Monday Workout: Jump!

This week’s workout, among other things, incorporates both plyometrics (a.k.a. jumping) and core stability movements.  Both of those are useful in our daily lives.  (Please note that if jumping is not appropriate for your body, non-jumping exercises are just fine.)  (Core stability movements are good for everyone, so yes, you do have to do them.) Three rounds.

bosu side hops	30
bench press	20
renegade rows	10
jump squats	30
flies	20
arnold press	10
plank jacks	30
lunges	20
Russian twist	10

Why yes, that DOES count as exercise.

Today’s list is exercises for people who hate exercise.

1.     Sex.  It counts as cardio.  Please have safe sex with consenting adult partners.

2.     Walking.  We all do it.  Choosing a location with interesting stuff to look at is good.  Taking a dog is good.  Listening to music is good.

3.     Dancing.  It’s aerobic.  There is music.  You can do it with friends and/or loved ones.  It comes in many many flavors from ballet to salsa to tango to waltz to achy breaky to hip hop.

4.     Swimming.  I have no scientific basis for this assertion, but I’m going to make it anyway:  most of us feel better in water.  Also:  hot tub rewards!

5.     Yoga.  This also comes in lots of flavors.  Some of it can feel like slightly more alert napping.  Some can really work up a sweat.  All of it tends to calm the mind and lubricate the joints.

6.     That thing we liked when we were kids.  Maybe we used to love soccer or baseball or riding bikes or roller-skating.  Whatever it was, dust off the old equipment and go play.  Chances are that we still like it.

Seriously:  go play.  It’s fun.

Take the Power!

I post a workout every Monday, as everyone probably knows by now.  It has been a while since I have talked about how that weekly workout is not exactly what I do with anyone because—news flash!—everyone’s body is different!

I came fairly late to the Question Authority movement.  All of us good little children like to make the teacher happy by doing what we’re told.  Now that I am that teacher in some ways, I really don’t want a bunch of mindlessly obedient clients.

Some exercises are not good for some bodies.  When I know in advance that someone has knee issues, or shoulder issues, or a twisted ankle, or a sensitive lower back, I automatically make substitutions for inappropriate exercises.  However, I really want people working out with me to tell me, in the moment, if something is uncomfortable.  There are a very few exercises that, by nature, are not fun (yes, I am looking at you, hamstring curls), but in most cases, the exercise should not hurt.  I can find alternative ways to get at the same muscle groups in most instances.  If I can’t, we can work something else and come back to that muscle group another time.

Sometimes we don’t even need to substitute exercises.  Sometimes a small adjustment of form or a change of weight or angle can make the difference between the right amount of work and large amounts of suffering.

Working out is supposed to empower us.  We get stronger in our bodies.  We also need to take charge of our destiny and get stronger in our minds.

We can do this.