Reach (for Spring) March Challenge

March 1, 2016February 22, 2016Leave a comment

Happy March (rabbit rabbit!) Let’s hope that Spring weather is just around the corner, but until then, let’s reach for it! This unique move works your core like no other and requires zero equipment. From all fours, reach your right arm out straight ahead and your left leg straight behind you. This requires core strength and balance to keep your body stable. Bend your right arm and your left leg in towards your center to touch (or as close as they come) to further engage your abs. Reach them back out straight and then place them back down on the ground. Repeat with the left arm and right leg. This is one repetition. Alternate and follow the calendar below. Just save, print, or pin the image below and reach for spring. By the time bikini season arrives, you’ll be glad that you took on this challenge!

One Healthy Breakdown: spring into spring…with a stronger core!

October Plank-Touch Challenge

October 1, 2015September 29, 2015

Happy October! The month of pumpkins, apple picking, boots, and plank-touches. What’s a plank-touch, you ask? Great question! It’s the perfect exercise to engage your entire core. To perform a plank touch, get in a plank position with hands on ground, shoulder-width apart and legs straight, wider than hip-width apart. While balancing and keeping hips even, (which will fire up your abs) touch one shoulder with opposite hand. Put that hand back down on the ground and repeat on the other side. Alternate sides while keeping core stable. You may keep your knees on the ground if you cannot stay balanced/stable and rest on knees for 10 seconds between sets (beginning on the 19th.) This one move will strengthen your shoulders, arms, abs, back, chest, glutes, and more, so commit to plank-touching ’til Halloween. Just save, print, or pin the image below and take on the challenge!

One Healthy Breakdown: October at OHH is all about the plank-o-lantern!

Kettlebellin’

September 14, 2015September 14, 2015Leave a comment

I’ve rekindled with an old flame: kettlebells. Aren’t they pretty?!

Made of iron or steel, kettlebells are (literally) full of potential for anyone, from professional athletes to first-time exercisers who are looking to gain strength and burn fat. Kettlebells combine the benefits of heart-pumping cardio endurance with weight-lifting in a dynamic, full-body workout. It’s like fusing a killer spin class or an energized run with intense strength-training session. Instead of choosing cardio or weight-training, kettlebells are a double whammy.

Kettlebell training builds muscle, increases endurance, strengthens balance, burns fat, and, in-turn, boosts metabolism too! Another added bonus is that kettlebells can be incorporated into your existing routine or utilized as the primary workout, in which case, it only takes about 20-30 minutes to reach exhaustion and reap the benefits. There have been many times where I’ve only had 10-15 minutes to spare and I turn to kettlebells for a quick full-body burn. Although they can be used to target certain muscle groups and body parts, pretty much all kettlebell exercises engage and strengthen the core. Due to the handle, the center of gravity of the weight is constantly changing, teaching your body to adapt by turning on a range of muscles.

There is definitely a technique to training with kettlebells and proper form is highly important to prevent injury and maximize effectiveness. I would suggest taking a class or consulting an expert if you’ve never used a kettlebell or aren’t confident you have it down. Fortunately, the Hamptons has some great kettlebell experts. Try a Kettlebell class at Sag Harbor Gym with Sara (pictured above) and/or a class at Truth Training in East Hampton. You’ll get a kick-ass workout and eventually, you’ll learn to love yourself some kettlebells too! Once you’ve got your form down, you may just want to invest in one of these bad boys for yourself.

Sara explains: kettlebells can be used as a full body integrative movement, strength isolation, cardio drill, or all of the above. I’ve kept a kettlebelll in my workout routine for years and with all of the types of exercise equipment out there, kettlebells remain my favorite. The range of resistance, exercises, and challenges using a kettlebell makes it absolutely impossible for one to plateau. Besides the fact that everyone looks badass flinging iron, kettlebells build muscle and increase exertion, which burns more calories throughout the day, long after your workout. Who doesn’t want that?!

One Healthy Breakdown: why choose between weight-lifting and cardio when you can do both with kettlebells?

