Be the Pilot

PILOT Skinny Trackpants

If you, like me, rely on your gymwear to look good and be adaptable to mix and match with jeans/jackets/ballet flats to trek off to brunch or informal meetings, then you'll be thrilled with new Melbourne label PILOT.
I met designer Nat at her warehouse in South Melbourne yesterday. She worked for Mercedes Benz for years before jumping into the challenging world of activewear design.
She describes PILOT as the ideal label for women who want to wear the pieces to cycle class, but just as easily mix the same pieces with high heels and a blazer and hit the town. This definitely justifies cost-per-wear ladies! :) Once I saw the racks, I had to have. Inspired by the idea of a woman who navigates her own path and takes the lead, PILOT is bound to take off (boom, boom) so get in early.

PILOT shorts

PILOT tank top

PILOT tank top

http://www.pilotathletic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/PilotAthletic

Do the Twist

In all my focusing on working front and back for balance, I have neglected to include some really good rotational moves in my routines. I've paid for it with a stiff back and thanks to the very wise Ellie, I am going to focus on rotations through my thoracic spine to increase my range of motion.

Why should you include rotations?

• improves range of motion when twisting from side to side
• strengthens muscles that support the spine
• enhances posture by preventing stiff, overworked supporting muscles
• develops and conditions oblique abdominal muscles

Especially great for swimmers, tennis players, netball and basketball players, surfers and ping pong players! Allows for greater ability to twist and lengthen, increasing your efficiency in these movements - your strength and agility.

Rotational Moves for Core

Top Row: BOSU Ball twist with medicine ball (the instability makes this a challenging core workout - you can do this move without the ball, just keep your palms together and arms straight)
Cable rotation - stand far enough from the cable machine to maintain tension and set the cable with a D-handle at chest height. Use both hands gripped on the handle to pull it across the body. Arms STRAIGHT throughout!
Middle Row: Thoracic/Chest rotation: Start lying on your side with knees in line with hips. Arms straight out and palms together. Open the top arm and stretch it back to open the chest while keeping your shoulders and hips still. Return and repeat.
Swiss ball russian twist: Hard. Place shoulders on the swiss ball and walk out, keeping your hips in line with your shoulders at all times. Using a light medicine ball (or NO weight) rotate to each side slowly, keeping the ball aligned with your chest.
Bottom Row: Single arm cable row requires you to set the D-handle at navel-height. Standing with the handle in your left hand, step your left leg back. Pull your left elbow back, close to your waist, rotating slightly from the waist. Keep hips still. Slowly return and release. Repeat.

Lilac Loveliness

Lilac and pink Nike Free
 

Did I really paint my nails to match my new Nike Free shoes? Yes. Is it shallow to love shoes as much as I do right now? Yes. I'm ok with all of it!


I am forced by nature to wear orthotics which obviously doesn't mix with wearing Frees, so these are for weights-room and home only. Have you embraced the whole "free running" idea? Would you?

If you're more of a Pink Person support the Cancer Council by purchasing a badge, pen or bear-in-pyjamas. This lot is on display at Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre.

Support Cancer Council



Lilac nails too

Nails by Pro Nails, Ivanhoe

Shoes by Eastbay

Stray doghairs by Lou nextdoor (Border Collie)

 

Girls, go renegade

The Renegade Row not only sounds really impressive...
So, I painted my nails this morning. Then I did a few sit ups. What did you do?

Oh, I just picked up some 10kg dumbbells and did a few sets of renegade rows. *flick hair*

I don't really talk like that. Most of the time. Anyway! This killer move works:

1. Abdominals: transverse (deep core), rectus (6-pack) and obliques (sides)
2. Triceps 
3. Rear deltoids (back of shoulder)
4. Biceps

Renegade Row

Grab the dumbbells (5kg - 10kg) and get into the top of a pushup position with your hands on the weights and your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart (A). Bend your right arm and raise the dumbbell to chest level, pressing the left dumbbell into the floor for balance (B).Lower the weight to the floor, then repeat the move on the left side. That's 1 rep; do 6 to 8.


Advanced: After 8 reps, move the weights aside and do 8 wide push-ups. Do another set of Renegade Row and continue until you have done 3 sets of each.

Bright Pink for Women's Health!

September 28th 2012 is Bright Pink Lipstick Day. Not just because I say so...because 22 year old Krystal Barter established charity, Pink Hope, in 2009 when she discovered she was genetically likely to have the breast cancer gene that both her mother and grandmother had. At 25, she had a preventative double mastectomy.

What does wearing bright pink lippy on the 28th achieve? It raises awareness - it acts as a reminder that women need to be vigilant in checking for any signs and symptoms for ovarian and breast cancers. Women need to ask their parents about family history of cancer too.

Revlon have joined forced with Pink Hope to get the message out there - so make it fun: take a photo of you and your friends in bright pink lippy and post it to the Pink Hope Facebook page or Revlon Australia (#brightpinklipstickday).

Find out more about Pink Hope and the Self Checks and Symptoms to be aware of.

Click to find out about hosting an event

The Wall

I hate to brag...oh ok, it's not so bad. I got voted Kew Recreation Centre's Instructor of 2012! That's a lot to live up to...I think I can keep it up for another couple of months. Here's the wall of winners this year. Let me have my moment - I don't see myself on the Emmy stage any time soon :)

Kew 2012 Awards

The trophy!

Tone your glutes, wear neon runners!

Leg moves

I have managed to cull my magazine hoarding habit to about 20. Looking back through some past issues I found some awesome leg and glute exercises! And as you know, strong glutes are essential to good posture, protecting your hips and back, and enabling you to run like a demon.

So, I scanned some leg moves I love and you don't need a gym. You could add dumbbells to the calf carver and total leg toner if you desire. My suggestion? Turn it into a circuit so that you're doing all four moves until fatigue, alternating from doing 12 of one move to 12 of the next and so on...

Also, I have been spotting some super bright sneakers around Melbourne and snapping them! I have been convinced white isn't always right. So...for your inspiration...

Fuschia Nike Free

Neon yellow Nike Free

Turquoise New Balance

Pink Asics