Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Resistance Band Exercises : Personal trainer Expert: Amy McCauley

Resistance Band Exercises: Teaser with Reverse Fly

Combine Pilates moves with exercise bands. Learn how to do the teaser reverse fly Pilates exercise in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley





Resistance Band Exercises: Single Leg Triceps Kickback


Work your hamstrings, triceps, glutes, and more with resistance exercise bands. Learn how to single leg tricep kicbacks in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley






Resistance Band Exercises: Kneeling Rockers


Strengthen your upper body and spine with kneeling rockers. Learn how to do the kneeling rocker with exercise bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley





Resistance Band Exercises: Bicep Curl into Lateral Raise


With resistance stretch bands, you can structure your workout around your own strength. Learn how to do bicep curls into lateral raises with stretch bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym








Resistance Band Exercises: Lunges

Work your glute and leg muscles with stretch band exercises. Learn how to do lunges with stretch bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley




Resistance Band Exercises: Outer Thigh

Work your outer thigh muscles and glutes with exercise bands. Learn how to do outer thigh workouts in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley




Resistance Band Exercises: The Bicycle


Tone and shape your abdominal muscles with the bicycle exercise. Learn how to do the bicycle with stretch bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley





Resistance Band Exercises: Squat Leg Raises


Tone your butt and leg muscles with squat leg raises. Learn how to do squat leg raises with stretch bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley




Resistance Band Exercises: Abdominal Tucks


Tome and strengthen your ab muscles with exercise bands. Learn how to do ab tucks in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley Bio: Amy McCauley




Resistance Band Exercises: Lat Pull Downs


If you don't have gym equipment, resistance bands are a great workout to do at home. Learn how to do lat pull downs with stretch bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer




Resistance Band Exercises: Lunge Lateral Raises


Resistance bands let you structure your workout. Learn how to do lunge lateral raises in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley Bio: Amy McCauley





Resistance Band Exercises: Front Raises

The front raises are a Pilates move. Learn how to do front raises with exercise bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley





Resistance Band Exercises: Chest Presses

Keeping your glute muscles tight, learn how to do chest presses with stretch bands in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley




Resistance Band Exercises: Single Arm Lateral Raise


Keeping an resistance band under your foot, learn how to do the single lateral raise exercise in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley




Resistance Band Exercises: Squat & Bicep Curl


Work your legs and arms with stretch band exercises. Learn how to do squats and bicep curls in this free fitness video from a Gold's Gym personal trainer. Expert: Amy McCauley





Aylio Resistance Training Set Resistance Bands - Workout & Exercise Videos

Exercises using the Aylio Resistance Training Set

Arms Exercise #1 - Seated Tricep Extensions

Attach both sides of the resistance band to one handle. Secure the band to the door at shoulder height. Sit one to two feet from the door and hold your arm parallel to the floor. Push the handle until your arm is straight, then bring it back slowly until your arm hits a 90 degree angle.





Arms Exercise #2 - Tricep Extensions Using Resistance Tubes

Secure the resistance band to the top of the door. Get on your knees approximately two feet from the door. Keep your elbows locked at your sides. Lower the handles until your arms are almost straight, then slowly bring them back up.






Arms Exercise #3 - One Arm Leaning Bicep Curl

Step on the middle of the band with one foot. Lean your body slightly forward. Now with you elbow locked at your side, slowly raise the handle toward your shoulder. Do the same for the other arm.




Arms Exercise #4 - Reverse Bicep Curl with Elastic Bands

Step on the middle of the band with two feet. Lock your elbows to the side of your body with your hands holding the top of the handle, slowly raise the band toward your shoulders.




Arms Exercise #5 - Bicep Curls at home with Elastic Bands

For this exercise, step on the middle of the band with two feet. Keep your head straight and your back straight. Lock your elbows to the side of your body and slowly raise the handles to shoulder height.




Back Exercise #1 - Seated Row with Exercise Tubes

Secure the resistance band to the door at knee height. Sit 3 to 4 feet from the door with your legs crossed. Keep your back straight, head straight, and chest up. Start with your arms parallel to the floor and pull back slowly.





