Some songs just energize us – really get us excited about moving. This one isn’t always on our exercise playlist, though.
Sometimes it’s on the “cleaning the house” playlist (if you don’t have one of those, you’re missing out on some motivation for dusting the tschotskes and mopping the floors).
Sometimes it’s on the “getting ready for a hot date” playlist (seriously – we have a playlist for just about everything). This last addition is a direct result of how the song was used in The Devil Wears Prada.
Whenever we hear it, though, it motivates us to get moving, so we offer it today to help you DO whatever it is you’re DOing.
In honor of one of Marilu’s favorite reality tv shows (hint: new season started last night), we’ve got a great song today. This will get your body moving – so turn on your speakers, get out of your chair, and get ready to pump it up, rock it out, and shake that thing!
This is the Miss America competition that riles up the feminists. It’s supposed to be about fitness, and how well the contestants take care of their bodies. The thing is, we’d all love to look that good in a bikini. And we know that it does take effort to look that good. Regular, frequent (daily), deliberate workouts get those results.
So scorn the swimsuits all you want. They really do show what a serious fitness routine can do for you.
Here’s a song that’s good for stretching (after shoveling? or playing in the snow? or a rough drive home?). It will help you relax and calm any frayed nerves.
Or – use the beat of the song for lifting some weights or doing squats or pushups.
Whether you’re snowbound or not, you still need to get moving every day. So get out of your chair and get busy.
The answer is exercise.
The way out is getting up from your chair and moving.
Well. Today, right now, that’s the answer and the way out – of whatever hard times you’re dealing with.
Exercise is good for lifting your mood and helping you feel better. It gets your blood circulating and increases the oxygen to your brain. It ramps up your metabolism. So if you’re feeling down at the end of this year, then take action by being active. Just getting out for a walk (or to shovel?) is a step toward feeling better.
Here’s a song that helps us feel hopeful… and gets us moving.
Sometimes we hear music that just makes us want to do some kind of exercise.
Maybe you’d like to walk to this, but we feel like doing squats. And really, if there’s ever a song that makes us want to do squats, we take note of it. Because we can always use more squats.
So get up and do something to this song.
(Remember, if you’re doing squats, don’t let your knees go past your toes – if they do, you need to move to a wider stance, or turn out (or not turn out) your feet so much, or sit back more into the squat.)
Are you beating yourself up for what (and how much) you ate last weekend?
Do you dread the social pressures of the coming holiday season?
Are you just spinning your wheels because of the stress you anticipate?
Hey. You’re okay. The past is gone, so let it go from your head, too. If it’s stress that’s getting you, well, we have just the cure. It’s exercise. Yep (and we know it’s another thing on your calendar each day), the physical work of exercise really helps your mental ability to deal.
So treat yourself to some mental stress relief (we are okay!) by getting up out of your chair and moving to the music. Marching in place is good – just lift those knees! And if you want a little more exercise, pump your arms over your shoulders.
Black Friday has turned into a week-long event for most retailers. Are you still shopping today? Be sure to put on your walking shoes and treat your shopping like a workout.
If you’re not shopping, then be sure to get a workout in! Just because it’s a holiday weekend, you’re not excused from taking care of your body.
We love this song to accompany our squats and lunges – the not-always-fun-but-always-effective moves to firm and tone that booty. The tempo keeps us from rushing through the movements, and the lyrics… well, the lyrics are exactly what’s going through our head anyway, so we may as well hear them from someone with a better voice.
Here are some tips and ideas for squats and lunges *
When you squat and do lunges, make sure your knees are lined up over your ankles. If that means you need to move your feet – to a wider or narrower stance for squats, or to a longer or shorter stride for lunges – then move your feet!
When you squat, stick your booty out a bit, like you’re sitting down in a chair. Don’t overdo it – you should still be upright – but show what’s back there, you know?
Start with some squats, then turn to the left and do a bunch of lunges. Turn back to the center and do more squats, then turn to the right and do a bunch of lunges. And repeat.
Alternate wide and narrow (feet together) squats as you step-squat-step-squat-step-squat in one direction. When you run out of space (or there’s a good musical break), go back the other direction.
Try curtsy-kicks. Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Move your left leg behind the right leg, and bend, as though you’re doing a curtsy. When you pick up your left leg, do a side kick to the left. Repeat a bunch of times. Then do it all again on the right.
