I’ve rarely had good experiences with the classes at my gym.  The ones I’ve tried were always led by unmotivating (or just downright odd) instructors.  One time my friend and I checked out a yoga class at my gym.  The instructor was overweight, wore a mesh black top over a sports bra, and made us do FINGER EXERCISES for the first ten minutes.  It was… interesting, to say the least.

Over the years, I’ve checked out kickboxing, step, and a myriad of other classes – all led to disappointment.  Then recently, my friend convinced me to go to a Bootcamp class with her.  I LOVED IT and look forward to it every Monday – I try not to miss if I can help it!  This is the 1st gym class I’ve ever been enthusiastic about.  The instructor is this amazingly fit, upbeat, charming guy who does not waste a single minute of the hour-long class.  He alternates his style weekly – one week it’s a normal bootcamp routine, and the next week we’ll do a technique called “Tabata 20/10″.

What is Tabata? Tabata 20/10 is named after its creator, Dr. Izumi Tabata, from Tokyo.  This workout is meant to give the maximum aerobic and anaerobic workout in a short amount of time.  Meaning, it combines cardio and weights to give you an incredibly effective workout.

What is 20/10? You do an exercise intensely for 20 seconds (do as many as you can within 20 seconds), then rest for 10 seconds.  Repeat for a total of 8 cycles, which is the equivalent of 4 minutes.  Then rest for 1 minute.  Then you’ll go on and do a completely new exercise and repeat the 20/10 method.  These can be any exercises of your choosing – some common ones are jumping jacks, push-ups, skaters, and squat thrusts.

It sounds very confusing doesn’t it?  Here’s a video that shows you how its done:

It’s a really effective workout that keeps your muscles guessing and your heart rate up!  Has anyone else tried Tabata 20/10?

Pure Barre
6791 Quail Hill Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92603
(949) 500-5924
(Multiple Locations)

Lift.Tone.Burn – that’s the mantra at Pure Barre, a fitness studio combining pilates and ballet techniques into one unique workout routine.  I recently had the opportunity to try a class because a great deal was offered on Groupon.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wasn’t expecting my thighs to be quivering nonstop within the first 15 minutes of class!  I thought I was in pretty good shape with all the marathon running I do, but Pure Barre is a whole different animal.  Supposedly the word of this innovative new technique is spreading the nation like wildfire.

Here is what you need to know:

• The studio provides you with all the equipment you need – this includes two sets of light weights (you can choose between 2-3-5 lb weights), a band, and a ball.
• The workouts emphasize short, tiny movements meant to fatigue the muscles and gets switched up every 10-30 seconds.
• You begin with a small warm-up, then go right into workouts designed to tone your arms, thighs, butt, and abs.  They used up every minute of the hour, so there were really no opportunities to rest.
• No dance experience required.  The movements are designed so that anyone can follow along.  Even my two left feet can attest to that.
• The studio floor is carpeted, but you MUST wear socks.  They also sell socks with grips on the bottom, but I found that regular socks were fine too.
• Attire is a tank top and capris or tight-fitting shorts or pants.

I was sweating buckets at the end of my hour-long class and my heart rate was definitely up.  Pure Barre provides a comprehensive toning and cardio workout that seriously works you!

Best for: those who want a challenging, different type of workout that focuses on toning.  The workouts don’t require a lot of bouncing so it’s also great for those who have sensitive joints.
Would not recommend for: those who are extremely out of shape.

“If you went to work out the moment you thought about working out, you would be back by now”  - Nike

If you’ve been working out regularly, sooner or later you’ll hit that wall we fondly call “the workout rut” or “workout plateau”.  You’ve been using the same machines, going through the same routine, and every time you think about working out you have a long debate about it in your head (then end up on the couch).  Not only that, but you aren’t even losing any weight!  Is this you?

Common Symptoms of Rut-ville:

-  Working out doesn’t excite you the way it used to.
-  You usually get lost in your music or TV, but these days all you can think about is the clock, and how much longer you have on that treadmill.
-  You feel lethargic after working out and you’re tired all the time.

So how do you get out of this annoying predicament?

1.  Change up your routine. Variety is key to keeping your body challenged.  When I first started working out all I did was run because that’s what I was comfortable with, and that’s what worked for me.  I still love to run, and I hope I never stop, but it bores me to tears at times.

Recently, my friend asked me to take a bootcamp class with her.  I didn’t know if I’d enjoy it, but bootcamp has been surprisingly fun and challenging.  I’m not great at it, but it’s something new that my body enjoys.  That Groupon deal is also something my friend and I decided to do together.  Pole Dancing sounds craaazy and a little bit risque, but to each their own!  I’m excited to let loose and just go with it.  These activities are a welcome change from my first love – running.

