Mr. Fitness is returning to Florida on Halloween!!!

That's right my friends I am returning to my heavy and astounding class load in Central Florida tomorrow evening! My time away has been a wonderful experience and I am revved-up to throw myself back into teaching nothing but the most effective and exciting group fitness classes in the land.

The picture at right is from a relaxation yoga class I taught at The La Crosse Humane Society in La Crosse, Wisconsin today. The Society is a wonderful organization and I was more then happy to work with some of the employees and volunteers. We are already planning some more classes over the Christmas break!

See you all real soon!!

Sean Vigue
"Trainer to Thousands!"

Sean is on a short vacation!

Hello my friends,

I am on a short vacation from my tremendous teaching schedule to recharge the batteries and educate myself further so I can continue to offer the best and most effective classes to my clients! I plan to catch-up on my reading, sleeping, family time, and plan the most effective ways to run my business to reach the most people possible. People are hungry for fitness and I plan continue to fill that hunger with the best classes in Central Florida!

Upon my return I will be increasing my teaching load right through 2008. I just started teaching at Bella Trae in Champions Gate, adding more classes to my very busy Disney schedule, more in-home training sessions and am in discussions to instruct at the top Pilates studio in Central Florida. I will keep you posted on ALL new classes!

Mr. Fitness LLC is always expanding and I will be producing an exercise DVD in the near future as well! I plan to make Mr. Fitness LLC a household name in fitness and health.

Thank you to everyone for the support and I will see you soon!

Sean Vigue

"Trainer to Thousands!"

Candlelight Yoga on Monday evenings

I have been teaching Candlelight Yoga for several months now at The Platinum Dance Academy (www.danceatplatinum.com) on Mondays 8-9 pm and am very proud of how far it has come! The entire class is dedicated to un-doing and de-stressing and features several flickering candles in the room to let your stress wash far, far away. Beautiful piano music soothes the ear as well as the soul creating a perfect end to your day. Platinum Dance is located in Water Tower Place (a part of Celebration, Florida).

Here is the description of the class:

Looking for ways to unburden some of the stress in your life? Then come join us at Platinum Dance Academy for Candlelight Yoga with Sean Vigue (www.mr-fitness.org). Practice gentle yoga in the soft glow of candlelight to relax the body and soothe the soul. Beginners Welcome!

You'll unwind and drain your tension away with this soothing, restorative yoga program designed for all fitness levels and body types. Melt anxiety into tranquility with yoga postures specifically chosen to release tension, increase strength, improve balance, and enhance flexibility. You’ll leave feeling recharged and ready for a restful night and busy week to come. All you need is a mat and a bottle of water. Mats are provided.

Walk-ins and all fitness levelsare welcome!

See you in class!

Sean Vigue
www.Mr-Fitness.org

Celebrating 100 Pilates and Yoga classes at Gold's Gym!!

When I step onto the Gold's stage tomorrow for a high wattage Pilates class it will be my 100th group fitness class at this excellent facility! Excellent! I am so blessed and excited to be in this line of work.

Here's to hundreds more even better classes!

Sean

This picture was snapped by Jeff during my one-year evaluation class. I wasn't paying attention )-:

Mr. Fitness is always expanding!

Starting Saturday, October 4th (and every Saturday) I will be teaching my award winning Pilates Mat class at Bella Trae in Champions Gate. The time will be 1 pm at the location is their beautiful clubhouse. This class is open to residents of Bella Trae and their guests. Cost is $10.

Contact me with questions!

Sean Vigue

Balance the Cat Pose and it's amazing benefits!

This pose is called Balancing the Cat. You can also add movement to it by drawing the knee and opposite arm into your center and then returning to the beginning. Barb is modeling the pose for us to the left. I include this pose and it's many variations in my Pilates and yoga classes.

It creates a strong and flexible spine, teaches balance and focus, teaches the yogi to move the body with the breath, has the potential to stretch out the chest muscles (pectoralis major and minor), the hip flexors (illiacus and psoas/ iliopsoas), tones and strengthens almost every muscle in your back and backside, and stimulates the thyroid gland with the movement of the chin into the chest, then the head arching up toward the ceiling.

Namaste'!

Sean

Happy Labor Day!

All of my classes are canceled in honor of Labor Day.

I went to the hardware store and bought some used paint. It was in the shape
of a house. I also bought some batteries, but they weren't included.
-- Steven Wright

Enjoy your day!

Sean

www.Mr-Fitness.org

Picture on the left is of me and my father at the Brown Derby in Disney's Hollywood Studios last weekend.

Pilates exercise: The Saw!

The saw

Sit tall, with legs extended and open slightly wide. Stretch your arms to your sides, and inhale, stretching your spine upwards. Twist from your waist to the left, and exhale as you bring your chest towards your right leg and inhale, lengthening your body up. Switch sides. Do each side 6 to 10 times.

This is my father's (seen on the left with Mr. Fitness) favorite Pilates exercise in the whole, wide world!

It is a good spine stretch, utilizing spinal rotation and the breath to increase the stretch.

Why Downward Facing Dog? I'll tell ya!

The most basic and widely-known yoga pose is down dog. Even if you've never attended a yoga class, you most likely have heard of this one. Downward facing dog has many jobs and functions, among them--assessment pose, transitional pose, resting pose, strengthening pose, inversion pose and rejuvenator. I also use it frequently in my Pilates classes to build strength and endurance.

The role of downward facing dog is vast. Done properly and consistently, the most noticeable benefits include:

• Stronger hands, wrists, low-back, hamstrings, calves and Achilles tendon
• Decrease in back pain by strengthening the entire back and shoulder girdle
• Elongated shoulders and shoulder blade area
• Decrease in tension and headaches by elongating the cervical spine and neck and relaxing the head
• Deepened respiration
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased full-body circulation

Down Dog can also be used in sequences such as Sun Salutations and Vinyasa Flow. So many poses and exercises can revolve around Down Dog making it a must have in any mind/body class!

Source: www.active.com/mindandbody

Pilates practice=Longevity

"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier."

- Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86

Caddyshack and my Dutch hat...

