August 19 2008 by admin.

You are invited to a little shindig at:

IM=X Pilates Blue Bell Studio

1320 DeKalb Pike, 2nd Floor, Blue Bell PA 19422

taking place on: September 5 2008 at: 7:00pm

RSVP by: September 1 2008

IM=X Pilates Blue Bell is throwing another party! Enjoy the Back-to-School theme with Appletinis, ice cream floats and lunch box favorites. Invite your friends to come experience IM=X Pilates in a casual way. You’re welcome to contribute to the snacks and drinks table,but it’s not required. Be ready with your favorite stories, pictures or even souvenirs from your Summer 2008 trips and activities- Jim is looking forward to “What I Did This Summer” presentations!  Please RSVP by email or at the studio.

•  Newsletter UPDATE: Please notice the ‘confirm’ link at the top of your e-newsletter- you need to confirm that you wish to continue receiving our newsletter. This is called a double-opt-in, and helps prevent spam. Haven’t signed up for the newsletter yet?

For Email Marketing you can trust

• MyFoxPhilly HotList UPDATE: IM=X Pilates Blue Bell needs your votes! Help get us in the top 5. Go to MyFoxPhilly.com and vote for us!

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August 11 2008 by admin.

Did you know you can subscribe to the IM=X Pilates Blue Bell blog, and receive emails notifying you when new entries have been posted? In the right-hand column, all the way at the bottom, you’ll see something marked “Entries (RSS)”. Click on this, and you can sign up to automatically get emails about new posts here in the blog!

IM=X Pilates Blue Bell is also starting an email newsletter, which will be sent out much less frequently than new blog entries will be posted. The newsletter will keep all of IM=X Pilates Blue Bell’s clients informed about important news and events relating to the studio. You can sign up for the newsletter:

For Email Marketing you can trust

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July 21 2008 by admin.

The 2008 MyFoxPhily Hot List polls are open, and IM=X Pilates Studio Blue Bell wants your love.

Go to MyFoxPhilly to vote for the best pilates studio in town, IM=X Pilates Blue Bell! Scroll down to Health and Fitness, choose Pilates Studio, and give us your vote. Get your friends into the studio for a free Intro session so they can add their votes, too. Tell your kids and their friends that IM=X Pilates Blue Bell is offering students discounted classes for the summer- $20 each or 5 for $90 with a valid student I.D., and they can vote too!

Let’s spread the word around Blue Bell, Gwynned Valley, Ambler, North Wales, Lansdale, Plymouth Meeting, Spring House, Lafayette Hill, Oreland, and King of Prussia- you enjoy your pilates sessions here so much that IM=X Blue Bell belongs on the MyFoxPhilly 2008 Hot List! Don’t forget, when you refer a new client to IM=X Pilates Blue Bell you’ll receive a referral bonus that can be applied to your next payment, so keep talking about your favorite workouts all summer long.

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July 9 2008 by admin.

As your pilates instructor, looking out for your health, I ask you: Have you been trying to increase the fresh fruits and veggies in your diet? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of varieties in your local produce section? Look no further than the CDC’s Fruit and Vegetable of the Month list!

Showcased for the month of July, meet the sweet nectarine and the bold garlic. With information on their selection, storage, preparation and availability, as well as nutritional information and recipies, you have all the facts and figures you’ll need to purchase and enjoy some familiar and some unique foods- cactus (August) or persimmons (October), anyone?

By this time of the summer, you can find great quality fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses and other fare from small farms in the area. LocalHarvest lists farmers markets in Norristown, North Wales, North Hills/Oreland, Conshohocken, Chestnut Hill, Glenside, Skippack and Jenkintown.

Recipies exist all over the internet, from all sorts of sources. One regular site is The Food Network. You should also try the magazine Eating Well, and the more focused Cook’s Illustrated. They each have tasty and different takes on all eating styles.

Your own favorites and experiences are always welcome, both here on the IM=X Pilates Blue Bell blog and at the IM=X Pilates Blue Bell studio. Enjoy!

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July 7 2008 by admin.

