5 Reasons Why Working Out With Your Valentine Is Sweet

February 8, 2016February 8, 20161 Comment

This post originally appeared on the Huffington Post blog February 4, 2016. To view the original post click here. Tune in to CH Morning Live Tuesday February 9th at 7:50am when I share 5 Workout Moves For You And Your Valentine.

vdaytribe-01(1) With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, step away from the chocolates and create a new healthy habit with your loved one, and hit the gym!

Working out with your partner is a great way to spend quality time together, be motivated to actually hit the gym and have a ton of fun. Research shows that working out with your partner will motivate you to work out longer and harder. So, grab your loved one and do something good for each other with these five reasons to get a sweat on with your sweetie this Valentine’s Day.

1. You’ll actually go!
It might be tempting to skip that yoga class after a long day at the office, but knowing that your partner is rolling out their mat too will prevent you from letting them (and yourself) down. Your active time now becomes “us” time, and that lonely or boring workout in the gym just became a lot more fun with some great company. Now who’d want to skip that?

2. You’ll try something new.
If your regular workout routine has you doing the same thing every day, sharing the experience with your partner will give you the opportunity to try something new together or find a fresh perspective on your old workout. Been nervous about joining that new run club? Have the confidence with your partner by your side and try it together!

3. You’ll be more motivated.
Bringing your own cheerleader along to your workout can make a huge difference on how motivated you are to work hard. Having someone in your corner will boost your promise to healthy living and your confidence in achieving your fitness goals.

4. You’ll work harder.
Most of us have at least a little competitive streak, and healthy competition is a good thing because it makes you work harder and for longer. Research from Kansas State University shows that working out with a partner (particularly one you believe to be fitter than you) will inspire you to increase both your workout time and intensity, and in the case of this study, by up to 160 per cent when working out with a partner, and up to 200 per cent when working out in a group.

5. You’ll have more fun!
The more fun your workouts are, the more you’re likely to do them. Find something that is fun and challenging for both you and your Valentine, and encourages you to be as committed to your workouts as you are to each other.

Looking for free fitness experiences in Toronto? Grab your Valentine and check out my Toronto fitness community, Tribe. From yoga to running, Tribe has you covered with five free weekly workouts.

Finding Balance In Your 2016 Workout

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016Leave a comment

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Miss my segment from CH Morning Live this morning?

I shared 5 moves that require no equipment and very little space and focus was on building dynamic balance while increasing your strength – firing up your core and helping you stay centered while on the move.

Watch it the rebroadcast here.

Read and view the five moves with descriptions here.

Create a Revolution With This Years Resolution Workout

January 5, 2016January 5, 20161 Comment

The new year is a great time to reset and restart your workout routine. Maybe you want it give it a small makeover by adding few challenging moves, or maybe it requires a core shaking revival, either way these 5 moves will give you a total body workout in your own house, no equipment needed!

Pick one of the three programs from below, they all use the same 5 exercises, and sneak your workouts in whenever you can.

Don’t want to read below? Watch me take you through these moves during my segment from CH Morning Live aired January 5th here.

Programs:

Total Time: Do 12 reps of each exercise, moving from one to the next without resting. Complete as many rounds as possible in 15minutes
Total Rounds: Do 12 reps of each exercise, moving from one to the next without rest. Complete five rounds and note how long it takes you to finish. Aim to do the workout faster next time.
Total Reps: Perform as many reps as you can of each move in one minute each, moving from one exercise to the next without stopping. Rest one minute, then repeat the sequence two more times. Keep track of your total rep count and try to beat your grand total next time.

Exercises

1. Traveling Lunge: Standing with feet hip distance apart, step forward with your left leg into a standing split position and slowly lower your body until your front knee is bent to at least 90 degrees.

Pause and then with your left leg step backwards and slowly lower your body until your front right knee is bent to at least 90 degrees. Pause and then return to standing. Those two movements are one set. Repeat on the other side.

2. Marching Hip Raise: Lie face-up on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.

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Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Lift one knee to your chest, lower back to the start, and lift your other knee to your chest. Continue to alternate back and forth.

3. Trunk Twist: Lie face-up on the floor with your arms straight out from your sides. Raise your legs off the floor so that your hips and knees are bent 90 degrees.

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Brace your abs and lower your legs to the right as far as you can without lifting your shoulders off the floor. Reverse the movement all the way to the left. Continue to alternate back and forth.

4. Alternating Superman: Lie face down on the floor with your legs straight and your arms extending above the head, palms down.

FullSizeRender Contract your glutes and the muscles of your lower back, and raise your head, chest, right arm, and left leg off the floor. Hold for 15 seconds, lower and repeat using your left arm and right leg. Hold and repeat again on the alternating sides.

5. Shoulder Tap Plank: Starting on all fours place your hands on the floor slightly wider than and in line with your shoulders.

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Tap your right shoulder with your left hand, pause and then return to the starting position, with both hands under shoulders. Repeat with the right hand. Continue alternating shoulder taps for the duration of the set.

Modification: Instead of performing the exercise with your legs straight, bend your knees and cross your ankles behind you. Your body should form a straight line from your head to your knees.