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6 Foods that Make You Heart Strong

February is American Heart Month! And we want to spotlight great foods that have amazing heart healthy benefits!

American Heart Month is a Federally designated month, proclaimed in 1963 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading global cause of death with more than 17.9 million deaths each year. * And women are especially at high risk of heart disease. We want to help you and your families reduce the risks and become healthier and happier.

 

Try to incorporate them into your diet this week!

1. Healthy Nuts

Not only a great source of protein but a great source of heart healthy Omega-6, Omega-3 and polyunsaturated fat, along with various vitamins and minerals that benefit the heart.

Grab a handful or toss some on your salad or morning oatmeal.

2. Berries

Berries contain power antioxidants and fight chronic diseases and cancer! They are naturally sweet and tasty and are among one of the healthiest foods to eat. How can you say no that?

The best berries are those you find at the Farmer’s Market (or grown in your yard if you have a green thumb).

Check out this great slideshow for a few berry recipes.

 

3. Flaxseed

A Whole grain that helps fight heart disease and inflammatory issues. Did you know the Ancient Egyptians used flaxseed as a both food and medicine? Certainly the definition of an ancient grain.

Flaxseed contain heart healthy Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).** Flaxseed helps with fighting cholesterol, heart disease, and some cancers.

Grind flaxseed and put it in smoothies, oatmeal, muffins, on salads, soups or sandwiches. And drink plenty of water to help the mucilage, a gummy material, expand and help to move stool through your intestines quickly.

4. Oatmeal

High in fiber and low in saturated fat. It’s great with some berries and nuts! You can hit 3 of these 6 heart strong foods all in one meal!

This amazing food can help to reduce cholesterol and help keep you regular. Other whole grains such as bread and pasta are for the heart so long as they contain the entire grain.

5. Dark beans

These are my favorite in a fresh salad. Full of protein and rich in fiber that helps to reduce cholesterol. B vitamins and phytonutrients in dark beans.      

Here is a great recipe (and some tips on reducing gas and bloating from beans) from the Chopra Center for Black Bean & Vegetable Stew

 

6. Spinach, red, yellow & orange veggies (Eat the Rainbow)

Oh the Rainbow – and we’re not talking that candy Rainbow! Oh how happy our kids would be if we were, right?

Eating the rainbow is a simply way of reminding people to eat an array of vegetables. A plant-based diet, or a diet rich in all fruits and vegetables, is the way to get the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and other beneficial nutrients that we all need for healthy hearts and healthy bodies.

 So of course we want to share this amazing Rainbow Salad with you! Not only is it beautiful to look at, it’s delicious to eat.

 

* http://newsroom.heart.org/events/february-is-american-heart-month-6669831

** https://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/flaxseed

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Kaia Tri is a ten-week triathlon training program with workouts three times a week, which is an optional extra during our spring and summer CORE sessions. We swim, bike, and run, with some cross-training classes too. By being able to set a personal pace, our triathlon training program is suited to beginners tackling their first race and intermediate athletes looking to improve their finish time.

Our mock triathlons run several times to familiarize women with the course route. We finish the season with a Triathlon Training Camp which includes paddle boarding and power workouts. The next day is our exhilarating and fun Triathlon race day for all Kaia Tri women to enjoy working out in a beautiful location. Friends are welcome too!

SANDBAG

Kaia Sandbag combines traditional fitness with unconventional training methods. With sandbags, the weight shifts and moves in an unpredictable fashion. This piece of equipment is integrated into our conditioning & strength building workouts to simultaneously develop strength, power, endurance, mobility, and balance – with an additional emphasis on developing overall core strength and stability.

New to sandbag training? No problem! Beginners are always welcome.

TRX SUSPENSION 

TRX® Suspension Training® body-weight exercise simultaneously develops strength, power, endurance, mobility, durability, balance, flexibility, and core stability. Whether you’re younger or older, out of shape or a pro athlete, injured or at the top of your game, TRX Suspension Training meets you where you are and takes you where you want to go. TRX Suspension Training leverages gravity and the user’s body weight to enable hundreds of exercises that can be instantly scaled for any user to reach any fitness or training goal. The easily-scalable nature of TRX Suspension Training makes it a practical solution wherever you are on the fitness continuum.

Need a little extra boost to keep your body guessing? Our TRX/Cardio class is an excellent complement to any Kaia FIT session. TRX workouts, which can be used by anyone at any level, builds true functional strength and improves flexibility, balance and core stability all at once. Mixed with cardio, the classes give every member the perfect balance of challenge and success.

