Strength Training for Sports

The stress placed on muscles, tendons and ligaments from repetitive sports playing over the course of a lifetime is strenuous on joints. It’s not a coincidence that many still active baby boomers, as well as professional athletes are having to go under the knife to replace worn out knees and hips.

One of the ways you can try to prevent the need for surgery is to incorporate a strength and resistance training program into your workouts, if you participate in a sport.

Sport-specific training is essential to improving your game, whether it’s basketball, baseball, running, tennis, golf or figure skating. Working out off-ice or off-court, depending on your sport, improves endurance, increases muscle strength and power, and increases flexibility, which can add height to a jump, shave time off a race or power one’s golf swing.

The key is to train to enhance your game, not exhaust your body. Unfortunately the “no pain, no gain” mentality of the past is still present in fitness classes and on gym floors. Working to exhaustion in hopes of speeding up results depletes vital energy needed to play your sport. It also increases the likelihood of injury both on and off of the court.

A well-designed sport specific fitness program will reduce and even prevent injury both short and long term.

A well-designed program should include strengthening the musculature around all of the joints, which will reduce strain on the joint capsule, and surrounding structures including ligaments, tendons and bursas. Repetitive training injuries are usually located in one or more of these structures.

A solid strength-training program designed specifically for the sport can greatly reduce the strain placed on the body. The program should include:

• Pre-game/race/competition warm-up techniques

• Proper body mechanics for the sport

• Exercises that enhance the game

• Avoiding exercises that are counterproductive

• Metabolic training for increased clearance of lactate build-up to enhance endurance

• Stretching techniques for a mandatory cool down, something very few athletes do after a game.

In addition, many sports including figure skating, tennis, golf, baseball and basketball have a dominant side. This means that one side of the body is trained and developed to a higher degree than the other. Figure skaters jump to one side, tennis players and golfers swing with one arm as do pitchers throw with one arm.

A comprehensive training program should favor the non-dominant side so that the body becomes more balanced and stable. Train the non-dominant side more than the dominant side until it catches up in strength and power.

Ideally you should strength train two or three days a week, leaving at least one day of rest between workouts but no more than two for optimal results.

The best plan of action for following a sport-specific training program is to work with a personal trainer familiar with your sport. This person will be able to create a regimen geared just for you. He/she will be able to watch your form and technique and be able to progress the program in a sound and structured way.

If a trainer is not in your budget, search the web for training programs. You can do a search by typing strength training plus the sport, i.e. “strength training for basketball.” Use sound judgment when sorting through the myriad websites available. A good program will offer different programs for different athletic levels. Make sure to be realistic about your level. Better to err on the easy side than overdo it and be sidelined by injury.

Deborah Brooks is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Fitness Instructor through UCLA. She is the co-owner of edgeworX sport-fitness, a company founded on the belief that there is an athlete in all of us. Deborah is also an International Adult Figure Skating Gold Medalist.

Sustainable Fitness

The concept of sustainability is on most or our minds due to the dire need to keep our planet in balance. We can transfer this mindful concept to fitness regimens, as it is essential that we keep our bodies in balance for quality of life and longevity. Finding a program that takes into consideration the future not just the present moment of getting in shape fast is the key to exercise compliance, which leads to sustainability.

Despite all of the hype promoted by gyms, infomercials, celebrities, friends and family, if a fitness regimen is not for you, you won’t stick with it.

How do you find what you can sustain among the myriad of exercise programs and classes available out there? You’ve got to find what triggers joy and excitement in you. It will most likely suit your natural biorhythms and body type.

There is a saying in athletics; we don’t find our sport, our sport finds us.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you start investigating who you are and who you are not.

Becoming conscious of what triggers passion in you will help lead you to your true fitness calling.

1- What sport did I like to do as a kid? What sport did I hate?

2- What sport did I fantasize and maybe still fantasize being a champion in?

3- What tempo do I live by? What tempo can’t I live by?

4- Am I a group person or more of a loner?

