Sol Fitness Adventures is pleased to present a new online directory specializing in alternative healing for mind/body/spirit/planet:  All Things Healing.

Search the site to find holistic-minded fitness experts like Melanie Webb, explore the mystical art of meditation, or find community coops that support a greener, sustainable lifestyle.

You’ll want to at least check out the site for it’s jungle-themed soundtrack and zen-like homepage design – sure to set your mind on a healing frequency to counter the waves your computer screen is emitting as you read this blog…(and by the way, thanks for reading!)

Where is your next EPIC adventure? Even more important, how do you prepare physically and mentally? Tap into your competitive edge with Melanie Webb’s outdoor fitness adventure coaching. Now preparing clients for Mt. Kilimanjaro, The Playa, and NYC (New York City!?)

How often have you met someone who signed up for an incredible outdoor adventure trip thinking they would have plenty of time to train and prepare? Before they know it, the trip is 4 weeks away, life has gotten busy, and they aren’t ready. There are two choices at this point – 1. Go anyway and hope for the best; or 2. Blitzkrieg the sport-specific training and find an expert to coach you along the way.

This is the kind of fitness training that gets the outdoor adventure guide/personal trainer/gear head in me so excited that my energy overflows as I coach my clients toward their fitness goals. To summit a mountain, spend a week in the desert, or be on your game in the Big Apple requires much more than simply ’showing up.’ As your fitness adventure coach, I will help you develop a strategic plan, research the physical demands of the destination, select the right outdoor equipment, and prepare you mentally and physically for the challenges ahead. Preparation becomes part of the experience, the trip itself is the climax, one which will exceed your expectations because you invested the time and energy to achieve it.

So plan that adventure trip! Live the life. Tap into your fullest potential. Accomplish your fitness goals with Melanie Webb of Sol Fitness Adventures.

Because fitness is more than a gym workout – it’s a way of life!

Santa Barbara Mind Body Specialists

Being fit involves more than bicep curls and crunches. Don’t forget the healing side. The local experts on this page will help you accomplish your fitness goals; soothe sore muscles; make spinal adjustments when necessary; and guide you to overcoming substance abuse or behavioral obstacles. Your local Santa Barbara mind body experts are here:

• Make the connection between mind and body with expert personal trainer and outdoor adventure guide Melanie Webb. (805) 722 – 4599 or soladventure.com
• Soothe sore muscles with the healing touch of massage therapist Yolanda Chasteen at Spa Escape. Find Yolanda at (805) 456 – 9208 or spaescapesb.com
• Receive rapid relief with the expert methods of Dr. Kara Gochnour. (805) 687 – 0533  or DrKaraGochnour.com
• Kick those nasty habits with the assistance of Dr. Adina McGarr. (818) 518-6775 or mysantabarbaratherapy.com

Fitness is more than a gym workout – it’s a way of life!

Two years ago I blogged about my urban garden in Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. Each day I’d ride there on my bike, putter around, and enjoy the simple pleasure of the peace and quiet of my garden haven. Teaching my young urban friends about fitness and nutrition and sharing my harvest with my personal training clients made the garden even more rewarding.

Now that I live in Santa Barbara, California, farmers market produce is abundant. The idea of being a ‘locavore,’ eating food from your own community, is shared by many in this environmentally conscious city. But I still want the feeling of being involved in the production of the food I eat. Two months ago I built garden boxes in my own backyard. My careful preparation of the soil – I use the lasagna gardening method of layering compost, soil, and other organic material – has resulted in a promising crop of organic vegetables.

Growing our own food provides great nutrition, saves money, and is therapeutic. But I would suggest that growing our own food, whether it’s a tomato plant in a pot on the 20th floor of a high rise apartment building in New York City, the salad greens in the four little garden boxes I’ve built in Santa Barbara, or the many fenced urban gardens of Washington, D.C. should become part of our environmental consciousness. The transportation of produce around the country not only requires too much fuel and wasteful packaging, but separates us from the very earth we sprung from. Humans need to be grounded, to feel dirt under our nails, and most of all, to be connected to the food we eat.

Enough of my banter – time to go harvest my local Santa Barbara produce!

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘core fitness’? Did you know that an effective ‘core’ workout consists of more than old-school crunches and sit ups?

A well-rounded core workout combines exercises that strengthen the back, butt, legs, and last but not least, the abs. Every person, from every age and background, can benefit from a regular program of core fitness exercises.

Sol Fitness Adventures personal trainer Melanie Webb brings a new brew of core fitness to Santa Barbara with her “Core Fitness Fusion.” Rather than follow one formulaic training method, Core Fitness Fusion is a smooth blend of strength training, yoga, floor Pilates, and Foundation exercises. Participants strengthen the back, butt, legs and abs in a dynamic group setting. Class regulars have decreased back pain, gained rotation in their golf swing, and lost inches off their waistline.

Taught at the Montecito Country Club,  members and nonmembers alike are invited to attend this dynamic group exercise class.

Details:

What: Melanie Webb’s Core Fitness Fusion

Where: Montecito Country Club, located at 920 Summit Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

When: Monday and Wednesday at 10:00 am

Members: $15/class

Nonmembers: $20/class

For more information email info@soladventure.com, or call 805.722.4599

USA Today Magazine offers women one more reason to join Sol Fitness Adventures walking group in Santa Barbara: normal-weight women prevent weight gain by doing an hour a day of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking.

