side plank

I Like This Day

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Have you met my friend Emma?

She’s the one who is sweet, always there with a welcoming hug or knowing compassion.

She’s the one who is fierce as hell and is teaching me not to put with any bullshit.

Have you met my friend Emma?

She’s the woman who looks equally hot and at home dressed to the nines or in a trucker hat and cut-offs.

She’s the one who makes me want to rock a hot pink bikini with a Brazilian cut bottom.

Have you met my friend Emma?

She’s the first one on the dance floor, the one moving gracefully and confidently, the one looking so content and in her element that it’s impossible not to jump up and join her.

Have you met my friend Emma?

She’s the one with the two beautiful, tough, spunky, thoughtful, well-mannered kids.

Have you met my friend Emma?

She’s the one I’ve only known for three years and yet have these “memories” of us growing up together because we get each other in a way that usually comes from shared history.

She’s the bad-ass who is always up for adventure and adrenaline.

She’s the one who is helping me know when it’s okay to ask for help.

She’s the one who just might make you laugh until your abs hurt, even if you forget what was so funny in the first place.

May we all be blessed with many Emma’s in our lives.

Happy, happy 33rd birthday Emma! Grateful for the day you were born. Love you!

P.S It’s day 4 (out of 12) of February’s One Hour Plank Challenge.  How’s your planking?! Check out the Gracefulfitness Facebook page for details on the Day 4 workout, including video of me demonstrating today’s variation; side plank.

Plank

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I am grateful to have a job that gets me moving.  Mondays-Thursdays I teach mat Pilates, Modern dance, yoga, and dancers workout classes.

Teaching is a great workout and gets me sweating and stretching everyday.

But it ain’t my workout.

My focus is on my students and often I only do a few repetitions of an exercise then watch and give cues/corrections.  And even when I do the whole workout it doesn’t provide the same stress release and endorphin high as getting into my own zone.

Several times a week I make sure to workout for me.  I have an arsenal of exercises at my disposal and often do a quick mix of yoga, Pilates, running, and tabata.

I have a new favorite exercise in my box of tricks.

It’s a variation of side plank with an added balance/core/hip element.

Start in a plank with your feet a little wider than normal (wider than hips)

Rotate heels to one side and come into a spilt leg side plank

Lift your front leg and float it over the back leg

Tap your lifted foot to the floor behind your body

Don’t get too comfortable! Your going right back up

Set the lifted foot back down in front of your bottom foot

And back to plank

Now for the other side…