*TRX classes not available in all areas. Please contact us your local studio.

CROSS-TRAINING

Our trademark Kaia Cross-Training™ classes are a unique mix of cardio, functional movement, and both weighted and non-weighted exercises.

Cross-Training benefits:

Each day brings a new workout. We have an elite group of advanced coaches who infuse each workout with their own flair and focus, meaning you’re never going to repeat a workout, avoid burn-out, and fitness plateaus.

Keeping the body guessing is key to sculpting lean muscle mass. We also have a 3-part modification foundation: Balance (non-impact); Strength (mid-impact) and Kaia (high impact). Each exercise has its own progression so that everyone can feel successful.

As a part of our program, we also offer nutritional guidance to help you make healthy food choices and keep your fitness on track.

What are you waiting for? Join us today!

BARRE

Our barre-based class is a unique combination of postures inspired by ballet, yoga, Pilates and Kaia. Using the barre as a prop to balance, you’ll complete a series of isometric holds combined with high reps of small range movements to elongate and tone your major muscle groups.

In addition to the barre, classes incorporate pilates balls, yoga blocks, and/or resistance bands for increased endurance, challenge and focus. Following each set of holds, you’ll rest and recovery with a short series of stretches and poses to increase flexibility prior to advancing.
Kaia Barre is a low-impact class that perfectly complements our program offerings. Meet us at the barre and try your first class for free!

Participating locations may vary. See the schedule page for more details.

DANCE 

Our dance fitness class is rooted in traditional dance. We use those foundational moves and offer a class that is easy enough for beginners yet challenging enough for the more seasoned dancer. The simplicity of the routines allows you to keep moving with ease. Although this is a workout, it feels more like a dance party with your girlfriends.

RUNNING 

Improve your speed, skill, endurance, stamina, and strength with our Kaia running program. The program works on developing running skills that can increase speed, endurance, and overall fitness. The program is designed for you to run at your pace and and help you see improvements every step of the way.

The Kaia training is a simple, progressive program designed for women of all ages and all fitness levels. Whether you are a walker, jogger, or runner, you will be able to join this program and move at your own pace. Research has shown that even 20 to 30 minutes of running (two to three times per week) is enough to help you lose or maintain weight and improve many other important health markers, i.e. your cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin response.

Don’t be intimidated by the Kaia Run program name, each class will have walkers, joggers and runners. Keep in mind that the first mile is the hardest mile you will ever run. Once you get off the starting block, things only get easier. All you have to do is be patient and disciplined in your training, and that is where Kaia

POWER YOGA

Kaia Yoga combines mind and body with a power yoga and core-strengthening weekly workout with Pilates-style techniques. We focus on balance, strength, and cardiovascular fitness through stretching, strength training and dynamic movement to improve overall fitness levels.

By creating long, lean muscles, Yoga promotes improved coordination, greater flexibility and a fuller range of motion, with a strong body that’s less prone to injury. Yoga keeps the mind centered and reduces stress through positive thoughts and a sense of mindfulness, which also inspires mental strength and confidence.

Yin Yoga, or restorative yoga, is a quiet contemplative practice. It targets the deepest tissues of the body, our connective tissues – ligaments, joints, bones, and the deep fascia networks of the body. Poses are held for 1 minute or more and transitions between poses are gentle and slow. This class is an excellent compliment to our other classes, provides dedicated stretching, and is known to reduce stress and anxiety.

6-WEEK BRIK BOOTCAMP

Our BRIK Bootcamp sessions are offered three times a year and are designed to help you reach your health and fitness potential, and you’re welcome to start anytime!

Our BRIK Bootcamps are six weeks long and feature classes daily.* This programming fits in seamlessly with our regularly scheduled classes, and it’s as easy as 1-2-3:

  1. Register for BRIK Bootcamp HERE (included for Platinum & Gold Memberships)
  2. Book your classes through our branded app and Show Up
  3. Let our expert coaches do the rest!

These sessions offer great results in weight and body fat loss and an increase in strength and cardiovascular endurance. Our nutritional support will boost energy, help you de-bloat, increase sleep quality, and enhance your overall glow.

BRIK Bootcamp includes:

In between BRIK Bootcamp, we offer a variety of classes to meet you at your level! We also have nutrition and fitness challenges, in addition to fun opportunities to spice up your routine. What are you waiting for? Join us today!

CYCLE

Cardio based, calorie torching workout with certified spin instructors. It’s a party on a bike!

Try a Week Free

WHAT IS KAIA FIT?