Back Exercise #2 - Floor Pullover with Resistance Tubes


Secure the band to the door at knee height. Lay flat on your back 2 to 3 feet from the door. With your arms approximately a foot apart, bring the handles down toward your waist.




Back Exercise #3 - Seated Lat Pulldowns

Secure the band at the top of the door using the door strap. Sit one to two feet from the door with your legs crossed. Make sure to keep your back straight as you pull the handles down.




Chest Exercise #1 - Alternating Chest Press Using Bands

For this exercise, secure the bands at the top of the door using the door strap. Stand approximately three feet from the door. Bend forward slightly while keeping your back straight. With your elbows up, push one handle forward and then alternate arms. When pulling back, stop as your elbow alligns with your shoulders.




Chest Exercise #2 - Chest Press Using Resistance Bands


For this exercise, secure the bands to the door at shoulder height. Stand 3 to 4 feet from the door. Keep your back straight and head straight. With your arms parallel to the floor, push the handles in front of you body. On the way back, stop when you elbows align with your shoulders.




Chest Exercise #3 - Chest Fly Using Resistance Bands


For this exercise, secure the bands to the door at chest height. Place a chair or gym ball 3 to 4 feet from the door. Keep your back straight and face forward. Keep elbows at shoulder height as you bring the handles in front of your body.




Shoulder Exercise #1 - Lateral Raise

Step on the middle of the band with two feet. Keep your back straight and head straight. With your arms at your sides, raise them up until your elbows align with your shoulders.





Shoulder Exercise #2 - Rear Shoulder Pull


Secure the band to the door at shoulder height. Stand 3 to 4 feet from the door, then pull back until your elbows align with your




Shoulder Exercise #3 - Shoulder Raise Using Exercise Tubes

Step on the resistance band with two feet. With your knees bent and your arms straight, raise the handles until your arms are parallel with the floor.




Leg Exercise #1 - Hamstring Curls at Home with Aylio Bands


For this exercise, attach ankle straps and secure the band to the bottom of the door. Lay on your stomach 3 to 4 feet from the door. Keep your back flat and simply curl your legs back.




Leg Exercise #2 - Lunge ( works the thighs )

For this exercise, step on the band with one foot and raise the handles to shoulder height. Keep your head and back straight. Bring your body down until your knee lightly taps the floor.




Leg Exercise #3 - Hip Extension ( works the buttocks )


For this exercise, secure the resistance band to the door slightly below knee level and attach both sides of the band to one ankle strap. While holding on to a chair for stability, push one leg back until it is slightly behind your body. When you are done with the set, do the same for the next leg.




Leg Exercise #4 - Hip Flex Using Resistance Bands

For this exercise, secure the resistance band to the bottom of the door using the door strap. Keep your back straight and head straight. To keep yourself stable, hold on to the bottom of the chair. Have your knees bent at a 90 degree angle and raise one leg at a time.




Stomach Exercise #1 - Kneeling Ab Crunch

For this exercise, secure the bands to the top of the door using the door strap. Keep the handles to your forehead and crunch down until your elbows lightly tap the floor.




Stomach Exercise #2 - Ab Twist ( works the obliques )

Secure the band to the door at knee height. Keep your back straight and your head straight. Hold the handle tight against your chest and twist your body away from the door. Turn your head with your body. When performing this exercise, make sure you are actually twisting your abs and not just your shoulders.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga Trilogy


Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga 1-2-3


Product Description
When training for a demanding role or a walk down the red carpet, Hollywood's A-List have a short list of people they turn to. Whether they are seeking to sculpt their bodies or to slim, define and reshape their inner and outer selves, they share a common secret... Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power YogaTM. Mark Blanchard's unique style of yogaProgressive Power YogaTM, continues to remain a favorite of both celebrities and professional athletes who want to burn 800 calories while sculpting long, lean, sexy muscles, increasing flexibility, improving the body's immune system and reducing stress. But even more important is this program's ability to provide focus, which is critical on the big screen as well as in the sports arena. Progressive Power YogaTM has long been touted for its stress-reducing, flexibility-enhancing benefits. Experts agree that Power Yoga burns more calories than jogging, kick boxing or inline skating. In Mark Blanchard's easy-to-follow dvds, its all done without chanting, incense or props. More than 17 million women and men in America and millions more worldwide practice this ancient mind/body regimen for its life-enhancing benefits. Fitness Magazine rated Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga as THE TOP WORKOUT VIDEO FOR YOGA because In rotation, these three videos are the most comprehensive exercise program ever! Beyond the external benefits, yoga also increases your metabolism, reduces weight post pregnancy, helps combat arthritis and works to help heal the body after an injury.

Bryan Kest Power Yoga Complete Collection 1-2-3

Bryan Kest Power Yoga Complete Collection 1-2-3


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Anyone wanting to get in shape like the stars need go no further than Bryan Kest's videos. Kest teaches wildly popular yoga classes in Santa Monica, California--so popular that stars like Rhea Perlman, David Duchovny, and Elisabeth Shue willingly sweat alongside the hoi polloi in Kest's packed, ancient loft studio. If you don't happen to be in the neighborhood, not to worry: Kest's yoga videos are nearly as good as being there. Volume 1: Energize is a beginner level class that nonetheless is smartly designed to provide challenges for all levels of users. Kest's Jersey-boy voice at first seems in contrast to the serene environment and inner-peace objectives, but it gradually becomes soothing and hypnotic in its own right. Stretches and strengthening moves are alternated with just enough repose to keep even first timers on track. After mastering Vol. 1, practitioners can go on to Volume 2: Tone or Volume 3: Sweat to further challenge themselves. As long as you keep in mind Kest's personal mantra--"If you're doing the best you can, you're doing this class perfectly"--you and this video should have many satisfying years of workouts together. --Anne Hurley

Product Description
Feel the power. Be the power! Unlock the strengthening, slimming, detoxifying and reenergizing of Power Yoga. Bryan Kest leads you in a vigorous workout based on the robust Ashtanga stule of Yoga.



Sunday, June 21, 2009

Kickstart Your Metabolism


Sporty Fashion For You

Fuchsia top, $806, skirt, $600, Roberto Cavalli; orange swimsuit, $185, OMO Norma Kamali; shoes, $575, Yves Saint Laurent.

Photo Credit: Don Flood


No time for a long, intense workout? James Timmons, Ph.D., at the Heriot-Watt University of Edinburgh, Scotland, suggests this quick and stunningly effective sprint protocol:


1. Hop on a stationary bike (or other cardio machine).

2. Pedal as fast as you can for 30 seconds.

3. Cool down for one minute.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 five more times.

According to Timmons, subjects who followed this exercise regimen every day for two weeks saw not only a 6 percent boost in aerobic capacity but also a 23 percent improvement in insulin control during this period.

10 Ways to Kickstart Your Resolution to Get in Shape

Be Realistic
Don't declare a permanent embargo on carbs when you wake up on January 1st. The quickest way to dropping your diet is to give yourself crazy limitations, i.e. "I will start the day with two hours of pilates and a spin class, and subsist on nothing but grapes and rice cakes from now on." Pick one habit to break at a time--like mindless grazing or throwing back sodas instead of water.

Fix Your Mistakes
Before you fix your diet or fitness routine, you first have to figure out where you went wrong in the past. Track your daily calorie intake and exercise through a site like fitday.com for a clear picture of how many calories you're taking in and how many you're burning on a daily basis. You may find that your morning jogs are too short to make up for the croissant you have for breakfast, or that you can drop pounds if you cut back on your weekend alcohol intake.