5- Do I like to sweat? Do I hate to sweat?

6- Do I love to dance at weddings? Do I hate to dance at weddings?

7- What music do I like? What music do I hate?

8-Am I self motivated? Do I need bit of prodding?

- If you’re a loner, love to sweat and like speed you might try running or cycling.

-If you hate loud booming music and hate to dance at weddings, you guessed it; you might not want to tag along with a friend to a Hip-Hop class.

-If you love to dance to the beat and love groups try Zumba, Hip-Hop or take a Salsa lesson.

-If you always wanted to be Mickey Mantle and love groups find yourself a softball league and join a team.

-If you need a little prodding, like the idea of cross training and like personalized attention you might hire a Personal Trainer.

You get the idea.

I was an armchair figure skater my entire life dreaming of twirling on the ice as I watched the sport on television. For a year I sat in the stands watching my son skate until I got the courage to ask his coach for a lesson. I was 50. I now skate 5 days a week and travel around the world to compete. I love groups, I love to dance, I’m very musical, I had been an actress and I am fulfilling a lifelong dream. Figure skating is the perfect sport for me.

Please note that this article is not written to pigeon hole you or stop you from trying something outside of your comfort zone. It’s written to make you aware that fitness is an extension of yourself and should reflect that. Your time is precious. Spend it doing something you LOVE to do, not something that you feel you HAVE to do! It will make the choice to exercise easy, effortless and sustainable for a lifetime.

Get Fit for Charity

Today's Tip: Need a good reason to motivate yourself to get moving? We've got a great one. Charity. Many organizations throughout the country sponsor walks, runs, bike races, swim meets, dance-a-thons, etc. to raise money to help others. Training for these events will help focus your workouts. When you have a long term fitness goal you'll be excited to keep up your exercise regime. Try to register as many of your friends and family to join you. Training and racing as a group propels you to keep going even when you think you've hit the wall. You'll cheer each other on as you fatigue. And the ones that don't? Have them sponsor you by the kilometer or mile instead of a lump sum. Knowing that money is riding on the finish line will keep you in the race until the end.
Sign up for a charity fitness event and do your body and the world good! Raising money for a good cause is the best motivator of all.

Slow and Steady

Today's Tip :Think “fast results” are the only way to change your body? Think again. A healthier and more realistic way to change your body is to think in terms of slow and steady results. Make food, fitness and lifestyle choices that evolve over time. This way you give your mind and body a chance to adapt to the changes occurring, gradually. You'll see lasting results and eliminate the yo-yo weight syndrome.

Eight Ways Exercise Can Change Your Life Besides Hoping To Get That Perfect Booty

We’re all drawn to fitness promotions by the sleek bodies portrayed in ads. Promises of 6 pack abs and buns of steel lure millions of us into signing up for gym memberships, buying exercise gear and calling 800 numbers seen on fitness infomercials, daily. Hey, we all want to look great in our jeans, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Unfortunately,more often than not, the lure of looking good soon fades. And what happens? We end up with dusty fitness DVDs, a treadmill clothes rack or a gym card buried somewhere in the junk drawer.
Sound familiar? How do we overcome the malaise that sets in once the initial excitement of getting in shape passes? Easy. We change our thinking. The best results of exercise are what’s internal, those changes occurring under our skin that we can’t always see. Research shows that those who focus more on the health benefits of exercise as opposed to the visual results have better long term compliance.
If you’re one of those people that’s craving to get “that great body” but just can’t stick to a regular fitness program try focusing your mental energy on how you’ll feel as opposed to how you’ll look. There’s nothing more addicting than feeling good. Here are 8 ways that working out will definitely help you feel better. Use this list to motivate you to pop in that DVD, get on the treadmill or drive to the gym for a great workout, even when you’re dog tired after a long day.


1 - Increases circulation and blood flow throughout the body. This is the key to the many benefits of exercise that we discuss, whether you do hardcore cardiovascular workouts, strength training, practice yoga or go for a walk. Improved circulation perfuses oxygen rich blood to nerve endings, muscles, the heart, skin and all other vital organs for better function.