We’ve had a few discussions in the IM=X Pilates studio about water bottles, both plastic and metal. I’ve done some digging (mostly at idealbite.com) and here are concise answers to some of your plastics questions:

What is the best plastic bottle to reuse?  #2 plastic- HDPE plastic, soft and opaque. Think “The ants go marching two by two, the little one stopped to tie his shoe…”, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Two Pina Coladas- you get the idea.

What are better choices? Glass and stainless steel.  (Aluminum needs a coating over it.) Sigg bottles, or leftover glass juice bottles are in this category.

What is unsafe? Copied directly from Ideal Bite:

Note: Nalgene does now carry an Everyday brand bottle made without bisphenol-A.

What about recycling? Here is a list, again from Ideal Bite, of plastic numbers and recycling:

Usually recyclable:
1. PET - 2-liter and mouthwash bottles, boil-in-bag pouches.
2. HDPE - milk jugs, trash bags, detergent bottles, some yogurt cups.
Sometimes recyclable:
4. LDPE - grocery bags, produce bags, food wrap.

5. PP - diapers, straws, yogurt containers.

6. PS - CD cases, egg cartons, Styrofoam.
Not so much…
3. PVC - cooking-oil bottles, meat packaging, office binders.

7. Other - other types of plastic, plus things made from more than one type of plastic (see below).
Bioplastics (7, and marked as either compostable or biodegradable):
7. Compostable Plastic - is nontoxic and breaks down as fast as paper in compost.
7. Biodegradable Plastic - may contain toxins, so you have to send it to a special composting facility (enter compost and your zip at Earth911, see below).
Commonly questioned items:
Container Caps - typically different plastics than the container; take ‘em off, check the # inside, and either recycle or throw them away.
Grocery Bags - reuse them first! You usually can’t recycle them curbside, but some supermarkets have bins in-store.
Earth911 - find out if you can recycle specific items in your area.

 So, here’s a summary: we like glass or stainless steel for sipping during your brief pilates breaks, #2 plastic is also ok, and you can recycle most stuff.

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June 26 2008 by admin.

The food, the friends, the margaritas! About 20 people visited the transformed IM=X Pilates Blue Bell studio Tuesday evening for the first ever Happy Hour party, the IM=X Blue Bell Cantina. The pilates machines were moved aside, and decorations brightened up the walls and ceiling. We almost ran out of room on the tables in the cardio room, so many people brought food! Lots of fresh fruit, chips and dips, veggies, and a fantastic hot dip from Karyn were thoroughly enjoyed (and the recipies would be welcomed by many!) And then, dessert. “If it tastes like buttah, that’s because it IS!!”- and, ooh, Kathy R’s Mexican Wedding Cookies were buttery. Jen W brought cupcakes- Margarita cupcakes. Did any of you realize they were vegan? Those dense, moist, absolutely delicious cupcakes made with the drink of the evening were vegan?? Yup!

A giant cheer and thanks from EVERYONE there to Amy, who got us started with her homemade margaritas. Even the beer-and-wine fans enjoyed a glass. We had several donations of tequila, triple sec and mixers that didn’t even get opened, so we’re set for another party!

Early on, the group sat on the floor by the margarita table in a big circle and chatted. As more food arrived, and the crowd swelled, people stood in groups or pulled a few chairs together. We heard quite a few “I don’t know you! We must work out at different times.” Friends caught up with each other, new connections were made, and lots of conversations that normally would get cut short in a pilates class were had in full.

A handful of people paid their “cover charge”- they were asked to describe, in 2 or 3 words, what is IM=X Pilates and what do we do here at IM=X Pilates Blue Bell. Here are a few of the answers we got:

“Classes are fun and challenging”

“Fun Fitness Friends”

“I feel: strong & lean   Instructors are: motivating & personable (& AWESOME) :)”

“Invigorating Strong Sexy    That’s how I feel”

This is great! It’s so exciting to hear what you think and how you feel. Leave a reply or send us an email if you want to contribute- it’s never too late. You can let everyone know what you thought of the party, too!

A very warm thanks to everyone who participated, even those who couldn’t make it. We hoped to create a buzz and get everyone to mingle a little. Thanks to all of you, the first Happy Hour party at IM=X Pilates Blue Bell was a success!

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June 13 2008 by admin.

Click Here to See the IM=X Pilates Blue Bell Cantina Flyer

Who: YOU! Your friends!

