Today I want to tell you more about why I think being physically active should be such and important part of your lifestyle.
Everybody is always putting so much emphasis on how important it is to lose weight... to look lean and ripped... and yes,it does feel good to look good, but there is so much more to it than meets the eye.
Let me share with you the main reason I religiously work out...
Don't get me wrong... I do enjoy it when I am in great shape and I get compliments and comments from friends, family and even sometimes strangers :) but the main reason I keep up my workouts regularly and on a consistent basis is because I "feel" so much better when I work out.
When I go on vacation and I "make excuses" like: "Oh, I am on vacation and everyone needs a break." I can tell you that after only 2 or 3 days of not working out I feel like crap!
I feel lack luster, and tired, and I literally feel ill... of course when I take a break from my exercise routine, I also tend to eat more junk, so that probably has something to do with it as well - hahaha!
You might find that strange. But I think anybody who knows how good it feels to be fit and healthy can identify with that. This is the one reason I find why exercise - once you get into it, can be so addictive, because you get hooked on that feeling of feeling great!
I know... it is all about getting started and about getting to that point where you feel Fantastic! But if you just take a moment and think back at a time when you committed to some kind of physical activity... did you not immediately afterwards feel more energetic and happy?
Would you not like to feel like that most of the time?
Exercising regularly does not only help you look physically better and fitter, but to me - the most important part of regular exercise is the fact that it makes me look more radiant and feel more energetic and healthy!
Now there is a REAL reason to get back into the swing of things! The Hot Burning Body workout is so much fun because I have made the exercises interesting and used really awesome music that will keep you wanting to move your body! You will actually enjoy your workout!
Look Younger and Feel more Energetic
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Traveling the world can be very exciting. Every day I meet people from all walks of life. Different nationalities, cultures and ages.
I have noticed a very interesting fact - Looking old, what ever age you pick is great part related to how you are able to move, or not move. A lot of people look quite a bit older than they actually are because of their inability to move freely and fully.
FEEL ENERGETIC AND YOUNG
When we don't move our bodies often enough and with full range of motion, the muscles and joints become unable to move the way they are suppose to. This can affect your posture and even cause some serious chronic pain in parts of your body.
A lot of people suffer from severe lower back or neck and shoulder pain. Sometimes even headaches can be caused by poor posture and limited range of motion.
These days our lifestyles do not require that we do so much manual labor as we use to. We also have the comfort of our cars and subways. No more walking or riding the bicycle to get where we are going. No more pushing the lawnmower or beating the eggs by hand.
Technology pretty much takes care of all that for us now, and besides, our lives have become so busy, who ever has time to do all that. But unfortunately this little fact has its disadvantages. We simply do not move our bodies enough anymore.
The Pizzazz Factor includes some very simple to do postural mobilization and stabilization exercises that are very easy and quick to do. You will be amazed at how something so simple can make such a huge difference to the way you feel. By doing just these few movements you will feel the tension dissipate and the pain (if you have any that is related to poor posture and limited motion) go away.
The great thing is that by regaining the ability to move more freely and comfortably you will immediately look and feel years younger.
Look around you and see who the people are who look way younger than they actually are. You might notice that it does not have so much to do with the clothes they are wearing or the lines on their face, but greatly about the way they are able to move.
So try to find ways to move your body. Go for that afternoon walk or take the stairs in stead of the elevator, get up from your computer every now and then and do your neck and shoulder rolls - but remember to use your pizzazz and do all that with good posture and charismatic energy.
Move your body and look younger instantly!
Kind Regards
Vanessa Bader
P.S. My brand new Hot Burning Body Kettlebell workshop is going to show you how to keep your body young and mobile, seksy and strong! Stand by - I know I have been promising this for a while now, but I am in final stages of getting the website ready and I am very excited about releasing this new, comprehensive workout system to you!
Workout Partner - Blessing or Curse?
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Personally, I prefer to work out on my own. Most probably because I have not had much luck when it comes to training partners, and usually I don't have a lot of time, so I cram in as much as I can in a short amount of time. A training partner seemed like more of a distraction to me than anything else.
But yesterday I had a great experience - Yesterday on my way to the gym I ran into one of the dancers here on the ship and she was on her way to the gym as well.
My workout partner is usually my iPod, but she volunteered to work out with me. I only had an hour available but I agreed. I figured I would give it a go!
We had the best time! She kicked my 'bee-hind'! We had a great time challenging each other with different exercises and the hour went by so quickly, but Boy, did I ever get a great workout in...
Now you see, the thing is, there are two types of training partners. The first kind is the great kind. That would be someone who inspires you to do better than your best, a person who likes to work hard and who knows how to influence you and encourage you in a very positive way.
Then there is the kind who I unfortunately had to deal with in the past. They seem real eager in the beginning, but then when it comes down to it, you have to practically beg them and drag them by the hair to get them to the gym.
Then once you get them there they try to talk you into going for coffee instead of working out... Now this is not the kind of training partner you want to be hanging out with, nor is it the kind of training partner you should be.
