Why wait 6 weeks/40 days after baby is born?

There I am, gave birth the day before, took this pic with my camera phone, calm, cool, and collected.  Enjoying my hospital stay cation, watching movies, getting my meals served, while Sam is home with 2 kids.  I am a big advocate of a natural, medication free, vaginal birth, and Thank God was able to have this experience with all three of my children.  All three were completely different in length of labor, intensity and healing.

With my first I did not know anything, why would you know until you have to know, right?  I didn't even know how to open and close a stroller!  I was doing my regular Yoga with my teacher until my ninth month, because I couldn't physically do many of the poses anymore.  That is when I found the most amazing Prenatal Yoga, where I learned a very important fact, which is the...

Tip of the day:  A contraction only lasts a minute, and I figured I can handle anything for one minute.  So important for women to get educated and knowledgeable about every aspect of pregnancy and birth, so they are in control, and make their own decisions.  This applies to everything in life.

I also learned many interesting philosophies about "Yogic Technology."  It is recommended that a woman walks 5 miles a day when she is pregnant.  I agree that walking is the best exercise, especially at the end of the pregnancy, it helps the baby birth.  I figured in ancient times walking is all they did, from the house, to the market, to visit family, to go to work.  To each their own, I always tell mom's that its great to listen to everyone's advice, but always make your own choices and decisions.  Nothing beats mother's intuition, only you know what is right for your baby and your family, believe that, and stand firm!

With my first two children I had the most amazing Doula, and recommend it especially with the first pregnancy.  With my third, because of circumstances beyond my control, I stayed present and did it all on my own.  Yes my husband was with me, and a good friend stayed with the older kids.  But I counted my contractions, knew when it was time to go to the hospital, told the nurse its my third baby, no epidural, contractions are for 2 hours, 5 minutes apart, 30 seconds long.  With my first two, my water broke at home (hospital is 10 minutes away) and I came in at 8 cm, with my third, water intact (I felt more comfortable not waiting for the water to break, since I was on my own with no doula, I wanted to have a stress free ride to the hospital and to fill out papers and go through all the procedures calmly.)  I came to the hospital at 7 cm (you need to be 10 cm to give birth), I was so proud of myself, and am inspired to be a doula :)

So Why wait 6 weeks/40 days after the baby is born?  In some cultures the woman doesnt even leave the house.  There are scientific reasons, such as the body healing, and bonding with the baby.  I found a couple of interesting articles below, just click on the links.

This article had a great paragraph about why women are overweight after children, and it has nothing to do with pregnancy, it is all about their nutrition and unhealthy habits:

"Studies show that up to a quarter of women are still 11 pounds or more over their pre-pregnancy weight for up to one year after birth. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine identified several key lifestyle behaviors that may explain why: TV, junk food and staying too sedentary."

http://health.msn.com/pregnancy/working-out-after-having-a-baby

This article had some amazing cultural insights, which stem from different traditions in Indian, Eastern European, and South American cultures.

http://lipstickandpolitics.com/2011/09/16/the-40-days-postpartum/

With my first I didn't know about the 6 weeks, I went back to the hospital the same week he was born to pick up his birth certificate, and my body was asking me "why are you out?"  I got certified to teach Prenatal Yoga a few weeks before my daughter was born.  There were 40 women, 11 of us were pregnant, I was the most pregnant.  I tried my best to be home as much as possible, it was not easy, both Eli Tzvi and Ziona Sofia were and are very intense individuals, and I needed "me time" often.  Now with Matisyahu, Thank you God, I feel so good being home, but its probably because I can do my work from home, and clients have been coming to me, and he is letting me work, only letting me know when he needs a change, or to eat, or just some love.

Everything in life is a personal choice, and I suggest that women listen to their body.  Try your best to stay home and enjoy your baby, if you have to go out, try not to be away from the baby for too long.  Where exercise is concerned, try your best to take it easy and let the body heal.  Walking is great, but save the power walks until after the 6 weeks.  When you let your body heal, then you will have energy to jump right back in your life.  If you push yourself too hard, too early then a setback could be experienced.  Please listen to your body, but also listen to people that have experience, read articles, listen to your doctor, ultimately do what is best for you and your baby.