Al Czervik: Oh, this is the worst-looking hat I ever saw. What, when you buy a hat like this I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh?
[looks at Judge Smails, who's wearing the same hat]
Al Czervik: Oh, it looks good on you though.

From the movie Caddyshack

Mind/Body connection

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure."
-Joseph Pilates

Exercise is truly maximized when the mind and body work as one. In Pilates (and any other physical activity) your mind sees the movement and translates it to your body. When the mind and body are connected you maximize your physical, mental, and spiritual self. One of the three cannot exist by itself.

In my Pilates classes you will truly savor the way your body moves. The exercises flow from one to the other with no break so you waste no energy and achieve maximum results. I always say that you will achieve "superior results in a short amount of time". Extreme focus on your movements bring with it total and dramatic results! Efficient. Unique. Totally effective. That is what you get in my classes.

Sean Vigue

The Mayo Clinic knows...

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

Need motivation to exercise? Here are seven ways exercise can improve your life — starting today!

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than old-fashioned exercise.

The merits of exercise — from preventing chronic health conditions to boosting confidence and self-esteem — are hard to ignore. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing? Check out seven specific ways exercise can improve your life.

1. Exercise improves your mood.

Need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help you calm down.

Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, which may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. You'll also look better and feel better when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Exercise even reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

2. Exercise combats chronic diseases.

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent osteoporosis? Regular exercise might be the ticket.

Regular exercise can help you prevent — or manage — high blood pressure. Your cholesterol will benefit, too. Regular exercise boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol while decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad," cholesterol. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly by lowering the buildup of plaques in your arteries.

And there's more. Regular exercise can help you prevent type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.

3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.

Want to drop those excess pounds? Trade some couch time for walking or other physical activities.

This one's a no-brainer. When you exercise, you burn calories. The more intensely you exercise, the more calories you burn — and the easier it is to keep your weight under control. You don't even need to set aside major chunks of time for working out. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk during your lunch break. Do jumping jacks during commercials. Better yet, turn off the TV and take a brisk walk. Dedicated workouts are great, but activity you accumulate throughout the day helps you burn calories, too.

4. Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs.

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Don't throw in the towel. Regular exercise can leave you breathing easier.

Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. In fact, regular exercise helps your entire cardiovascular system — the circulation of blood through your heart and blood vessels — work more efficiently. Big deal? You bet! When your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you'll have more energy to do the things you enjoy.

5. Exercise promotes better sleep.

Struggling to fall asleep? Or stay asleep? It might help to boost your physical activity during the day.

A good night's sleep can improve your concentration, productivity and mood. And, you guessed it, exercise is sometimes the key to better sleep. Regular exercise can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. The timing is up to you — but if you're having trouble sleeping, you might want to try late afternoon workouts. The natural dip in body temperature five to six hours after you exercise might help you fall asleep.

6. Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life.

Are you too tired to have sex? Or feeling too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Exercise to the rescue.

Regular exercise can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Exercise improves your circulation, which can lead to more satisfying sex. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise, especially as they get older.

7. Exercise can be — gasp — fun!

Wondering what to do on a Saturday afternoon? Looking for an activity that suits the entire family? Get physical!

Exercise doesn't have to be drudgery. Take a ballroom dancing class. Check out a local climbing wall or hiking trail. Push your kids on the swings or climb with them on the jungle gym. Plan a neighborhood kickball or touch football game. Find an activity you enjoy, and go for it. If you get bored, try something new. If you're moving, it counts!

Source: www.mayoclinic.com

Better yet try on of my Pilates, Yoga or Spinning classes! My turnover rate is over 90%. Once you attend my class it will become a very healthy addiction!

Sean Vigue

Spinning Spinning Spinning!

I LOVE teaching Spinning! If you have never "Spun" before I highly encourage you to attend a class. The cardio benefits are amazing and it is easy on your joints. Also the music is loud and inspiring and keeps you motivated right through into the cool down.

Why should you Spin?

Burn Calories

During a 30 minute spin class you can burn 500 calories. In a short amount of time you can burn a lot of calories, thus affecting your health. Most other exercises would take at least double the time to burn so many calories. If you are looking to lose weight, there is no better option. Spinning will melt the pounds off. Many spin enthusiast also claim spinning it is the hardest and best workout they have ever found. There is no other workout that leaves me feeling like I just accomplished a huge feat and went beyond what I thought my body was capable of. And although it is "hard" in its intensity, it isn't hard for beginners to start.

Low Impact Exercise

Its also no impact by nature so your feet and knees won't hurt. This makes spinning a great workout for people of all ages, even older adults with joint problems. Spinning even helps increase lung capacity and cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular Health

The intense workout gets your heart pumping faster, which is beneficial on many levels. I have personally noticed that after spinning for a while my asthma became easier to manage because my lung capacity had increased.

Source: www.worldofspinning.be

I teach Spinning at Celebration Health (www.celebrationfitness.com) in Celebration, Florida every Wednesday at 5:30 pm. I am also subbing tomorrow morning (Sunday, August 3rd) at 10:15 am. I have taughts hundreds of Spinning classes the past few years and would love to see you in class!

Sean Vigue

Numbers for Summer are very good!

Thanks to one and all for keeping the numbers in all my group fitness classes way better then expected! Summer in Florida is notorious for falling exercise numbers and long vacations. Not so in my classes.

I have taught thousands of classes all over Central Florida these past few years. I began teaching Candlelight Yoga at the Platinum Dance Academy (www.danceatplatinum.com) in Celebration last month and have been overjoyed by the response. The class started small but grows each week as more and more people discover the benefits of a class totally focused on de-stressing. I have never taught a class so relaxed before and it has been a wonderful learning experience. The focus is on patience, calmness, and letting go. Rather then doing we are un-doing.

Candlelight Yoga is every Monday 8-9 pm at the Platinum Dance Academy in Water Tower Place, Celebration, Florida. Mats are provided. Come and cleanse your soul.

The photo was taken of me on top of Jewel Basin outside of Bigfork, Montana two weeks ago. I first discovered Northwest Montana in the Summer of 1996 and 1997 when I worked as a singer/actor for the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. I also directed Hello, Dolly! there in 2006. It is my most favorite place in the world!

