Author: Claudia Fountain

Yoga teacher, personal fitness trainer, and student of Life. Claudia’s fascination with movement and body potential began with her slipping in to the ballet studio across the street from her house when she was seven, where she sat in a corner and watched in wonder.  Later, she boogied her way through aerobics classes, ultimately becoming a certified instructor.   Finally deciding to make the leap from a traditional office career to a movement based career in personal fitness training, Claudia went back to school to complete her Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology.   In 2003, following a health scare, she began to explore yoga as a way to manage her stress and reconnect with her body in a new way.  “I practice yoga to wake up from the inside out. Every time I step on my mat, or sit on my meditation cushion, I am there for the inward journey of discovery. Yoga is the process of peeling away layers, always moving toward my true, authentic self. The process is fun, exciting, joyful, sometimes terrifying, but always feels like I am traveling home. This is also why I teach. I love to share knowledge, and offer tools to my clients so that they may become empowered to have their own breakthroughs.” Claudia completed her 200 and 500 hour RYT through Jennifer Prugh’s "Joy of Yoga" teacher training.  Her vinyasa flow classes are anchored by a strong background in exercise physiology, and are deeply centered in a mindful dance with the breath and the body.

Summer Ready

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Exercise, Fitness, newsletter, Recipes, Yoga

Hello my friends!

I blinked, and it’s June already. The iris and lilacs are blooming, the sun is shining, and I’m ready for some summer fun! Visiting with family last month was the perfect inspiration for me to connect with my roots, and to refresh my personal goals. So, here we go!

Personally, I am adding more activities into my daily routine that are beyond my regular fitness program. Activities such as those listed below help boost non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). In a recent study (Ostendorf et al. 2018), researchers emphasized a major finding from their research on weight loss maintainers. These folks spent significantly less time in sedentary behavior. NEAT boosting activities are relatively low in physical demand, and can be sustained for long periods of time.

Here are some suggested ways to add more movement:

  1. Get up and walk around your house upon awakening each day.
  2. Take a walk after dinner.
  3. Take a brief walk every time you refill your water glass.
  4. Walk around the grocery store before you start shopping.
  5. Bring your groceries into your house one bag at a time.
  6. Wash the car by hand.
  7. Walk to a co-workers desk instead of emailing or calling.
  8. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator when possible.
  9. Walk in place or do alternating knees lifts during TV commercials.
  10. Every 30 minutes get up and move briskly for 1-3 minutes.

There are many, many more ways to add just a little more movement into the day. 😃

This month I’ve added two new video offerings to my Vimeo platform. (Opportunities to move! 😉)

  • Exercise Video of the Month: Walking Knee To Chest (find it HERE)
  • Glow Flow Vinyasa – Upward Facing Bow. This is a flowing vinyasa class with the opportunity to practice upward facing bow. Bridge pose is offered as an alternative.

Start your day–or finish a virtual class with me (please find my teaching schedule, and link for booking classes  HERE)–with a delicious high anti-oxidant fruit smoothie.  (🍊🥬 recipe👇🏼)

In closing, may the start of your summer be filled with fun activities, delicious food, and family and friends.

Claudia

SPINACH – ORANGE SMOOTHIE

Spinach is a powerhouse of nutrition, including vitamins K and C, and lutein–a potent antioxidant. According to JAMA and The Journal of Nutrition, higher intakes of lutein are linked to healthier cholesterol levels and improved eye health. Adding spinach to your blender helps spinach retain the highest amounts of lutein. Cooking methods such as boiling or frying cause spinach to lose lutein, particularly the longer you cook it. Liquified greens provide the biggest anti-oxidant punch, and adding dairy fats increases solubility. This delicious spinach and orange smoothie is a perfect quick breakfast, or post workout refresher.

  • 3/4 C milk, or non-dairy alternative
  • 1/2 C baby spinach
  • 2 T hemp seeds (hemp hearts), chia seeds, or ground flaxseed
  • 1 t honey
  • 1 t lime zest
  • 1 medium orange, peeled
  • 1 C ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.

Happy Beltane!

