Did you spice up your workout routine at the start of the new year? Maybe you increased the intensity of your work-outs at the gym, added a couple yoga classes to your weeks, or maybe you joined CorePower Yoga’s LiveLean program to shed lost pesky holiday pounds.

Even if you switched things up in January, it’s not uncommon to reach a plateau in your physical fitness or simply get bored from the monotony.

Senior yoga instructor, and one of the creators of CPY’s Bootcamp and LiveLean programs, Sheri Colosimo offers five tips to jumpstart things again:

1. Add a fresh new workout each week that your body isn’t used to. Try a kickboxing class or take a Hot Power Fusion yoga class. By adding something new to your normal routine, the body is forced to work harder.

2. Sign up for an event and follow the training schedule. Training for a 5k, triathlon or marathon will challenge you physically and mentally. Active.com is a great resource.

3. Set a goal and stick to it. It is easy once you find a fitness routine to simply go through the motions. Hold yourself accountable for your success by outlining what you want to achieve and by when.

4. Find a workout buddy. Motivate yourself by letting your competitive spirit shine. Set up times to meet and work with your buddy to create a new fitness regimen.

5. Get a personal trainer. After just a few sessions, a personal trainer can provide new exercise ideas and push you to your edge.

When you first start a workout routine, your body responds quickly with new gains in strength, power and weight loss. The body is very efficient and adapts quickly to exercise. Vary your workouts and break out of the monotony of your old routines to continue to see gains and push past the plateaus.

Sheri has a B.S. in exercise science from the University of Dayton, is an A.C.E. Group fitness instructor and personal trainer, a Yoga Alliance certified yoga instructor and certified in Pilates by the Physical Mind Institute. Sheri teaches at the South Loop and Gold Coast CorePower Yoga studios in Chicago, IL and leads CPY lifestyle programs and teacher trainings nationwide.

Spring is getting closer, but winter is not over yet – which means it’s still wonderfully comforting to concoct something warm and full of spice over the stove! Begin your day with this stewed apple recipe to build an appetite for lunch, stimulate your digestive system and increase your vitality and alertness.

Stewed Apples:

3 - 4 small apples, peeled, cored and sliced
4 - 5 dried apricots, soaked in hot water for 20 min’s
4 dates (or figs or raisins) pitted and cut in pieces
Handful dried blueberries, soaked in water for 5 min’s
2 cups water
1 T maple syrup (reduce if using sweeter apples)
1 T grated fresh ginger
1/4 t ground cardamom
1/4 t ground cinnamon

Put all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover; simmer for 5 minutes.

With a ladle, transfer about 1/3 of the contents, including the liquid, to a blender or food processor fitted with the S-blade. Blend or process until pureed. Stir the puree back into the pan. Serve warm.

Want to learn more about healthy eating and Ayurveda? Find out about our Seasonal Wellness Cleanse, or read more on our blog about Ayurveda.

There are many Vinyasa yoga postures that look simple and sound easy, but in reality, are very complex! Warrior 1 pose is one of these postures. Wonder if you’re doing it correctly and safely? Look no further.

Warrior 1 is not only one of the most physically powerful poses in the CorePower Yoga series; it is also an invigorating hip and heart opener. In full expression Warrior 1, the ankles, calves, thighs, groins, core, chest and shoulders are all ignited and engaged, allowing for opening to occur in our hips and hearts.

To achieve Virabhadrasana I:
Begin in downward facing down. Inhale and extend your right leg high; as you exhale, step your right foot forward into a low lunge position. (At this point, if you’re new to Warrior 1, step your left foot out toward the edge of your mat; otherwise, try Warrior 1 with your left foot in the same line as your right foot).

Spin your left heel flat so your left toes are pointing slightly forward, and inhale your arms and chest up.

Reach your arms toward the ceiling as your pinky fingers turn in toward one another. This will allow your shoulders to relax down your back.

Maintain a deep, 90 degree lunge in your right leg. Your lower core muscles are engaged here, which should allow you to find length in your low spine.

Work on squaring your hips toward the front of the room, while grounding the knife edge of your left foot into the mat.

Breathe in Warrior 1 for 5 to 10 breaths, and then release your palms down to the mat; return to a low lunge before moving back into downward facing dog. Repeat on the left side.

In general, we store a lot of tension in our hips and chests. Find Warrior 1 pose when you’re looking to create space in those areas.

Looking for more posture breakdowns? Check out our podcasts!