Thankgiving Pledge - Sub challenge Week 2!

Hey Ladies and Gents. Lurkers and posters, one and all... and all and one... and... stuff.

So! I hope you kept up with your sit-ups and push-ups all week last week! I bet it helped all of you realize that its easy to do just a bit more than you planned in those randome few minutes of freedom.

This week I'm going to offer something a little easier, something you truely can do anytime, anywhere, without having to get on the ground and look like a goof if someone catches you. This week we'll work those butts and thighs. Trust me, these movements feel oh-so-GOOD when you do them. You feel it within 2 reps (yes reps, not sets!)

Any ballet students out there? You'll get a kick out of these exercises this week!!! I'll provide examples for the ballet-impaired.

I DARE YOU ALL!!!! Mwahaha, it worked last time. And this time, you'll love how it feels too, I promise. I dare you to try... ballet. (Even the men, oh yes. Even the men)

First one: 2nd position plié.

Sounds fancy, but its very easy. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes facing out. Keep your head up and back strait. Squat slowly at the knee, keeping upright, as far down as is comfortable for you (Demi is part way, grande is thighs paralell to the floor). Do 10 of these and tell me you don't feel the burn! Here, I'll even provide example pics.

Demi plié (Don't worry about the arms unless you like to do it. You can just keep you hands on your upper thighs for balance)

Grande Plié (You can lift your heels too, feels great on the ankles and calves)


Second one: Rear leg lift

Also simple, can be done ANY time you have a free few minutes of just standing there. Elevator, waiting in line, right before you open the car door, washing your hands... you'd be surprised how many moments like these you find in a day! You may need to place a hand on something sturdy, a chair, a wall, a car, a counter, etc... just to keep balance.

Stand upright with a strait back. Point the toe of the foot you are about to work on. Slowly lift it backwards, leg strait, about half as high as your calf. You want to stay upright, that's what really works the buns. Lower just until your toe touches the gound. Repeat 10 - 20 times for each leg for a set. Feel them buns of steel burn!

Pic example (see how she's holding a bar. The arm is for grace and balance. you can just put yours on your hip if you like)

There you have it. You really can do these anytime, and they feel so so good to do. Ballet makes you feel so graceful and long and lithe. Give it a try, tell me how you like it!

ME:

1 set demi plié
1 set each leg, leg lifts

Sion - Am I the only one who did not get any pics with this message?

They are hyperlinks on Demi plie, grand plie, and pic example. I wasn't sure how to imbed photos on the actual post.

C'mon Sion - remember who you are dealing with here LOL  Hyperlinks???? How in blazes do I access these hyperlinks? 

Where the text is blue in my original post, that says demi plie, grand plie and picture example. =) Click on those, they take you to the example pictures.

Sion - You are so funny    This week's exercises certainly look doinable for me, but you don't think someone would notice if they walked in on my doing the plies - they might think I was practicing to be a bull frog!

Have a fun BOTT day

Wellll the plie may be more conspicuous. Though you could just say you were picking something up! lol.... They're really very nice exercises, though, and feel fantastic. Hope to hear they're a little easier than last weeks for you!

Does anyone have a rather large to-to that i can wear. I'd prefer a nuetral color. It will go better with my tan leotards. Thanks...

lol, Wayne, I thought of you in particular when I decided to choose these for this week. I had a funny feeling you, and the other gents, might feel a little wierd doing these particular exercises. BUT, if you do, look at this pic, and tell me different!

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2009/04 /05/Z_2ndPosPlie2.jpg

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2002/dbpliesquat2.jpg

That's right, even men look good doing a plie! These two challange themselves with additional weights, which I think is great.

On a ballet note:   Do you know why the elephant wears a tutu?


Because she's too big for a one-one  

And, my friends, there's your "culture" for today