Find joy in every step!

Fitness doesn’t have to be complicated. We live in an era of constantly evolving exercise trends and while trying out all the hot new things can be fun, it can also be overwhelming. Often, it leads us AWAY from our goals-and what really matters: finding joy in movement. My advice? Stick to activities you love, […]

The Great Motivator

Love. There’s no greater motivator. The love for your children, your partner, siblings, parents, friends, community… yourself.  The world’s a mess right now. It can easily feel like there’s so much love lost, but I insist  that’s not the case. One helpful practice to commit to is breaking things down to what we can actually […]

4 Big Approaches in One

We’re two weeks into January and I’d like to know how your wellness resolutions are holding up. When I think about approaches taken in the new year to forge a healthier routine, shed some lbs, and cut down inflammation, there seem to be 4 main avenues: Interestingly, these methods complement each other beautifully. Dry January […]

Habits That Serve You:

A Step-by-Step Approach to Lasting Change The new year has a way of inspiring us to set lofty goals, envisioning an overhaul of our lives. While this energy is admirable, it’s best to pause and approach change with intention and clarity. The truth is, January doesn’t hold any special magic for transformation. Every month, week, […]

Burnout

Is the Contribution Worth the Aggravation? Usually burnout hits us like a ton of bricks, so avoiding it can seem impossible. This short article is not about how to avoid it, but rather how to address it. It’s a road that usually starts at the ‘quit’ and affords you the opportunity to walk away from […]

Get Excited About Your Goals

As we race towards the end of the year and begin to consider what our goals for 2025 might look like, slightly shifting your approach can help make your fitness goals more exciting. To set a goal of losing 10lbs may seem important, but really it lacks substance. What happens when the 10lbs are gone? […]

Barbara Belanger: Bada$$ at 87

I first met Barbara Belanger in 2012 through Buzzards Bay Rowing Club. She was part of the female entourage that showed the Knotty Girls (the original Azorean rowing team) how it’s done. She was in her 70’s back then and I was in awe of how bada$$ she was. When the Mattapoisett studio opened in […]

Pelvic Floor Woes

You’re Not Alone I was still in my twenties when I realized how many clients had issues with incontinence. Women of all ages, and some who have never had children either. After two decades of working closely with women in fitness, there’s really not much that I haven’t seen or been in discussions about. Working […]

For the Busy Person

‘I could do it on my own. I should be able to self-motivate and exercise daily before work… Do I even need to workout daily? I could look up home workouts on YouTube, but how will I know which are right for me? Mornings are tough… May need to be after work.’ – The Busy […]

Embracing the Seasonal Change

Part two of Wrapping Up Summer Fitness is a Tool Most New Englanders, even the ones who love the hot summer weather, get a little giddy at the first signs of fall. I’m talking about the true signs of fall like the first cool morning, or needing a sweater to watch the sunset… I’m not […]

Wrapping Up Summer Fitness: Maintaining Momentum and Transitioning Into Fall

Part One Summer is often a time of heightened physical activity and fitness enthusiasm. With longer days, warmer weather, and an array of outdoor activities, many people find it easier to stay active and committed to their fitness goals.  As we prepare for summer to wrap up, there are ways to maintain that momentum and […]

Thirsty August

Summer wouldn’t be complete without advice on staying hydrated. As we head into the hottest month of the year, there are ways to stay on top of your hydration needs. Before I delve into the variety of ways to keep your body from being thirsty, here are some pretty fantastic reasons to make this a […]

Essential for Golfers

If you love golf, you probably love the escape it offers from your daily grind. It’s an incredible sport to help you thrive as you age too. It requires power, coordination, focus, skill, precision, strategic thinking, and it helps keep you social. These are all important for longevity! Another key component for longevity is mobility. […]

Life is Short

Summer is shorter… July is the quintessential summer month. We’re not wrapping up the school year or yet preparing for the next one. It’s the month that most people go on vacation, take random days off from work, pow wow at the beach, and simply downshift from working so hard all year. And it tends […]

Wild Ride

Yup, I’m middle aged. I have vivid memories of my mother and all my aunts aggressively fanning themselves at family gatherings. We knew what was happening. They didn’t shy away from telling us, and it was fascinating to watch.  One by one they would remove any extra layers, grab the closest object that could double […]

June is here.

