One Smile at a Time
/Wow! What a month... March was all about uncertainty and April became the month of adjustments for us.
Within all the craziness and constant adjustments, I still had an awesome birthday, even though it was during a week day, was spent completely at home and consisted of some tough work discussions! My day started with my favorite breakfast, made by Derek, and then followed by an early morning workout with my favorite people all across the world. :). It was at the end of that workout that I realized how powerful a single smile was and how contagious that smile was when shared with loved ones. Following that workout, I had the courage to start my own virtual training sessions. Now every Wednesday and Saturday, we “Train and Smile” together. And that smile makes my day, every single session... I know that morals are fluctuating almost hourly - at least in our household. However, “smiling”, even if it is for something silly, helps me cheer up and it transfers that positive energy to anything that I am working on. Below are some of the smiles that we captured during our sessions. Maybe these smiles can put smiles on your faces too. How about in May you try to find things around you, maybe something that you did, that can make you smile when you least expect!
I owe you an apology from last time... I am sorry that I failed in one of my promises from last month, which was to include picture descriptions of my moves. I was hoping to have a video ready for you this month but I couldn’t get to that either. For next month, I will try to make a solo video with the workout so be at the look out for the May blog. Now that being said, here is a fun 15-minute workout from one of our sessions this month. Our sessions are about 20 minutes so this is an abbreviated version. :). For this workout you need a medium sized beach towel... ;). I will try to be extra descriptive with the moves and I will avoid the typos that I did in last month’s blog.
Here we go with the FUN APRIL 15-min workout:
“Towel” Jacks: This is pretty much Jumping Jacks but with a tight towel over your head. Bring the towel overhead, keeping it tight the whole time with your hands shoulder width apart. While the towel is overhead, jump your feet out and in - like doing jumping jacks. Continue for 30 seconds and move to #2
“Frontal Lift” Single leg hop: Bring the towel to shoulder height, parallel to the floor and still tight. While keeping towel parallel to the floor start hopping on one leg. Continue for 20 seconds then switch sides. Once both sides are done, move to #3.
“Towel Twist”: Continue to keep the towel parallel to the floor. Open your legs shoulder width apart. While keeping your LEGS steady, twist to left and then right with the towel constantly parallel to the ground. Continue for 30 seconds then take a 20 second rest.
Repeat #1 through #3 2 MORE times for total of 3 times.
Lunge hold with forward and backward lean: Come to a perfect lunge position (Front leg is at 90 degree angle, front knee is right over the front ankle, back leg is bent, both feet looking forward). Bring the towel forward just like we did in move #2. Keep that towel tight and parallel to the floor. As you are holding the lunge position bend all the way forward towards your front knee to reach the towel as forward as you can. Then move back up, bring the towel over head and bend backwards as you are still holding the lunge. That would be your count 1. Repeat the move for 5 more times and then switch sides. Repeat it for the other side for total of 6 reps. Once done move to #5.
Squat pulse with narrow towel hold: Come to a perfect squat position (feet are shoulder width apart, knees over ankles, knees behind toes, butt sticking out and of course, knees bent). Hold the towel in front with a very close grip. Your hands should be only one hand-length apart. Keep the towel tight and steady while pulsing your squat up to straight and then back to the squat. Repeat it for 12 times then move to #6.
Wide squat hold with Towel Twist: Come to a wide squat position where the feet are wider than shoulders and feet are facing forward. Like you did in move #3, keep your towel parallel to the floor (all tight) and twist from one side to the other. That will be your count 1. Repeat the move for 11 more times for total of 12 reps. Once done take a 20 second rest.
Repeat #4 through #6 2 more times for total of 3 times.
As always if you have any questions about any of the moves, please feel free to either leave a comment down below or send me an email.
I hope your beach towels will let you feel the virtual ocean breeze... :) Don’t forget to smile whenever you feel down.
To all of you adjusting to the new “normal”, a big high five from me for doing a great job!
