Fitness BUZZ

Fitness Buzz: JAM World Record 2013

Posted by Coach Stacy & Debby Ridgell on September 17, 2013
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JAM World Record 2013 2

Health-E-tips’ JAM School Program and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation have teamed up for the second annual JAM (Just-A-Minute) World Record.  On Thursday, September 26th at 10:00 a.m. millions of kids and adults will be participating to set a new record for the most people taking a one-minute fitness break.  JAM World Record was created to promote the importance of everyone being active every day and encourage millions of kids and adults to take “just-a-minute” to get up and get moving.

Registration is now open for the JAM World Record 2013.  Individuals and groups are encouraged to sign up and ensure their participation counts toward the record-setting event.

JAM World Record 2013 has a goal to rally 3 million people to participate in this year’s event, more than doubling last year’s inaugural record of just over 1.3 million.  So get “JAMming” and sign up to count in the record.  For added fun and incentive, JAM Leaders in every state can compete to take this year’s JAM title from West Virginia, which registered nearly 8 percent of its state’s populations in 2012.  Colorado…ahem…took second last year and we’re hoping to lead the nation in 2013!JAM World Record 2013 1

JAM (Just-a-Minute) is a free wellness resource for schools and is designed to teach kids (and adults) healthier lifestyle habits.  The highlight of the program is the “JAMmin’ Minute®, a one-minute fitness routine that includes five very simple exercises that kids (or adults) can do while either standing at their desks or sitting in a chair.

Click here for a sneak peak at the JAM World Record 2013 routine featuring C.J. Spiller and Patricia Friberg.  Or download and print the PDF to share with your students, co-workers and friends.

People of all ages and abilities can make a difference by participating in the 2013 world record.  Mark your calendars for the JAM World Record 2013 on September 26, 2013 at exactly 10:00 your local time.

Fitness Buzz: 10,000 Steps Through Step Dancing (That’s No Blarney)

Posted by Coach Stacy & Debby Ridgell on March 13, 2013
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Ceili DancingFitness, Friendship and Fun Through Irish Dance

By Laura Padgett

Here it is March again and folks are gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day festivities.  Perhaps you will celebrate by going to a parade, or to a party or pub.  Wherever you choose to mark this holiday it is sure you will find lively crowds, engaging music and, of course, Irish Step Dancing.  It is easy to admire the grace, skill and athleticism of the dancers.  Most Irish Dance performances include a combination of traditional and Riverdance style choreography.  Although a lot of what is seen in performance is complicated, highly precise and the result of hours of practice, there is another form of Irish Dance that can be done by anyone from age 2 to 92 and requires little to no dance experience.  It is called Ceili (Gaelic for party) dance and is rooted deep in Irish history.

No one can say for sure when Irish dancing began.  Most scholars on the subject believe it dates back to the religious practices of the Druids, long before Ireland was Ireland, as we know it now.  The Druids often practiced circle and line dances in their ceremonies.  Through centuries of persecution, occupation and exile, the Irish have kept their unique dance style alive and well. Perhaps that is because it was exercise that kept them fit, provided socialization with friends and family, and was just plain fun.  It can be all that for us today.

Irish Ceili Dance offers fitness on two levels.  First, a person can count on getting a good cardio workout doing the jigs and reels prevalent in Ceili dancing – and what an enjoyable way to get your 10,000 steps in each day!  But Ceili dancing is a good brain workout too.  Even though there are only a few basic steps to learn, one’s little grey cells are challenged to remember the patterns in the dances.

Ceili dancing has been done throughout history, all over the world, for socialization.  It provides a unique opportunity for spending time with family and friends – old and new.   When it comes to meeting new folks, it’s hard to beat some of the progressive dances where you end up with new partners throughout the piece.

For me personally, the best benefit of Ceili dance is fun.  The music connects the dancers to the earth and each other in a way that defies description.  The dances tell stories of a resilient people who refused to let their culture die.  I have yet to attend a Ceili dance event where people didn’t walk out smiling – happy in the soul.

So don’t be surprised if you find your feet tapping and your heart with a voice of its own as you are carried into the magical world of Irish Dance this St. Paddy’s Day; it happens to a lot of us.  You might consider taking an Irish Dance class for cardio fitness and improved all around health.  Google Irish Dance Classes in your area and check with schools to see if they have a Ceili class.  But be warned, the music and dance can be addictive.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Sláinte (Gaelic for “to your health”).

