Desi Bartlett M.S., CPT, has been teaching health and wellness for over 17 years. Her innovative approach to teaching is to tap into one’s inner joy and let movement be an outer expression of that state. Originally from Chicago, she has earned a degree in Kinesiology, a minor in dance and her Master's degree in Corporate Fitness. Desi holds advanced certifications in Yoga, Personal Training, and Group Fitness. She is also a continuing education provider through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the National Council for Personal Trainers.

Desi's inspiring and unique classes have been featured on networks such as ABC, Univision and Lifetime. In 2005, Desi was named ambassador for Lululemon Athletica. In that same year, she helped open Equinox Fitness in Santa Monica as their Group Fitness Manager. In early 2006 she was a presenter for Nike Fitness Academy at the University of Southern California and also worked as the product director of fitness for Gaiam, teaching 'Yoga Dance Fusion,' at Gaiam's 10th annual LOHAS conference.

As an extension of her relationship with Lululemon Athletica, Desi designed the first round Yoga mat on the market, the 360 mat. She created a special class format based on the design of the mat, which is called Yoga 360 and is featured exclusively at Equinox Fitness Clubs throughout the US.

In March 2008, Acacia released the first of two DVD projects created by and featuring Bartlett. First, a triathlon style, full body workout, the eclectic 3-in-1 Total Body Fitness DVD combines 30 minutes of strength training to sculpt and tone; 30 minutes of cardio to train your heart, boost your energy and endurance; and 30 minutes of flexibility training and stretching to lengthen muscles and open stiff joints. Then in August 2008, Acacia will release Yoga for Beginners, a beautiful, basic yoga program offering two 25-minute practices: one an active yet simple yoga flow for complete body toning and the other a slower, deeper practice to build long, lean muscles.

Name; Desi Bartlett MS CPT

B-day; August 31^st

Location: Los Angeles CA

Website:  www.desibartlett.com

Diet Detective: Hello and thanks for agreeing to do this interview! I love your concept of combing yoga, fitness and dance. Can you explain how you see them all working together? And what’s Yoga Dance Fusion?

Desi: I have been involved with many different forms of movement all of my life. I have extensively studied Yoga, Fitness and Dance and have mulitiple certifications in these formats. To me, the different forms are like different languages. Each has its own, unique, creative expression. Yoga promotes balance and union, fitness promotes health and strength, and dance brings beauty and a sense of freedom. By combining elements of 3 different languages, you can always find exactly the right way to communicate. Where one form might be limited in a particular way, you can invite in elements from another and expand the idea.

Yoga Dance Fusion is a format that I originated about 5 years ago, that was the precursor to Yoga 360. I have studied Dance for many years, and to me Yoga feels like a Dance. By adding the fluidity of a port de bras (moving arm pattern) to a Yogic posture, there is a sense of freedom that comes with not holding a posture static. Literally, you can Dance your Yoga practice!

Diet Detective: I’ve read that you’ve developed your own yoga mat – called Yoga 360 with Lululemon – can you explain the mat and why you developed it?

Desi: The 360 mat is the first round mat on the market. The shape of the Yoga mat has never been changed until now. To me, the rectangle feels a little limited. Because the nature of my work is to find a sense of freedom in the body, I encourage students to move in many different directions, and to cultivate strength through a full range of motion. The circle better supports this type of work, you are getting stronger and more flexible in all directions.

Lululemon is a company that I have worked with for a while, and their commitment to integrity in the Yoga world is impressive. I brought the idea to them and they shared my vision for freedom in asana. They now distribute the mat in major markets in the US, and will distribute in all of their stores in the fall.

Diet Detective: Tell us about your latest DVD project – You’ve designed a “triathlon style, full body workout,” you’ve got 30 minutes of strength training to sculpt and tone; 30 minutes of cardio to train your heart, boost your energy and endurance; and 30 minutes of flexibility training and stretching to lengthen muscles and open stiff joints. How did you develop this? Did you work with a choreographer, so to speak or did you create it all on your own? Tell us Desi…how’s it done?

Desi: I have been working as a trainer for 17 years. I learned many years ago that there are 5 basic components to fitness;

1.      Cardiovascular Endurance

2.      Muscular Strength

3.      Muscular Endurance

4.      Flexibility

5.      Nutrition

To me, it is important to bring in as many elements from this model as possible, to give people the greatest results. The 1st element, cardiovascular endurance is addressed in the 1st 20 minute segment. We begin with a short warm up and then get the heart pumping! This kind of work also gets your endorphins going, so in addition to burning fat and calories, you feel really good- very energized.

