Healthy Body Article
Hi y'all!
Check out the first in a new series: my "Healthy Body by Peach" column in the Studio 206 newsletter!
Check out the first in a new series: my "Healthy Body by Peach" column in the Studio 206 newsletter!
Peach's Blog
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
SEDOP in September
My talk at the SEDOP Symposium in September was just confirmed. I'll be leading a breakout session with my mother, Chris Friedman, on September 8 in Sacramento. Details to follow!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Castle Crags and Mt. Shasta
Will we ever tire of Mt. Shasta? I doubt it. Driving home Sunday evening, we could still see the grand peak behind us, almost as far as Colusa County. We even pulled off the interstate at one point to take a photo.
Apparently, back in the day before air pollution, you could see Shasta from Sacramento, and vice versa. We were lucky on Sunday that there had been a storm and high winds, so the air was clear...hence the view.
Anyway, you probably recall that I had a bad cold last week, and was taking it easy. We originally planned to drive up Friday evening and camp at Castle Crags to hike up to Castle Dome on Saturday. But we decided to take it easy in Sac on Friday night, watch a movie and eat pizza instead!
We drove on Saturday morning, at a leisurely pace, through the rain and up to the town of Mt. Shasta, found a yummy lunch spot (mmm, turkey BLT with avocado!) and drove around the mountain town checking out real estate (a recent obsession inherited from my father, I'm sure). The rain cleared by late afternoon, and we drove to Castle Crags State Park to camp as originally planned. After setting up the tent and getting our things organized, we took a short hike up to a vista point before dinner.
I'm lucky to have an amazing camper for a boyfriend. Whether we're car camping or backpacking, he knows how to create the Ritz Carlton of the outdoors! Saturday night we had grilled chicken, brussels sprouts and baked potatoes all cooked over an open fire. Oh, and wine, of course, and chocolate.
Sunday morning it was up and at 'em to meet our guide for the intermediate mountaineering skills class we had signed up for. We drove up to the Bunny Flats trailhead at the base of Shasta, geared up, and hiked in to just above tree line. There we spent the day going over rope skills, belay and anchor systems, and of course, sliding down the steep hill to practice self-arresting!
One of the bonuses of the day was watching all the telemark and randanee skiiers (and a couple of snowboarders) whoosh by. Lots of people hike up Shasta (or part of the way) to ski down. A couple of young kids set up some jumps off of these rocks across from the hill where our class was held, and we took occassional breaks to watch their tricks.
By the end of the afternoon we were tired and hungry. We stopped in Redding on the drive home for an In n' Out Burger, from which point we could see both Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen perfectly. What a majestic view!
I love Mt. Shasta particularly because it stands alone: you'll be down at 2,000 feet staring up at 14,000, and the snow-covered thing isn't dwarfed or minimized by any other dazzling peaks. It's there by itself: proud, noble, and oh-so inviting.
Apparently, back in the day before air pollution, you could see Shasta from Sacramento, and vice versa. We were lucky on Sunday that there had been a storm and high winds, so the air was clear...hence the view.
Anyway, you probably recall that I had a bad cold last week, and was taking it easy. We originally planned to drive up Friday evening and camp at Castle Crags to hike up to Castle Dome on Saturday. But we decided to take it easy in Sac on Friday night, watch a movie and eat pizza instead!
We drove on Saturday morning, at a leisurely pace, through the rain and up to the town of Mt. Shasta, found a yummy lunch spot (mmm, turkey BLT with avocado!) and drove around the mountain town checking out real estate (a recent obsession inherited from my father, I'm sure). The rain cleared by late afternoon, and we drove to Castle Crags State Park to camp as originally planned. After setting up the tent and getting our things organized, we took a short hike up to a vista point before dinner.
I'm lucky to have an amazing camper for a boyfriend. Whether we're car camping or backpacking, he knows how to create the Ritz Carlton of the outdoors! Saturday night we had grilled chicken, brussels sprouts and baked potatoes all cooked over an open fire. Oh, and wine, of course, and chocolate.
Sunday morning it was up and at 'em to meet our guide for the intermediate mountaineering skills class we had signed up for. We drove up to the Bunny Flats trailhead at the base of Shasta, geared up, and hiked in to just above tree line. There we spent the day going over rope skills, belay and anchor systems, and of course, sliding down the steep hill to practice self-arresting!
One of the bonuses of the day was watching all the telemark and randanee skiiers (and a couple of snowboarders) whoosh by. Lots of people hike up Shasta (or part of the way) to ski down. A couple of young kids set up some jumps off of these rocks across from the hill where our class was held, and we took occassional breaks to watch their tricks.
