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Well the Holiday Season is in full swing and we are awash with ugly sweaters, odd chia pets, and a smothering array of gift choices that cater to our bellies not the ability to better our lives. In a society where "stuff" is king, it is nice to know you can give the people you love more than things that need to be stored or will soon be thrown away.
How About the Gift of Peace?
There is nothing better after a crazy and hectic season than a relaxing massage. Imagine giving someone one hour of pure stress relieving bliss to celebrate the season or a gift certificate for multiple sessions. Perhaps you would like to give someone a certificate for Skin care products or other items that make them feel more beautiful. Sure beats a fruitcake.
Share the Gift of Health
One of the main reasons people don't workout is because they don't see the value of having a gym membership or have no-one to go with. Give your special someone the opportunity to join you on the path to health with a gym membership. Once they try it and see that it makes them feel better and it can be fun, you may end up with the perfect training partner and more motivation yourself.
Think Outside the Box
Do you still need a last minute gift or is there someone on your list that is nearly impossible to buy for? Don't be that boring person around the tree giving out common gift cards. Share peace, health and the beginning of a new life with those that matter most.
Give the Perfect Gift
For more information about gift certificates for massages, gym passes or to find out more about membership opportunities please call us at 970-920-9595 or visit the gym. We look forward to helping you make this an extra special season!
Buti
Yoga was conceptualized and created by celebrity trainer Bizzie Gold in
2012 to specifically help women rediscover themselves and get a hold of
their inner confidence, and strength. “Buti” means “secret remedy,”
which is what Buti Yoga intends to do — to show you how you can be
beautiful and strong in ways you cannot imagine.
Why try Buti Yoga?
There
are a lot of yoga practices out there, so what makes Buti Yoga worth
trying? For one, it’s not your typical quiet session that mostly
involves only linear movements. Buti Yoga encourages you to find
clarity, acceptance, and strength in a more proactive manner. By mixing
plyometrics and tribal dance with vinyasa-style yoga, Buti is able to
help you explore your potential and find confidence in yourself in the
most exhilarating yet graceful way.
A Power Workout
Just
because there are yoga mats involved doesn’t mean that your movements
are restricted only within its bounds. Buti incorporates various tribal
dance steps that would surely shake things up; not to mention the use of
the Spiral Structure Technique which aims to give you those sexy curves
by activating every component of your abdominal muscle. Every component
covers the inner and the outer parts, all the sides, and from the front
to the back muscle. So say goodbye to those typical crunches. With Buti
Yoga, you’ll not only get toned arms and legs, but chiseled shoulders
and abs as well. You’d be greatly surprised when you discover the amount
of strength you didn’t know you had inside of you.
A New Level of Mind-Body Awareness
Buti
Yoga doesn’t only take care of your body; more importantly, it helps
nourish your mind as well. Your first and second chakras hold the key to
your sexuality, confidence, and inner power, and that’s the reason why
Buti focuses on removing their blockages to give you a whole new level
of mind-body awareness. You'll realize how much beauty you have within,
to the point that you won’t be able to contain it anymore. Beauty will
exude from you.
It’s Totally Liberating
 Whatever
it is that’s holding you back — whether it’s your insecurities, your
shyness, or even your hopelessness — Buti Yoga will help you let go of
any negativity by making you see yourself for what you can be: strong,
confident, beautiful. You’d be surrounded with women who are also
traveling the same road with you, facing the same challenges that you
do, so there’s no need to be afraid. Because by the end of it all, you’d
be looking at the mirror, and all you’d see is the person who you
thought you could never be.
Since the introduction of Buti
Yoga in 2012, thousands of trainers have already seen the powerful
effects of this practice and have joined the crusade in helping women
take control of their mind and body towards rediscovery and empowerment.
Say goodbye to the conventional approach of trying to focus on only one
aspect of your body at a time. Buti Yoga allows you to explore your
entire body with the combination of exercises and lessons specifically
aimed for you to discover how beautiful and strong you can actually be.
So what are you waiting for?
You
can start your journey in Buti Yoga at Jean-Robert’s Gym which offers
this one-of-a-kind practice every Tuesday and Saturday. Check the Group Fitness Schedule Here!
