Memorial Weekend Flash Giveaway!

 Welcome to our Memorial Weekend Flash Giveaway!  If you are close to your computer for the weekend you should definitely enter this one!  20 amazing bloggers have gotten together to give someone a great cash gift!    

For FOUR Days ONLY we are offering this Flash Giveaway!  
One lucky reader will receive $50 USD Paypal Cash or Amazon Gift Card!! This giveaway is for Four Days Only! Enter Now! We are making it easy peasy to enter! Just use the form below.

Remember, this giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on May 26, 2014! 

Tell your friends so they can enter, too! Good Luck! 

Entry-Form

Her IdealShape For The Summer Months Ahead

The products I received to review

 I have wondered how in the world I am going to get my swimsuit, short-sleeved, sans sweater summer look this year.  But I think I've got the kick start that I've been looking for.  It's called IdealShape and it's a program that lets you stop dieting by simply replacing one meal and replacing it with a milkshake that has some powerful natural hunger-blocking ingredients that will not only help you lose weight, but will enable you keep it off as well!   
   Have you ever had that unsatisfied feeling when you are trying to be good, but no matter what you're doing, the only thing that matters is that you get something to eat NOW.  I know I have and when that happens, I'm looking to feel satisfied.  That's when the overeating comes in. I know, there are so many diet programs out there, but I was really impressed with this one because it has a proprietary appetite control formulation called Slendesta which has been shown to be the most powerful natural appetite-curbing substance out there.  Slendesta is derived from.....wait for it...... potatoes.  Using a water-based, patented process, it is completely stimulant free.  It's NOT one of the many "fat-burners" on the market and does not artificially stimulate the metabolism.  
  Not only does Idealshape provide you with incredible nutritional tools, like the shake, to succeed at your weight loss, it also has a complete support system as well. I'm talking about mind-altering techniques that will help you actually see yourself as that beautiful and healthy person you secretly know you are.  They are brain training CD's and they have helped IdealShape men and women achieve and maintain weight goals they never thought possible! I haven't read it yet but I'd love to get ahold of the book or CD called 'Think' by David Meine.  It's offered by Ideal Shape for $5.00 off the regular price and it helps you unchain the mental power you have within you to succeed with your weight goals.
The Shake:  I absolutely love this shake.  I tried the chocolate and it is fabulous.  The taste is wonderful.  And it's the easiest shake I've ever blended.  It mixes up so well with just the shaker bottle.  I'm extremely picky about using a shaker.  Normally I don't like using the shakers because I don't think most drinks or shakes mix up well enough, ending up gritty or clumpy, which is definitely not a picnic in my mouth.  But this shake mixes well and easily so.  And it really does make me feel full for about 3 hours.  Of course, I cheat.  I use 2% milk rather than the skim or non-fat milk they recommend.  But wow, it's really good.  I think it would also be tasty with almond milk. The shaker bottle that comes with the Ideal Shape program is the perfect size.  You really do feel full for about 3 hours.  These shakes will give you that satisfied feeling.  For at least 3 hours!  Amaazing!  Click to enlarge the two pictures below to see some great comparisons and specific benefits you get from the Ideal Shake. 

    The Bars: I also tried the Ideal Bar in Cinnamon Caramel Crunch Flavor (1 of 3 flavors).  It was delicious and has Slendesta, the same hunger blocking technology as the shake.  I found it was also good when I had a food craving going on and needed to get it under control. 

 The Supplement:  Another great tool is the NaturalShape Hunger Blocker.  If taken approximately 30 minutes before a meal it will give you the ability to control your portions and keep yourself in control.  It has a full serving of Slendesta plus Resveratrol, Green Tea Extract and Kelp. 

Something that is stressed very strongly with this program is to drink plenty of water.  Because of the nature of the potato protein that swells in your stomach, you need to get fluids in with it for proper absorption and digestion. 

I am very impressed with IdealShape and I'm so glad I got the chance to review it.  Like so many of the great products I review, I will definitely be a repeat customer on this one. 

