Ultimate Skiing Fitness Exercise
I have to say up front that I have never tried skiing (something to do with a horror of going downhill fast and out of control and hating the cold) but my friends love it and as we have been snowed in in many parts of the UK in the past couple of weeks I thought it was about time I talked about it.
There’s a natural rhythm to skiing which is like the best workout you ever had and it appears while you are enjoying yourself (!) you don’t even notice you are exercising! An ideal combination.
The reason it is so good in terms of exercise is that each downhill run is like a 10 minute high intensity “mini” interval training workout. Then you get a little necessary rest while you make your way back up in the slope in the ski lift.
Plus you tend to do it all day long so it’s not just a one hour workout followed by sitting at your desk all day. It keeps your metabolism stoked all day long. It’s like having 10 or 15 mini workouts a day.
You know I wish I could bring myself to try it! But it’s never going to be a sport to love with me
My friends on the other hand who love skiing have to get in training each winter before going off on their skiing vacation – it’s Wengen in Switzerland this year. I am a little jealous of that I must admit as I brave the cold in Scotland without the fun activity to go with it!
They say it’s tough to do the right exercises before they go to make sure they are ready for the slopes but they say they have to do it otherwise they suffer quite a bit and don’t have such a great time when they are away.
Now I see that Mike Greary of Truth about Abs fame has brought out a new ski fitness program guaranteeing rock hard legs that last all day long when you’re skiing so I’ll be pointing that out to them next time I see them.
I have a lot of respect for Mike’s programs – he walks the talk every time and he certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes to skiing – he can’t wait to get out on the slopes every winter. Complete Madness! LOL
Fitness Made Cool
A couple of weeks ago I heard about a great organization for kids (of all ages) which promotes physical fitness and makes it seem cool. Kamau Hunter of Bartendaz Physical Fitness pointed me to his videos.
One in particular – the one above, reminded me of a group of breakdancers I saw in Central Park in New York in the summer. We stood mesmerized for at least 20 minutes while the guys (and girls) demonstrated amazing muscle tone, rhythm and sheer joy in moving to music.
Bartendaz are a community based non profit dedicated to fighting youth obesity and childhood diabetes through exercise. Rooted in hip hop and in partnership with artists such as Ludacris, 50cent, Jadakiss, Warren G, N.O.R.E and the RUFF RYDAS they have pledged to promote physical fitness in youth in a way which makes it irrefutably cool and popular. I couldn’t help but spread the word!
A few day ago I caught up with Kamau and asked him a few questions:-
How did you get started doing this?
They say necessity is the mother of invention, & it’s true because that’s how this BARTENDAZ movement was created as a way to fill a need that was missing in our communities.
What do you hope to achieve in 2009?
Expansion is the key for 2009. Expansion in every sense of the word. The constant expansion of the BARTENDAZ brand. Reaching more youth across the globe & increasing the good, 1 person at a time. Because we firmly believe that, better people make a better world.
What is your ultimate goal?
Good question. In a nutshell our goal is to create a indigenous weight-free movement system in the states that becomes part of the fabric of peoples daily existence.
As we look around the world, different people from various backgrounds all have exercise or movement as a fundamental part of their cultures. We’re talking yoga, tai chi, caporeia, to name a few, well that’s what we are doing with the BARTENDAZ – Natural Movement system creating a program that people can do everyday that heals as well as strengthens their body inside & out, that becomes a main part of our American culture.
Could it be the lack of such of system in the USA that accounts for the high rates of preventable diseases among Americans?
Do you have a specific example of 1 person who has benefited & what getting involved has done for them?
Of course, we have numerous examples of people who have benefited greatly from their interaction with our system & its principals. One young man named Cody, went from being a gang member on the verge of dropping out of high school when we first met him to a BARTENDAZ Jr. 5 star general, who’s now enrolled & excelling in college as a exercise science major.
How can people help?
Great question, the first thing people can do is simply get more movement in their life. Turn off the tv, turn off the computer, put down the soda & the cheese burgers and get up & get moving, it can be as simple as taking a brisk walk, whatever it takes to jumpstart the process.
On a larger note if you know someone in a position of power who’s is doing something or wants to do something positive for the youth, tell them you know the perfect grass roots program to help them further their efforts and have them reach out to us ASAP! www.myspace.com/bartendaz
If you know any way to help, please do
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