New Tabata

Regular instructor back and I like his style more than the substitute--this particular Tabata had tons of cardio and I was feeling it by the end of the series.  I forgot one of the exercises (sorry!) but here is the series with really poor descriptions:

• Using a body bar, front squat to press
• Putting the body bar on the floor, straddle body bar while doing 2 leap frogs then back pedal and repeat
• I can't recall this exercise but it used a squat and lunge sequence
• Using the body bar, bent row (reverse grip) increase intensity by lifting leg 
• Putting the body bar on the floor, mogul jump criss-cross over the bar
• Putting two body bars (cross so they form a four square) -- it's hard to describe the movement but it simulates running tires
• Step touch or step hops
• Rainbow lunge--lunging to the left, use right hand to circle body bar in front of your body to the right into another lunge--repeat back and forth
• Using the four square again, hop 3 times and then straddle hop

This was a real difficult series for me--I felt winded pretty much the whole time.  I haven't felt this way since college when we did two a day workouts for pre-season volleyball.  I look forward to next week but will feel a pang of regret when I won't be able to go to the classes (my holiday job stint will be over).  Another challenge to face--not developing the Tabatas--but maintaining the same intensity on my own.  I have downloaded a ton of tunes from MotionTraxx and they should be helpful in getting the intensity up but I haven't fully figured out my MP3 player--a workout girl's best friend!

Started Improving Breathing Performance

An article in my ACE Certified News made me start thinking about my breathing performance again.  With higher blood pressure and a desire to integrate yoga into my routines, breathing is important.  So I decided to start doing breathing cycle exercises during my warm-up movements, stretching, and yoga.  The cycle is divided into three parts—2 counts inhale, 2 counts hold the breath, and 4 counts exhale.  I am up to 4 counts/4 counts/8 counts and this seems to work well with slower activities; I will work on applying an appropriate pace with my cardio activities during my “recovery” week.  Even if all I do is become more conscious of my breathing, I will have accomplished something that will increase my oxygen supply, improve my respiratory function, and improve my concentrating during training leading to improvements in performance.

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