Domestic Violence, Yoga & Hollywood Sneak Peek

We’ll soon begin a 30,000 journey across America visiting all 50 states – 100 Cities in 100 Days – to raise money for my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation. We teach yoga to women and children living in domestic violence shelters. Ambitious? Yes. For a great cause? Yes. Impossible? Certainly not! I expect it to be life changing. For all of us, as well as all of you because we intend to EDUCATE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER and ENTERTAIN you with cool, trivia-filled workout videos from historical sites everywhere.

Here’s me teaching the women and children at the San Diego domestic violence shelter:

Here’s the Hollywood Sneak Peek Trailer for my Fat Burn America Tour. Enjoy! – R

I believe in you Ladies!

This goes out to all the Ladies living at the domestic violence shelter in San Diego where I taught a 2-hour yoga & lifestyle class last night.  Because after teaching a 75 minute yoga class followed by a 45 discussion about embracing a positive mindset, a healthy diet, and most importantly, a daily fitness routine, I truly believe in each and every one of them.  I know you’re reading this Ladies, so don’t forget to do your Peaceful Warriors, Temple Poses, Side Body Abs and Stretching, Chair Poses up against the Wall, and of course our favorite, Viparita Karani or Legs Up the Wall.  Today and every day this week until I come back again next Thursday to “kick it up a notch”.   Always remember to stay present with your thinking and live positively and happily, moment to moment.  Because whether or not your past experiences have been negative or abusive, you never have to carry that energy with you.  Let it go.  And if it begins to creep into your mind and body, go outside and do some yoga and my fat burning workouts, or better yet, work on some balancing with that meditative breath I taught you – and remember to pick that point of focus and use all distractions to help you focus more.  So respect yourself each and every day, especially during this long holiday weekend, and enjoy sculpting your thighs and butt today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #96 – Killer Squats II.  Namaste – R

Fitness + Family = Fun

Yesterday I taught a one-hour fat burning class at a domestic violence shelter in San Diego on behalf of my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation.  I was excited to teach about ten children (ages 3 – 12), with a few ever-so shy moms and grandmothers too.  It was certainly a family affair, with the kids leading the charge!  Since I don’t have any children of my own – at least not yet – I’m always fascinated by the pure joy kids find in the simplest of activities.  And with their moms and grand-moms joining in, they had FUN, regardless of how challenging it was.  Simply put, Fitness + Family = Fun.  So gather your entire family today and enjoy strengthening your legs, and your family bond, with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #85 – Chair Twists (the exact same exercises we practiced at the shelter).  And have fun!  – R

Little things can make a big difference

Yesterday I taught a one hour fat burning class to the children and moms living at the domestic violence shelter in San Diego.  My charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation, has been teaching yoga there since last July.  I especially wanted to teach the families exercises from my fat burning workouts.  The moms loved it and the kids were awesome. What was most significant, though, was my interaction with one particular boy who I first met in July.  I’ll call him Alex.  When I first offered to shake his hand, Alex reached out with a limp hand as he cowered away.  Thus, my first lesson was to teach Alex how to shake hands.  Stand tall, use a really strong grip and look me in the eyes”, I said.  Which he did without hesitation.  But the real test was whether or not Alex would continue with his new handshake.  That’s why interacting with him yesterday was so significant.  He shook my hand just like I had taught him.  And I congratulated him for it.  Because little things can make a big difference.  So enjoy looking for the little things that can make a big difference with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #59 – Beautify Your Butt II. – R

Kanye West leads the way

I read an article in the LA Times this morning about rap star Kanye West’s closing Sunday night set at Coachella (the 3-day annual Music & Arts Festival in Indio, CA). Kanye ended his “epic and unforgettable” set standing alone. Much like the way he started.  Which got me thinking about how working out everyday is just like Kanye standing there alone.  Yes, you can workout with your friends or take a group class, but you’re still doing it alone.  Which, at times, feels like a very lonely journey.  That’s why incorporating bite-size workouts is the key to success. Workouts that are simple and effective.  Just like Kanye flying solo without all the bells and whistles of a spectacle behind him, you can fly solo with my anytime-anywhere 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts.  So enjoy tightening your abdominals & core with today’s Workout #55! – R

It’s all relative with Einstein’s Relativity

Exactly 105 years ago today Nobel Laureate Albert Einstein introduced his “Theory of Relativity”.  Although his ‘curved space-time continuum‘ doesn’t really affect our lives because we travel at speeds much less than the speed of light, it was one of the most significant scientific advances of our time.  When you think of relativity, it’s applicable to everything in your life.  Just ask yourself a yes or no question, like whether or not you work too much.  Before you answer, think: relative to whom?  Because it’s all relative. Like fitness.  If you exercise all the time, then working out 5 minutes a day seems like nothing.  But if you don’t workout at all – and you know if you don’t – then 5 minutes a day is significant.  But rest assured, 5 minutes a day becomes 15 minutes. Then 15 minutes becomes whatever your heart desires. Enjoy sculpting your body with today’s fat burning workout #47 – Crane Legs (remember the movie, Karate Kid).  See you next time – R

Perfect example of bad role models

I read in the LA Times this morning about two parents in Michigan who beat up a 73-year old school crossing guard who tried to break up a fight between their 6-year old son and another boy.  This after bringing their son to school to beat up the other boy after the two kids got into a fight last week.  I would call that a perfect example of bad role models. How about leading by example and treating everyone with respect – starting with yourself.  Interestingly, I would bet that neither of these attacking parents partakes in anything physical fitness at all.  Just a hunch, but it seems like a lot of pent up anger and negative energy.  So for these accused attackers – and anyone else who’s looking to open their heart and release some aggression via a daily fitness program – check out my 5 minute fat burning workout #41, Standing Heart Openers.  Then lead by example!  R

Life’s a boulevard and sometimes you get stuck

‘Life’s a boulevard and sometimes you get stuck’ is the overarching theme to my film, Boulevard Zen.  Each of the characters uses yoga to overcome adversity in their lives. The kind of adversity that is like getting seriously stuck on a Boulevard, such as death of a spouse, a broken heart, depression, anorexia, hypertension, infertility, peer pressure and a party lifestyle.  All this with a PG-rated script that’s appropriate for the entire family. The chorus from the theme song, “Life’s Boulevard”, is especially inspirational:

Driving down Life’s Boulevard is no paradise
Open up your heart let it lead you day and night
Just do not dwell on things that can’t be undone
Keep pushing forward til the battle is won

Written by me and award winning singer-songwriter Erick Macek, and performed by Erick & Bill Jones, get your free download & watch trailers @ RichTola.com.  Enjoy – R


Ignorance corrodes

This morning I was speaking with a friend and practitioner of my new workout series. We were discussing how ignorance corrodes the inside of an individual’s soul.  Ignorance being defined here as the willful lack of knowledge or awareness.  And it’s the willfulness part that speeds the corrosion.  Heavy stuff, I know, but think about it. That’s why my 5 minute fat burning workouts are good for you.  Especially if you’re not a fitness person. Because they teach you a plethora of super effective and easy-to-follow exercises you can do in only 5 minutes – anywhere.  There’s no need for special clothing, or a mat, or a specific area or room to practice in. They’re designed to prime the pump, to get you going, to put a spark in your day. Plus, they’re really simple and they’re really attainable. Check out Workout #11 – and let’s tighten that buttocks and stop corrosion today!  Rich