Christy Lyons, M.A., PHR, is a former corporate wellness company owner & freelance Yoga, Pilates, and barre/toning instructor. As an E-RYT, she has been teaching yoga since 2007 and has also run 2 teacher training programs. She is an NASM-CPT and specialized in working with clients with autoimmune diseases, spinal injuries, and other unique cases.
After selling her business in 2013, Christy now works as an HR manager and freelance business development consultant in Chicago, working with wellness companies and human resource departments in several capacities. Christy holds her B.A. from Northwestern University ('04), a Graduate Diploma in Business from Cambridge ('06), and her M.A. in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School ('14). You can reach her on LinkedIn or via Twitter (@christynlyons).
It’s springtime. Almost summer. And you have been working so hard. You have been watching your diet, keeping it full of healthy, whole foods and a good level of protein. You’ve kicked up your workouts’ intensity. You are walking more and sitting less. Yet, you are...
The Stairmaster. The bike. The rower. They are the three dusty gym machines that lose out to the treadmill, elliptical and cardio exercise classes. Why? What happened from the glory days of the 80s when everyone wanted to stairclimb? What changed from the 1970s stationary bike phase? And who has...
Belly fat. Love handles. Muffin top. Abdominal fat is not a joke. It creeps up on you like a former boyfriend does on Facebook. One day, you feel confident in a bikini. The next… it feels like your jeans don’t fit, your favorite slinky tops look awkward and your bikini...
This is the Core Torcher Workout from the Bikini Season Workouts x2 - Burn Fat Faster! article. This workout is the second of two fat-burning interval workouts that you can do with little to no equipment. (Workout 1 is the Full Body Blast). These workouts are an advanced level;...
This is the Full Body Blast Workout from the Bikini Season Workouts x2 - Burn Fat Faster! article. This workout is the first of two fat-burning interval workouts that you can do with little to no equipment. (Workout 2 is the Core Torcher). These workouts are an advanced level;...
Spring is in the air and with that comes the looming bikini season! How can you get ready for the summer full of swimsuits, pool parties, tank tops and shorts? You need to tighten, tone and feel fit fast! It’s time to get serious about your nutrition and your training....
This is workout three, the 30 Minute Miracle Workout from The Best Quick Workouts for All-Day Energy article. For this workout it’s all about adding intensity to your session and getting the most fat-burning potential possible to your workout. Using the routine from All-Day Energy Workout: 20 Minute HIIT,...
This is workout two: 20 Minute Intervals Workout from The Best Quick Workouts for All-Day Energy article. 20 minutes is an important number to know when working out. Especially for those of you readers who feel frazzles, stressed or even depressed, 20 minutes to a key metric when...
This is workout one, the 7 Minute Workout from The Best Quick Workouts for All-Day Energy article. If you haven’t heard of the 7 Minute Workout yet, this is a great workout that can be done in your very own living room or in a gym. If you...
It seems everyone is pressed for time these days. With commitments at home, work and school, people are busier than ever, which means health and wellness take a back seat. Waistlines expand, clothes become tight, and, worse, health issues begin to come up. Reality sets in- you have to make...
High Intensity Interval Training, or better known as HIIT, is sweeping gyms by storm. Masses of time-starved people flock to these classes that run anywhere from a mere 20 minutes – a hardcore hour or less and get their cardio, strength and sweat on, feeling cleansed and spent. HIIT boasts...
Spring has sprung. March 21st boasted the first day of spring and with that comes sunshine, barbeques, spring sports, and days in the park. Sleeveless tops are then a mere few weeks behind the first thaw of the ground. After a long, cold winter spent under bulky sweaters, are you...
Why do cravings happen? Why do you suddenly but absolutely have to have something salty, something sweet, or a nice cold glass of wine or beer as if there was no tomorrow? Cravings can result from various sources including stress, routine or habits, even a familiar place or smell from...
Connect Your Workouts to Your World - Why Hitting the Gym Helps More Than Just Your Waistline. Everyone has those days; the bad hair days, the bad skin days, the days where none of your clothes seem to look right. You have a day that starts that way and then...
