About Me

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Youngest child of six , Sarah is honored to be exploring the beautiful state of California while experiencing great opportunities that she is open to explore . She is currently a licensed ZUMBA and Kickboxing Instructor, and is thriving to enhance her knowledge about the fitness industry. During her stay in Ojai this summer she wishes to establish new relationships with fellow fitness enthusiasts and help others feel wonderful & stress-free about living a healthier life style . Sarah is studying Fitness & Wellness Leadership at Plattsburgh State along with minors in Athletic Coach, Business, & Marketing.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

My Face Will Soon Be Sold In The Nest!

For one portion of this internship, I am required to have completed a project with the head internship coordinator.   My project is actually very interesting & pretty fun .   Currently  at The Oaks they have a boutique store called The Nest where they sell novelty items , products , clothing , CD/DVD ' s , work out equpitment , etc .  This is where I come into the mix . . . .  One of the items for sale are resistance bands with a book of various exercises & stretches provided to the buyer .   This book was last updated in the 80 's and now I am the new and improved figure in which I demonstrate easy - to - do exercises & stretches for the busy traveler looking to get a quick fix right in the convenience of their hotel rooms or getaway escape!   Posted above are a few photos from this book just to give you a sense for what I am describing  =] There are series of shots that where taken to provide the user with step by step moves to safely & effectively perform these exercises . 

Remember POSTURE is the utmost important aspect for practicing effective SAFE training .
- Stand tall/sit upright while drawing the core in towards the spine .
- Keep shoulders level , back ,  & retracted.
- Chest is held high & head is in neutral position.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Day 50: If only I wasn't an intern I would be The Oaks' best customer!

Today sure does mark 50 days that I have been here at The Oaks !   WOW for me to even believe I have been here that long is amazing in it's self ,  haha .   Well , today was yet another day off of mine and I for sure kept busy .  Started my morning with some oatmeal , muffins , fruit , & milk ( the morning routine ) , checked out the Ojai Valley Athletic Club which has amazing outdoor pools , many many MANY tennis courts , and a pretty decent indoor facility - all in which has a BEAUTIFUL view of the mountains ! ! !  While I was there I participated in a morning ZUMBA class . . . . . . . .  Let me just nicely . . . . that the woman who taught this class should have NOT been advertising her class as a ZUMBA class !  From what I found out she isn't even a licensed ZUMBA instructor & was not providing her class with ANY of the ZUMBA Fitness Program .  This class really left me upset & frustrated all day : /  Ughhh

On a brighter note, later this afternoon I road down to Ventura Beach on the bike path again .  If you can recall from one of my first posts on this blog I mentioned that this bike ride is roughly 34 miles round trip !  Woo Wee - I ' m going to feel like a million bucks tomorrow going with how I am feeling now , haha  The bike ride of course wasn't complete until I made a pit stop at a Ben & Jerry's shop and went to heaven with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream = ]

But I have better news to share . . . . in 2 weeks I will be having someone come and visit me ! ! ! !  This of course is my brother Ben who I normally only see once a year because he lives in Colorado .  I AM SUPER EXCITED to see him because I haven't had a family member visit me yet , & he's going to love this place ! 

Well there's a little information I though I ' d share since it ' s been a while since I posted .  Again I do apologize & I ' ll share some more fun stuff within the next day or so .  Check out the left side of this blog to see all of the physical activity I 've been getting myself into , on top of the actual work here for this internship .  Then you 'll understand the slight delay <3

PS : I saw a bob cat on the bike path today as well, haha

Monday, July 18, 2011

Day 42: With One More Month To Go!

Sorry for not posting anything in a few days !  I have been crazy busy with tons of projects , teaching classes , and trying to catch up on some rest !  I have met some more amazing people here at The Oaks as well as enjoying the company of other fellow fitness enthusiasts .  I look forward to my day off tomorrow as I will unwind & relax .  I am also in the process of scheduling a rock climbing session here in Ojai & preparing a video to submit for a ZUMBA Fitness contest ! !  All sorts of busy . . . . .

Stay posted for new updates & enjoy some more photos in the meantime .  They are just a few of many meals that are served here at The Oaks ! DELISH  =]

I would also like to make a side note & thank everyone for making this blog a great success ! !  I have over 1200 page views & I look forward to continuing this blog after my internship . 

