60 Minute Workout: Outdoor Circuit

I love it when the days are longer.

Whether you like to workout early in the morning or later in the evening, you know that (most of the time) you will still be greeted with some glorious sunshine.

It is no secret that I prefer to exercise in the fresh air.  After a walk or run, I often go the the local park with a resistance band in hand and do some strength training.  I do this with my clients too and there is just something about being outside that makes them work a little harder. :)

I hope this workout inspires you to work a little harder too.  You can do it two ways:

1. Plan your route so that there is a park along the way and bring your band.  Half way through the run/walk, stop at the park and perform the strength training exercises. OR
2. Complete your run/walk and do the strength training when you get back in your yard or a park close to your home.

As always, check with you doc before you begin any exercise program.

Exercise Review: Stress Relief Yoga

I ran more today than I have in over 3 months since I sprained my ankle.

I only did 4 2-minute sprints and they were very slow, but I got out there and I did it.

However, when I got home my ankle, knee and hip were not happy with me. (Isn't it amazing how all things are connected in the body?  When you injure one thing, you can mess up other body parts...but that is a different post. :)

After I did some foam rolling, I decided to break out a yoga DVD for a much needed stretch.  I choose Stress Relief Yoga with Suzanne Deason.  It is the perfect length (only 20 minutes) and great for stretching.

It has been a long time since I have done an exercise review and thought this would be a great opportunity to share. 

Source

4 Tips To Safe Summer Exercise

It has been a scorcher in Ontario this week with temperatures rising to over 40 degrees and it is just going to keep getting hotter and more humid.

In fact, there is an extreme heat alert issued for Toronto and we are on our way to breaking a weather record.

Welcome to the first day of summer.

Move of the Month: Swimmer

Looks like it is going to be a gorgeous weekend!  I am going to spend some quality time with the family and I am hoping that most of that time with be spent in the sun. :)

Now, lets get to the good stuff! The move of the month for June is the pilates swimmer.

This is an excellent exercise to primarily work the lower back, but it also requires full body strength.  We often neglect the lower back in favour of a few more crunches, but it so important to balance opposing muscle groups.  We spend a lot of time in flexion in pilates, so we always want to make sure we work on extension.

Make sure you check with your doc before you begin any exercise program.

15 Minute Workout: A Quick HIIT

This past weekend was a hot one in Ontario.  I hope you all managed to stay cool.

As the weather continues to get warmer, it often becomes easier to use the it-is-too-hot-to-workout excuse.

While it is very true that you should avoid strenuous activity outdoors during peak hours (approx. 11am -4pm), that doesn't mean that you have to forgo the workout altogether.

This HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) routine is so quick, you will be done in the same amount of time it would take to think about another excuse not to do it.  For more about HIIT, check out this link!

The best part is that you don't need any equipment and it can be done anywhere.  Get ready to get your sweat on!

As always, check with your doctor before you begin an exercise program.

Friday Favourites: My Daily Blog List

I hope you had a fantastic week and are gearing up for an even better weekend.  I know I am . :)

Today's favourites came about from a question I been asked a few times:  With so many blogs out there covering a huge range of topics, how do I decide which ones to visit on a daily basis?

4 Tips for Promoting Your Business at an Event

After a few crazy weeks, I think I am finally back to a semi-normal blogging schedule. This makes me happy, I have missed it. :)

In all the craziness, I forgot to share another event I went to a couple weeks ago.

CPTN Fitness Conference Highlights

I had the pleasure of volunteering at the CPTN Dare to Be Excellent Conference this past weekend and I have to tell you that it was an amazing event of fitness, networking and fun!