"How you treat your body is your choice!"

Sean Vigue

svigue@Mr-Fitness.org

Montana Dreaming...

I am back from my incredible Montana adventure! Five days spent hiking, eating, exploring, watching, jumping, climbing and crouching! I feel alive! Northwest Montana is my most favorite place in the world and I discovered it when I was a professional performer. There is a summer theater in the town of Bigfork called the Bigfork Summer Playhouse where I worked as a singer/actor in 1996 and 1997 as well as a director (Hello, Dolly!) in 2006. Montana is truly where my heart is and always will be.

I have connections with gyms and studios there too...so when I am not exploring the area I can teach my famous Pilates, Yogalates and Yoga group fitness classes.

I am off to teach at Disney and Platinum Dance Academy now. See you soon!

Sean Vigue

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

- Mark Twain

Candlelight Yoga at a new time

My Candlelight Yoga class at Platinum Dance Academy will now be 8-9 pm on Monday evenings. Now we have the whole studio to ourselves and can bask in the stillness.

My schedule at Platinum Dance Academy:

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
Candlelight Yoga 8-9 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

Platinum Dance Academy
321-939-1793
www.danceatplatinum.com
The Water Tower Place
29 Blake Blvd. #106 - Celebration, FL 34747

Sean Vigue

Apples apples apples!!!

I eat 2 apples a day because they taste so good. Studies are showing that apples really are a super fruit for health and wellness!

Apple Nutrition Facts Worth Thinking About

• Apples are absolutely fat-free!
  
  
• One apple provides as much dietary fiber as a bowl of bran cereal. That's equal to one fifth of the recommended daily intake of fiber.
  
  
• Apples are loaded with pectin, a soluble fiber that aids digestion and may help reduce cancer and heart disease.
  
  
• The complex carbohydrates in apples give your body a longer, more even energy boost compared to high-sugar snacks. Snacking on apples can keep you going throughout the day.
  
  
• Apples provide boron, an essential trace element that helps harden bones. Strong bones help prevent osteoporosis.

Source: www.nyapplecountry.com

Invigorated!

I am feeling so invigorated being back into the "teaching routine"! Tonight I taught my first Hatha Yoga Flow class at Golds Gym Dr. Phillips and was very happy with how it went. The first class is always the toughest for me and now I feel I can relax more and really let loose.

I also started back at Disney with my Pilates classes for a new eight-week session that is packing them in! I added more classes this time around.

Platinum Dance Academy is also up and running and I taught there yesterday (Pilates and Candlelight Yoga). The studio is so new it smells like brand new carpet and paint! Love those smells.

I am back at the Artisan Clubhouse in the most beautiful room in the county!

I am back on the Spinning bike at Celebration Health tomorrow as well.

Many more classes at many different locations and facilities (Golds Gym, Montessori School, Celebration School, etc ect)...life just keeps getting more interesting. I say it a lot but I love the work that I do!!!!

That is all...

Sean

Back in Florida!

I am officially back in Florida and begin teaching Group Fitness classes again tomorrow!

Be careful...if you attend any of my many classes you will leave feeling and looking better!

You have been warned...!

Sean Vigue

Flying back to Florida!

Hello my friends,

I will be flying back to Central Florida tomorrow after an amazing and relaxing vacation in Wisconsin with my family. The weather has been absolutely perfect (clear nights, full moon, slight breeze) so the summer humidity in Florida is going to hit me like a brick when I get off the plane.

I am soooo excited for the many new classes that have been added to my busy schedule and look forward to working with current and future clients. This business is truly a blessing as it allows me to come in contact with thousands of people and work directly with them for amazing results. Every class is a new adventure with endless possibilities!

Anyways...here's to an inspiring second half of 2008!! See you in class!

Sean Vigue

Caring for yourself

Here are a few excellent quotes I have read on my vacation:

"It is the mind itself which builds the body."
-Friedrich von Schiller

"Pilates has quietly survived all the various fitness trends."
-Washington Post

"Not mind or body but mind and body!"
-Joseph Pilates

"He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened."
-Lao-Tzu

Have a nice week my friends and always remember: how you treat your body is your choice!

Sean Vigue

New Yoga class at Golds Gym Dr. Phillips!

Starting Tuesday (and every Tuesday after that), June 24th at 7:30 pm I will be instructing a flow Yoga class at Golds Gym Dr. Phillips. You will work up a sweat and leave feeling refreshed and invigorated. I am very excited to teach Yoga at this excellent facility as it is the number one Golds Gym in all five of the southeast states and has a huge enrollment.

I have been teaching Pilates Matwork on Tuesday (10:30 am) and Friday (10:30 am) at this Golds for almost a year now with great success and look forward to teaching a Yoga class that the members will find physically, mentally, and spiritually rewarding.

Time for dinner!

Sean Vigue
svigue@Mr-Fitness.org

Mr. Fitness is on vacation!

I will be on vacation from teaching all my classes until the week of June 16th! Thus one half of my Fitness Year is over with over 325 group fitness classes taught all over Central Florida since January. The number of classes I have taught in the last two years is over 2000. What a year so far!

When I return I will be adding classes to new and exciting locations so stay tuned! I am joining Platinum Dance Academy, adding more classes at Disney and will be teaching at a couple very prestigious studios around Orlando.

See you all very soon!

Sean Vigue
svigue@mr-fitness.org

PS I will still be blogging while I am on vacation so check back.

Thanks for all your support!

Hello my friends,

As I prepare to take my first vacation since Christmas and recharge my batteries I look back at the first half of 2008 with total happiness! My opportunities to work with people and give them the tools to improve their physical, mental and spiritual selves continues to grow with each passing day. This is truly an amazing business to be a part of and I am learning more with every single day...with every single class...with every single person.

Since January, 2008 I have taught over 325 top-notch Group Fitness classes to thousands of people all ages, sizes, and fitness levels all over central Florida. These classes include Pilates Matwork, Hatha Yoga, Yogalates (fusion of Yoga and Pilates), and Spinning/Indoor Cycling. I teach these classes in a vast variety of locations including health clubs, businesses, schools, private homes, resorts, studios, hospitals, and clubhouses. All you need is a mat, a bottle of water, and a desire to change your life!