 As a business owner, I’m acutely aware of the need to keep accurate records, learn my accounting software, and save every single receipt. At times, I’ve even entered transactions into QuickBooks and printed a P&L statement. I know how important it is to pay attention to the details especially when dealing with these matters.
Why I Don’t Do My Own Taxes
First, while I may be capable of figuring out the current and ever-changing tax enigma, it doesn't really make sense for me to spend my time doing the research. I have found there are highly qualified individuals who have spent much money and time getting accounting degrees, studying and passing the CPA exams, and gaining valuable experience over time. I sincerely doubt anything I could learn in the next month on Google, YouTube, or from well-meaning friends could compare with their level of expertise. It obviously makes more sense to have a seasoned professional do your taxes than a personal trainer.
Why CPA’s Don’t Train People at Jean-Robert’s Gym
 The beginning of the year always starts with an influx of people with high aspirations of becoming fit, losing weight, and building muscle. Imagine the look on your face if I welcomed you in and introduced you to your new trainer, our company CPA. Sure, our accountant is a brilliant person, but not really qualified to effectively evaluate your goals and develop a personal fitness plan to help you reach them. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens too often. We read about the latest fad on the quickest ways to lose weight, or try some new cross-fit workout off YouTube only to become frustrated that we’re not getting the results we want.
I realize this may be a silly metaphor, but your health is probably more important than trusting advice from people you don’t know or even friends. If you take a look at our Personal Trainer Page you’ll notice our trainers are certified — many of them in several disciplines. They have spent the time, effort, and money to make sure they are experts in the fitness field. In addition, we require they continually seek out and participate in ongoing education and development. We do this for one very important reason. That reason is you.
You Deserve the Best Training Possible
 I take fitness very seriously even when we’re having fun. We’ve trained professional athletes and people who haven’t worked out in over 20 years. They both get the same respect, effort, and care from our personal trainers. I’ve seen too many people give up on their New Year’s resolutions, or worse get injured, because they tried something they saw on the internet. It is important to work with someone who is an expert and a certified personal trainer. (also see: Top 10 reasons to hire a personal trainer). I realize that hiring a trainer requires investing some money, but the gains will always far outweigh the potential costs. Just imagine what could, and probably would, happen if I spent my time attempting to find quicker ways to achieve my tax goals on my own. You deserve the best and our trainers develop a plan that meets your goals, not like that guy on YouTube.
Let’s Start the Conversation
We would love to talk with you about your goals and how we can help you be healthier. Let’s make this next year the best yet. You can set an appointment by calling us at 970-920-9595 or you can just stop in and talk with our trainers. Until then, eat smart, keep moving, and save those receipts.
We’re excited to continue sharing the stories of our dedicated trainers here at Jean-Robert’s Gym. We recently sat down with Britny to learn more about her journey to becoming a great personal trainer and massage therapist.
 Where are you from and what brought you to Aspen?
I’m originally from Detroit, Michigan, and I moved out here in 2005. My mom got a job in the valley so she packed up my brothers and I, and drove us out here!
What were you doing before you started working at the gym?
I was working a few jobs and trying to go to school, I initially wanted to get into art and graphic design.
How did you move from art to personal training?
Well, I started working at Jean-Robert’s Gym as a receptionist. At the time, I was nineteen years old. I had no idea what to do in the gym except run on a treadmill or cardio machines. One day, I asked my boss if he could show me how to use free weights and the strength machines. This was a double hitter as I could better explain the gym to clientele and also workout myself.
When I started out at the gym, I worked three jobs so in between shifts Jean-Robert would train me for an hour or so. As I started working more and more at the gym, I realized how much I enjoyed it, how much fitness helped me personally and with the things that I do daily and outdoors. As for art, it became a hobby.
So do you still make art?
Yeah, on my own time. I’ve won an art competition, but it’s just really hard for me to sit down and draw something unless I am inspired. It’s better just doing it on my own on a whim; I really think that was the issue with that path. Basically, at this point I am not looking to delve into art as a career.
It sounds like your experience at the gym was both a personal and professional transformation. How else has working there benefited you?