It’s warm, it’s full of anticipation, and it’s the awareness month for some heavy hitters including Juneteenth and Pride 💚💛❤️✌🏽🏳️‍🌈 June is also Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.  While puzzles and sudoku are great for keeping the mind sharp, nothing compares to functional exercise and the great outdoors. We all know how important it is […]

The first ever studio trip to Faial

It was awesome. I’ve been working on this since last year and it was hard to believe the time had finally come. I love Faial. It’s a home away from home for me. I love sharing it with people in my NB life and I was very honored (and excited) to share it with some […]

Special Summer Session

Here is some advice for maximizing your time and your workouts so you can see the results you want without spending every extra minute at the gym. 

Ahhhh... Assisted Stretching

When I first started training clients (19 years ago), I quickly learned that they will do almost anything you ask of them as long as they get their stretch at the end of the session. Those who have felt the benefit of being stretched are more able to correlate stretching with gaining relief from everyday […]

Long Live the King?

Long gone are the days and mentality that cardio is king. While cardio is certainly a vital part of the Royal Family, it cannot offer all you need in order to truly be fit, strong, and healthy. Enter strength training.  Strength training is the love language of the human body. It utilizes and glorifies how […]

A Half Marathon and a 5k

On Sunday, March 17, the streets of New Bedford will be buzzing with runners and spectators from all over for the New Bedford Half Marathon.  Maybe running 13.1 miles sounds impossible to you, or it’s a distance you thoroughly enjoy, or one that is on your bucket list…As far as we’re concerned, the one running […]

Sleep, sweat, smile 

It’s no secret that good sleep, regular exercise, and a positive attitude create the landing pad for feeling like a million bucks. When you realize you may be in need of raising your state, it’s likely because something has suffered or fallen off your regimen. So how can we get it all back on the […]

Coach Integrity

The Key to Building a Foundation and a Future as a Coach by: Lara Harrington, PN1-NC, SSRC Coaching can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both the client and the coach. There are, however, some key aspects to being a great coach that far surpass the love of fitness and your own personal fitness journey. […]

Ell Oh Vee Ee

Love thyself We are surrounded by reminders to be kind and spread love. Arguably, the most important recipient from your efforts is you.  Working out, eating well, staying hydrated, a monthly deep tissue massage, spending quality time with those you love, getting your hair and nails ‘did’, taking an afternoon nap… We all need recovery […]

Are You Glistening?

February calls for a little check in with your heart health. Are You Glistening? You know as well as I do how important exercise is for your overall health. It helps mineralize your bones, provides muscle tone for posture, strengthens your heart and circulation, helps the body use insulin more efficiently, helps you sleep better, […]

How To Start

It can’t be avoided… the newness of January. The clean slate, the ambition, and the willingness to work a little harder, be a little better organized, and be a little more dedicated to the process. I’m sure you would agree that fitness and nutrition are among the top areas where this is true. So if […]

The New Beginnings Trifecta

New beginnings happen all the time: Every morning, every Monday, every 1st of the month, and every 1st of the year. Today we have a TRIFECTA!  New Year’s Day, the first day of the first month, landing on a Monday. If that’s not a sign to start something exciting, I don’t know what is! Whether […]

A Better Hue For Winter Blue

It’s 4:30am and 26 degrees outside. I’m standing in my kitchen as I write this. What I’m wearing consists of heat gear leggings under my snow shoveling pants, two layers of long sleeved heat gear shirts, a Northface running vest, and scattered around me is the remainder of my outfit – my neck warmer, a […]

All This Hoopla

December is here. The month where many of us take count of all the people we need to see, need to shop for, and need to send cards to. This is the month where so many people are so focused on not forgetting anyone that they forget to take care of themselves… or is all […]

To-Do Lists and Making Changes

This time of year is filled with to do lists, shopping lists, and after-the-holidays lists. Starting or improving a fitness routine typically falls in the after-the-holidays list. But really, physical activity can do incredible things for your productivity. And, if it makes it to your after-the-holidays list, how can we get it to rank higher […]

Designing Your Sleep Environment

Curating the ideal sleep environment is a must, although it can be tricky if you share your sleep space with someone else. Your sleep space is sacred.  It’s where your body does its most important work – recovery.  Here are 15 ways to customize your sleep space so that you can reach the golden stage […]