Trust in yourself, Learn everything you can, Trust in the universe,

Coach Yulia

What is Yoga?

I do not recall ever taking Yoga before I decided to try my teacher, Raghavan's class over 10 years ago.  What I loved about it, was that it was a little bit of everything, not too hard, not too easy, and afterwards you really felt relaxed.  I am a Libra, and the symbol is balance, and I am all about the happy middle.  Even my major in college was Hospitality Management, because it was a little law, engineering, tourism, cooking classes, all about the hotel and restaurant industry.  Some people are great at focusing or doing one thing, I love to have a few different things on my plate.  After I took my first Yoga class, I called my father and told him I needed his help to do the training, I had found what I want to do for the rest of my life.

It was a 6 month training, where we learned about the science, philosophy, and different Yoga poses and styles.  The most important was the routine that my teacher passes on to his students, which is like a formula, and everyone no matter what their level, age, body type, etc. benefits tremendously in mind and body.  I was already a certified Group Exercise Instructor, and teaching a fun weight based class called Bodypump in 24 Hour Fitnesses.  That was so much fun, and so high energy, my students from that time still remember the intensity and my energy in that class.  Once I found Yoga, I was drawn to teaching something that would counterbalance our non stop lives, and it did the same for me.  I was able to start in 24 Hour Fitness as soon as I was ready, and it was a great way to grow in my skills of flow and reading the crowd.  I felt comfortable because these were the same students that would take Raghavan's classes, so they knew the routine and they knew and supported me.  When I teach, I literally turn off my brain, step off the world, no thoughts of kids, errands, or work, just in line with the Yoga that flows through me. 

I am grateful for Bodypump, that is the class that I was teaching in a few different Gyms, and long after I stopped teaching it in 24 Hour Fitnesses.  I had a group of students in a small gym near Beverly Hills that loved the class so much, and I liked them, so I kept on Bodypumping there even though I really just wanted to teach Yoga.  The universe kept me there because one of my regulars and friends is the wonderful woman who set me up with my husband.  Her son and my brother in law went to school together, and she thought of Sam for me because he was closer to my age, I am 2 years older and I like it, two years longer in the world deserves some special respect right :)  The funny thing is that Sam loves older women like Jane Seymore and Sofia Vergara, the older I get, the more beautiful I get - Thank You God!

So What is Yoga?  I break it up into 3 categories:

1. Meditational

2. Little bit of Everything

3. Power

Most Yoga is Hatha Yoga based, which is basically physical, movement Yoga.  The meditational adds chanting, and long rest periods, plus constant movement in the poses.  The Power Yoga holds poses longer, and has many levels, more of a workout.  The Yoga I teach is like a full body massage, every point inside and outside the body is activated, and we move constantly, so the mind is kept occupied, and it really turns off from the world.

I feel so blessed to introduce Yoga to beginners and show them that this is the one place where there is no comparison or competition.  There is no perfect way, just Your Way, and when it feels good, then you are doing it right.  Everywhere else in the world we are never satisfied, always reaching higher, ego and competitive drive in full force.  This is great, it leads us to achieve great things in our life, but we have to balance it with rest, nutrition, and exercise.  Yoga is a great part of any workout, but I always recommend variety.  Cardiovascular, Strength Training, and even playing a sport you love, and that is a key. 

Tip of the day:  Get your Nutrition right, and then your Healthy Active lifestyle is for fun.

Enjoy your Sunday and have a Fabulous week,

Coach Yulia

Why worry in advance?

I have been having some deep conversations about how the world works, and honestly worrying and stress are just a waste of time.  Easy to say, not easy to do, but the world will happen as it will happen, there only is what is.  Luckily stemming from my amazing maternal Grandma Anna who is turning 97 this year, comes a lightness, and positive view of everything and everyone in the world.  My mother is also always happy and almost out of reality.  I like to think I have my foot in reality and trust in the universe.

