There are two sides to every coin, no doubt, just like there’s good and bad in everything, including Guns and Roses. That’s right, they both can be beautiful and powerful as well as draw blood, and yes, we’re also talking about Slash and the legendary rock band, Guns N’ Roses (still reading his autobiography).
When it comes to Drinking from the Fountain of Youth, be sure you take that same “greatness” approach with Everlasting Youth and you’re halfway there!
Have an awesome day everyone, and get your workout in! Peace – R
Whenever you find yourself getting off-track when it comes to your fitness regime or worse, your body weight, no worries. Simply Self-Correct.
Anyone who has read my memoir knows that Chapter 67 is one of my favorites and is called just that, Self-Correct. Because it’s all about getting back on-track ASAP as soon as you start to deviate from your daily fitness responsibilities as well as from your ideal weight.
Case in point: Last month I gained the COVID 5, that is to say, 5 pounds of extra weight due to the overconsumption of food (mostly cookies) during this crazy pandemic. Not sure about you, but the prolonged ‘safer-at-home’ decree has really put a damper on my fitness routine, not to mention my usually good eating habits. So rather than get mad or frustrated, I confidently chose to Self-Correct and I’m right back where I started…5 pounds lighter.
How did I do it? I increased my aerobic exercises to 8 miles of walking per day (up from 7 miles/day last month) and decreased my weight training exercises by about 50%. Thus, I kept my total monthly exercise percentage the same (12%) while increasing my total calories burned. That said, with a little time and energy and discipline (of course), anyone can make the right choice versus the easy choice. For more self-correcting details, check-out my book on Amazon.
Here’s my exercise report card for May 2020:
20 minutes/day of Abs/Stretching and Tola Yoga = 10 hours
20 minutes/day of bodyweight training = 10 hours
25 flights of stairs/day = 750 (about 3 hours)
8 miles/day of fast-paced walking = 250 miles (about 60 hours)
7 minutes/day of standing balancing poses = 3 hours
Have an awesome June everyone…and get your workout in! Peace – R
Now that April is in the books, it’s a great time to reflect upon your small victories in the quest to win the war. Because when it comes to achieving your goals and aspirations – and your bountiful dreams – it’s all about making small advances on a daily basis as well as experiencing enlightenments along the way. Especially in these frustrating times of shutdown and uncertainty.
Small victories in the war also relates to your physical body, i.e., your temple and what you’ve done (today) to help fortify it for the journey. Thus, fitness is an everyday necessity, for sure, if you want to stay strong and youthful forever.
So, you gotta ask yourself one question: Did I workout enough in April 2020? Meaning, every single day or more specifically, 30 times. With ‘stay-at-home’ orders permeating the globe, how difficult was it for anyone on the planet aged 12 and up to squeeze at least 15 minutes of exercise into their busy day? And what about your Cardio, Abs/Stretching and Tola Yoga? I trust you got those in too. And if not, then hopefully my exercise report card for April will provide you with some much-needed fitness inspiration:
20 minutes/day of Abs/Stretching and Tola Yoga = 10 hours
40 minutes/day of bodyweight training = 20 hours
25 flights of stairs/day = 750 (about 3 hours)
7 miles/day of fast-paced walking = 210 miles (about 50 hours)
7 minutes/day of standing balancing poses = 3 hours
When you look at my sum total for April, that equals 86 hours of exercise. To get my daily (and monthly) percentage of exercise achieved, simply divide 86 hours into the total number of hours in April (720), and that equals 12%.
Perhaps more than your average bear, but nothing too extreme. Now 12% may seem gargantuan compared to 1% – that’s exercising every single day for 15 minutes – because unfortunately most people don’t even do that. And if your exercise score is somewhere between me and 1%, you’re a superstar. I believe that. But if during April you’ve averaged less than 1%, than God help you.
Either way, make note of your small victories and keep moving forward. In everything you do, including your career goals and aspirations as well as your hobbies and your wildest dreams. And believe that anything is possible.
And finally, in addition to my fitness victory for April, I scored another small victory by completing my second nonfiction opus about everlasting youth. Another one-of-a-kind creation you’ll really enjoy, especially all the readers of my first book, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood.
Have an awesome May everyone, and get your workout in! Peace – R
Hey everyone, hope you’re staying strong, safe and sane during these crazy pandemic times. No doubt a great time to stay calm and to feel positive, as well as to keep – yourself and your dreams – movingforward.
When it comes to empowering your physical being, it’s always best to Keep Moving. All throughout your day, you gotta keep your body moving as much as humanly possible. Especially when all the gyms and health clubs and wherever else you fancy are closed to the public. I should know, I lift weights every single day and it’s been three weeks since the lockdown shut us down. Safe to say I’m really missing my daily dose of iron, not to mention I’ve had to be even more creative with my workouts during these “safer at home” times. Likewise for you, I’m sure, and hopefully you’re getting creative and getting it done.
And if you need a little help with ideas around-the-house, check out my Stay Zen – Web Series. Made them in 2014 for anyone who can’t find the time to exercise . Fun, fast and effective.
