Healthy snacking, full enjoyment !

No guilt added. Full enjoyment !

If you know me a little bit you know I am always thinking of food; eating it, contemplating it, photographing it, sharing it… and of course, I love snacking.

I eat often throughout the day. I would usually have a substantial breakfast when I first wake up, a mid-morning snack, a light lunch, a snack mid-afternoon and an early dinner with sometimes a snack an hour or so before going to bed (I warned you; I eat a lot ha-ha). I teach most nights, and don’t like going to bed with a full stomach, so I usually have my dinner before I start teaching at around 6 pm.

I have been asked this question so many times; what healthy snacks are available out there?

So many of us get cravings and are tempted to have something unhealthy as a quick solution to stop those cravings.

Snacks can be healthy, simple, and nutritious – despite what you might think. Even a banana or a few nuts can pull you through till the next meal time – you just have to get creative and prepare a little bit in advance. So, to make it easier for you I’ve gone and compiled some of the snacks and treats I couldn’t live without – all dairy, gluten, and sugar free (because I don’t want anyone to feel left out here!).

They’re also all really good at sustaining energy so you won’t get dragged down by a sugar crash. Fruit and raw nuts are my favourite!

Any sort of fruit you enjoy – sometimes just an apple or a banana will be enough to satisfy your hunger.

Fruits and Nuts

Raw nuts are a good source of healthy fats and carbohydrates. Whilst fruits are a great source of energy. These are high in natural sugars, so it’s best to try and have them any time before lunch - that way you still have the afternoon and evening to process these calories.

Some useful combinations include having a banana with some raw almonds or peanut butter, or some apple slices with pecan nuts. Blueberries and cashews nuts go really well together, as do strawberries and pistachios. If your craving a more citrus taste then try having a clementine or orange with a handful of walnuts – a great little snack for a long day.

Also, if you prefer drinks over food, then a really great smoothie as a pre or post workout is frozen banana, a tablespoon of peanut butter, and brewed black coffee – trust me – don’t knock it until you try it!

Air-Popped Popcorn

A really easy to prepare alternative you can try out is air-popped popcorn. All you have to do it place some popcorn kernels in a pot with some coconut oil, put the lid on and medium heat for a few minutes until the popping slows down – and BOOM – delicious popcorn. You can spice things up a little by adding any seasoning you like; like cinnamon, red pepper flakes, cumin, turmeric, or dried rosemary etc.

Dark Chocolate

Cacao is great source of magnesium, which is also a very handy natural stress-reliever. As long as you make sure chocolate is 70 percent cacao or higher you’re all set for a delicious snack that your body and your mind will thank you for.

Roasted Chickpeas or Hummus

You can do these yourself at home for a really easy snack that’s packed with protein. The taste is largely up to you, and if you want to make them a bit more interesting you can add a different seasoning every time.

Hummus is also easy to prepare. You just need a food processor to mix all the ingredients together. And voila! It is ready to go. You can have it on some rye break or with vegetables sticks such as carrots, celery, etc.

Protein Bars

It is really important you guys choose the right protein bar because there are so many out there and not all of them are as great as they make themselves out to be. Most of them are full of artificial and refined sugars and other unhealthy ingredients. I stick to Arbonne, TREK or CLIFF as my top go-to brands as these stay away from the junk and keep it clean.

Boiled Egg

If I am going to be working from home in the morning I would boil some eggs the previous evening so I can have one mid-morning as part of my snack between breakfast and lunch. But remember! No one will be thanking you if you get one of these out of you bag in the office or on a train – they don’t smell amazing! So if you’re craving a great source of protein as a snack, don’t tell them I told you about them!

Avocado

This is one of the easiest and most delicious foods available on the go. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit out and with a spoon start eating the avocado. You can also spread it on to a piece of toast if you like.

Get snacking and enjoy these guilt free and nutritious snacks!

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What is Barre?

One of the most common questions people ask when I’m teaching is “Sabina, what is Barre?”. After living and breathing it for the past few years, I admit I’m guilty of sometimes taking for granted that people might not know exactly what I’m going on about! But with so many good things Barre can do for you and your body, I think it’s really important you guys understand what it is, and some of the benefits you might get so we’re all on the same page here.

Barre basically takes all the best bits from Pilates and Yoga and shakes them up with a ballerina inspired twist. Using postures inspired by ballet, the exercises really help you to focus on strengthening your core muscles in a way you might not be used to. The aim is to try and hold yourself still in specific poses whilst also adding in a few reps here and there of small movements. The exercises can sometimes use a bar for support – but can be done without as part of a Pilates routine for example.