 The fitness industry is constantly growing and changing; being involved in this industry forces me to stay up-to-date with continuing education and growth in this career field. In turn, this helps me tackle most physical issues my clients would like to address whether it be personal aesthetic goals or corrective exercise.
How long ago did you start working at the gym?
Six years now.
Wow, that’s a long time to be with one company.
Yeah, as with any company, there is turnover but we have a core group of people who have worked here awhile and really help each other out.
What made you decide to get the second certification?
The massage therapy certification actually helped me understand anatomy and physiology on a deeper level. Also, now I can double as both a trainer and massage therapist for my clients.
 You’ve touched on this, but how has having both certifications benefited your career? Do most of your clients do both massage therapy and personal training with you?
Half of them. Some of my clients work with another massage therapist or personal trainer because either they've worked with someone else already or that’s just their preference. It definitely did help me increase clientele, because it’s like a one-stop shop.
Do you have any advice for folks thinking of pursuing either certification?
As with every profession that you can do, there’s a lot of pros and cons with these two professions. If being a trainer or massage therapist is something that you want to do, do it. You won’t regret it. Both these career choices can be something you can do for side-work regardless if you decide to do something else. The hardest aspects are self-marketing, they're both physically demanding, and keeping clientele motivated. When you pursue either they're a lot of fun and it helps you physically, mentally, and they're very rewarding in the end.
What’s a piece of advice you have for folks about exercise and wellness?
Just put in the effort, and you’ll get what you put in back!
 I don’t know about you, but all this snow is really getting me geared for the upcoming ski season. As the white blanket starts to cover the mountains my excitement grows and I’m already thinking about my first turns of the season. However, as I set down a jelly-filled pastry to check the condition of my gear, a small voice calls to me, “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
Getting Ready to Hit the Slopes
Ok, maybe I was kidding about the small voice part, but so many of us are so excited for ski season that we neglect the importance of preparing our bodies for the physical demands. For those of us who have spent most of the summer working in the office, it is obvious our bodies just aren’t ready for this. Even if you are an avid hiker, biker, or athlete, the muscles used in skiing and snowboarding are different. Often people spend more time tuning up equipment than tuning up their bodies!
Make Time to Get Active
Before you even consider heading towards the ski lift you need to get into shape, but this doesn’t mean jumping right into a strenuous exercise routine. Start setting aside time now to develop a program that can last all season long. This starts with exercising, eating right, and making a commitment to do this on a regular basis. For many, it’s as simple as getting up an hour earlier, or skipping lunch at the restaurant to jog, head to the gym, or even just plain take a walk. Whatever your day looks like, dedicating a little time to exercise will make your time on the slopes better and more enjoyable.
If you haven’t been exercising regularly during the summer it’s going to take some time for your muscles to become limber and strong. It may have been six months since the last time you were on the mountain, and your body won’t be automatically going to be ready to go. A structured program of stretching, strength training, and cardio will help strengthen your core, legs, and get you ready for the demands of downhill sports.
Avoid Injuries by Getting in Shape
 Studies have shown that many injuries happen at the end of the day when you’re tired and worn out. Many of these can be avoided by simple being prepared before strapping on the skis or your board. At Jean-Robert’s Gym we offer special programs and classes specifically targeted to help people prepare for ski season. Our experience with professional athletes has given us the expertise and experience to train people at all levels of fitness and abilities. Whether you are extreme boarder or skier who takes a couple trips up to the slopes a year, we can help you get more out of your time on the mountain and improve your overall health.
Let’s Talk About Your Needs
When it comes to fitness, your goals are our goals and we are passionate about helping you tap into your potential. More importantly, we want people to live healthy lifestyles and be able to enjoy all Colorado has to offer. Our personal trainers make it their mission to help you reach your goals and in this case, to have the best ski season of your life. We encourage you to call us at 970-920-9595 or simply stop by the gym and talk to us. We always love to hear your favorite ski stories, share some of ours, and develop a plan to create more.
We’re lucky enough to have many dedicated trainers, massage therapists, and other wellness professionals making up our family at Jean-Robert’s Gym. Many of them have been with us for years! We’re excited to begin sharing more of their stories with you, starting with Amandla, an Arizona native.
