Archive for March, 2009
Posted by terrepruitt on March 31, 2009
Nia™ is about joyful movement. Move with joy. Move for joy. Move to joy.
A Nia workout includes elements from three disciplines from three different arts:
From the martial arts, we use moves from T’ai chi, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido.
From the dance arts we embrace styles from Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, and Duncan Dance
And from the healing arts we are mindful of teachings from Feldenkrais, the Alexander Technique, and Yoga.
At times we might move slow, focusing on movements centered around the body’s inner core, as in T’ai chi. We might kick or punch as one might do in Tae kwon do, and these movements might flow into a spiral motion that is associated with Aikido. We could decide to play the showman and do the entire routine with a jazzy flair or just add movements of creating shapes, dropping and then recovering the body’s own weight as a modern dancer might do. There is always a chance we could give into our inner child and run free and honest with the playfulness of a Duncan dancer. While we’re doing one these things we are keeping in mind the teaching of Moshe Feldenkrais and being conscious of sensations. We could stretch to the top with utmost concentration one might contribute to the Alexander Technique, then move onto a dance of bone alignment increasing awareness, relaxation, and balance the could be thought of as Yoga.*
So in one workout you can experience all those things. Strength is balanced with grace. Fun is balanced with seriousness. Body is balanced with mind.
The music is varied and is intended to promote the movement of the routine. There is no doubt something for everyone.
*based on information from The Nia Technique by Debbie Rosas & Carlos Rosas
Posted in Movement Forms of Nia, Nia | Tagged: Aikido, Carlos Rosas, core, dance arts, Debbie Rosas, disciplines, Duncan Dance, Feldinkrais, flow, fun, grace, Healing Arts, inner child, Jazz Dance, joy, joyful, martial arts, mind, modern dance, movement, Nia, Nia San Jose, playfulness, San Jose Nia, sensations, showman, strength, T'ai chi San Jose, Tae kwon do, Tae kwon do San Jose, Tai Chi, the Alexander Technique, The Nia Technique, The Nine Basic Movements Forms Of Nia, Yoga, Yoga San Jose | 13 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 28, 2009
My husband took Jujitsu for a little while. Martial Arts are amazing because from what I have heard most of them are not just an exercise class or a practice, a lot of them involve other “things” and in the case of my husband and his Jujitsu class, it involved potions and lotions.
Since in Jujitsu you use your body a lot and it can sustain damage, part of what he was taught was how to heal that damage or at least minimize the time frame of healing. One thing he brought home was Zheng Gu Shui. Oh how I love my Zheng Gu Shui. If I even THINK I hurt myself, I put this stuff on and —BAM!—it is gone sooner than not. 
Ok, I have to admit sometimes I forget about it, but here is what had me wanting to blog about it. I recently strained something in my neck changing the sheets. Oh yeah, BTW, I usually don’t injure myself working out or exercising it is usually while I am doing normal everyday stuff. So I flicked the sheets like you do when you are putting them on the bed. And –twang!—I hurt something. That night I woke up four or five times because when I went to change sides I couldn’t turn my head without pain. In the morning I tore my closet apart looking for my bottle of Zheng Gu Shui. I put it on from my shoulder all the way into my hair because that’s where it really hurt. Then I went about my day. After one application I was able to move my head, but I still felt a twang. So every once in while I would remember that I had hurt my neck so I would put more on. I applied it maybe four times. By the evening if I really put my mind to it I could still feel the pain, but I was able to completely move my head. The next day, I was asking my husband if I could blog about Zheng Gu Shui and it dawned on me, it was 7:00 pm (I ran to the clock to check) and I had not THOUGHT about my neck ALL day because it was better.
According to many websites Zheng Gu Shui means rectify bones liquid. I use it when I think I am going to bruise or feel that I have strained a muscle or something. What it does is promote circulation. This seems to allow the issue to resolve itself faster than it would on its own. It is very strong smelling and it will tingle to the point of burning on tender spots (didn’t feel good on the back of my knees) and it might stain clothing, so use it with caution. Always follow a products instructions. It is awesome. And it is VERY affordable.