A lot of people like to work out with a friend or a partner and I say, Go for it... but make sure you choose a partner who will help you, encourage you and inspire you, and not someone who is going to drag you down and make you lazy.
At the same time - you need to assess what kind of workout partner you are, and if it is the latter then you better pull up your socks and make some big changes... because you don't want to be that loser partner that drags your partner down.
It can be really fun when both of you work together, and when you start seeing the results - and you WILL see them, that is the biggest pay-off!
So if you like to train with a partner, make sure you choose him or her right and make sure you support your partner fully and wholeheartedly. If you do that, having a training partner can be a blessing.
In the Hot Burning Body Workout DVD's I am right there with you as a training partner to inspire you and encourage you to do your very best, so you can get the greatest results!
How to make a Memorable First Impression
Monday, 18 August 2008
Part of everyday life is meeting and communicating with other people. As human beings we are social creatures and being social requires having daily interaction with other humans.
Connecting with other people bring endless rewards. Whether it is winning the promotion, landing the job, making a sale, energizing your audience, impressing the new in-laws or making an unforgettable impression on a first date - if people like you, their channels are open and the connection is yours for the making.
Without even giving it a thought, we instinctively assess each other. The most crucial moments are those first few seconds in which you first meet someone. So you want to be able to make a great impression right away.
Positive and Confident Attitude
Here are three aspects that are going to play a huge part in the first impression someone else will get from you:
1) Your Presence - How you present yourself at first glance; what you look like and how you move
2) How you make people feel - Your level of Energy and Sincerity
3) Your Attitude - What you say, how you say it and how interesting you are.
By knowing how to make fast and meaningful connections with everyone you meet and know, you will vasty improve your relationships at work and even at home.
The Pizzazz Factor is not about changing your personality; it is simply a skill that will be readily available to you when you need it.
You can use it from the first moment you enter a room or walk towards that new connection... it is important that your Pizzazz Factor is fired up from the first second of making contact with another person.
You have to have the right "Attitude". An open and welcoming attitude that is going to make the other person feel open and welcome for connecting.
It all starts with your Posture, your Poise and your Body Language! When you have the Pizzazz Factor you have everything you need to make that Fantastic first impression that will make you memorable to others for many years to come!
Believe in Yourself
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Doubts creep up on us so very easily. Whenever you are preparing for something important - maybe you are making the toast at your siblings wedding or your first public speaking engagement, maybe you have an exam coming up or an important job interview.
The first thing we do is wonder - "am I good enough", "will I be able to handle it", " Oh dear, can I shake the nerves and build up the courage?"
Don't worry, you are not alone, we all do that. We all are very quick to nurture our uncertainties, our fears and qualms. But don't you see - this is the wrong plan of action. Worrying is not going to help you - it is just going to make things worse. More worrying will create more angst and nerves.
Instead, you should try and shake it off... try to believe in yourself. Think for a moment about all the things that you are really good at, the stuff you feel really confident about. Then try to remember those feelings while you take care to prepare for the occasion to the best of your ability.
Smile and be Confident
Play the scenario in your head like a movie... try and imagine the details. What do you see, what do you hear, smell and feel? Practice it in your head, and then practice it for real - in front of the mirror. Imagine those people or that person is there, right in front of you, and see in your minds eye the positive outcome. See yourself be a success in that situation.
Now know that you have done everything to be prepared for that moment that you previously feared. Know that now you can walk into it with confidence and strength. You might still feel those butterflies in your stomach, but you'll know that you are well prepared and you can use that little bit of nervous energy in a positive way.
This is all part of having the Pizzazz Factor. Part of acting confident, so you can feel confident. Once you start seeing the results, this will snowball and you will be unstoppable.
Remember that confidence is magnetic, it draws people in to you, and if you're exuding optimism and strength, you will be remembered for those attributes. Hold your head up high, believe in yourself, stand tall and exude your Pizzazz Factor.
Kind regards
Vanessa Bader
P.S. Keep up that confidence by fueling it monthly with the Magnetic Presence Newsletter. Join the Pizzazz Factor Inner Circle now and get your monthly reinforcements from reading my newsletter filled with more great tips, and informative articles on how to get Pizzazz and maintain it.
P.P.S. Also if you join now you get your very own FREE copy Of Garin Bader's amazing CD "One Heart's Journey". If you want to find out more about his music, go to: http://garinbader.com
Not for a lack of trying, but a lack of knowing
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
I had a conversation with one of the dancers on the ship yesterday that reminded me that now here in my mid thirties my physique is way better than it was in my twenties. Yet, as a twenty-something performer I was dancing way more than I am now and on top of that I use to spend just about the same amount of time in the gym as I do now...
So how come I can spend less time working out now and look better than I did 10 years ago?
Back then I was certainly working hard - or so I thought.
I was working hard and long but not clever... it was not for a lack of trying, but rather a lack of knowing...
See, it is not so much about the amount of time you spend working out but rather the intensity with which you work. Not only that, but we often underestimate ourselves and how far we can push our bodies so we do the same amount of repetitions week after week and we hardly ever increase the difficulty of what we are doing.