What: An IM=X Pilates Blue Bell Happy Hour Event- Our Very First Cantina Fiesta!

When: Tuesday June 24 2008, 7pm

Where: 1320 DeKalb Pike, 2nd Floor, Blue Bell PA 19422

Why: Why not?? Come have a good time!

How: Call your friends. Or email them the address to this blog! Make your favorite dish if you like. Get in your car. Drive over the the IM=X Pilates Blue Bell Studio. Park your car. Walk up the stairs. Party!

P.S. Please R.S.V.P. by Monday June 23 by phone, email or at the studio, so we can get an accurate count.

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June 5 2008 by admin.

Are you missing out on the early Saturday class? Or a favorite weeknight time slot? Did you know the WebScheduler used by IM=X Pilates Blue Bell has a waitlist feature?
Click on “Sign Up” when the class you want is full, and you will be given an option to join the class waitlist. Then, if and when a space opens up, you will be emailed a confirmation to be added to the class.

Spaces in our pilates classes open frequently. Using the waitlist feature gives you immediate notice of these openings, without needing to continuously check the schedule yourself.

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May 16 2008 by admin.

Here at the IM=X Pilates Studio in Blue Bell, we see a LOT of really wonderful, dedicated clients week-in and week-out. We know who to expect in certain classes, and if a few go by without them, their classmates start pressing us for reasons! 

At the same time, we have just as many motivated, hopeful clients who are ready to change their body, ready to look good for the summer, and ready to simply feel better in their own skin, but they haven’t quite made the time commitment yet. They’re not quite ready to change their habits and be responsible for their workouts and results.

In an article by author Bill Phillips (Body for Life, Eating for Life),  he lists 7 Ways to Find Time for Fitness. These ideas are great for newbies, as well as workout veterans who need some inspiration to get going again.

#1. Watch Less TV- Lost and Idol are frequent discussion topics during stretches. And TV time is great for relaxing! But think about it this way: “The average American spends 30 hours a week watching TV (and people say they can’t even find 4 hours a week to exercise!).”

#2. Plan Ahead- Bill talks about making lists the night before and checking off your accomplishments. I take this a step futher by spending 10 minutes packing a lunch bag so I don’t just grab anything edible during the busy day, and laying out my gear so that getting up and going for a morning run takes no morning prep time at all. Pants, top, jacket, socks and shoes, headband, flashlight since it’s usually dark out still- knowing I took the time to get it ready helps me get up and use it, and keeps me from running up and down the stairs looking for things I lost and things I forgot, wasting time and starting my day annoyed at myself!

#3.  Exercise Regularly- Bill says, “Not only does exercise help give you more energy, it has also been scientifically proven to improve the quality of sleep…Do not, under any circumstances, skip workouts in an effort to save time. This “quasi solution” will backfire,” and many people’s experience will agree. Every success story I have read includes a description of that magnate, mogul or tycoon’s daily excercise routine.

#4. Consume a Nutritious Diet- You are what you eat! Do some research, consult an expert, and be firm in the grocery store.

#5. Eliminate Mindless Phone Chitchat- How much time do you spend on the phone each day? Now take a look at your minutes counter and see if your guess was accurate! Try to multitask while you talk- for example, you could exercise!

#6. Have a Sense of Urgency- Have a good reason to do something, and to do it quickly and efficiently. You’ll be able to get more done.

#7. Don’t Get Sick- Like you have a choice, right? But Bill makes a good point: “if you won’t make the time to be well, you’ll be forced to make the time to be sick!” How often has it happened that you run yourself ragged only to have some illness come on right at an important time- think weddings, graduations, vacations…  A few hours a week exercising and a few extra minutes to make healthy choices are a better use of your time than a few days in bed, or acting like the walking dead, not to mention the havoc a simple cold can wreak on a family!

Read the whole article here: http://www.successmagazine.com/7-Ways-to-Find-Time-for-Fitness/PARAMS/article/211/channel/221

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May 1 2008 by admin.

There have been some comments here and there about adding more early pilates classes. Here’s your chance to be heard, because we’re officially asking you what you think!

Follow THIS SURVEY LINK to take a short survey, and make your opinion count! IM=X Pilates Blue Bell is here for you, so we want to make sure you get what deserve.

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