A SHARPER IMAGE
This month, it's time to keep your mind on what matters. Put on your thinking cap for
Lori Sawyer's very mindful, total body and brain workout.
Life is a trade off: a beautiful baby comes into your life, and your brain goes bye-bye. The potent mix of lack of sleep,
learning the names of Dora's friends, oh, and the huge life-long responsibility you are shouldering can really do your
head in.
Yes, we've all done it—hell, we all still do it: humming some bizarre line from a Baby Einstein DVD, leaving the keys in
the front door all day long, making silly faces at the waitress when you're ordering an egg white omelet, overly
exaggerating greetings to adults (think: Hiiiii, baby pumpkin!! What a pretty, pretty dress—said to your co-worker).
It’s called mommy brain—or mommy mush brain—and we all have it.
It's very frustrating to know that you used to be sharper; to know that you used to function more efficiently and effectively; to forget what you were just doing, in the middle of doing it. So, how do you get it back, you ask? Do this month's mind and body workout, designed to stimulate, and thus, strengthen your brain and body simultaneously. Say bye-bye to telling your friends Dr. Suess-style stories and say hello to your sharper image.
Shoulder Raise and Bicep Curl with a Lunge
Using hand weights, complete a shoulder raise pushing the weight over your head with 1 arm, and a bicep curl with your other arm, all while doing a lunge. Once you do 12, switch arms and legs.
Front and Side Raise with a Squat
Using hand weights, lift 1 arm to the side (don't raise past 90
degrees) and 1 arm to the front, while doing a squat. To complete
the squat properly, pretend you are going to sit in a chair and make
sure your knees do not move forward over your toes. Do 12 squats
and switch arms. For a real mind blower, do 24 squats and
alternate
your arms side raise and front raise.
Dead Bug with a Chest Fly
Remember that mommy sit up you all have been working on (if not click here)? Well just add a chest fly to the exercise while alternating legs. Use those hand weights to perform the chest fly, and alternate legs each repetition. When doing the chest fly, keep elbows slightly bent. As you bring your arms close together face your palms together.
This exercise should be done until your low back starts to life off the ground.
Plié Squat with a Shoulder Raise
Remember that plié you did in dance class ages ago? Well, it's back. Turn your toes out and perform a squat, all while you use hand weights to do a shoulder press over your head 12 times. Want to really stimulate that noggin? Do 24 squats and alternate your arms doing that shoulder press.
Lunge with a Tricep Extension
Back to basics: do a lunge by bringing 1 leg
forward and 1 leg back into a staggered stance.
Make sure your legs are shoulder width apart.
Holding hand weights, bend your elbows, and bring
the weights to your shoulders, keep your elbows in
and point them up to the sky. As you perform your
straighten your elbows and work those triceps.
Perform 12 lunges on each leg.
Jump Rope
YUP! That old-fashioned school yard game is back, too. Get yourself a jump rope and get going. Not only will you increase your heart rate and burn that nasty fat, you will stimulate those coordination brain functions. Try to jump for 30 seconds and increase up to a minute without catching those feet.
Toe Taps
Find a stair, curb, anything that is raised off the ground. Start by putting 1 foot up on the surface and 1 on the ground. Alternate legs as quickly as possible for 1 minute. You might have to start slow, but with increased coordination brainpower, you will increase your pace, and be able to juggle more than toe taps in life! Want to advance this exercise? Add some shoulder punches for a real blast, just like in kick boxing.
4 Count Jumping Jacks
These will
really stimulate
the brain. Go for 10!
1st jumping jack: Full jack
2nd jumping jack: Half jack
3rd jumping jack: Arms only
4th jumping jack: Legs only
For more information, or to work with Lori directly, go to www.mommy-moves.com or call 732.539.7711.
