Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Posts Tagged ‘workout routine’

A Little Bit of Aya

Posted by terrepruitt on November 19, 2009

As a Nia teacher there are prescribed steps we are to take to learn a routine. It is easy to skip steps in the interest of time. We all learn in different ways and as humans we tend to follow the easiest path. No matter what we are doing our tendency is to do it the easiest way possible. So some of the steps might be skipped.

I recently attended a FAB*, it was short workshop that covered some of those steps. Being in a workshop with everyone focusing on the same thing made it a lot easier to learn. At home, when I set about working on learning a routine, I get very distracted by things. So being in a room where there was no cat, no computer, no dirty dishes, no laundry, and no cleaning that needed to be done was awesome. It really enabled me to focus.

The routine that we were working on is called Aya (one of Carlos AyaRosas, FKA Carlos Rosas). It is very Latin based–it has both Latin music and Latin moves allowing for a lot of hip swaying and sexy moves. One of the songs that we reviewed was not in English and someone translated it for us. I have to say that sometimes when you know the words of the song it can make the movements different.

This workshop was a shortened version of another workshop that was recently held in Concord. That was a two day workshop where they reviewed the entire routine. The one I attended in Nevada City was only four hours. We reviewed two songs. I will be honest and tell you that I could not do the songs without seeing them again. But I am confident that once I purchase the routine and set out to learn it, these two songs will be a snap.

I also returned to San Jose with a renewed sense of knowledge. I might KNOW something, but it always helps to review and to look at it from different angles. I enjoy hearing how information filters into people differently.

Nia is so wonderful because it is so many things. It is a workout, it is a practice, it is exercise, it is something that brings people together, it can be the basis of a workshop, it is just fabulous.

*FAB = For all belts. Nia White Belts, Blue Belts, Brown Belts, and Black Belts.

NOTE: The pictures are actually from the little birthday acknowlegement we had for the owner of the studio.

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BOSU

Posted by terrepruitt on October 13, 2009

 

Know what a BOSU is?  It is a piece of exercise equipment.  Picture a stability ball, you know those round ones full of air that you can sit on?  Picture that cut in half with a plastic “cap” on the flat side.  It is very versatile.  It can be used for a variety of exercises and it can be used on either side.  The flat side can be placed on the ground so you are working on the rounded side or you can place the rounded side on the ground and do your work on the flat side.

Flat side on ground, standing on rounded sideEither way–depending on what you are doing–you are going to be challenging your stabilizing muscles in addition to the muscles you are exercising.  That is a great way to get more muscles working during your workout, burn more calories, and make you a more strong and stable body.

You can stand on either side (the flat side or the rounded side) and do dumbbell work: biceps curls, shoulder presses, upright rows, lateral and rear deltoid raises, bent over rows, etc.

You can lie on either side (the flat side or the rounded side) and do dumbbell chest presses, supine triceps extensions, curls, crunches, and sit-ups to name just a few.

Using either side you can do push-ups, mountain climbers, or add it to your burpee.

With push-ups you can either put your feet on it or hold it with your hands.They can also be used for cardio work.  They can be jumped on and off of, they can be used for lunges, or as I mentioned before, they can be used for mountain climbers and burpees.

I think they might be a favorite of personal trainers because there is so much you can do with it.

To me they are a little easier to store than a stability ball because they take up less space, but unlike a ball they won’t really challenge your muscles just by sitting on them.  But as I mentioned above you can use them for a lot of different exercises and they will add an additional challenge to almost any workout routine. I think I have see them in the Target by my house in San Jose, so I am sure you can buy them at Targets or stores where they sell sports equipment/exercise equipment.

As with any exercise equipment you use and as with any exercise you do–caution is required.

Posted in Exercise and Working Out | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Bow Stance – Nia 52 Moves

Posted by terrepruitt on October 10, 2009

Here is the bow stance.  Now there are a lot of practices and movement arts that do the bow stance—at least I knew it before I came to Nia, so . . . please keep in mind that I am presenting it as one of the Nia 52 Moves because we do it in Nia and that is what I teach primarily.

I consider this somewhat of a deep bow.  One does not need to come down this low.  Usually with the bow stance we are placing a leg back, placing the ball of our foot on the ground and leaving the heel up.  But there are times when we will step forward into a bow stance.  Even if we are stepping forward into the bow stance, we are leaving the heel of the foot that is in the back off the ground.  It is somewhat like a lunge, but the back foot remains on the ball of the foot.

The bow stance can be deep or not, and it can be a stance that we move quickly into or out of or a stance where we settle in and move our arms.  It all depends on the music and the workout routine.   It is great exercise for increasing balance and strength in the core and lower body.

Keep in mind that the feet are not in line.  There is stability by keep the apart, at least hip joint distance apart.

Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Releve

Posted by terrepruitt on August 22, 2009

This is one of Nia’s 52 Moves.  The Releve.  First you touch your heel to the ground.

Then you weight on one foot.

Then you come up on what we usually call your toe, but is really the ball of your foot.

Usually this is done in a quick step like motion.  During a workout routine we usually step to a releve then move on.  Sometime though we do stay on the balls of our feet in releve and walk.  It all depends on the workout and routine and if that will even work for you and your body.  It is great for the ankles and the lower leg.  It also strengthens your foot.

You can see a list of Nia’s 52 Moves on my site or in the Nia Technique book.

Posted in 52 Moves (of Nia), Nia | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »