Take Back Your Body!

Take back your body…..got your attention, right?  This innovate new creative program inspired by my own workouts to do just that, take back your body!  As a yoga/fitness instructor, I meet many people who are quick to say “I am too busy to workout”.  Making the time for health/fitness is vital; consider it an insurance policy on your health.  Just like many other annual tests we endure, dental visits, yearly check up’s, etc.  Fitness should fall under the “preventive maintenance” category to help reduce the chances for diseases or unexpected illnesses.  Being healthy puts you in the driver’s seat; you take control and responsibility for what you can change along with the exception of things you can not change.

 As an avid exercise person and health nut, I personally crave variety.  This workout program consists of many of my favorite “things”……Yoga, Pilates, functional moves, swiss balls, cardio, bands, body weight exercises, free-weights, etc.  Speaking of yoga, creativity flows like a river with yoga breath work (alternate nostril breathing is responsible for this program) it really does work!   This workout is based upon interval training, yes; I am an interval training junkie!  In my opinion, interval training is the best way to train for efficiency, effectiveness, burns fat, gets the heart in shape, etc. 

 If you think you don’t have the time to exercise, think again, you do!  This is a 45-minute, NO GYM REQUIRED interval workout that can be done at home or anywhere!  Keeping workouts fresh and new will prevent boredom and your muscles will get stronger and learner!  Only constant variety of exercise will make this happen!  This workout is about a lifestyle, a way of life.   This workout is not about “I need to lose weight for my daughter’s wedding” (I always ask what happens after your daughter gets married?) or “I want to where size 2 skinny jeans” type of talk.  This workout will give you the skills necessary to incorporate fitness into your life, get healthy and keep you focused so you can enjoy life to the fullest.  

 Details….Details
This creative, dynamic, fast-paced interval class (non-choreographed) incorporates alternating energizing short bursts of cardio with functional strength, balance and core moves.  Class will begin with a mini meditation to promote focus and mind preparation.  Blended into these intervals are yoga flows and pilates core exercises to build heat, strength, endurance and flexibility!  One workout, so many flavors in a short time!  Each class is different, nothing is “pre-canned”.  Options offered for everyBODY.  The results, nothing but amazing!

 Coaching/Support
In addition to the class, participants will receive motivational tips, thoughts, exercise suggestions for the off days from class, healthy recipes and chat with the trainer for ongoing questions and support.  This information will be private and only available to class participants.

 Participant Commitment Level
Class meets two times per week for 45-minutes for 6 weeks.  Show up on time; work hard, have fun and be mentally prepared for an awesome workout that will energize your for the day! The best part, working out with a group is motivating, promotes encouragement, friendship and support!  

For more information, on dates, times, location and cost, please contact me directly via www.getcorepower.com. 

 How valuable is your health to you and what do you do to stay healthy and fit?

What’s Your Taste?

What do you prefer, Yoga or Pilates?  Well, my curiosity got the best of me, as well as wanting to improve my core.  In my quest to eliminate boredom from my workouts, I decided I would give Pilates a try.  I have been working one-on-one with Maggie, the owner of Personal Euphoria, www.personaleuphoria.com.  We meet weekly for challenging, muscle shaking, and core tightening sessions utilizing the reformer.  The reformer is an amazing machine that has springs to vary the degree of resistance.  This machine allows your body to work precisely in helping to increase core strength and flexibility.  The reformer easily identifies weakness in the body, especially notable differences on each side.   My absolute favorite, the jump board, where you can jump, similar to ploymetric jumps, but is softer on the joints!  The jump board is not only fun but strengthens the feet, ankles, calves, hams, quads and inner/outer thighs!  I have several sessions behind me and I already have noticed a difference in my core and legs!  I guess I can say, I am addicted to the reformer!  So far, so good, I thought, now I’ll get a taste of Mat Pilates.

 The mat version starts with a warm up, usually “The Hundred” (a famous move) but these classes, like yoga, depend upon the instructor.  By the way, I am extremely selective who I take fitness classes from and Pilates is no different.  Just because an instructor has a piece of paper indicating proper certification, does not necessarily correlate to the level of a quality instructor.  Look for an upcoming blog on this topic.

 Mat Pilates utilizes breath control like yoga, (inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth) and continues to draw belly to the spine on the exhale.  Scooping the belly is synonyms to Pilates, as this engages your transverse abdominis, the deepest abdominal muscle that forms an internal girdle for your center.  Sitting on top of your transverse abdominis is your obliques, internal obliques sit deep and rest on top of your transverse, the external obliques are superficial.  Between the two, they help to support your center and let you twist and bend sideways at the wait.  The most famous that is linked to the 6-pack is the rectus abdominis, the long muscle that extends from your pubic bone to your sternum.  This muscle allows you to bend forward at the waist.  The reason why I personally never advocate crunches, is that the transverse muscle is never engaged.  If you are interested in toning up your “abs”, and want the benefits of a stronger core, eliminate crunches and work on Pilates/Yoga core moves or other functional core exercises.

 Pilates moves at a faster rate than yoga, repetitions are quick, short and you do not need to do 20 to feel the benefits.  Quality over quantity applies!  Pilates incorporates a full core workout, back, hip, shoulder girdle, the benefits also expand to increase muscle tone, more strength and endurance.  Pilates and Yoga do share some very similar moves.  While both systems, (Pilates and Yoga) are built on strength, breath work and control, yoga unites the mind, body and spirit.  Yoga movements can be slower, but depends on the type of yoga you are practicing.  Both systems have tremendous benefits; the blends of both are lethal!

 Join Core Power in May as a creative Yogalates mixture of Pilates and Yoga will be offered to give you amazing results, not just for a strong, defined core and body, but for the mind and spirit too!