Mom's Helping Other Moms

   I enjoyed Mother's Day weekend more than ever!  And probably more because I have been so interested in the stories of other moms who have made extraordinary contributions to their children's well-being.  If you pay attention to some of the amazing stories, you realize that the power of a mother for good in their children's lives is remarkable and nothing can quite compare to it.  
   On T.V. this week, the movies that I've seen have been about moms.  I saw Forrest Gump again, with Sally Fields playing his mom and having such an influence in his life.  I saw BlindSide, based on a true story, with Sandra Bullock playing a mom, not only to her own children but to a boy who didn't have a chance, were it not for her,  She took him in and it is extraordinary what happened to him. 
   Even on NatGeo Wild, it's Big Cat Week don'tcha know, it's all about mothers.  I saw 'Killer Queen', the story of a lioness who risked her own life to save the lives of her 3 cubs, plus 5 of her sister's cubs.  The pride was invaded by a pair of marauding male lions, who ousted the reigning male.  All of the cubs in the pride were therefore threats to their continued dominance.  So in lion society, they have to be exterminated.  Before this could happen, Manyari leads the 8 cubs away from the pride and they roam until they are able to fend for themselves.  It was an incredible feat in so many ways.  She became the sole provider for these hungry adolescent cubs, a task normally shared by at least 2 or 3 lionesses.  She really went above and beyond, to the point of serious injury and I thought it was so similar to what Mom's will do willingly for their young...

Like this extremely moving example, unfolded by 2 girls on scrapes of paper, telling of the sacrifice their mom made to save their lives:

 And even in my own blogging world - I ended a Mrs. Fields Giveaway on Friday and as I was perusing through some of the comments about what folks had done for their moms, I was truly touched at how so many of us do make the connection about how special our moms' sacrifices are.  After all, like one commercial states, our mom is our very first friend.   You can read some of my favorite comments on my Facebook Page, A Gal Needs. 
   Alas, an incident happened in my own family today which isn't the most sterling of examples on how people look at moms and kids and even Mother's Day.  Apparently, my sister, who has 3 energetic, to say the least, boys of 8, 5 and 3 celebrated Mother's Day at a nice restaraunt for a Mother's Day Brunch buffet.  While there, the boys were behaving boisterously as usual, with my sister trying to settle them down as best as she could. An elderly man told her that her boys were "social disgraces" and "savages" among other things.  It went on from there involving 2 other tables, bringing my sister and 3 other women to tears, and having another man almost get in a physical fight with the elderly man.  He told him he was out of line and should remember that today is not about him but the women that made it possible for us to be here at all.  There ended up being a lot of supporters for her and the boys, but she was shaken up considerably. I told her that she will be laughing about it years from now, when her boys are making great contributions to society.  She really is a good mom!  And I love my nephews!
There are those in our society who weren't so blessed.  I watched 48 hours last night and the story was about Jason Bohn, who killed his girlfriend.  It was a really interesting case because many believe he shouldn't be charged with murder because of what he went through in his childhood.  His mother absolved herself of all responsibility to him when she divorced his father when he was 9.  He lived with his father, who was an alcoholic and into drugs.  He abused Jason terribly.  When Jason would ask to live with her, she wouldn't respond.  Finally when Child Services removed him from the home, she still wouldn't take him and had him put into a group home.  She never went to any of the meetings held on his behalf and generally put him out of her life, all while climbing the social ladder and living in a multi-million dollar home.  He was alone and unsupported for most of his life.  His mother didn't even attend his trial, although she paid for the attorney.  No one did.  

I wonder how different Jason's life would have been had his mom taken some time to just care for him?  I'm not saying that Jason isn't responsible for his own actions.  I think he needs to take responsibility.  But I'm sure some of his actions were done from a place of deep hurt turned into rage at how his mom abandoned him.  

When I look at Mother's Day, I now will also take into account all the Moms who have done incredible things for not only their own offspring, but for their "sisters'" kids when they need a helping hand.
 But most of all, I will always thank my own sweet mom, who gave up so much for me,  my 2 sisters and 1 brother.  And because my understanding has grown since she passed away, I fully believe that I will have the chance to thank her again someday.  
  

