More about Susan Tobiessen, Body Design Founder

SUSAN TOBIESSEN

Founder and Owner of Body Design, The Women’s Athletic and Wellness Center

Susan Tobiessen founded Body Design in 1986 to partner with women to achieve their health and fitness goals in a nurturing and supportive environment. Body Design was the culmination of her dream to establish a safe, healthy and positive environment for women.

With over 25 years of experience and training, Susan is a certified Pilates Instructor as well as certified in physical therapy from Polestar Rehabilitation. In addition to also being a certified GYROTONIC® instructor, Sue is on the board of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and is a committee member of the OCC Fitness Specialist Advisory Committee.

After pursuing a career in health, rehabilitation and fitness education, she now focuses on preventive medicine and helping people live a healthy and pain free life. At Body Design, she helps clients who are suffering from knee, back and neck injuries and neuromuscular disorders (MS, Fibromyalgia and Parkinsons Disease), as well as those who want to live a healthy lifestyle.

Susan is often featured in magazines and newspapers as an expert in health and fitness. She also speaks to numerous groups and affiliations about the benefits of exercising and is currently working with her daughter, Alex, to educate others on scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that inflicted her daughter.

A Newport Beach resident for over 20 years, Susan is also involved in her community by giving to numerous charities and participating in the Spirit Run and The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. She also dedicates her time to her daughter Alex, her son Jesse, her grand daughter Chloe and her husband Eric.

Back to School + Back To Working Out Thanks to Thigh High's

Christian Louboutin OTK Platform Boot - $1,995 at Neiman Marcus
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod86320046&parentId=cat22500737&masterId=cat13030734&index=10&cmCat=cat000000cat000141cat13030734cat22500737


I never thought I would say "Thanks to fall, I now I have killer thighs."

Usually back to school marks the time when jeans and sweaters can come back out of the closet and I don't have to be as diligent about working out as I do when bikini season is at its height. This year is different all thanks to thigh high boots.

If you want to get killer thighs, nothing gets you more in shape than cardio mixed with weights. You should talk to Alexis at Body Design to get on a weights routine today. She is amazing and will have your thighs shaped up in a hurry or in time for you to rock those killer boots.

Real Simple's Website Features Great Health Tips

I love Real Simple magazine.

Maybe its the beautifully simple photographs. Maybe its the idea that I could get my life as organized as they say I can. Maybe its just a nice place to just dream of how it could be - even if just for a minute.

What I do know is that I try hard to feel like I am a good mom, worker and wife all while trying to take care of myself. That is why I love Real Simple's health section on their website. They have great ideas for nutrition, weight loss, energy boosters and more.

Here is a link to a recent post that I thought might come in handy for you too:

20 Little Ways To Drop Pounds

http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/weight-loss/20-ways-drop-pounds-00000000018633/index.html

2 for 1 Private Training Special At Body Design

Now through September 30th, Body Design, the wellness and fitness center in Newport Beach, is offering a 2 for 1 private training special.

The offer includes weights, Pilates and Gyrotonic. You can take a friend for free or two people can split the price of a private. http://www.bodydesignonline.com/

Secrets to Staying Motivated From Fitness Expert Marra Okola

Marra Okola on the GYROTONIC tower at Body Design

One of Body Design's fitness experts, Marra Okola shares her secrets for staying motivated:

1. Find a picture of you looking your best physically and put it on the fridge, on your gym bag, in your car, everywhere. Make sure it is realistic -- not from when you were 18!

2. Keep track of how you feel when you eat well and exercise. Even when the results are not visible, they can nearly always be felt. Acknowledge that feeling. Savor it and then try to recreate it the next day.

The Power of Exercise and Healing

I love this photo below. I love the blue shirt with the red ball and not to mention the beautiful girl with the fresh face.