"What were you doing before you started working at Jean-Robert’s?
I was in hospitality management. Once I finished up college I had a job offer in Aspen. My dad was here so it was kind of an easy transition to get myself out of Arizona, and I ended up as the front office manager at the St. Regis. I left there, went to manage at a restaurant, and then through connections I found the personal trainers here at the gym. They brought me in, gave me a tour, and I ended up with a job a week later and started working my way up and up.
That sounds like quite a journey!
Yeah! [laughs] I did the hospitality thing and realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do for my life. It was good money and great benefits—and it sucked my soul a little bit, and I realized I just didn't want to do it my whole life.
That’s a nice segue into your current career. Which certification did you do first?
 Personal training came first. When I was working my way through college I was actually an exercise and wellness major. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in that, and when I ended up with my job at Jean-Robert’s I got my online personal training certification through ISSA. I was doing that for about a year before massage therapy became a possibility in my head.
How has having both of those certifications benefited your career?
Well, that was actually the reason I decided to get the massage, when I thought about it and realized this is going to be a great extra thing to add to my repertoire as a wellness coach. It’s not just personal training and fitness that I want to be a part of, it’s an all-around wellness thing. Massage is a big part of that in the sense of taking care of yourself as a whole being and not just being fit.
I found that it benefited to have both because I already know my clients, whether they come to me as a personal training or a massage therapy client. I learn them, I learn who they are. I learn their body, their ailments, their sensitive spots, their pressure points, things like that, so it helped me do the other function that much better.
Do most of your clients do both massage and personal training with you?
The majority of my personal training clients will also book massages, but then I have a lot of my massage clients that are just for massage; they don’t do personal training.
Do you have any advice for people thinking of becoming a personal trainer or a massage therapist?
 Only do it if it’s something you’re really passionate about. I used to go to gyms, like the corporate style gyms, back in Arizona, and the trainers—it was really about the sale. It was really about the money. It wasn’t really about the right things in my life. When I went into personal training in the gym, I was giving up a steady salary for a really low income at the time. And it has grown exponentially because I love what I do and I’ve gotten repeat clients. So I would say if you’re not really passionate about it, then I wouldn’t even pursue it. Because it’s going to reflect in your performance; it’s going to reflect in how much you are actually able to help your clients. But if it’s a passion, I would say pursue every avenue you can. Right now I have personal training and massage, eventually I want to study yoga, pilates, nutrition, and more!
I was going to ask what’s next. It sounds like you’re collecting!
I really am! I’m very ambitious; I will never stop learning and self-educating. Another benefit is then you have that one client who wants to change these things about their life and they only need one person. They come to someone like me, and they don’t need a trainer and a massage therapist and a nutritionist and whatever else it is. I can be that one person for them.
It sounds like you manage your clients independently although you work at the gym. Is it like owning your own business?
At Jean-Robert’s Gym it feels that way. In my hospitality career it was very political, very micro-managed. With Jean-Robert, he definitely allows us the freedom to manage our own time; however we still work a lot because we love what we do and we care for our clients. We don’t say "no" if we’re available. So it really does feel like I’m running my own business within the company.
What are your plans for the future?
My passions in life are this: health and wellness and travel. So I’m working towards being able to combine the two. Being able to just travel around, not touristy-like, but experience culture and help people no matter where I am to find their balance and wellness.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to friends about fitness or wellness in general?
One of the bigger things that I preach when I’m talking about the wellness lifestyle is just balance in general. I learned it in college. Wellness is a collection of five different types of health — physical, emotional, social, occupational, and spiritual — and everybody is different when it comes to balance. Some people love their career and they want to just focus on that. But for other people, their career isn’t so important but their physical health or spiritual health is.
So for me, it’s about finding someone who can help you to find that balance so that you can live your best life. It’s not just about coming to the gym and eating fruit and veggies all the time. It’s about finding that balance that makes you happy and healthy.
Is there anything else you’d want to share with folks who are thinking about careers in health and wellness?
