Exercise Choices

Pilates is about slow and controlled movements. I would recommend only doing it on a reformer. It's all building core and we all need that!

I am a Christian woman and love Yoga. It really helps develop coordination, core strenght, and balance. If you go to a Yoga class at a gym, you really just get the physical aspect. When you go to a place that specializes in Yoga, that's when they get into more of the mental side.
My favorite excercise is Zumba, by far. But, I've also taken belly dance and loved it. I go to the YMCA and take the kids with me 3 nights a week and early saturday morning. It's fun for them, good for me, and dad can go with or not. He usually does, so it ends up being a family affair. I do one night of yoga, one night of zumba, one night of cardio on the bikes, eliptical, and treadmill, and Saturday morning Zumba. It helps me get more out of my saturday because I start off energized.

LOL... I tell friends who have "chakra issues" that they just want you to *relax* those areas or concentrate on them. If somone says "focus on your throat chakra" just think about your throat. Pretend it's a verbal twitch. AKA just hear "focus on your throat". Meaning you might need to not be hunching your neck, or maybe just remember to breathe (which can be easy to forget to do when you're in an awkward position, most people start to hold their breath). But most don't go on about chakras to begin with.

For myself... I can ONLY do things my son can come with OR I can arrange babysitting for (my husband doesn't help, either).

This means my son and I DO do a lot of things together (snowboarding in the winter, swimming in the summer, hiking). When we're both well (not a lot THIS year :P) we usually start off the day by doing 6 miles around a local lake. He rides his bike/razor/skateboard if he likes or walks with me and I walk with the dog. Takes us an hour, and no babysitting required, and is something we can do every day.

There are mom and me yoga classes through one of the community centers around here (I can't, I'm already too flexible... I start doing yoga and end up in a cast because I end up dislocating or spraining something :P) that aren't KID classes (like toddler style) but FAMILY classes... designed for elementary and older kids to come with. Ditto there are family sailing classes, doubles kyak rental, etc. If I ever move back to the beach, I'll take him surfing with me... and on vacation we can at least go body boarding together.

I realize that this may not be the answer you're looking for... just my experience. I tried for YEARS to get "me time" to be exercise time... and that just doesn't happen. If I want exercise, it needs to be something my son can come with me. Something I'm REALLY excited about is Aikido. My son's been doing it for a little while, and once my shoulder is healed (aka this spring) I'm going to start, too. The way his dojo works is kids, teens, adults. So he'll have his hour, then we'll have dinner together, and he can do homework while I do my hour. That's the plan, in any event. He's finally old enough that it's viable. In the past, there's no way... he needed to actually BE with me doing what I was doing (hence the snowboarding, swimming, walks, hiking)... but now that he's 9 and a bit more independent, I'm hoping to be able to "cheat" a bit and just have us in the same space.

First of all, I am sorry your husband is such a jerk, I don't know how you put up with such a basic lack of respect :(

I think you'll have an easier time finding activities and classes in the evening and on weekends, I don't think you'll find much during the lunch hour. I do jazzercise two nights a week and I LOVE it! I also do long walks with my dog and various girlfriends a few times a week. I have done yoga and enjoyed that, too (I don't think you'd find anything offensive about it, sometimes there's chanting involved but you don't have to do it.)

I think it would do you some good to get out of the house a few nights a week. Leave something in the crock pot for your kids and let your jerk of a husband fend for himself!

Hi A.. I'm older than you are (ha ha! We DO feel our age now, don't we) and I had NEVER taken yoga before until a few weeks ago. I joined a GENTLE yoga class that is good for people who have never done it. My yoga instructor has never tried to tell us that we need to believe in Buddha, and yours won't either. Yoga is stretching and holding a pose for a length of time, and I have found that it is easier than pilates. Now, I have done what you would call "baby pilates" which were given to me by my physical therapist. She uses them for people who aren't strong enough to do pilates.

So... go find yourself a yoga class for first timers. You need something to wear that is comfortable and form fitting, and a mat. I bought my yoga mat at Dick's Sporting Goods for $19. Drink plenty of water so that your muscles don't get sore, and let go of a pose if you get uncomfortable. My instructor will give alternate ways of doing things for those of us who have testy backs or necks.