I had a wonderful friend that has known me for a long time over for dinner for Shabbat, and she was telling me that my marriage seemed all of a sudden and out of the blue.  To me it just felt right and I went with it, and that is how I just do life.  Does everything go my way, is it easy? NO, but I always say, otherwise we would be bored!  Take the move to LA for example, when I moved in 2000 a studio apartment was $375 per month, definitely helped me survive.  I came here with no debt and no money.  If I had chosen NY, it would have been a huge challenge to get by, and all I really needed was rent, food, and gas, and insurance for my car.  I found my apartment in 2 weeks and my job at 24 Hour Fitness in a month.  In the 10 years I have been there I have done sales, front desk, personal training, and teaching a variety of classes, now I stick to Yoga and Pilates because they are effortless and flow from me.  I feel the energy of the group and am totally in the moment, every class is different.  I also feel like its an energy exchange, I get to turn of my brain from the world and be present and tune in to the class needs, its magical.

I really was not ready to get married until I turned 33, but I was always trying to find an eccentric Jew, doesn't sounds hard in LA, but I am quite a character and I needed a guy that wasn't intimidated by my strength, and exhibitionism.  When Sam and I met, we talked for 3 hours, on our second date he cooked me the yummiest chicken and the most delicious Israeli salad, in my mind I said YES at that point.  I had to have him come to one of my performances and "not care," I needed to see that he knew that that was a part of my personality, but not the whole me, and what I love is he got a kick out of it.  He reminds me of my father, not jealous, but possessive.  I feel from the moment we met it was clear to both of us where we were headed, and I was his, and whatever I did out in the world did not change that.  My roommate at the time asked me how it was going, and I told her "it was just going."  No drama, gossip, or advice was necessary, when it's right, it's right, and as someone that always goes with her gut, I did not question it at all, just was so happy that I found my other half.

Since we got married in our 30's we were ready to dive into a family, and so we did.  The 3 beautiful children in the picture above will light up this world and make it a happier and more wonderful place for everyone that crosses their path.  I Thank God every day for blessing me throughout my life, and letting me live it up, and now feel complete.

Trust the universe, follow your gut, enjoy the ride,
Coach Yulia 

NY or LA

I came home from cruise ships on my 27th birthday October 11, 1999. It was a great way to celebrate with my friends and family in Miami - So now what? I decided it was either New York or LA and NY was too cold, so I put everything I owned into my '91 Turquoise Ford Escort, picked up my good friend in Orlando, and we took a road trip across the country. We first stopped in Houston, TX to sleep, then to my good friend from ships in Clovis, New Mexico. Took a hot air balloon ride not far from there, I have a fascination with everything in the air. So far I have been in a helicopter, sea plane, and bungee jumped, and one day I really want to be in a blimp, go hang gliding, and eventually visit space.  June 1, 2000 we arrived from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, where I met my first best girlfriend, that I have known since I was 7 years old when our families immigrated from the Soviet union to Denver, Colorado.  

So yes most people moving to LA want to do some kind of acting, modeling, be a star, be famous, etc.  I am a why not go for it kind of gal, it was never my passion - I did a small play in Miami, and hosted many programs on cruise ships, so I decided why not take a shot.  This  picture was a modeling gig, and if you notice it is the same dress I wore recently at 8 months pregnant - love stretchy material that hugs my curves :)  I also did some extra work, lol, in some videos and movies, but my funnest gig of all was performing at the hottest night club in LA with a wild cast of characters.  You will see some of those pictures below, it was so fun to transform, have people enjoy it, and then I would go home and have a good sleep, and it was great to work there and get paid for having fun.

Besides being a party girl, I was told that I would be good in sales because of my personality, and I decided to get a job were I believed in what I sold.  A month after I moved here I was working at 24 Hour Fitness, I am still there over 10 years, now as a Yoga Instructor. I feel grateful to the company for letting me try many different positions and find where I fit. I did not like sales, because convincing people to want to be healthy was not for me, so I decided to work Front Desk for minimum wage while I looked for what I wanted to do with my life. I got certified to be a Group Exercise Instructor, and was teaching one of the best workouts ever, Bodypump. Low weight, high repetition, great music, and I got to lead it, people had fun and enjoyed having a guide, this was a really fun stage (double entendre) for me :) Below you will see pics from my performing and party days, and I was the leanest I have ever been, around 30 years old, and having a great time.  Here are a  few goodies of me as wonder woman and a blond bombshell.

It's at 24 Hour Fitness that I took Yoga with Raghavan, and knew I had found my path.  Next week I will delve into how it really helped me balance and inspire.  He literally changed my life, and when I moved to LA, I just followed my gut, and that is where I found fun, Yoga, and my husband.  Let life lead, but you have the ultimate choice.