When I return from vacation I begin teaching at a brand new, state-of-the-art dance academy (Platinum Dance Academy- www.danceatplatinum.com) in Celebration, Florida, am adding more classes to my busy Walt Disney World schedule (I will be there four days a week teaching Pilates), and also am in talks with several studios who cater to sports and fitness professionals about teaching group fitness classes. I am going to begin working with more professional athletes, performers and dancers who need their bodies to be in top shape for their employment.

I wish to thank every client that I have had the honor of instructing thus far in my professional fitness career (Mr. Fitness LLC) and look forward to the infinite, endless and exciting possibilities of the future. This is only the beginning!

As always I am here for you. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sean R. Vigue
svigue@Mr-Fitness.org

Teaching Yoga for children at Montessori

I just finished my second year as the Yoga instructor for the Montessori School of Celebration, Florida. Time indeed does fly! Every week I teach Kindergarten through seventh grade the many benefits of Yoga and meditation. A stressed-out unfocused child will turn into a stressed-out unfocused adult.

Marsha Wenig wrote in Yoga Journal:

"Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface."

The children really keep me on my toes and everyday is a learning experience. The most difficult part of teaching yoga to younger children is letting them know it is fine to just relax...to be...to let go of the day. The concepts start to form and they begin to understand after several classes. Yoga is a huge departure from the energies of their days. I would have benefited greatly from Yoga when I was in grade school because there were many times when my focus wained. One of the most common comments on my report cards was that "Sean does not use time wisely". So shameful (-:

Many parents have shared wonderful stories with me about their children teaching them different parts of yoga...from relaxing breathing to the famous Tree balance pose. Anyone will benefit from practicing yoga on a weekly basis...young and old alike.

Sean

Candlelight Yoga at Platinum Dance Academy

Here is the press release for my brand new Candlelight Yoga class at The Platinum Dance Academy in Celebration, Florida:

Looking for ways to unburden some of the stress in your life? Then come join us at Platinum Dance Academy this summer for Candlelight Yoga with Sean Vigue (www.mr-fitness.org). Practice gentle yoga in the soft glow of candlelight to relax the body and soothe the soul. Beginners Welcome!

You'll unwind and drain your tension away with this soothing, restorative yoga program designed for all fitness levels and body types. Melt anxiety into tranquility with yoga postures specifically chosen to release tension, increase strength, improve balance, and enhance flexibility. You’ll leave feeling recharged and ready for a restful night and busy week to come. All you need is a mat and a bottle of water.

Beginning Monday, June 23rd the class will be held for six weeks on Monday evenings 7:30pm-8:30pm. Space is limited, and registration is on a first come – first served basis. Be sure to register early to ensure your space in class. The pre-paid classes will cost $85 for the six week session. Space permitting, the drop in rate is $15.00/class.

For more information go to www.danceatplatinum.com

Bringing in Disney performers and more!

The Platinum Dance Academy in Celebration, Florida (where I will be teaching Pilates and Candlelight Yoga) will be attracting many professional performers from Walt Disney World and the surrounding areas. The level of dance, Pilates and Yoga instruction will be top notch and the facilities will dazzle all ages and talents. Construction has been moving along ahead of schedule and the plan is to open in the next 2 weeks! I will start teaching my Pilates and Yoga classes the week of June 23rd.

To stay current on the exciting happenings with Platinum Dance check out the website at www.danceatplatinum.com

We expect an outstanding future in Central Florida!

Sean Vigue

Noodle Salad

Love this quote from the movie As Good As It Gets...

Carol Connelly: OK, we all have these terrible stories to get over, and you-...
Melvin Udall: It's not true. Some have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes with boats and friends and noodle salad. Just no one in this car. But, a lot of people, that's their story. Good times, noodle salad. What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you're that pissed that so many others had it good.

This movie came out 10 years ago. I remember seeing it in Wichita while I was doing a production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at a professional theater in town. It was the first time I ever went to a movie by myself and I loved it!

Just thought I would share...

Getting ready to head to Disney to teach Pilates...

The power of the mind in exercise

"The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power."

-Joseph Pilates, letter to clients, 1939

The mind is always in control of your body in every single endeavor we do. In my classes I tell people to visualize the movement first and then translate it to your body and perform it exactly the way you saw it. Pilates not only strengthens and tones your body but also does the same for your mind. The mind becomes sharp and focused. The more focus we posses the more we enjoy and savor our lives....paying attention to the beautiful moment that is upon us. I like the term "intense focus". Our focus determines the reality that we are all meant to find in our everyday lives. Only by staying focused can we truly find the joy of the moment.

Pilates is a natural high. That high is always inside of us and can be brought out and savored.

Thoughts on Teaching

I pattern my classes like a dramatic piece of theater. In every theatrical production you have the overture, the setting, the dramatic action that pushes the story forward, the falling action and finally the resolution. People leave the show feeling content and happy. If this structure is changed then everything falls.

My classes are structured with the same thoughts in mind. We begin with a warm-up, move into the exercises or poses, (they build and develop as we move further into the class) the big, power moves finish off the exercises, and then we move into the cool down (stretching and releasing tension that we built up during the class). People leave my class feeling content and happy.

All of my classes (Pilates, yoga, yogalates, Spinning, chair yoga etc.) follow this dramatic arc. it ensures that every sequence has a purpose and they all connect together. Nothing happens by "chance" in my classes. There is a natural flow that your mind/body/spirit adheres to. Every class I teach improves how I "deliver" the product. Even after teaching a few thousand classes I am still learning from each and every one.

I have taken classes where there is no flow to the class. It is painful to me. If people come together for a group fitness class and the instructor drops the ball it is such a waste of time and spirit. I work very hard to ensure that EVERY class has it's own feel and personality. We come together to make our lives better (even extraordinary) in group fitness. To think any less would be a shame.

Sean Vigue

What will Pilates do for me? Let me tell you...

• Improve strength, flexibility and balance.
• Tone and build long, lean muscles without adding bulk.
• Improve circulation.
• Offer relief from back pain and joint stress.
• Engage the mind and enhance body awareness.
• Reduce stress, relieve tension, boost energy through deep stretching.
• Restore postural alignment and create a stronger, more flexible spine.
• Improve the way your body looks and feels.