Don't worry about opening your chakras! Smile!

Dawn

A., I am sorry your husband is being a jerk about this.
Here are a few suggestions:

Can you purchase a bike trailer for your child? You can get them for a decent price off Craigslist or other classified ads. You might be able to then take her to school by bicycle or go biking after work or on weekends without having to find a sitter. You might even be able to run errands on your bike if the stores are near enough. You could also consider a jogging stroller. I got mine for $90 used and it has been wonderful. I know there are many areas that have "Stroller Strides" which is a group of women with their strollers, walking/running etc. Or you could see if any neighborhood ladies want to join you.

A very inexpensive option would be a hula hoop. You can buy the weighted ones from any sporting goods store for around $20. I enjoy hula hooping while I watch tv or with headphones on. It burns less calories than running, but it is super fun, so who cares. Sometimes I willl also use my handweights at the same time.

If you have Netflix, there are many good fitness dvds you can rent and a lot of them are on the instant queue. I especially like the Ellen Barrett pilates ones as well as 10 minute solution pilates. You can get a really decent workout at home. Amazon.com has great prices on dvds as well. I have loved Turbo Jam and anything by Cathe Friedrich. Although it is easy to be distracted at home, my kids know that my workout time is MY TIME and not to bug me. Sometimes they even grab a yoga mat and join me and it is fun for all.

Lastly, can you join a gym or rec center with childcare options?

BTW, Most of the yoga dvds I have used have not had anything religious about them. I am not into the whole "woo woo" aspect of yoga but I love it for flexibility and strength. The 2 dvds I have loved best are Yoga Journal with Natasha Rizopolous (step 1) and AM yoga for your week with Rodney Yee. They are all 20 minute segments but I truly find that when I work those small segments in 3-4 times a week, my weight loss is more rapid, I feel so much better, my muscle tone looks great, I am stronger, etc. They are not difficult. I would definitely recommend yoga or pilates. If you are worried about looking silly, try it at home first, but any time I have taken a class at the rec center, there are so many ages and skill levels that I do not feel self conscious even if I am out of shape.

Good luck!

Sorry your husband is causing more stress for you - men really don't know what we do in 24 hours.

I am a fan of yoga because it stretches out all of your kinks & tight spots, soothes your mind, & improves your balance! You start where you're comfortable & most yoga instructors will offer different options if others want to get into a more challenging position, but you can remain in a basic position if that's where you are comfortable. I have never been to a yoga class where they're trying to push any kind of religion aspect - if the instructor talks about chakras (& I can only recall one that did), it's interesting to listen to, but there's no attempt to recruit new members or anything. I really don't think you need to worry about someone trying to sway your beliefs. It's much more about stretching, balance, flexibility, & being happy with yourself for just getting there & doing something!

Pilates is fantastic, but definitely a tougher workout - much more core emphasis, you need to keep your abs, back, & leg muscles tight - it's just more intense, but a great workout. You WILL feel it.

Ballroom dance s/b fun & you'll burn a lot of calories. Another option is Zumba - I've never tried it*, but it is evidently very energetic dance moves & everyone I know who does it looks fantastic. *I have had a silly resentment toward it as the gym canceled more & more yoga & pilates classes & replaced them with Zumba, until there were only 2 yoga or pilates classes/week as opposed to every day. I eventually left that gym. But see? I still recommend it, because the results my friends have gotten are really something -

Good luck & have fun!

That's too bad you can't continue with biking to work but how about biking at another time of the day? Or on the weekend? I am pretty dedicated to my workouts but I don't belong to a gym. I have my own cardio kickboxing DVDs I use at home and I do my own strength training. The other thing I do (which can sorta be like dance) is Zumba classes. You can usually find them at local recreation centers or community clubhouses for $5-$7 per class, no commitment. It takes a little while to learn the steps if you aren't super coordinated, but once you do it is such fun. I recommend it to everyone! Check Zumba.com for class locations in your area. Good luck, it really is worth it for your health and stress management to continue to exercise!