You won't know how much you are capable of doing until you have tried to push yourself to your limits. The other thing is... as a woman and a dancer I was terribly scared of "building muscles"... but girls, it is a total misconception that if you work with heavy weights you are going to end up looking like a body builder.
The real truth is that by increasing the weight you work with or the repetitions that you do even just a little, it will tone your muscles just that much more. And don't forget that the more muscle you have, the more fat you will burn, and the more fat you burn the leaner you look.
Lean and toned... does that not sound great? Is that not what we all want? I know that is what I want. Lean and toned is so much better than skinny and flabby - right?
But now... you do not necessarily need weights to tone and shape your muscles... I am absolutely not against weight training as I do some of it myself, but I combine that with some very powerful body weight exercises that give me the cardiovascular benefits as well as the toning and firming of my muscles.
That is exactly what I show you in the Hot Burning Body workout... how you can get a toned, lean and seksy body in the shortest amount of time. And these exercises are put together in a very unique way and with great music. I give you everything you need to keep your workout interesting and challenging.
Don't think you need to work out two hours a day to get that movie star physique you have always wanted...
If you work with more intensity for a shorter amount of time - you will definitely reap the benefits. In the Hot Burning Body workout I guide you through an invigorating series of exercises - once you know those, you will know what I know now and did not know then...
Higher intensity, less time - voila... the body you have always wanted no matter what your age...
The Power of Breath
Saturday, 09 August 2008
Earlier today I was talking to my Pizzazz Factor clients about the importance of breathing to enhance your presence... but how important is breathing when it comes to exercise?
Well... you might realize the importance or even think it is a no brainer - but I promise you there is more to it than you might think.
There is a reason why Yoga and Pilates instructors put so much emphasis on breath... and not just any breath - but breathing deeply and fully. Your whole body relies on oxygen to function, but once you learn to breathe properly the benefits are endless.
In the gym I often see the weight lifters hold their breaths or push real hard when they lift heavy weights... I cringe when I think what damage they might be doing by depriving their bodies of oxygen while they work out... not to mention that they can burst an artery with the amount of stress they put on their blood vessels by cutting off the oxygen flow... you can be so much stronger when you use your breath to your advantage.
Breath energizes, it revitalizes and it calms. By breathing deeply and fully you will get so much more out of your workouts. You will have more energy, you will feel stronger and you will have more control over your heart rate and your whole body in general. It centers you... helps with balance and concentration...
Some even say that the simple act of deep breathing can also assist with weight loss because the intake of sufficient oxygen also helps your body metabolize better and faster. Your body needs oxygen to function... and the more oxygen it gets, the better it functions. It makes total sense...
So when you do your ... Be mindful of your breathing. I pay a lot of attention to your breath when I teach and I sporadically remind you to inhale and exhale with deep, full breaths.
The same for when you are doing your HBB stretches... breathe air into your muscles... feel the muscle fibres opening up and lengthen. Breath is so very important when you are stretching. By breathing deeply and correctly you will find that the muscles will be much more likely to lengthen.
When you inhale... really think of filling your lungs from bottom to top, like filling a bucket with water... and when you exhale, empty your lungs out to make space for the brand new oxygen rich air. Whatever you do, don't hold your breath! Breathe!
Breathe to energize
Breathe to restore
Breathe to calm
Breathe to balance
Breathe for optimal strength and power
Breathe for flexibility
Breathe for better concentration and focus
Breathe to get the most out of your workouts!
Breathe to Magnetize
Saturday, 09 August 2008
Breath is the source of life. Without breathing we can't live. Breath ...oxygen is essential for our survival.
Walking around the top deck of the ship last night after my workout, there was the most unbelievable sunset - it was beautiful ... breathtaking... the air was cool and fresh. I became very aware of the fresh sea air I was breathing and how energized and alive I felt.
There is much more to breathing and oxygen than just keeping you alive. Deep and controlled breathing can ease your mind, calm your nerves and believe it or not - give you a magnetic presence - a grandeur presence...
Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling anxious or nervous, or even extremely excited your breathing becomes shallow, erratic and short? Your thoughts start racing and your mouth becomes dry. Sometimes it is hard to think straight when this happens - you lose your composure. You lose your Pizzazz!
Take a moment; take a deep breath or two. That will immediately calm you and allow you to think more rational and regain your composure. It will put you back in charge of your body and your mind within just a few of seconds.
Even if you are not nervous or anxious and you want to walk into a room and immediately draw every ones attention, you want to make an impression - try this. Walk into the room, and gauging the size of the room, take a breath the size of the room as if you want to breathe the room and everyone in it in. Fill up your lungs, your whole body from head to toe with the room and all that is in it.
This will give you a feeling of power, a feeling of grandeur and it will project your energy across the room.
Breath is energy, and energy is power! Breath, energy and power give you that unmistakable Pizzazz!
So, Breathe to Calm,
Breathe to Compose,
Breathe to Energize and Breathe to Magnetize!
