Work it Out

I'm not big on new years resolutions. Probably because I don't remember what I resolve to do at the beginning of the year. I think a couple of years ago I resolved to get into shape and that's why I have a rotting gym membership at LA Fitness. It's a suspended account, so I'm not paying much monthly. But still, i'm giving money away while my body withers like a wet tissue.

Recently, I hurt my back three times on a little over a month. First shoveling the deck, then picking up my baby off the floor, and more recently, putting my baby down in his bed. For goodness sake! It's not like I'm lifting our gargantuan solid oak dining table! It just proved to me that my muscles and skeletal system are failing me in my daily routine. And that is not acceptable because this bod needs to get me through a few more decades.

So this year, I'm going to cast away my wishful gym membership for a more realistic home workout program. For Christmas, my brother gifted me the second edition of the New York City Ballet Workout DVD. (I already have the first DVD.)



I really like these ballet workout routines, but that's because I took ballet for 13 years. THIRTEEN YEARS! So that gives me a leg up on understanding the movements and awkward ballet positions. The video work and lighting are both stunning. The dancers, are of course, perfectly beautiful, and it's a nice to move to classical music instead of pounding techno. The routines are also fairly non-strenuous, certainly not very aerobic, so these DVDs are good for jump starting my new exercise habit... hopefully.

The downsides to this series is that the first DVD has some instructional mistakes and one routine is missing the second side. Also, for the ballet beginner, the workout might be somewhat frustrating or intimidating. The movements aren't all that difficult, but the form is challenging to emulate.

I also own a library of yoga DVDs by Yoga Zone.



There are a lot of conservative Christians out there who are leary about yoga for all the spiritual implications, but trust me, these DVDs do nothing to instigate the demons. For example, they instruct you in yoga breathing, ujjayi, by telling you to breathe like Darth Vader. Hmm, unless you consider Darth Vader a demon?

The yoga set is nice for variety, the scenery is beautiful, and the instructors are appropriately calm, informal and instructive. They also do a good job at giving alternative positions if you're not flexible. Average flexibility is good to start with, but I doubt my parents, who think Walk Away the Pounds is a great workout, would be able to do these routines.

And just last night I bought two Jillian Michaels kick-my-butt DVDs off of Amazon - The Complete Workout for Beginners - Frontside / Backside and 30 Day Shred.



I bought these because of the rave review from a favorite blogger, Linda of All & Sundry. She reviews 30 Day Shred on her workout site, Bodies in Motivation, and on a Mom site called Work It Mom where she also lists other favorite workout DVDs. We'll see how I like them.

So good luck to me! I don't necessarily want a ripped body, just one that will last me into my golden years.