Let's turn off from this insane world we live in, I know I need to,
Shabbat Shalom,
Yulia

Cruising for a good time :)

Ahhh the S/S Norway, originally the Transatlantic Liner S/S France, Norwegian Cruise Lines acquired it and used it for Caribbean cruises when I came aboard in November 1996, I was 23 years old.  I am standing here with one of the Norwegian officer's Robert, and in Miami attire, we were in Port of Miami every week, so I had my car in the parking lot, I would drive home and back like a maniac, almost missing the ship a few times.

Throughout my life I have easily closed one chapter and opened another, loving adventure, having fun, and living life to the fullest.  When I got the job as a Purser, front desk, I dropped everything in Miami, and was ready to have the best time of my life seeing a glimpse into every corner of the world.  I always joke that my minor in college was in International Relations, I got to meet and date a variety of nationalities, and had a ball!  Luckily I had the chance to do a few transatlantic cruises, 4 days at sea, people did go stir crazy, then there were other ships, I got to see all of Europe - Western, Eastern, and the Scandinavian.  When the Norwegian Dream went to Israel and Greece, I had relatives there, they picked me up, and I got to have an amazing local experience.  I made some of the most special friendships of my life, you live in very close quarters, and share everything, including an intense, passionate life.  Thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with so many people all over the world, as well as friends from high school, and other fun areas of my life.

Thanks to my parents, although they didn't always understand me and did not agree with me, but they always supported my free spirit, and trusted that I would always take care of myself, and were always there when I needed them, and are always there today, they are such a blessing.  They got married in January 1972 and I was born in October 1972, they take care of their health, they look and feel amazing, and are the best example how a married couple should strive to live and love.

I was going insane at the Front Desk, because it is the complaint department, and you can't say $#@% YOU! and you cannot cry, you just have to take it when people have been saving all their lives for the cruise of their dreams, and their bed is too small (because their @$$ is too big) or their potato was cold at dinner.  I applied and got transferred to the Cruise Staff department, where our job was to drink and have fun with the passengers, throw parties, dress fabulous on meet the captain formal night.  This is where I found my love for being on stage, public speaking, running the show, being a star - oh yeah a whole new world opened up to me, and the best part when we were in port, there were no activities for the guests, so we were free to roam all over every fabulous country that we visited.  Favorite country overall - Italy - so full of oomph! Gelato, La Bella Luna (insert Italian pronunciation,) the food, the women, the men, Grazzie Mille!  My favorite place - Santorini, Greece - the whole city is on top of the mountain - the only way to get there is to walk, cable car, or donkey.  Of course I took the donkey :)  All the cute little buildings are white - it was just so peaceful and magical, surrounded by a true blue ocean - Serene.

So my final ship was the Norwegian Sky, we were in Bremerhaven, Germany for a month getting it ready to sail to Canada.  We visited Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, but as we neared Quebec City, we got too close and ran aground, Thank God nothing like the disaster that recently happened, but I decided that after 3 years my cruising career had run aground as well.

While I was waiting to see what they were going to do with us, I took a bus to Montreal, met the first Jewish guy I was ever attracted to, had a great time, but overall at that time I wanted intense, dark and totally not in relationship and rest of your life mode.  But I was happy to know that there was someone out there for me, he did exist, and I just had to trust I would meet him when it was the right time.

Live in the moment, don't worry about the how, trust your gut and dive into life,

