But worse yet, it felt like I hadn't worked out for a month. This was my Monday morning, as "Starr" so aptly pointed out to me. No wonder I felt out of step with myself.
But it was Tuesday now.......and this was a day we ALL needed! It should be a requirement for completing each and every BootCamp. Thus, I will designate this day as one of the Top 5 days of the month in terms of value.
We all want to lose weight. It seems like the #1 reason I hear when I ask "what brought You to Adventure BootCamp?
In the quest of losing weight, we also tone and firm our imperfect bodies, lose inches, increase muscle, and maybe even improve our running speed. Yet, one of the pillars of fitness that is often neglected and missed, is "balance". As I get older, I realize that balance is a skill that we need to make as our very best friend if we are to thrive in our golden years. Even as a young warrior, if you don't use it, you will lose it. Trust me on this, all you pretty young things! I have had the advantage of being at the end of both spectrums. :)
So I came into BootCamp this morning and it didn't take me long to realize that this was going to be a special day. I had to smile and give a nod to Brian, because he is all about balance in everything he does and the very way he lives his life. (Read the emails, folks! :) So of course he would not fail to bring this to the performing stage of our fitness game and serve up a very balanced program as well! :) Its one reason I trust Brian and and his team trainers to give me the best holistic and integrated fitness program in central Ohio.
We did a series of balance exercises alternating with cardio. This was like a baked potato loaded with butter, sour cream, and bacon bits. :) Lol! It was yum-yum. Hee-hee, this day was loaded with it all :) Isometrics, balance, cardio, buns of steel, and whatever else you could imagine. And it was no joke! I knew others were thinking the same thing as I looked around.
98% of the campers were sighing, muttering to themselves, and giggling as we did an assortment of balance lunges, balance squats, and especially the one legged squats. WoW! What a brain teaser! This not only got your brain thinking, but what a premium toner for the legs! My legs are gonna get beautiful with this one, friends! You all gonna be jealous. LoL :)
Stabilizing my weight on one leg was not only refining my balance skills, but...oiy.....ouch! : ) I got a heap of weight to put on one leg, so this was isometric weight training at its best. This was really working those thighs as much as a "leg" day. Brian: hitting 2 birds with 1 stone! You go, Brian!! :) LoL!
I want to talk about theses particular balance exercises because more than any of the other ones, I could feel these in my hamstrings, glutes, quads, and abdominal muscles. It was comprehensive! I love to watch Brian demonstrate them, because he has such agility and strength in his balance, and makes it look so easy. :) Yeah right! I told you he was the master illusionist! :) But he also demonstrates how it should look when we do it for ourselves.
I looked around me and saw that nearly the entire camp, from the sweet 20's through the tried and true 50's, were waving like flags, shaking and trembling like an overfilled washing machine trying to negotiate this feat of doing the "one-legged wonders"! LoL! Who would know it could be so challenging folks? :)
We were cutting up and enjoyed watching all the distorted positions and shapes we saw our comrades crumble in to, but at the same time, my thoughts were moving in another direction. This is something I never thought much about as a young person, but lack of balance is the primary reason that older aged people fall and break their hips. Most of the time they will end up in nursing homes and never fully recover. I can think of countless examples, some very close to me, where within 2 years they die. Serious business folks. And yet, the young and flexible campers had little edge over us more seasoned queen bees! :( Somewhat of a scary thought, friends.
Something to think about, don't you think? The good thing, is that it is never too late. Its all about practicing the discipline and form. We just need to be consistent like anything else we want to achieve.
This great workout continued as we took our cardio breaks, until Brian used his creative finesse to make working hard even more fun! He devised a competition where we all had to close our eyes, stand on one leg, and compete against each other to crown the winning camper who could last the longest without faltering or touching the ground.
This was great fun putting it in a competitive format, yet it should have given all of us a real eye opener to where we stood with ourselves. There were several campers who held on good, but only one came forth as the clear and uncontested winner of this contest. I will call her "Princess Balance" :) She stood calm, steady, centered, and strong as a Great Oak tree that never wavered in the wind. She was beautiful and dignified in her calm. She won both contests for each leg. You are awesome, "Princess Balance"! :)
When Brian announced the winner who won by such a long shot, I made a point to check out who this phenomenal balancing act was. :)
I later caught up with our "Princess Balance" and her secret was yoga. She had learned to balance and center herself through lots of yoga through the years. She giggled and laughed when I approached her. She didn't seem to think it was anything.
"Oh, its not so much. Just take a yoga class and you can do it, too!"
One of the most charming things about this particular lady is her gracious deportment and humbleness. Yes, Princess Balance, I want to practice this skill and become good as you! :) It might not require yoga, but it sure would be a good way to go. :) You are an exquisite example of what one can do with yoga and practice.:)
Well, comrades, what do you think? I am sure there are many who take yoga, and I got to tip my hat off to you. If it can do for you what it has obviously done for our special young winner and her sense of balance, then steady as she goes! The results in this contest were stunning.
For the rest of us, including me.......we each need to give birth to our own "Princess Balance". This is vitally important, and I hope you hear the pinK tiger mewing at you. :) I am only too happy that Brian includes this in our program, and I hope he will include more to come.
It was awesome!
Like I said, it sure was a "Legs of Steel" workout too! ;) My muscles tightened up so much they went spastic! Hee-hee!
Catch you tomorrow. Next time the pinK tiger closes her eyes, she won't necessarily be cat napping. :) Figure it out.
the pinK tiger
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