The girl in the photo is Alex, Susan Tobissen's daughter. Susan is the owner of Body Design, the fitness and wellness center in Newport Beach. Her daughter had scoliosis and had to have a metal rod put in her back when she was a young girl. With Susan's knowledge of the body and the power of healing the body by strengthening it, her daughter fought back to become a gifted and talented soccer player.

It shows you can do anything.

Things Every Woman Can Do At Home To Stay In Shape

I love getting expert advice from those in-the-know. So we decided to ask a few experts at Body Design for their easy tips every woman can do at home to stay in shape. Here is what they said:

Leslie Bergey:

Women (and men too) could do just four things to stay in great shape. But these things have to be done with consistency and integrity:
1) Plank (elbow and regular)
2) Slow pushups
3) WALK every day!
4) Stretch....there's nothing a good Down Dog can't fix!

Marra Okola

1. Eat healthy portion controlled food
2. Eat healthy portion controlled food
3. Eat healthy portion controlled food

Jennifer Parra

1. Cardio - Cardio is important for fat burning. I can have Evangeline Lilly’s muscle tone but no one will know if I have a layer of fat over it. Some form of cardio for 40 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week. It could be spent on the treadmill, elliptical, kickboxing class, going out dancing or running after your kids – just move.

2. Strength training - It’s also important to focus on building muscle tone 2 to 3 times a week.

3. Making healthy eating choices - Be mindful of eating healthy foods and portion control. Not everyone can have a personal chef whip up their diet conscious meals, but we can all make better choices within our means: choosing a light dressing, having half of the bread serving, opting for carrots over French fries, sorbet over chocolate cake, ice tea over the frappuccino and cutting our plate down by a third. Incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables and drink TONS of water!

Get Exercise and Stroll With Your Baby! Favorite OC Spots

Love to exercise but can't always make it to the gym here at Body Design? Well if you are a mom with young kids, Stroller Suspenders has some tips for strolling with your baby, as well as their favorite stroller spots in Orange County.

Stoller Suspenders is a new, hot item for moms on the go ($9.99/Basic Series or $18/Designer Series www.strollersuspenders.com). It is an easy to use strap that secures your blanket to the stroller so your blanket doesn't drop on the ground.

Favorite OC Spots to Stroller
Balboa Island – When in doubt, this is our “go to” walk. Not only is it beautiful to be right on the bay, but if you do both Islands it is almost 3 miles. Kids love the boats, dogs and the Balboa Island Fire Station. Reward yourself with a latte afterwards.
The Castaway’s Loop – This is an easy walk that lets you feel the ocean breeze while getting a great view of the Harbor. Bonus: After your walk, stop at the Bob Henry Park for some extra play time.
Dana Point Harbor – Stroll along this scenic path and watch the ships roll in.
The Circle in Old Town Orange – From the vintage Drug Store fountain shop to the beautiful antiques and made over service station turned café, this is a great place to stroll, shop and get a taste of OC history.
Irvine Regional Park – Stroll along with the wild peacocks through the beautiful oak tree lined paths then take a ride on the train and/or the ponies, play at one of the many play areas, have a picnic lunch and don’t leave without visiting the bears at the Zoo!
Main Beach in Laguna - No place is better for an early morning or late afternoon walk than this beach but you must have a good running stroller so your wheels don’t get stuck in the sand.
Woodbridge Lake, Irvine – The kids will get a kick out of feeding the ducks and swans as you stroll lakeside in Irvine.
Mission San Juan Capistrano – Take in some of California’s rich history, stroll the great shops and restaurants along Camino Capistrano.
Crystal Cove – If you are looking for a short stroll, park your car and walk down to the beach, making a stop at the Beachcomber for breakfast, lunch or dinner or just play on the sand. Don’t be fooled by the short distance. The walk up the hill to get back to your car will have you feeling the burn.
Your neighborhood – For when you need to quickly get out of the house before the kids meltdown, walk around your own neighborhood. It is the best way to get ideas for your future dream home and get fresh air at the same time.

