Pop Up Video

I've announced that on Friday, June 1st at 6pm, I will be teaching a Pop Up Video class.  It'll be to one of my favorite songs of all time:  Boyz II Men's ♫ Motownphilly ♫.  Some of you have asked what Pop Up Video is, so here's a few examples.

Pop Up Video was a VH1 sensation where popular videos had little tidbits of knowledge inside bubbles that 'popped up' throughout the song so that you knew about back stories, or easter eggs, or anything else interesting.  It's actually started up again on VH1 over the past year.

The fitness class started right here in Lexington at Urban Active's Palumbo location under the choreography of Allison P.  You can search "Palumbo Pop Up" on Youtube to see all 8 installments.

This was my favorite class, even though I wasn't there.  Allison doing the Hammer Dance across the floor cracks me up every time:

And this is the class that I attended.  See if you can find me:

So, now that you're excited, put June 1st on the calendar.  Meet me at Palumbo at 5:55pm, and bring your thinking caps.  "The spotlight [will be] on us..."  Who knows, maybe we'll be the next big thing on Youtube!

Happy Dancing,
~RoB

Think About Health, Not Weight

I was talking to a circle of ladies after class the other day.  Of the 3 of them, one had lost 13 lbs in the 7 weeks since she started taking Zumba classes.  That's amazing!  However, of the other two, one hadn't lost a single pound, and one said she actually gained 2 lbs in the same amount of time.  This got stuck in my head.  It wasn't until later that night when I was showering that a response came into my head that I wish I would have said at that very moment:

"Think About Health, Not Weight."

The truth is, I've been doing Zumba for years now.  And if we're being honest, I've lost very little weight.  Maybe 10 lbs, on a good day, over that very large span of time.  I still have a tummy.  HOWEVER, I'm dramatically healthier.  I don't have flabby arms that wiggle anymore.  My legs are rock solid.  I have the endurance to rock out for an entire hour of Zumba (more, actually).  My blood pressure has gone down.  I'm running faster.  And, I feel better about myself.

The truth is that all of our bodies will react differently.  The woman who gained weight could have gone down a size in her clothes, and replaced some fat in her body with muscle.  Same thing goes for the person with no net loss.

Diet has a huge effect on your weight.  Amount of exercise is also important (especially if you're only hitting the gym once a week for a Zumba class).  So, if you're really worried about that number on the scale (which you shouldn't be), then start by making a small change in your diet for the better and add 30 minutes of exercise to your daily routine.  Don't think you have time for that?  You do.  Nobody said it would be easy.  And please, PLEASE, don't weigh yourself more than once or twice a week.  It's not healthy (psychologically or emotionally).

Or, you can forget about the scale, and just concentrate on being healthier, whenever possible.  That's a goal you can feel better about, and you'll be surprised to see your mood become more positive, and that scale start heading in the right direction.

Don't ever think you're not progressing.  As long as you're having fun, a great Zumba workout is worth it.

Happy Dancing,
~RoB

Log Your Dreams - A Guest Post

I was contacted by a fellow blogger & natural health advocate who enjoys the motivation that I provide in my blog, as well as the personal stories of how I'm a real person who struggles with health in wellness.  She recently became a contributor on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog, so I agreed that it would be cool to share one of her most endearing messages with my readers.  It's a message that I agree with, which is why I made this blog in the first place.  So, without further ado, here is Melanie's post:

Logging Your Dreams and Making Them Come True

Where are you right now? Whether you are reeling from a stated prognosis of mesothelioma or you are simply not satisfied with the direction that your health and wellness in general is taking, you will discover you need some kind of tool to get yourself started. GoodTherapy.org states that journal therapy is often defined as writing therapy, and you will find that there are many benefits that it can bring to your life. Logging your desires and your dreams can put you on the path to achieving them, so think about where you are today and how you can get started.

Choose a Method

Part of the fun of journaling is creating a written space that is just for you. How do you feel about the way that you write? For example, some people love the speed and neatness that they get online with a blog, while other people find that this method of journaling and goal setting is deeply impersonal. Do you feel like picking up a pretty notebook at a drug store, or do you prefer something a little more artistic, like a handmade blank book? Chose your journal carefully and consider what you want to work with.

Get Started

Great writers often say that there is nothing more daunting than a blank page, and even if you are tracking your goals and not creating a great novel, this is true. If you want to get started and you want to break up the white expanse of the page in front of you, consider writing a single word that you like. It can be a general instruction like “dream” or “work” or “enjoy” or it might only be the name of someone that you love. This can help break up the tension and allow you to do some real work.

A small amount of effort goes a long way when it comes to journaling. Simply start with an easy prompt, like “I wish” or “I want.” Finish these lines and you’ll find that you have more than enough material to help you write an entire entry. Your desires are an important part of who you are, so think about what your needs might be.

Write Daily

While writing daily can be a bit of a chore, it helps you establish a habit that will be more serviceable to you in the long run. If you start to write in a daily fashion, don’t worry about quality right away. Your daily entries can be as short as a few sentences or even a few words long. The key is to pick up the habit. Write down something that occurred to you today or simply relate what you did today to your goals. Anything works well for this.

Write Down Different Types of Goals

The truth of the matter is that many people write down their goals every day. They find that they need to remember to pick up something at the store, so they make a list. It is important to recognize that not all goals are huge and daunting. Some goals are typically much more homey and friendly, and you will find that if you write down the small goals that you can complete that you will be much more inclined to feel good about yourself. Small encouragements and a “can-do” attitude can go a long way towards helping you decide what you can handle.

Journaling can help you find yourself after a long, confusing time. The goals that you have are in you somewhere, but they may need some time to come to the surface. Write them down and get them out into the world.

Check out a lot more information on illness and wellness at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Thanks, Melanie!
Happy Dancing,
~RoB