The 2nd 20 minute segment, the strength segment, incorporates muscular strength and endurance. We lift moderate weight, with a fairly high number of reps.. This helps you not just to get stronger, but to be able to sustain that strength. As we build lean muscle mass, the body becomes  more effective at burning fat. I believe the term that Dr Sears used in ‘the Zone,’ was Better Butter BurnerJ

The 3rd segment flexibility is the most neglected in this country. Many people work out for 30-40 minutes, 2-3 times a week, and flexibility usually accounts for about 4 minutes of each work out. Flexibility training can increase joint mobility, correct bad posture, and even help to counteract some of the effects of aging. In short, it is incredibly important to stretch to maintain the health of the joints.

I choreographed all 3 segments of the workout as modules that can stand alone, or be done all together. This way you can tailor your workouts to your schedule. I have worked as a fitness choreographer for other fitness talents in the past, so it was extremely fun to present my own work. Also, Acacia, the production company was incredible to work with, because they encourage you to present what you know as you do in classes and with clients. The workout is done in the same way that I teach every day.

Diet Detective: I keep trying to incorporate yoga into my life, and I must say it hasn’t been simple. I already do about an hour of exercise each day. I watch my diet, have lots of work, a family—it is sometimes difficult? I think many readers have similar issues. Any suggestions?

Desi: Check out the 3rd section of the 3 in 1 Total Body Fitness DVD. It is a 20 minute flexibility section that incorporates a lot of basic Yoga postures. It is set on Leo Carrillo beach in Malibu, and it is really visually pleasing to see the Pacific Ocean while you are stretching. The segment is over before you know it, and you will stretch your entire body in a very effective way. I would recommend doing this at least 2 times a week. A great time to do this is when you are at home at night, maybe an hour after dinner. Instead of just watching TV for the rest of the night, pop in the DVD and stretch in your living room with the entire family. That particular segment is appropriate for all ages and can be a fun activity to do together.

Diet Detective:  What makes what you different from other fitness experts and trainers?

Desi: I have been in the field of health and wellness my entire adult life. I have studied many different forms of movement, and feel that, that allows me to have a huge tool box with which to work. If one movement does not work for someone’s body, I can list at least 10-20 more that could work or stretch the same muscle group. In this way I am well versed in the language of the body. What makes me different is that I like to go beyond that, to how it makes you feel. For me it is incredibly important for movement to be a joy- not a chore. Our bodies are designed to move. That movement can be designed in such a way that it is fun and inspiring!

Diet Detective: How do you get a body designed by Desi Bartlett? What do you need to do each day?

Desi: Body designed by Desi Bartlett??!! I love it! I have worked with Jake from Body by Jake and he is a HUGE inspiration to me, so to think of the answer to this question is really fun! I would have to say that I teach my clients to move at least 5 days a week. You should get cardio, strength and Yoga into those 5 days in ANYWAY that works for you. You can walk on the beach or in the mall, you can take a class or do a DVD. The most important thing is simply to move and have fun doing it! If you know you hate the treadmill, why force yourself to do it, there are hundreds of forms of cardio including Dance, Group Fitness Cardio classes, Snowboarding, Cycling, you name it! Do what makes your body sing!

Diet Detective: In all your years of training what do you consider the three (3) best non-weight related exercise (e.g. lunge).

Desi: The 3 best exercises that incorporate the weight of the body are;

1.)  Lunges

2.)  Pull ups

3.)  Push ups

Diet Detective: If you could only do only one strength training exercise (using weights) what would it be?

Desi: Dead lift into an upright row and then a shoulder press is my favorite combination of movements that combine into 1 exercise. Since all of that is a bit of a mouthful, I literally call it ‘my favorite exercise,’ and my students and clients know exactly what I mean. You begin with your feet hips distance apart and you can use either a barbell or 2 dumbells in your hands. Bend over slowly with slight flexion in the knees. Come up slowly with the spine long and the hamstrings engaged. As you come to standing lift your elbows, then lower flip the weights to face away from you for an overhead shoulder press. It sounds complicated, but it is not at all. Basically you bend over, and then lift a weight overhead. In this way we hit hamstrings, low back, outer shoulders, and your abs. I love this exercise!

Diet Detective: What is the worst strength training exercise for women? Or one that is the most frequently done incorrectly?

Desi: The worst exercise for women?? HMMMM. Anatomically we have a wider pelvis for child bearing, but generally the exercises that are not good for us are not good for men either. The worst one that I can think of is not very common anymore- thank goodness! I am referring to putting a bar across your shoulders and vigorously twisting from side to side. Some people think that this will work the waist. Actually you are shearing the spine. You can do major damage to the cartilage between the vertebrae, and that tissue does not regenerate. Please do not ever do that exercise.

