|
|
 |
| |
| From Karen |
| |
Opening up to Spring's Offerings..
Ah yes, Spring has Sprung! And with the warm, longer days, we feel a sense of renewed life force and hopefulness.
In metaphysical terms, Spring represents new growth, opening up, and stepping into fresh things. So this is an excellent time to change up our training regimes (fast paced, toxin-releasing routines are great!), and shift our seasonal eating into lighter fare, fresh enzyme-rich foods like fruits and veggies, and lessening those heavier foods like potatoes and other root veggies.
And sunshine...oh yeah! It's time to take off the sunglasses, remove the sunscreen and soak up Mother Nature's most intoxicating ingredient - sunshine! In our world, blocking out Her precious nourishment is counter-productive, no matter what the scientists say! Long days, lots of sunshine, and fresh air. Bring it on!
|
| |
|
Training Tip: Focus In for Better Training!
|
|
|
We I see it more often than I would like to see: gym-goers incorrectly doing an exercise. In fact, with our ever-changing fitness world, and with so many new things coming down the pipe, it's almost a given these days! 
See, Here's what I say: know what exercise you are working and focus in on that muscle...are you feeling it? Really feeling it? Now, change up the movement a bit...do you feel it more this way, or that way?
Many of us grab new exercises from magazines, but a one dimensional medium may not be the best for viewing and learning new moves, especially tricky ones.
A great example of this is in the tricep pushdown: many people allow their elbow to lift up, but once this happens, the triceps are no longer engaged. The trick is to keep that elbow glued by your side at all times, and straighten your arm at the bottom (that's right, lock it out!). There now... feel the difference? You should.
And that's the mind-muscle connection at work!
|
|
|
|
Spiritual - Moving with Change....
|
| |
Last month in our Interview series, I interviewed Spiritual Intuitive Cheryl Forrest of Kelowna BC. In all our programs, we cover all aspects of health and wellness, including the spiritual.
The 'theme' of our Interview is the ever-growing restlessness and negativity rising up as of late. More people seem to be engulfed in fear, anger and anxiety these days. Ever notice how people are getting more aggressive with their driving? Notice the increase in cyber bullying? The increase in disease and un-wellness? Are you feeling nervous about the future, financials, family etc?
Cheryl, and many other intuitives, remind us that we have a choice in where we put our focus, and that we must stay diligent to not fall into these darker energies and be swept away by them. our quest in 2015 is to move to higher ground and commit to living a life of meaning, peace, gratitude and responsibility. We are being pushed to live a more conscious, inclusive and purposeful life, but only if we heed the call.
If you would like to hear more on Cheryl's interview, and her views about us, our futures, and where we need to be: CLICK HERE.
|
|
|
|
Adding some Zen in.....
|
| |
I am embarking on my Yoga Teacher's Training Certificate, a 200-hour program that I am simply loving!
It always amuses me when people think the worlds of weight training and yoga are so vastly different...with different philosophies and approaches. What I find in all my workshops is that they are more alike than different, and that the two can work very, very well together. (I have always envisioned the chakras at work while training, meditating while pumping, and pulling up 'Mother Earth' into my legs when rooted in the gym. And many of the stretches are the same....hmmm...)
So that's why I am now incorporating some yoga moves into every workout I do, for myself and my clients (we call it the "Strengthen and Lengthen" workout). And yep, I'll even be slipping in some meditation from time to time (watch out gals!).
Sometimes we need to look at the commonalities instead of the differences in our world, to practice being flexible and inclusive in our approach as teachers, and clients. It's simply a better way to live and train!
|
|
|
|
Swiss Balls and Core Work. Is it all it's cracked up to be?
|
| |
When it comes to weight training, so many myths and mis-information abound and certain 'fads' have taken root.
One of them entails working the core with Swiss Balls. Yes, they work, but sometimes people get hooked, thinking it is the only way to train abs.
I loved what the late Robert Kennedy said about the whole issue in an editorial in Oxygen, 2005. (He was creator and publisher of Oxygen, Tosca Reno's husband, and one of our sport's greatest mentors).
"As publisher of this magazine, I hate promoting new stuff that I don’t believe in my heart, is actually workable or helpful to our readers and their fitness programs.
Enter: fitness balls….Egads! Is there a gym that doesn’t have a bunch of these insane aids? As much as I know you likely incorporate them into your own programs, I have to say I am unconvinced. OK, so fitness balls may be of some use for an ab or chest exercise…at a stretch, but then so could your kitchen counter, your kitchen stove or even your kitchen sink!