Plan On It
"I'm going to lose weight/diet/exercise more" isn't a fitness plan. Before you jump on the treadmill or throw your rent money into a gym membership, sit down with a piece of paper and a pen, and outline what exactly you'll be doing. Will you be running three mornings a week and doing crunches during Monday night's Gossip Girl? Or will you sign up for belly dancing classes twice a week after work, and ask a friend to go for a bike ride with you on Saturday mornings? Have a loose plan for your meals as well--you don't have to plan what you'll be having for lunch in three months, but you should have a solid idea of how you'll be distributing your calories. Would you prefer to eat a big lunch to keep you energized at work, and grab a light dinner? Do you need to schedule an extra workout on the weekend to make up for the glass or four of wine that you have on Saturday nights? Plan ahead and you won't be in danger of having a meltdown in front of the vending machine at work.

Do What You Love
Find a workout you love. If you've been trying to embrace running for years but loathe every pavement-pounding minute of it, stop forcing it. You'll be more likely to stick with a workout routine that you enjoy. If you have pangs of jealousy every time Dancing with the Stars is on, take a dance class. If you love riding your bike, sign up for a spin class. Experiment until you find something that you can stand, or even like, and your ideal body will be within your reach.

Write Your Own Diet Plan
It might be tempting to start shedding the pounds by hooking onto something like the South Beach diet and declaring all carbs to be evil, but those strict rules get harder to follow as soon as real life starts interfering with your New Year's resolution glow. Devise your own healthy eating plan instead, based on your own schedule and food preferences.

Take Baby Steps
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to shaping up. Don't be tempted to do everything all at once. You don't have to run eight miles and do hundreds of crunches a day to see results--in fact, the more you push yourself past your limits, especially if it's been a while since you've been active, the more likely you are to burn out by the second week of January. The same goes for any new diet you embark on. Try incorporating one good diet habit or losing one unhealthy one each week. If you ease into healthy eating, you'll be more likely to find healthy foods you like, and better able to cope with separation anxiety when you put a limit on your fried food intake.

Drop the Deadline
Put away that calendar and stop forcing deadlines on your weight loss efforts. The scale can fluctuate for a lot of reasons, and isn't always a great measure of your success, especially if you're building muscle as you're losing weight. Telling yourself that you have to drop 20 pounds before your sister's wedding can set you up for failure if you weigh yourself on a day that you're retaining a few pounds of water weight. You can't always control what the scale tells you, but you can control how hard you work. Keep at it and you'll start feeling and seeing the results.

Set Fitness Goals
Though setting weight loss goals can do more damage than good, setting a fitness goal can be a great way to push yourself to do more than you think you can. Whether you want to run a half marathon in a year, or just want to be able to do ten real pushups, giving yourself a goal to work towards can get you out of bed for that early morning workout when willpower isn't doing the job.

Spread the Word
You don't have to send out a newsletter alerting your friends and family of your fat gram intake, but speaking up about your new habits is a great way to motivate yourself to keep at it, and maybe even get your friends to join in. If you turn down your friends' invitation to grab dinner at McClogged Arteries, mention that you're trying to eat a little healthier and suggest a different place instead. Or give your best friend a free weekend pass from your gym so she can join you for your spin class.

Give Yourself a Pat on the Back
It's so easy to talk smack about yourself if you skip your workouts for a few days, or give in to chocolate temptation--why not turn it around and give yourself the kudos you deserve when you're doing well? Don't wait until you lose 15 pounds or run a 5k race. Take notice of the small improvements you make, like being able to run up the stairs to your third-floor walkup without losing your breath, or taking the time to make yourself a healthy breakfast every day for a week. All of those small things are the things you weren't doing before, and they're all signs that you're on your way to a hotter, healthier you.

Get Jessica Alba's $200/Session Workout for $15

jessica alba in a gold dress with lace accents at the 78th annual academy awards

Jessica Alba at The 78th Annual Academy Awards

Photo Credit: S.Granitz/Wireimage.com

Go ahead and slash that gym membership from your monthly expenses. Celebrity trainer Ramona Braganza shares the simple, 40-minute at-home workout that got Alba and Halle Berry into fab post-baby shape. Follow her fat-burning program four times a week:

10-MINUTE CARDIO: Jog for two minutes; run hard for six; jog again for two.

STRENGTH TRAINING 1: Three rounds of 20 reps using 3-pound dumbbells.