Not necessarily about that specific field, but for people just in general. I chose this path because this has been my passion since I was really little. I always wanted to be in the medical field; I always wanted to be in some kind of health, helping industry. That’s my passion. My advice would be for people to find whatever it is that makes them happy — you know, that whole cliche of do what you love and the money will follow. I actually lived that! Don’t be afraid to take the risk because you can always have a fallback. People can always go back to whatever it was they were doing if they find that they can’t do it. But my advice would be if it’s massage and personal training, great. Pursue it. At whatever cost it is, you’ll figure it out. And if it’s not, find whatever else it is and pursue that!"
It’s easy to think that personal trainers are for other people—dedicated athletes, for instance, or folks with injuries or illness. But hiring a personal trainer can be a great investment for anyone who wants to exercise smarter and safer. Here are five benefits to investing in a personal trainer for yourself:
1. Workouts designed just for you
A personal trainer can assess where you are now and create a safe, healthy plan to help you get where you want to be. You’ll know that every workout is tailored for your body and your goals without having to worry about the details. If you’re recovering from an injury or have an illness, this can be especially important to help make sure you don’t hurt yourself further. Personal trainers can also be particularly helpful for those with specific goals in mind, like running a marathon.
2. An expert guide every step of the way
The expertise provided by a personal trainer will not only help you reach your goals faster than you would have on your own, it will also help you prevent injury. Your trainer will create a detailed fitness plan that is efficient, safe, and tailored for you. They’ll also be there to help you improve technique and form while you work together (especially helpful for beginners!).
3. Motivation and accountability
It is always easier to get something done when you have a buddy to do it with you. A personal trainer will provide the structure that can be so necessary in creating a consistent workout routine. Whether they’re cheering you on or providing accountability, you can rest easy knowing they’re in your corner.
4. Break through that plateau
Everyone hits a plateau at some point, and a personal trainer may be the perfect way to break through it. Maybe you’re getting bored or feeling like you’re stuck in a rut. Maybe you’re not seeing the results you’d like. Either way, a personal trainer will be able to help you change things up so you can get out of that rut.
5. Work out where and when it’s best for you
Personal trainers are usually flexible and can meet you at home, in a park, or at the gym. Typically they’ll do what they can to fit into your schedule and lifestyle, so working with a trainer can be one of the most convenient ways to take your workout to the next level.
Personal Training at Jean-Robert’s Gym
There are even more benefits when you work with the personal trainers here at Jean-Robert's Gym:
- Our world-class training team is led by Jean-Robert Barbette, who has over 30 years and 75,000 hours of experience helping professional athletes and celebrities reach their peak
- We provide comprehensive fitness testing so our trainers can optimize your fitness plan based on exactly where you are now
- Our trainers will also provide nutritional and lifestyle guidance to support you in reaching your health and fitness goals
- We all love living in Aspen, so our trainers will take advantage of our surroundings to provide a variety of workouts
Contact us to learn more about personal training at Jean-Robert’s Gym.
 One of the hardest parts of starting any new workout routine is making it stick. Getting to the gym each morning, afternoon, or evening is a challenge, but the latest research on how habits are created can make it a lot easier.
1. Use micro quotas to make macro goals happen
It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you do something small every day. That’s the idea behind “micro quotas”, where you set a small, achievable daily quota to help you get to your “macro goal”. Want to run a marathon? Your micro quota may be just ten minutes on the treadmill every day. The key is to take your macro goal, whether it’s running that marathon or just getting in shape, and break it down into a daily action that’s small and easy enough that you’ll feel a little ridiculous trying to talk yourself out of doing it.
My personal micro quota is a 7-minute workout. Exercising for just seven minutes is easy enough that even in the beginning it wasn’t hard to get it done every day. Some days I’d do more, but if I didn’t feel like it, I didn’t worry about it. Instead of feeling bad for not doing a more intense workout, I simply focused on enjoying what I was doing and hitting that easy micro quota. As my exercise habit became stronger, the intensity of my workouts naturally increased simply because I got bored of the simple workouts I started with.
2. Create habit chains to get to the gym on autopilot
 Hacking into your existing habit chains is one of the best ways to get yourself to the gym regularly. The strategy is simple: pick a set routine in your schedule and build a new “link in the chain” for your workout.
The routine I hacked into was getting off work for the day. I knew that if I made it home (and onto my comfortable couch) I’d never get to the gym no matter how good my intentions, so I began going directly to the gym after finishing at work.
