Showing posts with label group fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label group fitness. Show all posts

March 7, 2011

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Body weight exercises are very effective!!

Body weight exercises!!



You body is designed to move in some pretty amazing ways. We can push, pull, bend, rotate, twist, jump, and stretch. Unfortunatley during our normal everyday work week we very rarely do any of these simple and or compound movements. Sitting, Walking, Standing, reaching plate to mouth are some of the movenments our body has become accustomed to. Before the computer age we performed much more physical labor and our bodies were in better physical condition as a result of our everyday life and work movements. This day and age with the increase in the amount of work we do sitting behind a computer or some type of machine has caused us to lose that component of fitness and exercise that was mandatory in your daily rountine.

We have to use our bodies in the way that it was originally designed. Take a squatting movement for example. When you squat you use your bodyweight and the force of gravity creates resistance at the bottom of the motion right before you come your back to the upright position. As a general measurement of strength every adult should be able to push, pull and support their own body weight. This is a natural ability and also a survival tactic, it would be helpful in many dangerous situation to be able to move your own weight. Push ups and lunges are two other bodyweight exercises that are very important to help you tone your muscles build strength and improve your body’s overall performance. One of my favorite ways to do cardio is stair climbing or even step aerobics. These movements engage your muscles in the lower body and exercise the Most important muscle YOUR HEART.

These body weight exercises are easily modified so that a beginner can perform the exercises and gradually increase the range of motion to progressively build strength. For example If you cannot do an normal push up you can perform the push up exercise in a kneeling position and work to increase the resistance placed over your hands to having your knees completely off the ground. Once you have gained the strength to perform these movements you can increase and decrease the amount of sets and repetitions. As a general rule beginners should stick to 2 sets of 10 repitions on 3-5 exercises during a workout.
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February 24, 2011

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Get Started With Group Fitness Classes for Weight Loss

Exercise should be about having fun moving your body in the way it was designed to move. It seems that exercise has become a negative word is today's society. Too many times have I been lecturing to a group of students or adults and when I mention exercise they cringe. This should be exciting if I recall in grade school we couldn't wait to go outside for recess it was our favorite part of the day. Now we work, work, work, go home and do more work, then sit down on the couch. We have taken the activity out of our day. Even in schools they are cutting back on physical education at a time when the country is at its worst in terms of disease and sickness related to sedentary lifestyles.




Group Exercise

Group exercise is a fantastic way to get together and have some grown up recess time. Make sure you do your research in your local newspaper, visit the parks and recreation website, or pop in at your local YMCA to get an idea of the classes and times they offer them. Make sure that you chose a class that meet two to three times a week. If you a beginner to fitness make sure the class is not too advanced you can work your way up. The last thing you want to do is take a class that is very difficult and get discouraged. Show up a few minutes before class or hang back a few minutes after class and introduce yourself to the instructor, many times the instructors are also fitness trainers that can give you some great advice one on one.



Be Consistent

The key is to not quit, one way to help when you feel like you are falling off the wagon is to have friends to hold you accountable for your goals. Make friends in the class and make a pact to stay in touch with each other to make sure no one gets left behind. Sometimes things come up; family, work, and sickness happen but don't use these things as repeated excuses. If you do happen to miss a class, make it your business to do a makeup day using another class or going out and doing some exercise on your own. If you are consistent with your exercise and workout program you will get the results.



Con: Monotony

Some group fitness classes like cycling and step aerobics can get a little monotonous doing the same exercises and motions day in and day out won't challenge your body after a long time. You need variety in your workout program, mix it up a little bit. If the instructor in your class isn't changing the routine enough try another class or move onto something with more difficulty. At some point you may experience a plateau with your weight loss it may be that your workout program has gone stale. Get help from one of the personal trainers or switch up your classes to get your body recruiting different muscle groups by using different exercise modalities.

There are many options out there to choose from when we are looking for group exercise programs for weight loss. Make it your goal to try something out of your norm pick up a dance exercise class or a fitness boot camp to add some real fun to your overall wellness program. Don't forget that you have to be conscious of your nutrition if you are serious about weight loss with group exercise programs.



Being healthy should be fun; you should be happy making good lifestyle choices.
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February 18, 2011

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Get in shape NOW!

Get in shape NOW!

Every day you look in the mirror do you like what you see? Are you happy with yourself image? Most of us have an idea of what we want to look like and any of us never reach being totally satisfied with our physique. If you had a step by step program that could get you from where you are now to your ideal physique would you be 100% committed? If you answered enthusiastically, Yes! You may be the type of person that could benefit from getting in shape NOW! No need to waste anymore time with expensive gym memberships and contracts.

Free yourself from the limits of your lack of direction and know how. You have all of the tools you need, You were created to move. Reclaim your natural ability and get going.
    The first step is simple, put yourself in the right mind set. Create a schedule and make sure that you allot time for your workout.
    The second step is to create a plan you can develop your own program including the activities you enjoy or following the Sweat Party workout program.
    The third step is hardest part of all, Just do it!! Action!! You have to get it done plain and simple. You can’t expect results in anything if you don’t put in the work. As much as you don’t feel like it or any EXCUSE you can dream up you MUST make it happen. This is where it may be wise to enlist the service of a personal trainer someone that is going to hold you accountable completing your plan and reaching your Get in shape now body. A trainer will make sure you are using proper technique and performing difficult exercises safely.
    The fourth step is Staying on track this includes sticking to your plan but also being flexible in adjusting the plan. Also staying on track with your proper nutrition, keeping your body on a healthy nutrition schedule is very important.

If you can stay committed to these easy steps to get in shape NOW, you will be on your way to that beach or bikini body you always dreamed of. You are so capable no matter your size or shape you can shed unhealthy fat because that is what your body is made for to consume calories for energy.
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February 13, 2011

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Dance and lose weight

Have you seen the not so popular TV reality show Dance your Ass Off or DYAO?  if you haven't then Im sure you have a pretty good idea what it is all about given the name of the show.  You probably can picture what the show is like if you have seen other popular reality TV shows Biggest Loser and Dancing with the Stars, it's sort of a cross between the two.  But maybe there is something there, not just another reality TV turn your brain to mush waste of time.  When you dance you can burn up more calories that going for a a 45 min jog on the treadmill.  So shaking you booty on the dancefloor can make you healthy.  Well if you're addng a group exercise class at your local gym like Zumba to your program sure you can.  Don't expect that going to the dance club every Friday night, having a few mixed drinks, and eating breakfast at IHOP is going to be a healthy Lifestyle option. Try signing up for a dance class at your local gym and challenge yourself to get the moves down and burn some major calories while you have fun exercising your heart.  You don't have to have rhythym or be a good dancer at all  the coreography in most of these classes is suitable for individuals of all skill levels.

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February 1, 2011

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Resistance bands

You can have an amazing workout with resistance bands.  No need to go out to the gym or outdoor track you can get a great muscle toning workout right in the convenience of you own home. Resistance bands are easy to store and transport, bands come in a variety of different levels of difficulty.  Take a look at this short video with trainer Joel Harper to get some great ideas on how to use resistance bands in your daily rountine.
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