Check out this weeks Fit Tip - BOSU Over the Dome!
(http://www.bosufitness.com/bosu-over-the-dome)
It's one of my favorite heart-pumping drills that I love to do in between exercise sets!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Stagnation Creating Dis-Ease
stag*nate
* to cease to run or flow
* to stop developing, growing, progressing, or advancing
In Oriental Medicine, stagnation (of blood or chi/energy) is one of the main causes of disease (or dis-ease, as I prefer to think of it) in the body. When blood or energy cease to flow, the body's systems simply aren't able to function properly.
Physical and mental functioning can both be affected. Depression, for example, is one mental condition that occurs when the "stagnation of Chi disrupts the free flow of energy throughout the body and adversely affects the body's ability to maintain emotional harmony".
Depression and its effects are very real. I have been experiencing it myself as my post-partum hormones continue to fluctuate, sending me on an emotional roller coaster! Part of what I experience is a deep anger or frustration and a feeling that I am "stuck" in life, or at least in that particular moment; similar to a feeling of stagnation.
Most of the time, I have to just ride it out (and hope that I don't drive my husband too insane!) but the strategies that work the best in helping to improve my mood are ones that get the blood and chi CIRCULATING in my body again.
Deep breathing is one of the easiest ways to jump-start that circulation and exercise stimulates the circulation of oxygen to the brain and the release of energetic neurotransmitters which can improve your mood.
Practicing yoga (where deep breathing, or pranayama, is an essential component), running, and certain balance work on the BOSU Ball all help to restore a sense of mental clarity and peace because they all integrate physical movement with breath which has a harmonizing affect on the brain.
It is easy to see why so many people feel better after an exercise session. Someone once told me that sometimes, I am a completely different person after a run than I was before I went out. Some people might view that as a symptom of an "exercise addiction". I prefer to see it as a very healthy coping strategy. I'd rather see my mood improve after a run as opposed to after downing 4 beers!
When I'm feeling stuck or stagnate in life, the best thing I can do is to get moving. If I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I know I won't be stuck for too long.
* to cease to run or flow
* to stop developing, growing, progressing, or advancing
In Oriental Medicine, stagnation (of blood or chi/energy) is one of the main causes of disease (or dis-ease, as I prefer to think of it) in the body. When blood or energy cease to flow, the body's systems simply aren't able to function properly.
Physical and mental functioning can both be affected. Depression, for example, is one mental condition that occurs when the "stagnation of Chi disrupts the free flow of energy throughout the body and adversely affects the body's ability to maintain emotional harmony".
Depression and its effects are very real. I have been experiencing it myself as my post-partum hormones continue to fluctuate, sending me on an emotional roller coaster! Part of what I experience is a deep anger or frustration and a feeling that I am "stuck" in life, or at least in that particular moment; similar to a feeling of stagnation.
Most of the time, I have to just ride it out (and hope that I don't drive my husband too insane!) but the strategies that work the best in helping to improve my mood are ones that get the blood and chi CIRCULATING in my body again.
Deep breathing is one of the easiest ways to jump-start that circulation and exercise stimulates the circulation of oxygen to the brain and the release of energetic neurotransmitters which can improve your mood.
Practicing yoga (where deep breathing, or pranayama, is an essential component), running, and certain balance work on the BOSU Ball all help to restore a sense of mental clarity and peace because they all integrate physical movement with breath which has a harmonizing affect on the brain.
It is easy to see why so many people feel better after an exercise session. Someone once told me that sometimes, I am a completely different person after a run than I was before I went out. Some people might view that as a symptom of an "exercise addiction". I prefer to see it as a very healthy coping strategy. I'd rather see my mood improve after a run as opposed to after downing 4 beers!
When I'm feeling stuck or stagnate in life, the best thing I can do is to get moving. If I keep putting one foot in front of the other, I know I won't be stuck for too long.
Monday, February 04, 2008
The BOSU Get Down Get Up (GDGU)
Check out this weeks Fit Tip - The BOSU Get Down Get Up (GDGU)!
(http://www.bosufitness.com/bosu-get-down-get-up)
This is a total body movement that builds muscular strength and endurance and can also become a heart-pumping, aerobic activity. I love using it as a warm-up exercise or as a station in a circuit workout.
You can vary it by holding onto light dumbbells, squeezing a soft med ball in between your knees or ankles, or by staggering your foot position (one foot slightly in front of the other) to increase the load on a single leg.
Watch the video and feel free to send me an email if you have any questions about form or variations!
(http://www.bosufitness.com/bosu-get-down-get-up)
This is a total body movement that builds muscular strength and endurance and can also become a heart-pumping, aerobic activity. I love using it as a warm-up exercise or as a station in a circuit workout.
You can vary it by holding onto light dumbbells, squeezing a soft med ball in between your knees or ankles, or by staggering your foot position (one foot slightly in front of the other) to increase the load on a single leg.
Watch the video and feel free to send me an email if you have any questions about form or variations!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Back to the Basics
There is something that I love about becoming a beginner again. It gives you the opportunity to strengthen your foundation and focus on details you may have missed when learning something the first time around.