These are just a few of the benefits. I teach Pilates Matwork more then any other class and they are by far the most popular. All you need is a mat, a bottle of water and the possibilities for improving your physical, mental and spiritual health are endless. Also without weights and machines you can make proper adjustments in a blink of the eye to suit your individual needs. It is just you and the mat.

When I teach yoga to my students at The Montessori School I refer to their mat as their "island". It is all their's and there is no limit to what they can accomplish when they are on their own, personal island.

Contact me to learn more about Pilates Matwork and why millions more Americans practice it each year.

Sean

Sean appearing at Platinum Dance Academy!

The Platinum Dance Academy will be opening in the middle of May in Celebration and I will begin teaching Pilates and yoga there the third week of June! I am going on vacation the first 2 weeks of June so it will give me plenty of time to rest up to hit the ground running! Platinum Dance will be offering TONS of children and adult classes of all shapes and forms. The classes will be "pay as you go" or buy a large number up front for a discount. Contact the Academy to get all the details. This is a VERY exciting opportunity for all of us!

My schedule beginning June 23rd (we may add more classes depending on the interest...which I hope will be HUGE!):

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
yoga 7:15-8:15 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

To contact Platinum Dance Academy:

29 Blake Blvd. #106
Celebration, FL 34747
(321)939-1793
www.danceatplatinum.com

Off to plan for my exciting classes this weekend!!

Sean

Guestbook is up and running!

My guestbook is up and running again thanks to my web-master Richard. Excellent! Feel free to sign it on your way out...

Pilates classes for Walt Disney World

As many of you know I am THE Pilates instructor for all of Walt Disney World Florida property and I work through Cast Activities. I have taught at Team Disney, Animal Kingdom Cast Services and have been teaching for the last year-and-a-half at the Feature Animation building in Disney's Hollywood Studios. I just taught my 150th Pilates class at this excellent facility and could not be more excited with how the classes have been going. Cast Members sign-up for eight-week sessions with me through the Cast Portal/Hub and these classes run several times during the week. I am very pleased that so many Cast Members keep coming back for more of these dynamic and invigorating classes that end their day at Disney. Each class ranges from 10-20 people and hundreds have attended at F.A. We are in discussions about adding even more classes at Feature Animation because of the huge interest that has been generated. We will keep packin' em' in our studio!!

So thanks to all who have attended my classes and the best is yet to come!

Sean Vigue

"I am 50 years ahead of my time."
-Joseph Pilates

Love it!!!

I love what I do!!!!!!

That is all...

Sundays off!

The only day during the week that I don't teach classes is Sunday. It is my official day off! I was looking forward to going for a looooong bike ride all week and it is RAINING! I think I may go out anyways and bike so fast I avoid the rain drops. It can be done. Two years ago I was biking on a wooded trail in town while it was raining and the bike shot out from underneath me. I was upset because my rim was all bent up...but I still rode it all the way home. That wasn't the most exciting story was it?

Anyways...off I go!!!

Sean Vigue

Sean will be teaching at Platinum Dance Academy in Celebration!

Well the Dance Experience in Celebration, Florida is history and I am very grateful for the hundreds of classes and clients I experienced there. There is a wonderful new dance studio opening in Celebration in early June that promises to be a state-of-the-art facility and destination for dance, Pilates and yoga! It is called Platinum Dance Academy and I will be teaching my world class Pilates and yoga classes there starting in the middle of June. An official schedule has not been created yet but it is in the works and I will make it available to everyone as soon as I know. Here is their info:

Platinum Dance Academy
29 Blake Blvd. #106
Celebration, FL 34747
(321)939-1793
www.danceatPlatinum.com

Contact them now before the classes fill-up! I am very pleased to join this top-notch academy!

Sean Vigue
www.Mr-Fitness.org
"Trainer to Thousands!"

The Dance Experience has closed.

I just saw a note taped to the door of the Dance Experience that says, "Sorry for the inconvenience but The Dance Experience has closed". I know nothing more and this is a total surprise to me as well.

Sean Vigue

Dynamic music for Pilates Matwork!

Some of the artists that you will hear in my classes (these are all on the current mixes I use in my Pilates classes):

INXS, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Decemberists, Matchbox Twenty, Enya, Depeche Mode, Billy Squier, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Clannad, REM, Crowded House, Weezer, Debussy, Heart, Enigma, Bon Jovi, The Cranberries, Barry Manilow, Bangles, Nirvana, Spoon, Gin Blossoms, The Shins, Feist, The Corrs, J.Lo, James Blunt, Vanessa Carlton, George Winston, Schubert, Mary Black, Cat Power, Richard Buckner, She Wants Revenge, KT Tunstall, Bond, No Doubt, Coldplay, Wallflowers, Mozart, Big Star, The Sundays, The Smiths, U2, Billy Joel, CCR, David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, Simple Minds, Snow Patrol, Journey, Tears for Fears, The Cars, Bryan Adams, KT Tunstall, Electric Light Orchestra, Deep Forest, Moby, Bach, Cirque Du Soleil, Michael Buble, Beck, Extreme, Altan, Peter Gabriel, Human League, Erasure, Barenaked Ladies, The Bravery, Fatboy Slim, Book of Love, Zero 7, Thievery Corporation, Everything but the Girl, Alison Krauss, Celtic Women, Josh Groban, Duran Duran, Neil Diamond, Schumann, Kitaro, Yanni, Seal, Nickel Creak, Spandau Ballet, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Maire Brennan, Secret Garden, Phil Coulter, Jim Brickman etc. etc. etc etc...

I LOVE music! I LOVE good music. Music adds to the tremendous experience of these classes. I will be posting examples of what I use for Spinning, Yogalates and Yoga. The music is always evolving and changing with my classes.

Sean "listening to Glen Campbell" Vigue

Dance Experience schedule beginning Monday, April 7th!