If-then planning can be helpful for building the new chainlink. Instead of saying, “I’m going to work out every day,” you can say, “ If it is my lunch hour, then I will jog for 30 minutes.” Or “ If I’ve just gotten off work, then I will drive to the gym.”
3. Make it as easy as possible on yourself
It comes as no surprise that we’re more likely to do things that are easier. So one big key to creating a new exercise habit is to address every pain point (or “ah-screw-it” moment) that comes between you and getting to the gym. Author Remit Sethi addressed his own “ah-screw-it” moment:
When I sat down to analyze why I wasn’t going to the gym, I realized: My closet was in another room. That meant I had to walk out in the cold [to] put on my clothes. It was easier to just stay in bed. Once I realized this, I folded my clothes and shoes the night before. When I woke up the next morning, I would roll over and see my gym clothes sitting on the floor. The result? My gym attendance soared by over 300%.
Take the time to analyze exactly where your new exercise habit is breaking down. It may be as simple as making sure your bag is packed every evening and ready to go for the next day.
 4. Track your streak
Winning streaks are always fun, so whether you’re following Jerry Seinfeld’s advice to draw a giant X on the calendar every day you’re successful or using a habit tracking app that does it for you (like my personal favorite Habitica) make sure you keep track of your streak. Once you have a few X’s on the calendar, you’ll naturally want to to keep the streak going.
There’s a slight danger with this tip, though: once you break your streak it can be very easy to throw in the towel altogether, also known as the “what-the-hell” effect. Combat this by implementing a Never Miss Two Days rule. Rather than getting caught up in breaking your streak, the Never Miss Two Days rule helps you focus on getting back on track as quickly as possible.
Habits over life hacks
We often turn to life hacks in the hopes they’ll make something difficult become easy. Unfortunately, there’s no hack for the work needed to get in shape, run a marathon, or do a triathlon. Instead, these tips will help you build a consistent habit so that inch by inch, 7 minute workout by 7 minute workout, you’ll hit those goals—and the new ones you develop after accomplishing them.
One of the hardest parts about exercising is doing it consistently. It’s easy to do that first workout, but the second? Not so much. Sometimes we’ll do really well for a week or two and then drop off after that first burst of enthusiasm.
If this is what normally happens to you when you try to start a workout routine, don’t worry! I was the same way for a long time before I discovered the unexpected key that helped me unlock a regular workout routine: my natural body clock or circadian rhythm.
What is your circadian rhythm?
 Our circadian rhythms have been getting a lot of publicity lately since they regulate our sleep cycles. It’s become a well-known fact that most Americans aren’t getting enough sleep, and doctors keep telling us that following our natural circadian rhythms will help us get better, deeper rest.
But your circadian rhythm regulates a lot more than just sleep. As the body’s internal clock, it can also help you figure out the best times to work, eat, and exercise.
Paying attention to your personal body clock could be the key to unlocking that exercise habit you’ve been trying to create.
Experiment with peak times
Most of the debates on what time you should work out settle onto one of two times: first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon (roughly 3-6pm). Research indicates that folks who exercise in the morning are more likely to build a consistent habit, but exercising in the late afternoon correlates with peak physical performance and the lowest risk for injury. In fact, most world records in track and field have been broken in the late afternoon or early evening.
 Like everything else in the body, though, it’s all about what works for you. No matter what the studies said, a morning workout time was anything but helpful in building consistency for me. But when I switched to afternoons, a consistent routine developed almost like magic.
I even found that the frequency of my workouts began to naturally increase. I started with a goal of exercising just three times a week, but within a couple months I was up to 5-6 days a week.
Now I only miss a day when something interrupts my daily routine. And I didn’t even have to fight and push myself to get there! My body just tells me every day at about 3pm that it’s time to exercise.
So play around and see if morning, lunch, afternoon, or early evening works best for you. Pay attention to how long after a meal feels most comfortable, and remember that if you work out less than four hours before you plan to go to bed, you may have trouble falling asleep.
We’ll look forward to seeing you at the gym with our other morning, afternoon, or evening regulars!
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Share the Gift of Health
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