* Forward lunge with biceps curl: Curl weights up as you step forward; release arms down and back as you return to starting position. Alternate legs.

* Reverse flys: Step forward with one leg, bend forward at the waist, and let arms hang. Raise arms, slightly rounded, to sides until they are in line with shoulders. Switch legs every 10 reps.

* Lateral raise: Stand with arms by your sides; lift arms out to the side until they're in line with shoulders.


5-MINUTE CARDIO: Alternate between 30 seconds of jogging and 30 seconds of sprinting.

STRENGTH TRAINING 2: Three rounds of 20 reps using 3-pound dumbbells.

* Squat with shoulder press: As you come out of the squat position, press arms up over your head (palms forward).

* Chest press: Lie back on a bench (or stacked pillows), arms extended above your chest, palms forward with dumbbells touching. Lower arms until weights are in line with chest, then press back up.

* Triceps dips: Slide off the seat of a chair, keeping your arms on the edge behind you, and lower yourself down until your arms are at a 90-degree angle.


5-MINUTE CARDIO: Jog for 30 seconds; run hard for four minutes; jog again for 30 seconds.

CORE WORKOUT: One round of 20 reps.

* Reverse crunches: Lie on your back with knees pulled to chest and hands under butt; straighten legs toward ceiling, contract abs, and lift hips.

* Bicycle crunches: Lie on back with arms behind head and legs raised and bent to 90 degrees. Bring right elbow to left knee, left elbow to right knee.

* Plank: Hold for 20 to 30 seconds.


BOTTOM LINE: $15 (for two 3-pound dumbbells).

How to get a celebrity body - celebrity work out : Ashley Judd

Score a Celebrity Body in Four Weeks

Ashley Judd

Her workout: Weight lifting with celebrity personal trainer Steve Zim.

Check out: Hot Point Fitness Audio Trainer, a series of 100 different exercises on six CDs or four cassettes in which Zim talks you through a weight-lifting circuit of exercises that targets the entire body. For each exercise, Zim explains how the move should be performed, then counts down three sets of 15 repetitions (with a suggested stretch between each rep). An accompanying booklet illustrates each move, so there's no confusion about proper form or posture.

Get it: www.hotpoint fitness.com ($69.95 for a set of six CDs or four cassettes)

How to get a celebrity body - celebrity work out : Hilary Swank

Score a Celebrity Body in Four Weeks

Hilary Swank

Her workout: Power Pilates, a series of exercises -- performed on a mat or special apparatus -- that stretches and strengthens the abdominals, back, butt, arms and legs without adding extra bulk.

Check out: Power Pilates Foundation Workout, a 35-minute video of basic movements and mat-based exercises (including the famous "Hundred," a modified sit-up that's surprisingly tough). A chiropractor weighs in on how to adapt the exercises to accommodate past injuries or your body's own limitations. For a longer, leaner body, follow the routine three times a week.

Get it: www.powerpilates.com ($21)

How to get a celebrity body - celebrity workout : Jennifer Lopez

Score a Celebrity Body in Four Weeks


Jennifer Lopez

You may not have access to a Hollywood trainer, but you can still get in star-worthy shape by following one of these routines at home.

You may not have access to a Hollywood trainer, but you can still get in star-worthy shape by following one of these routines at home.

Jennifer Lopez

Her workout: Power yoga with Los Angeles yoga guru Mark Blanchard.

Check out: Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga, a collection of three sweat-inducing, 90-minute routines on video or DVD. Blanchard recognizes that doing a single workout repeatedly is not only boring but also inefficient, since your body adapts to it and ultimately ceases to progress. So, he recommends doing each routine once a week to keep your workouts feeling fresh and challenging.

Get it: www.progressivepoweryoga.com ($54.95 for the set of three videos; $59.95 for the set of DVDs)

HOTTEST YOGA CELEB CONTEST 2008 (www.zendle.com)

Zendle's Hottest yoga celeb contest 2008 Best comment wins $200* Sponsored by Zendle.com Here's a chance to win stuff worth $200 ($101 Amazon.com gift certificate + access to Yoga Andrini on Zendl..