Coach Yulia

Bienvenido a Miami

For those of you who do not know, Miami is what it is in a big way because of the Cuban culture.  Now it is very trendy and hip, when I moved there in 1987 it was going through a lot of changes, and it was a fun time to hang out in all of the transformations.  This picture is probably right after high school, as you see I have always been curvy with hips, and what I loved about growing up in Miami, is that the Cuban girls were super curvy, but firm and loved to show it off.  When I would go there after moving to LA, I would feel too skinny.  This was the house I grew up in, had a lot of fun sleepovers, since I had no curfew, friends loved coming to my house, and my parents loved to know that I was home.  If you look closely, you would notice my natural ringlets that looked like dreads, which kept my hair in control in the Miami humidity, and I never touched my eyebrows before moving to LA.  I graduated High School in 1991, and started working at a fun night club called Marsbar while I went to college.  It was the IT place in our neighborhood of Kendall, and tons of fun to feel like I was playing while getting paid.  I started out as a cocktail waitress, and eventually bartended.  While in High School I had various retail jobs, always loved having my own money to do what I wanted with.  I loved to go to clubs and concerts and was really into Heavy Metal and long haired men, and told my mom I would find a Jew with long hair - my husband has a crew cut :)  Then in the 90's had fun with friends in all types of clubs all over Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, the Grunge music was around, as well as Nine Inch Nails, but I also loved the New Wave, Industrial, and Gothic to dance to, and felt beautiful in that world where dark hair and exotic looks were the norm.  As you see I love form fitting clothes, and love to dress up in general.  I had so much fun going to themed parties, and getting all dolled up.

I got my Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management in 1996, and decided I wanted to work on cruise ships because I could travel, meet people from all over the world, have my meals made and room cleaned, get away from home for a while, and get paid, tune in tomorrow :)

Follow your gut, explore, grow,

Coach Yulia

Why wait so long to get married?

I firmly believe that we all have our match somewhere out there in the big world.  Nobody is perfect, and the pros have to outweigh the cons, but I wrote a list in 2003 of all the qualities I wanted in a partner.  Sam fit everyone when we met in January 2007, through one of my students, who knew that I just turned 34, and was trying to help me out, God bless her.  My father got married at 33, so that was my re-evaluate age, I decided at 33 that I was ready to meet someone, put it out into the universe, nice Jewish guy, but not too nice, was completely open to meeting anyone and everyone.  I even did internet dating for a while, although some of my friends had success, I knew from the first meeting with all of them it did not click.  So when my student told me that Sam was a Russian guy, I said why not meet him, although I like the tall, dark, and handsome variety, and in many cases Russian is usually a light complexion.

So when we met, it was on Shabbat, he was all dressed up in his suit, looking very handsome, and my first though was, this is not a Russian guy!  So he was born in Israel, but his father is Romanian and his mother is Russian.  His mother was hoping he would find a Russian girl, and although that is the country of my birth, I have an American accent in Russian, grew up among Americans, and look more Israeli than Russian.  But her wish was granted, I love her food, and we speak Russian together :)

Why wait so long to get married?  So some people find their other half earlier in life, but I believe you need two important things in common to really have a future together:
1. Timing
2. Be on the same page for how you want to live your life and raise your kids.

Sam and I realized that we both were in LA in 2000, but I was in a whole different place then.  We look at pictures of ourselves, and he says he would have never looked at me, and I told him I would have never looked at him - LOL - we both did a lot of things in our 20's and were ready to get married and start a family.

From a young age I have identified with my father, he had a fun single life, travelled, I looked more like him.  Now my mother and I are very close, but growing up, I felt very different from her.  My parents only gave me one request, marry Jewish, and when I went to the Orthodox Jewish school in Denver, Colorado, there was a big divide of things boys can do and things girls can do, and I did not like it.  So I decided I will marry Jewish one day, but I will date whoever I want, and I will do whatever I want, who makes the rules of what boys and girls can do!  So for 33 years of my life, I lived it up my friends, BIG TIME!  Miami was a big part of it, everyone there wears very little clothes because its hot, and everybody stays out all night - so as long as I got good grades, I just lived the fun, wild, 24 hour culture of Miami, we lived there for 15 years, and then I worked on cruise ships for 3 years - totally fun, wild, 24 hour international culture.  Then enter Los Angeles, California - more fun, wild, 24 hour Hollywood culture.  When I turned 33, my re-evaluation age, I was sooooooo ready to start another chapter in my life, meet someone special, Thank you God for listening to me, and making me the happiest woman in my single life, and an even happier woman in my current, blessed, magical life that I have now.

Tip of the Day:  The Law of Attraction - Think Positive - Trust the Universe - if you believe in God, let go of worry, it makes no sense to worry in advance - whatever you think about becomes your reality. LIFE IS GOOD, if you believe it, it will be so. Everything else that happens just leads you to the point of discovering where LIFE IS GOOD.