Mrs. Fields Mother's Day #GiftCode and #Giveaway

 "We are born of love, love is our mother...."   That sums up in a nutshell why Mother's Day is such a special day.  I know that as every year passes, I am more grateful for my mother.  And unfortunately she isn't around these days for me to let her know.  I'm glad that while she was alive, I did some pretty great things for her on Mother's Day.  I feel like she knew how much I loved and appreciated her. 
  This year A GAL NEEDS...is excited to partner up with Mrs. Fields Cookies, along with Vanessa from 2 Dorks In Love  and offer up the wonderful possibility of giving your mother a gift package full of those wonderful cookies, whose delightful aromas have been wafting through kitchens for over 35 years!
We are reviewing and also giving away The Mother's Day Delights Sampler, a delectable and veritable smorgasbord of the most delicious cookies you could ever imagine all in one place!    The package arrives with 36 assorted Nibblers® bite-sized cookies, 18 brownie bites, 4 hand-frosted cookies, 2.5 oz. vanilla taffy and 2.5 oz strawberry taffy and a "Happy Mother's Day" gift tag.
 
The cookies come individually wrapped so they maintain maximum freshness. Hint: Put them in the microwave for a few seconds and they taste like fresh home-baked cookies!

   "I received this box and within 1 day everything was gone. I ate quite a few of the cookies so definitely had my share, but I had family over so everyone got to try the cookies and treats. It was definitely a hit! We loved all of them, although the brownies would have been better if they were heated, but they went too quickly even for that! The favorites were the hand-frosted sugar cookies! They were delicious! Thanks so much for the wonderful Mother's Day gift! It made my day!"  Helena, A GAL NEEDS... 
Here is a quick video of my reaction to Mrs. Fields Cookies!

There are so many other options for special gifts for your mom at Mrs. Fields.  Whether you want to go low-key or take out all the stops!  You can call for personalized assistance at 1-800-cookies.  Also, some great news!  Mrs. Fields Nibblers will be available in Grocery Stores this spring!  You can read all about it on Mrs. Fields Secrets, their great blog full of recipes, giveaways, crafts and more! --And right now you can get 20% off any Mrs. Fields purchase by using the following code through May 15th, 2014. Use this code at check-out: 14EBB 
  Now lets get to our giveaway!  1 winner will receive the Mother's Day Delights Sampler, ARV $49.99 + shipping.  Thank you to the participating blogs and to Mrs. Fields for making this giveaway possible!  A GAL NEEDS... is not responsible for prize fulfillment! 

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To Be A Better Writer - The Writers' Panels At FanX SLC 2014

I am not really a comic book or super hero nerd!  But when I heard that ComicCon FanX was coming this month to SLC, I jumped at the chance to volunteer.  Why?  Because I love getting a flavor of the mood and atmosphere of fun events that are going on in the community!  I think actually being a part of the event is more fun than going to the event.  And while I didn't get to really explore even a quarter of what was going on because it was so huge, I was really happy with what I did in my own little space, in Panel Rooms 150-A, B, C, and D. 
  These were rooms where panels of experts, writers, directors, artists and stars got together to give advice on topics.  I went to a screenwriting panel and an author/artist panel.  They were informative while managing to be entertaining and funny. I love those kinds of lectures!  So after seating everyone and everything had settled, I listened into some.
  Unfortunately, I wasn't familiar with any of the writers that spoke, but one of them was a really successful young adult author, who raises 7 children as a single mom off of the royalties she gets from her books.  She writes Jane Austen style books?  Anyone familiar with her?  I didn't catch her name. I heard some things I know could be put to good use by anyone wanting to become a better blogger and even writer.  It's all about writing daily, gathering ideas, and turning ideas into chapters and chapters into a book!  Here are a couple of things I learned:
Ask The Questions - If you want to be a writer and have material, always be observant and ask "what if"  questions.  If you see someone walking down the road in a trench coat, in the middle of the night, ask yourself questions about why that would be and turn it into an idea, then write it down.  That is looking at something with different eyes, but that different way of looking at something is what sets a successful author apart from the rest of the population!  
  Have Someone To Bounce Off - Do you have someone who you can throw ideas back and forth with?  Maybe it's your husband, sister, mom or friend.  These sources are great for tossing around potential material!  Take their ideas as well and expand upon them.  It is an invaluable resource to have someone you trust to be a sounding board.  When you do have an idea you'd like to expand on, write it down in a notebook so you won't forget it and can work on it in detail later on!  Never throw anything away because you never know when that idea will come in handy down the road!
 Do It Every Day! -  If you want to be a writer, treat it like a job.  Do something with it every single day!  Exercise your writing skills, your imagination and your content skills daily.  The more you treat it like a job, the more those ideas will flow.  Most of the writers at the panel say that writers block is nothing more than being lazy and blaming it on the lack of ideas.  Just do something every single day!  It's just like exercising.  If you only exercise once per month, it will probably always be difficult and distasteful every time.  But as you develop the habit, it becomes easier and more enjoyable!  There are so many ideas waiting to be written and even if they have already been written, you can write it with your own pair of colored glasses and it will speak to a completely different audience!
And don't worry about whether your audience likes it or not.  Even if the audience  complains or leaves hate comments, at least you know they read it and that is a definite win!  Just keep writing because that is what America is all about.  And until they take that right away from us, keep those ideas flowing!
These fine folks below totally agree with me 100%.  You couldn't find a nicer group of people anywhere than at FanX SLC 2014!

