Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Leg Lifts Plus Extra Challenge with Elevator Legs

Leg Lifts

Define and Firm
All aspects of your core, thighs, and glutes

Remember to consult your doctor before you start this
or any other fitness program

Remember the following
Keep the Spine Imprinted into the floor
Keep your pelvic girdle engaged
Always keep your knees and thighs together
(Its very easy to let the thighs part)
Bare feet are best, shoes add too much weight

Note: 
If your Hips start to hurt cross your ankles
If you can't go the whole distance, 
then try not to go as far 
or bend your knees to lessen the weight






Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Bridge Pose: From basics to advanced

Bridge Pose
Remember to please consult a medical professional
before you start this or any other fitness program


Main Purpose 
Strengthen Hamstrings

Secondary Purpose 
Strengthens Core, back, triceps, and shoulders

Stretches (Opens up)
Hip Flexors and Chest

Pilates Ball
Challenges balance and enchances difficulty
Strengthens stabilizing muscles, tendons, and ligaments

Yoga Variation (not shown)
Clasp the hands together under the back,
palms facing each other
fingers angled towards toes.
Insure Triceps are fully engaged 
to protect the neck and back.
You may also switch your hands into 
prayer position with fingers towards shoulders
but this is usually for those with very flexible wrists

Possible Health Concerns
Changes pressure of blood flow
Can cause dizzyness, headaches, and numbness in lower limbs
Neck pressure is increased
Lower back (lumbar) pain
Breast/Chest tissue can be heavy and cause breathing difficulty

Remember to check with a doctor first
Second, if you can't go as high....don't!

Bridge can be done just by barely lifting 
your hips off the ground and then placing them back down

As I will always remind you...we are not
all built the same!
Move within your own
body's possibilities



Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Core Fitness: Using props and understanding basics

A pain in your neck!

Not only can fitness seem like an overwhelming
and frustrating project to take on
It can also physically become
a pain in your neck

Please seek a medical professionals advise before you start 
any health or fitness program

Remember

True strength comes from the inside out
We should always focus to tone the body
Balancing the body in ways that help build all over strength

There is no such thing as Spot Reduction
Doing a bazillion crunches will not guarantee
a flat stomach

However, having a strong core has truly helped me
and so many others
learn to be stronger in all other forms of fitness

Thanks again for visiting!

Reference Sites:
Benderball.com (Fitness balls and information)
Stott Pilates on Amazon.com (Fitness balls, straps, videos, and more)
huggermugger.com  (Mats and Yoga supplies)

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Ego...keeping it in check

Ego


Self Esteem or Self Importance
Conscious and Unconscious
A Sense of Self
. . . . . . . . .


When it comes to keeping life in balance
it is vital that we keep our egos in check

Variety truly is the spice of life
One size truly does not fit all




Note: The phrase "the ultimate crime" is meant as a statement against ones self. We allow our egos to pull us away from what life has to offer. Most of the time it is the fear of being judged by others. This fear usually pulls people into deep depressions, they loose the want or need to care about themselves.

Not only have I lived this fear
let it control me
but I have met countless clients over the years
who also struggle with this issue

The current movements in society towards
Body Image and No-Bullying
are signs that our society is ready for a change
I am hoping that some of what I believe
and what I have learned
will help you or someone you love


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Basic Yoga Toes

Unbinding your little piggies
Now before we go on remember....
Most people hate their feet
They neglect them day after day
And yet without your feet
You only have a leg to stand on 
and that's not very comfortable for the leg


Accept your self
Stop judging
Look at your toes and learn to love and accept them
Finding balance in life comes from a strong base
Tracking the feet correctly can truly benefit the hips and spine




Monday, June 3, 2013

Yoga Tree Pose (Levels for all fitness abilities)

Tree Pose
Balance pose for yoga 
Using a Chair/Wall and a Strap


Remember

If it hurts, don't do it!

This can take time, be patient

Be stable at all 4 stages of Tree Pose before you decide to let go of your support!

Blog Me if you have questions, I truly love to answer them



Breathing Basics


Breathing....Face time with Jeannie
 In this video I explain about the Breathing Basics video

Breathing Basics 
Fantastic for beginners or anyone who wants to strengthen their core


Breathing

Something so simple, can it truly be hard to master...the answer...oh yeah. My 19 years in health and fitness I have been telling people to breathe. Something so basic, you can't live without breathing for very long. So why do I have to tell people to breathe. It truly comes down to stress. Not only can deep breathing help relax you but it has so many health benefits. One of the most important benefits that I realized is the connection between the diaphragm and the core muscles. Not only can this help you clean out your lungs, you would be amazed to know that we all have a little phlegm and muck in our lungs. This also strengthens the core. Yep, you can do sit ups and never have to actually sit up.

The truth is. After 5 years of researching and studying and watching my clients. Very few people do abs correctly. They cheat...Yep I said it...cheat! They use gravity or other muscle groups to try to force their poor head off the floor. If you have ever done with this weaker abs then your neck has told you the next what a bad idea that was. Yet, they go back time and time again pulling their necks. This causes headaches, it can affect your sight, jaw pain, shoulder pain, vertebral pain, and over all just a feeling that someone beat you up. 

But let’s stop for a minute. You will learn in time that I will keep telling you to lose the ego. Why do we have to lift our heads off the floor. Why do we have to look like the next guy, or the cute instructor. Not everyone is built the same. That's why I have this blog. You can do some of the most amazing abs just lying on the ground and breathing. Again something in life can be that simple. Watch the Vlogs and take this journey with me. It takes time, sometimes things that should be simple can end up being the hardest thing you have to do. This is because you need to focus. Every detail counts, flexing each muscle, taking each breath, listening to your body and the clues its giving you.

Now if you are one of these people and you feel you don't need this info. I encourage you to stop and remember that we all need basics. I find it amazing to teach clients the basics and how many of them come back telling me that they never realized how much they were cheating. Yes, I have had some incredible athletes such as dancers and runners tell me how much they have gained by rebuilding from the basics. 

Remember ego stops us from achieving more, from listening to ourselves, and from understanding.