One of my favorite holidays is Cinco De Mayo. Growing up in Houston, Texas, the rich Mexican-American culture allowed for elaborate celebrations, with great food, dancing, and beautiful costumes year after year. To commemorate the day, I thought I’d challenge myself in the next seven days to add more fun-filled physical activity, with a focus on the number 5. My aim is to add 5 hours of additional movement leading up to next Sunday. The aim is not to overdo your current workout, but rather to seek out a play-based physical activity. While you can make yours Latin-themed, any activity that helps you keep 5 in mind should be motivation enough to keep moving. Here are my ideas:
Five Latin-Themed Workouts
This week I’m going to enjoy Latin dance and music through fitness, and I’ll also use the entertainment to stay moving. Today’s 24th Annual Fiesta Broadway Festival in Los Angeles will be the kickoff. You too can use a festival or outdoor event to burn extra calories. This event will run across 10 blocks in Downtown LA. My aim will be to walk, step, lunge, and squat(not all at the same time of course) around the perimeter of the event at least 5 times. How many miles can you add to during a festive outdoor event. The people watching alone will make the time fly by. No matter the venue, make it a point to circle the premises a few times. Next up, I’m skipping Zumba class, and instead going to a nightclub that offers a salsa lesson, before allowing the music to continue through the night. Of course, a fitness DVD will work as well. But who says you can’t pick any of your favorite dance movies to dance along to while you’re watching. I’ll also be purposefully adding Reggaeton, Cumbia, and Samba to my regular workouts. For my yoga session, I’ll add some Spanish guitar-infused music.
Five New Fitness Trends
I worked out alongside tennis phenom Venus Williams this week at Jamba Juice’s FiTrends event this past week. The highlight were the innovative fitness trends demonstrated. While I’m already a CrossFit convert, the other workouts introduced were new to me. This was my first time trying out Piloxing, a mish mash of Pilates and Boxing, Blogilates, Broadway Bodies, LaBlast, and Bokwa. Group class lovers are primed for Broadway Bodies, LaBlast and Bokwa. The first two are dance-inspired Zumba-like classes that are driven by choreography and popular music. The latter, Bokwa, was the most interesting idea I’d seen… it’s a dance workout(though the website says it isn’t) where participants draw letters and numbers with their feet to music in free form. I’m already thinking of how I can turn Happy Birthday from just a song over a cake, into a minute long choreographed display. For those of us who are short on time, or always online, Blogilates may be the ticket. Cassey Ho, a Pilates trainer who blogs fitness routines can help you add a little extra movement with just a computer or smartphone, no equipment needed.
Daily Challenges with the Number Five
If you’re looking for something a little simpler to get more physical activity simply add 5 to your existing exercise regimen. Here are five daily options for you to try this week.
Add 5 Rounds of Tabatas
Tabatas are high intensity intervals using 20 seconds of extremely intense exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest repeated 8 times for a total of 4 minutes. Seems easy enough, but these extra 20 minutes of activity will add an intense burn. If you do a round when you wake, a couple hours before bed, an hour after lunch, and a few more during your break, you’re in for some fitness gains you hadn’t even bargained for.
Add 5 Minutes of Sprints
Another high intensity workout, that won’t put much of a dent in your day time-wise is adding sprints into your day. Before, during, or after your regular workout, push yourself to the max with 5 minutes of sprints. Break the 5-minutes into 30 to 60 second-dashes depending on your fitness level.
Five of Five for Five
A great set of exercises that isn’t so hard to get done is five reps of five of the most popular exercises. If you can do this 5 times throughout your day, you’ll feel stronger after this week passes. That’s 5 push-ups, 5 jumping jacks, 5 squats, 5 lunges, and 5 sit-ups. It’ll only take a few minutes to do each time, but if you can get it done, your body will thank you.
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