I was speaking with another gym-rat this morning, i.e., those of us who frequent the place every single day, who said it’s that time of year again when people just “play it in their head”.
Meaning, most people visualize themselves exercising and going to the gym and taking Yoga or Pilates classes…but they never do. Like my friend said, they just play it in their head but rarely follow through. Albeit, they may have good intentions and would love to see themselves working out to the point of even dreaming about it, but they never do.
Why? Well that’s an easy tough one. It’s easy because people lack the desire and the discipline to exert and fatigue their bodies on a regular basis. It’s also tough because life’s so busy that who has the time or the energy to commit 30 minutes to an hour every single day on fitness.
So keep it simple and start small, like 15 minutes a day. That’s what I say, and pretty soon you’ll be addicted to it and want to exercise more. Trust me, having a Strong Body – Clear Mindis addicting. And at the very least, spend 5 minutes every day doing push-up, sit-up or pull-ups.
Don’t just Play it in Your Head. Turn those visions into reality and keep-on rockin! Peace – R
I hope you have one of these Adult Fitness Stations near your home…they’re awesome!
And no worries if not. You can still check-out Stay Zen #8 and my Top 10 Adult Fitness Station Exercises, and pick-up some workout pointers to add to your fitness arsenal. Enjoy – R
Who says you can’t look and feel and have the spirit of someone 20 years younger. I do, and there’s not a week that goes by without someone guessing I’m 30.
You can too, with my 20 Ways to Be 20 Years Younger! Enjoy – R
Get Fit. Live Healthy. Lose Inches. Stay Zen. RichTola.com. Follow on Instagram @BLVDZEN
Anyone can get a great full-body workout with my Top 5 Super Set Exercises. Super sets are quick and effective and give your muscles a “super” pump by combining two different exercises consecutively – without taking a break in between. Enjoy – R
Get Fit. Live Healthy. Lose Inches. Stay Zen. RichTola.com. Follow on Instagram @BLVDZEN
Do you hate weighing yourself on any scale? Do you avoid them like the plague? No worries, because nobody should be afraid of the big bad scale…just make it your new best friend!
Get Fit. Live Healthy. Lose Inches. Stay Zen. RichTola.com. Follow on Instagram @BLVDZEN
What should you do when it’s too cold outside to go for your walk or even make it to your favorite exercise class? Stay inside and improvise..and why not walk the mall! Enjoy – R
Hope you enjoy my new web series that’s all about Health & Fitness, Dating & Relationships, and everything else From Wall Street to Main Street. Stay Zen – R
Bruce Springsteeen’s quintessential phrase “No Retreat, baby, No Surrender” from his mega-hit, No Surrender, penetrates much deeper than our country’s blood brothers in the stormy night vowing to defend us through raging Wars. At least it does for me. And today was a perfect example of how a powerful song like this can inspire me to inspire you…30 years later.1-Mile Away View of the Verdugo Mountains – Burbank, CA
Just as this song came on my playlist today about halfway through my 2-mile run, I passed this elderly woman walking up the hill. She had to be at least 90 years old, all hunched over and wearing a light blue cardigan sweater and dark wrap-around sunglasses to shield her from the rays. She was ever so delicately ambling up the steep incline with the help a walking cane. And if you’ve ever traveled up that 1-mile stretch from San Fernando Blvd to Sunset Canyon Drive at the base of the Verdugo Mountains in Burbank (see photo), you know that it’s pretty darn steep. So much so that it probably took this senior citizen 20 minutes to walk to the next house. No matter, because she was still walking up that hill.
author, Rich TolaNow that’s what I call “No Retreat, baby, No Surrender”.
Because getting older doesn’t mean you can’t fight Father Time and do something every single day to strengthen your muscles – and your bones – and to preserve your body as best you can. It’s called a Daily Fitness Program, and ANYONE can do it.
And it doesn’t matter what you do: walk, jog, bike, swim, Yoga, weights, Hulu-Hoop, whatever! Just do something, like the elderly woman in Burbank. While you still can.
It’s that time of year again, when the air is brisk and your Perfect Posture begins to wane in the face of Wintertime weather. I call that your Wintertime Posture, when your body naturally compensates for the cold with a defensive-type posture that seeks warmth by covering up and closing in. As opposed to your Summertime Posture, when the warm rays of the vitalizing sunshine make it easy to stand tall and lift your chin while opening your heart up to the sky, thus enabling a more offensive-type posture, and albeit, a much better one.
In the Wintertime we have a tendency to roll our shoulders in and lean forward, especially when we’re walking. It seems to protect us against the cold and get us there faster, or so we think. And because we don’t even know we’re doing it – who’s thinking about Perfect Posture when you’re walking or standing in the freezing cold – and because excellent health begins with excellent posture, that’s no excuse for letting good ol’ Mother Nature set you back.
1) Spend a few minutes every morning standing tall with Perfect Posture, i.e., feet planted firmly on the ground – shoulder width and hips distance apart, soften your knees and relax your butt, pull through your core (belly button) and feel your entire torso and spine elongating, roll your shoulders open with palms facing forward, shine your heart up to the sky, relax your shoulder-blades down your back and lengthen through your neck, soften and square your chin to the ground and reach your crown to the sky. Now relax your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply and let your inhales and exhales come naturally. Don’t hold your breath…and RELAX.
2) Repeat this Perfect Posture exercise many times throughout the day, for a brief as 10 seconds. Just do it. Like when you’re standing in line at the store, or on the corner before the light changes, or at the teller window, or waiting for a bus, or baking cookies, or even while you’re Watching the Ellen Show! It’s only for a short time and it reminds the body – and your mind – of Perfect Posture, thus creating a benchmark for success.
3) Spend a few minutes before you go to bed standing tall with Perfect Posture…you know the drill. Why, you might ask, considering if you did #1 and #2 then you already spent time working on your Perfect Posture, right? Because, you’d get the same exact answer if you asked any New Yorker that infamous question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice, Practice, Practice.
Meaning, most people visualize themselves exercising and going to the gym and taking Yoga or Pilates classes…but they never do. Like my friend said, they just play it in their head but rarely follow through. Albeit, they may have good intentions and would love to see themselves working out to the point of even dreaming about it, but they never do.