2 -Helps you sleep when you want to sleep. Exercise is known to reduce stress, the number one reason most of us can’t get to sleep or stay asleep. Millions of us are popping sleep aids to get some shut eye every night. Get in a good workout 3-5 times a week and you’ll be lost in dreamland as your head hits the pillow.

3 -Helps you stay focused and alert at work and at daily tasks. Improved circulation to the cardiovascular system and to the brain helps give you more energy, which in turn helps you stay focused. Plus, if you’re sleeping better at night you’ll have more stamina and better concentration during the day.

4 -Prevents disease. The risk of many diseases such as CAD (coronary artery disease) obesity and certain cancers can be greatly reduced and even eliminated by a regular fitness program . Sedentary lifestyle is considered as severe a threat to our health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.

5 -Improves mood and sense of well-being. Endorphins, our body’s natural feel-good chemical compounds, are released from nerve endings in our our brain and spinal chord when we exercise. Feeling depressed? Go for a run or walk, get to the gym, take a dance class. Our motto is ”an hour of fitness a day keeps the need for Prozac away!”

6 - Lowers resting blood pressure (hypertension). Exercise strengthens your heart and makes it more efficient at pumping blood to your body. This keeps vessel walls open reducing the pressure.

7 - Improves skin tone by 1) aiding the production of collagen 2) toning muscles that help improve the appearance of skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite 3) sweat from exercise flushing the body of toxins found in the environment.

8 - Increases your libido. That means better and more sex! Need we say more?
Okay, we’ll explain it. When exercise circulates more blood to the body, especially the hip and pelvic region it also increases blood flow to the groin area helping increase desire. Cardiovascular workouts will give you more stamina when in bed, plus improved muscle tone and flexibility make the experience more enjoyable. The endorphins elevated from exercise are similar to those from sex. As we said earlier, feeling good is addicting and you’ll carry that over with you to the bedroom.

There is an athlete in all of us.

This article arises from a conversation with a friend.
There is an athlete in all of us. Being an athlete is so much more than the physical prowess we associate with that word. Being an athlete is a state of being.
An athlete is someone who commits to their word on good days and bad. An athlete is someone who overrides the pendulum of the emotional highs and lows of life to get the job done. An athlete is someone who makes the commitment to doing and being one’s best on and off of the playing field. That playing field can be the skating rink, the tennis court, the treadmill or local Yoga studio. It’s wherever we commit to improving our health and well being through exercise and fitness.
It's important that we not look at it in relationship to other’s physical abilities. It’s not about training for the Olympics, signing a multi-million dollar contract or being on a nationally recognized team. Those are the outcomes of one’s training regimen. We don't become an athlete when we join a team. We get to join a team because we are an athlete.
Being an athlete is not a comparison that is measurable in how fast we can run, how high we can jump or the muscle definition of our body. It is measurable in the commitment we make to ourselves in overcoming the voice of fear and self-doubt that intrinsically arises when we say we are going to improve ourselves. It's about plowing through the chatter in our heads that says we’re too tired, too old, too out of shape - not good enough.
The next time you go for a walk, lift weights, take a fitness class, play a game of tennis, go for a swim, whatever it is you do for exercise, embrace the persona of being an athlete. Make the commitment to being your best in that moment no matter what the circumstances of your life. Push a little harder, run a little further, climb a little higher - believe in yourself. Overcoming exercise and fitness obstacles and moving to the next level brings with it the joy of accomplishment like no other.

Allow yourself to be an “athlete”. It will transform every aspect of your life.

4th of July Red, White and Blueberry Smoothie

Happy 4th of July! Here’s a healthy and delicious way to start your day and celebrate the founding of our country - Red, White and Blueberry smoothie. Rich in antioxidants, this smoothie is the perfect blend for pre and post workout nourishment that can be enjoyed year round.