September Bridge Challenge

September 1, 2015August 31, 2015

It’s time to bridge into September. This new fitness challenge will work your glutes, lift your butt, engage your core, and strengthen your hamstrings with one simple move. To perform a bridge, lie on your back with hands by your side, palms up. Bend your knees with feet flat on the floor. Engage your glutes and push through your heels to lift hips straight off the floor. At the top of your bridge, glutes are highly engaged, but back is straight at an angle. Lower hips and repeat the movement. Get ’em done before you get out of bed, while you’re watching TV, or throughout the day. Just save, print, or pin the image below and take on the September challenge!

One Healthy Breakdown: bridge into fall with a nice bridge booty!

July Stars & Stripes Challenge!

July 1, 2015June 30, 2015

Happy July! Here’s the deal, people: It’s independence month and we’re celebrating with stars and stripes…which means, we’re working our abs…A LOT. Summer’s in full force and we’re keeping that beach body toned (you’re welcome!) To begin, lie flat on your back and lift your legs to a 45 degree angle, keeping them as straight as possible. To perform a “star,” draw an imaginary star in the air with your toes with your back on the floor and legs together. For a stripe, move toes horizontally from one side to the other, and back (counts as two.) You’ll be doing stars some days, stripes other days, and both for double trouble. Just save, print, or pin the image below and let the celebrations begin!

One Healthy Breakdown: work that core with stars and stripes galore!

March Madness – Lucky Lunges!

March 1, 2015February 28, 2015Leave a comment

Guess what…we’re lunging right thru March and stepping into spring! Here’s how to lunge: Stand up tall. Keeping your upper body straight, take a big step forward with one foot. Lower hips and bend front knee to a 90-degree angle. Repeat on the other side. Lunges work the entire leg and core, especially the glutes, hamstrings, and abdominals. Focus on these muscles when executing each lunge to maximize benefits. Some people like to place their hands on their hips and others like to hold them in front of them for balance. Commit today and print or pin the calendar below. Complete each set on BOTH legs (so, when it says 3 lunges, that’s three lunges each side for six total!)

One Healthy Breakdown: Happy March, let the madness begin!

January Twisting Challenge

January 1, 2015December 28, 2014Leave a comment

Happy 2015!! This year, we’re stepping things up and twisting them out! Get ready to work your entire core with Russian Twists. To perform your twist, lie on your back with a light free-weight. Raise legs and upper body into a V-sit position (knees bent off the floor.) Hold weight with both hands and rotate upper body to one side, back through middle, and to the other side. Each number below should be performed on each side. Just print or pin this calendar and commit to challenging yourself and changing your core!

One Healthy Breakdown: get ready to twist and shout right into the new year!

Meet Me at the Barre!

September 2, 2014May 13, 20151 Comment

If you haven’t tried a barre class yet, now is the time and Pure Barre Southampton is the place to lift, tone, burn, and take advantage of PURE WELLNESS! Pure Barre has been OHH favorite ever since they opened in June, 2014, and now we’ve partnered up for 15% off Pure Barre classes AND OHH nutrition counseling so that YOU can stay fit and healthy all in one place!

That’s right, come to Pure Barre for classes and get 15% off a nutrition package with yours truly as well as 15% off your Pure Barre package too! That’s a PURE perfect combo for being your healthiest, happiest you! I myself have Pure Barre Southampton to thank for toning my arms for my wedding dress! I didn’t want all that pulsing to go to waste, so I practiced what I preach about healthy eating and self-care. If you want in on the PURE Wellness, just email kiley@onehealthyhamptons!

Offering at least three classes a day, seven days a week, twelve months a year, this barre studio is here to stay. Conveniently located in Southampton village, Kaitlin, Leslie, and Patti, excitedly opened the studio to fill a void in fitness out East by bringing their favorite workout to their favorite place, all year round! Like-minded locals can appreciate their welcoming approach, reliable schedule, fun atmosphere, convenient location, and dependable full-body workout delivered in every class.

Pure Barre is the perfect mix of strength and stretch, fun and vigor. Unlike some other hot group-fitness classes sweeping the nation today, Pure Barre focuses on precise movements to strengthen muscles and the mind-body connection simultaneously. The low-impact moves can really be done anywhere, but the sequence of the Pure Barre method ensures a heightened sense of awareness and appreciation for this important connection. Concentrating on nothing but these movements allows guests to block out the chaos of life outside the door, creating a tranquil energy throughout the studio. The 55-minute workout targets all of those trouble zones head to toe, building long, lean muscles. While the technique stays consistent, the fun music and choreography sequence prohibit boredom and plateau. While you can always rely on that 90 second plank, working your booty ’til it hurts, and abs for days, the new routine keeps us coming back for more.

