BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND SAILING TRIP 2011

 
We are having some cold dreary weather here in Tennessee, so I pulled out this video recap I put together after our 2011 British Virgin Islands sailing trip.  Watching this made me warm and happy inside 🙂  Thought I’d share in case any of you need to escape to the Islands!
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SPINACH SMOOTHIE

Tonight my boy didn’t want to eat his spinach, so I made him a spinach smoothie.
…because I love him.
 
Don’t forget to eat YOUR veggies!
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LOOKING BACK ON 2012 FITNESS VACATION

One year ago, a group of us experienced the most amazing healthy week at THIS house
We learned to make good food choices together, practiced practical food prep that we could translate into life when we came home, and enjoyed yummy healthy drinks like THIS
We exercised 2 times a day, and we LOVED every minute because our gym looked like THIS
And when it was time to relax and recover, 
we were HERE
If you are feeling a bit jealous about now, I have good news.
There MIGHT just be another trip in the works for 2015!
We will also be playing with the NEW TYE4® in the workouts!
 
The crew will learn to use it and will be taking one home after our fabulous vacation!!!
EMAIL ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com FOR MORE INFO.
 
 
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ALLERGY FIX FOR FALL

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR TO ENJOY…

 
 
BEAUTIFUL CHANGING LEAVES
PUMPKIN PATCHES
 
 COOL CRISP AIR
 
and ALLERGIES.
ummmmm, no.
 
Sadly, allergies are ushered in along with this beautiful season.  I’m feeling it, and have already talked to a number of people this week who are being slapped with allergy symptoms.  
 
Here are A FEW THINGS we are doing as a family to fight back in hopes of enjoying the season!  If you are getting “snotty” (as my boy calls it),  try this out… 
 


1.  Pull out the SINUS RINSE!  I am making myself do this at least 2 times a day now that I feel the “stuff” all up in my head and face.  My whole family uses this when needed.  This will prevent a sinus infection better than anything else I know.  At times, my kids will even ask to use if because they know they feel better afterwards!  I use NEILMED SINUS RINSE


DO NOT USE TAP WATER!
 
Use clean and previously BOILED water, DISTILLED, or FILTERED WATER throughout a 0.2 micron filter!
 
 
2.  Drink THROATCOAT TEA.  LOVE THIS! 
 
3.  Reduce the “stuff” and inflammation in your face and lungs by removing GLUTEN and DAIRY from your diet. 
 
ALSO, DO THIS…
  •  take a good whole food multivitamin daily 
  •  get plenty of sleep
  •  dring lots of water
  •  eat clean 
  •  eat GARLIC
 Give your body a fighting chance!
Take care of YOURSELF so you can enjoy the BEAUTY of this SEASON!
 
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW IF YOU HAVE OTHER WAYS OF FIGHTING OFF THE UNWANTED ALLERGIES!
 
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NOV. TYE4® TRAINING WORKSHOP- SIGN UP NOW!

TYE4 Training Workshop for
Pilates Instructors
Barre Studios
Group Exercise
Dance Studios
Gymnastics Coaches
Martial Arts Instructors
Personal Trainers
Physical Therapist
Saturday
NOVEMBER 23   2-5 pm
 
Located at 
Life Fitness Academy South
620 Church St. E
Brentwood, Tn  37027
Register HERE
Limited space so DON’T WAIT!
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GUEST PRESENTATION AT SCHOOL – DIY FUN!!!

My daughter, Taylor, attends a super cool school called Cedar Hall.  It’s a school on a farm!  The classical learning style helps develop a love of reading, learning and exploring.  
The hands-on “farm” learning teaches the students about life and gives application to what they are learning.  
WE LOVE IT!
 
I was honored last week when I was invited to do a demo and show the kids how easy it is to make chemical-free common household (and school) products. 
 
 IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!
The entire Middle School.
 
As you can see, I pulled out my stash of goodies from my “chemistry lab” and handed out a sheet with the recipes for them to follow.
Are YOU curious as to what we made???
Well, I thought I’d be a nice blogger and share with you 🙂

(click for recipe)
 
(click for recipe)
We made hand soap and all-purpose spray for both the girls and the boys bathrooms.  Each decided on the essential oil “flavor” they wanted.
(click for recipe)
 
TOOTHPASTE
We all made a batch to take home and try out. 
* 1 part Baking Soda
* 1 part Coconut Oil
* 5-10 drops of essential oil:
peppermint  spearmint  eucalyptus  grapefruit
lemon  lime  cinnamon  rosemary  orange
* And everyone gets their own toothpaste container! 
 
NO DOUBLE DIPPING IN MY TOOTHPASTE!!! 
The spearmint was the most popular, followed by peppermint and orange.  A few tried cinnamon and we decided it “tasted” like those Christmas cinnamon brooms… 
so not for me.
I did warn the kids that this tasts/feels salty because of the baking soda.  Add more coconut oil if you want and you can add a little stevia or sugar to sweeten it… but that seems weird to me because we are trying to remove sugars from our teeth, but some recipes add it.  
Check out how easy this is on my DIY Toothpaste video.


 Right now Tropical Traditions has their Coconut Oil on Sale!
This is no doubt the best quality you can get and I absolutely LOVE this awesome company.  
Click HERE to take a look and buy.

