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I'm a hopeless fitness video addict. For awhile, I subscribed to Netflix JUST to get new fitness videos, for I also have very short-lived enthusiasm for most videos. These days I'm obsessed with the dance fitness classes at my local YMCA--Body Jam and Zumba--so the videos are getting a little rest. 

(And may I say that the new Body Jam workout kicked my butt this morning?)

But I always return to videos by this one instructor, Amy Dixon. The workouts are hard but not impossible and she manages to exude a totally inspiring attitude without being annoying. There's this one thing Amy says that has wormed its way into my daily thoughts: just as you're about to start a round of difficult moves, she says, "go get it".

OK, I know, probably cheesy as all get out. But it gives you permission--permission to do your best. And it's a reminder that we're not spectators in our lives. We're in charge. So we need to go get what we need, now. Don't just stumble your way through things half-heartedly. 

I thought of this today because I have the rare chance to spend an entire weekend afternoon on writing. My husband's home supervising a playdate, so all boys are occupied and only hazily aware of my absence. I could fold laundry or write overdue thank-you notes. OR... I could go get it.

So I'm writing and already 1,500 words in. Partly because I can hear Amy Dixon in my head. 

I was going to finish cleaning my kitchen floor… but then I thought, why not add a blog update?  ha!

Today I went for a walk.  There is nothing like walking in leaves!  I love fall mornings.

As usual, even on my walks I am working.  All I could see were color palettes! I picked up leaf after leaf to add to my fall collection.

S t r e t c h !!!!!!
Nothing like a little stretching after a long day on the computer.  I just wish I could find a red leotard like this one.  :0)

Holy wow, am I in pain.

I know I've mentioned several time that I started taking Combat Aqua, which is sort of like kickboxing in the shallow end of the pool, this past spring. I really love the class. It's got great music, fun gear, and I honestly get a real workout from of it. And it's not just me; one of the bikini clad newbies that showed up to last Monday's class grumbled, "I can't believe I'm freaking sweating in the pool."

So.

Two weeks ago I decided to check out the Western Family Y's version of the deep water workout. For these classes, you're in the deep end, wearing a floatation belt and do things like try to balance on pool noodles and do bicep curls with foam weights under the water. The normal Thursday night teacher was on vacation, and his replacement apparently hadn't taught the class in a while. She spent most of the hour talking about how she hated Delaware and was interviewing for a different job in D.C. My heart rate? As still as it is when I'm watching TV. By the end I started swimming laps just to try to get a little bit of cardio in, which is the main reason I've been taking these water aerobics classes. Afterward, I told Joe that it had been the biggest waste of time ever. He confessed that he'd peeked in through the window and saw that we were all just sort of bobbing in place. I was so upset about this wasted hour that I ended up filling out a comment card for the first time ever. (To the Y's credit, someone emailed me within a week to apologize, and assured me that they'd speak to the sub instructor about what I'd said. I made sure to gush about Paula, our Combat Aqua instructor, who always tailors her workouts to who's there. Like, if when the bikini-clad newbies showed up, Paula used our warm up time to show them the basic moves. She rocks.)

Anyway, the week after Wendy attended a Tuesday night deep water class. The regular instructor, Richard, was still on vacay, so the Wednesday night teacher, Jess, filled in for him. Wendy's experience was the opposite of mine; in her class, Richard's Tuesday night regulars were complaining that Jess was too hard (whereas his Thursday night regulars that I encountered told me Richard's workouts were much more intense). So, Wendy and I agreed to take Jess's class this past Wednesday.

I should explain that this particular class is billed as a combination of Aqua Jog and Burdenko Water Walking, both of which emphasis using your own weight as well as the water for resistance. You still wear the floatation belt, but you rarely stop moving. Ten minutes into the class, as "Itty Bitty Pretty One" blasted from the portable speaker, Jess was screaming, "Level 8, Ladies! Push it harder! Go all out now!" Jess, I should explain, is an older woman, pretty tall and stick thin. She's also quite buff and a little bit of a drill seargant, but in a good way. I was grunting a bit as I cross-country skied cross the length of the pool, and I'm fairly certain my face turned purple when we were Level 10 "jogging." By the time we got the part of the class where we were using the foam dumbbells, I wanted to die - always the mark of a good workout, if you ask me. I told Jess I'd definitely be back, and I will.

