General Fitness and Well–Being Travel

Travel-Sized Fitness and Well–Being Items

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As it’s holiday season, here’s a compiled list of some essential ‘travel-sized’ fitness and well–being items. After hours of getting to the airport, standing around, and flying you’re bound to be exhausted, dehydrated, and pretty sore. Travelling requires being (somewhat) prepared before, during, and after. This could also mean remembering to adhere to your fitness and well-being needs. Here are a …

Dance Music

Movement Playlist #2: Short Days, Long Nights

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 Presenting you the 2nd dose of my current musical rotation.

movement playlist 2

About the playlist

I wanted a mixture of tunes to serve as an alarm clock (especially in the pitch black), a motivator (within the 3 hours of sunlight), and a relaxation tool (once I’ve finally wound my self up). So I’ve put together a combination of both gentle and driving beats. The following facts and suggestions have also been an inspiration to organisation this month’s current rotation during these short days and long nights. Shuffle, repeat, keep, and delete as you may.

Morning exercise is often the best exercise

  • Using upbeat music can help motivate your movement and/or morning boogie routine.
  • Early morning exercise can also help lower blood pressure and provide a good night’s sleep later on in the day.
  • Not a morning person? Fortunately, it can take as little as 5 minutes for movement to improve your mood.
  • Make and keep a morning routine, even on the weekends if possible (having a good playlist helps too).

Keep moving

  • Music can help distract the mind from sensations of fatigue (especially during high intensity movements) by narrowing one’s attention.
  • While music may not make the movements easier, the mover is more likely to have more of a pleasurable experience.
  • Using music for exercise is not only good for cardio but for the brain as it enhances our vestibular abilities.
  • Music and rhythm can be used as a therapeutic tool as it works on our autonomic nervous system, which allows the body to subconsciously enhance our well–being.

Calm it down

  • Before bed, choose music with less key changes and slower tempos to help you relax says Dr. Williamson. Getting adequate sleep plays a key role in waking up more refreshed in the morning (obviously, but often difficult to achieve).
  • Modified and slow yoga poses/stretches can help induce the parasympathetic nervous system, which means letting your fast paced, stressful day all behind you.
  • Classical music was previously found to reduce sleeping problems in participants with sleep disorders (oh why hello, Bach).
  • Just like a morning routine, try to maintain an evening routine by creating a ‘wind down’ period because sleep matters… a lot.

xo

Dance General Fitness and Well–Being

Apply Both Movement and Exercise Into Your Daily Routine

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Doing one activity is enough, right? As I’ve been a dancer for most of my life, I usually avoided other strenuous activities such as running.  This may be because Ballet and Contemporary dancers, for instance, are often given time in between exercises and/or combinations to go through movements, stretch and prepare mentally and physically. However, after taking up …

the Gyrokinesis Method the Gyrotonic Method

My Gyrotonic ‘Infused’ Well-Being Routine

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Are you a practitioner of the GYROTONIC® Method and/or the GYROKINESIS® Method or curious about how to incorporate these methods into your daily routine?  There are a number of ways to practice both of these methods on and off the equipment (which have seriously changed my life). From being a GYROTONIC® trainer and dancer for many years, intertwining the GYROTONIC® Method and the GYROKINESIS® Method, mixed dance styles, and other fun and inspiring …

General Fitness and Well–Being the Gyrotonic Method

10 Reasons to Cross-Train with the Gyrotonic Method

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Here are 10 reasons why you should cross-train with the GYROTONIC® Method. Excellent for those wanting to expand and improve their existing workout routines. Firstly, do any of the following (or anything similar)? Pilates Yoga Cycling Running Walking Gym training/Weight lifting Tennis Golf Swimming Rowing Baseball Football/Soccer GYROKINESIS® Dance Perhaps consider cross-training with Gyrotonic to boost your existing routine. Secondly, what does this ‘cross-training’ mean? Cross-training …

General Fitness and Well–Being

Why is Physical Activity Important?

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Dear Kids and Adults, physical activity is super important. Studies show that participation in physical activity has been decreasing with age, which we probably have already gathered from out own personal experience. Participating in physical activity (now) will help us to age gracefully (later), your heart and your brain will thank you. Being physical also means that your psychological well-being will be better off in the long …