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Matilija Canyon & Meditation Mountain


At the close of this week, myself & a friend hiked a trail that was said to be 9.1 miles . . . . This hiked turned into a 6.5 hour trip & I'm pretty sure we created another trail along the way !  Once we started climbing huge boulders at a VERY STEEP incline & nothing in site , we knew for sure this wasn't a part of the marked trail .  But that didn't stop us from enjoying the challenges that came our way . . . . . esp when we came across a rattle snake .  After a long day of hiking , climbing , & running this trail I think it is safe to say we covered about 16 miles .  Wooo Weeeee , cross training to the EXTREME ! ! !

Later in the night we then visited another mountain called Meditation Mountain .  This is a private area where people can come to relax , let their minds at ease , meditate, and maybe even take a snooze on this well kept - BEAUTIFUL sanctuary.

6:30 AM Hikes

Here are some photos of what my mornings begin with everyday !  Either starting at 6:30 or 7:00 AM the guests at The Oaks , myself , & another hiker tackle on the great mountains in Ojai .  With it's great elevation gains ,  fantastic smells of the citrus fruits & sage , my morning cannot get any better then this !  That is unless I actually lived in these beautiful mountains like some people do =]

Look how high above the fog we are ! Uhh I am in LOVE <3
Here is also a picture of the sun setting one night .

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Long Island Girl Turns California Life Style

7:30am this morning began yet another chapter into this life of mine .  With an additional trail brought to my attention , I am really starting to fall in LOVE with the true beauty of this state .  Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is the name of this beautiful place which is the home to many wild life !  Bob Cats , Mountain Lions , Bears , Rattle Snakes , even Cows are roaming around freely , just as the humans are breath taken by their surroundings .  As some will soon to discover , this location is also known to have river pools which are occasionally forming throughout the conservancy.  During my 60 minute run today , I came across two pools .  Both being different depths , yet BOTH sharing it's own kind of beauty .  In the larger of the two , I kicked off my sneakers , let my hair run wild & took a nice huge plunge off the rocks !  This is for sure something I am not used too, but would LOVE to get used to doing all the time !  Yes , that's right . . .  a future in California living may come into effect sooner then later =]

As I was trotting my way through one of the trails in the conservancy , my mind began to travel as well . . . creating another path of possibly beginning a new interesting idea . . . . what would be an "eye catching" way to document my " Lift, Love, ZUMBA " exploration ?  What I started to develop is having a way to capturing different video clips from the many trails I run on . . . . then some how create a montage to share my LOVE for fitness , AMBITION for successful / safe / effective training, & STRENGTH OF MIND to train in exigent conditions .  For the time being I will be recording footage from my phone as it is very convenient for me at the moment .  If this idea expands to a much demanding extent , I will begin to develop more creative techniques , ideas , and invest in a hand held motion camera that could attach to a hat . . . . . or something along those lines .

Tomorrow is day two of two for my days off .  And for whats in store is what I just briefly discussed above .  I am completely thrilled for what is planned .  Now that I may have caught your attention a wee bit more , enjoy a few photos from today & please be patient as I begin to develop this fun new idea . <3

PS : The last photo on this post is a bear foot print .  Draw your eyes away from the sneaker footprints & bike tracks, and really focus on the left side of this photo =]

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Lights , Camera , ACTION !

I was able to mange a few extra seconds & I thought I would create another update for you all !  Just below are photos from earlier in the week & last week .  What I would like to share with you next is what an awesome day yesterday was.  First I woke up earlier and ran for 60 minutes up - around - down Shelf Mountain ( super tough but what a great run it was) .  Then I spent the rest of my day at Universal Studios Hollywood with family from Vegas & finally ending the night off right with nothing better than fried chicken and waffles at Roscoes .  YUMM YUMM .  In Universal Studios we went on a tour around all the different movie / TV sets from the past to the most current .  Some of the sets we saw included : Desperate House Wives , Psyco , Jaws , Fast 5 , a bunch of old western movies , How the Grinch Stole Christmas , Austin Powers , a Lady Ga Ga music video , one of the worlds BIGGEST blue screens , etc . . . Along with the tour , we were taken through a few simulations , sound rooms , and were shown famous cars from different movies.  Pretty neat I must say =]  I would post all the pictures from the tour on here but that would mean I would have to upload over 50 . So here are my two favorite aside from the tour from the day !

These next few days I will continue to work on my projects , homework , teach a few classes / lead hikes , and whatever else may come my way .  Soon I will be trying to post some video footage from my stay here as well.  May post a few videos teaching , running / hiking , whatever else !

G'Night xo

Pictures, Pitchers, Pics, & Photos


Here are a FEW (emphasizing FEW) captured shots from the past few days !  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do =]