifically for THE EDGE. This is where you will find out what is going on - upcoming events, schedule changes etc. I will do my best to motivate you into a more healthy lifestyle and I will post recipes and suggestions from people in the Edge family! Soooooo - let me know what you want, think, appreciate and need!

This is a very sought after recipe in our house - hope you enjoy it on these warm summer nights with a nice bbq!

CILANTRO LIME RICE

You will need
Jasmine rice
a smidge of butter
Chicken or veggie broth
several limes
frozen or fresh cilantro

Saute the rice (however much you want) in a bit of butter over medium heat for a few minutes until coated. Add broth until it is about a knuckle above the rice (about 3/4 of an inch) and the zest of 2-3 limes and bring to a boil. Now here is the trick - you need to stir the rice every so often (I know this goes against everything you have ever learned about cooking rice). Make sure you have enough liquid to make it nice and sticky too - add more if necessary. Cook until nice and tender then add cilantro (however much you want) and the juice of the limes. Salt and pepper to taste. Yum!!