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Do you ever compare yourself to your past self? The stronger, faster, younger you? I sure do. I mean, in my 20’s I was leading multiple fitness classes a week while fitting in my own workouts on top of that. Past Melissa was fit. It’s hard not to wonder if age is affecting your fitness […]
Isn’t it funny how a shift in seasons can so quickly throw off our routines? Summer is especially unstructured when you have children or plan a lot of getaways; then there are the social activities that only happen in summer like BBQs and outdoor weddings. So with all of this upheaval (though we should be […]
Do you remember the first time you went for a run? I mean like a hobby. By choice. As an adult. I sure do… And it reminded me (and my whole body) that like any fitness activity, you probably shouldn’t jump in the deep end. Let me tell you about my first run… and what […]
We each have our own myriad of communities, and I’m frequently surprised by how linked we really are. I belong to the communities of running, fitness, Scottish dance, basketball, the local school, my neighbourhood, and of course – Pilates. The other day, I was reminded why I love the Pilates community; so much so that […]
If you are looking to better your squat depth or form, have you considered looking at your ankle mobility? When you squat, you flex at the hips, knees, and ankles. This isn’t something most people take note of, but your ankles are a huge part of the squat movement! And since squats show up in […]
Last week, I wrote about how to do a better, fuller range push up with modifications to help you gain strength until you can master the move. But once you can confidently do full push ups, what comes next? Just like you can modify movements to be easier, push up progressions will make the movement […]
Oh, push ups. How can something that looks so simple be so hard? And if they are so difficult, why do we keep doing them? I’ve come to two conclusions: 1) When you learn to do push ups correctly and can finally do one (modified or not), it’s a HUGE feeling of accomplishment. 2) Push […]
Are you letting your job affect your fitness? I think most of us have felt that way at some time or another. When I look back on my own life, there are definite “seasons” in my approach to fitness. And as I talk with friends and clients, they feel the same way. When we were […]
I have been a runner for most of my life, but have only got into marathons and halves for the past nine years. Over those years, my pre-race rituals have stayed consistent. But post race? As I get older, I can’t tolerate the pain after I cross the finish line! Or maybe I’ve learned that […]
I feel sad about the current cancellation of fitness classes. I teach because I like to help people feel better in their own skin; to feel stronger, heal from injury, surgery, or illness. I love helping runners and recreational athletes feel their best and dodge injury in their sports. I really DO love what I […]
As any good fitness instructor will tell you, you should warm up before you dive into your workout. I tell this to my strength training clients all the time! But when it comes time to warm up for Pilates, you don’t have to do anything at all. Other than Pilates, that is. Warm Up for […]
It’s no secret that exercise is an integral part of my life. And while I know that not everyone lives and breathes fitness like I do, I believe that it does have a place in everyone’s life – and not for the reasons you may think (like weight loss). If you have been struggling to […]
In my conversations with friends and family lately, the topic of injuries keeps popping up. A pulled muscle while reaching for something on a high shelf, achy joints, or chronic low back pain – all of the “usual” things as we’ve been getting older. While all of these aches and pains seem spontaneous, they’re actually […]
Last week, I wrote about the reasons people run – and (surprise!) it isn’t only about being fit. Rather, most runners I know say their number one reason for lacing up their trainers has to do with feeling good in other ways. I also promised that I’d share my favourite Pilates and strength exercises for […]
It’s no secret that I love to run, but I know it isn’t for everyone (and I’m not here to convince you to try it). Rather, I have put together some tips for runners at any level to remind them why they run, help them enjoy running more, and keep them running long into the […]
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