Laura headshotLaura Padgett earned her MA from Regis University in Storytelling Through Creative Movement. She competed in and performed Irish Step Dance for almost 15 years beginning at age 46. While at Regis, she taught and choreographed Irish Ceili dancing for five years.  She taught Irish Dance at Westside Dance in Golden, CO and for Miss Gwen Bowen in Denver.  Currently Laura is involved in the formation of a Ceili class at Destination Dance in Wheat Ridge.  For more of Laura’s writing on dance and other subjects, visit her blog at http://livinwhatyouregiven60.wordpress.com or contact her at 303-238-6812 for information regarding her Irish Ceili Dance class.

Fitness Buzz: It’s Snowing – Time to Go…Biking?

Posted by Debby Ridgell on March 1, 2013
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Fat BikesYesterday was the last day of the meteorological winter, so it’s time to put away the skis and snowshoes right?  Not by a long shot – at least not here in Colorado.  Traditionally, March is the snowiest month in our mountainous state so there’s plenty of winter left to be had.  But those of you who are itching to tune up your bikes and hit the mountain trails again, why wait?

“Fat biking,” also known as “snow mountain biking” is rapidly growing in popularity in places where snow represents big business.  The sport originated in Alaska some 25 years ago, but spread quickly to the lower 48.  Fat bikes are easily recognizable by their wide rims and their bulbous, knobby tires and anyplace that you’d normally hike, mountain bike or snowshoe is suitable for fat biking.

However, the activity is for neither the novice nor weekend warrior.  It’s a strenuous workout, indeed; most seasoned fat bikers will tell you that biking on snowy trails represents double the workout of the average mountain biking trail.  The typical fat bike ride is slippery, strenuous, and somewhat “technical.”

There is some disagreement over what constitutes a decent “snow bike.”  Some contend that all you need is a mountain bike with a doublewide rim and mud-pattern tires.  Others insist that you need an actual fat bike, complete with a four-inch rim and wide, knobby tires (think studded snows).  Such bikes range widely in price, as do mountain bikes, and are built specifically for riding in snow or sand.  Their secret lies in the flotation derived from large-volume, low-pressure tires.

Fat biking pros offer the following tips and techniques for riding in the snow:Fat biking 2

  • Ride at a lower cadence than you would on a regular biking trail.
  • Pedal more or less continuously to avoid sinking in the snow.
  • Shift your weight backwards so as to weigh down your back tire and produce better traction.
  • Employ a lower gear while traveling uphill, and a higher gear while traveling downhill or on level surfaces.
  • Seek trails that feature hardpack or packed powder.
  • Avoid carefully groomed cross-country trails.
  • Try not to break quickly, particularly where there’s ice.  Breaking suddenly doesn’t work well when you’re driving a car and is equally hazardous when riding a bike in the snow.
  • Practice the same safety precautions you would while riding a regular bike – and most definitely wear a helmet.

Here in Colorado, our best snow of the season is yet to come.  If you’ve already skied or gone snowshoeing, why not try fat biking for a change of pace?  Happy pedaling!

If you want to learn more about fat biking, check out the following links:

Snowbiking in Park City

Fat Biking in Alaska

Riding Mountain Bikes in Snow

Fitness Buzz: Power to the She

Posted by Debby Ridgell on September 28, 2012
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Athleta, the high-end performance fitness retailer based in Sonoma, California will open its newest store at Park Meadows Mall on Tuesday, October 2.  Coach Stacy and I LOVE Athleta, for its state of the art clothing and gear, as well as its outstanding, personalized service – and I guarantee we’ll be checking out the new digs.

Whatever sparks your engine, Athleta has something for everyone who lives by the mantra, “When you’re moving, you’re improving,” whether its yoga, running, hiking, golf, swimming, paddling, cycling, tennis, weight training, or just kicking around.  The Lone Tree location will offer the hallmark Athleta personalized styling service, as well as complimentary hemming, free fitness classes and in-store discounts for fitness professionals.

The Park Meadows store marks Athleta’s 18th location to open nationwide in 2012 (the Pearl Street Boulder location will open in the fall as well) and as part of its continued support of the nonprofit Girls on the Run, Athleta will make a charitable donation to the local chapter in celebration of the grand opening. 

Athleta – Park Meadows Mall

Upper Level, near Nordstrom

8505 Park Meadows Center Dr.

Lone Tree, CO  80124

303-708-8504

Monday-Saturday, 10:00-9:00

Sunday, 11:00-6:00

Fitness Buzz: Fitness and Health Bloggers Conference

Posted by Coach Stacy on June 25, 2012
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Power Breakfast at the Bloggers Conference

Debby and I spent last Friday plugged in at the weekend-long Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference at Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Denver (www.FitnessBloggersConference.org).   You might think that’s a bit ironic, since I spend most of my time preaching about unplugging and getting outdoors and being physically active.  But – and I’m rationalizing here – fitness blogs serve to get you “plugged in” to better health!