I've had "study yoga" on my life's "To-Do-List" for a couple of years now and this is the year I decided to do it. I am still at a stage in life where I love being a student. I like to teach but I also have a lot left to learn and I really thrive in classroom settings. I also have found a yoga instructor whose teaching style I really respond well to which, in my opinion, is essential for an optimal learning experience. So, I have officially gone back to the basics and enrolled in her "Yoga 101" class at a local community college. So far, I love it!
Because I like learning in group settings, I have always enjoyed Group Exercise. So often, however, we go into Group Exercise classes and perform at a level that is not our own, either more or less advanced than we may be at the particular activity. And since the class is expected to cater to so many different ability levels, some of the fundamental aspects of a movement or exercise are taught too quickly or not taught in depth. (For example, I've given up on dropping in on Step classes anymore... with all of the turns and fancy choreography, I don't get a good workout because I can't figure out which direction I'm going!)
I would love to see fitness clubs offer introductory level classes so that participants have the opportunity to learn and continue to practice fundamental movement skills that will ultimately enhance the quality of their workouts.
I think that sometimes, we get so caught up in becoming Advanced in whatever we do that we end up taking shortcuts; reducing the time spent rehearsing fundamental movements which are essential to building the strongest foundation.
Now more than ever, I am interested in focusing on the Quality of my exercise over the Quantity. I believe that the more time we invest in the study and awareness of our movement, the more benefits we will realize.
So it is with great joy that I am spending an hour working on 3 poses. A few years ago, I would have been going nuts with angst... wanting to MOVE and not "waste" so much time working on my breathing or posture. Today, I understand its value because I would rather have my exercise resemble a gourmet 5-course meal than fast-food.
I'm beginning to realize that exercise is teaching me about life, in many different ways. As my quality of life changes, so does my exercise. And fortunately, I'm not afraid of being a beginner.
I've had "study yoga" on my life's "To-Do-List" for a couple of years now and this is the year I decided to do it. I am still at a stage in life where I love being a student. I like to teach but I also have a lot left to learn and I really thrive in classroom settings. I also have found a yoga instructor whose teaching style I really respond well to which, in my opinion, is essential for an optimal learning experience. So, I have officially gone back to the basics and enrolled in her "Yoga 101" class at a local community college. So far, I love it!
Because I like learning in group settings, I have always enjoyed Group Exercise. So often, however, we go into Group Exercise classes and perform at a level that is not our own, either more or less advanced than we may be at the particular activity. And since the class is expected to cater to so many different ability levels, some of the fundamental aspects of a movement or exercise are taught too quickly or not taught in depth. (For example, I've given up on dropping in on Step classes anymore... with all of the turns and fancy choreography, I don't get a good workout because I can't figure out which direction I'm going!)
I would love to see fitness clubs offer introductory level classes so that participants have the opportunity to learn and continue to practice fundamental movement skills that will ultimately enhance the quality of their workouts.
I think that sometimes, we get so caught up in becoming Advanced in whatever we do that we end up taking shortcuts; reducing the time spent rehearsing fundamental movements which are essential to building the strongest foundation.
Now more than ever, I am interested in focusing on the Quality of my exercise over the Quantity. I believe that the more time we invest in the study and awareness of our movement, the more benefits we will realize.
So it is with great joy that I am spending an hour working on 3 poses. A few years ago, I would have been going nuts with angst... wanting to MOVE and not "waste" so much time working on my breathing or posture. Today, I understand its value because I would rather have my exercise resemble a gourmet 5-course meal than fast-food.
I'm beginning to realize that exercise is teaching me about life, in many different ways. As my quality of life changes, so does my exercise. And fortunately, I'm not afraid of being a beginner.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Getting Back to Business!
Hi Everyone!
Sorry for the extended "Holiday Hiatus"! We all got sick after Christmas and have been passing a couple rounds of a virus around our house since then which put a major halt to most of my workouts. I'm finally feeling strong again and have started up my routine again this week so Jen's Corner will be back with more videos, recipes and blogs starting next week!
I had been hoping to start the New Year strong, with health being one of my top priorities. Being sick was disappointing but it usually ends up being productive in other ways. The time I would usually spend exercising gets spent doing something else which gives me some extra time to explore new things. I mostly spent the extra time with my daughter but I did also get back to going out for the long walks I love to take in our neighborhood.
If I've learned anything throughout my fitness journey, I've learned that I do some of my best thinking during or after exercise - especially activities like running, walking, swimming, hiking, roller blading, biking... anything where I can get into a groove and just go. I've learned from David that the alternating bilateral patterns of movement in the body actually sync up the right and left hemisphere of the brain, creating both balance, harmony, and for me, the ability to think so fluidly. I think that's why I'm "addicted" to running - my body and mind crave that time to connect. I have sorted out many of life's problems while running. It's a great way to "work-it-out", if you will!
So, it feels great to be back in the swing of things and enjoying my health again. If any of you have made any health, fitness, or lifestyle changes or resolutions in the New Year, I'd love to hear about them!
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