By now, most women have heard that lifting weights is the key to kicking one’s metabolism into high gear. By now, most women have been told strong is sexy and that they need to lift weights to get the definition they are looking for. And yet the weight room at...
Every little girl thinks about her wedding day at some point. Whether it's from playing with a bridal Barbie doll to watching an older cousin walk down the aisle, every girl wonders about what she would wear if she were to get married one day. Some girls dream of wearing...
Yoga sculpt is a hot new class that is making its way into both yoga studios and big-box gyms across the world. But wait… why would someone “ruin” yoga with weights? I would argue that Yoga Sculpt (and the various other monikers it goes by) is a trend driven by...
Free glasses of champagne from the hostess. A complimentary dessert from a restaurant. Chocolate-covered strawberries sent from your boss. And don’t forget the flowers and wine sent from your very own parents. Ah, the joys of getting engaged and the lovely loot from the people and vendors who are happy for...
Winter is here. Black ice, shoveling snow, and other winter hazards are on the annual mission to sideline you. Exercise classes, new years resolutions, and gym equipment used inappropriately are also still around. So is just plain bad luck, if you’re like me. I was recently diagnosed with 2 stress...
Welcome back to part 3 of the Wedding Chronicles! Part 1 was about how to get organized and part 2 was the breakdown of how to get fit for the big day on a shoestring budget and on a mid-level budget. Now, it’s time to take the plunge...
As your big day comes up, both parties getting hitched are going to want to look their best. So you get on the internet and you think, ok, should I do Crossfit? Or yoga sculpt? Or Pilates? What will give me the results I’m looking for? And then you get...
December and the preceding fall months are the most popular months to get engaged, according to several popular wedding websites. If you are one of the lucky couples, congratulations! Now comes the stress of planning the nuptials while also making the attempt to be the most beautiful self you can...
Are you ready for the third workout in our Running Workouts series? We hope so, because workout number three takes it to the next level by adding in plyometrics! And, in case you missed them, here are the links to running workout one and running workout two. Take these...
Incredible Butt & Legs WorkoutWhen it comes to workouts, working on the lower body, in particular the butt, is a firm favorite. It...
Full Body Fat Burner WorkoutSpring has sprung and summer is on it's way. This means it's a good time to start getting your body ...
Time to Jump Start Your Cardio WorkoutCardio, we all know we should be including this into our fitness program but not everyone enjoys it,...
Full Body Workouts with Just Dumbbells!Chances are you have a set of dumbbells laying around the house or collecting spider webs in the gar...
Arm Yourself for Spring: The Best Arm Workouts for Every Kind of ExerciserSpring has sprung. March 21st boasted the first day of spring and with that comes sunshine, barbeque...
Ladies: Lift for Your Body TypeI remember when I started going to a gym back in 1990 (yup, I´m THAT old) that I had no idea what I...
Women, Take Over the Weight Room: Strong is the Path to Sexy!By now, most women have heard that lifting weights is the key to kicking one’s metabolism into hig...
BMI: What It Is & Why You Should Not Use ItThe Body Mass Index is more commonly referred to as BMI and is used as a popular way to determine if...
The Guide To Treat Cellulite NaturallyCottage cheese skin, orange peel skin, whatever you want to call it. Cellulite. Such a cringe-worthy...
You've Reached Your Goal Weight, Now What?Congratulations, after months, maybe even years, of hard work, you have finally reached that goal we...
Counting Calories VS Counting MacrosThe go-to system for dieting has long been calorie counting. However, the practice of counting macro...
How To Use Skipping To Supercharge Fat LossThe first thing you need to know about weight loss is that your heart rate has a lot to do with it. ...
13 Retro Ways To Be ActiveThis is a fun article looking back at some of the fun ways youngsters, and possibly parents (if they...
5 Tips To Help Change Your LifeIf you are looking for ways to change your life you are not alone. The internet is full of people as...