- Blueberries contain the highest concentration of antioxidants of all foods plus Vitamins C, B complex, E and A, and trace minerals such as iron and copper. This super food boosts the immune system, reduces belly fat, aids in digestion, preserves vision and helps brain function, to name a few.
- Cherry Juice contains a very high concentration of quercitin, a natural anti-inflammatory. Consider drinking 12 oz. of cherry juice daily, instead of popping ibuprofen for post workout aches and pains.
- Bananas are rich in potassium which helps reduce muscle cramps, rid fluid retention and regulate blood pressure. Plus a great source of Vitamin B6 and carbohydrate for quick and enduring energy.


Red, White and Blueberry Smoothie (Vegan)

2 cups ice
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 medium banana
8 oz. tart or black cherry juice - available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other health food stores.

Pour contents into a Vitamix or regular blender. Blend until smooth.
Pour into tall glasses and enjoy! This is fitness food at its best!

-You can mix it up and use fresh cherries and blueberry juice. Add raspberries and strawberries, too. The combinations are as endless as your imagination.

-For a bit of a protein punch you can add 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, either regular or soy for vegans and those lactose intolerant, to the mix.


Please remember to drive safely wherever your holiday plans take you.

Fitness in Fifteen

Today’s Tip: Fitness in Fifteen

If time is what is stopping you from becoming physically active than let go of having to set aside an hour to workout and start thinking in 15 minute increments. Everyone has 15 minutes to spare during the day. Sometimes you just need to get creative to find them and incorporate fitness in a productive manner.

Where can you find the time? What can you do in 15 minutes?

Here are 4 suggestions to find the time with some workout ideas to get you started:

Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier and do morning yoga poses and gentle stretching.
It will change your entire day by giving you more energy.

Use 15 minutes of your lunch hour to take a one mile walk after eating a light lunch. It will help speed up digestion and keep you from craving an afternoon siesta.

Keep a resistance band in the desk of your home or work office. Take a15 minute break from the computer and build some muscle by using the band for bicep curls, triceps extensions and more. You can search the web for resistance band exercises that will strengthen muscles and loosen stiff joints.

Use your kitchen counter as a ballet barre while cooking dinner. It takes 15 minutes to boil a pot of water for pasta. While you wait do knees bends(plies), lunges, squats, leg kicks, back stretches and push-ups using the counter for support and stability. These multi-joint exercises tone the body fast.

These four “Fitness in Fifteen” workouts add up to one hour and work your body in different ways. You can do one or all of them. It’s a great way to get started on a regular exercise regime if time is tight. Once you see how exercise fits into your busy day and discover how good you feel, you’ll always find the time.

Remember, finding those spare 15 minutes during your busy day to get active will spare you a lifetime of medical ailments due to living a sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyle is equivalent to smoking 1 pack of cigarettes a day in terms of health risk. Our bodies were meant to move so set your clock and get moving.

Eat Healthfully!

Today’s Tip. Let go of the word "diet"! Replace it with the term, "eating healthfully.” Try to let food be a positive part of your daily living. Food is the essence of life and should be treated as such. When we choose to "eat healthfully" we can't help but make wise choices and enjoy those choices in moderation.
A good rule of thumb is to remember to eat from “Nature’s Rainbow.” Eat at least 10 servings (1 serving equals 1/2 cup) of different colored fruits and vegetables every day. Choose those with a deep rich color such as mango, blueberries, spinach, butternut squash and kale. You’ll get lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber plus the added benefits of phytochemicals. Those are the compounds found in the color, scent, taste and texure of fruits and vegetables believed to have antioxidant as well as other health benefits. Try to buy local. Those fruits and vegetables are picked ripe and will have more flavor and better texture. Produce loses much of its health benefits sitting in storage and on market shelves.
This change in attitude towards eating may take some effort as most of us have become programmed to live on the diet/binge roller coaster in order to fit into our”skinny” jeans. Whether we eat or don’t eat there is always a negative connotation with regards to food. Try it! When you stop dieting and start “eating healthfully” you will feel better, look better and sleep better. Food will once again become a positive part of your life bringing you much joy and pleasure.