Diet Detective: If you had to choose a specific song or band to get you excited for your workout, what would it be? What other songs are on your iPod?

Desi: I really like Maroon 5. I have had a wonderful opportunity in working with their lead singer, and ‘Wake Up Call,’ is an awesome song to workout with. My ipod has a lot of Yoga music , and inspiring songs. For me inspiring songs are songs that help to remind us how strong we truly are. Mary J Blige is particularly great for singing empowering messages for women.

Diet Detective: Your typically day?

Desi: My typical day is a little different now because I am 6 months pregnant

I wake up early, go teach Yoga and then have breakfast. I answer emails and then go do my own workout or Yoga practice. Some days I walk, others I lift weights, still others I go to a prenatal or Flow Yoga class. I like to mix it up! I then go home take a shower and get ready to teach an afternoon and/or evening class. I am in classes throughout the day. I also have private clients a few days a week.  My daily schedule is built around the joy of movement. I feel blessed to be able to do something I love every day.

Diet Detective: What’s in your refrigerator and pantry right now?

Desi: My fridge is full of fruits, veggies, yogurt and tofu. I am a vegetarian, so we have a lot of nuts, egg whites and veggie burgers on hand. I also really like Belly Bars. They are a protein bar for pregnant women and they are yummy.

Diet Detective: Pilates vs. Yoga (only one winner) – why?

Desi: Yoga, Yoga, Yoga! Yoga is a complete philosophical and physical system. The movement is not just to get stronger or leaner, there are centuries of tradition to draw from and an entire code of living that is incredibly inspiring. Yoga teaches us to live in the moment and to remember to recognize the divinity within everyone.

Diet Detective: Best yoga pose (come on – if you had to pick only one)?

Desi: Mountain pose is a great pose for good posture. By standing tall, grounding the feet, and lightly drawing in the belly, we help the spine to lengthen. In addition to all of the physical benefits, the energetic benefits are powerful as well. You are lining up the chakras- the body’s energy system, to best promote the flow of prana (life force).

Diet Detective: Your favorite “junk food?”

Desi: Cheez its! I only have them once or twice a year, and I thoroughly enjoy them when I do!

Diet Detective: Your favorite healthy breakfast?

Desi: Low fat Yoga with Kamut cereal and almonds mixed in. You get carb, protein and a little fat. The combination provides more sustained energy so that you are not starving again at 10am.

Diet Detective: What do you consider the world’s most perfect food? [Please be specific and try not to answer with a category but rather with a specific food item: for example, not “whole grain” but “raisin bran cereal”?]

Desi: World’s Most perfect food is different for each person’s body and can be different from one phase of life to another. For me at this phase of my life, it is important to have a lot of protein because of the pregnancy. My body does really well with tempeh. Tempeh is a type of soy that tastes great as a veggie burger and gives me a lot of sustained energy. I do not have it everyday, because too much soy can be bad for women. Everything is a delicate balance. You really have to learn to listen to your body.

Diet Detective: Which historical figure can you relate to most?

Desi: The historical figure I relate to most is Maria Montessori. We actually have the same birthday. She started by teaching people that were thought to be un-teachable and created a method that could be taught to everyone. Specifically she developed a method for children that is still used today. I strive to create systems of movement that can be employed by everyone, not just athletes, but the people who have never worked out a day in their lives. To create a lasting system that everyone can benefit from is a dream of mine.

Diet Detective: What do you do to reduce stress, relax and center your mind?

Desi: Yoga, Yoga and more Yoga! Yoga offers so many techniques for stress reduction! You can meditate, practice pranayama (Specific breathing exercises), practice the physical postures, etc…, etc…

Diet Detective: Who’s your hero?

Desi: My hero is Arnold Schwarzanegger! I love him. I do not necessarily agree with his politics, but anyone who can move to a new country and have 3 separate, successful careers (body building, acting and politics) is someone who does not make excuses! He gets it done and in a big way! I strive to do what I do in service to others and to remember that I can bring that message forth in a ‘bigger way.’ For me that means DVD’s. I cannot physically be with each person who is working out, but they can work out with my DVD and know that I put everything I have into creating a safe, fun, effective workout.

Diet Detective: Your worst summer job?

Desi: My worst summer job was in high school. I worked at a tanning salon. Even driving by them now gives me the willies. The smell of burning skin is not good.

Diet Detective: What’s your motto?

Desi: “Have a bias toward action - let's see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.”

Diet Detective: As a child you wanted to be:

Desi: As a child I wanted to be a dancer. At the time I did not know that, that can be a metaphor for life. I feel as though life is a dance and I enjoy every day and every new step!

Thank you!!!!

Bookmark:

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed