Inspiring Life from the Core

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Inspiring Life from the Core

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The Wellness of Wellbeing

written by Carol Crincoli, Pure Pilates Director

Has anyone ever said to you, “I am concerned about your well-being.” It’s such a loaded statement depending on the circumstances, but also confusing and vague.  Wellbeing, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “the state of being comfortable, healthy or happy.” I just love how they use the word “OR”. You may not be happy, but you’re healthy so kudos to you! 

I am continually striving for contentment. Like many, I find myself navigating highs and lows, but I crave authentic happiness and satisfaction in my life. I believe consistency is key to having any chance of achieving contentment and improving our wellbeing is a great place to start.

I share 5 suggestions to help you focus on your well-being.  My personal goal is to touch upon each one every day, but that may seem a bit overwhelming for some. Pick one and try to incorporate it into most days. After a week or maybe a month, notice if you see any improvements.  You’ll be surprised how attending to yourself and focusing on what you need can make a world of difference in your overall health.

 

1. Let the sunshine in! Boost your vitamin D with sunlight.  Exposure to sunlight releases serotonin from the brain which can improve your mood and help you to focus.

2. Move your body.  Now, I did not say exercise, but yes, working out is movement so if that’s your go-to, perfect.  Adding movement throughout your day can elevate your mood, decrease aches and pains and improve your focus.

3. Fuel your body with healthy things. Eating more whole foods and staying hydrated gives us the energy we need to conquer each day.  It’s not about dieting or “being perfect” when it comes to our food choices.  Elizabeth Girouard from Pure Simple Wellness uses the 80/20 rule when it comes to your dietary choices.  That means eating healthful foods 80% of the time, and saving your indulgences for the other 20%. No deprivation.

4. Sleep. Getting a restful, full night’s sleep is important for restoring our bodies.  It helps boost the immune system so we get sick less often. And like all the previous suggestions, sleep aids in a better mood and increased focus and concentration.

5. Connect.  If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that we need human connection for a better quality of life.  Interacting with others and building relationships has a major impact on our physical, mental, and emotional health.  Social isolation is bad for our overall health.

 

There are oodles of ways to give yourself the gift of self-care. Maybe you journal or meditate or disconnect from your electronics. I’d love to hear the tools that help you with your health and wellbeing. 

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Katie is a passionate mover who was brought to Pilates through dance. After a professional dance career, Katie discovered her love of teaching-connecting the mind and body, and working with students of all ages and levels. Her appreciation and understanding of everyone’s ever changing body and needs only became greater as her own body went through pre and post natal stages, an experience which has helped Katie navigate problem solving, and bring a freshness to each session making them feel personal and specific to each body’s needs. Her sessions are full of flow and aim to challenge clients with a sense of comfort, and often a little humor, all of which she has brought to Pure Pilates since 2016. Katie thinks the gift of movement and self care is one of the best things one can do for overall wellness, and is thrilled to seek and fulfill milestones and goals with each of her clients. When she’s not at the studio, Katie is taking care of her three little humans- another job that also makes her smile, laugh, and challenges her on the daily.
Eighteen years ago I discovered my love for Pilates. After having my two children, I felt the need to move my body again. At the time I was living in North Carolina, and worked through many different exercise and training programs. I discovered Pilates, and instantly knew it was right for me. Forteen years later, and a move to New Jersey, I decided to share my love of Pilates with other people looking for some way to move their bodies. Pilates has also been a way for me to keep me strong and flexible to continue many activities. My family loves to be active, and I often find when we are all together (mostly vacations) our days consist of activity and movement such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing(more on this later). As I have gotten older I find it even more imperative now that I keep my body strong. Recently I was in a skiing accident that left me with many knee injuries and ultimately having to go into surgery. I found being able to do light Pilates a few weeks after surgery kept me sane and ultimately helped with recovery time. Pilates has not only helped me be able to keep up with my children, but has also provided me with a body that is able to function at peak performance. My approach to Pilates can be described in one, simple word: movement. Movement can help you, both physically and mentally. Movement, and Pilates, is ultimately about self care. Having a built in time to focus on your body and movement can help relieve yourself of feeling tired, anxious, and stressed. Movement awakens you. Even after one session you can leave feeling calmer and energized.
Enjoyment of life through movement is a vital part of Kathy’s philosophy. When not in the studio she leads an active lifestyle trail running, cycling, skiing and hiking. She also loves connecting with people while traveling with family and friends. One of her favorite cycling trips was riding along the coast of northern California. Learning new things and sharing knowledge is also important to Kathy. She has a passion for food, likes to cook for her family and experiment with new recipes. She is currently trying to achieve the perfect pizza. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction and biographies. Her latest endeavor is learning to play golf.
Carol M. Crincoli, owner Pure Pilates studio, has been in the fitness industry since 1990, with experience in corporate and commercial fitness, recreational programming and teaching as an adjunct professor. She began practicing Pilates in 2003 and received Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute in New York, NY. She holds certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant. She was also accepted into the IDEA-PFT Recognition System as an Elite Level Personal Fitness Trainer. She is the only trainer in the NY-metro area for Trent McEntire’s Arcus equipment. Carol graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance. Opening Pure Pilates is the culmination of a lifetime dream, and her mission to "inspire life from the core" is a holistic approach to health and wellness—from exercise and nutrition, to stress management and self-care. Carol is also the inventor of 8th Avenue Rail, an organizing solution for Tower springs.