Yin Yoga on Bodyrock

I haven't feature a Bodyrock video in a few weeks, I believe, because there are only so many HIIT video links I am going to post to in a week, but the site recently posted a great yoga video!

The "Good Time Flow - Yin Yoga Practice" video is an ample 30 minutes long (most Bodyrock workouts are around 10-15 minutes at most) and is a welcome change from the strenuous HIIT workouts that are full of squats, burpees, and mountain climbers!  The instructor walks you through every single move with simple instructions and shows you what to do.  She also offer suggestions, such as when to use a pillow to protect your knees or when a move might be good for someone with, say, back pain.

There is not much to say about the workout... just give it a try!  I highly recommend it for those that are used to higher-intensity workouts and are looking to change it up a bit, or even for those that like to work out at a lower intensity level all the time.  Just because someone is lower in intensity doesn't mean it is not challenging!

Workout, July 21, 2012

Workout: Bodyrock HIIT video

Today was a short workout day.  My family was off to a slower than usual start and I didn't have a full hour, or even half an hour, to devote to a workout, because we needed to get out of the apartment by a certain time.  I decided that the most sensible course of action was to do a HIIT workout (high intensity interval training) in order to get the quickest results in the shortest amount of time.

I used the Bodyrock video "What Makes You Beautiful" and by the end of the first of three cycles I was definitely feeling it in my thighs.  This workout is filled with squats, burpees, jumps and mountain climbers.  I love mountain climbers, because no matter how exhausted I feel I can knock out mountain climber after mountain climber without pause.  I will definitely do a post soon on mountain climbers.  They work the upper body, core, and leg muscles, not to mention cardio benefits.

When the instructor in the video used a sandbag, I used a 10 pound kettlebell with almost no modification to the movement -- just something to keep in mind if you don't happen to have a sandbag sitting around!

(A kettlebell set - photo link)

Workout, July 19th, 2012

Workout: Bodyrock.tv video and 45 minutes on treadmill (3 incline, 3.2 mph)


Bodyrock posted a new workout today, so of course I tested it out right after dinner (a delicious and healthy Whole Foods dinner of cranberry and quinoa cakes, steamed broccoli and a cranberry, walnut and goat cheese salad).  The "Take Me For a Little Ride" workout, 12 minutes in length, incorporates some great basic moves -- lots of high knees, squats, push-ups, and plank moves.  When the instructors held sandbags or other items to add weight, I just used a 10-lb kettlebell (you can also use nothing at all and get a great workout too).


I then hopped on my treadmill, in order to catch up on some Real Housewives of Orange County, and set it to 3.2 mph.  Because of illness, I had to knock it back down to 3 mph a few days ago, so each time I am using the treadmill I add a .1 to the speed.


I should add here that I never really run, whether on a treadmill or outdoors.  As athletic as I am and strive to be, I have never been a runner.  If you also hate running, remember there are plenty of other things you can do.  Walking is great exercise too, especially if you are just starting out or the mere thought of running makes you want to die.  Look at me -- I was a recruited college athlete, a swimmer, and I literally could not break an 8-minute mile no matter how hard I tried, even at the peak of my athleticism.  I used to joke that I could probably speed-walk faster than I could run!

Workout, July 18th, 2012

The Workout:  Bodyrock.tv video and 60 minutes on treadmill (3 incline, 3.1 mph)

I completed the first part of my workout, a Bodyrock free online video (the "I Can Only Imagine Workout") as I watched the rain pour down in sheets.  Had I been dependent on going to the gym, I clearly never would have gone!

This Bodyrock video is only about 12 minutes long (as are most Bodyrock videos) but packs a nice little punch.  I really enjoyed this one move called the toe touch, where, from a flat position on the floor, I lifted my right leg, while meeting it in the air with my hands and doing a crunch, and then switched to the left (and repeat...).  The side to side burpees were challenging but I didn't give up.

I wasn't in the mood for much of anything else, although I tried to find some sort of free ballet-esque workout on line but didn't find anything I liked.  So my default was walking on the treadmill (while watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune!).  It reached 100 degrees here today, and despite running my AC at full blast, it was still deathly hot all throughout my workout.  The heat tends to zap my energy so taking a long walk on a treadmill is a good compromise.  I had initially intended to walk outside, but thought better of it due to the heat.  It was a wise move, because the skies opened up today and my walk outside would have been swiftly ruined!