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Fitness, Nutrition, Recipes, Yoga

The growing season has begun. 🌞 And, I’m eagerly anticipating fresh lettuce, basil, and tomatoes–among other delicious edibles being planted in the garden. 🌱🥬🍅🍓🫐

This month I’m proud of myself for getting this newsletter out at the first of the month! 😃 It’s another short, but sweet, one. I am taking a few precious weeks off from teaching for a personal re-set–and some much needed travel time. In the meantime, you can still practice with me on my VIMEO platform. This month marks the start of a monthly series of new yoga classes (one new full class video a month) that I will be making available on VIMEO. May’s video: My 6 Essential Yin Yoga Poses. You will also find my Exercise Videos of the Month Series there. These videos are all FREE. 🌟😃🌟

In closing, please also find a delicious Raspberry-Granola Chia Pudding recipe (soluble fiber = protection against cognitive decline). And, this month all gemstone bracelets (in Spring fresh colors) are 15% off in my little Etsy shop–MADE WITH MANTRA.

In Health & Wellness,
Claudia

As reported in Nutritional Neuroscience, soluble fiber was found to be protective against cognitive decline. Better management of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure are thought to be the mechanisms. Sources of soluble fiber include: flax, oats, barley, apples, peas, beans, berries and chia seeds.

RASPBERRY-GRANOLA CHIA PUDDING

  • 1/2 C milk or unsweetened nondairy milk
  • 1 C plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 C fresh or frozen (thawed) raspberries, plus more for topping
  • 2 T fresh mint (optional)
  • 2 t honey
  • 1 t lemon zest
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 1/2 t cinnamon
  • 6 T chia seeds
  • 2/3 C low-sugar granola

Place milk, yogurt, berries, mint (if using), honey, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon and a pinch of salt in a blender. Blend until smooth. Divide mixture between two wide-mouth jars. Add 3 tablespoons chia seeds to each jar, and stir to combine. Seal jars, then place in refrigerator to chill overnight. When ready to serve, top each jar with ½ cup of granola and a sprinkling of raspberries. Makes two servings.
***Source: IDEAFIT.com***

Hello Spring!

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Exercise, Fitness, Recipes

Keeping it simple this month. The warmer temps and fresh spring breezes, are inviting me to push away from my desk and spend more time outside. The first tulip greens are pushing through, and last year’s old growth is begging to be pruned, and cleared out. (Pssst. Gardening can improve dexterity, strength, endurance, and flexibility!)

In this month’s newsletter you will find my current virtual yoga teaching schedule, my new favorite core/arm/leg combination strengthening exercise, and a delicious recipe for a sweet potato yogurt bowl. (Research reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that adults with a higher total dairy intake had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.)

After the freeze
and the long slow thaw
the seeds we buried
reach again for the sun.
–Tyler Knott Gregson

May this new Spring season bring you fresh opportunities. 🌸🌼🌺

In Health & Wellness,
Claudia

Sweet-Potato Yogurt Bowl

  • 2 C sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed, cooked
  • 1 C milk or unsweetened dairy-free milk of choice 
  • 2 T maple syrup 
  • 1 t cinnamon 
  • 1 t ginger powder 
  • 1/8 t salt 
  • 4 C plain Greek yogurt 
  • Granola, nuts, seeds and/or berries (for topping) 

Place sweet potatoes, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a blender container and blend until smooth. (Blend in additional milk if needed for a smoother texture.) For each serving, place 1 cup yogurt in a serving bowl and swirl in the desired amount of sweet potato sauce. Add toppings. Makes four servings. 

(Source: IDEA Fitness Journal – Winter 2023)

a little March madness…

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Exercise, newsletter

“They do not tell you of this space,
this half-emptiness that comes when you
cartwheel over what you said
you could not do,”

Winter is holding firm here in the Pacific Northwest. Snow days call for clipping into boots and skis, and carving some turns. I love how the light on days like these has a certain glimmer and shine to it. The air so fresh crisp it almost snaps. For me winter is two parts staying snug inside, and one part getting outside to walk in snow that scrunches with each step. The key is to dress for it. 😉

“they do not tell you
it sounds like drumbeats,
that you will love the rhythm
of the new song it plays.”

