Hello workout friends!
This week the exercise moves outside again - this time with Sonya's babies, Remi and Spot. Did you know that obesity is not only on the rise among people - but also their pets? Just like us, our furry friends are at increased risk of disease if they're carrying extra weight.
To help whip two and four-legged creatures into shape, we turn to personal trainer Angie Gallagher. "Studies show that people who exercise with pets increase speed by 28-percent, so it's a nice incentive," she explains. Angie suggests doing intervals with your dog, "Pick street signs or trees as markers - speed up and slow down, and you'll burn extra calories." A game of fetch really boosts our heart rates when we get in on the race. "Another way to really kick it up is do sprints with your pet.. throw tennis ball and sprint with your dog to retrieve it."
You can also invent ab and arm exercises - depending on the size of your dog, and Angie also shows us ways to incorporate lunges and squats into the daily walk. It doesn't take long to realize this is a fun way to get a total body workout.
We've loved working with Angie and you would too...she's kicking off another eight week session at her studio in Clive. Contact her at fitnesswithangie@gmail.com or 710-6987 for details.
Thanks for stopping by - have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Total Body Beating
Hi gang! Welcome to the Workout of the Week blog.
By now you’ve probably heard of the place promising "total body transformation." Kosama opened its first location last winter and now its one of the fastest growing clubs in the metro. "We wanted to cater to the working, to-and-from crowd," says Ben Bjorholm. He’s one of the owners of Kosama downtown. Bjorholm says the best thing about Kosama is the variety. Locations offer six different workouts, six days a week and we just happen to show up for one of the most difficult ones. “Yep,” says Ben, “this is the killer plyo day.”
For one hour we cycle through six rounds of explosive movements. A timer on TV screens ticks down the seconds and it doesn’t take long for our hearts to start pounding. According to Ben, this workout can burn 600-800 calories and we believe it. We’re pouring sweat, our faces are red and we’re sucking air by the home stretch. "This is as much core as it is cardio,” says Bjorholm, “you’re burning calories and strengthening those abs all at the same time." There are moves taken from sports like basketball and volleyball along with conditioning moves like burpees and fast feet. All eyes are on the clock at this point and it’s all we can do to keep moving. "This is when you have to be mentally tough,” hollers Ben,”this is where it becomes mental, not physical!" Thankfully, lower intensity moves round out the last segment and we are finally ready to stretch.
This workout was intense. It is definitely not for beginners. If you’re interested in checking out the new downtown Kosama location visit www.downtowndsm.kosama.com call 480-8626 or drop in 1905 Ingersoll Avenue Suites 102 & 103.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
By now you’ve probably heard of the place promising "total body transformation." Kosama opened its first location last winter and now its one of the fastest growing clubs in the metro. "We wanted to cater to the working, to-and-from crowd," says Ben Bjorholm. He’s one of the owners of Kosama downtown. Bjorholm says the best thing about Kosama is the variety. Locations offer six different workouts, six days a week and we just happen to show up for one of the most difficult ones. “Yep,” says Ben, “this is the killer plyo day.”
For one hour we cycle through six rounds of explosive movements. A timer on TV screens ticks down the seconds and it doesn’t take long for our hearts to start pounding. According to Ben, this workout can burn 600-800 calories and we believe it. We’re pouring sweat, our faces are red and we’re sucking air by the home stretch. "This is as much core as it is cardio,” says Bjorholm, “you’re burning calories and strengthening those abs all at the same time." There are moves taken from sports like basketball and volleyball along with conditioning moves like burpees and fast feet. All eyes are on the clock at this point and it’s all we can do to keep moving. "This is when you have to be mentally tough,” hollers Ben,”this is where it becomes mental, not physical!" Thankfully, lower intensity moves round out the last segment and we are finally ready to stretch.
This workout was intense. It is definitely not for beginners. If you’re interested in checking out the new downtown Kosama location visit www.downtowndsm.kosama.com call 480-8626 or drop in 1905 Ingersoll Avenue Suites 102 & 103.