Strolling Tips:

Travel Light! Don’t bring a huge bag with all of the baby’s things. A big bag hanging on the back of the stroller will weigh you down and get in the way.
Don’t pack the playroom. Try not to bring toys unless they are strapped to the stroller. It is no fun if you have to keep stopping to pick up a dropped toy.
Think Shade. Shade your baby in the sun or while they are sleeping. Use Stroller Suspenders to secure your blanket to the stroller and don’t forget the sunscreen.
Quench that thirst. Bring a bottle or sippy cup and a small snack. All kids inevitably get hungry or thirsty. And this can help you avoid meltdowns and stave off hunger pains before lunch arrives.
Play a game. Use this time to educate and talk to your baby. Point out things on your walk like the garbage truck, boats, dogs etc.

Why Women (and Men) Should Try GYROTONIC

Madonna, Gwennyth and Tiger are doing it.

Anytime you mention that those three -- some of the best bodies around today -- are doing it, sign me up! Sign you up for what, you say? Its only the latest in fitness -- GYROTONIC.

I got a chance to talk to Leslie Bergey, a GYROTONIC expert at Body Design, about why women and men for that matter should try GYROTONIC. Here is what she had to say.

Q: Why should women try GYROTONIC?

A: Women benefit (as do men) from GYROTONIC physically (strength, flexibility, balance, coordination), but also mentally.

The three dimensional movements we do in Gyrotonic "confuse" the brain a bit and ask it to build new motor neurons...new pathways on the body's information highway. You can't really "call it in", just show up and think you're going to be able to do Gyrotonic.

It's going to take you literally outside the box of daily life into a world of rhythmic spiraling, of flowing motions, of power and grace. (Plus it's fun!)

More about Leslie Bergey
Leslie Bergey teaches GYROTONIC® and fitness training at Body Design. With over 15 years experience in training others, over 17 years of classical ballet training and 4 year stints on the National Basketball Team and the National Volleyball Team, Leslie’s diverse and extensive knowledge shows in her workouts and philosophy.

In addition to being a Certified Pilates Instructor, she has earned a B.A in Kinesiology from Long Beach State and a teaching credential in Kinesiology and Gerontology. Never one to sit still, Leslie is currently studying the Alexander Technique.

In each workout with her clients, Leslie focuses on trying to find more ease and less tension to cultivate lightness, grace and awareness. Her goal is to create a gentle strength that supports clients in and out of the gym.

Body Design is Now on Twitter

Check out Body Design's latest fitness tweets on Twitter...

http://twitter.com/bodydesigntwitt

BEAT THE AFTERNOON BLAHS--GET ENERGIZED AT THE OFFICE WITH FIVE SIMPLE TIPS

Susan Tobiessen, the founder of Body Design, Orange County’s premiere fitness facility for women, has over 25 years of experience and education in weight training, Pilates, Gyrotonic and sports medicine.

She offers these easy tips to get focused and stay energized at the office:

1. Feel the sunshine: Go outside. Even if you go out for lunch, take at least five minutes to get some fresh air in the afternoon if you are feeling drained. A simple walk around the building may be all that you need. And, if you can, bring a colleague to do some business brainstorming.


2. Just breathe: Sometimes getting re-energized is as simple as remembering to breathe. Concentrate on counting to 6 slowly as you inhale and then do the same as you exhale so that you fill your body with oxygen.


3. Do the 7th inning stretch at your desk. While sitting in your chair, bend forward to touch your toes. Hold for a count of 10. Then reach your hands up in the air above your head while concentrating on your posture. Think about reaching your hands as high as they can go.

4. Do the twist: Twist your torso to right, holding on to the side of your seat with your left hand and the back of the seat with your right. Focus on a point behind you, hold for 10 seconds and then repeat to the left.


5. Make sure you eat. If you starve yourself all day you’ll have low energy and tend to over-eat in the evening when you burn few calories. Beware -- a trip to the vending machine doesn’t count. A better way to feel more productive at work is to keep stash of nuts and fruit that you can grab at a moments notice when you need a little lift.