Relive, Release, Radiate,
Coach Yulia

Who is Julie?

In this picture I am 16 turning 17, my first trip ever abroad, my parents let me go to a High School semester in Israel.  It was amazing, I have always been a free spirit, and Thank God my parents allowed it, asking only 2 things - that I got good grades and married a nice Jewish guy.  My father told me I had to earn money to pay for the trip, so I got a job as a bus girl, basically cleaning dirty dishes off tables, at our corner Italian Restaurant, Anthony's.  Almost every friend that lived close to me worked in that restaurant at some point.  I really hated that job, it was so unglamorous, the hostesses always got to dress up and look good, I think this is one of the roots why I am so not domestic and love to work it.

So WHO IS JULIE?  Some of you know, because you have known Julie most of my life, and recently got to know Yulia.  On my passport it says Yulia Medovoy, in Russia you always have your fathers name (daughter of/son of) as a middle name, so in Russia it is Yulia Petrovna Medovaya.  When we moved to America, they just started to call me Julia, and I though it sounded too proper, so I chose Julie, because I saw it in a book of Valley Girl names, this was 1980, I was 7 years old.  So it became so, on my High School Diploma, my Bachelor of Science Degree in Miami, on my Driver's License, I was officially Julie Medovoy.  I guess when you are a kid, fitting in feels good, and I honestly did not care, I guess I enjoyed the "Julie" character.  After I graduated college in 1996 in Hospitality Management, I started working on Norwegian Cruise Line, at sea, as a Purser, front desk.  I met people from all walks of life, all kinds of cool names, every nationality you can imagine.  When I moved to LA in 2000, I decided to reclaim my identity, called all my credit cards, told them they spelled my first name wrong.  Showed my passport at the DMV, got my original identity back on my CA Driver's License.  Felt so good to be the real me, and the crazy thing is I even had to reteach my parents to call me Yulia instead of Julie!  Some of my friends have crossed over, others are having a hard time with it, but I at this point do not care if its mispronounced ( Julia, or the spanish pronounciation sounds like Hulia.)  I know who I really am, and I love who I really am.

This reminiscing is fun :) taking me down memory lane, and cluing me in to my character and what made me who I am today.

Tip of the day: Love who you really are, it all starts with you, when you are happy with yourself, people are attracted to that energy, when you are unhappy with yourself, unhappy people are attracted to you.  When I was reborn as Yulia I told myself I only want to be surrounded by positive energy, Thank God what you Declare becomes your Reality.

Look Back, Decide, Declare!
Coach Yulia

Looking Back

8 Months Pregnant with Matisyahu, all dressed up for

Purim on the Red Carpet (our Jewish Halloween.)

dediced to work it like all the stars do when they are

pregnant. This dress is from my modeling days,

the shoes are Steve Madden bough specifically

for this event, hair and nails did!

 This week will be dedicated to looking back and reminiscing about how I became who I am today and how blessed I feel to be here at this point in my life.  I can honestly say that I am content and have everything that I want, and I just want to keep growing and learning

I was born in Moscow, Russia, named after my great grandmother Yehudit.  In the Soviet Union Judaism was a nationality, not a religion, and Hebrew names were not allowed, so my parents chose Yulia.  My father was born in Grozny, Chechnya in the Caucasus Mountains, so I am 1/4 Mountain Jewish, but look more like my fathers' ancestors than my 3/4 Moscow/Ukraine family.

We lived in Moscow for 7 years, and my parents decided to make a better life for their kids, let us have our Jewish identity with no discrimination.  In 1980 we went from Moscow - Vienna, Austria - Rome, Italy - NY, NY - and ended up in Denver, Colorado where we had family.  My parents decided to send us to an orthodox Jewish school so we would learn about our culture and tradition, and they would learn from us.  After 7 years we found another relative in Miami, Florida, put all our stuff in a van, took a road trip, decided to stay because of the weather.

 Miami is a whole other chapter in my life which I
will continue tomorrow, but the picture you see
is a glimpse into my wild side.  I love to work it,
 be a diva, look hot, flaunt it, and be an
 exhibitionist :)

Thank god I met my husband, and was brought full circle into a wonderful Jewish community where my children can know their roots, and I can grow in my spirituality and knowledge of my ancestors.  I feel that my parents' taking me out of Russia has blossomed into the life I have today.  I am so grateful for their courageous decision to come to a new country with nothing for the sake of their children.

