| Are you a type A, go getter, do ten things at | | | | Now I had variety! I could run the same route |
| once type of person? | | | | every morning. I could bike a different but longer |
| Do you get bored easily with the same old-same | | | | route every morning. Or there was always the |
| old? | | | | stack of video tapes if I felt like moving the |
| Want to know the best way to combat that | | | | coffee table. |
| boredom and bring your health and fitness to a | | | | Boy was this living! |
| new level? | | | | It took another a year to get back into my |
| I spent years trying different healthy workouts | | | | pre-baby clothes with zero pounds added. |
| beginning with aerobics. | | | | Fast forward three years, morning workouts |
| It began in college during the Jane Fonda years | | | | were still a habit and boring as hell. I didn’t |
| when I followed the lead of the girls in my | | | | even feel like I was exercising any more because |
| sorority. We put a video tape in the VCR, moved | | | | the routines were all so familiar to me, the |
| the coffee table out of the way and proceeded | | | | required effort level was dropping, lower and |
| to jump, bump and squeeze our way into shape. | | | | lower. |
| This was followed, post-college, by aerobics | | | | Does any of this sound familiar? |
| classes at the gym where I wore cute little | | | | Let me give you the answer to what you’ve |
| leotards and colored tights. I could admire myself | | | | been seeking. It’s the real deal and I am |
| in the mirrored wall while following the | | | | proof positive that it works. I discovered the |
| movements of an enthusiastic instructor. And if I | | | | benefits of Martial Arts. |
| was lucky I’d meet a nice guy in the weight | | | | Martial arts training is a complete healthy workout |
| lifting area and, well, that’s another topic. | | | | in every sense of the word. Not only do you |
| Marriage brought children. After my first child, via | | | | increase your physical fitness level in ways you |
| an unexpected, painful, emergency C-section, I | | | | never imagined, but you exercise your mind as |
| bought a step. Once again, I found myself, moving | | | | well. There is, of course, the standard learning |
| the coffee table out of the way, putting the | | | | curve to starting something new. But in addition, |
| video tape in the VCR and climbing my way to | | | | martial arts training requires you to use your brain. |
| fitness. It took about a year after my son’s | | | | This kind of healthy workout is very similar to |
| birth to get back into my pre-baby clothes (plus 7 | | | | learning ballroom dancing. There are specific steps |
| pounds). | | | | to be performed in a specific order at the right |
| Baby number two, via a less painful moderately | | | | pace. You work to learn the proper martial arts |
| expected C-section, I bought a slide. The slide | | | | techniques to build a solid foundation. You exercise |
| was kind of fun. You put little nylon booties over | | | | your mind to remember what comes next while |
| your sneakers and slid back and forth following | | | | you work your body to new levels of fitness. |
| the video tape in the VCR. What followed was | | | | One of the best benefits to martial arts training is |
| another year to fit into pre-baby clothes (plus 4 | | | | that it can be done as a family. It’s a great |
| pounds). | | | | way to spend time with your children in a healthy, |
| Somewhere along the way, I took up running as | | | | fun activity. You’ll never get bored because |
| the main stay of my healthy workouts. Oprah | | | | the workout changes every time you go to class. |
| was running marathons which meant anybody | | | | Increased flexibility, strength and confidence are a |
| could do it. I set my alarm for 5:15 AM Monday | | | | small sample of the benefits package. |
| through Friday and braved the weather to run 2 | | | | Unlike those aerobics classes, when you get good |
| ½ miles through my neighborhood before my | | | | at the routine, not only does it change, but you |
| husband had to leave for work. By 6:30 AM he | | | | earn a belt that tells the world how hard |
| was gone and I was home with my two sons for | | | | you’ve worked and where you stand in the |
| the day, feeling healthy, workout complete. | | | | process. |
| Baby number three, another son via a very | | | | For a goal oriented, boredom busting, healthy |
| uneventful, planned and surprisingly painless | | | | workout, you can’t beat martial arts. |
| C-section, I added biking to my morning routine. | | | | |