Dancing Away from the Traditional Aerobics

With the popular TV series So You Think You Can Dance as well as Dancing with the Stars, many are taking new interests in learning how to dance for their workout benefits and also, because it's FUN!

Dancing burns calories, boosts energy, and tones muscles. It can also help relieve stress and tension and improve your mood.

What's great about a dancing workout is that it does not involve any equipment or proper workout clothes. I know a lot of people are not into the whole "work out" thing, but dancing allows people to express creativity in a way that treadmills or ellipticals wouldn't allow them to.


Many gyms offer a variety of different dancing techniques. With names like Afro-robics, Cardio Soul or Dance Fusion, people are surely going to be drawn into these creative classes.

Here is some of the types of dancing that are offered in fitness facilities today:


Belly-dancing:


Not only is bellydancing fun, but it is a great workout as it improves posture and muscle toning, weightloss, and stess reduction. As someone who has tried it, I highly reccommend it because it is so fun and you think it doesn't give you a workout, but each time I actually had a class, it really made me sore the next day. Per hour, it surprisingly burns a wopping 250-300 calories. Try it!


Pole-dancing:



Though I've never had, or probably ever will take a "Pole-dancing" class, I have heard great things about these classes. Many have determined that pole and erotic dancing have proved to be more of a mental (ex confidence) as well as physical empowerful especially for women. Pole dancing is a LOT more strenuous than it looks. An increased muscle definition and overall toning of your body --especially in legs, arms and thighs.

Salsa dancing:

Okay, I have this Salsa workout tape--I can't believe I'm actually admitting this, BUT I put this tape on, religously. It IS an amazing workout for both men and women. With Salsa, the tempo is faster than most forms of dance music. It especially can lead to a reduced heart rate as well as toning your leg and arm muscles.





Hip Hop:
When I first found out, my gym would be offering hip hop dancing as well, I didn't really know what to think. I really couldn't picture older men and women in their sixties dancing to Ciara for example. Was I ever WRONG! They absolutely love it. The music, the moves, with hip hop, everyone gets a good workout. It's actually really fun and doesn't feel like your working out!




For those of you that are really shy and don't like to dance in front of people, try a workout video first. That way, you can dance in the privacy of your own home and then maybe in time, you can join a class with a friend, so that way you can get a fun workout with someone you know!

Oh, and remember with any style of dancing,

Dance like no one is watching you...

- Christina

Meet Greg Valentino.

The Man With the Biggest Arms in The World.

OR

The man ruining the name for Bodybuilding.

Ouch.

Greg Valentino has been working towards the biggest bicep muscle for over 30 years.


My guess is that the man with the biggest arms probably has the world's largest steroid collection as well.


I was so shocked when I saw him on an a feature news story on Inside Edition that I needed to do more research to see exactly why he would do something like this.


Did he want attention? Did he want to be the "strongest man in the world?"Or did he want his arms to get so big... they would eventually burst?

Well. That's what happened.

He recently went having arms like this:

To completely BURSTING BICEPS. OUCH!!

IS HE CRAZY? At first, I thought, okay, maybe it was an inflection that was causing the arms to enlarge or perhaps even an injection of some kind. But reading on, "they say" he only exercised three times a day and admitted to steroid use.

My question is, why would anyone put themselves in a complete danger by pumping steroids or even working out too much? Is he TOO obsessed?

Here is a very interesting article from Testosterone Magazine that was lucky enough to interview Greg. This just proves that this man is absolutely crazy.

What do you think?

The BOSU BALL!

Just another exercising contraption?

Nope.

Sure, you may be looking at the "gadget" and saying "What the heck am I supposed to do with this thing?". But ladies and gentleman, THIS is what has been making more sore for the past 2 weeks!




BOSU standing for ("both sides utilized") is one of the greatest gadgets hitting the gym. This device incorporates Core and Balance Training as well as Sports Training. It can be used facing both ways, with the black side being more for a balanced challenge.

When you first use it, I would try standing on it. If you can stand on it and do one squat then you have good balance. It's hard at first, but with time and a video or trainer, you'll be fine!

