BACK TO BALLET!!!

I never thought I would say this... but coming back to ballet after many years feels liberating! I am so ready to leave the trauma of my dance past behind, move my body the way it was trained to move, and do so without judgment and without stress. Ballet now feels healing and therapeutic, it feels like home. Ballet is a part of me, like a limb, and I need it to feel complete. My life experiences with ballet and yoga and now the creation of Sculpere have demonstrated how life can come full circle and bring you back to balance.

There are dancers all over the city who have been repressing their need for ballet like I was. Classes often are not welcoming to new student, and everyone is intimidated to start up again.  Sculpere is a safe place for dancers, yogis, and all to work on both their bodies and their minds. I believe the work  we do at Sculpere, will effect the negative culture of ballet and possibly remove some of the discriminating  standards of the ballet world. I hope every girl who walks into Sculpere's warm and friendly studio leaves with a deep sense of self love, acceptance, and a few new friends!

STOP & SMELL THE ROSES ...

Stop and smell the roses!

Inhale...

Exhale...

Relax.

*VIVE LE FRANCE*

Interesting fact: Those historians inclined to reject the less defined techniques of the Italian balletto as the historical root of ballet, might consider the performance of the Ballet Comique de la Reine at the Palais du Petit Bourbon in Paris as the true birth of ballet.

 

The Côte d'Azur, often known in English as the French Riviera is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco. This coastline was one of the first modern resort areas. It began as a winter health resort for the British upper class. With the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century, it became the playground and vacation spot of British, Russian, and other aristocrats, such as Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. It was frequented by artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Edith Wharton as well as wealthy Americans and Europeans. Many celebrities, such as Elton John and Brigitte Bardot,have homes in the region.

 

 

Menton is known for wonderfully fragrant citrus. I picked-up some citrus soaps, teas, and perfumes for my girlfriends.

 

 

Menton

Forget Hollywood...Monaco here I come! Everything Glamour.

 

Glamourous Nightclubs

 

 

Incredible Beaches

 

Oh yes... Lots of TOYS!!!

Vive le France!!!

MEDITERRANEAN DIET *** YUM ***

Everyday here in Ventimiglia, there is a market in town where all the local farmers sell delicious, and incredibly fresh produce. I mean fresh! Eggs just hatched from the chickens, tomatoes just pulled from their vines, peaches from heaven! It was my pleasure to take a 15 min walk down to town to buy these nourishing treats and practice my Italian!

 FIGS 

 LEMON & AVOCADO

TOMATO MOZZARELLA BASIL
A staple in almost every meal.

 PROSCIUTTO MELONE
 Traditional Northern Italian Appetizer  

 A LIL* PROTEIN 

In Italy, meat is completely natural, no hormones, no antibiotics, no worries.

WILD AGAVE grows all over this part of Italy.

GELATO!!!

It is a sin that Gelato doesn't exist in the U.S. I know there are some places that sell "Gelato" but trust me!!! it's not the same. There is something truly magical about Gelato in Italy and France. Maybe it's the cows, their diets, their strong Mediterranean genes? I don't know what it is, but I cannot wait to eat it again next summer. 

SOAKING UP ITALY~ AHHHH

I am on vacation in Italy, on the Ligurian Coast in a very small town called Ventimiglia. It is perfectly placed for extremely easy access to the posh French Rivera cities of  Nice, Monaco, and Cannes, and the Italian city of San Remo. Ventimiglia is my Italian home.

  This is the the view I wake up to every morning. France is just over those mountains. I could stare at this all day, it never gets old.

This is the trail I hike down each afternoon to get to the beach. It is a breeze on the way down but extremely cardiovascular on the way up!

This is Calandre beach. One of the only sand beaches on the Ligurian Coast. It's tiny but very special because most beaches in this area are stone. Although there are many sights to see in this part of the world, this year I want to relax as much as possible, so I have spent the majority of my time laying on this beach and swimming in this magical sea.

The healing properties of the Mediterranean Sea are vast, and I am soaking them up all day everyday in this amazing water! 

SUMMER BOHEMIAN LOOKS by ADORN BOUTIQUE

Nothing says summertime like curly beach hair, and shimmery stones! 

Every time I wear my hair curly my parents tell me "you look so bohemian". With some convincing from my BF, this summer I decided to go all natural and bohemian. This look happens to complement some super cute and trendy designs by Sarah Lewis at ADORN BOUTIQUE. Check out Adorn Boutique

Shimmery Stones!

Can't get enough turquoise 

Love this horseshoe necklace

Visit Adorn Boutique on Frankford Ave in Fishtown and pick up some of these stylish bohemian looks by my friend and Sculpere addict Sarah Lewis.

~STAND~UP~PADDLE~BOARD~YOGA~

My trip to the Outer Banks, North Carolina was SO MUCH FUN! 

When we arrived, I was so excited to see the ocean water was crystal clear blue just like Caribbean water, I could see straight to the bottom. The weather was amazing everyday and thankfully for me, since the waves were calm, I was able to explore my new favorite summer activity... Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga. 

 Vinyasa

 Upward facing dog

 Thanks for keeping my board steady!

 Downward facing dog

 Lunge

Warrior II... I am one with the horizon

 Fun!

 More fun!

Perfect form!!!

Can't wait to go back to OBX!

STUDIO MAKE OVER!

 

I am so excited about our beautiful new floors! 