If it’s raining, put on a slicker and boots, and dance through the raindrops. If falling snow drapes the world in the sound of silence–listen to its depths.

“This is the why,
of why we go,
this is the point to all of this,
the silencing of the doubters
that live loudest in our own chests,
the deaf ear we turn to fear
when we know we must go,
that wild calls,
and we must answer.”
–Tyler Knott Gregson

Behind every storm cloud the sun still shines. Be kind to yourself, and move your body. Challenge yourself, and keep setting goals. No matter how old (learning new things can make older adults’ brains 30 years younger in just 6 weeks), or young you are. And finally, be brave. Face everything and rise (aka FEAR).

In closing, this month in class, we are contemplating Svadhyaya — actively studying, meditating, and moving toward Self. What is the nature of reality (aka the sky behind the clouds)? What stories (stormy weather) does the mind create? Join me every Tuesday and Wednesday (schedule & links) for a little exploration.

And finally, please find my latest Exercise Video of the Month–Tricep Extension (aka strengthening for your upper arms) here.

In peace,
Claudia

Heart Meditations

by Claudia Fountain, posted in kindness, Meditation

A few months ago, I began volunteering at the Humane Society of Central Oregon. I work primarily with the cats and kittens, providing socialization. I will also spend time walking through the dog kennels, offering treats and attention. The experience is heart breaking, but also very fulfilling. It’s about meeting the cats and dogs where they are (terrified, depressed, or coming out of their shells), and letting them know they are seen, touched (if they want it), and loved.

“Stay still, gentle one,
and stare into the shine.

You have within
all the warmth
you will ever need.”
–Tyler Knott Gregson

Sometimes I sit in meditation with a quote that initiates a resonance–feelings, sensations, images. I let them flow like leaves on a river. Repeating the words periodically, until the water runs clear. Other times, I meditate on the heart. Try closing your eyes, and bringing your attention to the center of your chest. Breathe in, breathe out. What do you feel, hear, or “see”?

“At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love.” 
–Martin Luther King, Jr.

This month, let’s be gentle with ourselves. Spread kindness, or love–like sowing seeds. 

In peace,
Claudia 

P.S. My latest exercise video of the month is out: Top 4 Chest Stretches

Resolutions/Goals, Aspirations/Inspirations

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter

Are you a resolution maker, or a goal setter? Do you aspire to something, or respond to inspiration? There are as many motivators for us personally, as there are individuals. Because, well, we’re all individuals! If making resolutions has never worked for you, don’t sweat it. If setting goals feels overwhelming, or like a chore (that’s my take on them 😉), then don’t. I personally like daily or weekly “to-do” lists. Simple, do what’s in front of you, move on to the next, kinds of lists. Like a recipe, when I get the constituent parts done, it results in a something whole.

We have a brand new year ahead of us, full of possibility. However you choose to move into it, may it serve you. Feed yourself well. Move your body in ways that feel just right. But, most of all do what makes your heart sing.

As for me, I am easing into 2023 as I recover from catching a fun (not) little cold virus between Christmas and New Years. First time I’ve been sick in over three years! I’ll be back to teaching virtual classes beginning next week (1/9/24).

Looking ahead I have more quick exercise videos in store for you; and I am in the planning stages of a seven day course on “How to Meditate.”

In closing, please scroll down for a Quick Health & Fitness Goal Tip, and a delicious “Orange-Glazed Butternut Squash With Herbed Pecans” (nuts are heart healthy!) recipe.

In Health & Wellness,
Claudia

QUICK HEALTH & FITNESS GOAL TIP

Squeezing 30 minutes (or more) of formal exercise into a day can often feel daunting. You’ve put in a full day already, and now there is that pesky exercise/fitness/health goal sitting there taunting you.  Here is an easy way to get more movement into your day:

  • Break down those 30 minutes into smaller ones, and sprinkle them into your day. Try taking a 10 minute walk in the morning, another one at mid-day, and finally one at the end of the day. Set reminders on your smart watch/phone, and push away from what you’re doing. Take a walk around the block, to the mailbox, to get your mid-day coffee/chai/smoothie, or complete a circuit of your house. There are as many ways to add steps into your day, as there are minutes. And, very few of them require going to the gym, or getting on a treadmill. It’s like that “To Do” list. Check one thing off at a time, and before you know it it’s done.
Orange-Glazed Butternut Squash With Herbed Pecans

