Fitness On The Menu

September 23, 2010

Time to mix it up ladies!

Today I’ve asked fitness experts from around the country to share what they love about their practice.

Perhaps it’s time to try something new…

PILATES

Pilates is designed to create balance between strength and flexibility, develop a taller, more balanced posture, and release muscular tension, all while toning your muscles for a healthy, lean body! “Feel better in 10 sessions, Look better in 20 sessions, and have a new body in 30!” Joseph Pilates

-Amy Burnett, Pilates instructor, Menlo Park, CA and a mom! (and a friend)

ZUMBA

The ZUMBA fitness program is a latin-inspired, dance-fitness class that will have you sweating, smiling and dancing your way to a fit body. It is a cardio-based workout that integrates the principles of interval and resistance training to maximize calorie burning and muscle toning. Most importantly, a ZUMBA class feels like a party and will keep you coming back for more.

-Sarah Schneider, Certified Zumba instructor, Riverside, CT and a mom! (I get to attend her class)

CIRCUIT TRAINING

Circuit training is extremely efficient because you can include cardio, strength and endurance exercises all in one session, and more importantly, you have the ability to change the workout up all the time. I live and train by the motto “Change your workout – Change your Body – Change your life!” It is the only way to see continual results!

-Sara Haley, Global Fitness Consultant, New York City, NY

SPINNING

When you take a spin class, you cleanse both your body and your mind of all that weighs you down. When you walk out of the spin room, you are refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to take on whatever life is going to throw at you next! The amazing weight loss along with core and upper body strength are just the extra benefits that come along with feeling stronger, more self confident and and achieving an overall sense of happiness and well being.

-Romaine Gordon, owner and spin instructor @ B East in Amagansett, New York and a mom!

YOGA

Photo by Temari 09

Mom to a toddler and a preschooler, I rely on yoga for, well, just about everything! Peace of mind, core strength, spiritual connection, self-care, girl’s night out, relaxation, rejuvenation, and rejoicing in life’s sweetness are the joys of yoga for me. The benefits? Thanks to yoga, my husband gets a happier wife and my kids get a happier mama. Feels like a great deal for the whole family!

-Jenni Derryberry Mann, Athens, Ga., prenatal and postnatal mama-baby Yoga Bonding instructor, and editor of Belly Button Bliss: A Collection of Happy Birth Stories, www.mamahhh.com

******

Today I’m rejoining my Yoga class from 2 years ago. Since I’ve written it here, I have to do it!!! (as in NO going to Target instead.)

So what will you try?? What have you tried? What do you love?

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Category: For Moms
Tags: Fitness ideas, fitness ideas for moms |

11 Comments »

Heidi Farmer
on September 23, 2010 7:13 am
Would you believe school is delayed which means I can’t make Yoga?? Of all days… I spent all night deciding I was actually looking forward to it.
Julie R
on September 23, 2010 7:27 am
I have thought of trying Zumba but haven’t made the plunge yet. Would be so much easier if I had a friend to go with. However, if I do go, maybe I will meet a new friend. =)
Julie R
on September 23, 2010 7:28 am
Was thinking about getting the wii fit plus, just to have a little something at the house to use. Had anyone used it and it worked? Had anyone bought it and it just sat there collecting dust?
Heidi Farmer
on September 23, 2010 7:49 am
Julie, on ZUMBA, Try it, try it! You’ll meet friends, I promise. It is sooo fun!
Sarah
on September 23, 2010 7:55 am
We have a lot of friends with the Wii fit and love it. I, too, have thought about trying Zumba. Is it easy (not in intensity, but in dance step complexity?)
Heidi Farmer
on September 23, 2010 8:10 am
You’ll get the hang of it, especially after a few classes. I highly recommend it. It reminds me of the old Jacki Sorensen classes my mom used to teach – and still does – just the Latin version!
RLR
on September 23, 2010 1:17 pm
YOGA – I used to go years ago – it was an employee perk on the campus where I worked. It’s great for focus as well as fitness.
WII FIT – We have one, and I don’t pull it out as often as I’d like (but there’s one ‘game’ that has hula hooping – so much fun!).
RUNNING – I started a coached 5K training program recently, and I LOVE IT! There are ‘on your own’ workouts to do, too, which make me feel like Superwoman! The coached sessions are great for pushing to work harder and for keeping me accountable. That, and posting about it online for all the world to read!
Sarah Schneider
on September 23, 2010 3:23 pm
Sarah and Julie, you can come try my Zumba class at the YWCA Darien – 1st class is free for everyone. It is Mondays 10:45. or email me and I can let you know where else you can try one of my classes – sarah.schneider24@sbcglobal.net (Zumba instructor).
Heidi Farmer
on September 24, 2010 7:54 am
@RLR – I love the idea of a coached 5K/running program. I need a little accountability….
@Sara – if only they lived close (or even in CT), I’d have them there with me in a heartbeat!
Sarah
on September 25, 2010 7:50 am
The new rage here is Tabata. It is basically short bursts of high intensity strength training but your heart rate is up too. I can’t explain it very well but it is a great workout. I don’t go as often as I should (who really does though?!!) because I get so sore!!
Jules Greenaway
on September 29, 2010 12:21 pm
I have the Wii Fit & Wii Fit Plus & when I got it, I was on it all the time…Now, I don’t pull it out as much as I’d like, but when I do, I always get a good workout!!!! I’ve just started doing Zumba 2 days a week & I love, love, love it!!!! It’s such an amazing workout & fun too!!!! I’ve been doing Cardio Ballet Barre 3 days a week for the past 4 or 5 months now & it too is an amazing workout!! It incorporates Ballet & Pilates, with awesome music!! I’ve gone from a size 12 to a size 8!!!!