Class with Lululemon

Sarah and I taught a two hour introduction to Kettlebells class for some of the folks from Lululemon Berkeley this weekend.

We crammed a lot of information into a short amount of time and managed to teach them the very basics of the lifts.

It's always a pleasure to watch as people start to realize the complexity of Kettlebell sport, how what looks almost effortless is actually an amazing feat of technique, strength and endurance. When, after watching a demonstration of the basic swing, they pick up the bell for the first time and try it themselves and I see the sudden frustration mixed with the determination to learn the movement. They all picked up the bells, they did each lift with humor and astute questions about the different components for each lift.

Thank you Lululemon! What a great time! I can't wait to bring them back down to learn more.

juliet

Defining my sport

People often ask me what I do, as in what my sport is.  Surrounded by an awesome stable of competitive athletes I always think I should have my very own sport and feel a little sheepish when I have to admit that I don’t compete in anything.  I do take the question as a compliment (assuming they aren't guessing that I’m an Olympic cupcake eater), but I rarely have a good answer to what I “do” (“…um…I like to play…outside…”).  As a “generalist” and non-competitive athlete I don’t have a single sport that I train for.  I do train all of the time though, whether it is for a single event (century rides, organized runs/Tough Mudder) or an extended event (surfing vacation, bike trip) or just training for life (my life seems to require box jumps, endless sets of stair running, and climbing up walls…go figure).  When I try to define my “sport” several things come to mind, but the most concise way to sum it up is with two quotes from the 1984 movie, “This is Spinal Tap”.  One is from the character Viv Savage.   When asked about his philosophy of life Viv replies, “Have a good time, all the time”.  Granted training is not always fun.  It can be painful, difficult, humiliating…actually it is often all of those things all at once and somehow still a “good time”.  The second quote is from the character Nigel Tufnel.  When Nigel is demonstrating why his custom amp is louder than all the others he says, “The numbers all go to eleven” (the interviewer points out that you could just “make 10 louder”…but I digress).  As for going to “eleven”, that’s just my way of symbolizing a challenge.   I may not win any medals or awards or gain any recognition outside of my own head but every time I exceed my expectations or reach a goal or overcome an obstacle, real or perceived, I’ve gone to eleven.

So that’s it, my “sport” is to have a good time, all the time, while trying to get to eleven.  Obviously if they ever start giving out medals they will have to look like this:

posted by Willow Dean

inspired by others.

Sometimes I think my purgatory will be kettlebell training. or maybe one of those circles of hell, like Sisyphus I will continuously ALMOST make my goal, only to fail and start again...forever. How many times in the middle of a set do I think "I can't do this, I have to put this heavy ass bell down." I seem to continuously disappoint myself. Part of this is the critic in my head whispering: "you are a total pussy, a fake athlete, why bother...." the other part is a side of me I try to never show, THE QUITTER. Actually, the critic and the quitter are evil twins.

Ok, all of that is true, but there is another  truth about my training. I am inspired by the athletes I train with and the students I coach.
Of course, there is John Wild Buckley, my coach. he works so hard, he has never failed to show both his strengths and his weaknesses in the most honest way possible. I have seen him succeed and fail. He always gets up again and works harder.
There is Sarah Lightfoot, my ever faithful road dog and training partner. I have seen her train through personal adversity. I envy her snatch technique, it's gorgeous. you can see us snatching together here 
there is Nazo, who just moved here and is training training training. She always starts her sets with: "Oh, it's sooo heavy, I don't think I can do it..." and then proceeds to kick ass, she never quits.
And my students!!!! Holy shit, they are the best. Elle in colorado trained through anemia ("I don't know why I'm so out of breath!") and is competing for the first time in LA this weekend.
Rebecca, who couldn't even press 10lb when she started in august, today she did her first 10 min jerk set with the 12k completing 61/62 reps. I am seeing great things for her.
My friend kyrsten, who will be competing in LA this weekend too...kicking ass.
I really don't know what I would do without my posse of workout buddies and students. They help me silence  the evil twins in my head. They help me push the boulder up and over the hill.
posted by Juliet

Yo Juno!

What's up Juno!  Happy 2012!

Are your resolutions still hot?  Are you seeing results yet? 

Here are a few questions to keep you on your toes:

Have you made SMART Goals? Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely 

This is a very smart way to measure your progress.

Are you stretching (dynamic or static) or moving through a mobility sequence daily?

Are you doing cardio 3-4 x week?

Are you strength training 2-4 x week?

Who are you accountable to?

Are you taking a few minutes to focus on your breath every day?  Slow down that exhale!

Are you doing one activity that feels like play every day (seriously, this keeps you young).

Are you sleeping enough? Get 8 hours, go on, get it.

Are you taking salt baths?  You can do it, really, you can.

Are you taking a rest day once a week?

Are you eating well?  We are all different and no one plan works for everyone.  

Here's a sample day plan I like:

Start the day with 8 -16 oz warm water with lemon

Breakfast - protein shake (2 scoops whey protein, 1 banana, 1 tbs almond butter) 

or .5 sweet potato and 2 eggs

Mid-morning - 1 rice cake w/ 2 tbs avocado and 2 oz organic jerky

Lunch - .5 - 1 cup brown rice, 4 oz chicken breast, 1 cup  broccoli

Mid-afternoon -  1 rice cake w/ 2 tbs avocado and 2 oz organic jerky

Dinner - vegetable stir fry, 4 oz lean organic meat (or tofu), green salad

1 oz dark chocolate

Let us know what we can do to keep you moving toward your goals! 

posted by Carey Rockland