The Strong Woman’s Guide to Total Health, by Miriam Nelson, a leading researcher on exercise for women, discusses ways to get more creative with walking in order to reach the hour-a-day goal of exercise. For those who are stuck sitting at a desk all day, try these methods to get more steps:

* Take 100 steps around the office every hour
* Walk the long way to the bathroom
* Walk one city block = about 200 steps
* Take a 20 minute brisk walk during your lunch hour = 2,000 steps

It is recommended that American’s strive to walk up to 10,000 feet/day. The best way to track your progress is to get a handy pedometer and watch your activity level to fall into one of the following categories:

* Fewer than 4,500 = very sedentary
* 4,500 – 5,000 = sedentary
* 5,500 – 7,500 = getting there, but you need to step it up
* 8,500 and up = you’re active, stick with it

Give yourself the jump start you need to walk your way to better fitness. Sol’s walking group meets at 7 am Monday and Wednesday at the Douglas Family Preserve, Linda Street Entrance. Walk to the sound of crashing waves, the smell of morning dew, and the feel of the warm sunrise on your skin. It’s so beautiful you’ll feel invigorated mentally as well as physically. See you there! Contact us for more details.

Foundation

It isn’t often that I promote one method of training over another, but Foundation is worthy of a post. And for those who think I just like to post pics of myself with hot men touching the small of my back – think again! I knew I’d stumbled upon a legitimate technique when, half-way through my first class by Eric Goodman at Platinum’s Summerland, California location, I felt my back muscles build so much tension that they began to shake. Gaining this level of fatigue in my muscles using only the resistance of my body usually requires minute adjustments and a trainer who knows how to target my weaknesses.

But Foundation is a nicely packaged routine of exercises that focus on the posterior side of the body – from the ground on up to the cervical spine. The premise of Foundation is that by improving the mobility of the hips through a combination of strengthening and flexibility exercises, the function of the back improves. The end result is a legitimate method of both treating and preventing back pain.

I’ve been a regular at the classes now for over 3 months, and through hours of study with Foundation’s originator, Dr. Eric, I’ve begun using the method with my own clients with much success. Anyone in the Santa Barbara area will benefit by making a point to attend a class. And for the rest of you hungry for real back exercises you can do anywhere, keep your eyes peeled – a book and DVD’s on the way!

Check out the exercises at Foundationroots.com

Sol has partnered with Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara to create a Stand Up Paddle fitness group exclusively for women. Ladies, if you’ve been wanting to get into SUP, this is your chance!

This five-week course combines essential core strengthening exercises with stand up paddle boarding technique.  The result is a fun, exciting outdoor workout that builds up to a coastal down wind paddle to show off your skills.

Course Breakdown:

• 5 week small group program with SUP/Surf instructor Mike Wathen and certified personal trainer Melanie Webb
• 30 minute beach fusion of yoga/Pilates/Foundation techniques
• 1:15 minutes on water stand up paddling
• 15 minutes beach boot camp cardio
• 30 minute optional free time with the SUP’s

Course Details:

• 5-week course taught in two sessions. Choose one:
  • Session 1: Thursday 10 am – 12 pm
  • Session 2: Saturday 9 am – 11 am
  • $750 per person
  • Only 8 spots available/class

Price Includes:

• SUP rental
• Paddle
• Wetsuit
• Healthy drink and snack at each class
• 15% off all SUP-related gear purchases from Paddle Sports
• One additional 2-hour SUP rental/week/person
• Professional SUP instruction
• Small group SUP strengthening fitness session

Sign up by phone or in person at Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara:  117B Harbor Way Santa Barbara CA 93109       805.899.4925

Melanie Webb and Sol Fitness Adventures
Melanie Webb is a Santa Barbara California personal trainer who believes fitness is more than a gym work out; it’s a way of life. I invite Santa Barbara California personal training to experience my world – one of stimulating physical activity, enthusiastic support, and unparalleled professionalism. From studio weight rooms to sunny mountain hikes, my fitness workouts are expertly crafted for those in need of a challenge, cross training for a specific sport, or recovering from injury.

Melanie is a Montecito California personal trainer with an extensive background in restoring the body to activity after injury. If you have been injured, Melanie works in consultation with your physical therapist or physician to assure that your workouts are safe. You will receive the encouraging, positive support needed to overcome the mental and emotional hurdles that accompany physical pain and injury.

Melanie’s Personal Training Philosophy

I am a master at coordinating your on-going fitness disciplines. Gym workouts focus on achieving a balanced body through the integration of strength training, yoga, Foundation, and Pilates mat exercises. In addition to meeting the body’s need for cardiovascular challenge, my outdoor workouts along Santa Barbara’s beautiful hiking trails will challenge your body, uplift your spirits, and engage your senses in the “American Riviera’s” natural beauty.

Experience a style of training that is one of partnership. I provide the encouragement, sound instruction, and professional management as your “partner” to explore and develop your individual fitness progression. You receive challenging, fun, engaging workout sessions. “Together” we move toward meeting your fitness goals and infusing your life with joyful, healthy energy.

Melanie’s expertise has been featured on Good Morning America, FOX Local News in Washington, D.C., and in in Cosmo Girl, Real Simple, Weight Watchers, and DC Style magazines.

Appointments
Santa Barbara California Personal Training
In-Home or Private Studio Training at Platinum Fitness Summerland location
Call 805.722.4599 to schedule a complimentary consultation

Cheers to Zion National Park calling attention to the wasteful American habit of purchasing bottled water by the boatloads. The park has installed several bottle refilling stations, where park visitors can fill reusable bottles with fresh spring water.

Americans use about 50 billion plastic bottles of water yearly,
167 for each person.
About 38 billion end up in landfills.
End-to-end they would circle the equator 217 times.
Making them uses around 20 million barrels of oil and creates more than 2.5 tons of CO2.

You can refill an average, reusable bottle with tap water once a day for 10 years, 5 months, and 21 days before it would cost as much as one quart of bottled water.