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Kidz Pump
Welcome to the "Workout of the Week" blog - thanks for stopping by! This segment focuses on one of the scariest health issues in our country today - childhood obesity.
Have you ever noticed that lot of times adults don’t give kids enough credit? For instance, Emily Allen knows exactly why it’s important for her to be at the “Kidz Pump” class at Altoona Campus. “Well, I don’t go outside and play very much so this is a way to get exercise!” Getting active is more important than ever - in the last thirty years, the number of obese children in the United States has more than doubled. "My goal, because I love kids, is to create those habits as young as you can," explains instructor Stephanie Hilsabeck, “getting kids active and being a role model as a parent is important. I’m trying to show them that exercise can be fun." It’s obviously working. Stephanie's daughter and her friends view workouts not as work, but as play. "She has a whole room of exercise equipment,” says Piper McAlister, “it's so fun to go to that room!"
In the group fitness room at the gym, Stephanie has kids doing basic moves like hamstring curls and high knees, along with more complicated sports moves that improve speed and agility. "We like it because it gives us really good exercise," says Seth Franklin. "Yeah,” agrees his sister Haley, “we get challenged a lot in here, pushed to our limits!" Seth and Haley are regulars, along with cousins Emily Allen and Cole Chittenden. "Ummmmmm....well, this is the second time,” they tell us. When we ask if they like the class they nod their heads and smile. “Mmmmmmm-hmmmmm!"
It’s easy to see why they like the class when Stephanie cranks up Miley Cyrus. "It's gonna be Party in the USA, we all know that song, right?" Dancing doesn't feel much like work, but this routine gets little hearts - and our hearts - pumping. There are big moves like jacks, kicks and squats and soon we're all sweating and there are high fives all around. "Nice job,” says Stephanie, “very nice job!"
“Kidz Pump” winds down like any other fitness class... with stretching, and some relaxation. "As adults we need time to unwind and relax and so do kids!" Stephanie explains. They get to do that here, and learn lessons that will improve their lives. "Hopefully they're developing habits that they’ll carry into adulthood.”
Altoona Campus is located at 1500 8th Street SW in Altoona.
Call 967-0788 for more information or check out www.altoonacampus.com.
The next class for kids is “Combat Conditioning” – it begins October 26th at 5:45pm!
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Have you ever noticed that lot of times adults don’t give kids enough credit? For instance, Emily Allen knows exactly why it’s important for her to be at the “Kidz Pump” class at Altoona Campus. “Well, I don’t go outside and play very much so this is a way to get exercise!” Getting active is more important than ever - in the last thirty years, the number of obese children in the United States has more than doubled. "My goal, because I love kids, is to create those habits as young as you can," explains instructor Stephanie Hilsabeck, “getting kids active and being a role model as a parent is important. I’m trying to show them that exercise can be fun." It’s obviously working. Stephanie's daughter and her friends view workouts not as work, but as play. "She has a whole room of exercise equipment,” says Piper McAlister, “it's so fun to go to that room!"
In the group fitness room at the gym, Stephanie has kids doing basic moves like hamstring curls and high knees, along with more complicated sports moves that improve speed and agility. "We like it because it gives us really good exercise," says Seth Franklin. "Yeah,” agrees his sister Haley, “we get challenged a lot in here, pushed to our limits!" Seth and Haley are regulars, along with cousins Emily Allen and Cole Chittenden. "Ummmmmm....well, this is the second time,” they tell us. When we ask if they like the class they nod their heads and smile. “Mmmmmmm-hmmmmm!"
It’s easy to see why they like the class when Stephanie cranks up Miley Cyrus. "It's gonna be Party in the USA, we all know that song, right?" Dancing doesn't feel much like work, but this routine gets little hearts - and our hearts - pumping. There are big moves like jacks, kicks and squats and soon we're all sweating and there are high fives all around. "Nice job,” says Stephanie, “very nice job!"
