10 tips to have fun and stay fit during the stay-at-home order for COVID-19

It’s important to keep busy and remain positive during the stay-at-home order due to COVID-19. Some fun ways I found to stay busy and fit are:

 

Photo credit of coronavirus image: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS

1. Work from home if your job allows.
2. Catch up on reading books you’ve not had time to read.
3. If you begin to feel stressed or fearful, consider prayer, meditation or relaxation breathing. These can help calm your mind.
4. Reach out electronically to family and friends you miss.
5. Discover some great new music and new composers to listen to.
6. Stay physically active with fun dance and exercise videos via stream or DVD.  The choices are endless; jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, Bollywood, Tai Chi and Yoga.
7. And don’t forget stretching and resistance training. Both are an important part of a complete fitness program in addition to cardio.
8. Since going out to eat is on hold right now, consider trying some new, healthy recipes to dazzle your taste buds and alleviate boredom.
9. Consider decluttering closets and cabinets while you’re stuck at home. Prepare bags of unwanted clothes and other items for donation to your favorite charities. Helping others can help us too.
10. And last; resist the temptation to overindulge in junk foods, alcohol or other drugs. You’ll feel better for it both physically and mentally if you maintain a healthy diet, weight and lifestyle. 

4 Tips on Martial Arts Training – And How to Choose What’s Right for You

Studying the martial arts is a great way to kick your workout up to the next level (no pun intended). If you’re thinking about taking classes for either yourself or your child; here are some helpful tips on what questions to ask/consider before getting started with a program. The Martial Arts help to improve psychological confidence and build physical strength. *Always observe at least one to two classes first, so you can consider the following points:

1. Sensei (The Teacher): Do you like his or her style of teaching? Does he/she foster an environment of mutual respect in the school (dojo)? What’s his or her background?
2. Students: Are they respectful of their fellow students? Do they help the newcomers? Or, are they bullies allowed to intimidate new students (newbies) either verbally or physically? Obviously, unless you’re a glutton for punishment, you want the first two.
3. School Operations: Are classes offered at a convenient time that works well with your schedule? What’s the cost? Is it reasonable and similar to other schools in the area, or, outrageously overpriced? Can you pay by week or month? If so, that’s good. Stay away from schools (and gyms) that demand a minimum of 3 – 12 months tuition in advance. This is why; if you’re unable to continue classes for any reason such as a schedule change, get injured or decide you don’t like it; you’re usually out the money.
4. Form/Style: Each form has a unique set of methods and goals; you’ll want to research these on your own (in addition to your class audit) to see if they match your goals. Here’s a brief synopsis on 4 (of the many) styles to choose from:

• Tender Tai Chi – Tai Chi is well suited for older people or those that want a low impact, low stress style. It focuses on balance, brain-muscle coordination, agility and relaxation.

             A Few Fighting Forms:

• Tackling Tang Soo Do or Tai Kwon Do – These forms involve a lot of kicking, punching, self defense and fighting techniques usually while standing.
• Grappling with Jui Jitsu – This form incorporates pressure points on the body and learning how to fight on the ground with an opponent.

*Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.