Posted in Helpful Hints | Tagged: healing, Jujitsu, martial arts, promote circulation, Zheng Gu Shui | 10 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 24, 2009
I want to share with you my feelings on water. You have probably heard all the hype about water. Some say to drink eight eight ounces each a day. Some say that if you drink that much you are washing vital nutrients out of your systems. Some say that coffee, tea, soda, or etc. qualify as water. Some say the more vegetables you eat the less water you need to drink. Blah, blah, blah, blah.
There are facts that we can look at:
- Our weight is made up of between roughly 67% and 70% water.
- Blood is 92% water.
- The brain is 75% water.
- Muscles are 75% water.
- Water is the primary mode of transportation for all nutrients in the body and is essential for proper circulation.
- Water serves more roles than any other single nutrient in the body.
- Water helps nearly every part of the human body function efficiently.
I could talk about facts all day, but what I want to get to is, like I said, my feelings. I feel that water is important. I feel that water makes me FEEL good. What I recommend in regards to drinking water is—-try it, experiment. If you drink water keep doing it. If you don’t normally drink water, try this: Check yourself, for three or four days, pay attention to how you feel. Pay attention to the way your body functions. In other words check yourself both PHYSICALLY and MENTALLY. Then, drink water for three or four days and see how you feel. If you are like me you might feel a little grumpy at first, but only because you have to go to the bathroom a bit more than usually. But getting over that, see how you feel. I drink water because I feel better when I do. When I am grumpy for no reason, the first thing I think of is, “How much water have I had today?” I really believe it helps me both physically and mentally. So, maybe you don’t want to participate in the aforementioned experiment, but at least try a glass/bottle of water the next time you are grumpy. Maybe it can wash that grump right out of you!
Experiment with how much water is good for YOU. Honestly try to see if it makes you FEEL different. Our bodies need water to function so it makes sense that if we are drinking enough we will FEEL good. Only you can really know how much water is enough for you.
Thanks for checking this out. Until next time Lovelies. . . . . .
Posted in Water | Tagged: drink water, Water | 3 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 21, 2009
I took my first Zumba class recently in Willow Glen (San Jose). I want to say it was fun. The instructor was awesome, just fabulous. She would do the move at least once slow so that we could learn it, then she would crank it up! Now don’t let that scare you. If you have been thinking about taking Zumba, but have been intimidated, don’t worry, it is very similar to Jazzercise, except it is to Latin music. Once you get the “Jazzercise part” down, then you can Zumba it up with all the moves that make it Zumba, like the hip gyrations, the Latin motion, the “Orange Julius”, the shimmy, the shake, the hip bumps, and all the things that make it Latin.
Since I have taken Jazzercise in my past and I am currently practicing Nia, I think I did well. Nia has actually helped me find the confidence to just go into a class and shimmy, shake, and gyrate!
The music is club-pumping loud, but the instructor either shouts above it or uses hand motions to try to get you going the right direction. I honestly hadn’t thought about blogging about it so I wasn’t paying attention to the other participants that much—aside from giving them enough space and trying not to run into them–so I can’t report much there, except they were having a good time. I was so intent on the instructor AND trying to make sure that I was doing it in “my body’s way” that I didn’t focus much on the others. Even though I was in a Zumba class doing Zumba I still wanted to make sure that I was doing what my body needed. So I have to say that the three minute cool down was not enough for me and that I didn’t follow it because I needed to stretch in different ways in order to properly facilitate my cool down and recovery.
As for the rest of the class, it is a great sweat inducing cardio workout. But I didn’t feel as if any of my muscles or my core got any work, but I did get very sweaty jumping around to the music. I want to get two for the price of one, so I want a workout to make me feel as if I have worked my muscles and did some cardio. So, it’s not what I am looking for in a regular workout, but I will probably make it to a class every-once-in-awhile to throw some change into my workout regimen. And like I always say, find something you like and do it. Zumba might be right for you.
Posted in Exercise and Working Out | Tagged: body's way, cardio workout, core, Jazzercise, Latin motion, Latin music, muscle, Muscles, Nia, Nia San Jose, San Jose, Willow Glen, Zumba | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 17, 2009
I bought a foam roller from my Pilates instructor awhile ago. The foam roller is reminiscent of a pool noodle, and is pretty darn versatile. It is wider than a pool noodle, usually 6 inches in diameter and I am going to say denser than a pool noodle.