“Kidz Pump” winds down like any other fitness class... with stretching, and some relaxation. "As adults we need time to unwind and relax and so do kids!" Stephanie explains. They get to do that here, and learn lessons that will improve their lives. "Hopefully they're developing habits that they’ll carry into adulthood.”
Altoona Campus is located at 1500 8th Street SW in Altoona.
Call 967-0788 for more information or check out www.altoonacampus.com.
The next class for kids is “Combat Conditioning” – it begins October 26th at 5:45pm!
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Bust a Move...Beating Breast Cancer
Welcome to the Workout of the Week blog - thanks for stopping by to see what we're up to!
Sometimes it just doesn’t seem right to use the word “workout” when the exercise we’re doing feels more like playing. “You get into the music and the dancing and the next thing you know the hour is over!” That’s how instructor Kristin Johnson describes Body Jam and once the class starts it's easy to understand what she means.
"It’s just dancing,” she hollers, “wherever you like to dance... a club, a wedding reception, in your bedroom with the lights off!" During this cardio class participants can let loose to Shakira and howl or channel John Travolta and pull off some disco moves, all while working up a sweat. "The harder you dance, the more of a workout it is,” Kristin says with a smile, “it's a party... it's a party!" And it’s an all ages party, too. The day we attend Body Jam there are teenagers, their mothers and women old enough to be grandmothers in the class. Everyone is showing attitude and strutting their stuff.
Kristin gets people fired up and having a good time and she’s an inspiration in more ways than one. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. I had a double mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo." The disease took her off the dance floor - but not for long, and she returned with a new passion for teaching. "I loved the class even more because I could just disappear into the dance zone, the music zone and not think about what was going on in my life. You realize it’s not just your physical health, but your mental health, too!"
Sonya and I are definitely not “Dancing Queens” but we’re smiling along with everyone else, because Kristin’s grin is contagious. Whether we’re pumping our arms, jumping around the room or shakin’ our rumps, this workout flies by and leaves us feeling fantastic and full of life. “I know dancing’s not everybody’s thing, but there are people who would rather dance a marathon than run a marathon!” Kristin says with a big laugh, and we couldn’t agree more.
If you want to give Body Jam a try, you’ll find Kristin at both the Waukee and Walnut Creek YMCA. She is a blast!
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Sometimes it just doesn’t seem right to use the word “workout” when the exercise we’re doing feels more like playing. “You get into the music and the dancing and the next thing you know the hour is over!” That’s how instructor Kristin Johnson describes Body Jam and once the class starts it's easy to understand what she means.
"It’s just dancing,” she hollers, “wherever you like to dance... a club, a wedding reception, in your bedroom with the lights off!" During this cardio class participants can let loose to Shakira and howl or channel John Travolta and pull off some disco moves, all while working up a sweat. "The harder you dance, the more of a workout it is,” Kristin says with a smile, “it's a party... it's a party!" And it’s an all ages party, too. The day we attend Body Jam there are teenagers, their mothers and women old enough to be grandmothers in the class. Everyone is showing attitude and strutting their stuff.
Kristin gets people fired up and having a good time and she’s an inspiration in more ways than one. "I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. I had a double mastectomy, reconstruction, chemo." The disease took her off the dance floor - but not for long, and she returned with a new passion for teaching. "I loved the class even more because I could just disappear into the dance zone, the music zone and not think about what was going on in my life. You realize it’s not just your physical health, but your mental health, too!"
Sonya and I are definitely not “Dancing Queens” but we’re smiling along with everyone else, because Kristin’s grin is contagious. Whether we’re pumping our arms, jumping around the room or shakin’ our rumps, this workout flies by and leaves us feeling fantastic and full of life. “I know dancing’s not everybody’s thing, but there are people who would rather dance a marathon than run a marathon!” Kristin says with a big laugh, and we couldn’t agree more.
If you want to give Body Jam a try, you’ll find Kristin at both the Waukee and Walnut Creek YMCA. She is a blast!
Have a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
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