Now, before those of you who think you’re not agile click away – hear me out – no one will be standing on their toes or bending over backwards (only if you really want to or it is advisable). The exercises focus on the lower body areas like the calves, knees, thighs, and those all-important glutes that we’ve come to know and love. Because you’re holding the muscles in these areas for long times, this can lead to a little bit of shaking as the posture gets harder to keep up. For anyone who hasn’t ever had this – it’s not painful don’t worry – and for those who have and think it’s because they’re unfit or not strong, this isn’t the case at all! If anything, a little wobble is reassurance that you’re working hard and doing the posture correctly.

When I teach, I like to vary the kinds of apparatus we use to keep classes fun and accessible for everyone no matter their skill set. So sometimes we might use a bar for support, sometimes not, and sometimes (if you’re ready to bring your a-game) we might use things like resistance bands or small weights to make sure you really feel each rep!

So now you know the basics, you might be wondering if Barre is really for you. Obviously I’m a little biased, so I asked a couple of people what got them started, inspired, and engaged in the practice. Like Pilates and Yoga, I find people often take up Barre because it helps them become the best version of themselves that they can be, it makes them feel that little bit happier, and helps them if they just want to be healthier in the long run. The excitement of trying something new and a little bit different seems to have made Barre increasingly popular in the past few years. Because many of the classes can be combined with Pilates too, you don’t have to jump into a completely new way of moving and working out – you already know the basics!

So, if you’re ever stuck for something to do on a rainy day or need some you-time, Barre is a fantastic exercise to try out. It’s perfect for anyone with an interest in bettering themselves, no matter how fit or how much experience they have and I highly recommend for anyone to just give it a go.

Meet me at the barre!!

Sabina :)

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Why should I do Pilates?

Why should I do Pilates?

People get into Pilates for many reasons. It could stem from caring about their health, wanting to look good, or simply because their friends are singing the benefits. No matter what your reason is, it’s always important to know the ‘why’ behind the motives so here’s a little extra inspiration!

For me personally, I see five main benefits that Pilates provides to my students every single day, and if you stick with it then these benefits can become visible in everything you do!

1.- Unshakeable Core Strength

The most obvious benefit of Pilates is how it affects your ‘core’ – basically those muscles in the centre of your body. These are essential for making moving about your everyday life with ease, and need to be looked after if you want to keep it that way! Pilates works to reinforce all of the abdominal muscles so your everyday becomes easier and you feel stronger – all whilst building a lean body.

2.- Mental Health Boost

Most of us can admit to getting caught up in our everyday lives and forget to tend to ‘me’. Taking this time out to focus on how you’re really feeling can give a great boost of self-esteem and a new perspective. Something that may have been troubling you all day suddenly seems smaller, and that class you were too tired to go to becomes a place you can really relax and feel yourself.

Through regular practice, your understanding of how your body works and its limits become clearer. So acknowledging and accepting that some poses may be more difficult is something that motivates rather than discourages you. This change in mind-set can extend to all aspects of your life, and make overcoming challenging times in the future less demanding.

3.- Flexibility Guaranteed

Pilates isn’t just for making you stronger, but it’s also great for stretching and lengthening muscles over time! Not being able to touch those just-out-of-reach toes isn’t your shameful secret anymore – you’re flexible, you just need to let your body know. Pilates helps to gradually work all your muscles uniformly to increase how bendy you can be in a gentle, low impact way. Paired with a stronger core, this makes for one healthy body that you’ll thank yourself for later.

4.- Protect Your Future Self

This benefit applies to a fair amount of exercising in general, however, the specific ways Pilates can prepare you for later life is one of the reasons it’s so popular today.

If you’ve ever been sat at a desk all day or just gotten in from carrying the shopping at some point you may have noticed that annoying back pain is at it again. Pilates works the spinal column and vertebrae overtime to reduce and prevent any discomfort brought on by your daily life. With more of us having desk-based jobs too, taking 30 minutes out of your day to make sure your spine is fine is more important than ever.

Taking care of yourself with Pilates can also help to improve blood circulation in the future, make yourself feel more awake, and make future recovery from injury faster.

5.- Stay Balanced – Inside!

Pilates is an exercise, and most exercises can help support a healthy brain and emotional attitude. But the process of lengthening and stretching muscles has the effect of reducing muscle tension which can either cause or exacerbate stress/anxious symptoms.

Without getting too technical, Pilates has so many great benefits that can become apparent after just a handful of sessions. By being so low impact, yet still challenging, it’s open to anyone who’s willing to give themselves that first step up. Everyone’s reason for taking up Pilates is unique, and finding yours could be the start of getting into shape, beginning rehabilitation, ensuring future health, or simply making yourself happier!

I’ve seen Pilates help so many people through difficult times over the last few years, so whatever your reason for wanting to start, it’s the right one!

See you on the mats soon! Book here.

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