Yesterday, though, I started to feel the effects of my first Jess-run Aqua Jog class. It started with a little bit of soreness in my hips and my bum. Not pain, just the kind of tender you feel after a new kind of workout, where you're moving muscles that haven't been moved in a while. The tenderness increased as the night went on. Then, today, I woke up in a world of hurt. Like, seriously, my butt hurts, my hips hurt, my upper back is sore, my arms are sore - I think the only part of my body that doesn't realize it received a workout is my forearm. Seriously.

Did I mention that I dropped two full pounds since I took the class? That's after ONE CLASS. I most certainly will become a devoted disciple of Jess.

Exercise is such a funny thing to me. I'm one o

To kick off Fitness Week I have 'My Gym at Home - Fun with Monique' by BabyFirstTV.

This DVD is specifically design to "assist in the formation and development of your child's motor skills, flexibility and social skills." Plus, it's just plain fun.

Monique Vranesh, leads you through a series of exercises to be done with your toddler. Along with her cheery personality, the upbeat music and traditional kids' songs makes this exercise regime more like a sing-a-long play group. The time you spend stretching and bouncing with your little one will make you forget you're getting a work out as well.

Here's more of what My Gym at Home has to offer;

* Hip Rolls and Tickles

* Head Stand

* Flying Forward Roll on a Ball

* Knee Balancing

* Log Rolls Down the Hill

* Ship Prow

And because toddlers attention spams vary, each segment is approximately 7 minutes long. You can also stop after the first one or keep going for more frolicking-fun. Plus, the exercises don't have to be done in order, so you can skip around for more variety. My Gym at Home DVD would be perfect for small groups.

Want to win my copy of My Gym at Home? Just leave me a comment in this blog spot and I'll do a random draw on Friday August 20'th.

For more information, check out their web site here or click here to order My Gym at Home and other BabyFirst products.

About BabyFirstTV:

BabyFirstTV is the nation's only 24/7 channel dedicated to babies and their parents. The channel features programming specifically tailored to meet the needs of infants and toddlers. The program's content focuses on areas of development ranging from language to numbers to creative thinking.

I'm a member of TWV2 - The Writer's View (newbie's group). A recent question about the relationship between our physical fitness and our writing performance reminded me of a post I wrote a year or so ago "Writing Exercises."  Some other members reminded me of the importance of great posture while sitting at the computer, of protecting your wrists and hands from carpal tunnel and

I went to go workout today and when I got there everything was different. There's a big renovation project that just completed and the entrance to the club is in a completely different place and the workout equipment is in a groovy new building with a gorgeous view. Everything was so different that I had a hard time finding the door to get in. There was a sign pointing down a path and a bunch of yellow caution tape that scared me off. Another lady was not to far behind me and I asked her how to get in and she said, oh I don't know, I suppose the door right there and walked ahead of me. Yup, the one I didn't see, right in front of me. I replied that was probably a good guess. She walked right in. I felt like an idiot. I tried to work out on the machine I always workout on and it wasn't hooked up, so I tried another one and it wasn't hooked up either. I told the office staff who didn't know there were so many machines in need of electricity. Then I sat there a minute and felt like just going home. I mean, the workout mo wasn't right. Wasn't really feeling it.

But I went to the weight room upstairs instead. While I lifted I heard people beside me say things like: Everything so strange; Different; I hate change. And I thought about it. Change is hard. Change is exhausting. But, I don't hate change. I mean, it shakes things up, keeps things interesting. I would hate to be so totally a creature of habit that the LEAST little change would floor me.

I went back downstairs and worked on a machine that did work. Yeah, I didn't get level of workout I would have had everything been working right, but it was OK. And it is a lovely new building. What do you think of change? Does the least little change set you off?

Some dig early morning exercise…and some don’t.

As writers, we interview glamorous subjects or humble townsfolk, all who have a story worth sharing. Or we devise fictional characters, both good and evil, and spin their stories into tight, intricate plots. Often, we put a great deal of stock into these fictional and non-fiction expose`s. And sometimes, it seems like we cater to their every whim, ignoring our own personal needs.

When writers immerse themselves so deeply that they forget about themselves, trouble is bound to occur. The brain fogs. Ideas stop flowing. Creativity goes kaput. The next thing we know, we run into a mental block that's stronger than a jolting sip of espresso. We fail to see the big picture because the small steps to get there look bleak and daunting.

That's why writers need to take care of themselves physically and mentally. These building blocks of positive thinking can help you break out of a creative downslide.

