An Instructor Can Make a World of a Difference

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On my quest to finding good exercise videos, I've begun to form a conclusion around the fitness instructors I've watched - if I like their personalities, I will be certain to return to watching them.  If, however, I feel their style doesn't jive with mine or they don't encourage modifications of exercises, I'm less inclined to "favorite" them.

One of my personal faves in yoga is Erica Vetra.  She has her own Youtube channel and website.  Her style of teaching and personable approach combined with her background music makes me feel so at ease and in love with yoga.  She makes modification suggestions for those of us who may not be able to do the full expression of a pose.  Because my shoulders tend to get stiff, I appreciate the different ways she will model these poses to make it less taxing for me.

Watching videos takes me back to the days of working out in a gym ions ago.  I remember opting to attend Step aerobics classes at 7:PM on weeknights instead of the 5:30 option because of the instructor who taught the later class.  She was enthusiastic, motivating, and always very fun.  Although I wasn't always very comfortable with some of the routines, I persevered because her mantra was to keep at it regardless of whether you were doing it right.  The earlier classes, on the other hand, were often led by an instructor I likened to a drill sargeant who honestly took the joy out of step aerobics for me.  There were many winter evenings I recall being so tempted to just stay back at home and curl up on my couch to watch TV.  But the thought of missing those classes and the exuberant presence of the instructor who led them would eventually always lead me to drag my butt out of the house and into my car.

With the multitude of exercise videos available online, it can feel overwhelming to decide on which ones you may want to stick with.  I suggest starting with some I have favorited on this website.  If you stumble upon other videos you like, favorite them or create a playlist to add them to so you can keep track of what you enjoy exercising to.

What is your favorite exercise instructor online?  Please share his or her name and the exercise they perform below in the comments.  Thank you!

Cardio kickboxing, Where Have You Been All My Life?!?

Before the days of YouTube when I was in my early 20s, I had heard of kickboxing workouts through colleagues and friends.  I was always intrigued by the idea of throwing punches and kicks while also losing some weight.  But as I said, that was when access to videos was not readily available.  The idea of attending kickboxing classes in the evenings was not appealing to me back in the day.

Fast forward to the present - curiosity killed the cat and so I searched kickboxing videos on YouTube to try it out.  Wow...I must say I'm addicted to it now.  So much that I have created a playlist of some of my favourite cardio kickboxing workouts.  Not only did I work up a sweat, I really felt I was challenging myself through every movement.  I also feel it complements my yoga workouts in that it's about balancing strength and coordination on both sides of the body.

I like variety so I change up my workouts daily.  One day I do a steps workout, another day I do interval training, and on weekends I love to go for walks either in the neighbourhood or on the beach.

So if you've never tried out cardio kickboxing, visit my playlist and give it a try.  However, if you experience knee problems, be careful with the kicking movements or just cut them out entirely to avoid hurting yourself.  Always remember to do movements that challenge you just enough that you're not in pain or great discomfort.

If you have  tried cardio kickboxing, please post a comment below about what you thought of it.

Moving With Music

I love music!  For as long as I can remember I've grown up listening to, moving to, and appreciating all genres of songs from country to hip hop.  I also associate songs with specific moments in my life, some very defining moments and other not so significant ones.

When I workout, I need to listen to upbeat music to motivate me, especially when I'm having one of those mornings where I'd rather be sleeping in than working up a sweat.   I have enjoyed using the Spotify app on my phone.  My favorite playlist is "Fun workout".  But I also like exploring other playlists they suggest.  If there is a playlist you like, simply select "follow" and when you want to listen to it again, select "My Music" to retrieve it. Depending on the workout and mood you're in, Spotify offers different options of songs to listen to.  I love variety so I always like trying different playlists.

Another app I enjoy is Songza.  Unfortunately it doesn't work well on my phone.  Both apps are free but also have ads.  You can pay a premium fee with Spotify to have ad-free music.