A Basic Green Smoothie Recipe To Build On

  Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

 If you are someone who thinks that raw food is awesome, and that you should eat at least a minimum of 8 fruits and veggies per day, then perhaps the smoothie is the route you want to take.  
   Before I started drinking smoothies, I found it very hard to eat 8 fruits and vegetables per day.  I just didn't like them that much!  I much preferred my cereal, toast, and those tempting Cadberry Chocolate Eggs (especially around this time of year).  Now that I have started drinking smoothies, it's easy to get those fruit and veggie counts up!  Not only that, but you can add other nutritious things to pump up the nutrition that much more!  
   I remember that first time I started using my friend's VitaMix blender to make my smoothies.  It was all a big adventure.  I ended up getting rather ill by the time I had finished my smoothie.  But that was the one and only time I got sick.  That was two years ago! 
   Now I've got my own BlendTec and here is what I do to make my Smoothies.
   First, the greens.  Of course there are plenty of varieties of greens and I know that.  But I am a creature of habit and I've become used to the convenience of picking up my 2 bags of spinach and spring mix at the market.  I occasionally use arugula or mustard greens, kale or even chard.  But usually it's the same combo of Spinach and Spring Mix.  I add about 1 1/2 - 2 cups.

   Next I add a minimum of 3 whole fruits.  Today it was 2 bananas, 1 cup of strawberries and 1 slice of fresh pineapple.  Many times I add frozen fruits, such as blueberries or blackberries.

    On top of all this I add about 1 1/2 cup of water, rice milk or almond milk and 3/4 cup of ice.  
    Then I add the turbo nutrition, the add-ins, and the flavor enhancers.  That can be 1 or more of any of the following:

chia seeds - 1 teaspoon or more  Good for digestion, diabetes 2 prevention, great source of fiber, manganese, protein, tryptophan.  And much more!  See this article for more details!

Coconut Oil - 1 Tablespoon - Good for skin, hair, brain supplement, prevention for dementia, Alzheimers, can prevent allergies and boosts energy.  Read up here!

Whey Protein Powder, vanilla flavor - 1 or 2 scoops - Adds some flavor while increasing the protein content and fairly low in calories!

Organic Green Tea Powder -  1/2 teaspoon - Great for energy and focus, lots of antioxidants,  I use organic Matcha Green Tea Powder! 

Powdered Fiber Supplement, peach flavor - 1 scoop = 12 g - Great for appetite control, digestion, and cancer prevention.  I order mine from a health and wellness company I've used for a long time--can I say years? 

Sweetener - I use a non-GMO Stevia  product to add sweetness if needed.  Sometimes I'll use honey. 