Ikigai

I recently met a woman who is a social worker for the aging population. She said that if you really want to ‘fill your cup’, work with the elderly. They are mostly afraid of being forgotten and considered a burden. She described her clients as appreciative, fascinating, and still capable of giving so much. She […]

We Can Bounce Back

Sometimes a seemingly insignificant moment can be the catalyst for incredible things.  I played soccer growing up and after a series of injuries and ‘early retirement’ I realized that what I loved most about soccer was actually my team. So when I was asked to be a part of the women’s rowing team for the […]

The Secret to Total Wellness: 

Why Addressing Your Pelvic Floor Can Take Your Fitness to the Next Level Are you ready to unleash your full potential? As active women, working women and mothers, you juggle more responsibilities than anyone can imagine. But in the midst of all this, are you giving your body the care and attention it truly deserves? […]

Sleep & Recovery

Now that summer is coming to an end, you may be considering how to create the most efficient routine so that the fall is healthy and productive. If this is so, there is one thing that holds true and can make all the difference: Sleep.  Sleep is Queen. It’s during sleep that all the magic […]

Back to School

Back to school will be in full swing in just two weeks. My daughter is starting high school this year, which means I’m about to enter the time warp blink that is her adolescence. Not sure how ready I am for this…  This time of year can be stress inducing for many people. Although, I […]

When You Travel

Another trip to the Azores… My daughter and I spent the first two weeks of July in the Azores. We spent most of our time in Terceira but also visited Faial and Pico. Three of the 9 Azorean Islands in two weeks. It was an epic trip and I swear my daughter went from 14 […]

What Would Angela Do

As you know, Angela is my business partner. We started Boutique Fitness in 2011 after she had spent 6 years as a stay-at-home mom and I spent 6 years managing a private training studio in RI.  What you may not know is that we also used to be roommates. In fact, we lived in a […]

(G)rowing Old Gracefully

I lift weights, I run, and I row. I lift weights because it’s essential for good health; Run because it keeps me sane and I love the people I run with; Row because I got lucky… In 2011 my dear friend Robyn asked me if I would be interested in rowing the Azorean Whaleboats. I […]

Why Hire a Registered Dietician?

You’ve heard us say it over and over – You can’t out-train a bad diet. But also, your diet is not just about weight loss or maintenance. It’s the essence of your health. Learning about the foods that can help you thrive is a major game changer. You may have heard that we have new […]

A Beautifully Toned Upper Body

If you’ve kicked up your workouts in preparation for your summer wardrobe, tell me, how are your shoulders feeling? The shoulders are an area that tend to get really beat up and rarely receive the proper TLC. It’s tough enough that most of us carry our stress in our necks and shoulders. To make matters […]

You’re probably dehydrated.

Fatigue, brain fog, dry skin, bloat, brittle hair and nails… You’re probably dehydrated. But, is drinking water enough? Salt and sugar, to keep it simple, play very interesting and distinctive roles in our levels of hydration and how we utilize our water intake. You probably already know you need potassium to stay hydrated – think […]

5 Ways to Eat More Veggies

It all feels like a ton of work, right? Working out, meal prep, making sure to stay hydrated while getting in all your protein and veggies…  Oh, did you forget about the veggies? You’re not alone. The abundance, or lack thereof, of veggies in your diet could mean the difference between what you digest and […]

Rate of Perceived Exertion

Rate of Perceived Exertion If you’re looking to push the intensity of your workouts, get familiar with RPE, or Rate of Perceived Exertion. Aside from what your apple watch is telling you, what is your body telling you?  Day to day your stress will be different, which means your recovery will be different, which means […]

Deep Dive

High intensity workouts are a key component of building lean muscle and heart health. The best part is that it’s an optimal workout for women of all ages. Boutique Fitness workouts are designed to work the body as a whole through strength training and conditioning – all within 30 minutes. This signature format is not […]

Live Better

For over 17 years I’ve been teaching people how to exercise. Exercise is a powerful tool that helps drastically improve lives. It’s not only important for sustaining health, it’s also vital for helping balance moods and energy. We applaud the inclusion of exercise into our clients’ daily routines and work with them to stay motivated […]

A Vital Component for Your Fitness

If you’ve been working hard on your fitness this year, make sure you’re not missing out on this major component for progress. A fitness routine, whether you’re training for competition or for life, isn’t complete without recovery. Recovery is key to staying injury free and seeing optimal progress from your workouts. Wear and tear from […]

The Blue Island, Faial

Angela and I recently spent a week together in Faial. Celebrating 11 years in business 🙂  Faial is an island in the Açores where my father was born and raised. I find myself visiting regularly since I was first there in 2015 for a Whaleboat Regatta. I’ve been there in May, July, and September, but […]

3rd Place :)

Community. We use this word often without much discussion about what it means. The assumption is that the word itself sparks a sense of belonging and simply using it opens an invitation for you to join our community.