Spring Break is almost over and it is time to get your bum back to class! My classes resume full force at The Dance Experience (downtown Celebration, Florida) this Monday, April 7th. Here is my full schedule:

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
Yoga 7-8 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

Friday
Pilates 4-5 pm

Saturday
Pilates noon-1 pm

The Dance Experience (321-939-3213) is located in downtown Celebration, Florida behind On a Roll deli. Classes last one hour, mats are provided and they are open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels. Classes are $10 each or 12 for $100. Go to their web-site for more info: www.thedanceexperience.zoomshare.com

See you in class!

Sean Vigue

Music for Pilates...an art form.

Selecting music for my Pilates classes is always a pleasure. I have heard that some instructors don't even use music in their classes. I would go INSANE! Music elevates the experience and invigorates the mind and body to perform as one. Over the past few years of teaching I have made hundreds of mixes for Pilates classes and am still trying to form the "Perfect Mix". I don't know if it will ever happen...I have come very close a few times. As long as there is plenty of Enya, Enigma, Delerium, Bond, Moby and a sprinkling of Barenaked Ladies and Depeche Mode all will be right with the Pilates world.

The best song ever for Pilates is Kashmir by Bond. Next week I may change my mind about that...

Sean Vigue

Mr. Fitness in 2008!

January through the end of March was a CRAZY time for Mr. Fitness LLC! Over those 3 months I personally taught 216 group fitness classes (Pilates Matwork, Hatha Yoga, Yogalates and Spinning) all over Central Florida. Whew! This past week has been Spring Break so my schedule was slightly lighter...only 10 classes!

I could not ask for a more rewarding and exciting profession. I have the opportunity to work with individuals, small groups (5-10 people) and large groups (11-50+ people) and show them ways to improve their physical, mental and spiritual selves. Every single class has been built up over the past couple years into something extraordinary. Thousands of people have attended my classes and my turnover rate is around 95%. This is only the beginning for Mr. Fitness LLC.

Every class is unique. Every class is an opportunity. Every class is a gift.

Sean Vigue

"What is this Wonka? Some kind of funhouse?!"
"Why? Having fun?"

Yogalates Tuesdays at 7:10 pm in the Artisan Clubhouse

I have changed my Tuesday, Artisan Park Clubhouse yoga class to yogalates. The class is a fusion of Pilates and yoga and ends with a 10 minute meditation. We have the best room in town for these classes. Classes are only $5 and begin at 7:10 pm. Please bring a mat or towel and I will take care of the rest.

See you in class!

Sean Vigue

Adding another Pilates class at Gold's Gym!

I am adding another Pilates class to my Golds Gym Dr. Phillips schedule. The class is Fridays at 10:30 am and am still teaching my Tuesday, 10:30 am Pilates class as well. These classes have really taken off and I have created a very large, loyal following at this facility. This Golds is the top one in all of Southeast America so I am very proud to be there.

All the best,

Sean Vigue

New Dance Experience Schedule

Actually the schedule is the same except there is no more Yogalates on Tuesday evening.

The Dance Experience (321-939-3213) is located in downtown Celebration, Florida behind On a Roll deli. Classes last one hour, mats are provided and they are open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels. Classes are $10 each or 12 for $100. Here is the schedule:

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
Yoga 7-8 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

Friday
Pilates 4-5 pm

Saturday
Pilates noon-1 pm

www.thedanceexperience.zoomshare.com

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Sean
svigue@Mr-Fitness.org

2008 is off to a great start!

Numbers are way up in my classes so far this year! Once someone attends my class there is about a 94% chance that they will return to participate in further classes. I am very proud and thankful that these numbers are so. It shows just how effective and enjoyable our one-hour blocks are.

So check-out any one of my exciting classes: Pilates, Yoga, Yogalates, Chair Yoga and Spinning/Indoor Cycling. You will be glad you did!

Sean

New Yoga class at The Artisan Park Clubhouse!

Hello to all interested in making their lives extraordinary...

I will be starting a Yoga class on Tuesday evenings at 7:10 pm at the Artisan Park Clubhouse starting Tuesday, January 29th! This class has been in the works for quite some time and I am very excited to bring it to all of you. Class will be held in the large room which will be perfect to create a soothing and calm space. Classes will go to 8:05 pm and cost only $5. A mat or towel will be required as well.

What is Yoga?
~Yoga balances mind and body via physical exercises/postures (asanas), controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. Yoga joins or yokes all parts of the human being and creates harmony at every level.

Benefits include: toning of all the muscles, increased flexibility, detoxes the body, greatly reduces stress, massages all organs of the body, improved focus, and brings the disparate aspects of the body, mind, and personality into balance.

Like all the other classes I teach yoga is open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels. I will make sure that everyone progresses at their own, individual level.

When the emotional and physical bodies become balanced, the result is real power and happiness. Class will begin with a warm-up, then progress into postures/poses and finish with a 10 minute meditation to calm and relax your entire being.

Sean Vigue
Owner/Operator Mr. Fitness LLC
svigue@mr-fitness.org
(321)443-4411
www.Mr-Fitness.org
"Changing the world one body at a time!"
"Trainer to Thousands!"
"The guy with the curly blonde hair!"
"Make sure you breathe!"

Sean is back in Central Florida!

I flew back into Orlando today so my classes are back and better then ever for 2008! No 2 classes are ever the same and they are open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels.

Keep checking back for news to vastly improve your life!

Sean Vigue

Keep striving

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."

-Frank A. Clark

Happy Saturday!

Sean Vigue

Guitar Hero!

Mr. Fitness is HOOKED on this game! Great for the brain and great cardio if you jump around like I do during a loud, rockin' song!

That is all...

Joseph is the Man

Joseph Pilates was of course the founder of the most amazing exercise system known to man...the Pilates Method! There are Pilates classes that are set on machines called Reformers but these machines cost thousands of dollars and take up lots of space. I teach Pilates Matwork classes...all you need is a Pilates/Yoga mat. Matwork classes were the favorite of Mr. Pilates.

"Matwork teaches us that the Body is the finest and ONLY tool necessary for achieving physical fitness."
-Brooke Styler

So come and reawaken your body through movement and your mind through conscious thought!

Artisan Park Clubhouse Pilates Schedule

My Pilates classes at the Artisan Park Clubhouse in Celebration are open to all residents of Artisan Park and their guests. Classes are only $5 and you must bring a mat or towel. These classes are open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels. Please join us with classes for 2008 starting Wednesday, January 9th at 7 pm and then the regular schedule continues!

