Have you noticed people looking down and keeping their arms tucked in tightly to their sides? Think of rainy day posture…eyes focused on the ground, small steps, contracted body language. There’s nothing wrong with this physical alignment in certain situations (like when you’re walking in the rain!), however, when it becomes your default mode, it’s a problem. To this I say, reach up and look up. Go on and physically extend your arms overhead and physically turn your gaze to the space above...
There is a new fit tip now streaming on Let’s Move! called “The Seven Foundations of Fusion Fitness.” I thought a little fusion “crash course” would be helpful, and maybe even motivating. First off, I love debunking the “no pain, no gain” notion. It has caused so much harm by turning so many people away from the powerful medicine that is movement. Secondly, all movement can be fusion fitness – a jumping jack, a sprint, a burpee – it’s the mind behind the movement that makes...
I definitely think there are more distracted people today then 10years ago, and what I mean by distracted is people who are aren’t totally “there” when they are there, you know? Attention is pulled outward and often in multiple directions. The cellphone is a culprit, but it’s more than that. Our whole society is rushing and busy, and the way we are “hit” with info has shortened our attention span. From a yoga perspective, it comes down...
Fitness is a self-help tool for authentic wellness. The goal is wellness. Or another way of looking at it is, the destination is wellness. And you and I are never not on a journey towards wellness. We never get to the top of the wellness mountain and stick a flag in it and say, “Done!” If you’re breathing, you’re journeying! Remember when Oprah showcased her dramatic weight loss on her talkshow? She even wheeled out...
Strength is major. Cardio endurance is major. But you know what is often an unsung hero when it comes to longevity? Mobility. Joints that go big. Movements that flow. Freedom in every physical action. These types of things are hard to measure, and they might not be obvious at first glance, but when you experience a high level of mobility first hand, in your own body, it’s one of the best confidence boosters. You feel capable,...
Energy begets energy. What gives you energy? We often think our “fuel” is food, and that is true of course, but in a more esoteric sense, breathe, sleep, water, certain people and events, and the right kind of movement all give us energy. They all give back. All movement is not created equal. I mentioned “the right kind of movement” not just “movement” because some movement depletes us. Some movement takes away. What’s the difference? It’ll vary...
I went on my usual sunrise dog walk this am and I slowed it down a bit and meandered, really taking in the energy of right now. The leaves have almost completely left the trees. The farmers have harvested their last crop of hay. I hear the geese on the move overhead. My favorite purple and yellow wildflowers are no longer sprinkled into the landscape. It smells like November. These observations don’t make me happy...
Many of the conveniences of modern life have made our range of motion smaller, our muscles weaker, and our cardiovascular capability reduced. We have garage door openers, drive-thru’s, and escalators. As the late great Anne Marie Benstrom said, “Do you know how much effort it takes to churn butter? No, you don’t!” It is no coincidence that the rise of the fitness industry coincides with the rise of modern conveniences. Society had to add intentional...
I was quickly looking at random screen grabs from a few of my video workouts and what really jumped out at me was how grounded we are. We are truly claiming our turf and establishing a strong foundation. Through a photo, you can easily see active foot muscles and you can see that muscular activity really does continue up the body. This makes for a much more integrated workout – excellent for stability of ankles,...
I believe in cardio. It’s been getting a bad rap as of late. Some fit pros say strength training reigns supreme. They poopoo cardio saying too much of it can atrophy our muscles. This logic rarely applies. Do you know what “too much cardio” is? It’s like running for over an hour, many days in a row. Most of us will never be tempted. Some fit pros say cardio makes us crave more sugar. This...