Tip of the day:  Our past makes us who we are today.  We came to this point from all the choices, directions, and decisions we made in our life.  Celebrate it, no regrets, no looking back, just move forward and learn and grow into who you really want to be - your past does not hold you back, it's your choice to move forward.

Reminisce, Be Present, Grow,

Coach Yulia

FEEL NOW

Good Evening Everyone,

Me and my little man Matisyahu hung out today quietly at home while my husband to the kids to Synagogue like he does every Shabbat, Day of Rest.  I am focusing on having my shake in the morning, snacking throughout the day, taking my vitamins, drinking as much as I can, and getting tons of rest.  My baby is one month old today, and Thank God still taking care of me.

From a super restful and peaceful day all I can feel now is NOW.  Be present, enjoy the moment, it really all does go by fast, especially when you are enjoying life and going with the flow.  Take pictures, be with people that you learn from and have a great time with, otherwise what is the point.

Tip of the Day:  Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, Today is a Gift - Be Present :)

Wishing everyone a great rest of your weekend,
Coach Yulia is Back

The Day of Rest

Every Culture has beautiful customs and traditions, one of my favorite from Judaism is "The Day of Rest."  In our society it is celebrated to be a go getter, non stop, goal setting, achieving, growing, etc.  These are all positive things, but like in everything else in life we need balance.  Even the most healthy food or activity becomes unhealthy in excess.  In our competitive world, we some times do not realize how we enslave ourselves, and feel trapped by our rise up the ladder, it becomes something we do not even desire anymore.

The Old Testament talks about how God created the World in 6 days, and on day 7 he rested.  One of the Ten Commandments is to observe the Day of Rest.  For me this is a day to turn off my computer, phone, TV, and the outside world.  It is a day to be 100% with my family and community, and celebrate life and feel thankful and blessed for everything that we have.  I cannot function without this day, one of my favorite quotes is the...

Tip of the day:  If you do not take time for rest and recreation, you will eventually have to take time for illness.

In my Yoga classes, I also try to convey how important it is to turn of the world for an hour, tell everyone and everything in your life this is your time.  It is not selfish, it is self care.  Mind and Body have to be connected in order to get the full benefit, not only in Yoga but in everything you do.

I wish everyone to find time in their busy schedules and non stop lives some time just for you, it will make everything you do more productive. 

Wishing you Energy, Peace, and Rest,
Shabbat Shalom,
Coach Hat is OFF,
Yulia

Healthy Active Lifestyle - Free Walk Sunday April 29, 2012

This pic was taken before I got pregnant with Matisyahu, I felt lean and strong and was working on getting my bodyfat down from 28% to 23%.  I knew I wanted to get pregnant again, so I was mostly focusing on health and being strong, now my goal is different.  I will get in the best shape, health, energy of my life, and I am so excited.  Thank you for taking a great picture Lesley, owner of  At Your Side Private Exercise in Beverly Hills.  It's a great space for one on one training and small groups, msg me for more details on how to have your session with me once I get back to work in a few weeks.

Although it is 80% Nutrition, it is also very important to live a Healthy and Active Lifestyle.  The best part is when you get your Nutrition working right, you can do the exercises and activities you like for fun, not because you have to or to "lose weight."

It is recommended that after giving birth it is important to bond with the baby for 6 weeks/40 days, and also for the woman to heal.  After 6 weeks I will start exercising, now I am focusing on Nutrition, Rest, and enjoying my baby.

I want to inspire and motivate anyone living in or close to the Los Angeles area to do a very special walk on Sunday, April 29.  My friend Sarah Chin is organizing and leading it, I will be there in spirit, and would love for my friends and clients to do this for themselves and for a great cause, link below:

http://www.celebrateisraelfestival.com/walk.php

Tip of the day:  Try all different kinds of exercise, sports, activities, and see where you have fun and you want to go back.  When you work out with a friend, you have an accountability partner and get better results.

To Health, Wealth, and a Successful Day!
Coach Yulia

Baby and me

Hi!
What a fabulous week it has been so far :)  I put it out into the Universe that I would like to keep working, every day this week someone has come to visit about their health and goals B'H.

