Howdy!!

I hope everyone is having a good Thursday! For this addition of Try This Thursday, I have a few different things I want to share!

First, I have to tell you about a new body wash I am 110% obsessed with thanks to my friend Jenny. It is an aromatherapy body wash made by Bath and Body Works called Stress Relief. The delicious blend of eucalyptus and spearmint just wash your worries right down the drain!

Having good music on my ipod always makes my runs feel easier and more fun, however I never seem to know what to download. I listen to country music on the radio, but that is not exactly running music. I found a section on Shape.com that has pre-made playlists based on what kind of workout you are doing. If you need new tunes for your next workout, check out these suggestions.


I love the long, lean muscles you can achieve through pilates, but I don't always have time to make it to an entire pilates class. You can still get the muscle sculpting benefits of pilates by adding these four exercises into your next strength routine.


Leg Pull Front: This is one of my favorite pilates moves because it is really works your entire body in just one move! How To: Sit with legs extended, hands on floor, fingers pointing toward body. Lift hips off floor to bring body into a straight line. Raise left leg as high as you can without shifting hips. Hold for 3 seconds, then slowly lower leg to floor. Alternate sides. [source]


Plie Side Leg Lift: Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and extend arms out to sides. Turn feet out 45 degrees and bend knees 90 degrees into a plie (not shown). Straighten right leg while lifting left leg out to side. Lower back to plie position and repeat on opposite side. Continue alternating 8 times on each leg, inhaling as you bend your knees and exhaling as you extend. [source]


Fancy Footwork: Lie face up, arms by your sides, palms facing down. Bend your knees and place the balls of your feet on top of the ball, heels together and toes pointing slightly outward in a small V shape. Engage your core and contract your glutes to lift your hips an inch off the floor, then roll the ball away from you until your heels are on the ball. Pause, then bend your knees to roll the ball back to the starting position. That's one rep. Complete 8-10 Reps. [source] Your glutes and hamstrings will be talking to you after this exercise! :)

Mermaid with a Twist:  Sit on your left hip with your left leg flat on the floor, knee bent 90 degrees, and your left palm on the floor. Bend your right knee toward the ceiling and place your right foot flat on the floor in front of your left foot; rest your right arm on your right knee. Shift your weight onto your left arm and straighten both legs to raise your hips toward the ceiling while extending your right arm directly over your head. From this position, twist your torso down and to the left, reaching your right arm underneath your body. Reverse the movement to return to the starting position. That's one rep. Finish all reps on that side, then switch sides and rep. [source] This is probably one of my favorite ab moves of all time!

I hope you enjoy these exercises and you should definitely look into that body wash if you need a little more Zen in your life! Have a wonderful Thursday!

Q's and A's:
What is on your ipod right now?
Do you have a bath product you just can't live without?
Have you ever taken a pilates class? If so, what did you think?

In health,

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