Here is a website that I use when working with my BOSU ball. It has everything from how to do a push up on the BOSU, to using weights, to core training. Also, if you go on YouTube, you can find tons workout routines, for FREE!

BOSU balls here in Windsor, run for about $169, with NO video, and that's just horrible, BUT if you go online to the main BOSU website, then you can find one with a workout video for much cheaper.

Trust me, this little thing is going to shape you up! It's really good.

- Christina

Health and Fitness Icon:

RACHAEL RAY

At first, I was very sketchy about having another cook on air, showing her new recipes and tips, but then I started to watch this show and have become extremely in LOVE with it.

I'm usually in class, when the Rachael Ray Show airs on NBC at 3:00 p.m., but I make sure to tape it. Taping it also gives me a good excuse to actually try what she makes.

What's great about Rachael is that she makes easy 30 minute meals that are great for working parents or even struggling teen cooks and trust me, her meals really are creative and yummy.

She also has a fun vocabulary of words that viewers (including myself) have been accustomed too. My favorite word that she says, is "delish". I say that all the time now when eating. Some people really do not like her "witty language" and consider it to be very unprofessional. She had no professional training, however I believe that for some individuals, their gift comes naturally and they do not need to go to a professional cooking or baking school to allow them to teach the world how to cook. She uses a type of attitude that makes it fun to watch her. She is not boring when she talks, it actually feels like she is talking to you individually as a friend, not a teacher.

Her show just doesn't involve cooking, it focuses on the entire health of a person, with topics that include beauty and fitness tips as well. NOTE: All of her recipes are not "calorie free" or healthy, but some are low in fat or calories (and she does tell you which recipes are healthier for you).

She usually opens the show with what she's going to make or news about upcomming shows and then finally, either a celebrity taster OR a health/fitness expert shows the audience what might be the lastest trend in fashion or what a new machine or workout routine is.

For those of you despising Rachael (which I really don't know why anyone would hate some one who cooked good food) BUT here is her "haters" page. I'm sure there are many more because people have nothing better to do than waste their time, however, check it out. It's really funny what they try to say about her.

And seriously, try at least ONE of her recipes. It's easy and really enjoyable.

- Christina

So...I'm Sore!!

And I'll tell you why!

My personal training all started last Friday and I have been sore ever since. This is really why I couldn't write a lot on here....kidding, but I have been very busy!

This morning I was brushing my teeth, and I realized that it really hurt to lift my arms up and brush! Then I was blow-drying my hair, which was just torture and then to style it, I couldn't do it ANYMORE!

I blame KELLY!

Kelly is one of the newer trainers at my gym and watching her work with the other clients, made me realize that I need that motivation to work out. I really hate to work out. Many of us really want to either tone up or lose weight, but in the shortest amount of time as possible. It takes a lot of time and sacrifice to get in shape and I am starting to sacrifice time to work out and I give up my cravings for unhealthy food choices.

What motivated me to get a personal trainer was because I did a lot of cardio (running on the treadmill, walking, using the elliptical trainer) but I never knew anything about how to use the weight training equipment. I always found it so intimidating because I didn't know how many reps to do on a certain machine, or how long, or what my posture should look like. I knew I wanted to get an overall workout with cardio and weights.

Personal trainers will create a program to fit your needs, budget and schedule. Several times a week is what many go for, but even an occasional check-in to get feedback is great too. It's all up to you.
Depending on the trainer, expect to pay between $25 and $100 an hour. Sometimes, to share costs, you might be able to bring a buddy to your sessions. I know it can be expensive, but it really is for your health and your future. Staying active is extremely important.

Okay, so you booked for first personal training session. What can you expect?

1. A fitness evaluation.
This is basically a series of tests - cardiovascular, flexibility, muscle strength and endurance - to see what kind of shape you are in. Your trainer should ask about your health conditions, medications and exercise experience.
2. A personalized exercise program.

This is designed specifically for you and what your needs are.

With the one-on-one attention to make sure you are using proper form and technique and that you get the most from your workout without getting injured. The benefits of your program are explained.

A trainer should motivate you and help you stick with your program. I'm not saying that you NEED a personal trainer to survive, it's that encouragement to help you with your fitness goals that is really beneficial for you.