I bought it for one particular stretch, the one where you just lay on it. Both your head and your tush are on the roller and you are laying on it length-wise and your arms are stretched out with your elbows on the ground. I like that stretch. While keeping your elbows on the ground you draw your elbows towards your body or you can move your arms closer to your body by moving your hands down. Then you can stretch your arms up over your head. Just move your arms into whatever feels like a good stretch and feel the yummy goodness of using the roller.
Since owning it I have done a few other stretches, some that my instructor had shown me and others I have figured out that if you can do it on a ball you can do it on a roller. But I recently took a class from the aforementioned instructor and learned even more.
Like this other great stretch that is soooooo simple. Put a hand at each end of the foam roller. Hold the roller so it is vertical, then with your bottom hand press up into your other hand. Your top hand can even just hold on with your fingers if you want a really good stretch. This stretches out your shoulders.
These are just two really simply stretches that you can do on a foam roller. As I continue to “blog”, I will share more.
What stretches do you do on your foam roller? I would love to hear.
Posted in Exercise and Working Out, Foam Rollers | Tagged: Foam Roller, pool noodle | 10 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 14, 2009
I love to eat roasted asparagus. I like it when it is really cooked, not burned, but crispy. It is probably past the point of supreme nutrition, but that is my favorite way to eat it. I do like it at its most nutritious, too, boiled until it is tender not soggy. I haven’t always liked asparagus. I believe the way vegetables are cooked now is different than from when I was growing up. Plus, I believe that it is much easier to obtain a fresh vegetable now than when I was growing up.
Apparently the season is from March through August, but we eat it all year round. To me it tastes better during the “Asparagus season”.
One of the reasons I love to eat it roasted is because it is so easy to cook. I rinse it off, then chop off the ends—I don’t do that bend and break thing because holding the entire bunch in one hand and chopping with the other is much faster to me — then I line them up in a pan (I have a jelly roll pan). I sprinkle olive oil on them. I usually use garlic infused olive oil, but sometimes I go for the lemon olive oil. Then I salt them and use whatever spices I feel like, then in they go. I usually cook them at 400 degrees. I let them bake for 15 minutes, then I flip them. And let them go 15 minutes more, but you can take them out at anytime and they are delicious. Sometimes I cook ‘em less, sometimes I cook ‘em more. Depends on my mood and when the rest of the meal is ready.
Nutritional Value per 100 g (3.5 oz) as per USDA Nutrient database
Calories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Carbohydrates . . . . . . . . . .3.88 g
Sugars . . . . . . . . . .1.88 g
Dietary fiber . . . . .2.1 g
Fat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.12 g
Protein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.20 g
In addition Asparagus contains Thiamine (Vit. B1), Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Niacin (Vit. B3), Pantothenic Acid (Vit. B5), Vitamin B6, Folate (Vit. B9), Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, and Manganese.
Seems to me like they are way worth the time and effort it takes to cook them.
What is your favorite way to cook asparagus?
Posted in Vegetables | Tagged: Asparagus, Asparagus Season, boiled, Calcium, calories, carbs, easy to cook, fat, fiber, garlic, growing up, infused oil, Magnesium, nutrition, nutritional, nutritional value, nutritious, olive oil, Potassium, protein, roasted asparagus, spices, USDA, USDA Nutrient Database, Vegetables, Vitamin B, Zinc | 8 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 10, 2009
In my introduction I made a comment about blaming my husband again, because a couple of years ago I made a comment and his response was “Why don’t you do something about it?” and so I have been working out ever since. I try to eat healthy. I don’t think I am a fanatic, I just try to exercise and eat well. I also wanted to help people like me so, at that time, I thought the best way to do that would be to become certified as a personal trainer. I, Terre Pruitt, am a certified personal trainer through the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF).
(Pause)
So, what image popped into your head when you read “personal trainer”? Doesn’t matter what it was I am pretty sure it was not me. Most people think of huge gyms, machines, heavy weights, big muscles and sweat when they think of personal trainers. When I became a personal trainer I was thinking more along the lines of “movement coach”. Just trying to help people realize that they need to move because there is truth in the old axiom “move it or lose it.” And I fear the day when my age group loses it. I think that the time will come sooner then it did with earlier generations who were accustom to movement in their everyday lives.
So I wanted to help people with functional fitness. Yes, there is such a thing. It is exercises and movement that actually help your body stay mobile so when you need to put your arms up to get a shirt on you will be able to. When you need to stretch and reach for something on a shelf you will be able to. At the same time you can be working on building your strength, stability, flexibility, and agility because all these things are what we use in our everyday lives. Things like that is what I am interested in.