By the end of the afternoon we were tired and hungry. We stopped in Redding on the drive home for an In n' Out Burger, from which point we could see both Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen perfectly. What a majestic view!
I love Mt. Shasta particularly because it stands alone: you'll be down at 2,000 feet staring up at 14,000, and the snow-covered thing isn't dwarfed or minimized by any other dazzling peaks. It's there by itself: proud, noble, and oh-so inviting.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
To Work Out or Not To Work Out?
That is the question...when you're sick!
I tend to give the answer many other fitness professionals give: if it's all in your head and you feel up to it, it's OK to get a (mellow) workout in. But if you have a fever or symptoms below the head, such as a cough in your lungs or chest congestion, or body aches, you should probably forego any desire to shake your booty and instead curl up in bed with some tea and watch a good movie.
That said, my overall approach to taking care of yourself applies here too, that is, listen to your body! There is no one-size-fits-all answer to fitness, truly--the bottom line is, what do you think? How do you feel?
So why am I bringing this up right now? Yep, yours truly has been a bit laid up this week. I did my physical analysis of symptoms and they were, indeed, all in my head: sinus congestion, sore throat, no fever, etc., which would give me the technical A-OK to have a mini-workout, that is, if I wanted to. Which. I. Did. Not. Because when I took that physical analysis one step further and asked my body what she felt would be the best option for optimum health, she definitely responded with, SLEEP! Which I did. I took time off work, napped, drank hot tea non-stop and sucked on popscicles. Now this morning I'm happy to say that I'm heading up to Shasta for a hike this afternoon and a mountaineering class tomorrow. I'm glad I rested up so that I'm feeling better for this!
Happy weekend everyone!
I tend to give the answer many other fitness professionals give: if it's all in your head and you feel up to it, it's OK to get a (mellow) workout in. But if you have a fever or symptoms below the head, such as a cough in your lungs or chest congestion, or body aches, you should probably forego any desire to shake your booty and instead curl up in bed with some tea and watch a good movie.
That said, my overall approach to taking care of yourself applies here too, that is, listen to your body! There is no one-size-fits-all answer to fitness, truly--the bottom line is, what do you think? How do you feel?
So why am I bringing this up right now? Yep, yours truly has been a bit laid up this week. I did my physical analysis of symptoms and they were, indeed, all in my head: sinus congestion, sore throat, no fever, etc., which would give me the technical A-OK to have a mini-workout, that is, if I wanted to. Which. I. Did. Not. Because when I took that physical analysis one step further and asked my body what she felt would be the best option for optimum health, she definitely responded with, SLEEP! Which I did. I took time off work, napped, drank hot tea non-stop and sucked on popscicles. Now this morning I'm happy to say that I'm heading up to Shasta for a hike this afternoon and a mountaineering class tomorrow. I'm glad I rested up so that I'm feeling better for this!
Happy weekend everyone!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
April 2007
I love this weather! I've taken my clients to the park this week for workouts, and everyone feels rejuvenated in the sunshine. Getting outside is the perfect way to kick the boredom out of your exercise routine. Plus, variety helps keeps your body guessing. Cross-training (alternating 2, 3, or 4 types of exercise into your schedule) is a great way to keep yourself in tip-top shape! Your body has to adapt to different modes of moving, which is not only better for your muscles (and reduces the risk of over-use injuries) but more entertaining for your mind!
Set a goal for yourself this month to try something new. If you typically run, try speed-walking instead, and pay attention to how your legs work differently. Incorporate short bursts of skipping (high knees!), or jogging backwards. If you take a regular yoga class indoors, try bringing a mat outside in the shade and practicing on your own. Or incorporate social activity into your workouts by inviting a co-worker or your long-lost best friend to spend an hour shooting hoops or tossing the lacrosse ball around.
Fresh air and new activities will help inspire you this spring! Enjoy!
I'm offering $10 off initial consultation fees this month. Sign up now!
Set a goal for yourself this month to try something new. If you typically run, try speed-walking instead, and pay attention to how your legs work differently. Incorporate short bursts of skipping (high knees!), or jogging backwards. If you take a regular yoga class indoors, try bringing a mat outside in the shade and practicing on your own. Or incorporate social activity into your workouts by inviting a co-worker or your long-lost best friend to spend an hour shooting hoops or tossing the lacrosse ball around.
Fresh air and new activities will help inspire you this spring! Enjoy!
I'm offering $10 off initial consultation fees this month. Sign up now!
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