[FitDream] The dancer in me made me do it!
Published: Thu, 05/14/09
| Volume 2 Issue 11 |
May 13, 2009 |
 | |
  Hi  Yes, this is what it feels like to me when I return to my dancing roots (see image left).Is it any wonder then that when I sidle up to a barre or invest more deeply in stretching that I'm hooked?
The entire process just brings out beauty, elegance, introspection, and outward expression all at once. I've been inspired to reconnect with all of this and you'll see what I mean in today's Feature Article.
It's been a wild and wonderful week - 2 big steps, my new Mastermind group has launched and the new look for my lanimuelrath. com website is just about ready for publication! I've taken several key articles from my original site plus some other bits of information and revamped the look to create a lot more flexibility as I move forward. I'll let you know as soon as it's ready, OK? Hopefully in days!
I have another project in the works that I'm excited to tell you about but not quite yet....
Next week I'll have all the dialup information ready for you for the TeleClass call scheduled for June 8 with professional organizer Elizabeth Hagen. I am really looking forward to this to help me get everything from my office to my pantry in gear.
All best wishes for a beautiful May, wherever in the world you might be... Hearts, Hugs and Stars    Recent Blog Posts:
 Click on the examiner.com button at left to go to direct to my home page to catch my reporting in all last week from Oaxaca, Mexico.
 Getting back to my dancing roots by Lani Muelrath, M.A. Long steeped in the basics of T-Tapp, Supersets, and Yoga as my favorite workout regimens, there come the times when I have a hankering to get back to my dancer's roots.
See, dance is where I started. Actually, my love affair with dance began concurrently with my first study of yoga with my Mom years ago.
I
was in my second year of high school. To my delight and surprise, I
auditioned for and earned a spot in an esteemed, exclusive dance
performance group. In those days, to have a physical activity
curriculum that "legally" replaced the standard PE classes was pretty
rare.
So, I scored double - not only was I a "dancer", but no more hockey sticks and gymsuits! (The ones with the grippers up the front - remember?)
Yes,
no more geeky look- it was now blue leotards and tights. Or as my
dance teacher Millicent Hamburger (yes, that really was her name) often
let us indulge in, silk scarves and skirts wrapped around our middles.
Talk about feeling pretty. As one who comes from a background of
mountain trail trekking, tree climbing, bruised knees and scratched
elbows, flitting around in scarves and bare feet was a whole new,
lovely world for me.
You see, "Miss
H", as we affectionately called her, had actually been a student of
Martha Graham's in New York. The style was modern, modern, modern.
With lots of flow and movement from the middle. Actually, THAT is
where I got my basic training in how to work the core - it's all there in Graham's stuff.
Keep On Dancing
My dance career and indulgences continued through college, where as a Fine Arts major I got to further my new found love.
And indulge I did. Not only did I get to study ballet, jazz, and more modern dance, but I took courses in Renaissance, Native American, and International Folk Dance as well. I branched into choreography. We had folk dancing laced throughout our wedding ceremony. You get the idea.
Then "fitness"
and "workouts" came along. My "dance" nature was indulged with
choreographing and teaching aerobic dance routines. Fun, fun, fun.
Really. I had a blast. When step aerobics came along I just took my
choreography there as well. Pure sweaty indulgence.
But
after awhile, more structured workouts absorbed my attention and became
my personal workouts and trainer's arena. In 2000, I became Head
Trainer for the T-Tapp Wellness Workout and brought that study and practice into curriculum at Butte College and San Francisco State University.
Great workout, phenomenal influence on health, well being, muscle
balance and posture, and I teach T-Tapp to this day, along with
occasional Yoga classes and weight training.
Yet along the way, I intermittently get the urge for some of the beauty, flow, and unique conditioning and body shaping that comes with dance. Barre-type workouts have
been excellent choices and give me the feel and look I'm after. There
are several similar choices out there: Bar Method, Fluidity, Lotte
Berk, Callanetics, Physique 57. But my favorite has been the Bar
Method.
Why The Bar Method?
Though the above listed barre-type workouts all have their origins in Lotte Berk style - which is based on physical therapy - the Bar Method has been my favorite in the lineup. The reasons for this were the flow of the workout and the instructor on the videos.
To me, as I prefer to workout sans video, when I DO work out to DVD the instructor needs to be pretty clear, focused, and transparent.
Don't give me a lot of cutesy personality, please. The message and
instruction must prevail. Repeated viewings as we do with video make
this even more essential to me. Of the bunch in the Lotte Berk
tradition, Burr Leonard on the Bar Method videos did this best.
However, after awhile I just wanted something more advanced without all the setup time. This is where all other exercise video production camps need a "Tempo" track
a la Teresa Tapp. Where once you have the flow, sequence, and
instructional setup down, all you need are the reminders, the count,
and the form checks. The early Bar Method videos could only take me so
far and then I became frustrated with all the stops and starts.
Good News!
Which is why I was really excited when I was asked to review the NEW (that's right!) Bar Method videos. Hurray! Burr has released an Accelerated Workout video that takes you through a more advanced routine. I'll be trying it out and report back in with my findings.
I've polished my barre and am ready to go. Let the dancer emerge!
And if you are (or have been!) a dancer at heart, please consider popping into my blog to leave a comment.  Summer TeleClass with Special Guest Elizabeth Hagen
Monday, June 8, 5:00 p.m. Pacific 8:00 Eastern
 As a Certified Professional
Organizer, member of the National Speakers Association, and author of Organize
with Confidence, nationally known speaker Elizabeth Hagen will teach us on this call the
common-sense systems and tools she has developed over 25 years. She will help us get organized, use our valuable time more wisely and feel great about ourselves.
In Elizabeth's words, "You will face every day with more
confidence because you will know how to accomplish what you've been promising
yourself for years- making that 'organization mission happen'".
Mark your calendars for Monday, June 8, when Elizabeth (the queen of "making your life easier"!) will be my special guest on a call - and you are invited!
Watch for registration details available soon. Until then, you can do as I did and go to ElizabethHagen.com and sign up for her informative monthly newsletter.
Previous Sessions have SOLD OUT. Sign up below for Earlybird notification on the next session!
 Enjoy over 15 Testimonials and Inspiration HERE Take 10 Weeks And Change Your Life....
NEXT SESSION: Fall 2009
Fill in the form below for notification and registration, or send an email to: WFB_Fall_2009@aweber.com
 Find long-lasting fitness success with Lani
Muelrath, M.A., who coaches women to success with their
fitness and health
goals while simultaneously inspires positive action toward realizing their life
dreams. Her unique combination of tactics and tools for change from the
inside out delivers phenomenal results.
Lani currently holds
faculty positions at San Francisco State University
and Butte College in California. She has a Master's Degree in Physical
Education
as well as multiple teaching credentials and fitness certifications in
addition to her position as Head T-Tapp Trainer, including Pilates and Yoga.
She created a unique in home, WebCam fitness training program that has
served as the model for similar programs nation wide and created and starred in her own CBS TV Fitness Program.
Lani's seminars, one-on-one as
well as group coaching programs, including Woman's
Fitness BluePrint: An Action Plan for Success,
and retreats offer vision as well as concrete steps toward making your
fitness - and life - dreams come true.
www.lanimuelrath.com
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