Incredible Butt & Legs WorkoutWhen it comes to workouts, working on the lower body, in particular the butt, is a firm favorite. It...
11 Fun Ideas To Do Something DifferentIn this day and age we spend a lot of time inside or glued to some sort of electronic device. It's t...
Full Body Fat Burner WorkoutSpring has sprung and summer is on it's way. This means it's a good time to start getting your body ...
The Low Down on VitaminsThere was a time in my life when you could open up one of my kitchen cabinets and find all sorts of ...
There’s Always Time for Breakfast!We know eating breakfast is vital to starting the day off right and the key role it plays in weight ...
The Big Guide To Apple Cider VinegarApple cider vinegar is literally making headlines these days. Used as a home remedy for various ailm...
Dust Off Those Underloved Cardio Machines & Lose Fat Faster!The Stairmaster. The bike. The rower. They are the three dusty gym machines that lose out to the tre...
The Best Half Marathons Around the United StatesIt’s time to stray from the repetitive, and sometimes over-competitive, races. Whether you are sea...
7 Essential Stretches You Should Do Before You RunDo you stretch before you head out for a run? On an early morning you may forget to stretch your bod...
Are Your Fitness Goals Attainable?Time does go quickly these days, how much time has passed since you started those New Year's Resolut...
That Cupcake Looks SO Good (AKA Losing Motivation & What To Do About It!)It’s springtime. Almost summer. And you have been working so hard. You have been watching your die...
7 Ways to Stay Motivated to Work Out During WinterYour alarm goes off. It’s a cold winter morning with a fresh layer of snow on the ground. The warm...
Dieting: The Temporary FixDiets are temporary, a quick fix to weight loss, not a long term solution. The only way to lose weig...
5 Popular Diet Crazes ExplainedSince I can remember I have seen diet books on bookshelves everywhere. Recently, however, everyone s...
Raw Till 4 (RT4) Diet ReviewWhat is Raw Till 4? Are there any health benefits with this lifestyle? Is this food plan a good fit ...
Improve Your Relationships With FitnessSome people think and actually feel that working out is ONLY about getting a hot body and looking go...
15 Things Emotionally Strong People AvoidEmotionally strong people often have numerous healthy habits any other person would envy. They know ...
7 Principles of Peak PerformanceIt is uncanny how closely connected feelings are to performance. Look at 1968 three-time Olympic med...
5 Tips To Help Change Your LifeIf you are looking for ways to change your life you are not alone. The internet is full of people as...
11 Fun Ideas To Do Something DifferentIn this day and age we spend a lot of time inside or glued to some sort of electronic device. It's t...
18 Simple Ways To RelaxLife can whiz by at great speed and before you know it, the days, weeks or months have flown by and ...
Why You Should Get Sweaty on Valentine's DayWhen you think about Valentine's Day, you think about romance, love and... chocolates! In fact, we l...
What to Do About Your Gym CrushThere's no doubt about it, the gym can be a great place to meet new people, and from time to time, e...
How to Deal With Difficult PeopleWe've all met our fair share of difficult people - it doesn't matter where you are, it's an absolute...
7 Health Benefits of Hot YogaThere’s a “hot” new trend in the Yoga world: Hot Yoga. It includes various styles and types of...
Yoga Fix: Pain in the NeckWe have all been there before. Awake at 3am, suffering from a sudden onset of ‘stiff neck’ syndr...
Yoga for Happy HipsAccording to the pop singer Shakira - our hips don’t lie. Especially if they are in pain, or reall...
Wedding Series Part 5: Dress Hunting (Staying Motivated)Every little girl thinks about her wedding day at some point. Whether it's from playing with a brid...
Wedding Planning is Causing Me to GAIN Weight: HELP!Free glasses of champagne from the hostess. A complimentary dessert from a restaurant. Chocolate-cov...
Wedding Series Part 3: The Personal Trainer - To Invest or Not?Welcome back to part 3 of the Wedding Chronicles! Part 1 was about how to get organized and part 2 w...
