Maggie Downie, Author at Personal Euphoria: Pilates & Fitness Classes in CT

About Maggie Downie

Thank you for giving your time to stop and read my blog. I hope it encourages you to keep moving. Move and the body will be happier. And when you're moving you can hike, run, swim in Jell-O, race over non-Newtonian fluids, travel the world or build igloos--if that's your thing. If not, you can watch me do it. This is just a spot to try and feel good about life.

The Grand Canyon

The name is fitting. If nothing else the Grand Canyon is certainly grand. The size is enormous. There are rocks of every color. Red, oranges and yellows I expected, but the blues and greens in the landscape surprised me. When the moon sets in the morning, but before the sun comes up the stars are super bright and look like silver pinholes in the sky. But what impressed me the most was the silence. Once a mile down in the canyon, if you stop walking and just listen, you’ll find there is nothing to listen to. No helicopter tours; no raging Colorado River (unless you are within ear shot of the river because that is loud), no animal noises, no buzzing electrical wires, no people, no cars, no wind in the trees. I think it is the quietest place I have ever been. I would have thought that might be eerie, but I loved it. It was calming. For someone who can’t meditate and quiet the mind, it seemed great. It drew me in to appreciate the stillness […]

The Grand CanyonMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:41-04:00

Race Day

There is nothing you can do now. You’ve done all the preparing and you’ve eaten what you’re going to eat. Try to relax and take a few deep breaths before you take off. In Pilates we are always trying to control movement, but you simply can’t always control the body.

You have given it all the preparation you can and you have to trust in that. How running feels today, how dinner reacts, and whether or not you need to make a pit stop is somewhat out of your hands. Run and have fun. Good luck Hartford Half and Full Marathoners. Have a great run!

For information on Personal Euphoria & Evolution Pilates upcoming runner’s workshop click here.

Race DayMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:41-04:00

Run Your Butt Off

When you run, you should run your butt off—literally. It is the largest muscle in your body: USE IT. That muscle should give you the burst on each step. It should be what springboards you into your stride, especially going up a hill.

For information on Personal Euphoria & Evolution Pilates upcoming runner’s workshop click here.

Run Your Butt OffMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:41-04:00

Five Standing Exercises for Runners

Today we are posting two videos for runners. The first is a how-to of five different exercises and the second is less than five minutes long and I do the same exercises without explaining them so that you can do them with me as a routine.

These are five standing exercises, so they are great for right after a run. You can even keep your shoes on. Once you get the hang of it, you can do these exercises anywhere—while pumping gas, waiting for the microwave, or waiting in a line at the supermarket (and some of them are so subtle you may not even get any funny looks). The exercises challenge your balance while working your hip stabilizers, abs, and glutes.

For info on our upcoming runner’s workshop click here.

Personal Euphoria

Five Standing Exercises for RunnersMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:41-04:00

Five Best Exercises for Runners

In honor of the Hartford Marathon this Saturday all our blogs this week will be about running.

These five exercises are fabulous for runners—they stretch your quads and hams and work your glutes and abs. It’s like a runners dream all in five minutes or less.

For information on our upcoming runner’s workshop click here.

Personal Euphoria

Five Best Exercises for RunnersMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:41-04:00

Previous 818283 Next