Syd once wanted a cake flavored like this...

So oxalis is, technically, a weed.  Here, at least, it is an invasive species.  But I love its yellow flowers, so it doesn’t seem like a weed to me.

There’s a metaphor there.  Weediness is in the eye of the beholder.  Our “weaknesses” can be our strengths.  Maybe we grow in spite of efforts to root us out.  Maybe we persist in flowering in unlikely venues.  Maybe we network to get strong.

I love daffodils...

Spring is coming.  I know because I’ve seen the daffodils.  Which means it is time for spring cleaning.  Here are some thoughts on what to clean out:

Old workouts:  If you’ve been slogging through the same routine all winter, it is time to shake it up!  Your muscles are bored!  They want a new challenge!

Old foods:  This can mean anything from expired canned goods in the back of the cabinet to foods that no longer feed who you are.  Let’s eat clean and fresh!

Old attitudes:  Who says you can’t do something?  It might take some practice or some training, but I bet you can.  Let’s be powerful!

Let’s go!

Monday Workout: Fun with Speed Ladder!

Speed/Agility/Quickness (SAQ) drills are a natural complement to our balance work.  When we work on SAQ, we work our core and build our ability to react to changes in our environment.  Also:  fun!  Three rounds!

ladder in in out out	1 min
squats	20
dips	10
ladder lateral	1 min
lunges	20
bench press	10
carioca	1 min
deadlifts	20
curls	10

Another photo from the BAMPFA

Let’s talk about violence.  We don’t need it in our workouts.  We don’t need it, period.

For too long, we have been steeped in a culture of violence in which strength has been misinterpreted as a way to seize control by force.

We want to get strong so that we can resist use of force.  We want to get strong so we can be peaceful and good.  We want the power of non-violence and we will get it as we lift and run and work.

What are we going to build with our strength?

When to stop

It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes I have to stop a workout, mine or someone else’s.  This is because my very first responsibility as a trainer is to keep everyone safe.  (Surprise!  It’s not to make bad jokes or force people to do burpees!)

Here is how to tell when it is time to stop if I don’t happen to be there.

You are injured.  You hear something snap, something swells up, or you can’t bear weight.  This is not the same as the regular suffering that goes with working out.  This is Bad Pain, not the character-building kind.

You can’t breathe or you have chest pain.  Stop.  Now.  And you probably need to call 911.

You feel dizzy and faint, even after sitting down for a minute or so.

You throw up.

Working out is not a punishment.  We put up with some discomfort to get more awesome, but we are not going to keep going when it harms us.  Let’s be safe.

Principally, I take photos of flowers

Fitness, not surprisingly, is usually about goals.  I love goals.  (And yelling “Goal!!!!!”)  Goals have all kinds of usefulness.  And yet, they are limited.

What we need even more than goals, is principles. 

OK, Smarty-Pants, what exactly do you mean by that?

Goals, by nature, are specific.  I want to lose ten pounds, buy a bikini, and climb Mt. Everest.  Principles are more overarching.  I want to live a healthy and adventurous life.  When we focus solely on goals, we might miss out on other things we also want, things that add richness to our experience.  We don’t get closer to buying a bikini by trying a new yoga class, but it is definitely part of a healthy and adventurous life.

Knowing our principles allows us to make good decisions.

Monday Workout: Back to Basics

Sometimes we go back to basics.  This is usually the first workout I do with a new client because it touches all the bases and adapts well to all fitness levels.  Three rounds.

step ups	30
squats	20
curls	10
woodchoppers	30
rows	20
pushups	10
mountain climbers	30
overhead press	20
lunges	10