I treated myself to one of the best pedicures of my life!  Right in our Pico/Robertson area ladies and gentlemen, please ask me for more details.  Then I went to my favorite Threading (instead of waxing for eyebrows and upper lip) at Rozina's on Venice, only $5, Tahira is the best, how you like them eyebrows? 

I just woke up from an amazing nap, and decided to hang with my baby as I go online, and give you a peek.  Do you see a resemblance between me and my tall, dark and handsome?

I talked to a good friend today about her health goals, and she decided to take the journey with me.  Anyone out there who needs some support, and is ready to feel, look, and be their best - I encourage you to spread the word to everyone you know.  LETS DO THIS TOGETHER!

This morning my breakfast shake was with water, vanilla protein drink mix, cookies and cream shake, one banana, one scoop of peanut butter - YUM!  I have tons of recipes, happy to pass them along. 

Tip of the day:  If you don't put yourself first, who else will do it for you?  We need to recharge, re-energize, keep fit and healthy, so we can be there for everyone and everything in our life, as well as being a wonderful example on being, feeling, looking your best.

Love, Light, and Laughter,
Yulia

Let's Get Real

OK, lets get real - before I got pregnant, I got dunked in a water tank to test my body fat, I was 28%.  A woman should be 25% or less, I decided to get on my program to get leaner, and gained 3 pounds of lean muscle, which was amazing, because muscle is the look of lean, firm, and toned and burns 14 calories, where body fat only burns 2 calories.
Then I got pregnant and decided to focus on healthy eating for me and baby.  After baby now at 3 weeks,  I am 165 pounds and 33% Body fat - My goal is to lose 30 pounds.  At my leanest, which is over 10 years ago, I was 23% Body fat and looked amazing, but always had a little belly.  I now know it is because I was always into fitness, but did not realize 80% was nutrition, and I was not fueling my body right.  When you do fuel your body right the fat goes away from the areas we want, abs, thighs, arms, etc.  Many people focus just on exercise, lose pounds, but have a high body fat and are flabby which can lead to diabetes and cholesterol - have you heard of skinny fat?

It is amazing that 30 pounds to the outside eye does not look "fat" usually when a person looks fat, they are clinically obese, and already probably having some health problems.  Sometimes people look at us and say, you look fine, you don't need to do anything.  I always say we all know where we look and feel our best - trust your gut - listen to advice - but always make your own decision. 

Tip of the day:  Not making a decision, is making a decision :)

Just finished our taxes, kids coming home in an hour, baby just nursed and is sleeping - time for me to take a little rest :)

Wishing everyone a warm, sunshiny, and enjoyable day,

Coach Yulia

Getting Started

Today my baby is just over 3 weeks old, my kids started back to school after Passover break (Thank God) and I get to make a plan.  From today I will start every morning with an easy, nutritious, delicious Healthy Breakfast with my Herbalife Shake - Today's choice: a mix of Chocolate and Cafe Latte with almond milk.  When baby Matisyahu is 6 weeks, I will add in Fitness, a mix of Yoga, Bootcamp on the Beach, Hiking, and Resistance Classes.  Anyone interested in joining me in my journey is welcome to email me at nutritioncoachyulia@gmail.com or call 323.377.0707 - I will have a lot of time on my hands for the next 3 weeks at home with my baby while the kids are at school, and after they go to sleep.  Please get in touch, my work keeps me balanced and sane - I love to inspire, uplift, and be inspired and learn from you as you go through your journey.

This blog is a way to promote my business as a Health Coach and a Yoga Instructor, and to stay accountable and committed to my own goals and results.

Tip of the day:  80% Nutrition and 20% Exercise my friends, it's important to have your meals and snacks 2-3 hours apart.  Besides my breakfast shake, I will also be taking my vitamins 3 times a day, because I am nursing besides a multivitamin and cell activator, I am also taking an Omega 3 and Calcium.  Another very essential part of my nutrition program is Mango Aloe Vera, it tastes good and not only helps my digestive system work good, but also my baby's.  Last but not least my Herbal Green Tea which is the most potent antioxidant, great natural energy, and burns 80 calories per cup.

Wishing everyone a productive, positive, and pleasant day,
Coach Yulia