Personal Trainer Austin Texas

Stuck? Need Gift Ideas?

Many of us experience difficulty in shopping for family and friends.  Another thing we all experience? Receiving gifts we will NEVER use.  A client of mine suggested I share this with you here. Spare friends and family the expen$e of giving you an unwanted gift. Instead, try what she did and suggest a Gift Certificate from One-on-One Personal Fitness Training! I do them every year for people surprising significant others or friends. They aren’t just for new people to get them started; it makes a great gift for someone already committed to fitness and health, who’d love to get one session, or a week of sessions or more, as a holiday gift.  I can mail it or you can pick it up! What better gift to give someone then an investment in their health and well being.

May I also suggest the following gift ideas! A book about the food industry to fascinate and educate, “In Defense of Food” or “The 5 Day Miracle Diet” a book about ending cravings and eating for life long health.

GIVE A BOOK TO YOUR READER FRIENDS!!!!

Another great fitness gift idea is exercise bands! They’re affordable, fun, light, easy to store, and work great for body strengthening and toning, and travel easily!  

Last but not least, for the beginner walker to hard core runner, give them a “Polar” brand heart rate watch and strap for keeping track of their heart rate perpetually, and to track time and exercise intensity!

All these are great gifts that show you care not only about  them, but their health and well being too!  Hope these  ideas help make your shopping easier!

Take care,

Margo

Rebounders or mini-tramps have been around for many years. The models sold today are a bit bigger and more sturdy then those of days gone by (from what I’ve seen), and the DVD’s that come with it supply a lot of variety (and imagination ala ‘hip hop’ and ‘yoga’) to keep it interesting and fun. They are easy to learn, and easy to store…this model folds up!  The model I am endorsing and show here is the “Urban Rebounder” that I purchased on line.  Email me for details on that. 

I like it for stability and balance work, and the fact it allows you to jump without hard impact. I’m still a fan of hard impact; yet many of my clients have varying reasons why they may need to reduce or eliminate hard impact, and this rebounder is a great alternative.  And fun.

The model I have also comes with workout bands that attach to the sides so you can do arms, shoulders, etc, while standing and/or bouncing. It also comes with a detachable handle bar (shown in the photo above) to hold onto for security and balance, or as a tool when lifting one leg or for sitting and working abs, etc.  Lots of options!!!!  And fun (did I say that already?)

I love the Rebounder for burning calories, jogging without hard impact, twisting and jumping jacks and squats, abs and more. I think it’s effective, beneficial in too many ways to list, (and lots of fun). The DVD’s that come with are a hoot, and great for novice to advanced.

Take care,

Margo

I realize many of you experience pain in your lower back on occasion (or more then on occasion) and I have addressed treating your own back in a previous blog entry. Today I’m giving you a visual of the basic relief exercises to do if the book I recommended isn’t handy, but access to the internet is; click on this blog.

Lay down first, as shown here, holding for a few seconds and taking some deep breaths to RELAX removing tension.  Turn head to one side; arms beside your body.

Now place your elbows below your shoulders leaning on forearms. Hold this for a couple minutes and take deep breaths to RELAX low back muscles.

Only after these two above, commence by pressing yourself up to straighten your elbows, RELAXING your torso, pelvis and legs allowing yourself to sag. Hold for a second or two, lower and repeat several times. You may maintain the up position longer, if any discomfort starts to wane, and low back starts to relax.

In the event you are unable to lay down where you are, do this standing back extension; although it may not be as effective as laying down, it will absolutely help. It is also effective in the prevention of further low back issues. Keep knees straight, feet slightly apart, maintain backbend for a moment or two then repeat going further to maximum degree.

Take care of your back, and it will take care of you!

Warm regards,

Margo