If you already are a fan of Spotify or Songza, what is your favourite playlist?  Please leave your answer in a comment below :-)

Yoga for Relaxation and Sleep

I'm a terrible sleeper.  Although I don't usually have trouble falling asleep, I tend to wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to bed.  I lie there and try to keep my eyes shut; I keep my digital alarm clock turned away to avoid seeing the time. I have even cut caffeine from my evenings. But argh! I still catch myself getting too few hours of sleep on an average night.

Lately I have been practicing relaxation yoga to help me rest better and get more hours of much needed sleep. This routine with yoga instructor Erica Vetra from Psyche Truth does wonders for me! I always seem to end up asleep during the second to last pose where the feet are elevated.  I have added this video to my Yoga Workout playlist on the sidebar for ease of reference.

If you experience difficulty with sleeping or need something to unwind from a stressful day, give this yoga routine a try.

Bootcamp Time Baby!

I realize I got on the bandwagon a little later than the rest who were already in Bootcamp mode as they tried to attain beach bodies. I was not in any frame of mind during spring to go on an all out intense workout adventure.   Being a single mom of two and a teacher of 27, just retaining enough energy to pull off making dinners, packing lunches, and doing homework with my older girl was considered an accomplishment.

Now that summer is here and I have regained some energy through much needed sleep, I am ready to kick my workouts up a notch.  I have started shorter but more intense workouts mainly to challenge my physical limits and tone my muscles.  I have created a playlist of 20 minute intense workouts for those of you who are not faint at heart to try.  There are many moments during my workouts I am uttering obscenities under my limited breath just so my daughters can't hear me.  But while I have been in my Bootcamp mode, I have been really finding myself exerting a lot and working up a level of sweat that leaves me drenched by the end of my workouts.

Check out my playlist here or on the sidebar and give them a try.  I guarantee if you are a beginner or intermediate level fitness enthusiast you will feel the heat during these workouts.  But I have found that you need to always find your pace and stick with what feels reasonable for you.  Just because the instructor might be shouting at you from the screen to give him or her more doesn't mean you need to follow it to a T.  With one of the exercises I did involving jumping squats, I had to go at a slightly slower pace because I could feel it was a bit much at the instructor's pace.  Do what feels right for you and gradually challenge yourself little by little as you feel comfortable.

6 Minute Booty Workout

Having a nicely shaped butt seems to be the new craze for women!  I recently have started this very short workout led by Cassey Ho.  Don't be fooled by the short amount of time it takes to view it, though.  This workout is intense if you are new to working your glutes and trust me when I say you WILL feel the burn!  My butt was sore the day after - so much that when I would get up from a chair I would be instantly reminded of my time with Cassey the day before!

I have yet to report what results I will see from this workout but I can tell you I can definitely feel my muscles are being worked! I don't aspire to have a booty like Nicki Minaj or J. Lo.  I like that Cassey points out we should be happy with whatever butt we have on the "butt spectrum" as she calls it.  As long as you are toning those muscles, be proud of your achievements and enjoy the burn!

Welcome!

Good morning!

I've created this blog mainly to organize my workout links and to have a place to document my personalized workout sessions.  I've been an avid fitness enthusiast on and off all of my life but have consistently been working out since 2012.  Over the years I have reached my goal weight, having lost 60 pounds.  But when I started exercising regularly, the weight loss was not what mainly motivated  me to continue.  I love how I feel after a workout session and it seems to have a spillover effect throughout my day.  I basically love to move and any opportunity I have to do so I take it.  Whether it is walking outdoors to the nearest shops or just taking advantage of a quick step aerobic workout, I always am looking for a moment to be active.

Since I've been working out, I have begun to develop my taste buds for different types of exercises.  I love zumba for example, and found that I lost most of my weight from my zumba workouts.  But I also love step aerobics and have been recently incorporating this type of exercise into my weekly routine almost every day.

No matter what you enjoy doing as a workout, just keep moving and loving it.

Enjoy the journey!