1. Assume the Attitude. If we express a negative opinion, nothing positive will result. We make a conscious choice every morning as soon as we wake up, electing either to take an optimistic outlook or a pessimistic point of view. Assume a positive attitude, write your new mantra and mean it. Your writing will improve.
2. Breathe deeply. Fresh air clears negativity and a single focus. Just spending a few minutes outside offers a new outlook and provides a fresh source of oxygen. It's bound to rejuvenate our thinking!
3. Create time for you. If your writing schedule is anything like mine, there are days when I feel I'm writing 24/7. It's not an organization problem. It's assignment overload! Am I complaining? Heck, no! I welcome the challenge. But many writers wonder when they will have to write for themselves. I have the same concerns sometimes, but by blocking a set time for me, I allow myself time from my paying assignments to create personal essays, poetry, and fiction. And who knows? Those works may one day capture an editor's attention.
4. Drink H2O. It's true. Water replenishes the body and the soul. Stay hydrated while you're pounding away at the keyboard. A cool glass of ice water sparks your metabolism, or so I've been told, so I keep a cool glass near and drink up when I'm feeling a bit of brain drain.
5. Ease into an exercise routine. Whether you choose a spiritual path by assuming yoga poses, pump weights and do cardio, or practice belly dancing in your office chair while typing, tackling an exercise program will pump up your energy level.
6. Fight stress. Writers, you recognize when stress creeps up. You're accustomed to creating tension on the page. Now, you need to recognize when it interferes with your writing routine. Combat stress by using one of the above tips or by simply taking a break from your current project.

Staying healthy mentally and physically builds our writing stamina and mentality, and that's important for the real and fictional subjects we write about.

by WOW! columnist and blogger LuAnn Schindler. Learn more about her work at http://luannschindler.com

(C) Copyright wow-womenonwriting.com Visit WOW! Women On Writing for fresh interviews, news, How Tos, and writer's markets. Enter the WOW! Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest Open Now!

 Okay Healthy Writers….

So now that you are sitting in a supportive chair with adjustable arm rests and height

and your screen is at eye level

and the light is on, so you don’t strain your eyes

and your wrists are supported by a pad or an extra fancy external key board

and your external mouse is just the right size (so your wrist isn't unsupported)…

and you take breaks

and you feel good…..

NOW WHAT?

It is time to exercise and stretch.

The benefits of exercise do not need to be documented here.

I’m going to give you my favorites, the exercises I do every day.

If you can give them a catchy name, I will send you a special prize!

EXERCISES THAT COUNT:

1. Cardio vascular exercise: when in doubt, walk. Even if you only have fifteen minutes. Walk at a brisk pace or on your treadmill/elliptical.

2. Stretch your hamstrings. When your hamstrings are tight, we slump to pick up the slack.  


3. CRUNCHES. On an exercise ball or floor. Nice and slow. Back on the ground.

4. Lower back strengthener: on all fours, with back in stable neutral, lift opposite arm and leg. Switch sides. Repeat.

Here are two back stretches that might help, too:      (if they hurt, don't do them!)

5. Push ups. Ten.

6. Wrist stretch: on your back, hold arms straight, at 90 degrees to the body. Flex wrists (the opposite way they would arch at the computer) HOLD.  

7. Still on your back: stretch your neck gently: side to side,        then in sitting, bring your nose to your shoulder.  HOLD!!!!!

8. If you are a runner: you know your calves and quads need stretching, too. If you are not, think balance: Every big muscle needs strengthening and stretching.

Are you tired just reading this???

Put on music!  Count 5, 6, 7, 8!!!!!

Have a great writing day!  Remember: if you can come up with a catchy name for my exercise list, I will really, seriously, send you a prize!!!!

-Sarah Aronson

I just signed up for my first half marathon (in April!) and I’ve been playing with the Runkeeper training app for the iPhone. The app maps your daily runs, maps them and – if you want – shares them with the community.

Some people are extremely enthusiastic about the application. Like this fellow who found a way to express his affection in a unique way by running out a message on his route…

“I think I invented a new strange use for RK: ‘GPS painting’, or at least ‘leaving a picture or message in your GPS trail’.”

This guy admits he edited the image in PS when he saw his results were less than legible – but still, he could be on to something.

Posted by Matt Forsythe on Drawn! The Illustration and Cartooning Blog | Permalink | One comment
Tags: exercise, Illustration, iphone