We don't often think about our balance, how we stay upright in the world, unless we experience a problem, but our physical balance is more complicated than we might think and can relate to our mental and emotional sense of balance in our lives.
This 5 minute clip has some simple and effective exercises for improving your balance, with great progressions to take it to the level that challenges you.
It's about finding your centre and being strong in your core, concepts that don't just apply to your physical body.
So give it a go and post your feedback!
It seems to be the latest exercise craze at every gym but if you haven't tried Zumba, give it a go!
It is a good workout and you will dance an hour away without even noticing. I've been to three classes so far and love it, I have a great giggle at how hilarious I look when I catch a glance in the mirror... all flailing arms and legs, having so much fun.
Jump On It has a limited offer of 8 Zumba classes at Fernwood Fitness centres, for only $29 however this offer expires today!
Classes are usually about $15 - $20 each and you can take it at your own pace but I guarrantee you will have fun and a giggle while getting fit.
Follow this link to Jump On It to purchase your Zumba classes Fernwood Southland has been left off the list, but if it's your nearest centre follow these steps:
1. Purchase Zumba classes, selecting the Melbourne City club as your location
2. Call Fernwoord Southland 1300 FERNWOOD
3. Give them your name and you're done! You do need to pre-book which class you're attending as they are popular. Get It Done while having fun!
Most people think about training and exercise as something that we do for our body to look better, that it's about changing the outside, but what's not the whole story.
Making the decision to take action and start a training program can also cause profound shifts within as well. When I started exercising, long before I became a fitness trainer, it was to lose the 40kgs I had gained during pregnancy, an 'outside-focused' motivation.
I wasn't sure I could do it, after all my Mum never lost her pregnancy weight, my body had changed, I was looking after a small baby, where would I find the time?
I made a plan so I knew what I needed to do physically, and I did it everyday, whether I felt like it or not, I stopped eating 'junk food' and ate much more fresh, unprocessed food instead. After a few weeks, I discovered a few changes within me that I hadn't anticipated.
I actually enjoyed the tastes & textures of so many fruits and vegetables and that when I noticed physical changes of carrying less weight, clothes fitting differently, being able to move more easily, it was wonderful.
I could see and feel the results of my decision, it empowered me to keep going and I began to realise that I liked being fitter, I had more energy & felt happier.
I've since seen this happen many times over with clients who start training for one reason and go on to discover myriad benefits in their life that they did not expect: - more energy in everyday life
- no more 3pm energy slump
- breathing easier
- feeling stronger and more confident
- no more anti-depressant medication required (in consultation with GP)
- more flexibility of movement
- better quality of sleep
- and my favourite...
- being able to conduct a meeting after walking up 3 flights of stairs to the meeting room
Whether your motivation is internal or external, use it, start today and see the results of your decision in action.
The importance of setting goals and challenges, in life and in training, cannot be underestimated; if you don't know where you're headed, how do you know when you get there?
My clients all set training goals and challenges for themselves, whether it's to power through an extra rep or two of a heavy weights session, or to get up 15 minutes earlier to jog around the oval in the morning.
Setting and meeting a challenge you set for yourself is an amazing & empowering experience that spurs you on to your next success. As a reward for your motivation & enthusiasm, you can now Back Yourself A Winner.
At the start of each month, set yourself a Monthly Challenge to be met within 30 days, and win back the cost of a training session. Every three months, set a Quarterly Challenge and win back the cost of an entire week's training!
The Challenges are determined by you and your health & fitness goals and should be realistic so that you get there day by day, week by week, doing what you have said you will do for yourself.
So what's your Challenge? (Handy Hint: linking your Monthly Challenge to your Quarterly Challenge helps you achieve your goals more efficiently)
Your metabolism is the engine room of your body, it's what gives you your energy, helps you get up in the morning and allows you to burn off extra kilos throughout your day.
You can begin to lose muscle strength and muscle mass in your 30's, if you are not participating in some kind of strength training program.
It is increased calorie consumption and decreased activity that sees people gaining weight as they get older, it certainly isn't 'natural' and doesn't have to be 'the way it is'.
As you lose this muscle mass you not only lose strength you also lose energy, as your metabolism slows down.
This is why strength training is essential for weight loss programs as it's the best way to increase your metabolism and my clients who know they are stronger than they've ever been, can attest to what a great feeling that is.
Your body is like a car in the sense that even if it is not running on all cylinders, it still runs, but not as well or as efficiently.
How well is your body running?
It's the start of another year of training and after the indulgence of the Christmas and New Year break, time to get your fitness back on track for 2011.
Take some time out to reflect on all of your achievements in the past 12 months and congratulate yourself on meeting the targets you set for yourself in 2010.
If you still have goals that have not yet been met, ask yourself why this is the case: - did they really match up to what you value and want for your life?
- did you have a clear, specific plan of action to achieve your goal?
- did you take the action necessary to reach your goal?
- were you committed to doing what was necessary even when you didn't feel like it?
Once you work out why your goal wasn't achieved you can reset this goal for 2011 with a clear understanding of what you can do to make it real this year.
We will talk about goals in the first few training sessions of the year and work together to define the actions and steps you can take to get there.
"The real reason for setting goals is to entice you to become the person it takes to achieve them" - Jim Rohn
Thank you to all my wonderful clients for making it through another great year of training.
You have worked hard in your sessions and learned a lot about what you are capable of achieving.
You have made significant changes to your lifestyle, making daily exercise part of your life and enjoying the relaxation and stress-busting qualities it provides.
You have learned to appreciate the value of getting enough sleep and know that making time to relax is also an important part of your training.
You are more aware of being in your body and how it feels to move around in the world with more strength & confidence than ever before.
You are becoming ever more conscious of what foods you chose to nourish your body, how much water you need to drink each day, and how these choices really affect your energy levels.
Once you've experienced feeling great & having more energy, it is harder to revert to past habits that leave you feeling sluggish and low. Perhaps the most amazing change you have made this year is how you think about yourself.
When you started training you were unsure that you could do it, afraid you would get hurt or just plain didn't want to, but you have learned that you are strong, determined and can do more than you think you can.
You now take responsibility for your training and your life, and have given up the excuses and blaming others for your choices.
You have learned that no-one can do the work for you, and no-one is going to decide for you what to eat, what to drink or how & when to exercise.
You did all of this, not me.
I look forward to sharing more great fun & training with you in 2011.