Our floors suffered some water damage back in March 2012 after a frightening fire, which  some of you may recall. The condition of the floors was not terrible so we decided to salvage the boards so they were not a total loss. The original boards were sanded, refinished, and stained, essentially recycled. When I first saw the finished floors, I did not recognize them because they looked so completely different, like brand new floors!

The now seamless floors feel great while our feet brush and slide against the floors during Sculpere classes.

*ANN KING JEWELS*

Recently I had the privilege of promoting Ann King Jewels. I am now officially obsessed with this incredibly artistic line. These treasures are subtlety intricate and exude femininity and elegance, just as I imagine Ann herself must.  

Although we haven’t met yet, I find myself drawn to her designs because I  feel they are a reflection of her genuine spirit. After reading her life's story, I feel inspired to create something beautiful as well.  Check out Ann King Jewels

YOGA @ NORTH SHORE BEACH CLUB

I have been loving teaching Sculpere's Saturday morning Yoga class at the North Shore Beach Club. The weather has been amazing and the atmosphere at the club is tre' luxurious!

Allow me set the mood for you... palm trees blowing in a soft breeze, sparkling crystal clear blue pool water, not a cloud in the sky, incense fills the air, while tranquil ambient sounds play throughout the entire club. Stretching, sculpting, and detoxing your body in the sun! There is simply no better way to start your weekend.

 Sculpere <3<3<3's North Shore! Check Out North Shore

WEEKLY * REIKI *

Discovering Reiki with Sculpere's resident Reiki practitioner Natasha Goldstein has been an incredible journey of self discovery. This type of energy work has deepened my mind, body, spirit connection and has improved by bodies natural ability to heal. Weekly Reiki sessions have improved my health in a number of ways; from simple chest congestion, a lingering knee injury, digestive imbalance, muscle soreness, racing thoughts, and spiritual blockages. Under the guidance of Natasha's keen intuition, every session seems to give me exactly what I need. When our hour is over, and my awareness returns to the present moment, the tranquil scent of lavender fills the studio and I feel the most amazing sense of relaxation and purity. I cant imagine my life without my weekly Reiki sessions, and I am truly grateful for having such a gifted practitioner as Natasha.

 

YOGA BRIDAL SHOWER

If your not into traditional wedding affairs... do yoga! 

Sculpere was honored to host a bridal shower for one of our original ladies, Sarah Caisse. Sarah's life long friend Kim Mellon  was the mind behind the great idea to give Sarah a shower she would absolutely love! The shower began with a yoga class I customized to be centered around sacred union and marriage. We enjoyed musical accompaniment by virtuoso musician Thomas Wave on Sitar and classical Guitar. The class was followed by great conversation with family and friends, healthy snacks ( sushi, veggies, and spreads from Whole Foods and Brown Betty's cupcakes), and champagne. On Sarah's wedding day the serene surroundings at Bartrum's Garden enhanced the ladies yogic ability to maintain a relaxed state of mind throughout the ceremony. They had been Sculpting their bodies for months in preparation for this day and they looked amazing! I love the authenticity of this group of ladies. No stress, just sweetness, love and gratitude! 

YOGA * JOURNEY * LOVE

A few months ago a neighborhood couple, Christopher and Stephanie Somers, yes of the Somer's Team blog.thesomersteam.com came to Sculpere. Initially Stephanie felt drawn to the idea of a work-out that can achieve balanced results in both body and mind so she decided to try Sculpere class. Quite unexpectedly she was drawn towards the yoga aspect and thought it would be helpful for Christopher as well. The couple has embarked on an amazing journey of self discovery through their yoga practice. It has been fascinating to observe as their bodies begin to let go of old habits and  they proceed towards their goal of optimal health. The experiences they have had in just a few months are inspiring and I am privileged to be a part of their journey!

SCULPERE LITTLE ONE'S

Check out Sculpere Little One's! It was a great year and the children celebrated their last day of classes with beach day fun!

Sculpere Littles One's offers Tumble for Toddlers, Pretty Toes Ballet, and Cutie Yoga
The summer session begins Monday July, 9th
See you all soon!!!

COCO~NUTS

I am nuts for coconuts! Anything and everything coconut is brilliant! This fruit is indeed a gift from the earth. We can eat it, drink it, moisturize with it, and cook with it. It comes in water, milk, powder, and oil. There is nothing this super fruit can't do.Coconut water is the most hydrating thing you can drink. It's great for replacing electrolytes after teaching a sweaty Sculpere class. I love to massage coconut oil on my skin then take a hot bath which allows the oils to seep into my pores and nourish my skin down to it's core. I do hair treatments with it also. Even Lola gets puppy massages with organic Coconut oil which leaves her fur super soft and shiny.

"HERBAN" GARDEN

I am literally swept off my feet when ever I walk past my new herb garden. The aroma of Sweet Basil, bushy Peppermint, and three different varieties of Lavender have such a calming effect on the mind. So... as the cars drive past and the sirens scream through the city, I can just take a deep breath and get lost in the fragrances, imagining myself in a secret garden olfactory vacation.  I am so excited to watch them grow throughout the summer months. They have each been potted in unique and unconventional ceramics instead of plant pots, which gives the look of the garden a contemporary edge. Once they have adjusted to their new habitat, I look forward to taking lavender baths, making fresh peppermint tea, and using as much basil as possible in every dish!