I still believe that weight training is important, and you have to get your heart rate up to burn the calories to lose the fat, but I do not subscribe to “no pain, no gain”. Although, I might define pain differently than you . . . I don’t think you need to be in pain, per se, to gain. There are all types of “gain” so it really depends on what your goals are. I also think that a form of stretching is necessary to keep the body mobile. Some exercise forms combine these different elements, some forms keep them separate. It is best to find something you like so you can stick with it. Whatever works for you.
What form of exercise interests you?
Posted in Exercise and Working Out | Tagged: agility, certified personal trainer, coach, eat well, exercise, fanatic, flexibility, functional fitness, generations, gyms, healthy, interests, mobile, movement, Muscles, National Council on Strength and Fitness, NCSF, pain, Personal Trainer, stability, strength, stretching, Terre Pruitt, weight training, weights | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 7, 2009
I want to talk to you about Nia™. I was looking for a different form of exercise when somehow (in the vastness that is the internet) I came across Nia. I had never heard of it. It has been around for 25 years. At one point it was known as Non-Impact Aerobics, then it was called Neuromuscular Integrative Action, then at one point it was the Nia Technique, now it is just Nia.
Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas created it in the early 1980s from a need and a desire to help people exercise. When I read the book and listen to Carlos, I believe that they wanted more than just traditional exercise because they really wanted to help people feel good. They were being drawn towards something that addresses the whole body.
Nia is a teacher led dance workout that allows you the freedom to get exactly the workout that your body needs. Nia is really awesome because it is done in bare feet to all kinds of music. With the absences of shoes, we are reminded that we do not have to have harsh impact to get a great work out. With Nia, the level of intensity is regulated by the participant. A workout includes movements of all of the 13 major joints and I believe that this is one of the key factors that make people feel so good after they do a Nia workout. Throughout our day we don’t always move each joint as it was built to move, so sometimes they can become stiff. In a Nia class you move them throughout the routine and it helps the balance in the body’s systems.
Nia is similar to Jazzercise in the sense that there are segments or cycles to the routine: warm-up, cardio, strength, floor, and a cool down.
A lot of people just want to go to a workout class and be told what to do, I am going to be honest with you because I want you to enjoy your experience, you need to concentrate a little. What you are concentrating on is not so much what the teacher is doing, but more what you are sensing. You are encouraged to listen to your own body and do what it is telling you it needs. It might not need what the teacher is doing. And with Nia, that is fine.
In a Nia class there is no judgment if you cannot bend, stretch, jump, kick, shout, shimmy, shake, punch, chop, cha-cha-cha, hula, jazz square, modern dance, or anything like your teacher or neighboring participant, because it is all about YOU and whatever you can do. You must seek your own Body’s Way and what gives it pleasure. With Nia you can get a great workout at the same time.
Does your present workout invite you to seek pleasure during your workout?
Posted in Nia | Tagged: bend, body's way, cardio, Carlos Rosas, cha-cha-cha, chop, cool down, cycles, dance, Debbie Rosas, encouraged, exercise, hula, impact, intensity, jazz square, Jazzercise, Jazzercise San Jose, joints, jump, kick, levels, modern dance, Nia, Nia class, Nia Technique, Non-Impact Aerobics, pleasure, punch, segments, shake, shimmy, shout, stiff, stretch, warm-up, workout | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 4, 2009
Ok, so here again I can blame my husband. I am here blogging and it is all his fault. He has been telling me for a while that I should write a blog. I keep thinking, “What for? What do I have to say? Who would listen to me?” Then I start talking about something and my husband looks at me and says, “See? You could blog about that.”
But I still keep thinking “Who would read it? What do I write about? When do I write? I’m not an ‘expert’! Blogs are are for experts to talk. ” But then I find myself reading blogs and getting interested and going back for more. Some of the most interesting ones aren’t written by “experts”. They are just normal everyday people sharing information, talking out loud. I figure I can do that.
My name is Terre Pruitt. I am a Certified Nia White Belt and a Licensed Nia Teacher. I am also a certified Personal Trainer with the National Council on Strength and Fitness, and a Certified PiYo Instructor. I am interested in getting people to move their bodies and keeping them moving to ensure their present good quality of life or make it even better. I also have some strong opinions on other things related to that.
