Author | Filmmaker and Host, Tola Talks
Quick question: What takes 28 minutes, is complimentary to your regular workouts, and will definitely improve your focus, concentration, breathing and posture, as well as strengthen your lower back, hamstrings, thighs, calfs, core and abs?
That’s easy: Tola Yoga Class #9 with Vika down by the pond in Humboldt Park, Chicago.
Enjoy! Peace – R
Balancing is great for your focus, concentration, calmness, core strengthening, alertness, coordination and improving your posture. Here’s another Tola Yoga lesson by Lake Michigan with the lovely Laura Moschel and me teaching you five (5) cool balancing sequences you can do anytime & anywhere using Tree and Eagle Pose (also know as Vrksasana & Garudasana).
Happy Memorial Day everyone! Peace – R
When I said “good posture and balance will boost your self-confidence”, they looked at me like I had three heads!
Because good posture and balance (and NOT slouching) exudes self-confidence to everyone around you as well as: 1) properly aligns your spine and puts less stress on your joints, 2) helps the bones, muscles and ligaments in the spine to move smoothly and pain-free in everything you do, 3) improves your breathing by making it easier for your lungs and diaphragm to expand, and 4) engages your abdominals at all times enabling a strong core and flatter midsection – and better looking Abs!
So get your Yoga groove on today and improve your posture and balance like I did with Ardha Chandrasana (Half-Moon pose) in the beautiful sculpture gardens at The Huntington Library.
Enjoy – R
About 20 years ago my father showed me a baseball card of a rookie he said would become one of the greatest. His name was Manny Ramirez. My father was right. In 19 years in the majors, Manny hit more home runs (555) and drove in more runs (1,831) than Mickey Mantle. As a long time New Yorker and Yankee fan at heart, this means something. And with a lifetime batting average of .312, not to mention his ability to intimidate opposing pitchers by just stepping into the on-deck circle, he’s a Hall of Famer in my book. What I remember most about Manny was the way he electrified the city of Los Angeles and led the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series in 2008. The energy and excitement was something the whole city felt, whether at Dodger Stadium or Venice Beach. Yes, he violated baseball’s drug policy (2 times), and yes, there was always Manny being Manny. Yet he played with such confidence and poise that it inspired everyone, especially his younger teammates. Love him or hate him, he was the ultimate baseball warrior. Thank you Manny Ramirez. My best always – Rich
And don’t forget today’s 5 minute workout #45 – because we all could use some Balance!
About a month ago I gave my 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts to a friend in New York City. He was actually one of my “prototype” users when I was customizing the full body low-impact exercises. Think Tony Soprano but shorter. He’s also late 40’s with amazing abilities in the kitchen. Albeit, his love of food has certainly helped sustain his 70 lbs. of extra weight. And since he’s never been much of a gym person – nor would he be caught dead in a yoga studio – the 1% or 15 minutes of your life routine works great. It’s also one that anybody can complement with power walks or abdominals & stretching. And in my friend’s case, I’ve encouraged him to take my Pass-Fail Approach. It goes as follows: At the end of each day you write a P or F into your calendar, P for pass if you worked out that day (15 minutes or more) and F if you did not; at the end of 7 days you’ll grade each week with a P or F, Pass if you have more Ps than Fs, and Fail if vice versa; and at the end of the year or 52 weeks later, if you have 26 or more Ps, you PASSED for the entire year. Which means you worked out at least one hour a week for at least half the year – 26 hours – which is excellent if you really don’t workout. Like my friend who says he’s making excellent progress. Progress with his personal Pass-Fail Approach, and progress with all the challenging yoga and balancing I’ve got him doing as he gets stronger and more confident with each workout. So take a Pass-Fail Approach and keep on progressing. I’ll see you tomorrow – R