I was heading to the pool for a swim the other morning and passed a woman running to work.  I know this because she had a backpack loaded to the hilt.  I mean, why would anyone just out for a run be carrying a big pack with presumably – enough gear to get through the day?  Right.  When I see people doing this, I am always tempted to warn against such practice – but I don’t.  Few people appreciate the unsolicited advice of complete strangers.

As a running coach and former ‘bike and/or run-commuter’ I Continue reading →

This week’s new exercise is the dumbbell chest press.  Keep your back fairly neutral (maintaining the natural curve of your lower back) and using either a bench or an exercise ball, press straight up over your shoulders.  If you are not challenged by this – add the dimension of doing it on one side, then the other.  You will engage all manners of extra muscle groups as you work to keep your body in position.  Try a light weight to begin with to test the waters, and then work toward 2-3 sets of 8 – 15 repetitions. Enjoy!

Well, here we are, heading into February.  My favorite winter month.  Ok, maybe I’m biased, my birthday is this month.  I think Aquarians rock in many ways.  So, for those Aquarians out there – this one’s for you.  Ok… and the rest of you can benefit too!  This week’s new exercise is: the wide stance squat.  Sit back, no really – sit back.  Try to not drop over the toes, but to sit back over the heels.   I think this is a good one to get into your groin area and Continue reading →

As the month winds to a close, I thought I’d check back in and let you know how successful (or  not)  I’ve been at being more conscious. If this post is new to you, check out my earlier blog “Moving from Consciously Unconscious”  below.  My challenge was to put my things away and not let my stuff pile up.  Well, as it happens I have successfully put my clothes way each night and didn’t let them pile up at the end of the bed.  Whew.  BIG accomplishment.  This has been a life-long Continue reading →

Looking for a new exercise to try?  Join me in my attempt to choose a new exercise to try for a week – each week – for 52 weeks!

I managed to string the last three together in a single workout this week.  How’d you do?

This week’s new exercise will be: Bird Dog (please feel free to add a piece of surgical tubing suspended between the right hand and left leg – repeat to the opposite side).  Keep your hips level and don’t let the suspended side do anything weird. Hold the position for 3-5 seconds, Continue reading →

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” ~Ernest Hemingway

I had the pleasure of riding (albeit indoors) with a lovely group of cycling friends recently.  One couple will be heading to Cuba on a bike tour in February – their Continue reading →

Looking for a new exercise to try?  Join me in my attempt to choose a new exercise to try for a week – each week – for 52 weeks!

This week’s new exercise will be: Single Leg Glute Bridge

Stage 1 – Lift and hold with shoulder blades still touching ground.

Stage 2 – Lift and hold one leg, keeping hips level.  Squeeze supporting glute.  When hamstrings “grab” – the exercise is over.  Rest and repeat.  Two to three sets of 10 sounds about right.  Each leg that is!

Join me?

LiveSplendidly!

With the New Year – we’re all looking for a fresh start to things, no?  If you regularly exercise and are getting back into the swing of things after the “silly season” – then maybe that’s enough.  If you have a standard routine like I seem to – then a little something new might be in order.

My regular routine at this time of year includes a combination of running, biking, swimming and weights, a once a week downhill ski and the odd (but ever increasing) xc ski.  Eventhough I manage to pull together interesting (I Continue reading →

With the New Year – we’re all looking for a fresh start to things, no?  If you regularly exercise and are getting back into the swing of things after the “silly season” – then maybe that’s enough.  If you have a standard routine like I seem to – then a little something new might be in order.

My regular routine at this time of year includes a combination of running, biking, swimming and weights, a once a week downhill ski and the odd (but ever increasing) xc ski.  Eventhough I manage to pull together interesting (I Continue reading →

With the arrival of a New Year – even if we’re not a “resolutionist” – we do decide to clean things up a bit, don’t you think?  I know I do.  I don’t always wait until January 1st to promise to keep my desk and office in better order or to not throw my clothes down at the end of the bed each night – but to hang them or toss them in the laundry bag.

January 1st is just another day – but what if we could work towards being more conscious – or in current Continue reading →