Teaching AND working in media!

Office Yoga

It's been my goal and my ideal to try to combine my passion for health and fitness with my pure love of writing, design and PR/media. Progress! I have secured a contract to promote a health campaign via social media, which I can't say too much about just yet, but I'm thrilled. It has meant a lot to me that the people I know and love have been so encouraging and supportive. I will keep updating this blog and hopefully this will inspire you to know that you if you keep chasing opportunities and believing that what you want is possible, it happens.

Foldover Yoga Shorts

I have prepared by going to Topshop online for the work basics and possibly some crazy tights - hey, just because I'll be in an office does NOT mean my desire for neon sportswear has faded! In fact, just because the Mastercard was taunting me, I went and hit up Hollister too. Yup, if squeezing into tiny yoga shorts is not enough to inspire me to hit the gym post-work, surely nothing is...
Sorry mum - these will be worn OUTSIDE the house :D

Plyometric Training

Today - plyometric circuit. Why? Killer on the lower body primarily, gets the heart rate pumping, builds explosive strength in the legs and challenges the core (abs, glutes, hips, back). Plus it's heaps more fun than watching reruns of Days of Our Lives while on the treadmill. In my endeavours to chill out on my passion for working upper body, I'm trying to find ways to make lower body workouts my new drug of choice. If you love it, tell me. If you have suggestions, I'm up for them!
Circuit:
20 x step ups (dumbbells optional)
10 x squat jumps (bend your knees, get low!)
20 x step ups
10 x plyometric lunges (if you want an alternative, dynamic reverse lunges)  REPEAT x 3

Step Ups

Squat Jumps

Plyometric Lunges

Self Myofascial Release

I have just discovered my local library has a stash of FitnessRx for women. Along with Oxygen magazine, it is an invaluable source of training program ideas, nutrition and body science information. If you can't stretch to a subscription, why not go see if your library stocks Oxygen, Fitness & Health, Shape, FitnessRx or Women's Fitness?

I was inspired by an article on Talia Terese in the FitnessRx December 2011 edition where she discusses her workout philosophy, training program and how she maintains such a gruelling workout without compromising her body. Her trainer is a pilates/yoga and dance instructor with a passion for yoga and full-body training rather than split sessions. I love her approach. What I particularly liked was her adherence to self myofascial release using a massage ball and foam roller to ensure that the muscles and supporting tissues aren't stressed and strained prior to and following a gruelling training session.

Talia Terese Myofascial Release

" Rolling out the muscles helps to release the knots in the fascia, which surround the uscle. Inense training can cause the fascia to become tight, causing inflammation, which leads to a thickening of the tissue...Chronic tightening of the fascia leads to pain and irritation all over the body...I would recommend that individuals roll at least three ties per week and stretch as well." - Michelle Adams.

Ask at your gym for assistance with using the foam roller to release tension in the glutes, back, IT band and hamstrings - often there are one or two trainers with a passion for the roller and the best ways to use it!

Olympic Uniforms - GB leading the pack

Holly Avil in adidas uniform for GB athletes

Ok, hate to be unAustralian but the Stella McCartney designs for London 2012 Olympics uniforms are killer!

Knowing my penchant for suddenly wanting a tennis dress when the tennis hits Melbourne, I might be doomed once the Olympics starts up. Already coveting those shoes. And the black? So chic and so slimming too! Ok, I digress. Do you love it?

Can't wait to see what the Australian team are wearing. With so many awesome Aussie designers, surely we can give GB some major competition in the fashion stakes.

Barre classes at Fernwood and Kew

Portable ballet barre

The wonderful Deb has organised two portable ballet barres for the Barre classes to begin at Fernwood Fitness in Preston when the newly renovated club opens soon! Fantastic.


 
Barre Sculpt kicks off tonight at Kew Recreation Centre - I know a couple of my favourite women

Grand plie

will be there and I can't wait. Poor Gemma is getting a lift home with me. Little did she realise she'd be roped into giving a feedback session on the class. Usually peak-hour traffic too. Better think up some long answers or the poor girl will end up jumping out the window and running home along the Chandler Highway. Hi Gem, love you!

Pinterest: better than a corkboard!

I have been invited to join Pinterest - I even had to go on a waiting list so anything you need to wait for MUST be worthwhile. Right?
Anyway, I'm on it and I love it. As someone who rips out images and articles and lives in a nest of multicoloured pieces of magazine flotsam, this TOTALLY rocks my world. Go see what I'm talking about!

How do you recover?

Massage

After many, many months, out of desperation I booked a massage yesterday and it was worth every cent and more. I had been getting a tingling sensation down my right arm ever since my back incident a few weeks ago and despite my doctor shrugging and the pharmacist handing me some antihistamines, nothing worked. Because the upper limbs are related to the cervical spine when it comes to nerve issues, I decided manipulation to release any compression or tension around the neck might make it better. No tingling in the last 24 hours! Sometimes, we know our bodies better than any professionals and authorities (do NOT avoid your GP on this basis!). Anyway - I find massage is my ideal recovery of choice. Even if it hurts like HELL at the time (trigger points to release infraspinatus? TORTURE)
How else do you deal with muscular pain or soreness?

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

• Acupuncture (doesn't work for me, but some people swear by it)
• Hot/cold showers (alternating hot and cold blasts of water)
• Ice packs or ice baths (no thanks)
• Foam roller stretching (great for the ITB)
• Magnesium/calcium supplements (great for those doing endurance training and vegans)

 

Foam Roller ITB release