Other things I'd like to try:  Silken tofu, pomegranate juice, kefir,  flaxseed,

I'm sure there are so many more things that you could add to make a super nutritious smoothie, I'm still experimenting and learning.  What do you like to add to your smoothies for super nutrition?  
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Nutty For NeoCell Beauty Supplements

 










   If anyone is nutty about NeoCell, that would certainly be me!  I love the Beauty Bursts.  I can honestly say that they are better than candy.  It does pose one slight problem.  I love candy and I can't stick to just two per day.  They are so good!  My favorites are the Fruit Punch flavor, but the Fresh Mint is great as well! My skin loves them too!  My skin has literally firmed up since I have been taking them!  So really, NeoCell, you're a tricky one!  By letting me do this review and giveaway, you've got yourself a permanent customer!
  I also love the Keratin Hair Volumizer Supplements.  I have used Keratin Products on my hair in the form of shampoo, conditioner and mousse.  I have seen the good effect they had on my hair used externally.  But NeoCell believes in beauty starting from nourishment from the inside and that's just what this supplement is all about.  In the form of a capsule, it is to be taken once in the morning and once at night.  I saw results in about 10 days!  My hair grew fast, fast, fast and had more volume and was softer!

Reasons To Use NeoCell Beauty Bursts:

• Individually wrapped in a re-sealable bag
• No artificial flavors
• Delicious sweet flavor
• gluten free
• No artificial palm oil
• Great alternative to candy
• Delivers high absorption collagen types 1 & 3 to the body
• Delivers Hyaluronic Acid For Skin Hydration & Renewal
• Delivers Vitaman C - A Collagen Enhancer
• WINNER - "Best of Natural Beauty" 2013 Better Nutrition Magazine
• WINNER  - "Best Beauty Supplement" 2013 Delicious Living Magazine

 Reasons To Use Keratin Hair Volumizer

• In capsule form, delivering nutrients clinically proven to enhance hair health
• Delivers a patented form of keratin that is clinically proven to be essential to hair luster
• Delivers NeoCell's Super Collagen, needed for beautiful hair, skin and nails
• Delivers Amla or Indian Gooseberry, an anti-oxidant known its for anti-aging properties
•  Increases Hair Volume - At least that was my experience! 
• Enhances Hair Strength - Again, my experience
• No soy, wheat, lactose, starch, yeast or articficial flavors
• Reduces Hair Loss - My experience
• WINNER - Vanity Fair Beauty Blog Top Choice!

NeoCell Products are available at fine online stores such as The Vitamin Shoppe, Drugstore.com, Vitacost.com, and Totalbeauty.com and of course, Amazon.  Those are just a few!

You can also follow them on Facebook Instagram, Twitter and YouTube!

A Box Of Treats To Brighten The Day! #MercoLocal

There's something so fun about receiving a box full of surprises in the mail. I received the following items in my Merco Local Subscription Box!  I like it because they are all local businesses from where I'm from-- Utah, with a propensity for green consciousness.  Take a look!  These are April's Products!  Every month is a variety of new products and services!  It comes gifted in a really cute box--

I got 6 items and 4 gift cards!  For $19.00 per month you can get some great swag!  Among the goodies:

 Fit Me Tea, with 3 samples and a filter.  It's loose leaf tea so actually quite a few servings!

 A $10 coupon to Rodizio Grill (love it!) and a free class pass to Downtime Yoga (also love)!

 Meals That Transform Power Bar and Protein Mix!  Just in time for my spring weight loss challenge!

 Coupons to Ballet West, Our Children's Earth and Eco Treasures!

3 Madelines from Les Madeleines and these didn't last 2 hot minutes.  They were delish!

    Some Healing Salve from Ashley's Apothecary.  Made with organic St. John'sWort, Comfrey, Calendula Flower, Olive Oil and Beeswax. 

Soap Nuts from Eco Treasures!  I've always been curious about these.  Apparently, you just throw a few in the washer (in a bag) and they will wash your clothing!  Other uses include glass and window cleaner, dish detergent, Kitchen Counter tops, Stainless Steel, Cloth Diapers, Personal care for bathing and washing.

I loved seeing what kinds of things are available in my area's local businesses.  If you live in Utah or are interested in getting a box of great products, regardless of where you live, since all of these products are available for purchase online if you happen to want more, you can use this coupon code for 25% off your order of Merco Local.
Ready for "the code"?  It's iheartutah

There are limited edition boxes available for purchase too!  If you want a really great box to ship to your mom or someone special for Mother's Day, for just $14.99 plus shipping, use the code Mom!  Oh yeah, I smell a deal! 

Don't Go Too Big Up Front! What??

