Shoulder LOVE @ lululemon athletica

Sunday February 21, 2010 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
472 Bergen St (at Flatbush)
Q to 7th Ave, 2/3 to Bergen


By now you know the drill... Join me for another great *FREE* workshop @ lululemon athletica!


Show your shoulders some LOVE!


Our favorite Thai yoga masseuse is back!!

Do you have tense shoulders, a tight neck, and rounded chest? Sitting at your computer all day, stress, and even the February cold air can make your upper body stiff.


Don't you wish your friend/lover/roommate knew how to rub your shoulders and stretch your neck?

In this workshop you will learn partner stretches and Thai bodywork techniques to relieve your neck and shoulder tension. You don't want to miss this!


We will combine stretching, reflexology, energy line work, yoga poses, and massage to decrease pain, increase flexibility, and improve circulation. Your instructor, Elyse Sparkes (www.sparkeswellness.com), will lead you through exercises where you will be both the giver and the receiver of the stretches. Bring a friend so you'll be able to practice these new stretching techniques at home!

*Be prepared to work in comfy clothes and bare feet*

Did I mention?... It's *FREE*!

Valentine's Partner Stretch Class

There's still space available in Valentine's Partner Stretch class this Thursday!!

Click here to sign up by Paypal
or
Email esparkes@gmail.com


Thursday, Feb. 11th

8-9:30pm

@ Conscious Body Studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn

575 5th St. between 8th Ave & Prospect Park West, 2nd floor

F train to 7th Ave stop



Ever wish your friend/lover/roommate could massage your shoulders or stretch your back?

Bring them to this fun, original event!

In this class you and your partner will learn Thai massage and partner stretching techniques in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

Partner stretching and Thai massage combine stretching, reflexology, energy line work, yoga poses, and massage to decrease pain, increase flexibility, and improve circulation.


You'll leave with simple and effective techniques to practice at home. Plus there will be healthy treats and surprise gifts!!!!

You won't want to miss it.

I'm a Celiac Chick

As many of you know I'm a Celiac Chick! (Remember my Gluten Free Thanksgiving post?)

I live with Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that destroys the lining of your small intestine when you eat foods containing gluten.

Once you get diagnosed it's not too bad! If you eat a gluten free diet (no wheat, rye, barley, or any derivatives of proteins found in those foods), your symptoms will disappear and your health will improve.

Thanks to growing awareness it's easier to buy gluten free foods at grocery stores and find meal options at restaurants. Plus you can find a bunch of resources on the Internet. My favorites are the Celiac Chicks website, a hip & healthy guide to gluten free living, and the NYC Celiac Meetup group.

When I was in Asheville, NC over the holidays I stumbled upon the Posana Cafe, %100 gluten free! I was so impressed with this place that I wrote a guest blog about it for the Celiac Chicks website.

To read it and see more pics, click HERE!

Chocolate-Raspberry Truffle Cake w/almond ice cream (%100 gf)

YOGA: Strength & Stretch

Stretch class is back by popular demand, and with a new twist!

*Now at the Conscious Body Studio in Park Slope*

4 Wednesdays in February (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th) @ 6:30-7:30pm
Conscious Body Studio in Park Slope (5th street between 8th Ave & PPW)

YOGA: Strength & Stretch class will focus equally on building your strength, endurance & increasing your flexibility.


This class will invigorate your physical body, calm your mind, and bring balance to your practice on and off your mat.

You will:

* develop long lean muscles
* feel more grounded and open
* condition your arms, legs, & core
* have limited class size for personal attention
* receive modifications for injuries or special conditions
* increase your breath awareness


4 weeks for $75 *Limited Class Size.
$20 dollar drop in rate *(if room is available)

Register by Jan 30th: email esparkes@gmail.com to sign up.

Hamstring Showdown Success!!

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the Hamstring Showdown Workshop at lululemon athletica last Sunday!


It was a huge success. The lululemon athletica Brooklyn Showroom was packed with people learning about Thai yoga massage, partner stretching, and how to effectively increase hamstring flexibility.


Check out some pics!



Partners chatting before we started


Elyse introducing Thai yoga massage



Missed this event? Don't fret!

Stay tuned for details about the Valentine's Day Couples Stretch Workshop!!!

*NEW* location: Conscious Body Studio

I am so excited to have a new home studio in Park Slope!

I will start holding classes and private sessions in this studio starting next Wednesday, January 27th!

This studio is:
• conveniently located (5th st. between 8th Ave & PPW)
• warm, bright, and inviting
• equipped with free weights, resistance bands, yoga mats & props
• quiet and calm for private sessions and Thai massage
• personal for classes and workshops
• close to F train, short walk from 2/3
• perfect for buddy sessions

Call me at 201-240-4228 or email esparkes@gmail.com to book a Thai massage, personal training, or yoga session at this new space!

Help for Haiti

Natural disasters strengthen our sense of community...I have received several different messages from local health organizations for ways to help the situation in Haiti.


Here's a list of ways to contribute through your local fitness centers:

Triomph Fitness, Health, and Wellness
540 President street
Brooklyn, NY
11215

"Clothing, hygiene products (men and women), canned foods, etc... will all be collected at Triomph this Saturday between 12-5p.m. Of course items can be brought in starting immediately, and we will continue to gather products well after Saturday."

Cobble Hill Fitness Collective
278 court street
Brooklyn, NY
11231

"Please stop by the Collective with your cash donations. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Clinton Foundation for rescue efforts."

Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
412 Myrtle Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

"Accepting donations to go to Operation USA."


List of other resources for help and donations: MSNBC world news

Hamstring Showdown *FREE* class

Thai Massage & Partner Stretch workshop @ lululemon athletica

Sunday, January 17th @11am

It's FREE. Bring a friend!

lululemon athletica
472 Bergen St
Brooklyn NY 11217
tel: (718) 636-6298


"Hamstring Showdown at the Showroom!! Have you always wanted to be able to bend down and touch your toes? Or, for those yogis out there, get closer to that split you've been working on? Well, with the help of a partner, you can!

In this workshop, fantastic Elyse Sparkes (dancer, personal trainer, and thai yoga masseuse extraordinaire!!) will teach us partner stretches and Thai bodywork techniques to lengthen our hamstrings for a more effective stretch.

Partner stretching and Thai bodywork combine stretching, reflexology, energy line work, yoga poses, and massage to decrease pain, increase flexibility, and improve circulation. In this dynamic workshop, Elyse will lead us through exercises where you will be both the giver and the receiver of the stretches - so bring a friend and take these techniques home with you!"

Plan an exercise-cation in 2010

HAPPY 2010 !

I had the pleasure of spending New Year's at Lindy Focus, a lindy hop dance festival in Asheville, North Carolina.

It was a 5 days full of dance classes, lectures, workshops, formal evening swing dances, and late late late night blues dances!!

One of the best things about this was that I was on vacation, but was still being super active! When I take time off from work I usually try to keep up my fitness, but usually somehow I get off track. At Lindy Focus my vacation was based around dancing!

Dancing might not be your drug of choice (I highly recommend it anyhow), BUT you can build a vacation around your favorite activity. Take an exercise-cation! You could hike, bike, ski, take a yoga retreat (like OM's), or anything that makes you move.

Plan an exercise-cation for 2010