What do you do when there’s pain in the body that affects your daily activities? You can address the pain with rest and/or with controlled stretching exercises. Depending on the specific injury and severity of your pain and injury – it’s best to consult your Doctor on that – I would recommend both. As for sciatica relief (from leg pain due to compression of the sciatic nerve) here are some simple stretching exercises that can help. Always remember to breathe slowly and deeply and send your positive energy to the area of discomfort. And smile! Enjoy your 5 minute fat burning workout #20 – R
Sad but true
There’s so much to speak of these days that’s very sad but true. In addition to the catastrophes and chaos around the globe, this morning I learned about the passing of legendary speech pathologist and dialogue coach, Sam Chwat. Sam helped thousands of people with speech challenges, as well as coach Hollywood stars like Robert DeNiro, Julia Roberts, Andie MacDowell and Tony Danza, to perfect and/or eliminate accents. I was fortunate enough to meet Sam the winter of 2006, when I received coaching from his associate, Jessica, before moving to Los Angeles. He was exactly 10 years older than me. An age far too young to go. So today, let’s open ours hearts to all those who are suffering and all those who have passed. And enjoy workout #19 – Heart Openers. 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
Tip of the Iceberg
For anyone just getting started with a daily fitness or weight loss program, consider my 5 minute fat burning workouts as the tip of the iceberg. Designed to be simple, quick and effective, each workout is like the spark that ignites a more complete fitness regimen that includes anything cardiovascular, weight lifting or yoga. Better yet, combine several 5 minute workouts and create your own customized program that fits your busy schedule and targets your body parts that require the most fat burning. And always remember to include at least one workout to strengthen your core & abs! Enjoy – R
Enjoy the simple things
What if you couldn’t tie your shoelaces or put your daughter’s hair in a braid? This past weekend a 26 year old woman was given a hand transplant during a successful 14 hour operation at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center – the first such transplant in the state of California. To be whole again. And to enjoy the simple things like braiding her daughter’s hair were the young woman’s wishes. Good news followed the operation – she’s already moving her fingers as the donor’s hand “matched beyond expectation”. Although a hand transplant comes with lifelong risks, lead surgeon Dr. Azari said, “The reasonable expectation is she will get sensation back and she will use her hand. So far it looks spot on”. Let’s radiate positive energy for our young woman, and let’s all enjoy the simple things in life. Including our daily 5 minute fat burning workout. Here’s #13. R
Life’s a boulevard and sometimes you get stuck
‘Life’s a boulevard and sometimes you get stuck’ is the overarching theme to my film, Boulevard Zen. Each of the characters uses yoga to overcome adversity in their lives. The kind of adversity that is like getting seriously stuck on a Boulevard, such as death of a spouse, a broken heart, depression, anorexia, hypertension, infertility, peer pressure and a party lifestyle. All this with a PG-rated script that’s appropriate for the entire family. The chorus from the theme song, “Life’s Boulevard”, is especially inspirational:
Driving down Life’s Boulevard is no paradise
Open up your heart let it lead you day and night
Just do not dwell on things that can’t be undone
Keep pushing forward til the battle is won
Written by me and award winning singer-songwriter Erick Macek, and performed by Erick & Bill Jones, get your free download & watch trailers @ RichTola.com. Enjoy – R
One home run doesn’t make a home run hitter
That pretty much says it all for any sport, business or hobby where doing it once or twice doesn’t earn you the title. Just ask Babe Ruth. But a dozen times, now we’re getting somewhere. Hopefully you’ve been following along with my 5 minute fat burning workouts – today is day 12. If not, no worries. You can combine any 2 or 3 workouts and get caught up pretty quick. But hurry, because the days sneak up on you just like the passage of time. So get your fitness groove-on today…and enjoy your workout! R
Ignorance corrodes
This morning I was speaking with a friend and practitioner of my new workout series. We were discussing how ignorance corrodes the inside of an individual’s soul. Ignorance being defined here as the willful lack of knowledge or awareness. And it’s the willfulness part that speeds the corrosion. Heavy stuff, I know, but think about it. That’s why my 5 minute fat burning workouts are good for you. Especially if you’re not a fitness person. Because they teach you a plethora of super effective and easy-to-follow exercises you can do in only 5 minutes – anywhere. There’s no need for special clothing, or a mat, or a specific area or room to practice in. They’re designed to prime the pump, to get you going, to put a spark in your day. Plus, they’re really simple and they’re really attainable. Check out Workout #11 – and let’s tighten that buttocks and stop corrosion today! Rich
Fitness in a bottle
When asked about fitness, the Goddess of Pop Cher once said, “If it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body”. No doubt. Except the universe – or anyone else for that matter – has yet to provide us with fitness in a bottle. So, the next best thing is to do something fitness–related everyday. Even for just 5 minutes. Because once you’re set with a daily fitness program, your body will crave it and your mind will become conditioned to do it, thus, it becomes easy. Well, maybe not easy, but for sure it becomes easier to workout every day since you’ve now created a new and rewarding routine. But don’t take my word for it – try it out for yourself. And I’ll see you next time – R
Butt Beautiful
From the Wikipedia website we learn that one’s butt is eloquently described as follows: “The buttocks (singular: buttock) are two rounded portions of the anatomy, located on the posterior of the pelvic region of apes and humans, and many other bipeds or quadrupeds, and comprise a layer of fat superimposed on the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles.” The key phrase here being a layer of fat superimposed over muscle. And who doesn’t want to reduce that layer of fat while building muscle, right? Let’s give it a try with Workout #9 from my 5 minute fat burning web series aptly named, Butt Beautiful. And when you’re done, consider climbing stairs for another 15 minutes or go for that 1 mile walk. You’ll be happy you did! Enjoy your workout – R