Client Spotlight: Kenny Farnsworth

Kenny is the President of Rhodes Bake-n-Serve, which he says requires a lot of time behind a desk.  However, that doesn't keep him from staying active!  Kenny grew up in SLC doing a lot of skiing and waterskiing, and later became an avid cyclist.  About 11 years ago Kenny got into kiteboarding, and still kiteboards about once per week.  He does this all year round boarding on the water in the summer and on the snow in the winter (can you believe these pictures?  That is Kenny!)  Kenny started doing Yoga about 4 years ago, and most recently added Pilates into his workout routine about a year ago.

Why does a man who has been active and fit his whole life do Pilates?
Kenny says it's for two reasons:  1-- He likes that Pilates focuses on the core muscles "...because having a strong core is vital in any activity that you do."; 2--  Pilates exercises the stabilizing muscles, which are the muscles that are most often ignored.  So, instead of just working your major muscle groups, Pilates works your whole body.

Kenny has noticed a real difference in his other activities since he started doing Pilates.  "A good example is that I can ski with my 13-year old son, and while my son gets tired after a couple of hours, you know, I still have tons of energy."  Kenny says it wasn't always this way--he used to wear out just as fast as his son did!  In addition to finishing his ski day with energy,  Kenny says he is finishing WITHOUT a sore back, and he doesn't seem to have the aches and creaks he used to get after activity; instead he feels GOOD!  Kenny said he used to get upper and/or lower back pain after rigorous exercise, and he no longer experiences that since adding Pilates to his routine.

In addition to attending the group Pilates and Yoga classes offered weekly at his office, Kenny also does a weekly private Pilates session at IPTC.   Kenny says he likes adding a private session into his routine because it helps helps him focus on his alignment and the mechanics of each movement better than in a group class, plus it helps him to learn the apparatus better.

Kenny continues to do Yoga and Pilates every week, and he feels they really complement each other.  He says that in Yoga he is working on a lot of balancing postures that require a lot of core strength, however, in a typical Yoga class you might not focus on strengthening the core as much as Pilates classes do.  He also says it's good cross-training, "...It's optimal to do 3 or 4 different types of exercise.  For one thing, it keeps your curiosity level high, and it's also good for your body to mix it up--your body should never get too used to doing one thing."  (Did I mention that Kenny does TRX, too!?)

Kenny shared his 3 goals for 2011 (all yoga poses):
1)  He wants to achieve the Yoga pose "Hanumanasana" (The splits!)
2)  Handstands
3)  Hip openers
After working with Kenny, I can vouch for his strength, and I think it's great that he's working on increasing his flexibility as well!

Kenny lives in Sandy with his wife of 10 years, Becca, and he has 3 children and 4 step-children.  They love to ski and snowboard as a family, and he and his wife also do a lot of Yoga and Pilates together. In addition to his love of outdoor activities, Kenny loves to cook and does all the cooking at his house.  He was kind enough to share one of his favorite recipes with us!

Recipe – Tea –Smoked Salmon

This is a great method for creating a nice smoky salmon on your gas bbq.  This dish has an Asian flare, the star anise and cinnamon stick in the smoke packet endow the finished salmon with a distinctive flavor.  It is a family favorite in my home.  I adapted the recipe from one published in Fine Cooking Magazine.

Ingredients:

Six 6 – 8 oz. Salmon Fillets

1 t Sesame Oil

For the Marinade:

¼ cup Soy Sauce

2 T Rice Wine Vinegar

1 t Brown Sugar

1 t sesame oil

¼ t Red Chili Flakes

For the smoke packet:

Aluminum foil square 12” x 12”

¼ cup White Rice

¼ cup Black Tea

1 T Brown Sugar

1 T Sesame Oil

4 star anise

1 cinnamon stick

Tartar Sauce:

¼ cup Mayonnaise

Juice from ½ lemon

1 T Dill Relish

1 T Dried Dill

Directions: Combine the ingredients for the marinade in a large mixing bowl, place salmon (flesh side down) in the marinade.  Allow salmon to marinade for 30 - 45 minutes at room temperature or for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.  Heat the grill to medium high.  Dry salmon off and brush with sesame oil.  Place the ingredients for the smoke packet in the center of the foil sheet (no mixing is necessary).  Fold the sides in to form a  4” x 4” packet.  Place the smoking packet 10 – 15 minutes directly on the gas grate, prior to grilling.  Prepare Tartar Sauce by combining tartar sauce ingredients in a bowl and stirring until well-combined.  Once the grill is smoking, place the salmon skin side down on the grill.  Grill for 4 minutes, flip and grill for another 3 – 4 minutes.  Serve immediately with tartar sauce.  Nice sides to this dish are Jasmine Brown Rice, Rhodes Crusty Roll and steamed broccoli.

Academy Awards

Did you watch the Academy Awards last night?  I still have a few movies to catch up on, but I enjoyed the fashion, the speeches of gratitude, the special effects, the autotune movie musicals, and Alec Baldwin.  One of my favorite moments of the night was paying respects to Lena Horne.  I loved her quote "It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."

We all have a load to carry with us--I daresay it's often a different load than we might have ever guessed!  And while I'm sure Lena Horne was referring to the emotional "load" we all carry with us, and how our perspective can change how we carry it, the quote (of course) also made me think about Pilates!  

Pilates is all about helping us be smarter about how we carry our "load".  By first becoming aware of the load we are carrying, we can figure out the best way to approach it.  It's about working smarter, not harder.  When your form is good, your load feels lighter, you can carry it longer, and you get stronger in the process instead of causing long-term damage to your body.  

Our bodies tell a story about how we live our lives day-to-day.  Do we spend our days outside doing physical labor?  Are we mostly working indoors at a desk?  Are we chasing young children around?  Are we active or sedentary?  Do we invest in ourselves?  What's YOUR story?  

Back to movies--they make us laugh, they make us cry, at their best they tell us interesting stories.  Movie stars have the luxury of living with personal shoppers, personal trainers and chefs, personal assistants, paparazzi, and a team of make-up artists and hair stylists.  They get awards and prestige for portraying other people's stories...

Well, we think you all deserve an award for the story you create every day.  We think you are interesting, and  beautiful and your stories are amazing!  This is part of the reason we will continue to spotlight our clients every week.  

We want to thank you all for being part of the story of Intermountain Pilates Training Center...still in process!  It's been quite an adventure so far :)

Warm up with my favorite soups!

I am not a soup lover, to be honest.  I do enjoy the comfort of tomato soup and a delicious grilled cheese, but mostly I don't even want soup when I'm sick!  However, I found these two recipes that I LOVE!  Easy to make, filling enough for a meal, and healthy to boot!

SKINNY SOUP
I got this recipe from A Pinch of Salt Lake (my favorite recipe book!)
You can add chicken or ham if you want meat!  I also prefer a pasta other than spaghetti, and
of course you can change out the veggies if you don't like all of them!

1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c shredded cabbage
1/2 c chopped green beans
1 c peeled and chopped tomatoes
1/2 c chopped carrots
1/2 c chopped onions
1/2 c chopped cauliflower
1 16-oz can tomato sauce
4 c water
3 beef bouillon cubes
1 t basil
2 t Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t thyme
1/4 t marjoram
1/4 t oregano
black pepper to taste
8 oz spaghetti pasta, uncooked

Combine all ingredients in a medium stockpot and simmer 30 minutes.  Easy peasy!

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
I got this recipe from my sister and it is so delicious!

cooked chicken ( I use 3 cans of cooked chicken in a pinch)
2 med potatoes & 2 carrots chopped and peeled
cook above ingredients in 3-4 cups water until tender

Sautee large onion and a clove of minced garlic on low

www.shine.yahoo.com

add large can of chicken broth (48 oz)
1 can tomato sauce (16 oz)
large can cut & peeled tomatoes (28 oz)
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
Cook 20 min on low

Toppings!:
grated cheese
tortilla chips
avocado
sour cream
black olives

squirt a lemon wedge in the soup right before you eat it--YUM!

