Fashionable Fridays: The Perfect Gym Bag

May 17th, 2013

I’m currently on the hunt for my next gym bag! I like my bag to serve a dual purpose of both cute and functional, it normally takes quite a bit of research before finding the perfect bag.
 

So far these are my favorites:
 

Ivanka Trump Handbag, Garnet Shopper: “Exquisite laser cut overlay envelopes this faux metallic leather shopper from Ivanka Trump. Elegant and softly structured, its spacious shape easily accommodates your everyday essentials.” The bag range from $135 – $195. Available here.

Mesh Madness Dome Satchel: “Covered in mesh perforations and man-made trim with gold detail. Interior floral lining with interior zip pockets and slip pockets and zipper closure” $108. Available here.

Vinyasa To Vino Bag: ”The line from necessity to vice can get a little blurry (especially after a couple glasses of Syrah). We wanted to make the transition from class to glass as easy as possible so we designed a bag with plenty of storage space. Ample room for yoga gear (and wine store booty), separate pockets for our phone and laptop as well as a stowable, removable mat strap make this bag our new go-to.” $128. Available here.
 
 
 
 

Fashionable Fridays: You Are Your Own Super Model
May 10th, 2013

 
As many of you may know I have spent the last few weeks getting ready for my Pilates photo shoot on Sunday (fingers crossed the weather does not let me down). I have dabbled in part time modeling for 10 years, so it should technically be no biggie. But seeing that I’m styling the shoot myself and I am my own client, it’s taken up more time than the usual just “be well groomed and rock up” at the shoot.
 
During my prepping I started thinking about full time models and their whole routine, so I googled it and found an article that pretty much sounded to me like what us every day girls do in any case. The article discussed how to show your skin at it’s best: doing exercise, moisturizing, shaving, tanning/self tanning and my  two favorites: don’t pop pimples and posing. All in all the routine of all girlie girls out there -yes, you know you pose I’ve seen you in the locker room ladies!
 
Conclusion: In essence we are all our own super models and the streets and our lives are our catwalks, strot your stuff ladies and strot it well.
 
Read the article here.
 
Hunting, browsing and shopping for my outfits I did stumble across many great finds!
 
My favorites:
 

 
This little Bralette Top from American Apparel only $26 and perfect to wear with your lulu crops or with your high waste shorts/jeans.
 
I was also delighted to bump into these fun and great bra designes by New Balance!
 

 
Also NOTE  - if you’re looking to update your workout wardrobe to all the fun new exciting colors, visit Marshalls! They have a ton of Calvin Klein, Avia, Voga and many more brands of super cute designs and outfits!

PWH Tone Tips Featured in Boston Fitness Magazine
May 3rd, 2013

 

 
I was so pleasantly surprised to receive an e-mail from one of my clients introducing me to Boston Fitness Magazine‘s co-founder and owner Doug Swartz yesterday. Followed by an even more exciting phone call!
 
Boston Fitness Magazine is Boston’s first Magazine who’s main focus is exactly what the name tells us: Fitness. They are brand spanking new and will be bringing us all sorts of exciting fitness facts, new classes, instructors, nutrition and more!
 
It turns out that you’ve not been the only ones loving the Pilates with Hanneke Tone Tuesday Tips. Boston Fitness Magazine loves them too and will be featuring them every Monday as their Monday Move Tips! So run on over to their Facebook page to be sure that you get my tips first! The first ones will featured this coming MONDAY May 6th, just in time to rescue you from the after effects of your Cinco de Mayo parties!

Fashionable Fridays: Keep your rings safe in the gym & My new fav from Lululemon
May 3rd, 2013

 
I cringe every time I feel my poor wedding rings scratch against the metal springs of the reformer during Pilates sessions or on the free weights during my own strength training workouts.  So being the SJP lover that I am, I took an idea from our lovely lady in Sex and the City. I now wear my rings as a pendant on a fine chain around my neck whenever I feel they may be in danger of getting unnecessary heavy duty action.
 
As you saw on facebook yesterday, I also made a little stop in Lululemon yesterday to browse for some cute outfits for an upcoming shoot ( details to follow later ) And in true Hanneke fashion, I walked out with everything except the outfit I was looking for!
 
I did however find my favorite new top! The Vinyasa Surf Tank.
 
Here’s why I love it:
 
1) The high neck line keeps the ladies in tact and makes this tank perfect for any kind of workout without fear of popping out!

2) The beautiful straps on the back makes this top both functional and sexy.

3) The built-in bra gives the right amount of support for Pilates and Yoga. For the bustier amongst us I would definitely double up when doing cardio.
 
I’ll be rocking this one all weekend long! Happy Fashionable Friday!

Fashionable Fridays: The Perfect Hairstyle
April 25, 2013

 
I had a little “me” day yesterday and decided to go and get my hair cut at Acote Salon, by Donika. After trying various people for the last four years, I’m back where I started. Donika is definitely the only gal in Boston that can deal with my South African locks Leaving with that great million dollar feeling you have after the style and cut turns out to be everything you hoped for, it made me think of two great blogs I recently read about haircuts.
 
