Author: Shannon Anderson

“…and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:14 KJV

The above quote is from the angels the night of Jesus birth.

It’s comforting to think that a message from heaven is one of peace for mankind.

Praying for peace on earth this season and beyond.

As you celebrate the Holidays, I hope you and your homes are filled with peace, joy and blessings!

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed, beautiful time! 

Blessings & Peace,

Shannon

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to express gratitude for you!

Thank you for sharing yourself, your life and your most valuable resources – your time, your trust and your health.

It is an honor to support you on your journey.

I hope you enjoy many moments this Holiday that are filled with gratitude.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving!

Warmly,

Shannon

Update on Deedie Root

Some of you may remember Deedie Root. With her permission, I’m sharing a letter she wrote on her progress and a way you may be able to help!

Deedie’s story

How To Stay On Track Through The Holidays!

5 quick, easy tips to help you navigate through the all the temptations and stay slim through the season.

Read here.

The Power of Pilates and Breast Cancer Survivor Eve Gentry

I’ve briefly shared before about Eve Gentry’s incredible story. 

I’m delighted to let you know that the documentary “Eve Gentry – The Power of Pilates” is available for free viewing on Vimeo. 

If you haven’t seen this short documentary, you are in for a treat. 

And if you only have a five minutes, you can fast forward and watch from 4:23-9:24 for the segment on her recovery from a radical mastectomy. 

It is truly amazing how Joseph Pilates helped her completely regain range of motion and strength even with the pectoralis major muscle removed!

Eve Gentry experienced “the power of Pilates” firsthand.

And Eve paid it forward passing on Pilates work to the next generation! Enjoy:)

With Best Wishes Always,

Shannon

5th Newsletter Anniversary

Can you believe it’s been five years since starting the blog and newsletter! You can find a host of topics on the website related to Pilates, Yamuna and health and wellness. To celebrate, here are a couple of posts that highlight strength building.

Wishing You All The Best!

Shannon

No Pain, No Gain?

Is the old adage true?

Read this article to learn more.

The 5 Exercises You Need To Be Doing!

Are you doing these exercises?

Find out here if there is something you need to add to your routine!

Underwater Dancing

The term “underwater dancing” probably brings to mind synchronized swimming and the olympics. 

But imagine performing a dance completely underwater –

without coming up for air!

Julie Gautier is a pioneer in underwater dancing.

I think you’ll appreciate the artistry and physicality in this video.

You can get a glimpse of her breathing exercises at the beginning of the video.

It’s interesting to hear her background and creative process. The video, of course, finishes with an underwater dance (in a natural pool of water in the jungle)!

Enjoy – “Dancing Through The Waters”!

Stay Cool & Calm,

Shannon

Fourth of July Celebration Continues

Dear Students,

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July yesterday!

Here is an article on “Freedom of Movement” that I thought you might enjoy if you haven’t seen it already!

Also, coming up on July 29 will be the business 7 year anniversary!

Wishing you continued good health, joy and freedom of movement in every way!

With Best Wishes Always,

Shannon

Surprising Way to Stay Hydrated

When it comes to staying hydrated, fluids are what come to mind rather than food. 

But food can actually make up to 20% of the daily requirement of water.

So if you don’t like drinking water or you are looking for a way to beat the heat while engaging in outdoor activities, here are a few of the most hydrating foods:

  • Cucumber
  • Iceberg Lettuce, Romaine and Spinach
  • Celery
  • Radishes
  • Tomatoes
  • Zucchini & Summer squash
  • Asparagus
  • Bell Peppers 
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Mushrooms
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon
  • Apples 
  • Peaches

For a previous article addressing in more detail how much water you should drink, you can check it out here.

The general recommendation is to “drink when you are thirsty”. 

That said aging and certain medication can impact whether you feel thirsty. So of course check with your doctor to find out what’s right for you.

In the meantime, enjoy a nice summer salad and some fresh fruit for desert. 

Having juicy food is a surprising and fun way to support you in staying hydrated during hot summer days!

Wishing you a cool summer!

Shannon

https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-water

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/15-food-that-help-you-stay-hydrated

Pilates Day 2023

Pilates Day is coming up on Saturday, May 6.

To celebrate, I thought you might enjoy this inspiring story from Ukraine.

A photo went viral last year of Pilates being practiced in bomb shelters.

Later an article was published in “The Core” on the Balanced Body website, it shares Halyna’s journey and how she stayed strong body and mind!

Happy Pilates Day!

Wishing you continued good health,

joy and peace!

Warmly, 

Shannon

Forever Young

“Forever Young” is the title of a new book by Mark Hyman, MD. While this author is a new find for me, you might already have heard of him. He has written many books including 14 New York Times bestsellers!

The direction science is going is fascinating. The combination of biology and technology and the things they expect to be able to do in 10 years is mind-blowing and sounds like something out of science fiction.

But you don’t have to wait for new inventions. 

There are important things you can do now to invest in yourself and in your health.

As you might have guessed, exercise and nutrition play a vital role.

If you would like to learn the “#1 Hack To Stop Aging”, here is a video by Dr. Hyman discussing his new book. The story about the 95 year old who walks 5 miles a day is especially inspiring!

And here is a longer interview with Dr. Hyman where he talks about “metabolic flexibility” (my favorite new term) and he shares his smoothie recipe from the book!

Wishing you continued good health!

Enjoy:)

Shannon