If you are interested in getting a personal trainer, just check out your local gyms and make sure to see what each of them offer to their clients.

Using Nintendo Wii To Workout

I came across Time Magazine's article entitled, Is the Wii Really Good for Your Health? on the Internet. It talks about the benefits of the Nintendo Wii. I did not know that users started to complain of back aches and sore shoulders because of the game. Well, that lead to the research of how Wii can be healthy and helps people become more active.

The article meantions that researchers, especially at the University of Toronto, are working on active video games, which are trying to improve kids being more active. I think this would certainly improve for children that normally are not active. This gives them the chance to bowl, or play tennis, for example and burn calories while playing.

I decided to try playing an "active" game, so I called up the one person I knew would have a Wii-- my younger cousin Justin, the biggest 'gamer' around. After a half an hour of trying to choose the game, we decided on the bowling game. I tried the game two ways. First, I just sat there, thinking that it did not matter if you moved your body or not. It really didn't work so, my second time around, I actually stood up and pretended I was actually bowling. But then I noticed, wow, you can really get a workout while playing this. It really caused you to move and get really involved in the game. Other video games for example, played on an Xbox really do not give anything but your hands a good workout.

I believe the Nintendo Wii has already revolutionized gaming. Not only can it provide entertainment, it can provide a new way to work out and stay active.

As I researched more on this topic, I found WiiHealthy. This is an website that is dedicated to getting in shape and being active on the Wii. The website does a great job on creating WiiSports workout guide. They break down the guide into sport by sport (boxing, tennis, etc) and tell the audience exactly how to play actively. They also provide a number of calories you will burn from actively playing these games.

Seriously, check out this website. It has some great ideas on what they are and have been working on to improve activeness. Ideas like yoga and aerobics have been meantioned. This makes me want to buy a Wii!

Now I'm excited!

“Boxing is the most active game on the Wii Sports disc. We strongly advise very heavy people not to go too wild in this one since your heart rate will go up a lot. This could be a problem for people who have been advised not to do big efforts. The fact is that this is the perfect game to lose weight. In a couple of minutes you can burn easily 121 calories in 15 minutes time."

The Benefits of Yoga

Why You Must Try It!

After hearing great things about this class, and not to meantion, the stressfulness of my life taking a toll on me (school, work, boyfriend), I have decided to take up yoga!

Yoga is a great workout program that is easy to learn and requires little or no equipment. It can improve your flexibility, strength, balance and stamina. It can also reduce anxiety and stress.

It seems like a new trend but it actually began more than 3,000 years ago in India. The word comes from the Sanskrit word "yoke" meaning to bring together the mind, body and spirt.


Hatha yoga is the physical component of yoga. A person who practices yoga goes through a series of specific poses while controlling his or her breathing. Some types of yoga also involve meditation and chanting.


There are many different types of hatha yoga, including:

Ashtanga yoga: It is a vigorous, fast-paced yoga that helps to build flexibility, strength, concentration, and stamina. When doing Ashtanga yoga, a person moves quickly through a poses while remaining focused on deep breathing.

Power yoga: Similar to Ashtanga yoga, but it is more of an active form of yoga that improves flexibility and stamina by completing poses.

Bikram yoga: Bikram yoga is also known as "Hot Yoga." It is practiced in rooms that may be heated to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius).

Gentle yoga: Gentle yoga focuses on slow stretches, flexibility, and deep breathing.

Kundalini yoga: Kundalini yoga uses poses, deep breathing and other breathing techniques, chanting, and meditation.

Iyengar yoga: This type of yoga focuses on precise poses. and participants use benches, ropes, mats, blocks, and chairs.

You may also want to try a yoga video first, before you try any classes. They certainly can be intimidating. Shhhh...that's what I did. Try any video with Rodney Yee. He is excellent! Sure, when I first tried his video, it was funny watching him do some of the moves, but I got some of the basic moves and ideas down, and then I wanted to make sure I was doing them correctly, so I tryed a class at my gym.

Remember to wear compfy clothing and to have fun.

I really hope you can try it at least once. It is certainly a great experience.

Namaste* (a respectful yoga greeting pronounced nama-stay).

-- Christina