Courage Works at the Yoga Workshop (video)

No doubt having Courage brings you to a whole new level in life. As it does with your Yoga practice, not to mention one simple fact that everybody knows…Yoga gives you Courage.

Alright, let’s not state the obvious here, but doing one-armed feathered peacock pose (or Pincha Mayurasana for you Yoga purists) for the first time, well that takes Courage. So Kudos to my students who courageously tried & learned 10 of the most advanced Yoga poses on earth!

Here’s a few pics and a video of me teaching Eka Pada Koundinyasana I & II from our Arm Balancing & Inversion Workshop at Evanston Athletic Club. Have an awesome day! Peace – R

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https://vimeo.com/richtola/richtolayogaworkshop

25 pounds more than a generation ago

This morning I read that for the first time since the 1960s, the United States Coast Guard has increased its estimate of average passenger weight by 25 pounds (used by ferries and charter boats to help determine how many people they can carry).  With clothing and all, the typical passenger now weighs in at 185 pounds – that’s 25 pounds more than a generation ago.  And this extra 25 pounds may likely be added to the Federal Transit Administration’s standard for buses, subways, light rails, etc., which is currently set at 150 pounds.  I guess there’s no need to explain our nation’s weight increase, right? Because everything from poor eating habits, more expensive healthy foods, too much time watching TV and surfing the Internet, and too little physical exercise will certainly do the trick.  So why not help reverse our nation’s heavier trend with a daily fitness program. Even if you won’t be traveling anytime soon!  So respect yourself and have fun strengthening your chest & arm with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #63.  – R

PS – Today marks my 100th blog since debuting 20 weeks ago – thanks for reading!

Persevere like Jackie Robinson

Today, Major League Baseball commemorates the 64th anniversary of Hall of Famer, Jackie Robinson, for breaking the color barrier as the first black player to play in MLB since the 1880’s.  He was also the first black television analyst in Major League Baseball, and the first black vice-president of a major American corporation (Chock Full O’Nuts in 1957).  In the 1960s, Jackie helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned financial institution based in Harlem, New York.  This, from a man born into a family of sharecroppers.  Jackie Robinson is definitely someone who overcame substantial obstacles, including death threats and horrific slurs from racially charged fans.  But he persevered and won a World Championship ring when the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the 1955 World Series.  So if there’s anything in your life that needs more perseverance to get you through, think of Jackie Robinson and stay the course.  And do so with beautiful thighs & biceps with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #51.  Enjoy – R

Short and Sweet

Everybody knows the expression short and sweet, right?  Quite simply it means “to the point”.  And with most challenging activities in life, it’s usually best for them to be short and sweet rather than drag on for some infinite period of time.  Like working out. Because if you know what to do and have a specific game plan for any given day, your workouts will be effective, rewarding, painless and most importantly, to the point.  Well, I guess painless is a relative thing, so let’s settle with effective, rewarding and to the point.  So have fun toning your Arms and Abs with today’s short and sweet 5 minute fat burning workout #43.  Enjoy – 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