#strongwomen

This month, in March, we celebrated the international Women’s Day. This is not one of those Hallmark holidays. Instead it is a day to be dedicated to those strong women who fought/still fights for gender equality. These women are among us: dressed up as our mothers, our mentors, our close or distant relatives, our piano teachers or even as smiling faces in nursing homes. For my next few blogs, I will briefly introduce some of the key strong women in my life, who helped/still helps me becoming who I am.

Of course, I will start my series with the very first strong woman in my life - my mom. She showed me self confidence without being arrogant. She gave me (through her DNA) muscle power and taught me how to use it gently - for good use. :) She shared with me the art of hiding tears behind a huge smile when necessary. And she continues to teach me the power of being positive during the toughest times. Now it is my turn to help my kids become mentally, physically and emotionally strong individuals.

Over the last 9 months, I have actually started 7 different blog entries. Pregnancy, work and then a new addition to our family kept my mind and fingers too busy to complete any of those entries. Going forward, I am hoping to be more on top of my blogs and help you to be physically stronger while sharing with you my life learnings of being a mother of two.

The very first thing I learned over the last four months was that “time” is a very precious gift - especially when it comes to caring for myself. 30 minute workouts are not a possibility any more because continuous 30 minutes are pretty much impossible to find on regular basis. Therefore I had to come up with 15 minute power workout routines to keep me in shape.  I also figured out that having Ela, my 4-month old daughter, watch me is the most fun way so now she is my sole spectator.

I will share with you my primary go-to routine. I do this one if I am tired or feeling unmotivated. Believe it or not, it changes my mood right away. I call it the “power of 20”. All you need is a padded floor and knowing how to count until 20. :)

Power of 20:

1. Elbow plank - 20 slow counts

2. Hand plank - 20 slow counts

3. Right side elbow plank - 10 slow counts

4. Left side elbow plank - 10 slow counts

5. Superman - 20 slow counts

Repeat 1 through 5 three times

6. Curls - 20 reps (ONLY shoulder blades come off the floor)

7. Sit ups - 10 reps (do NOT let the feet come off the ground)

8. Side  (laying supine with knees bent, put one ankle on top of the other knee, put hands behind head, twist towards the leg off the floor)

9. Glute lifts (laying supine with knees bent, lift butt of the floor and then slowly lower)

Repeat 6 through 9 twice

Please let me know if you have any questions on the moves and remember to watch yourself on the mirror. Don’t forget, with all these moves we focus on developing muscles not hurting ourselves.

A huge hi five to you when you find the time for yourself.

We are now 4 of us as of 11/28

flying to Istanbul with two kids and no husband - #strongewoman?