Have you met Stephanie yet?

Stephanie started training at Vancouver Mind-Body Centre last Spring. It has been almost a year since then and she has come a long way. She started with personal training, only once a week. Then slowly moved into group classes. She now regularly attends two Kettlebell classes a week, and is working on fitting in a third.

When we asked why she chose VMBC this is what she had to say: “I have three young kids and when I have time to myself I want to relax, not work out. In order to successfully integrate a workout routine into my life, I needed a gym that was easily accessible. VMBC is close to my house, the classes are affordable, offered around the clock, only 30 minutes long and I could bring my baby!”

Remember climbing ropes in gym class? Stephanie does, and she finally made it to the top. “Rope climbing was a part of fitness assessments in elementary school. It was something I always wanted to do, but always failed at doing. One evening, a couple of months ago, after receiving a great tip for rope climbing, I attempted to climb the rope. To my immense surprise, pleasure and pride I climbed quickly to the top. Reaching the top made me feel strong, fit and glad I’d made the commitment to work out.”

Training should not just be about what you can do in the gym but rather how it effects your quality of life outside of the gym. Stephanie knows this well.

“After three pregnancies and very little strength training my body felt weak and soft. Since I’ve started training at VMBC I’ve felt so much stronger in my body, especially through my core. I can now easily do multiple sit-ups, whereas a year ago I could barely do one. And more importantly, I can more easily meet the demands of my three kids. I can carry them for longer, chase them through the park and throw them up in the air.” Isn’t amazing how taking just a little extra time for yourself, even as little as 1 to 2 hours a week, can help you interact with those around you better.

We look forward to helping Stephanie continue to move forwards with her health and fitness, and if she keeps consistent we are sure she can only get better. Are you ready to get started on your health and fitness journey? If so why not try a FREE class? If you have already started you may like to forward this on to a friend who needs a little inspiration.

How Anthony Bourdain lost 35lbs

Have you ever taken a trip and come back 10lbs heavier? Now imagine the weight you would put on if your full time job was traveling and eating all of the worlds best foods. That is exactly what Anthony Bourdain does. So how does he keep from becoming over weight? The answer: Jiu-Jitsu.

Bourdain told the New Yorker that “Since he started doing jujitsu, three years ago, he has lost thirty-five pounds.” Not an easy feat for a celebrity chief in his 60’s. Now it’s not only the exercise, it never is. Training Jiu Jitsu has also changed the way Bourdain thinks about food.

“Now that he trains nearly every day in jujitsu, he tries to eat and drink more selectively. “Off camera, I don’t go around getting drunk at night,” he said during the meals we shared when he wasn’t shooting, Bourdain didn’t so much gorge himself as graze. A big bowl of pasta is hard to enjoy if you know it will render you sluggish the next morning, when a crazy-eyed mixed martial artist is trying to ease you into a choke hold.” (Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker 2017)

If you want to eat like Anthony check out his Acai bowl recipe over at A.V. Club. If you want to train like him try one of our NEW Jiu Jitsu classes at Vancouver Mind-Body Centre.