The Attack on Self-Care

What does self care mean to you? No doubt this term has been used to exhaustion (some might say), especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. But that doesn’t change its impact because it is what it is and it’s important. Right? There are some arguments claiming that the self care industry is a ruse […]

the BFF Supplement Guide

Supplementation is a huge topic. There are countless options for supplementation of the various lifestyles people lead. Whether it’s for better sleep, more energy, weight-loss, better immunity, building muscle… and then some. We like to keep things simple at the studio. The supplements we provide are for general wellness, recovery, and longevity. Here is a […]

Wellbeing & Trauma

When we talk about wellness or wellbeing, there’s an undeniable tone of wholesomeness attached. Like in order to achieve wellness or be cognisant of it you have to have your sh*t together along with total mental clarity and peace of mind. If you are devoted to eating well and working out, the world has a […]

To Track or Not to Track

Confessions of a Garmin wearer.  Yes, I wear a tracker when I run. I like to see the accumulation of mileage, my splits (pace at each mile), my route, and I like to share it on Strava so my runner friends can see what I’m doing. As the saying goes, ‘If it wasn’t recorded, it […]

10 Volcanoes Trail Run

This summer I’ll turn 40 years old 🙂 I’m very proud of my 40 years on this earth – grateful and proud. To celebrate this milestone and everything this lifetime has brought me, I decided to sign up for a trail run… a 25k called the 10 Volcanoes. It’s in Faial, Açores, the island my father […]

Are you a Chocolate Person?

If you’re a chocolate person you must learn to live with chocolate in your cabinet. Chocolate is too wonderful of a thing to ever feel like it’s so bad. It’s ok to be a chocolate lover and it’s ok to enjoy chocolate, but there’s something about the way we talk to ourselves that lends to […]

Choose to see love: addressing body dysmorphia

It’s not uncommon for people to feel a bit lack-luster this time of year. This is when the battle with holiday weight gain continues, yet it’s cold out and we still want to cozy-in and consume comfort foods… So I understand it can be difficult to feel good in your skin, which always feels better […]

Coffee & Napping

How coffee and napping go hand in hand Other than the fact that I truly love both coffee and napping, there is a wonderful scientific advantage to this duo. There is so much contradicting information about the health benefits and dangers of drinking coffee. My stance is firm in that coffee is a wonderful thing […]

Collagen

What’s all the Hype about Collagen?   A note from Angela Collagen is a protein found naturally in our body. It is a unique blend of amino acids that provide structure and support to everything from our hair, skin and nails to our muscles, bones and blood vessels. Unfortunately collagen production decreases as we age. Collagen […]

Everything is Temporary

I live in a haze of constant search for ‘the next thing’. The next project, next task, next victory, next bedtime! As much as I see this resistance to complacency as a positive characteristic, I do need to remind myself to hit pause sometimes and relish in this beautiful life. It’s all temporary. I told […]

Food as a Reward

Children are a great representation of the human race. They are so capable of love, learning, and are completely narcissistic. It’s all about what they want, when they want it, and if you ask them to do something they just don’t want to – there better be a reward for it. Growing up means that you […]

friendly bacteria

The human body is home to thousands of naturally occurring microorganisms. This may sound frightening, but it is actually a very positive thing; these “friendly” bacteria play a crucial role in our health. Beneficial bacteria in our gut assist in digesting the food we eat, and in keeping more pathological bacteria and fungus in-check. Maintaining […]

Give Nighttime Cravings the Boot!

Do you Struggle with nighttime cravings??? You are not alone.  This is hands down, the greatest complaint we hear from clients, and admittedly something I have battled myself. It helps to understand that, cravings are different from hunger.  Hunger starts in our stomach and is our bodies’ true physiological request for nourishment.  Uncomfortable feelings such […]