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
50 workouts in 50 days
Just the other day I blogged ‘What’s so special about 40’. Actually, it was 10 days ago but it feels like yesterday. That’s how quickly time passes. But from then until now, you could have exercised with me 5 minutes each day (for about an hour). For anyone not currently working out, that’s a great start. Imagine if you’ve been following along the past 50 days. That would mean you exercised everyday for a total of 250+ minutes or more than 4 hours. A lot more, right, with the key here being the everyday part. And from my other DVD offering, Rich Tola’s 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts, I believe everyone should dedicate at least 1% of their life to physical fitness, i.e., 15 minutes. Based on yoga principles, my workouts are designed to challenge your entire body with low-impact exercises that can be done anytime, anywhere. Or if you prefer more yoga, check out my Yoga Survival Guide for 5 minute lessons of 100 yoga poses. Have fun opening your heart & hips with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #50 – Bridge! – R
Boost your body image with 5 minutes of exercise
There’s a study from the University of Florida that found working out for even a few minutes a day makes you more likely to focus on your sexiest self in the mirror while glossing over your less appreciated body parts. Succinctly put, exercise improves body image for anyone who’s fit or unfit alike. The study’s author and University of Florida exercise psychologist Heather Hausenblas also found that “Negative body image has grown to almost epidemic proportions in the past 20 years, with as many as 60 percent of adults in national studies saying they don’t like the way their bodies look.” Quite a large percentage, wouldn’t you agree? So if you’re in the majority here, consider starting a daily fitness program with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #49 – Core Power. Because who doesn’t want to boost their body image with a little exercise! Enjoy – R
Set your sights and manifest it
I was reading Architectural Digest this morning when I came across an eye-catching ad for the new solar-powered luxury car by Fisker Automotive. It’s called the Karma and I’ve been reading about it for the past year. Actually, I’ve been thinking how great it would be to own one. But since I don’t currently have an extra $100,000 laying around, I’ve opted to set my sights and just manifest it, i.e., make it happen. I even cut out the great looking ad, placing it on my filing cabinet so it stays fresh in my mind. Like anything in the world you deeply desire, set your sights and manifest it. Even a daily fitness program. You can start with only 5 minutes a day. Like today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #48 – Down Dog Chest & Arms. Enjoy – R
Is luck finding you?
Thomas Jefferson, author of The Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States, once said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Similar to General George Washington’s belief ‘if we’re always doing’ (see blog from April 6th), luck has a way of finding us if we’re working hard at something. Like fitness. If you workout everyday and begin to experience A) more energy, B) increased self-esteem, C) a more positive attitude toward yourself and others, or D) a healthy glow in your face, are you just lucky or is luck finding you? Of course luck is finding you because you’re “doing”, and in the “doing” comes results. It’s not luck. It’s your hard work getting rewarded with the benefits of a daily fitness routine. So keep it going with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #46 – Killer Squats – and let luck find you!
Thwart the boredom
Last night I met a 22 year old gal who said she starting working out again after taking the last six months off. When I asked why the long sabbatical, she simply responded she was bored with her workouts. I know the feeling. After 32 years of daily workouts, who wouldn’t, right? The key to thwarting boredom is to have your mind supremely focused on the task at hand. Not that easy, you say? It is when you treat your workouts as a moving meditation with exercises attached. If you’re doing the right exercises – and exercising right – you don’t have to workout for hours on end. Keep them short and sweet (as in yesterday’s blog) and stay focused on every movement you make. Or better yet, spice it up my 5 minute fat burning workouts and you’ll have many more exercises for your repertoire. So keep it going and don’t let your mind get the best of you. Enjoy opening your hips and low back with today’s Workout #44 – Frog Legs. My best – Rich
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
Perfect example of bad role models
I read in the LA Times this morning about two parents in Michigan who beat up a 73-year old school crossing guard who tried to break up a fight between their 6-year old son and another boy. This after bringing their son to school to beat up the other boy after the two kids got into a fight last week. I would call that a perfect example of bad role models. How about leading by example and treating everyone with respect – starting with yourself. Interestingly, I would bet that neither of these attacking parents partakes in anything physical fitness at all. Just a hunch, but it seems like a lot of pent up anger and negative energy. So for these accused attackers – and anyone else who’s looking to open their heart and release some aggression via a daily fitness program – check out my 5 minute fat burning workout #41, Standing Heart Openers. Then lead by example! R
What’s so special about 40?
In the Holy Bible, there’s plenty of references to the number 40: it rained for 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the earth; Noah waited another 40 days after it rained before he opened a window in the Arch; Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days (twice); the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness – one for each day they explored the Promised Land; Goliath came for 40 days – morning and evening – before being slain by David; Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness; and Jesus appeared for 40 days after his crucifixion to speak about the kingdom of God. In the Bible there’s also reference to your physical body as being a temple – a temple that should be respected. Regardless of your religious beliefs, respect your temple today and strengthen your shoulders, chest & arms with my 5 minute fat burning workout #40. Enjoy – R
Rich Tola to star in ‘Godfather’ remake
April Fools! But really, wouldn’t it be nice if all our dreams came true? At least in the world of make believe – and I don’t mean Hollywood – anything is possible. Today, why not consider your world of make believe the real deal? Like rapper sensation Drake croons in Nicki Minaj’s hit single, Moment 4 Life, “everybody dies but not everybody lives”. So on this April Fools’ Day 2011, imagine yourself in your wildest possible dream, and just live. Because life is short and the days fly by. And if by chance your wildest dream includes you looking like a movie star with that perfect body, here’s your chance to get started with my 5 minute fat burning workout #37 that combines some Zen with that Warrior in you. It’s called Peaceful Warrior. And I’ll see you next time! -R