kelly.singer's blog

August is Seattle’s month to have fun in the sun.  There are endless opportunities for being active on the water, in the mountains, or on a beach but summertime play and the associated heat can bring a number of risks, too.  It’s important to plan ahead and take precautions against dehydration, sunburn, and pesky bugs. Read more »

Endurance sports like triathlons are the fastest growing segment of the fitness industry.  The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association study from 2010 shows that 1,208,000 Americans participated in at least one triathlon in 2009 (a 51 percent growth from 2007). While more and more people from a variety of backgrounds are participating in the sport, there are still many people hesitant to sign up because of the swimming portion of the race. Read more »

Summer picnics are a long standing tradition in my family and the epitome of the season.  In 1910, my great-grandparents, Teunis and Anna Schilperoort, and their siblings left Holland for the Yakima Valley to start a new life.   After World War I, the first family picnic was held  as a way to remember the old country and celebrate the new.  Our family has met every year since then on the second Saturday of July and the attendance is now in the hundreds.  My great-grandfather’s favorite food was fried chicken and it’s still the pièce de résistance of th Read more »

I had heard rumors about surfing in Washington.  I thought that surely it was only the crazy, hard-core Pacific Northwesterners out in the freezing rain and rough ocean.  So when I found myself organizing a surf camp last summer, I was a little nervous about my first surfing experience being at Westport.   But once we arrived in the charming fishing village, my attitude started to change.

It’s almost painful to be indoors on a summer day in Seattle, even for a yoga class. Taking your practice outside allows you to breath fresh air, connect with nature, and literally salute the sun. An outdoor class has a different dynamic than an indoor class and it’s important to know the necessary etiquette so everyone can enjoy the experience.  Here are my top 10 outdoor yoga etiquette rules:

1. Be on time and be prepared to start on time. Read more »

If you see a group of people using long, thick ropes at a park or at your gym they’re not playing tug-of-war, they are Battling Ropes.

One of the hallmarks of summer in Seattle is the arrival of farmers' markets.   There are some wonderful fruits and vegetables coming into season this month like berries, beets, kale, and carrots.  An easy way to make the most of seasonal goods is to incorporate the produce into smoothies.    It’s a great way to try something new or use up the last few morsels before they go bad.  Either way, smoothies are an easy and delicious way to get your eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day and add some variety to your diet.

In this entrepreneurial town, we like to do things on our own time and that includes being active. Whether there’s one last work project that can't wait or The Bachelorette conflicts with your Monday night tennis league, having a weekly team sport commitment just doesn’t always jive with our free-spirit attitude. Perhaps that’s why Seattle has such a lively pick-up sports scene.  From badminton to basketball, here’s your guide to getting sporty on the fly. Read more »

It's marathon season. And if you're one of the many Seattleites training and prepping for your next race, Kelly Singer the scoop on to get into gear. Read more »