Grab a Buddy & Get Moving!

Throughout my 30 years experience, as a Group X and personal trainer, I have witnessed hundreds of success stories in the fitness business. Most of these successes can be attributed to the camaraderie community and support systems we establish upon embarking on our fitness journeys. Unfortunately, the flip side of those successes is the 1000's of enthusiasts who simply quit before they reach the rewards of a sustained and long-term exercise program.

The reasons people “drop out” are numerous. There are time constraints; we live in a time-starved society. Also, the type of program we implement may not suit our lifestyle or personality. For instance, some young hunk of a personal trainer has you lifting heavy duty weights and makes the workout seem laborious and boring. Sometimes in the case of weight loss, the psychology behind holding on to our excess weight carries a bigger reward than losing it. So we just hold on to it and give up our Group X class.

In order to overcome these antagonistic forces, we must embrace the power of socialization and the buddy system. They will become our anchors and will help us stay the course. Teaming with a spouse, friend is great and having a work buddy is great especially if you share a similar schedule and presumably the same lifestyle.

Group X has been known as the great socialization system within the health club industry. Here we can meet our friends after work; work buddies can carpool and save on gas and parking, a great bonus these days. Together you can have fun dancing, pumping and stretching like we do every day in Mambo Mania. We tend to encourage each other in this environment. We high five each other after executing a great cardio combination with great moves and exciting music. We recognize the changes in our bodies as we see how these workouts help melt away the pounds. We get to wear the latest, hippest fitness clothes that show off our new bodies, and we are constantly complimenting each other. Whether it’s Group X or working out with a buddy in the weight room – take it from me if you want guarantees on your results and your goals then grab a friend/buddy and get moving!

More Americans are Turning to Latin Dancing for Exercise

The American Council of Exercise (ACE) recently identified new trends in fitness for 2008. You know Mambo Mania is exhilarating and sexy, and you know it makes you feel great, but did you know that Mambo Mania is also TRENDY?

According to ACE, more Americans will be taking up spicy Latin Dancing as a way of exercise, thanks in part to the success of ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars." This is music to my Cubana ears! If you have not tried Mambo Mania yet, here’s a way to try it for FREE. Please visit MamboMania.net and check out the preview of Flex’n, Stretch’n, Pump’n Mambo Mania. This five-minute video will give you a taste of how sexy and fun Mambo Mania really is. I promise you’ll be wanting more!

Are you ready to sizzle off those extra pounds and feel sexy too? You will learn Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Mambo and more! Come on, it’s fun and according to ACE, everyone’s doing it!

Sexy & Fit

The great thing about Mambo Mania is that it allows you to "unzip" yourself! What a great, sexy feeling!

To Stretch or Not to Stretch!

Stretching prior to exercise helps prevent muscular injury, right? That is not what the current trends in scientific data indicate. On the contrary, studies show an increase in injury with pre-exercise flexibility training.

First, let’s differentiate stretching from a warm-up. It’s crucially important to do a warm-up before a workout. A warm-up starts out slowly and gradually and systematically recruits muscles which will be used later on in the workout. A proper warm-up increases blood flow to the muscles and increases the body’s temperature. It prepares the ligaments, tendons, nervous and cardio vascular systems for the upcoming exercises.

Stretching increases range of motion, reduces stress, provides relaxation, and increases muscle function. But, the conclusive evidence from the research is: benefits from stretching are best derived after your warm-up and again after your entire workout session.

There are several types of stretching techniques but the most common are– static, dynamic, ballistic, active and, passive.

A static stretch is a muscle extension taken to its fullest length and held for an elongated period of time; minimum 20 to 30 seconds.

Dynamic stretches are controlled movements done through a full range of motion, like big arm circles.

Ballistic stretching uses momentum and bouncing to extend the length of muscle beyond its normal range of motion. This type of stretching can be damaging to the muscles and connective tissue and potentially cause injury.

An active stretch is a held position which uses no outside force or assistance to maintain the posture, one simply uses the body’s own force from opposing muscles. Many Yoga poses require active stretching.

A passive stretch allows the muscles to relax into position by the assistance of a partner or apparatus. An example of a passive stretch would be a straight leg pull while you lie on your back, reach the leg toward the ceiling and clasp the hands behind the leg for increased lengthening of the muscle.

Clarita and all our teachers at Personal Best practice proper stretching techniques for all types of training modalities. Our goal is to help you maximize the elasticity of your muscles and ultimately improve their functionality. But most of all, we want you to have a fun workout within the confines of safety.

As you ladies (and gentlemen) prepare your bodies for the long arduous Avon Walk for Women’s Breast Cancer always keep in mind the need for a proper warm-up followed by stretches for your calves, legs, and hips. Those are the muscles you’ll be using throughout the walk. Good luck and be safe!