Saturday
10 am

Wednesday
7-8 pm

Contact me with any questions!

svigue@Mr-Fitness.org

The Dance Experience in Celebration, FL Schedule

The Dance Experience (321-939-3213) is located in downtown Celebration, Florida behind On a Roll deli. Classes last one hour, mats are provided and they are open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels. Classes are $10 each or 12 for $100. Here is the schedule:

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
Yoga 7-8 pm

Tuesday
Yogalates 7-8 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

Friday
Pilates 4-5 pm

Saturday
Pilates noon-1 pm

www.thedanceexperience.zoomshare.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Greetings!

Thank you all for making my company, Mr. Fitness LLC, such a HUGE success in 2007! I have had the absolute pleasure of teaching Pilates, Yoga, Yogalates and Spinning classes all over Central Florida with over 800 classes for the year. Being able to teach at so many diverse places and work with thousands of energetic and inspiring folks is what keeps it so much fun...and fun is what my classes are!

My promise in 2008 is to add to all the great work we have done and continue to inspire and transform your lives though these classes. Improving physically, mentally and spiritually, we can all change our lives for the better with each and every movement in class.

See you all in 2008!

Sean Vigue (currently in Wisconsin snowshoeing)

Almost chilly here!

Hello my friends!

I will be blogging here much more frequently starting tonight! Topics will range from whatever pops into my head be it fitness related or about wild buffalo.

This is the first almost chilly evening we have had here in Florida! I walked downtown Celebration to our October festival and watched a polka band. It doesn't get much better then that. Such a wonderful town I live in (-:

Until next time...

Sean

Yogalates at The Dance Experience!

I just added a Yogalates class to my schedule at The Dance Experience studio in downtown Celebration! The class will be every Tuesday from 7-8 pm and is a fusion of Pilates and yoga. Expect lots of yoga poses with plenty of core strengthening Pilates exercises added in for good measure and you will leave feeling refreshed and renewed

Hope to see you in class!!

Sean Vigue
Owner/Operator Mr. Fitness LLC

The funny art of Zen

ZEN SARCASM

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes!

9. If at first you don't succeed, sky diving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time.

On staff at Gold's Gym Orlando

I am now on staff at Gold's Gym located on Turkey Lake Road in Orlando. It is a magnificent, 10,000 + member gym and I will be teaching their Tuesday, 10:30 am Pilates Matwork class starting July 10, 2007. Come by and check out the gym and the class!

I hope to also teach a Spinning class there in the near future.

Stay healthy!

Sean Vigue

Summer Schedule at The Dance Experience!

Here is my summer schedule of Pilates and Yoga classes at The Dance Experience located in downtown Celebration right behind On a Roll Deli.

Monday
noon-1 pm Pilates
7-8 pm Yoga

Wednesday
noon-1 pm Pilates

Friday
4-5 pm Pilates

Saturday
noon-1 pm Pilates

Classes are $10 or buy 12 for only $100. Mats are provided!

Also teaching at the Artisan Park Clubhouse located in the Celebration neighborhood of Artisan Park. The Clubhouse is on Celebration Ave. as you drive into Artisan Park (located on the right). Classes are only $5. You must be a resident of Artisan Park or a guest of one. You may also come as my guest if you let me know.

Saturday 10-11 am Pilates
Wednesday 7-8 pm Pilates

I will see you in class!!

Sean Vigue
svigue@Mr-Fitness.org
www.Mr-Fitness.org LLC

Teaching at The Dance Experience Studio

I am now an instructor at The Dance Experience (321-939-3213) in Celebration, Florida. They are a relatively new studio in town that has been offering many fun and exciting classes and now they have Pilates and Yoga care of MOI! They are located behind On a Role Deli off of Market Street.

Here is the schedule:

Monday 7-8 pm (Yoga)
Wednesday noon-1 pm (Pilates)
Friday 4-5 pm (Pilates)
Saturday noon-1 pm (Yogalates)

If you live in the area check them out....if you don't just dream about the fun we would have in their 2 spacious studios. http://www.thedanceexperience.zoomshare.com/

Yoga to help computer users

Yet another benefit of practicing yoga!

Yoga Aids Computer Users
by Shirley Archer, JD, MA

Yoga instructors may want to incorporate traditional vision exercises into classes in order to benefit participants who work daily at computer screens. Computer workers who practiced yoga for 60 days improved visual comfort and reduced “dry eye,” according to a study published in Head & Face Medicine (2006; 2 [46]; www.head-face-med.com/content/2/1/46).
Since yoga practices are known to reduce eye strain among people with progressive nearsightedness, researchers at the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation in Bangalore, India, conducted a study with employees of a local software development company to determine whether yogic practices could assist professional computer users.

Two hundred and ninety-one male and female employees participated in the trial. An office assistant randomly assigned individuals to either the yoga group or the wait list control group. Members of the yoga group practiced yoga for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week. Practice consisted of 15 minutes of asanas, 10 minutes of pranayama, 10 minutes of joint exercises, 10 minutes of trataka or visual cleansing exercises and 15 minutes of guided relaxation. The trataka included two sets of eye exercises: (1) shifting the eyes in eight directions, while moving an extended thumb to direct the gaze; and (2) looking at a flame at eye level without blinking, while focusing and defocusing their eyes. Control group participants spent an equivalent amount of time engaging in their usual recreational activities.

After 60 days, members of the yoga group reported reduced visual discomfort. Study authors suggested that these improvements were the result of an improved ability to focus while remaining relaxed, which may have increased the blink rate that provides more eye lubrication. Previous studies have shown that individuals blink more when relaxed. Researchers noted that a limitation of this study was that improvements in comfort were based on self-reporting, rather than on well-recognized objective indicators of visual discomfort. More study was recommended, since yoga could provide a safe, beneficial, nonpharmacological treatment for a prevalent problem among office workers.