Proper Hydration for Peak Sport and Fitness Performance

Proper hydration is essential for sports and fitness performance. Cooling of elevated core temperature during exercise results in fluid loss in the form of sweat on the skin’s surface. It is a natural and healthy response. Along with water, sodium and other electrolytes are lost from the body in this process. As a general rule, the more fit we become the more we sweat as our body becomes an efficient cooling machine. Replacing lost fluid and electrolytes is the key to peak performance, endurance and injury prevention. The question is, what, how much and when should we be drinking?
Water and electrolyte replacement has become big business. Walk into any fitness center, supermarket, convenience store and gas station and you will find a dizzying array of specialty waters, sport and energy drinks and electrolyte replacement solutions. How do you choose? Do you really need these expensive drinks? Here’s the scoop.
Research has shown that water is all you need for any exercise activity lasting less than 1 hour. Our diets provide enough sodium and other electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium to counter any loss for that duration.
After 1 hour electrolytes do need to be replaced, especially sodium, as well as carbohydrates. Hence the marketing and draw of sport and energy drinks, which contain sodium and sugar. Unfortunately, they can also contain lots of calories and artificial additives such as food coloring. In a pinch they are a great solution to replenishing fluid and electrolytes. But with a little foresight and planning you can make your own sports drink for pennies. And when you put it in reusable container you help the environment, too.

Sports Drink Recipe:
1 Qt. Water
1/3 tsp salt
½ to 1 ½ tsp. sugar

Keep your water and /or sports drinks at 41-59 degrees F as they are absorbed by the body faster at these temperatures. In other words, keep it cool and out of the hot sun of your car.
We’ve covered the what to drink but when and how much is just as important. We all sweat at different rates, so these are general guidelines for fluid replacement. Drink 2- 3 glasses of water 2 hours before exercising and another glass 15 minutes before exercising. During rigorous and intense activity, 8 oz. of fluid should be replaced every 10-15 minutes with a sports drink added after 45 -60 minutes. Modify this for less intense activity.
Don’t wait for your body to send an SOS signal that you’re going down. Too often we are encouraged to push ourselves to the limit as if it will give us more endurance, strength and power. Nothing could be further from the truth. Being properly hydrated adds to your endurance and prevents fatigue that can lead to injury. Dehydration can have dire consequences, especially in the heat. Please make sure that anyone who is training you also follows this philosophy. You should have the freedom to stop and take a sip during any fitness class and training session. Just don’t overdo it. Hyperhydration or too much fluid replacement for your body’s requirements is a possibility and can be just as dangerous. Listen to your body and learn its cues.

So, drink to your health, your fitness health that is, for optimal strength, power and endurance.

Get Cracking and Go Nuts!

It seems that the health and fitness industry has gone nuts. Well, nutritionally, at least and for a good reason. Nuts are crunchy little gems of heart healthy unsaturated fat and protein which is why they are the perfect pre and post exercise snack. While they are high in fat they contain no cholesterol. Clinical studies have shown that nuts are beneficial to lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
They come in many varieties each with its own healthful benefits. All nuts are a rich source of potassium as well as magnesium, copper and iron, minerals that are often lacking in our diets. Almonds are a great source of Vitamin E and calcium. Walnuts are high in Omega 3 fatty acids. Hazelnuts are a great source of folate. Pistachios are abundant in calcium, copper and iron. And they're all delicious! So good that sometimes it's easy to just keep munching. Here are some helpful tips.
- Eat no more than 1.5 ounces or 1/3 cup a day. That's roughly 225 calories depending on the nut.
- Measure a portion and stick with it.
- Only buy raw or unsalted dry roasted nuts
- Store them in the freezer to increase shelf life. Nuts go rancid easily.
- Add them to salads, yogurt and oatmeal for extra crunch

My favorite new way to enjoy nuts is the old-fashioned way. I buy them in the shell. I put a bowl of them on the coffee table with a nutcracker and crack open a few while I'm reading. Here are the benefits to buying them in the shell.
- It slows down your eating so you feel full sooner. No temptation to eat the whole jar!
- It 's a workout!
- Nuts in the shell have a longer shelf life
- Seeing them in the shell gives you a connection to their earthly source
- Makes a nice display on your coffee table...always a plus

So, get cracking and go nuts! It's the perfect snack.