Pilates is fantastic! No worries about the chakras and all that. Think of it as code for clearing the mind. Not only are you exercising your body and working on muscle strength and flexibility you are also working on strength of mind. Releasing stress in a healthful way, focusing on yourself to improve health all around. The breathing techniques can help you get through the day as well. You don't need formal dance classes to do dance. Jazzercise is like dance and fun, keeps your heart pumping. That will definitely boost your stamina and energy. Zumba is another great exercise....lots of dancing, but the coordination might be frustrating. Try it, you never know. Since you like to ride a bike, maybe a spinning class (although intense) would help. Find what's right for you. I'd choose Pilates and another cardio work out. You'll be in great shape in no time.
Hopefully you'll find the right program for you and ease the frustrations family life has to offer. :)

A.,

Your daughter is 7, so could she go on bike rides with you? I have a nine-year-old daughter and this is something I enjoy doing with her. She does ride slower than I would like, but it still gets us outside and active together.

If I had to choose between Pilates, Yoga, and dance, it would be Pilates hands-down! I was in a Pilates class for about a year and a half and it was fantastic for strength building, ab development, and stress relief. I tend to get knots in my back and neck and the Pilates got rid of them. Not all Pilates classes are the same, so you might want to look around a bit. Some are more like Yoga and some are more like military basic training (the kind I like!).

I'm 50 and I run and train in Karate. I just earned a black belt last month. There are many forms of martial arts, some involving more contact and some less. They are all good for developing balance and coordination.

A., it sounds like you have a busy life. It may be easier to fit exercise into your daily activities than to add classes in the evening or on weekends. You were already doing that by biking to work twice a week.

My suggestion is to find ways to exercise and burn more calories doing the things your normally do. Park at the far end of the lot to walk a little more. And take the stairs instead of the elevator. I'm sure you can find other ways to add exercise throughout your day.

I like exercise videos. There are many on YouTube. When you find a good one, bookmark it or keep the links in a Word document. If you have Netflix streaming, search for exercise. And I get exercise DVD's from the library. PBS has some good exercise programs, too. Mom, who's 90 and a stroke survivor, likes the Sit and Be Fit series. Although it's geared for seniors, many of the routines are good for agility, dexterity and balance. I've also seen yoga, Tai Chi and other gentle exercises on PBS. You might find others there, too.

Then, you can add a dance class or another program to get out and have some fun while exercising. Because cost may be a factor, these classes wouldn't be as expensive as paying for all of it. You'll be doing some of the exercises thru your day and with no-added-cost videos.

Good luck!

~M.

I would suggest to purchase a yoga dvd for home, I would think that would help with coordination and much more, doing the stairs at work should help with your endurance, they are so hard to do but the more you walk the stairs the easier it will be.

Good Luck

I'm not into chakras, either. So I like the yoga movements, but the dvds drive me buggy.

However, both Pilates and ballroom dance could be fun. Pilates focuses on your core strength, as you know, which could be good for your coordination challenges. Ballroom Dance is on my list of things to learn before I'm 100. However, I'll have to find a different partner because my husband is definitely not interested!

If you can't find a class, have you ever thought about walking? You can do it all by yourself, and you have nearly all the equipment already. You will need some good walking shoes and some really good socks, and you need to think of them as investments. They don't have to be the most expensive, but they do have to be well-made. If you like a challenge, I'm sure there are web sites about walking that can help you set goals for yourself. How could you lose?

I'm with the ladies who say Zumba. I've done it for five years, and I just became an instructor. Just like yoga, though, and pilates, every Zumba instructor is different. The local YMCA should have some classes. Depending on where you live, it might have several different instructors, so you can find out who suits you best. It can be a pretty tough workout, though, so I'd take it easy at first.

As to yoga, I'm Christian as well, and I've sometimes heard forebodings from other Christians about the "eastern influence," but yoga is not about religion. It's about tapping into your body's resources, feeling where your body is flexible, finding balance, listening to yourself. It's really good for helping prevent injury doing other things, too, for it teaches you better posture, involves a lot of stretching, and the self-awareness helps you sense when something isn't feeling so great, so that you don't keep going and injure yourself.

Sorry about the hubby, too. Mine isn't quite so bad, but he's got a HUGE job, and that means he simply can't help with the kids. But most YMCAs have activities for the kids, as well, even little ones.

Zumba class, you will love it!