Client Spotlight: Natalie Surut

Our first client spotlight is Natalie Surut!  Natalie has impressed us with her commitment to being in Pilates class, and her focus when she is here.  We think she is a great example of taking steps every day toward a healthy life!

Natalie started working out at about age 13 doing a lot of cardio and aerobic-type classes, because she felt overweight when she was younger.  Though her dad is a "health-food nut", he didn't really exercise regularly, but he supported Natalie by helping her with a gym  membership because she wanted to exercise.  About a year ago, she saw a flyer for Intermountain Pilates Training Center and thought she'd try a class.  She says she fell in love with it right away, and that Pilates has transformed her body more than any of her past fitness activities.  

Natalie says she feels that she is "...building a foundation for the rest of her life with Pilates...if you start at a certain point and just keep working for your whole life at it, it's not gonna be so much trying to get in shape when I'm older, it will just be maintaining being in shape.  I think of it as an investment."  Natalie says she feels like Pilates strengthens her entire body, and in the past her performance in other activities she enjoys, like skiing and rock climbing, wasn't half as good as it is now.  "I think a lot of it's just because I've strengthened all those little muscles that no one ever pays attention to."  

Natalie also loves to do Pilates as a way to help her relax and refocus.  "It's totally a mind-body experience, and it allows me to kind of get rid of all the excess junk and all the things that don't really matter like worrying about school and other stresses, and I can just kind of focus on myself."

Natalie would recommend Pilates to others because it's "...the whole package...it completely transforms your body and your ability to perform.  It's a necessary accessory to any other activity.  You have to do Pilates to perform to your maximum capability in any other sport."

Natalie is in her first year as a full-time student at Westminster College.  In addition to skiing and rock climbing, Natalie also loves to hike.  Her favorite food is Sushi, and she really likes Sapa in downtown SLC http://www.sapabarandgrill.com/.  Her favorite color is a "gem-purple".  She hopes to travel the world to experience every other culture she can possibly think about!  And of course, she LOVES Pilates!

SNOW! And other things to entertain you...

Did anyone else get out to enjoy the 3 feet of gorgeous snow in the mountains?  It took me a few runs to remember how to manage my snowboard in that much powder, but when I finally did, it was incredible! Check out these videos of some snow enthusiasts, and share with us how you have fun in the snow!  If snow isn't your thing, check out the links below for some secretive insights to places in this world you will probably NEVER see!  Thanks to the Outside magazine blog for this collection of awesome stuff! (www.outside-blog.away.com) Stuff You Should Click On: Week of February 18 By The News Team Feb 18, 2011 Comments (0) With this Monday being Presidents' Day, many of you are likely headed to slopes for a long ski weekend. Below, a few clips, galleries, and other assortments to get you in the mood. And if skiing's not your thing, well, we've got you covered, too. Here's the stuff you should click on this week. Start Off Your Long Ski Weekend Right: (Hat tip to The Adventure Blog and EarlyUps.com) A New Take on Nordic Skiing: A Better Take: But Nothing Can Beat These: The Nine Best Ski Movies of All Time (SkiNet) And if Skiing's Not Your Jam: 9 Ultra Secretive and Exclusive Places You'll Probably Never See (NileGuide) What You Were Really Thinking Last Monday: Valentine's Day Cards for The Rest of Us... (The Verteblog) And Today's Lesson OR George Bluth on Aron Ralston: Leaving A Note and Hiking (Backcountry.com) --Michael Webster Email this post   |   Permalink Related Topics: News · Skiing and Snowboarding · Travel TrackBack TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83453140969e2014e862a2011970d Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Stuff You Should Click On: Week of February 18:

If You Only Do One Healthy Thing Today, Do This: Laugh!

Thanks to Glamour Magazine's Blog Vitamin G writer Lexi Patronis for giving us permission, nay, giving us good reason to laugh every day!  Now I don't feel bad for choosing comedies over dramas every time!

