Category: Instructional

Posted on

Vacation workout

Twelve days ago I posted my 100th video/blog for my 100 days of 5 minute, low-impact, yoga-based, fat burning workouts.  Since then I visited my family in New Jersey, and spent some time with friends in New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco.  Of course I continued with my daily fitness program, as well as took a few yoga classes. Challenging, yes, since you’re busy enjoying your time off.  But do-able. Especially with my Fat Burning Workouts.  That’s why I wrote this poem…to inspire you to keep with your daily fitness program even while on vacation.  Enjoy your Daily Workout.  – R

YOU CAN DO IT

I’m here to help you
There’s no need to fail
If you know what to do
Then just step on the scale

Believe you can tighten
Believe you can win
Cause who better than you
Conquers that battle within

Mother Nature’s quite cruel
Father Time’s a quick chime
Who says you can’t switch
To a program like mine

Don’t despair my good student
You’ll never be bored
With a daily fitness program
You’ll love your reward

Posted on

100 Workouts in 100 Days

When you read this you might think, what’s so special about exercising 5 minutes a day, everyday, for 100 straight days?  I mean, you walk around and climb stairs everyday at work and home, and even work-up a sweat doing the household chores like scrubbing the bath tub.  But are you really embracing a daily fitness program?  One that’s effective, simple and attainable, and most importantly, one that becomes an integral part of your subconscious. Because moving the body around isn’t the same as exercising the body. With exercise there’s a purpose and a goal.  And if you exercise daily, you will see results. You’ll not only benefit from having more strength and flexibility, increased bone mass, better posture, better circulation, and better breathing, but also from the mental clarity and strength you’ll get from succeeding everyday at something quite challenging. All it takes is the belief and the courage to try.  So believe and achieve with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #100-Bridge Pose II. It’s also the finale of this fat burning series, with details coming soon about my Burn Fat America Tour.  Thanks for tuning in!  – R

Posted on

Fail over and over again

Michael Jordan, one of basketball’s greatest players, once said, “I’ve missed over 9,000 shots in my career.  I’ve lost almost 300 games.  26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot – and missed.  I’ve failed over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed.”  No doubt.  Because if you never try you’ll never succeed.  And by trying you learn, experience and mature into a do-er and not a talk-er.  One who’s not afraid to take the next shot, whatever the outcome of the previous one.   So if you’ve tried before, to exercise a little bit each day, and just it didn’t stick, well then, be like Mike, and try again today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #99 – Core Power II.  Enjoy – R

Posted on

Arsenal of Exercises

For the past 98 days, I’ve been coming up with different fat burning workouts that are uniquely challenging, simple and short.  No special equipment or anything else required. Just yourself, a device with internet access, and a space about the size of your bathroom. Clothes optional.  So check out the cool arsenal of exercises you now have at your disposal with the past 98 workouts.  And enjoy blasting your thighs from the Ground to the Penthouse with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #98 – Elevator Squats.  – R

Posted on

Longer days for better bodies

In exactly three weeks (June 21st), the summer solstice will occur when the days are longest and the nights are shortest.  I’m not sure about you, but I certainly prefer the daytime when it comes to working out or doing anything fitness related.  With longer days and the hot summer weather, it’s a great time to go for that after dinner walk or scenic bike ride.  And why not consider adding a few 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts to the mix to round out your evening.  Either before or after, these bite-size workouts will provide you with a quick and effective warm-up or cool-down to complement your stroll. So let that extra sunlight help you achieve that better body, and enjoy sculpting your entire body with today’s 97th consecutive fat burning workout – Side Plank.  – R

Posted on

Remembering my Uncle Mickey

Every Memorial Day I remember my Uncle Mickey, aka, Dr. Cook.  Uncle Mickey served as a cook in the Army in WWII, thus the nickname, and he was exactly 55 years older than me as we shared the same birthday.  In my 20’s I got to know Uncle Mickey and respected his view of himself and the world.  Because he respected everyone and everything.  He was this charming bachelor who would tell folks he never married because he had to take care of his mother, he had a daily fitness routine he’d do in the spare room, and he wore a suit & tie every single day.  That’s right, every single day until he entered the nursing home when he was 90.  He was the ultimate citizen who respected what it meant to be an American.  Someone to admire for truly loving life.  And what I remember most about Uncle Mickey was our walks at the nursing home when his mind and body would barely cooperate.  He always kept his dignity and his positive attitude, and never felt sorry for himself.  So for everyone remembering loved ones today, enjoy!  And enjoy sculpting your thighs again with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #96 – Killer Squats II. – R

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

Posted on

Benefits of balancing

Balancing poses are great for the mind and body because they help you develop lightness, strength, agility, muscle tone, coordination, concentration, self-confidence and overall control of your body.  And when you add a backbend to your standing balancing pose, like we do with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #95 – Dancer’s Pose, you’ll also rejuvenate the body, giving you more alertness, openness, flexibility, energy and courage. So add some balancing & backbends to your long holiday weekend.  And enjoy!  – R

 

Posted on

Eat Smart

Everybody understands the concept of eating smart, right?  And what a great time to get mentally prepared for the long holiday weekend by consciously respecting your body with a smart approach to eating.  Because eating smart with healthy foods and smaller portions per meal will certainly complement your daily fitness program.  So enjoy stretching it out today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #94 – Leg Stretches.  – R

Posted on

Maximize Gains and Minimize Injury

This week I updated my YouTube Channel home page (click HERE to check it out) and changed my Profile section.  For anyone my age or even 10 years younger, this New Age internet world with all it’s social networking, websites and tags is quite a handful, right. Whatever happened to calling someone or sending them a handwritten letter. (like I’ve been doing in recent weeks).  It’s also interesting how few words you use when you write a note or letter by longhand.  With computers and all, we’re usually bombarded with TOO many words.  Oh well, adapt and survive!  Nevertheless, in my Profile on YouTube I wrote, “My style is precise to maximize gains and minimize injury.”  Simply put, getting the most out of your workouts is achieved when you know exactly what to do and exactly how to do it – as in proper form and body mechanics.  Plus, you’ll reduce your chances of getting hurt.  Which is exactly what and how I teach.  Even if you exercise regularly or practice yoga, check out my videos and expand your knowledge base.  You’ll definitely learn something that will help you and that you’ll never forget.  So enjoy going to the “extreme” today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #93 – Extreme Abs.  – R

Posted on

Make it a Religion

I met a thirty-something year old gal in the gym this morning who’s there religiously, Monday-Friday, but never on the weekends.  When I asked why, she said “because she likes to sleep a lot to get ready for Monday”.  Interesting, I thought, then she asked me why I workout everyday, even on the weekends.  Because working out everyday is a religion to me, I responded, and I believe that rest is more pertinent to strength training than it is to a comprehensive daily fitness program.  One that includes weight training, yoga, cardio, abdominals, and stretching, all combined with a moving meditative mindset. As described by Dictionary.com, the noun religion is also defined as “a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects”.  Thus, my fervent belief in a daily fitness program makes it a religion for me, albeit, in an unconventional way.  No worries if you believe otherwise.  Just consider the results you’re getting from whatever fitness program you believe in, and if they’re not too satisfying, then perhaps consider embracing my religion.  And enjoy another 5 Minutes of Fat Burning with today’s 92nd consecutive workout – Killer Thighs.  My best – R