As you know, I love to blog about health and wellness.  I've got a great guest post for the kinds of food your body needs when you are trying to get in shape for whatever reason!  I do especially agree with the last quote in the last paragraph of the article!  You've only got one body, so treat it with respect!  Oh, and the first paragraph explains the title of this post more clearly!  lol!
Thanks to author, Whitney Hollingshead

If you are training for a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, an extreme athletic event, or even just hoping to get in shape, your diet will play a crucial role in your success.
Depending on how long you have been training, you may have already made a lot of key improvements to your diet. If you are just starting, however, it’s really important to phase into changing your diet gradually. Brad White of Sole Fitness has been participating in races and athletic events for years. Here’s his advice on changing your diet: “Don’t go too big upfront because if you go too big upfront you will quit next week.”
So how do you know how to change your diet? Let’s take a look at the foods that will benefit you the most and compare them to the foods you need to avoid.
Here are the foods/beverages that will help:
Whole Grains

 Oatmeal: contains a surprising amount of protein
Whole Grain Cereal with Protein: can contain up to 40% of daily fiber
Brown Rice: very high in fiber and known to drastically reduce the chances of illness
Whole Grain Bread: make sure it’s 100% whole grain
Whole Grain Pasta: quick carbs with more fiber to fill you up
Lean Protein

Eggs: one equals 10% of daily protein
Canned Black Beans: 60% of daily fiber
Chicken: versatile, easy to cook
Kidney Beans: rich in iron and protein
Fish
Salmon: high quality protein, essential omega-3 fatty acids
Tuna: also a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids
Fruits
Oranges: help with muscle soreness
Frozen Mixed Berries: powerful antioxidants
Lemons: one has more than 100% of daily vitamin C
Bananas: high in potassium
Vegetables
Sweet Potatoes: excellent source of vitamin A
Mixed Salad Greens: various phytonutrients (help keep your body working properly)
Frozen Stir-Fry Vegetables: contain beta-carotene & vitamin C
Broccoli: contains vitamin K & vitamin C
Snacks
Dark Chocolate: boosts heart health
Almonds: excellent source of Vitamin E
Low-fat Yogurt: provides protein and calcium and aids with digestion
Beverage

Water: drink water in its pure form for the best hydration and no calories

Here are the foods/beverages to avoid:
Sugary Food: Most sugary foods contain a lot of calories, as well as a lot of fat without giving you the key nutrients you need. On the flip side, natural sugars like those found in fruit are much better for your body.
Fast Food: Again, most fast foods contain fatty proteins and steal your calories while robbing you of good nutrition. If you have to eat at a fast food restaurant try alternatives like grilled chicken, or a baked potato with chili, and a side of fruit or yogurt.
Fried Food: Fried foods contain tons of calories and fat grams and usually taste so good that it’s hard to stop eating them after just a small amount. Try baking or steaming these foods instead.
Soda, Sugary Drinks, & Sports Drinks: These are full of sugar and a lot of calories with little to no nutrition. Sport drinks are really only helpful when you are working out for a really long period of time. When you are thirsty, grab some water instead.
Caffeinated Beverages, Energy Drinks, Coffee, & Alcohol: All of these will cause dehydration and can affect your workouts, as well as your sleep cycles.
Protein Bars & Energy Bars: The key here is to limit your consumption of these bars as they are highly processed. Focus on fresh fruits and nuts instead.
Remember, phase into these changes gradually. Start making a substitution or two each day until you can ease into changing everything. For example, plan dinner with brown rice instead of white rice tonight. Tomorrow you can have mixed salad greens instead of iceberg lettuce. If you can transition to making one key change each day, it will be easier to get to the point where all of the changes stick.
Also, do a lot of research online to find fun, fresh, and tasty ways to prepare the good foods listed above so that you don’t get tired of them. The key is to make sure the recipes aren’t adding a lot of additional fat. Also, pay close attention to how these foods are prepared when you are eating out.
Brad White also cautions that you need to prepare for the financial implications: “The other thing that is really hard is that eating healthy is not cheap. When you are talking about price per calorie, the price per calorie is a lot cheaper in bad foods.” So make sure you budget for the increased cost of groceries.
While making healthy and training-friendly changes will be expensive, time consuming, and at times even challenging, your body is well worth the sacrifice.

