Friday - and Mari

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Finally getting a chance to post - today's workout was 's 5 Mile walk - but I did the 3 mile pre-mix w/ the stretchie. The premixes on this 5 mile DVD include two fast walks without any of the "boosters" and then one walk w/ a "booster" (light weights, walk belt, stretchie band). I liked the intensity of the two faster paced miles in this one - one of them included jogging intervals as she does in her Walk Slim program, the other was just fast paced walking. The walk w/ the stretchie was slower paced and the stretchie was only used for about half of the time. I think this DVD would have been better if you were allowed to more easily choose the order of the workouts that you want to do. For instance, I would have re-arranged this pre-mix to do the "Stretchie" walk first since it was slower paced (and would have made a good warm-up). But, there is decent variety in this DVD and I had a good time w/ and

her usual gang!

After I did Mari Winsor's Pilates for Pink. This one incudes segments for upper body, lower body, and abs which can be played all together or you can select which one you want to do. If you select by body part there is a complete warm-up and cool down included in that segment. This particular Pilates workout uses a resistance band. I'm starting to enjoy Pilates w/ the band - some exercises are easier b/c you have the support of the band, but others are more challenging b/c of the band's resistance. I had the most difficult time w/ hte upper body - I have trouble doing that whole "rowing" exercise in Pilates. I think I need to practice it more. The lower body was the side series w/ some additional exercises like clams (which I think Dianne said are good for getting the glutes to fire properly). The ab portion was also pretty good and one where the band was both helpful (in terms of support) and

challenging (in terms of adding more resitance). This is one I'd like to do again to perfect my form w/ on some of the exercises. The warm-up and cool down are good and help with hand strength when holding the band.

Mari doesn't participate in the class (I don't think she does in any of her workouts, does she?) but "teaches" the class of 3 (I believe). One of the class members shows modified versions of the exercises.

Oh well, I just got back from a field trip and have about 45 min to catch up on stuff around the house b/f it is time to go pick DD up from school. I'm hopeful that she'll want to go grocery shopping w/ me as I'm not sure where I'm going to fit that in over the weekend if we don't do it today.

Take care!Donna__________________________________________________