Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Mother May I: Sweat






In May, we celebrate Mother’s Day.  I’m going to do it a little differently (you’re shocked, right?).  We’re going to play Mother May I with fitness topics.  Here’s my thinking:  sometimes what we really need on our fitness journey is someone to give us the permission we need.  For this month, I’m “Mother” and I am here to grant you leave.

So let’s get started.  Today, you all have permission to sweat.

 

Personally, I am good at sweating.  I could be sitting there in a freezer and I’d be sweating.  I’ve mostly made peace with this, but there were times when I was younger when this did not feel like a Good Thing.  (Thanks, patriarchy!  Not!)  As a result, I was a little shy about exercising.  I mean, who wants to spend forever doing their hair and makeup and then just drip all over it?  (Again, thanks, patriarchy.)

 

Here in this century, maybe we can understand that there are times to get sweaty and then times to get clean.  Sweat is a useful marker that tells us we are working hard and making progress toward our goals.  The gym is there to sweat in, not to pose in.  (If you want to pose there, you do you, but please, don’t hog the good machines or the free weights.)

 

Go play.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Monday Workout: Balance






I’ve had balance on my mind lately, so we’re working it with the calf raises and the squat heel lift.  Three rounds.

 

ball to knee

30

calf raises

20

quadruped lateral raise

10

 

 

squat heel lift

30

kickbacks

20

db pullover with bridge

10

 

 

plank jacks

30

good morning/deadlift

20

pretty prinesses

10

 

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Gifts: 9


Just a summary of the month’s gifts today.
  They are:

 

1.     love

2.     joy

3.     peace

4.     patience

5.     kindness

6.     goodness

7.     faithfulness

8.     gentleness

9.     self-control

 

Add your own!

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Gifts: Self-Control






The final gift I’m giving myself this month is self-control.  I mean this in multiple ways.

First, there is the aspect of self-control expressed in my motor skills.  I want to move mindfully, to integrate complex motions into a coordinated whole.

 

Second, I want to manage my emotions.  Working out, because of the way our bodies hold emotion, can get hairy from time to time.  We work stuff out when we work out, and that can be a challenge.  I want to feel my feelings and also I want to express them in healthy and kind ways.  That’s a self-control task!

 

Finally, I want to use my self-control to maintain my healthy habits of work and eating and rest.

 

Anybody else want this gift?

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Gifts: Gentleness






Gentleness might not seem like the most obvious gift in a fitness context.  I mean, we’ve all heard “go hard or go home” and similar sayings.  And yes, I am going to work hard when I work out.

 

Even so, the attitude I bring needs to be gentle.  My body is not there to be punished, but to be loved.  When I am working to my limit, I need to be gentle with myself because that is hard stuff.  I would never yell at a client, so why would I yell at myself when I don’t quite measure up to my own expectations?

 

Gentle encouragement makes the difference so many times.


What is gentle in your workouts? 

Monday, April 27, 2026

Monday Workout: Pace






We’re working a lot of different things in this short circuit.  Pace yourself!  Four rounds.

 

1 min cardio

 

 

 

squat raise

30

flies

20

burpees

10

suitcase swings

30

1 leg deadlift

20

plank/side plank

 

 

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Gifts: 3






Ways to be faithful in workouts:

 

1.     Show up daily.

2.     Practice good form.

3.     Be a good workout buddy.