Gyrotonic - The New Hot Fitness Craze

Body Design, the women’s athletic and wellness center in Newport Beach, is now offering GYROTONIC®.

The new fitness craze, made famous by Madonna during her “ReInvention Tour”, was created in the 1980’s by Juliu Horvath, a Hungarian and a former principle dancer with the Romanian State Opera.

Taking Pilates to a three dimensional level, the GYROTONIC® system simultaneously stretches and strengthens the body with minimal effort, while increasing range of motion and developing coordination. The GYROTONIC® system was created using key principles of gymnastics, swimming, ballet, and yoga through which major muscle groups are worked interdependently and in an integrated manner.

Each exercise is synchronized with a corresponding breathing pattern and is performed with either a rhythm or melodic rhythmical expression, creating a gentle or vigorous cardiovascular-aerobic stimulation, depending on the intensity and speed of the execution. Used worldwide amongst dancers, sports enthusiasts, rehabilitation facilities, GYROTONIC® is also great for general conditioning at any age or physical fitness level.

In addition to four certified GYROTONIC® trainers at Body Design, the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® is also used by Body Design’s on-staff physical therapist to aid in recovery.

Four Tips To Picking A Pilates Instructor

With Pilates becoming more and more popular among men and women of all ages, Susan Tobiessen, the owner of Body Design, the women’s athletic and wellness center in Newport Beach, is offering tips on how choose the right Pilates instructor.

To get the most out of your Pilates workout and not get hurt, look for the following:

1. Make sure your instructor is certified from a credible school. With weekend Pilates certification programs popping up, make sure your instructor has completed the certification process from a reputable program. Since there is no nationally recognized certification process for Pilates at this time, your best bet to finding a qualified instructor in your area is to contact The Pilates Method Alliance (http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.com/).

2. Look for an instructor with higher education or continuing education. The Pilates Method is a knowledge-based exercise program, where the more your instructor knows the better qualified they become. In addition to having completed the certification process, choose an instructor that has a degree in Kinesiology, Physical Therapy or Athletic Training or is continuing their education in Pilates with updated workshops and seminars.

3. Keep your mother’s words in mind -- Background is important. Different trainers bring different backgrounds to your work out. If you are nursing an injury, pick someone with a physical therapy background. If your goal is to have long, lean muscles, choose someone with more of a dance emphasis. If you are looking to improve your golf or tennis game, someone with a sports background who really understands the mechanics can help you improve.

4. Schedule the right time of day. It seems simple, but scheduling is one of the biggest mistakes people make. For example, if you are a morning person, make sure your instructor is too. Your instructor needs to be on their game so you can be on top of yours.

About Body Design
Body Design has been concentrating on personalized attention for over 15 years. It is located in the penthouse suite of the landmark Edwards Theaters above the Stadium Theaters at 210 Newport Center Drive, Suite 3 in Newport Beach. Body Design can be contacted by calling (949) 719-2600 or e-mailing getfit@bodydesignonline.com. For more information visit http://www.bodydesignonline.com/.

Inside Scoop on Healthy Snack Ideas + A Beauty Secret

I love getting the inside scoop from the experts about their tricks to stay healthy and fit.
Jennifer Parra, one of the Pilates instructors at Body Design in Newport Beach gave us her ideas on a healthy snack and her favorite beauty secret.

Q: Do you have a favorite healthy snack?

Jennifer: I’m always looking for a new healthy snack to keep me from getting bored because the truth is that I LOVE comfort foods, and I need things that will keep me satisfied. Right now, I’m loving whole grain crackers with a slice of apple and mozzarella.

Q: Do you have a beauty secret you can share?
Jennifer: Hahahaha, I’m pretty low maintenance. But I always moisturize. And sleep! Moisturizer and sleep keep everything fresh.