The two of us love blogging about fitness and health and we joined several hundred others who are helping to make the world fitter and healthier – one follower at a time.  We were energized and inspired by the other bloggers, people who are as passionate as we are about “spreading the health.”  Social media is exploding and we’re looking forward to riding the wave of this new and exciting adventure.  You’ll want to check out these other noteworthy and useful fitness blogs that we discovered at the Conference:

Fun and Fit:  www.funandfit.org

Powercakes:  www.Powercakes.net

Oatmeal in My Bowl:  www.oatmealinmybowl.com

Taking it all in at the Conference Tradeshow

The Conference tradeshow was a blast, where we scored lots of great swag and information from health, fitness and nutrition oriented companies like Bliss.com, Adora Calcium, TechnoGym, American Council on Exercise, Goodness Knows, Love Grown Foods, Cherry Marketing Institute, Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, Health Communities/Health Central Publications, and many others.  Throughout the next few months we’ll be featuring many of these companies’ products and ideas.

Lastly, Debby and I would like you, as followers of Coach Stacy’s Healthy U, to tell us what topics you’d like to see us cover on the blog – fitness trends, diet info, healthy lifestyles – you name it and we’ll cover it!  What are your burning questions in the fields of fitness, health, diet and nutrition?  Email me at coachstacy101@gmail.com. 

Stay tuned – we’ve got lots more health and fitness topics to explore on www.coachstacyshealthyu.com.  And just remember, when you’re moving, you’re improving!

Fitness Buzz: Hula for the Fitness of It!

Posted by Presley Fowler on June 14, 2012
Posted in: Fitness BUZZ, Physical Activity. Tagged: , , . 2 Comments

It’s finally summer and everyone knows what that means…swim suit season!   As my freshman year of college was winding down, I found myself daydreaming of the upcoming long, hazy days when I could sit out by the pool for endless hours.  But then I found myself dreading the very act of tugging on my bikini because my once toned and firm core has become a bit flabby.  While I’m determined to work my abs back into shape again, a little summer laziness has already set in and I don’t always feel like doing an intense ab workout.   No problem – I’ve discovered the perfect solution:  Hula hooping!

Hula hooping is one of the best core workouts you’ll find.  And it’s fun!  I picked up a hula hoop for the first time when I was five years old and was hooked immediately.  In fact, at the end of my kindergarten year, I entered my school’s talent show with a hula hooping act.  I got up on stage and just stood there hooping to a three minute CD.  Five minutes later I was still at it and probably could have kept going another five but someone eventually came up on stage and politely herded me off so the next act could go on.  You’ll be pleased to know I received a second place ribbon for my hula finesse.  So I guess you could say I’m something of a hula pro – and it evidently runs in the family because my mom, Coach Stacy, has recently started to incorporate “exerhooping” into her weekly Boomer fitness classes and they’ve been a huge hit!  I joined in her class last week and even though I hadn’t hooped in quite a while, I discovered that it’s a little like riding a bike – you never forget how to do it. There I was, working my core and having a blast!  And because I was having so much fun the time literally flew by.  Before I knew it we had been hooping for eight minutes straight, which according to Coach Stacy, burned as many calories as we would have running a mile.  And I don’t know about you, but I’ll hoop any day over running a mile.

Now, here are a few hula facts for you to ponder:

  •  Hula hooping is great for burning fat as well as toning your body’s core muscles.
  • The heavier the hoop, the more resistance provided which means the faster your muscles will be toned.   The more weighted the hoop is, the greater number of calories you’ll burn.
  • The secret to hula hooping is to rock your hips forward and backward, as opposed to side to side, which is what most people try to do.  Think of it as a pumping motion, not a circular motion.
  • Hooping is a low impact exercise that will gradually increase your endurance and aerobic capacity.
  • Hula hooping can greatly improve your coordination because it requires timing and rhythm.
  • It can also increase the flexibility of your spine because of the wide range of motion required (great for those who are prone to back injuries).
  • Hooping is an excellent brain exercise, particularly if you try rotating your hoop in both directions – clockwise and counter clockwise.  For me, counter clockwise is a piece of cake, but clockwise, not so much.
  • Most importantly, it is a fun way to exercise, and when exercising is fun, you’re more likely to actually do it!

Finally, an enjoyable workout that burns lots of calories, costs next to nothing, with no gym membership required.  ANYBODY can get fit by hula hooping!  I was so impressed with the Boomers in my Mom’s class. They were really good at exerhooping – all except for one old fellow named Jim, who for the life of him, couldn’t keep his hoop going for more than about five turns.  But he just kept at it and we all cheered when he actually got it going ten times.  As my mom always says, “When you’re moving, you’re improving,” and Jim was doing just that!