Yes, we have run articles on fitness balls in Oxygen (and our brother publication Maximum Fitness), but I have to bite my lip when I see personal trainers recommending their clients use them for bench presses, flyes or seated shoulder presses under the pretest that the movement will build the body’s core structure. What nonsense!
Incline and flat benches were invented to be strong and reliable so exercises such as these could be performed confidently and with the knowledge that the exerciser was able to give everything to the movement. They became such an important part of any gym simply because you no longer had to worry that a rickety bench would collapse, mid-set. With confidence, one can push for more reps or resistance…or both. Can you do anything on a fitness ball with confidence?
If you want core body strength, there are a thousand exercises that will work for you. Just about any sporting activity will do it, as will free-standing moves using body weight like hanging leg raises, prone hyper extensions from a variety of angles, low pulley kickbacks, twists and chins, etc."
(Meeting Robert Kennedy in 2013.)
|
|
|
|
Try the 36-Hour Mini Juice Fast!
|
| |
Every spring I do a short juice cleanse, because it helps to lighten the winter load and signals to me to shift my eating and my focus.
I'm not much into big cleanses that last a week or more. I prefer to eat well throughout the year, instead of the eat-what-you-want and hope-to-clean-out-the-body-with-a-2-week-detox-kit approach! I think this is healthier for body and spirit too.
So here's what I do: I eat my final dinner on, say, Tuesday night, the next day, I only drink veggie juices (made from steaming a bunch of veggies into a broth, not blended...we don't want any particles, it is supposed to be just broth) and lots of water, and I follow this into a second day, resuming eating at noon. I make sure that the day I am cleansing is a light gym day, or just a hiking / walking day (you will feel tired, and you don't want to over-exert yourself, saving your energy so the body can do its task of detoxing properly).
Feel free to do this cleanse year-round, 1-2 times a month, or even weekly, if I choose. Better to cleanse more often and more lightly than doing a bigger cleanse over a long period of time, because the body can better 'let go' throughout the year with my approach.
Go to top
|
|
Book Corner
|
| The Chakra Handbook - Bodo Baginski |
It seems more and more people are getting interested in the esoteric, and curious about metaphysical things. If that's you, then check out this nifty, easy-read about Chakras, energies, and how they affect your life.
I always say that metaphysical things, like energetic medicine, chakras, clairvoyance abilities, other dimensions etc, are kinda like gravity: you may not believe in them, but regardless, all are at work in your life, like gravity. (If you jump from a building, you will crash down!)
I've had this book for years, and it reminds me that I, like you, are so much more than the sum of our 5 senses. It puts things into perspective for me, and reminds me of how important living well really is! Enjoy! (And yes, it's still in print!)
|
|
Our Summer-Ready Challenge is Starting! You in?
|
My ever-popular 10-Week Best Shape of Your Life Challenge starts April 16th, perfect timing to get you Summer-Ready! 
The 12-Week Advanced Challenge is starting too! For the serious woman wanting serious results!
Join us TODAY!
“Karen’s on-line Best Shape Challenge offered excellent progression, and the information was presented in easy to implement stages, with forgiveness for imperfection built in! My strength improved a lot, and I have better balance, but more importantly, I have never had abs on any other program before, and now they're peeking through! And I love the strong Warrior Woman theme! Women my age are generally not encouraged to celebrate our physical strength, sad but true. I was also able to fit the program into my very busy life! Thanks so much Karen!” - Sheila Corman – Toronto, Ont
“I have had such a great journey. Doing both the 10 and 12 Week Challenges has been enough time to make these changes seem almost routine. I am so grateful to you, Karen, and the work that you have done for us in creating your programs. They truly have altered my life!” - Dariol Haydock, Victoria, BC
“As I look back on the challenge I can see that I have learned so much and for that I am grateful to you. I have gained strength, a smarter way of eating and a stronger belief in myself. I realized that lifting weights and seeing results in how we look and feel is a product of a few things: Consistency, Patience and Lifestyle. This has been a journey for me and it is not done. Thank you for the inspiration on so many levels Karen…you are truly remarkable.” – Alison West, Victoria, BC
“This Challenge has been exactly what I needed. Not only do I fit into my ‘skinny’ pants, but my confidence is going way up again too! Plus, I love the muscle tone I am developing and I’m looking forward to continuing the process!” - Sarah Watts, Cranbrook, BC
|
Go to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
