Health & Wellness | maggie converse

Nov 30 2013

Health & Wellness, Inspiration, Uncategorized, wellness, Yoga

Salutation to The Dawn – the very life of life

My mother gave me a card to read the night before Ironman Lake Placid. Inside to the card, she gave me this poem, Salutation to the Dawn, which remains on my bulletin board as a reminder to make each day as fulfilling as it can be. Needless to say it was probably the perfect thing to read pre-Ironman!

Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life,
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendor of beauty,
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow only a vision,
But today well lived makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day!
Such is the salutation of the dawn.

Tagged salutation poem inspiration

Aug 21 2013

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Health & Wellness, Running, strength, workout

Simply Strength

I’m not a huge fan of working out at the gym. I would rather jump on my bike or go for a run in the park. Even in extreme weather conditions. Any chance I get, I would rather be outside.

That said, I know my body benefits greatly when I incorporate regular strength training into the routine. #snore. I know, it bores me to think of walking into my gym, awkwardly finagling free weights and bands and equipment and then leaving after 45 minutes feeling like I got absolutely nothing accomplished.

Thankfully, I have some folks in my life who are less awkward when thrown into a gym or weight-lifting environment. Take the trainers at Sherpa for example who provided this strength routine for me. It was a totally different feeling walking into my gym with a PLAN. I completed it this morning in 35 minutes, with just enough time for some stretching and foam rolling. I know my running, cycling, and nagging hip injuries will thank me for this. Now to make sure I keep up with it on a regular basis…

Here is my strength routine from this morning. If you don’t know what something is, ask me or you can reach out to Sherpa. I have provided videos which are also regularly updated on Sherpa’s Facebook page.

Always start with a warm-up … like this!

Split Lunge (8-10 each leg)
Row (heavy weight – 10 to 15 reps)
Lateral stepping with elastic band (20 reps each leg)
Scaption (10-15 reps)
Bridging (elevate feet on box or bench – 15 reps with 2 sec hold)
Push-ups (I aimed for 15)
3 core exercises of your choice (I chose side plank with leg lifts, forearms on a medicine ball moving the arms in and out, and navasana or boat pose)

Repeat all exercises 2-3 times.

Aug 07 2013

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Health & Wellness, Inspiration, Yoga

A poem about time … and how we spend it

“When they say Don’t I know you? say no.
When they invite you to the party
remember what parties are like
before answering.
Someone telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.
If they say we should get together.
say why? It’s not that you don’t love them any more.
You’re trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees.
The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished. When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven’t seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don’t start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.
Walk around feeling like a leaf. Know you could tumble any second.
Then decide what to do with your time.”
― Naomi Shihab Nye

Tagged naomi shihab nye, new project, poem, time

May 11 2013

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Food, Food & Wine, Health & Wellness, Uncategorized, Yoga

Summer Saturdays! Pop Up Yoga NYC comes to CT

It’s entirely possible that I love wine just as much as I love yoga so it goes without saying that I’m quite excited about this upcoming series of yoga classes & wine tastings that I will be leading next month in CT. Click the image to read more about it or click here for the Eventbrite page where you can also order tickets. Classes start the first Saturday in June at 4:30pm at Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit in Westport, CT.

It should also be noted that dogs are welcome!

Tagged beginner yoga, westport ct, wine, wine tastings, yoga

Feb 22 2013

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Food, Health & Wellness, Recipe, Uncategorized

Warm Me Up Chia Rice Cereal

I find it very hard to motivate to swim not only in winter but especially on a cold winter morning. Of course it helps to have a friend waiting for you at the pool, but it doubly helps to know you have this to come home to for breakfast!

Warm Me Up Chia Rice Cereal (makes 1 serving)

1/2 cup brown rice (already cooked)
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup milk (I like coconut milk)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp agave or honey
1/4 apple chopped
1/4 cup raisins
(You can substitute with any fruit of choice!)

Combine all ingredients in a 1 quart pot on the stove. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Let cool for 1-2 minutes and serve. You can also double (or quadruple!) the recipe and then just reheat it through the week, adding some liquid (preferably your milk of choice) each time.

Tagged breakfast, chia seeds, cold winter morning, recovery, rice cereal, swimming, training

Jan 26 2013

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Cycling, Health & Wellness, Triathlon, Uncategorized

Show Your Teeth!

Today was my 2nd indoor ride at Asphalt Green: a 75 min Strength and Cadence ride with Coach Neil. And I just have to say that despite the aching quads and beads of sweat dripping down my face, I loved every second of it.

A few reasons why today’s workout rocked my socks:

Coach Neil presented each and every one of us with a detailed print out of the workout. I thought this was absolutely adorable. (The poor guy sitting next to me forgot to pick up a towel so by the end of the workout, his sheet was a sweaty mess.)
Coach Neil never stopped smiling. Not once. And through the entire workout kept reminding us to “Show your teeth!” – or, smile!
After about 4 indoor riding/spinning sessions, I feel like I’m quickly getting back into cycling shape and am even more looking forward to the day when I can get on Nancy (my bike) and ride outside!

preparing the essentials

Show Your Teeth!

Tagged beads of sweat, bike and ride, health, Ironman, man, smile, spin, spinning, training, triathlon

Jan 24 2013

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Health & Wellness, Triathlon

And now, training begins

It’s been a LONG time since this puppy has seen the light of day but I dug it out for this morning’s Strength Spin workout at Asphalt Green. My first official 4:30am wake-up of the year. And now, Ironman Lake Placid training begins. Woot!