The Classical Stretch Retreat In Salt Lake City - How Fun Was That!!?

  It has been a week since I attended the Classical Stretch Workshop with Miranda Esmonde-White in Salt Lake City.  As someone who has been a fan of Classical Stretch and the Esmonde Technique, both part of the Essentrics trademark,  I had been highly anticipating attending this workshop.  I did not go away disappointed. 
  Miranda led us through 3 exercises classes, each about an hour.  And each time she would point out to various individuals in the room what they were doing right, wrong, or what their bodies were telling them by the way they moved.  Before I started the classes, I really felt like I had a handle on the moves and would not have any problems whatsoever.  I have experienced great improvements in my physical health, (especially my back) in the two years I have done them on the dvd and t.v.  
  But I was wrong in my assumption.  Miranda immediately called me out, in her direct and forthright way, on my half-baked efforts in the side stretches, plies, and kicks.  The purpose of the exercises is to work and stretch to your maximum capacity, regardless of someone else's level. Some people, because of their individual physical level, ligament length, bone structure, inherited tendencies, weight and size only extend their stretches a little bit but will continue to improve as they do the program.  I felt like I was doing above capacity compared to many of the people there because I am naturally limber and have tried to keep up with it.  But darned if she didn't see through that and told me that I wasn't stretching to my full capacity and that I was cheating when I was doing the leg kicks and plies.  So I stretched even more, kicked higher with better posture and then I really felt it!  She also corrected me on some of my technique, especially with the kicks and lunges and my posture.  Turns out that almost all of us in the room had pretty poor posture.  When she worked with all of us, we could look around the room and take before and after mental posture pictures.  It was really amazing.  We looked like totally different people, just from the posture changes.   

Miranda after an Exercise Class

 I heard other people's stories and like me, they had improved so much.  I talked to one gal pal, who has been doing Classical Stretch for way longer than me.  Her success story was dramatic because she actually grew 1.5 inches and was shocked that she had.  She went from being 5 "2.5 to measuring  5"4 at the doctor's office.  It was crazy!  Another friend said that her back was so bad that she would be in pain every day with it.  Now she is running marathons and doing decathlons.  She won't do without Classical Stretch.

Taking a lunch break at a local eatery

   Miranda gave us a lecture called 'Aging Backwards', some facts about the body's aging process and the effects of exercise, specifically The Esmonde Technique.  It was really eye-opening and the things she told us were revolutionary in nature.  So much so that Essentrics is being further studied at The University of Toronto and other major universities for the anti-aging effects the program has vs. other forms of exercise.   It shows that the physical fitness industry is just in its infancy.  Her new book on the same subject has been picked up by Harper-Collins and will be released shortly.  I, for one, can't wait!
  She told us that for a week right after the program we should all do the exercises for 1 hour per day to cement the movements in our minds so that they won't be forgotten. I took that advice and did 3 sessions of Classical Stretch per day and let me tell you the results were pretty amazing.  I actually saw some major differences in that short amount of time.  I did nothing else other than Classical Stretch 3 times per day.  I quit going to the gym, I didn't walk or ride my bike.  I just did Classical Stretch.  And in that time, I lost 2 lbs.  That's 2 lbs. that I haven't been able to lose any other way.  Another thing I saw is that because I am now doing the stretches properly, I saw a loss of back fat.  Apparently my spine was getting compressed and shrinking.  When I learned how to do the stretches correctly, my spine was getting stretched out and going back into it's proper alignment.  Therefore the fat that had started to accumulate around the lower back area above the waist was magically disappearing.  Wow!  Super excited!  
  I feel like more people could have attended and received some great benefits.  As it was, our session was quite small and individualized.  I don't know if or when SLC will get that opportunity again.  In other states, her retreats are much better attended.  In San Francisco, they had to get a larger hall to accommodate all of the people who attended.  
 When I say that two people are going to get a great gift in receiving Classical Stretch Season 10, I am really serious!  The Classical Stretch Giveaway ends in about 3 hours.  I can't wait to see who will win!  I hope it's you!  May the Rafflecopter Gods be on your side!