This goes out to all the Ladies living at the domestic violence shelter in San Diego where I taught a 2-hour yoga & lifestyle class last night. Because after teaching a 75 minute yoga class followed by a 45 discussion about embracing a positive mindset, a healthy diet, and most importantly, a daily fitness routine, I truly believe in each and every one of them. I know you’re reading this Ladies, so don’t forget to do your Peaceful Warriors, Temple Poses, Side Body Abs and Stretching, Chair Poses up against the Wall, and of course our favorite, Viparita Karani or Legs Up the Wall. Today and every day this week until I come back again next Thursday to “kick it up a notch”. Always remember to stay present with your thinking and live positively and happily, moment to moment. Because whether or not your past experiences have been negative or abusive, you never have to carry that energy with you. Let it go. And if it begins to creep into your mind and body, go outside and do some yoga and my fat burning workouts, or better yet, work on some balancing with that meditative breath I taught you – and remember to pick that point of focus and use all distractions to help you focus more. So respect yourself each and every day, especially during this long holiday weekend, and enjoy sculpting your thighs and butt today with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #96 – Killer Squats II. Namaste – R
Mind games never work
I was working out next to this very large twenty-something year old guy in the gym the other day when he says to his friend, “I told myself I’m going to lose 15 pounds, so when I don’t make it and only lose 10, it’ll be a success. Because I only need to lose 10.” So what’s wrong with this statement? Besides the fact that he’s just casually throwing around words and talking about what he’s going to do, he’s playing mind games with himself and not facing up to the truth. Because when it comes working out and/or significant weight loss, it’s critical to be honest with yourself. Never judge yourself or the outcome, but be honest. Mind games never work. Because your subconscious knows the truth and will always sabotage your games. Rightly so, since any successful program begins with honesty, commitment and self-discipline. So forget the mind games and let the real games begin with a daily fitness program. With today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #100, why not BRIDGE your way backwards to the next 100 days! Enjoy – R
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
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
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
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
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
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
Fitness + Family = Fun
Yesterday I taught a one-hour fat burning class at a domestic violence shelter in San Diego on behalf of my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation. I was excited to teach about ten children (ages 3 – 12), with a few ever-so shy moms and grandmothers too. It was certainly a family affair, with the kids leading the charge! Since I don’t have any children of my own – at least not yet – I’m always fascinated by the pure joy kids find in the simplest of activities. And with their moms and grand-moms joining in, they had FUN, regardless of how challenging it was. Simply put, Fitness + Family = Fun. So gather your entire family today and enjoy strengthening your legs, and your family bond, with my 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #85 – Chair Twists (the exact same exercises we practiced at the shelter). And have fun! – R
Friends and honesty, do they match?
I was speaking with a friend this morning about telling your best friend something that’s true, but may hurt their feelings. Or worse yet, may drive your best friend away, especially if they’re in a difficult place in their life. Like my friend’s best friend, who’s responding to adversity with an eating disorder. The thing is, with friends it’s oftentimes difficult to be brutally honest, especially if the truth is difficult to swallow. And since the truth can be as painful to give as it is to receive, it’s always best to proceed with sensitivity and compassion. For those of you who have seen my film, Boulevard Zen, you know that my character, Bobby D’Angelo, inspires others to overcome adversity while communicating the truth through example. He uses the healing powers of yoga to help students deal with their depression, infertility, hypertension and anorexia. So be sensitive with your truth telling, especially if it involves something serious and beyond your expertise. And always encourage your friends to make that mind-body connection with some form of fitness, especially yoga. So enjoy restoring your body with today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #77 – Restorative Legs, Core & Abs II – R