Funny article about Yoga from The Onion.com

Report: One In Five Women Training To Be Yoga Instructors
October 19, 2005 Issue 41•42

WASHINGTON, DC—According to a Department of Labor report on job retraining, 21 percent of American women are training to be yoga instructors, marking the highest level of female interest in the flexibility-and-spirituality-expansion industry since 1971. "One particular indicator is striking: All but 32 women in New York and San Francisco are now certified yoga instructors, specializing in either hatha, bikram, or ashtanga yoga," Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said. The report notes that the rising interest in yoga instruction has caused a commensurate depletion in the ranks of massage therapists and board-certified realtors.

Pilates and Spinning/Indoor Cycling

We all know that Pilates can help tremendously with a person's form no matter the sport or activity. Your core muscles as they relate to Cycling are all about form.

The 'proper' cycling position from the head down is as follows:

Head & Neck: Relaxed, neutral, looking forward

Upper Body: Relaxed with very little movement - 'Be still my upper body'

Arms / Hands: Relaxed, light on the handlebars (Are you getting an idea of relaxation yet?)

Knees: In close to the top tube or pointing forward, moving directly up & down (not side to side) A tight lower back can force your knees to stick out away from the body - Call for Pilates! Apparently women are the reverse, when they're tight they develop a 'knock knee' position.

Posture: Weight on the saddle, towards the back, chest up and breastbone forward, think long abs, stomach in. This posture allows you to lengthen and relax your lower back (Pilates anyone!) while remaining comfortable. If your hands are relaxed on the handlebars and can be easily lifted without shifting your weight, you're on the way. Neutral Spine plays a role here. Don't flatten the back and don't round it over, maintain the natural curves of your spine (Pilates again)

A Pilates regimen can help the cyclist with flexibility and core strength.

Source: allaboutpilates.com

Pilates in everyday life

Everyday Life

No matter what you do during the day, washing, ironing, picking up the kids, working at a computer, running, feeding the pets etc etc. All of these activities can be enhanced by bringing Pilates into your daily life, and we don't just mean working out. The basic principles of Pilates, like neutral spine, shoulder stability, using your abs to support your spine and upperbody will help you to strengthen while at the same time ease some of those aches and pains caused by under or over-use of muscles.

So many of my clients share stories of performing normal tasks around the house that used to be uncomfortable or even painful but now that they practice Pilates those pains are gone! It is always exciting when my clients take their new "Pilates Bodies" out into the world and feel, see and know the difference that they have made.

10 Foods for a Good Night's Sleep

10 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep

Want a good night’s sleep? Put down the pill bottle and head to the kitchen. Some foods help relax your body and quiet your mind while others stimulate the production of sleep-inducing melatonin and serotonin. Choose from this list of foods to help send you to dreamland.

Bananas.
Bananas contain magnesium to relax muscles, and also melatonin and serotonin as well. Warm milk. Mom was right — the amino-acid tryptophan found in milk acts like a sedative, and the calcium helps the body use it.

Potatoes.
Potatoes cancel out the acids that can interfere with snooze-inducing tryptophan.

Chamomile tea.
A long-time staple of teas formulated for drinking before bedtime, chamomile acts as a mild sedative. Oatmeal. Oats are rich in melatonin — and are filling, so as to tide you over during your journey through the land of Nod.

Cheddar cheese.
A wedge of cheddar cheese is also rich in tryptophan.

Honey.
A bit of honey to sweeten tea or warm milk will help your brain switch off orexin, a neurotransmitter that helps keep you alert.

Whole-wheat bread.
Add a piece of toast to tea that’s sweetened with honey, and insulin will help convert tryptophan to serotonin.

Almonds.
Heart-healthy almonds also contain tryptophan and magnesium.

Turkey.
Loaded with tryptophan, a couple of slices of turkey on whole-wheat bread will help bring a restful night’s sleep.

Source: Newsmax.com

Smart eating choices

It can be difficult to know which foods are the most beneficial to you and when and how often should you eat them. Here is a short and informative list of some dos and don'ts of eating. Try to eat at least 5 small meals a day and you will keep your metabolism burning all through the day. Wherever you go bring these healthy snacks along in a tupperware container and eat on the go!

In order to eat healthy, what foods should you always have in the house?
Eggs, yogurt, skim milk, veggies, your favorite lean proteins (such as fish, tofu and lean cuts of chicken and beef), brown rice, olive oil, herbs and spices.

What are some healthy on-the-go snacks to keep in your purse?
Nuts (especially almonds, which have mostly heart-healthy fats), raisins, dried fruits and rice cakes. Keep a list of your favorite healthy foods in your purse, too, so when you're hungry and stop by the store, it is easy to make a smart food choice.

What foods should you avoid?
Fried food, soda, white bread, preservatives, bacon and mayonnaise. Also avoid adding extra sugar, salt or butter when you're cooking. But at the same time, don't be afraid to eat the things you really enjoy, as long as it is just a handful every now and then.

What happens if you mess up and eat more than just a handful........say, a pint of ice cream?
Forgive yourself. It's hard to go from eating anything and everything to eating totally healthy. Just move on and keep trying your best. Changing your lifestyle is a process, sometimes a lengthy one. The important thing is that you're on your way.

Source: Good Housekeeping

Pilates on Disney Property

I have recently become the Pilates Instructor on Disney property with classes beginning on January 22nd in the Animation Building at MGM Studios! The classes will be Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 pm and filled-up within a couple days. I believe there is a hunger out there for Pilates Matwork classes and all the benefits they have to offer. I hope to teach additional classes on property and will keep everyone posted.

I will also start working for Orange Lake Resort as their Yoga and Pilates Instructor with two classes a week starting at the end of January. Orange Lakes is a 5000 room time-share resort located about 10 minutes from Celebration off of 192. It is a very impressive facility and they have never offered these classes to guests before so I am very proud to do so. I have a large studio where classes will be held but we have also discussed doing them by the pool. Now that is the life!

Have a great Martin Luther King Jr. Day everyone!

Sean
Mr. Fitness

Mr. Fitness Journal

I will be posting here much more frequently now and be discussing all topics health, fitness and life. Think of it as a fitness journal.

So keep stopping by and see what I have. If you have questions or concerns please let me know.

Sean Vigue
Mr. Fitness LLC
www.Mr-Fitness.org