The Buddy System

Do you remember when you were a kid and you had to find a buddy for class trips, swim classes, etc? You'd rush to be with a good friend, line up and then be given a number or letter to designate your pairing. Someone in charge would then call a practice drill and you'd "sound off" at the top of your lungs. As the day progressed there'd be intermittent buddy calls to make sure everyone was accounted for. Schools, camps and youth groups understood the value of keeping kids paired up. Accountability was the key. You had to watch out for one another to make sure no one got lost, hurt or "in trouble".

Now lets progress to today. The buddy system is not just for kids. It's the perfect plan for helping you maintain your fitness program. Find a good friend or relative (someone you like spending time with) with a similar schedule and workout goal and create a fitness plan together. Decide how many days you can commit to, what kind of workout you'll be doing (classes, walking, joining a gym) and how you'll be keeping in contact. You can set up a calendar on your phone or computer or create a printable calendar and post it on your fridge. Whatever gets your attention! Now, the most important thing is to commit to being held accountable. Call, text or e-mail reminders to one another. Have a buddy code name and "sound off." Be a kid again and have fun with it. Fitness should be fun and social! You'll find that it will become something you look forward to and want to do instead of "have to do."

Setting Goals

Setting goals in fitness is fundamental. It gives you a path to follow so that all of the hard work and effort can be measured. It helps you feel accomplished. It also helps you keep your commitment to yourself. if you have a set goal with a set deadline it pushes you into action. The key to success is setting the right goals.

The most most important thing in setting goals is making them quantitative as opposed to qualitative. In other words, something that can be measured objectively.
Here are examples:

Quantatative Goals:

"I will be able to do 5 chin-ups by March 1."
"I will drop my running time 30 seconds per mile by March 1.

Qualitative Goals:

"I will be ripped by by March 1"
"I will look good in a bikini by March 1"

Quantitative goals are tangible markers that help focus your workouts. You need to do specific exercises to gain the strength and endurance to do 5 chin-ups or to quicken running pace. The results are clear and defined.
Qualitative goals are abstract ideas that are based on subjective measuring. There is no set standard for being ripped or looking good in a bikini. And the measuring gets done by looking in the mirror. This can reek havoc on your psyche. Most of us tend to moprh our body image.

When you set goals to improve physical strength, power, endurance and conditioning quantitaviely, the qualitative results will happen. Remember, It's vital to make goals that challenge you but that you know are possible to achieve. Reach, but don't overreach. Go for success!

Resolution Results

Six weeks ago I declared my pre-New Year's resolution list and promised a follow-up with the results.
When making the list I thought about my trigger points. Those moments that cause calamity to the hard work
and discipline of my daily life. They don't only happen holiday time but they seem to be heightened by the
spirit of excess that begins Thanksgiving and doesn't end until January 1st. Hence, why I wrote this before Thanksgiving!

I am happy to report that by creating this list ahead of time I was able to get through the holidays with my clothes, actually, a bit loser! A first for me. I know that by coming to terms with my pitfalls ahead of time, it helped me stay present and focused. I found myself keeping to the list without any of my usual inner turmoil. You now that voice in your head that likes to play Battleship as you pass by the dessert buffet. Making the spirit of family and friends the priority instead of the food helped keep it in perspective.I spent more time talking than eating. When I did eat, I allowed myself a taste of everything. I never felt denied. I And by keeping up my exercise regimen I had my endorphins in gear. Often, we use sugars and fats as "feel-good pick-me-ups" as a replacement for that "runner's high".