So . . . .I intend to keep my blogs somewhat in the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like. Although, since it is my blog, I get to make the rules as to the clarity of that realm. In other words, I might stray from that area a bit, from time to time. Also, since I have already blamed my husband for unleashing me on the world, and therefore somewhat introduced him, he might be chiming in from time to time. Say . . . one day when I run out of something to say, like that will ever happen.
Until next time, My Lovelies . . . . .
Posted in Legal and stuff | Tagged: blogging, Certified Nia White Belt, expert, fitness, health, husband, Licensed Nia Teacher, Nia, Personal Trainer, PiYo Instructor, realm, Terre Pruitt, wellness, Yoga/PiYo/Pilates | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 3, 2009
Hey, this is a blog, so I feel I am stating the obvious, but I also feel that I need to do so, so that we can be certain that you know what is going on here. I am “talking out loud” and sharing information. I will do research or supply information to help support the things I say on this blog, I will be responsible for what I say in my blogs, but in no way, shape or form, am I or my company to be held responsible for anything that happens that you might consider suing someone over. I cannot be responsible for what other people say, what other people do, or what you say or do. Be responsible, be respectful, and we can all get along just fine.
My blogs are “in the moment” meaning when I write them and when I post them that is when I mean them. I could change my mind and I reserve the right to do so. In fact, in some cases, I hope I do change my mind because that is what it is about; learning, changing, growing, etc. So my opinions might change, they might not. If they do, deal with it, I am under no obligation to explain myself (although knowing me, I probably will because I will be excited that I learned something new).
Comment “Policy”
Please post comments, but keep them nice. If they are not nice, I won’t leave them/approve them. Also, all comments posted are the views of their author and my allowing them to remain does not imply that I agree with their contents.
By posting a comment to my Blog you agree to the Comments Policy. If you do not agree with the Comments Policy please do not post comments.
As a reminder, by reading my blog you are demonstrating that you are aware of the above and understand that nothing on my blogs can be held against me. Also, you might want to check back here every once in a while because I am new to blogging and I am sure that I will learn a lot along the way, so this is going to change.
Thank you so much for your time. I know life is really busy so I appreciate you reading this and stopping by my blog.
A copy of this post will be a separate page.
Posted in Legal and stuff | Tagged: CMA, comment, comment policy, CYA, Disclaimer, disclosure, Policy, Respectful, Responsible | Leave a Comment »
Terre Pruitt's Blog 
CMA: (Instead of CYA)
Posted by terrepruitt on March 3, 2009
Hey, this is a blog, so I feel I am stating the obvious, but I also feel that I need to do so, so that we can be certain that you know what is going on here. I am “talking out loud” and sharing information. I will do research or supply information to help support the things I say on this blog, I will be responsible for what I say in my blogs, but in no way, shape or form, am I or my company to be held responsible for anything that happens that you might consider suing someone over. I cannot be responsible for what other people say, what other people do, or what you say or do. Be responsible, be respectful, and we can all get along just fine.
My blogs are “in the moment” meaning when I write them and when I post them that is when I mean them. I could change my mind and I reserve the right to do so. In fact, in some cases, I hope I do change my mind because that is what it is about; learning, changing, growing, etc. So my opinions might change, they might not. If they do, deal with it, I am under no obligation to explain myself (although knowing me, I probably will because I will be excited that I learned something new).
Comment “Policy”
Please post comments, but keep them nice. If they are not nice, I won’t leave them/approve them. Also, all comments posted are the views of their author and my allowing them to remain does not imply that I agree with their contents.
By posting a comment to my Blog you agree to the Comments Policy. If you do not agree with the Comments Policy please do not post comments.
As a reminder, by reading my blog you are demonstrating that you are aware of the above and understand that nothing on my blogs can be held against me. Also, you might want to check back here every once in a while because I am new to blogging and I am sure that I will learn a lot along the way, so this is going to change.
Thank you so much for your time. I know life is really busy so I appreciate you reading this and stopping by my blog.
A copy of this post will be a separate page.
Posted in Legal and stuff | Tagged: CMA, comment, comment policy, CYA, Disclaimer, disclosure, Policy, Respectful, Responsible | Leave a Comment »