*photo credit Pure Barre media

The Southampton Pure Barre studio and great team of instructors are incredibly welcoming, so newbies should feel at ease and excited to tuck it out. The studio constantly offers great deals and promotions, so just ask before you pulse! Get ready to shake, tuck, sculpt, lift, tone, and burn every muscle group in your body. Come one, come all, meet me at the barre for the best toning and nutrition team in town! No more excuses, put yourself, your body, and your health first!

Visit Pure Barre at 5 Windmill Lane, Southampton, soon and check out Pure Barre Southampton on Facebook and instagram @purebarresouthampton and click here for more information about OHH’s private nutrition and wellness consulting.

One Healthy Breakdown: Meet me at the barre to LTB and chat nutrition!

August Mermaid Challenge

August 1, 2014August 1, 2014Leave a comment

Here she is, the last monthly challenge of the summer! Mermaids are only appropriate. This move strengthens abs, obliques, and legs all at the same time! Save, pin, or print the calendar and complete throughout the month. Here’s how to mermaid: lay on your side, head on one arm. Lift legs slightly off floor and cross ankles. Lift and lower legs, keeping straight and together (using abdominal muscles) for time allotted. Then flip to the other side and repeat, working yourself up to one minute on each side! Stay strong, tight, and focus on the abs. Bring it on, August.

One Healthy Breakdown: get ready to channel your inner mermaid this month!

The Personality Behind Pilates of Sag Harbor

June 23, 2014June 23, 2014Leave a comment

An hour with Lauralee Bruce at Pilates of Sag Harbor opened my mind to the endless possibilities of Pilates. Lauralee has 25 years of experience in the Pilates world, working with a variety of clients, teachers, goals, and injuries to form the well-rounded practice she runs today on Main Street in Sag Harbor Village. Lauralee learned from the experts to become quite the expert herself, continually exploring and adding to her repertoire every step of the way. Lauralee explains that although she was trained classically (by one of Joseph’s Pilates’ master teachers no less) that she likes to think outside the box. After spending just a few short minutes with Lauralee, it’s apparent that this women is full of knowledge, tools, tips, strategies, and passion for Pilates.

We started our session on what I learned is called a Cadillac, which is very appropriately named as it can only be described as the Cadillac of Pilates tools. We worked the glutes, obliques, inner and outer thighs, abs, and chest all in a matter of minutes. Lauralee also introduced me to the roller, theraband, bosu ball, and reformer, just a few of the many tools, toys, and apparatuses at her possession.

For those of you who have walked through Sag Harbor, you’ve probably noticed that the village is somewhat saturated with Pilates studios. Lauralee’s personalized style sets her apart from the others and her sweet personality will instantly win you over. Although I wasn’t sure what to expect during a privates Pilates session, a few minutes with Lauralee made me relaxed, comfortable, and content with whatever was to come.

Working with no more than two people at a time, and typically one-on-one, Lauralee’s technique not only includes general Pilates practice, but also aerobic activity, hands-on stretching, balance, and lots more. “It’s not just about the movement, it’s about the ability to communicate with all different people. We’re hands-on from the start,” Lauralee tells me; “my favorite thing about my job is the satisfaction of turning non-gym goers into exercisers outside of the gym environment. It may not be what people envision as a workout, but we work just as hard and we get the results, fast.”

Lauralee meets and works with a huge variety of clients, from teenagers to folks in their 80’s, and she prides herself on her ability to tailor the workout to anyone’s needs. One of my favorite things about Pilates is that the foundation can be individualized and yet, the basics can instantly enhance any type of fitness routine. The precision developed with Pilates allows us to target certain muscle groups and greatly strengthen the mind-body connection. After just one session, I was more aware and connected, which enhanced other day-to-day activities both in and out of the gym.

One Healthy Breakdown: While I walked into Pilates of Sag Harbor unsure of what was to come, I left feeling light, long, lean, and lifted.

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