Tag: fitness

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Don’t Play it in Your Head

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”.

Rich Tola (March 2014)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 Mind is 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

 

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Stay Zen #9 – Top 5 Household Item Exercises

I confess. I didn’t make it to the gym or yoga class yesterday. That’s right, too busy getting this next episode of Stay Zen ready to publish.

But no worries, because I was able to get a quick workout in with my Top 5 Household Item Exercises. No BS here folks, because regardless of your financial situation or your super busy life, all it takes is a little creativity and discipline and bam! You got your workout in. Enjoy – R

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No Retreat, baby, No Surrender

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.

Verdugo Mountains in Burbank, CA
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 Tola
author, Rich Tola
Now 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.

Peace – R

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Keep the Drive Alive

Yoga masters Rich Tola and Jessi Harper teaching a charity class in Hollywood to benefit The Boulevard Zen Foundation
Yoga masters Rich Tola and Jessi Harper teaching a charity class in Hollywood to benefit The Boulevard Zen Foundation
Did you ever notice how quiet your fitness center is on Sunday mornings? That’s because Sundays are a day of rest, right?

Not in Father Time’s eyes.

And not in mine. Because whatever goals you set for yourself – such as getting leaner for the beach this summer or finding a more rewarding job – Keep the Drive Alive. That’s right, stay motivated every single day to move the ball up the field with your thoughts and actions.

Like getting your workout in on Sundays, or researching the internet and then canvassing your neighborhood for new opportunities. They’re all cumulative. And get you closer to your goals.

So no worries or self-sabotage about what you didn’t do this past week…just do it today!

Enjoy – R

My audiobook, Simply Between Millions: From Wall Street to Hollywood, now on iTunes
Rich Tola's Memoir on iTunes