Working out with “Belle of the Ball”

Or shall I say, Belle of the Gym. Let me explain:

The other day I saw this elderly woman working out in the gym and I thought to myself, wow, this woman really knows what she’s doing and she’s definitely a regular. It was the third time I had seen her this week.

I was definitely curious, so I introduced myself and asked Belle a few questions. Because when a fitness dude like me who’s worked-out or practiced Yoga every single day for the past 40 years (that’s no bullshit), sees a fitness dudette who’s well into her 70’s, well, I’m impressed.

Check it out. Belle has osteoporosis and says she knows the importance of lifting weights to stay strong so she works out three times a week. Yes, three times a week, every week.

And it shows.

When I asked if she ever misses a workout, she said, “Sometimes I slip and slide around a little bit with my days, but I always go three times a week. I have to.” Belle also said her body is not what it used to be so sometimes she feels it the next day. Similar to my own Mom who goes to the gym every week and has done so for the past 30 years, her body often feels it the next day too.

But no worries, because you gotta keep going. Your strength and youth depends on it.

So take if from Belle and “have fun with it!” And even though my Tola Yoga workouts may be too intense for her (I agreed), Belle says “mix it up with different exercises like the machines, treadmill or these bikes that let you ride through the parks of San Francisco (her favorite).”

Kudos to you Belle and everyone else getting your workout groove on every week!

Happy Mother’s Day everyone 🙂  Peace – R

Tola Talks Homeless Man’s Kindness & Happy People

Tola Talks about the homeless man who fed his friends with $100 from YouTuber Josh Paler Lin, the woman who had a baby in the front seat of her van, CNN’s 5 lessons to make you extraordinary, plus the “best-of-the-best” with Taylor Swift, Chris Pratt & Kim Kardashian. On WTF Wednesday, Rich also discusses the 8 primary traits of happy people (thanks to Anne Parker). Weekdays on youtube.com/tolatalksMerry Christmas Everyone!

48 and Feeling Great

By the time you reach 48 there’s not much hoopla about your birthday, right?  The true celebration is in the continued evolution of your soul.  Which also applies to your body. And with that evolution of your body brings new challenges each year.  Challenges that include dealing with a slower metabolism rate, a weakening of muscles and bones, and an increasing waistline.  Go figure, right?  So what can be done to counter these challenges? This:  what I’ve been doing everyday for the past 32 years – working out.  I hate to blow my own horn here, but maintaining a daily fitness program really works. Yesterday I met a 20 year old gal who thought I was 33.  That’s 15 years younger folks. Plus, I’m not a fanatic about what I eat – just smart – so I must attribute my success to working out. Everyday.  Trust me, it works.  Here’s a few of my favorite abdominal exercises in today’s 5 minute fat burning workout #34 – Birthday Abs.  Enjoy – Rich

Try it on your phone

I had dinner with a friend last night who said she wanted to do my 5 minute fat burning workouts but couldn’t use her work computer and her laptop was down.  Then I said, why not do them on your phone.  Watch it first, then set your phone aside and follow along with my voice.  Today she called to say it worked great.  So there you go.  If you’re not currently on a daily fitness program, start small with only 5 minutes a day.  Believe me, these simple workouts will challenge you.  Just log on to my butt, thighs and heart opener Workout #23 – 5 minutes of fat burning you can truly do anytime and anyplace.   Now playing on blog.richtola.com, Vimeo and YouTube.   Happy Friday!  R

Happy Birthday Mom

My mother turned 70 today and she looks amazing!  What’s her secret?  Well, about 31 years ago when I joined my first gym she was this 39 year-old mother of three who never worked out.  One year later – at the ripe age of 40 and after much cajoling on my part – she joined a health club and never looked back.  Thirty years later she’s been working out 4-5 times a week – and it shows because she doesn’t look a day over 60.  Kudos to your workouts and your healthy lifestyle Mom!  So for anyone not currently on a daily fitness program, let’s get you started with Workout #15.  And I’ll see you next time – R