One is from my friend Ilisa Heyman who writes a fashion blog every Friday, called “Shoe Friday”. She recently had that same awesome “After amazing haircut” feeling.
 
My favorite from the blog:
 

” When I was a teenager, and first really grappling with defining my own sense of style (hampered by the usual self-doubt that comes with the age), I remember reading a quote from a famous designer (for the life of me, I can’t remember who, and I’ve never been able to track down the quote) that for a woman to look truly stylish she needed to invest in three things: good shoes, good perfume, and a good haircut.  She could cut corners on the rest, he said, and no one would be the wiser.” ~ Ilisa Heyman read more: http://thepursuitofstyleness.com/2013/04/05/style-fundamentals-haircut-edition/

 
And then the other was from fellow Pilates Instructor Blogger: Blogilates’ Cassie Ho. She wrote a great little piece after having her “Wow” moment too and here’s my favorite from her blog: “How to be Beautiful”
 

With that understanding, let’s go back to the physical vanity…you can’t deny that when you look in the mirror and fall in love with what you see, that you get that extra boost of sass that powers you. You know what I mean? I know you do. Why do you think us females love makeup, new clothes, and big hair? Why do you think the whole cute workout clothes industry has crazy skyrocketed (ahem, Lululemon…) Because we are creatures that can appreciate beauty and boy do we love expressing it! This doesn’t make us shallow, but rather, muses of art.
 
First though, I think it’s important to know what you stand for, what you’re all about, and define yourself first as a shapeless, colorless, and genderless being. ~ Cassie Ho Read more at http://www.blogilates.com/motivational-2/how-to-be-beautiful-2#IeEp5hPfyowUWzJJ.99

Both of these pieces really resonated with me and I hope you enjoyed reading them too. Keep being your fabulous fantastic fashionable self!

Thirsty Thursdays: Guilt Free Cocktails

April 24, 2013

 
We’ve all been there. You’re going out to relax with friends after a long week. You want to enjoy a couple cocktails, but you know they can be packed with calories. And I know you don’t want to undo all the hard work you put in at Pilates!
 
Here are five delicious and guilt-free drinks you can order out:
 
1. Champagne: Who doesn’t love a glass of bubbly? A 4-oz glass is only 85 calories.

2. Mojito: Soda, lime and mint are practically calorie free. So just ask for half the simple syrup and your favorite summer cocktail will only be 140 calories.

3. Classic Margarita: As long as there is no margarita mix involved, you’re good to go. The classic version of this cocktail—with tequila, lime juice, and a splash of simple syrup or Cointreau—is under 200 calories.

4. Cosmopolitan: Ask your bartender to leave out the Cointreau and you’ll be enjoying my favorite drink. Vodka, lime juice and a splash of cranberry juice is around 150 calories.

5. Gin & Tonic: Sure it may be what your dad drinks, but isn’t it time you had a sophisticated go-to cocktail option? A 4-oz gin & tonic only has around 100 calories.

Sources:

Glamour

Fitsugar
 
Photo: fanpop.com

Fashionable Friday: A good eye cream
April 12, 2013

 
I am always looking for a good eye cream to help prevent dark circles, puffiness & the good old wrinkle or two. I also feel that it’s worth spending the extra $$ on if it’s a good cream.
 
So I was excited when I tried the AOX Eye Gel from Skin Ceuticals, you can get it from Equinox Spa. It’s a little pricy, but I have to say it really does live up to it’s promises. You only use a tiny little bit and it has definitely improved signs of fatigue under my eyes.
 
I am still looking for that wonder cream that will get rid of even the puffiest eyes, so please do share if you have a good one!

Thirsty Thursdays: The “not so skinny” on Juice Cleanses:

April 11th, 2013

So it’s finally spring and you are desperate to lose a few pounds. And your friendsare “juicing.”
STOP! Don’t you even dare think about doing a juice cleanse!
 
Take a moment to educate yourself on the myths and damage these juice cleanses can do to your metabolism. I did my own research and asked PWH nutrition expert, the Aspiring RD Katie Andrews, to shine some light on the subject.
 
 
 
 
 
Women’s Health magazine explains what happens to your body from the beginningto end of a juice cleanse … and it’s not pretty. Within the first 30 minutes you can start to have negative side effects, including feeling dizzy from a drop in bloodsugar. After two days you have become used to the crashes that come following the jumps in your insulin levels when you drink your juice. Oh, and you’ve started to lose muscle mass as your body draws energy from the protein in your muscles. Throughout the week you feel unfocused, irritable, even depressed, and you probably have to stay near a bathroom because you have diarrhea.
 