Stay Zen Web Series – Episode #4 – 10 Ways to Workout with a Stool
And I don’t know about you, but I’ve also gained 4 pounds in these past three weeks. The good news is, I wanted to gain 2 pounds to power up my immune system and stay even stronger in the face of the ‘invisible enemy,’ aka, Coronavirus. But 2 pounds became 4 pretty quick – you know how that goes.. So today I’m fasting and expect to be 2 pounds lighter by tomorrow when I get on the scale – another cool Stay Zen episode, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Scale. That’s right, all I’m having is unlimited coffee and one apple (already had it) and bam, I’ll be back on track. A concept I refer to as Self-Correct in my memoir, plus it’s also the final chapter of my new book. Coming soon!
As for the second meaning, Keep Moving Forward, especially during shutdowns and more spent time at home, you gotta stay focused and keep the ball moving up the field. Day-in-day-out. As in your studies, your profession or your dream career. Keep moving forward. And unfortunately, hanging out on the couch drinking beer or wine all day may sound nice, but it doesn’t move the ball up the field. Unless, you’re a beer and wine distributer. LOL.
Stay strong in the face of adversity everyone, and remember it’s easy as 1-2-3: 1) keep moving your body, 2) keep working out, and 3) keep moving toward your respective goals. We may be halfway through the woods, but no doubt we’ll get through them.
YogaStyles of Rich and the Almost Famous is where History meets Yoga throughout the streets of Chicago. Made in 2016 to highlight the benefits of yoga and the amazing historical sites and sounds of the Windy City, we visited more than 60 Chicago landmarks and tourist attractions and taught yoga to a bunch of courageous residents who’ve never tried yoga.
Special thanks to my amazing crew including Rhonda Carlson, Angie Lee Chastain, Aron Rosenthal, Alex Halstead and John Draughon, as well as The Namaste Five cast of yoga students Lauren Accardi, Vika Lvova, Amy Johnson, Laura Moschel and Monica Bright. And to all the ‘almost famous’ people we taught throughout the city and on the campus of Northwestern University, as well as StreetWise Magazine and Julie Youngquist, Comedian Kat Herskovic, prAna and the City of Chicago, you rock!
Thanks for watching everyone, and have an awesome day! Peace – R
It’s always best to Be Present in everything you do, that is to say, have a Micro Presence. But it’s also best to set timely goals and have a big picture take on your life, and that is to say, with a Macro View.
Especially when it comes to business and fitness. Unless you’re independently wealthy or already retired, then just focus on the fitness part. And since you’ve already set your business goals – if not then get to it – let’s focus on fitness. Which includes getting on the scale – if you haven’t already – and setting a 5 pound range for yourself to maintain throughout 2020. That’s once you get to your ideal body weight, so get there quick. And if you need some inspiration, check out STAY ZEN: Episode #5 – Who’s afraid of the big bad scale? Because anyone can maintain a healthy and desirable weight.
So every morning get on the scale – yes that’s EVERY single morning – and keep that number within a 5 pound range or you’ll need to Self Correct. Remember that concept from my memoir, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood, from Chapter 67. A fan favorite and no doubt one of mine. In this case Self-Correct would be to eat more good foods (or whatever you want for that matter) to maintain or gain if you’re at the low end of your range – in my case 145 – or completely fast a full-day if you’re at the top – for me that’s 150. Easy peasy, then you’re back on track. No BS..it works. Today I was 146, so bring it on!
As for the exercising part, well just do as I do…and do it everyday. That’s correct. We’re 15 days into the new year and fortunately I’m 15 for 15. Bodybuilding at the gym, doing yoga poses, stretches and abs, plus walking 5+ miles every day and teaching two Tola Yoga classes a week. And no worries if you’re less than perfect or even 0 for 15, just start tomorrow and go 350 for the remaining 350 days. You can do it, so just believe you can and try. With all the aches and pains in my body, if I can do it, anyone can.
Have an awesome 2020 everyone, and get your workout in. Peace – R
Today marks my 12th year anniversary teaching yoga. For that I am blessed.
In honor of all my amazing students and teachers who continue to inspire me each and every class – more than 2,500 of them – here’s a short Tola Yoga sequence you can do anytime, anywhere.
Thanks for tuning in everyone, and get your workout in. Peace – R
Things are heating up in the entertainment world, so I’m now teaching monthly Tola Yoga pop-ups and privates throughout Los Angeles in lieu of my regular weekend classes.
Come join us this Saturday at 4:30-5:30p for another challenging class!
Just a couple of East coast dudes talking travel, surfing, fitness, yoga and real estate, as Tola Talks with his good friend and Surfer/Yogi, Mike Tammaro.
We’re talking everything from surfing the treacherous waves at Black’s Beach to the perfect waters of Costa Rica, to selling multi-million dollar homes in The Hamptons.
Also get the scoop on some great movies that brave the shining seas including Justice League, The Wackness, Point Break, Blue Crush, Soul Surfer and the 1974 great white blockbuster, Jaws.
Millennials take heed from your brethren and don’t be afraid of life’s choppy waters. Because you never know, you just might marry a Prince!
Have an awesome day everyone, and check-out my 3 simple eating tips for losing those 5 lbs by New Year’s Day (at 18:20 mins). Peace – R
Just a couple of East coast dudes talking travel, surfing, fitness, yoga and real estate, as