Fall comfort foods can be tempting. How do you plan to strike a balance between enjoying seasonal treats and maintaining your fitness goals? I mean, we HAVE to make room for those pumpkin-spiced lattes, right??

We’re rewriting the fitness rulebook and inviting YOU to join our empowering movement. At Corefirst, boldness knows no boundaries and fitness welcomes ALL ages, genders, and fitness levels.

September will be a month of bold changes for Corefirst and the Corefirst App, it’s also a fantastic time of year to start thinking about establishing healthy habits. With summer winding down (we hate to see it) and routines beginning to change, maintaining a consistent fitness routine can be a challenge, but it's also a powerful way to ground yourself in the midst of uncertainty.

From shifting work schedules to unexpected life events, change is the backdrop against which we live our lives. It's during these times that our fitness routines often suffer… or THRIVE. Just as quickly as routines can be lost during these times, health habits can also be instilled just as easily! So, how can we cling to our fitness routines when even the leaves on the trees are going haywire? Let’s start with our top 3 tips:

1. Morning Rituals Mornings are the perfect time to squeeze in healthy habits, not only that, but you’ll also feel a fantastic burst of productivity getting things checked off the to-do list before the rest of the world is awake! Even just incorporating a 5- 10 minute Corefirst workout is enough to get the blood flowing and create a placeholder of sorts in your routine. Over time, work to increase the workout length and push yourself. Big change doesn’t have to happen overnight, it’s the small changes and longevity that add up!

2. Form a Habit Chain Think about this: when cooking pasta, first you grab a pot, then boil water in the pot, then throw in the pasta, etc. One move just flows into the next without thinking too hard, right? Perhaps after establishing your 10-minute-of-Corefirst-every-morning routine, you follow it up with a 5-minute Stretch Program class for a week. Then the next week, you tack on a protein shake after each workout…and so on. Chain these habits together until they become second nature and a standard practice! Adding a new “link” over time will breed consistency and durability to your new routine.

 3. Travel Companion:

With school and extracurricular activities kicking back in, as well as the holidays just around the corner (sorry, had to mention it!), being on-the-go is at an all-time high. Utilize the portability of the Corefirst and take it with you to your kid’s soccer practice or when staying at your in-laws for the holidays. If you can’t make time for it, make its versatility work for you!

A Quick Note: I see a lot of comments on our clients’ posts that show them using the Corefirst while camping, at their kid’s soccer practice, waiting on their car at the mechanics, on vacation, and in other less “conventional” situations for fitness, and see the repeated term of it being “embarrassing” or “ridiculous.” This is always surprising to me. Maintaining your fitness and health is (or should be) a part of everyone’s everyday life. I think we should start normalizing and commending people for having such dedication and drive to “fit it in” when they can. Especially for parents, it is so beneficial on multiple fronts for children to see their parents working out and taking care of their mental and physical health. But that’s a topic for another day…

How do you fit fitness into your schedule? Comment below!

Something BOLD is coming … Stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming soon!✨

Today, we're excited to explore the fascinating connection between resistance Pilates and cardiovascular health. At Corefirst, we're committed to helping you achieve a balanced, strong, and healthy body through our innovative resistance bands that mimic a Pilates reformer. Not only do we offer a plethora of exercise videos on our app and training platform, but we also strive to provide valuable insights into the numerous benefits of resistance Pilates, including its impact on cardiovascular health.

Let’s recap…What is Resistance Pilates?

Resistance Pilates is a form of exercise that combines traditional Pilates movements with resistance training using specialized equipment like Corefirst's resistance bands. These bands offer variable resistance, providing an extra challenge to your muscles as you move through Pilates-inspired exercises. Resistance Pilates targets both large and small muscle groups typically at the same time, engaging your entire body in a low-impact, yet highly effective workout.

Lay it down for me…what is cardiovascular health and why is it specifically important?

Cardiovascular health refers to the well-being of your heart and blood vessels. It is crucial for maintaining overall health and plays a significant role in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. Regular cardiovascular exercise can help improve heart function, lower blood pressure, increase good cholesterol (HDL), decrease bad cholesterol (LDL), and enhance circulation, among many other benefits.

Link it up….How do Resistance Pilates and Cardiovascular Health relate?

Many people associate cardiovascular exercise with activities like running, cycling, or swimming. While these activities are excellent for cardiovascular fitness, resistance Pilates can also play a vital role in improving heart health.

Elevated Heart Rate: Resistance Pilates exercises can elevate your heart rate, especially during high-intensity sessions. This sustained elevation increases cardiovascular endurance, strengthening your heart over time. OurBurn Program does a fantastic job at boosting heart rate and decreasing downtime between moves.

Improved Circulation: The dynamic movements and controlled breathing in Pilates enhance blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients more efficiently to your muscles and organs, including the heart.

Stress Reduction: Stress can have adverse effects on cardiovascular health. Resistance Pilates promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels, which contributes to a healthier heart. Our instructors regularly instruct on proper breathwork as well as form, helping you to dive deeper into moves and enhance relaxation benefits.

Enhanced Endurance: As resistance Pilates challenges your muscles, they adapt and become more efficient. This enhanced muscle endurance extends to the heart muscle, enabling it to pump blood more effectively throughout the body. The Corefirst has 3 different levels of resistance bands that you can grow with! Easily bump up to a higher resistance level, combine bands, or adjust your position by moving closer or further away from the anchor point for more of a challenge.

Balanced Blood Pressure: Resistance Pilates, with its focus on controlled movements, can help regulate blood pressure, reducing the strain on your heart and arteries.

Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for cardiovascular health. Resistance Pilates can aid in weight management by burning calories and toning muscles, making it an excellent addition to a well-rounded fitness routine.

While we’re on the topic…

We get asked often if resistance Pilates is an effective weight loss solution. We aren’t surprised as this method of exercise has had a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding it. However, it's essential to recognize that muscle is more metabolically active than fat. In other words, muscle tissue requires more energy (calories) to maintain itself compared to fat tissue. Building lean muscle through resistance Pilates and strength training can have a significant impact on your metabolism, even when at rest. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body burns throughout the day, helping you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

We are working the limbs today with this arms and legs 15-minute workout! Having strength and mobility in these areas is so important and can directly impact your ability to perform everyday tasks.

Have groceries to carry in from the car?
Have to pick up a child frequently?
Gardening, and struggling with aches and pains?

The ease of these tasks and your ability to prevent injury and strain can be improved with resistance Pilates! Even just with a few minutes of focused work per day.

Consuming enough protein through your diet is important for muscle growth and repair. What are some protein sources that work for you?

These areas of the body sometimes can be neglected, as often the arms, legs, and core get the most attention when it comes to exercises. Coach Courtney is going to take you through a fantastic workout that will strengthen and provide definition to these areas, and help you to break a sweat! Grab your Corefirst Blocks and hit the mat!

Even the smallest of wins really add up! What did you do this week (or didn’t do if that’s the goal) that made you really proud?

Hi Everyone! Fantastic work this week on the Sculpt & Shine Challenge! Here are the challenge winners:

Winner of an Accessory: Alesia Barrett (Check your email!)

Winners of a Month Free on the App: Leslie K & Deb Ortwerth (The free month has already been added to your accounts!)

Fantastic work everyone! We won't be having any more challenges this month, but you're going to love what we have cooking for the fall!!