This leads me to my next point…

2.  Find a Buddy! As a runner, I always preferred running alone.  These days, that mindset is changing.  I checked out a yoga studio with one friend and went to bootcamp with another.  At first I went for the chance to bond with the girls, but it’s also been a great way to keep me accountable to working out.  It’s hard to bail on a workout (no matter how lazy you are), when a commitment is made to a good friend.

3.  Do something you love. If you don’t love what you do, you’re not going to stick it out for the long run.  Kickboxing wasn’t for me, but yoga and bootcamp is.  You would never find me in a dance studio (two left feet at a dance studio?  Nuh-uh), but I’m all for a rough bike ride through the back country.  One workout doesn’t fit all.  Find the one that fits you.

4.  Rest. Sounds counterintuitive doesn’t it?  The workout world calls too much exercise overtraining.  Symptoms of overtraining include chronic fatigue, chronic muscle soreness, irritability, headaches, and an overall decrease in workout performance.  If you’re overtraining that means you’re not giving your body enough rest in between workouts.  Your muscles need time to recover.

Taxing out your body may even have the opposite affect on your fitness goals and actually stall weight loss.  The solution?  Take a week off if necessary and start fresh the next week, or make sure you incorporate recovery days in your week to prevent overtraining.

The bottom line? LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.  It will tell you what it needs.  Love it, nurture it, keep it healthy.  Treat it well and it will treat you well.

The results are in and the numbers don’t lie.  Missed my half marathon goal by 1 minute 16 seconds!!!

(The start line of the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach)

This is my 6th half marathon.  For those who have never signed up for anything like this, I highly recommend it!  My husband and I will be running our 1st FULL marathon in San Diego this coming June (something I can cross off my bucket list).  And we’d also like to try for a triathlon sometime in the near future.

I caught the running bug about 4 years ago after a friend convinced me to sign up for a “short” 5-miler.  At the time, I could barely run 2 miles much less 5 – but I did it!  Crossing that finish line was one of the best feelings in the world.  It motivated me to set higher goals for myself, and I have been running ever since!  If I could have it my way, I will be running well into my 70s.  Next time I will tell you the story of a 65-yr old man I met who ran 2 full marathons back to back within 14 days of each other.  How’s that for inspiration?!

P.S. GO SAINTS!! Don’t you love it when the underdog wins?  I do!  New Orleans certainly deserves it.

Hi Yogis!  My inquiring mind wants to know – do any of you supplement your yoga with other forms of exercise?  You probably know this by now, but my other exercise of choice is running.  It is as calming and rejuvenating as yoga, but in a very different way.  It isn’t so much about being still as it is about complete release.

Running allows me to soak in the outdoor air as I jog through the streets.  I’m cooped up indoors way more than I’d like.  Depending on what I’m listening to, it can either calm me down or pump me up, relieving of the unnecessary tension that gets built up over time.  After years of depending on music, I can actually run without music now!  Over time, I’ve learned to appreciate the sound of silence or the echoes of my thoughts.

When I’m out and about, running my heart out, I feel incredible – all you really need is your two feet and a good pair of running shoes – forget about spending excess on needless accessories… it is the PERFECT recession workout.

So what are some benefits to running?

• One of the BEST forms of cardio.
• A cheap way to exercise.
• Great for your heart.
• Increases your stamina and lung capacity.
• Lowered risk of heart attack & stroke.
• Psychological benefits – increases your endorphins and feel good centers of your brain.
• Weight loss.  Always a plus. 

The list can go on forever – I am a strong strong advocate!  What’s your preferred form exercise and why?

For Further Reading: The Benefits of Running [Runner's World]

People are raving about it… Demi and Ashton are twittering about it – so what exactly is this P90X that everyone is abuzz about?  The P90X system is an at home training system made up of a set of 12 DVD’s, a nutrition guide, and fitness guide.  Created by celebrity trainer Tony Horton, its purpose is to give you 12 very different intense workouts in order to create “muscle confusion”.  Muscle confusion forces your body to continually work hard because no two workouts are the same – your muscles do not have enough time to adapt to any one particular exercise.  The moment you get slightly comfortable, this workout forces you to switch things up so it never gets to the point where it’s “too easy”.

Each DVD lasts about 60 minutes long with the exception of the “Ab Ripper X”, which has a runtime of about 16 minutes (don’t be fooled – it doesn’t mean it’s any easier).  The system is very thorough, even including something called “Yoga X” (oh yea, did we mention this one lasts 90 minutes?)!  Jiggaroo is quite curious about that one in particular.  :p

Aside from the workouts, they even included a very thorough nutrition guide – from what I see, it’s great because it emphasizes on INDIVIDUAL needs.  I hate “one size fit all” regimens because they rarely work!  The workouts are also very individualized – Tony gives great cues – stating again and again that if you cannot handle the workouts at first, don’t rush it, eventually you’ll get there.  How’s that for positive reinforcement?  The P90X workouts seem like a well rounded system emphasizing on nutrition and health the smart way.  For those who are already in pretty good shape but want to take their fitness to the next level, I suggest you look into this program!