2/3 C pecan halves
1 t extra-virgin olive oil
2 t fresh thyme
2 t chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 t paprika
1/4 t + 1/8 t salt
4 C butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 T unsalted butter
1 T honey
1 t orange zest
2 T orange juice
1/2 C dried plums (prunes), sliced in half
2 oz soft goat cheese, crumbled

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together pecans and olive oil. Add thyme, rosemary, paprika and 1/4 t salt; stir to coat nuts with mixture. Place nuts on a baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes or until browned, being careful not to burn them. Meanwhile, place butternut squash in a steamer basket and steam until fork-tender, about 6–8 minutes. In a skillet, melt together butter, honey, orange zest and orange juice over medium-low heat. Add squash, dried plums and remaining salt; cook, stirring gently, for 2 minutes, making sure squash is well-coated with the orange glaze. Serve topped with pecans and goat cheese. Makes 4 servings.
[Source: IDEA Health & Fitness Association]

RADICAL GIFTING

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Meditation, newsletter

This month’s newsletter is short and sweet. The holidays can often feel like a burden, filled with conflicting messages–do more, spend more, be more. It can also be a very difficult time for those who are alone, or have lost loved ones. My wish this year is for us share the (radical) gift of love, time, presence, and attention. 

This is also the perfect time to practice LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION. Loving kindness is offered towards oneself, loved ones, your neighbors, even the stranger standing in line in front of you. Whether it’s for one minute, or 10 minutes, silently repeat 3-4 of the following phrases (or ones that hold meaning for you) directed towards yourself, a loved one, or all beings:

  • May I/you/we be happy 
  • May I/you/we be peaceful
  • May I/you/we be well
  • May I/you/we live with ease
  • May I/you/we find deep joy
  • May I/you/we be free of pain
  • May I/you/we be free from harm
  • May I/you/we be free of suffering
  • May I/you/we feel safe

If you’ve never practiced Loving Kindness Meditation, or would like to do a guided version of it, I have one on my Arketa On-Demand Video page that you can watch for free. Find it HERE.

In closing, please find below my modified teaching schedule for the rest of 2022. I will be taking a holiday break, in preparation for flowing into 2023. I look forward to seeing you in the new year!

🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🙏🏽🙏🏾🙏🏿 OM SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI 🙏🏿🙏🏾🙏🏽🙏🙏🏻🙏🏼

The Giving Season

by Claudia Fountain, posted in Exercise, Fitness, Holiday Sale, newsletter

Opening with words from the incomparable Tyler Knott Gregson:

“This is a time of harvest, show me what it is to give thanks,
to call people in and not out,
to echo truth into the night sky painted with spark
and drum, warm breath on cold air. Tell me
what you know of survival, quiet endurance
in the face of injustice and ignorance.

Teach me your stories, of hawk flight and the changing
of leaves on river bank, of first snowfall
and the silence that follows it.

You of all that was taken, you who have lost more
than we have will ever have. You of endless space
and star-filled skies, of thanksgiving as it was meant
to be, constantly with palms open in awe to all 
we are given. Teach me your stories, of the words
you leave behind, safely kept in bird song, in stream,
in late Summer thunder that haunts
as it rolls.”


The final quarter of 2022 rolled up on me faster than I can inhale. Tonight tiny ghosts and goblins will coming calling. I will light the Jack O’ Lanterns to ward off harm, and place a lit candle in a West facing window for lost loved ones. Family will gather around the table with me in a few weeks, to share in the bounty and give thanks for all we have. And, then before we know it Christmas and the New Year will be here. 

Fall is preparation for the quiet, still season to come. Shed old beliefs and habits like the dropping leaves. Share what you have with those who have less, so that we may all come through into the new light when it arrives again in the spring. We may be heading into the dark season, but there is light everywhere–in the joy of a smile, the glint of laughter, and the spark in someone’s eyes.

