Plans, Meet Reality...

Of course, I plan workouts.  I even share the weekly workout on Mondays, or at least its outline.  Here’s the thing:  the workout on the paper might not resemble what we actually do.

I can plan the Very Best Workout Ever and then a client shows up with knee pain, or shoulder pain, or even the worst work stress in the universe.  We have to adapt.  Sometimes that means a gentler version of an exercise.  Other times, my clients have taken leaps forward and need something more challenging.  Still other times, it’s clear that lots of stretching and rolling would really help more than anything else, or that a brief detour on to the Pilates equipment will enhance the rest of the workout.

We have to stay present when we’re working.  We need to check that what we are doing is actually good for us, right now (this does not mean that it is always fun, although I try my best to make even the worst exercises less horrible than they could be…).

We are not robots.  Sometimes we are achy, hungry, stressed, tired humans.  My goal is always that we leave our workouts better than when we started.

Fitness for Superheroes (That's YOU!)

A lot of us are very tired and discouraged right now.  The metaphorical weight of the world is bearing down on us in an almost-literal way.  I’m a personal trainer and Pilates instructor, which is not the same as a superhero; I cannot fix the world.  However, my small part in the work the world needs is this:  I help with self-care.

At base, the purpose of fitness is to take care of ourselves.  We need cardio to keep our brains sharp and our moods positive.  We need weight training because we all need all the strength we can get.  We need flexibility both figuratively and literally to navigate the challenges in front of us.  We need mind/body work so that we can tune into the important stuff.  And we need to balance all that hard work with rest.

What do we need most today?  That’s today’s workout, whether it’s a power nap or power lifting.  Let’s grab some uplifting tunes and get this done.

Monday Workout: Wait, what?

This week we’re doing a different kettle bell exercise!  The kettle bell overhead back lunge challenges balance from several directions.  Most of us are most comfortable lunging forward, so stepping back into a lunge is already a challenge.  The asymmetrical aspect of holding a kettle bell overhead in one hand adds bonus points.  For extra extra bonus points, doing an unfamiliar exercise works our brains!  Three rounds.

kb swings	30
kb overhead back lunge	20
kb 8s	10
(jump) squats	30
bench press	20
Arnold press	10
mountain climbers	30
bosu squats	20
brains	10