Sweat: Leg SOS

High Heels, might be a gift from the beauty gods. Heels transform the look of a woman by elongating the natural lines of the body, lifting the ass, and blessing the wearer with an extra shot of confidence. Heels are the ultimate beauty booster. Unfortunately the look of long lean glamour given to a shoe fanatatic from high heels comes at a price. 

High heels are the ultimate short term solution; they lift for an evening, week or even month. In the long run the beauty cost of always wearing high heeled shoes is pricey and beauty stumping. High heel shoes force the foot into a permanent flexed position. The hyper flexed foot can cause pre-mature arthritis through  hyper tension of the calf an Achilles tendon. 

Fortunately the painful beauty stumpers of always wearing high-heeled shoes can be prevented through foot and leg articulation exercises. This 10 minute workout is the perfect antidote to legs burdened by the pains of heels. The routine is lengthening, toning and stretching. Follow along and enjoy long lasting leg beauty. 

Tone: Beautiful Legs

Stretching is the muscles health equivalent of flossing your teeth every day. For some reason both flossing and stretching get neglected on a regular basis. Active stretching can decrease ones risk of activity related injury and can help promote circulation within the body. When muscles get tight, they swell up which makes it more difficult for blood and oxygen to circulate through the body. Often when circulation is challenged, there will be a build up of painful lactic acid.

To get a proper stretch takes time; I like to mix flexibility into my strength toning workouts. I find that when I combine stretching with toning I get quick results and don't have to suffer through any painful recovery days. 

This leg routine, has you focus on lengthening and stretching you big leg muscles as you perform the strength building exercises. It is inspired by the Tracy Anderson Method. The only equipment needed for this routine is a sturdy chair. The chair can act as a reference which makes it easier to focus on elongating through the movements. 

No excuses! Exercise anywhere.

A few minutes a day, or exercise has huge benefits to the body and mind. Just 10 minutes a day will boost ones overall fitness level;  (aerobic, cardiovascular, and muscular). An increased general fitness level, allows one to enjoy more recreational activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hockey, and hiking with out fear of injury or exhaustion. Daily exercise is beneficial not only to our physical appearance but also to our internal health. Daily exercise improve ones health by strengthening the immune system, and forcing internal organs to work through the process of converting stored calories into energy. Daily exercise is like fiber for the body, it helps to clean the body out, while exercise promotes the production of serotonin a mood lifting natural antidepressant. 

It can be a challenge to fit in the time for a workout every day; especially when your daily routine is a little out of sync. I have a month of for winter holidays from university and personally the though of a single month of gym/yoga fees is enough to disinterest my very positive fitness intentions. I always travel with a gym bag and my computer. You do not need an expensive gym membership to squeeze in your daily workout. All you need is a bit of time you can set aside, and a room that have some extra space for moving around. 

This is a quick 10 minute workout low-intensity workout, that can be done anywhere. The only piece of equipment that you need in a chair. Check out Tracy Anderson's site for motivational tips and tunes to accompaniment your workout. 

Many fitness clubs over air condition their facilities. When you workout at home or in a hotel the room temperature tends to be warmer. Go with it! The more you sweat, the more you will work your internal system granting you the most benefits of your workout. 

workouts to-go

My Grandma certainly knows the key to my heart. For Christmas my lovely grandma not only spoiled me with home-made goodies but also took me on a shopping spree to lululemon where I got a fabulous pair of Paris Pink work out pants, and a no limit tank top. 

My brother is a percussionist, and is working on a cruise ship, For New Years, my family is off to surprise him on the boat. I'm excited; a 3 day cruise in the Caribbean, and more family time. ( The joke being on my brother whom attempted to avoid the stress of a family holiday by running off to entertain sea folk for the holidays.)

When ever I travel, I always pack my workout wear to make it easy to get my fitness in. Many hotels chains including The Fairmont, The Hyatt, and The Hilton's like to keep room temperature just slightly above a comfortable heat. The practice of keeping hotel rooms un-noticeably uncomfortable is an industry trick to  manipulate guests into ordering in-room entertainment, food services, and to encourage guests to take advantage of hotel amenities. For me, the warmer rooms just motivates me to do my Tracy and reap the benefits of  a"hot" workout. Hotel rooms make for amazing workout spaces. They always have bottled water ( 2lb weight), a chair, mirrors, and a sturdy desk to place your computer. 

I've designed this arm and leg workout to work with the furnishings of any hotel room. This leg and arm toning workout does not require must space, and the hot hotel room will really increase your body's ability to stretch into the movements while sweating out extra toxins. 

 

Most Desired Holiday Accessory!

2011 has been a tough year for the economy. The recession hangover of 2008 is still very much a haunting presence as we approach the holiday season and 2012. The must have accessory this party season is not the conventional "Birkin Bag" nor is it a channel clutch. In polar contrast the most envied and coveted accessory a girl can have for the holiday party circuit is: "uber glam, show 'em off Legs." 

Everyone from Hollywood it girls, to local socialites are recession proofing their accessories and focusing on improving their bodies. Strong, toned legs, improve your overall fitness and strength. I love to snowboard, and these leg exercises will help prep you for winter activities as well, they will stir leg envy at all the holiday parties. 

This leg workout is inspired by Tracy's Mat Dvd. All you need is chair, and a strong focus to help you stay tall. 

I'm wishing you all, a fantastic Holiday Season. 

-xoxo Kendra