Laughing doesn't just feel good--it's actually good for you. And we're talking real laughs here, too, not that fabricated chuckle you whip out for awkward dates or meetings with the higher-ups (sorry, boss!). Take a look...

www.jameswoodward.wordpress.com

According to at least one study, laughing is good for your heart. This study measured the blood flow of people who'd watched a comedy and a drama. Watching the comedy increased participants' blood flow by 22% (about the same as a 15-minute workout).

And other research has suggested that laughter helps you sleep better, relax more, keeps you from getting sick, and lowers your blood sugar. So there's really no good reason not to laugh.

Need help getting giggly?  

Check out this nostalgic and entertaining Jazzercise video starring Judi Sheppard Missett, the founder of Jazzercise.  Jazzercise is still thriving, but has evolved over the years to be more "current".   What do you think--should we try this next week in TRX circuit class?   

Do you have any favorite "go-tos" when you need a laugh?  Please share in the comments if you do!

I also loved this article from Psychology Today writer Joanne Stern, Ph.D. about talking to your kids about what made them laugh each day:

A mom recently told me that her favorite question to ask her kids when they come home from school is, "What made you laugh today?" I thought it was brilliant. First of all, it's a terrific, creative conversation starter. It sparks kids' imagination and takes the focus and pressure off their performance for that day. Secondly, it makes kids scroll back through their day and pull out what was cool and special. That's much more fun than telling you about yet one more math class, art project or recess game. And, thirdly, it helps establish a habit of thinking positively and looking on the bright side of things.

www.psychologytoday.com

Laughter is a wonderful concept to use with your kids-in connecting with them, in building strong relationships, and sometimes even in discipline.
How about applying the principle of laughter to yourself? Here are five reasons to insert laughter into your own life on a daily basis.
1. Laughter connects you to the positive side of life and to your own creativity. Think about it: Your reality is not actually what is, but how you perceive and hold what is. When you're negative, you're more likely to stay stuck in the same old, same old. But when you allow positivity to wash over you, you'll tend to find alternative, better options for dealing with challenges and achieving success. It boils down to this: when you laugh, you get more out of life.
2. Laughter makes you more fun to be with. I'll bet your spouse prefers you with a smile rather than a frown. Friends enjoy you more when you're upbeat. And kids love a happy parent. They're willing to put up with seriousness for a while, but they sparkle and come to life when you're fun. This doesn't mean that you should be fake or inauthentic. But it does mean you should be on the lookout for anything-even the smallest thing-that will put a smile on your lips and a delight in your heart.
3. Laughter allows you to enjoy your kids more. If you carry your burdens with you all day and hold them front and center, you don't even notice the adorable behaviors of your kids because you're too self-absorbed. When they say something cute and funny, it passes right over you and you miss the opportunity to connect with them in their world. They grow up so fast, and your time with them at each age and phase of their live is short. When you find the humor in their antics-whether they're toddlers throwing their veggies on the floor or teenagers trying to manipulate you into loaning them the car-it helps melt away your frustration and see your kids for the unique and precious people they are. A young mom told me that every night as she and her husband are getting ready for bed, they ask each other what was the favorite thing their toddler did that day. That question immediately thrusts them into the joy they receive from their child and provides a fantastic way to share a chuckle.
4. Laughter puts life into perspective. We tend to take ourselves, our work and our families all too seriously. Focusing on our problems doesn't help in solving them. It only gets us off kilter. Laughter restores our equilibrium. It doesn't eliminate the challenges, the responsibilities or the hard work required to create success at home or at work. But it's a breather that lightens the load. It's like a reset button to take us back to a more balanced place so we can start again with a renewed energy and a fresh spirit.
5. And, of course, laughter relieves stress. You can actually feel the layers of tension peel off when you laugh. We've known for years that laughter is truly the best medicine in the world. It boosts the immune system, re-energizes the body, diminishes pain and revitalizes the spirit. And, best of all, this medicine doesn't taste bad, has no negative side-effects and costs nothing.
There's power in laughter-healing power, restorative power, rejuvenating power. And it's fun. Now we only need to remind ourselves to laugh more.
For more parenting tips, check out my book, "Parenting Is a Contact Sport: 8 Ways to Stay Connected to Your Kids for Life."