This was a great life lesson. I am going to try to keep up my list making throughout the year. Everyday is a day to be fit and healthy. Sometimes, I just have to remind myself of that!

A Pre-New Year's Resolution List

The holidays are upon us and I have been thinking about how to fully participate this year without having to put "lose the holiday weight" at the top of my New Year's resolution list. After much soul searching, I have decided that making a pre- New Year's resolution list focusing on avoiding my usual pitfalls could be just the inspiration I need to keep me on track through the season. I know that it won't be easy undoing years of habit but I look forward to the challenge of celebrating the holidays with a whole new perspective.

Here's my list. Try making one for yourself.

I WILL...

- keep my exercise program a priority and not give in to "I'm too busy to work out".
- try to shop early and at off-peak times so I am not exhausted and depleted from last minute shopping which makes me
crave junk food for quick energy.
- eat before I go shopping.
- remember to keep that bag of almonds in my purse in case I get hungry.
- not take the free food samples knowing that nothing in life is free, there's a always a price to be paid.
- not starve myself all day so that I can binge all night at holiday parties.
- eat a piece of fruit before I go to holiday parties to curb my appetite.
- remember that food is plentiful everyday and I don't have to eat as if there's no tomorrow.
- remember that moderation is key. I will allow myself "tastes" of everything not "ladles" of everything.
- treat myself like royalty by feasting on the expensive foods at parties; fish, meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables.
- make family, friends and conversation the focus of attention instead of food and alcohol.
- remember how good I feel when I take care of myself!

OK. I'll post my results in the New Year.

We are Now edgeworX body

We are very excited to announce that edgeowoX sport-fitness is now edgeworX body.
New name...same great company.
Our mission has always been and will continue to be bringing you
cutting edge fitness, health and lifestyle information through our classes, website and facebook page.

We invite you to check out our improved website.
We've added icons to make it easier for you to navigate and get the information you need.

We will be expanding our classes in Los Angeles with new locations and tiered workout levels.
All of our class information is available under the Calendar
icon in our website and on our facebook page. We'll keep you posted.

October Class Update

EdgeworX is into its second month of X-effect classes at our new Yada Studio location in Los Angeles. It's hard to believe how time flies when you're having fun! Momentum is building and the energy is expanding with each passing week. We've created a strong following and are anticipating a full class this Wednesday night.

As always, thank you for your letters and testimonials. We appreciate your feedback and want to ensure that while with us you have the best experience possible. It's encouraging to know our mission statement "to motivate and inspire" is being well received by you, and we like hearing it!

One participant commented, "The hour flew by in what seemed like 5 minutes! Very different from my other fitness classes which seemed to drag on endlessly. I never knew I could have so much fun sweating!"

We understand that finances are tough, and to help you manage a bit easier through these precarious economic times; we've extended our September opening special through the month of October. Classes will remain $15 per session and can be paid cash/check only at this time.

Remember to bring a fitness/yoga mat if you have one. As always, wear comfortable workout gear, sturdy cross trainers, and water to keep hydrated. If you have any other questions, please contact Deborah at db@edgeworxsportfitness.com.

We look forward to seeing you at our next X-effect class!

Keeping Commitments

I have to share a great insight by one of our students this past Wednesday night.
She was apologizing to us for her friends not showing up to take class as she had promised. She herself was
frustrated and confused because they were so excited to try the class after she had raved to them about it. And then, one by one they dropped out for one excuse or another.
And her insight? That her friends would drive anywhere in the city, anytime you asked if you invited them to have "a drink" with you... and would show up, but didn't give that same commitment if you invited them to " workout" with you. She was really disappointed in them for not wanting to do something good for themselves, for not sharing this experience with her and for not trusting her that this would be a great way to spend the evening together. Hmm... food for thought.

Do you see yourself in this scenario? Take a look.
And decide for yourself if you need to change your perceptions of what commitments you want and need to keep.

I am not sharing this to put my opinion on this situation. I am sharing this to invite you to see where it is you might be stopping
yourself from making and keeping commitments to take care of you.