In closing, my latest exercise video (Upper Back Tension Release) has been released, find my teaching schedule and links to book virtual classes (perfect for releasing stress) here; and finally, the Giving Sale (20% off storewide) has started in my labor of love–MADE WITH MANTRA SHOP on Etsy–one-of-kind gifts for the special people in your life.

🤲🏻🤲🏾🤲🏽🤲🏿🤲🏼🤲

LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
May All Beings Be Happy
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI
May All Be In Peace

SUN SHIFT

by Claudia Fountain, posted in New Research, newsletter, Recipes

The autumnal equinox arrives this month on Thursday, September 22. I have already become aware of the subtle shift in sunlight that heralds autumn. Something about the light, a certain flavor to the air, feels like a cozy sweater to me. Summer can often feel intense with its heat and sizzle. Transition seasons, like fall (and spring), offer a refreshing shift. The autumnal equinox is celebrated in many cultures as a harvest festival (think Oktoberfest and Mabon). May we celebrate the bounty of our growing season as it comes to a close.

This month I offer a small cornucopia of health and wellness: some of the latest research on the benefits of walking for knee osteoarthritis, a delicious poached chicken and apple chutney recipe, my latest exercise video (Down Dog Variations), everything you might want to know about September’s birthstone–sapphire–from my Etsy store (Made With Mantra Shop), and my current teaching schedule (I’m taking a break at the beginning of October!)

In Health & Wellness,
Claudia

“And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood.”
–William Cullen Bryant

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, analyzed a nested group of participant data, in a large community based multi-year study of 1,212 participants aged 50 and older who had osteoarthritis. Those who reported walking for exercise had a 40% lower chance of new or frequent pain, when compared with non-walkers. This supports the possibility that walking for exercise is beneficial in preventing the onset of knee pain. According to the researchers, it may also slow down the worsening of internal knee joint damage from osteoarthritis. Find this research in Arthritis & Rheumatology (2022; doi:10.1002/art.42241).

POACHED CHICKEN & APPLE CHUTNEY

Crispy fall apples are loaded with polyphenol antioxidants and soluble fiber pectin–both beneficial in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors. Try this sweet and savory dish for both its flavor and heart healthy benefits.

  • 3 medium sized apples, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped dried figs or dried plums
  • 1 shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp brown mustard seeds (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 4, 6 oz chicken breasts, boneless & skinless
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Combine apples, figs or plums, shallot, honey, thyme, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon zest in a medium-sized saucepan. Place over medium heat until apples begin to sizzle. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes, or until apples have softened. To poach chicken, place breasts and salt in a pot large enough that they lie flat in one layer, then add enough water to completely cover the meat by about 1 inch. Bring water to a very slight simmer with just a few bubbles breaking the surface, reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and cook for 15 minutes, or until meat is cooked through. Slice chicken breasts, and server topped with the apple chutney. Makes 4 servings.

DEEP SUMMER DIVING

by Claudia Fountain, posted in newsletter

I’ve been practicing with a new meditation teacher, which has been a lovely change from doing my own practice. Periodically learning from someone new is so useful, helpful, enlightening, and refreshing. It gets me out of my own way. One of the little nuggets–that I needed to re-visit, come at from a fresh perspective–is to let things be. My mind is always ON, but that doesn’t mean I need to listen to it ALL the time. Let it be like a radio on in the background. My body is always feeling something, but there is no need to respond to every itch, squeak, or sore spot. They. Just. Are. I’m slowly learning to increase the distance between phenomenon (thoughts, sensations, sound, etc.) and my sense of being the watcher. This in turn has given me what I like to think of as a gap, in which I can then turn my awareness towards itself. In other words, look at who is doing the watching. It’s been an interesting, and in many ways soothing, process.

This month I invite you to look for the gaps, find the space that isn’t filled with with thoughts, sensations, or stories. It’s there. We just need to turn away from all the noise, and dive into the deep end of spacious awareness.

Let July be July,
and let August be August.
And let yourself
just be
even in
the uncertainty.
You don’t have to fix everything.
You don’t have to solve everything.
And you can still find peace
and grow
in the wild
of changing things.
–MHN

See you on the mat!