 
 
The Huffington Post reveals 10 truths about the fad. Here are my favorites:

• Juicing is not better than whole fruits and vegetables. In fact, it removes some nutrients.
• There really isn’t anything to detox. Our body does an excellent job already.
• A juice cleanse will not help you keep weight off. In fact, it most likely will SLOW your metabolism because you’ve lost muscle mass.
• A juice cleanse might make you feel amazing because you think you’re doing something good for your body. Of course, you could also argue that there’s nothing wrong with the placebo effect…

 
And here are some of the highlights of what Katie has to say. Read more on her website!
 

Most cleanses are designed and marketed by people with no nutrition back ground or credentials. Juice cleanses are usually accompanied by a pre-cleanse diet of “clean” foods (fruits and veggies, whole grains) and an “elimination plan” (read:poop a lot).

 

Your body is not a toxic site that needs to be cleansed on a regular basis. However, if you are feeling a like you need a kickstart, here are recommendations for Springcleaning your diet:

1. Make a list of the habits within your diet that you would like to change longterm … maybe it is the Diet Coke habit or the weekend 1am pizza. Swap 3 ofthose sodas for 20 oz of water each or snack before going out to the bar toavoid late night eating – and give it a try.

 

2. Try a few days without something to see how much you truly “need” it. I am often asked how much caffeine or alcohol is “too much.” I think this comes down to personal choice. Try switching that first cocktail for a sparkling water or one of those daily coffees for some herbal tea.

 

3. If you really want to “cleanse” your diet: ELIMINATE processed convenience foods (anything in a wrapper) and ADD whole food options. ELIMINATE grains without a whole grain listed as the first ingredient and ADD wholegrain breads, barley, wheat berries and farro into your diet. ELIMINATE breakfasts focusing only on protein and fat (bacon and eggs, I’m on to you!) and ADD at least 2 servings of veggies at breakfast. ELIMINATE a reliance on meat and meat replacements as a source of protein and ADD alternativesources of protein (quinoa, tofu, tempeh and seitan instead of vegetarian meat replacements).

 
So there it is. Juice cleanses are not a safe (or necessary) way to detoxify your body. And while I think juice is great as PART of your diet, it is not meant to replace a meal.

When a Pilates DVD kicks your butt, you have to share it!
April 9th, 2013

 
Yesterday as part of my own in-home workout I finally got to try a STOTT DVD I bought a month ago when I went to STOTT guru PJ O’Clair’s myofascial workshop at ClubXcel in Manchester-by-the-sea.
 
The name of the DVD is what caught my eye and made me buy it: “Intense Body Blast: Pilates Interval Training Level 2″ - for those of you who frequent my class, you know much I LOVE my intervals!
 
I was pleased to see that PJ was the instructor on the DVD. She has a great personality and very clear instruction.
 
I popped in the DVD, all excited for the workout: It started with a slow and relaxing warmup (during which I got a little panicked that I had wasted my money and was not going to get the workout I was hoping for) but before I knew it, PJ had me huffing and puffing! Seriously, this 34min workout kicked my butt, literally. The routine had a great flow and combination of exercises! I totally LOVED it!!
 
If you’re looking for a new DVD to try at home, while you wait for mine to be released , this one is the one for you! Level 2 is definitely for intermediate level peeps, if you’re a regular in my class you should be ok. However if you’re a little newer too Pilates I’d go for Level 1!
 
Enjoy and you’re welcome, and yes you will be seeing some moves inspired by this DVD in class.
 
To buy the DVD Click here.

Cute workout & lounge wear from “New” Brands.

April 5th, 2013
 
I love buying online! When the postman arrives with my goodies it always feels like a little gift arriving just for me, and it’s even better if they come as well wrapped as these two did. Pity I have to pay  the credit card bill myself But if they’re great high quality goodies, spending the $$ is not so bad. Which was exactly the case with my last two on-line purchases from trendy less known performance wear companies!
 
First one is my “Garbhasana” Top from Sweaty Betty, a London based company. I have bought a few things from them in the past and got a ton of compliments on them. I have always had the same pleasant experience: Their stuff is super cute and very trendy! The shipping is quick and quality great! Another great thing about them is that they have a TON of sales so sign up for their emails!
 
FEED BACK: The Garbhasana top is super comfy & made from a very soft cotton modal elastane. It’s also perfect to wear with your workout leggings and a fun color top too and from the gym or while running errands. Totally in-love with this item!
 

The other is this cute little “Plank Shorty” - ha, how appropriate, a short just for my planks! This cute little number is from Nancy Rose Performance wear a New York based company.
 
FEED BACK: The shorty does ride up your legs a little, but it’s the perfect number for a summer run. It’s made from  ”NRP distinctive cotton”. Very supportive, the cotton holds it’s form really well and it also has a cute little hidden zip pouch in the front. I agree with their statement on-line: “Our NRP distinctive cotton has breathability and optimal support. Our cotton’s four way stretch gives our garments great shape retention and is preshrunk to ensure a perfect fit every time.”
 
All in all I am super happy with these two purchases and can’t wait to strot them around town!
 

Both arrived in very cute wrapping with a great little bag.