Our Favorite Picks For Summer Workout Wear

Let's face it. The best motivator to feeling good is looking good.  

So to get you inspired to work out, we chose a few of our favorite summer workout outfits from lululemon, which is right across the street from us at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. 

This summer nothing gets me more excited than color. I also love lululemon's jackets for those early morning walks around Balboa Island before the sun is in full force.

        

    
Right now I am really into the cropped tights like you see below. I haven't been brave enough to follow the short shorts trend but these make me want to do it. But my real  "go to" item is always the lululemon pants. They are perfect in every way.

              

Why Women Should Try Pilates

So you've decided to get in shape? Or get healthy? Or both? Why not, right? Summer is coming after all.

With all organic food at your finger tips and tons of information out there about living a healthy life - Thanks Oprah and Dr. Oz! - your next decision is where do you start? We are going to post a few blogs about some different options, including Pilates, Gyrotonic and weight training.

Jennifer Parra, a Pilates instructor at Body Design, the women's athletic and wellness center in Newport Beach, offers her thoughts on Pilates and why women should try it.

Q: Why do you think women should do Pilates?

Jennifer: I think Pilates is a great choice because it’s work for the body and mind.

To do it correctly, you have to be physically dedicated and mentally focused, which is just the challenge and stimulation that we women crave. It’s perfect for posture and our joints.

In terms of physical shaping, it’s ideal because it makes women strong without making them bulky. It targets the core, lengthens the muscles and reshapes the body to be lean and toned.

Mariel's Kitchen - A new cook book by Mariel Hemmingway

Just last week, I was invited to tea at Ellen and Ned Olivier's beautiful house in Malibu for a book signing to celebrate Mariel Hemmingway's new cook book "Mariel's Kitchen" . Not only is she beautiful and obviously fit, her commitment to leading healthy life is inspiring.

About 50 women gathered to hear her talk about her latest book and her take on eating right. I wanted to pass along some of the things I learned, since we are all looking for ways to have a "Delicious and Satisfying Life":

1. Buy good quality food from local farms - it is an easy way to go green and feed your body with delicious, conscious food.

2. Stay away (or at least try to) from "noisy" food - meaning processed food that literally makes your brain react in a different way.

3. Bring dining back - Don't just eat to eat. Make dining important. Mariel says that even if she is eating alone, she sets the table with a placemat, napkin and even lights a candle.

4. Eat seasonally - Food is better and better for you if you are eating it in the right season when the fruits or vegetables are at their peak. She talked about her memories of peach cobbler in summer and watermelon at 4th of July. She is right-it seems weird if you are having watermelon at Christmas.

Her new cook book is divided by season, which I love. I am sure a lot of you will appreciate, that her recipes are also sugar free and gluten free.

If that weren't enough - her delicious Blisscuits (I tried the cinnamon and lemon - both yum!) are going to be available at Target!

Author Mariel Hemmingway with host Ellen Olivier

Mariel is one of 50 top authors who will participate in this November's Literary Feasts, which benefit for the LA Public Library's reading enhancement programs for children and teens. The "feasts" consist of 50 private dinners with 50 different authors in some of the most beautiful homes throughout Los Angeles.

More about Mariel:

The granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, Mariel is the author of three books herself, including Finding My Balance: A Memoir with Yoga; Healthy Living from the Inside Out; and the new book, whose full title is Mariel's Kitchen: Simple Ingredients for a Delicious and Satisfying Life. The new book also includes the recipe for her famous, Blisscuits, which will be on sale at Target and other stores starting this fall. More information about Mariel's recipes for good health are available on her website, http://www.marielhemingway.com/.

Get Summer Ready For Only $20 Per Month at Body Design

I love the long days with the sun setting well after six. It reminds me of summer and with that, you know, comes the thought of getting in shape and summer ready. Thanks to Body Design and their $20 a month program, I can make it happen.

Swimsuits and short dresses here I come!