STUFF TO KNOW ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS
* Citrus oils pul toxins out of plastics and should only be used with glass.
* Essential oils should not be used undiluted on the skin.  Some can be used with “carrier oils, waxes,     butters, alcohols, or other diluting measures
* Do not take essential oils internally – especially wintergreen and eucalyptus
* If you’re allergic to a food, you will be allergic to that oil.
* Most essential oils are high in antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral properties… good for cleaning!
* If you use product on a child under 5 yrs, use half the amount of essential oils
* Always test a small area of your skin first to make sure it isn’t  going to irritate your skin
Click HERE for other DIY Products I make!
I buy all of my DIY products from 
They have an impressive amount of high quality brands to choose from, with such a LOW price!  Shopping HEALTHY, NATURAL, and ORGANIC doesn’t have to be expensive!  
Check them out HERE and order a few Essential Oils to start your own Homemade Collection!
And if you’ve never shopped with Swansons before you will get a $5 coupon as a THANK YOU for choosing them!
Here are some of the wonderful products that came to my door last week from SwansonVitamins.com
Tis the season!
LOVE THIS!
Frankincense & Myrrh!
My absolute favorite Natural Deodorant!
Finally something that works!
Makes the winter season a little less cold (along with my UGGs!)
Go shop and I’d love to know what you pick up!
Goodbye for now,
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HEADFLOATER™

This is such an exciting time!
 
TheMethod Pilates 
has some amazing new products that we all should take advantage of.

 

HeadFloater™

This is a brilliant, simple looking headband with bungees that you pull to create compression around the head.  It’s hard to explain until you’ve tried it, but it feels so good and does so much good for the neck, shoulders, and spine when it’s used.

Short term use:  It relieves neck pain and shoulder tension!  After using it, my head feels lighter.

Long term use:  It will correct “Head Forward Syndrome”

Pre-Workout use: I use the HeadFloater in the morning and before bed, but this week I found a new need for it… right before I workout!  Occasionally I will do kettlebell swings in the morning for a quick, muscle confusing, full body workout.  I usually do 100 swings and then eat breakfast.  Well, on this particular morning I thought it would be good to use my HeadFloater after my swings.  So I did.  When I stood up after using it, I thought, “NOW I feel like I’m ready to do swings.”  My posture felt right and my back felt more engaged (very important for kettlebell swings), so I did a few more swings… 100 more because I felt strong and balanced – more so than the first set.

 

I already knew that HeadFloater sets your head correctly above your body after the use, but this experienced opened my eyes to its value along side exercise.  No matter what type of exercise you do, good posture is important to keep the body safe and to work the muscles you are intending on working!

Oh, I should tell you:  This takes less than 5 minutes to use and fits in your purse or desk drawer.  Could not be easier to get an adjustment whenever you need!

So there. PURCHASE HeadFloater TODAY!- $35  Take it to the gym and use it before your next class or session or pull it out after a long, stressful conference call or hours bent over at the computer… or after an uncomfortable flight or a bad night sleep.  

HeadFloater in Pilates Style Magazine – Full Article HERE

TYE4®
The other SUPER EXCITING THING hitting fitness now is the TYE4.  The more I use it, the more I LOVE it… and so does everyone else!
More about it HERE.
 
My kids have been begging to use it and I kept saying (especially to my 8 yr old) “It just won’t fit you.”  Well he really wanted to try, so I thought I’d show him I was right….  OOOPS, I was wrong and it did adjust to his size!  I had to grab my camera becasue my kids were having so much fun playing with it and being creative.  Watch this 40 sec. video and remember, I gave them NO instruction! (Of course they have watched me use it)

PURCHASE TYE4 wearable resistance system HERE.  Workout at home and add momentum to your workouts for faster results!
FULL TYE4 VIDEO WORKOUTs ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

finalposter
 
 
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DIAMOND CANDLE GIVEAWAY WINNER is…

CONGRATULATIONS 
Glenda Sorrells!!!!
 
YOU ARE THE WINNER OF THE 
DIAMOND CANDLE GIVEAWAY!!!
 
Once you burn your new candle down enough to get your ring, I hope you will share it with us!
 
And anyone else who will now be ordering a candle!!!  They have wonderful fall scents that you will want!
Check out all the candles HERE.
Don’t forget: this is a sweet, easy gift to give for the Christmas Season around the corner!
 
If you missed my Diamond Candle Review, come check it out HERE.
 
Have a great Fall day!
 
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FITMARK GUEST BLOG: TYE4®

 Fitmark has a great blog for fitness enthusiasts written by an impressive list of Fitmark Ambassadors.  I have the privilage of being one of them!  
“We are a group of athletes across the globe coming together to promote health, fitness, style, and success.” Fitmark
 
I’m excited today because FitmarkBags.com just published my TYE4® Review post!  Come over and read it.  After, you will understand how Tye4 will enhance your workout and how I am using it in my TYE4 Fusion Class and the TYE4 Pilates Class.  
 
Read it HERE.
If you like it, SHARE it!  
Thanks for helping spread the word!
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TYE4® PILATES VIDEO – DEMO

In this video I am doing a Pilates sequence using the TYE4® in a 
LEG BUNGEE FRONT CROSS (LBFC) position.
 
Basically, you will put the right foot strap on the LEFT foot 
and the LEFT foot strap on the RIGHT foot.  
The bungees will cross in the front near your core. 
 
I do not use the arm bungees in this sequence, so I have tied them around my waist to get them out of the way.

Using TYE4 while doing Pilates is like doing Reformer Pilates.  The bungees are the springs. That’s pretty fantastic.  If you have a TYE4, I hope you will try this!  For more TYE4 info, check out TheMethodPilates.com
 
Buy TYE4 $75
email ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com

We will be using TYE4 on 
HEALTH & FITNESS VACATIONS  
Consider being a part of this unique, life changing opportunity.
 
Get a group of 8-10 people… book your week retreat… and get your trip for FREE!
 
ALL INCLUSIVE
WORKOUTS ON THE BEACH
WORKOUTS ON THE ROOFTOP
COACHING IN THE KITCHEN
CHEMICAL-FREE HOME WORKSHOPS
FABULOUS POOL & HOT TUB
SPA MOMENTS and more
 
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