Inspiring

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant-

Lead.Learn.Live … Thank you for your thoughtful nomination of the Inspiring Blog Award.  For the longest time we thought there was only one amazing and brilliant person living in British Columbia?!? That’s right … Burnaby’s finest:  Joe Sakic!

Practicing the art of giving is something we take very seriously here at CultFit.  The act of giving is actually very simple.  Yet very few people take the time to give onto others.

Our suggestion as we move along this morning:  If you want to lead others with confidence and conviction?  Foster the habits that allow you to lead.  If you want joy in your life?  Take the time to share joy with other people around you.  If you want love to accompany you?  Learn to give love onto others.  If you want to Live life?  Pull back the shades a tiny bit and gaze upon what awaits you outside … That is where you learn to live.

When one receives an award such as the Inspiring Blog Award.  There are a set of instructions that accompany it, explaining how to pass the award on to others.  We just crumpled the instructions up and threw them in the corner with all the other nifty instructions about “Life”!  Heck, Did we use the instructions for our IKEA living room set?!?  Nope … “Hey, Um … We highly suggest you don’t place your beer right there mate.  You have been warned”.

Let’s explore some authentic, inspiring peeps together:

Garage Gym 107

Invest In Yourself

Girl and Her Pink Backpack

Sweat Every Day

A Path to Pursue

Life’s Little Epiphanies 

The Plan-

The Workout-

Rest Day … Time to go for a Walk actually!?!

Notes:

Once again, thank you Lead.Learn.Live!  Have a Happy Thanksgiving Canada peeps … ENJOY!!!

**We desperately need the NHL back on the ice in order to restore balance in our lives!!!**


Time Won’t Let Me Go

Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement-

I find myself this morning in a grateful frame of mind.  I fail each and every day to stop and appreciate all the beautiful things that surround me.  I often find myself getting bogged down when I hear petty complaints and experience the minor irritations that we face everyday.  These are the times I forget just how much happiness I already have in my life.

Every morning when I sit down to write, as I search in my mind for the words to put forth … I take a moment to gently remind myself:  How blessed I am, how humbled I am to be amongst some of the most genuine peeps on the inter-webz.  Every morning before I click the proverbial publish button.  I pause to reflect on how truly grateful I am to be here with you.

The Plan-

A random collection of posts in no particular order:

Maybe It’s His Fault (CTKHis Dark Side)

24 April 2012

Grappling With Forgiveness

20 June 2012

You Brought A Gun to a Knife Fight

14 May 2012 

Are You Married to Your Program

Second Breakfast Inspiración

Vamonos, I Wish

1 June 2011

Modulating The Truth

The Workout-

After a couple major – dumb surgeries over the prior two years.  One of which that has had left me broken and down trodden at times … This is my favorite Workout to perform.  It helps me to bring balance and harmony to the day:

A nice brisk Walk before the Sun comes up and a flowing 15-20 minute Happy Hips routine.  Followed by:

30 -45 Second Handstand Hold

20 Hinge Walk Out Perfect Push Ups

On a good day?  8-10 times.  On a bad day?  Never.

Notes:

Today is the 500th post here at CultFit and I owe it all YOU … Be well this weekend and ENJOY!!!

— Uncle Jeremy


Somethin’ Else

The mind must learn that beyond the moving mind there is the background of awareness which does not change-

Today we want to spend some time with you exploring what we enjoy the most in life.  We are doing this so we can distract ourselves from our negative thoughts and re-focus on what we enjoy the most!

The success of this post depends on you, our Dear Reader … We’ll get this started off on the right note:

Yoga.  Not the hot, sweaty Old Man Yoga.  Certainly not the competitive, who has the best yoga-pants yoga (You know who you are!?!).  What we enjoy the most is simple, peaceful, meditative, rejuvenating yoga.

The days when we can sit back and not worry about doing anything.  Its wonderful going for a walk in the morning not worrying about an appointment later in the day.

Trail Running/MTB’ing and Cycling.  The peace of being alone with Nature is fine although with the right Mate or Chica?  Time well spent as long as they buy the first drink.

Walking.  Each and everyday.  Yup, It’s not the manliest thing to do or the most ELITE.  Who cares!

We now turn this over to you.  Chime in with a pithy answer on what you enjoy the most!!!

The Plan-

The Workout-

Tools needed for today’s program:  1. A sweet stainless steel goniometer.  2. Look up the degree of motion in a non-weight bearing SI Joint (2.5 degrees) and a weight-bearing SI Joint (0.2 degrees for an average desk jockey peep).  3.  The most important tool … You!

A keen attention to details will pay off handsomely, trust us.  At the risk of making this really wordy and nauseating:  We have really stripped this down to the bare minimum without showing pictures.  If you suffer from a bad back, this program is a must if done correctly.  For more specific directions and maybe pics?  Please by all means email us.  If you want to jack your self up on a lovely Tuesday morning?  Pretend this is an AMRAP, High Intensity interval, Tababta program … You have been warned!

Lets start with a really nice, flowing Sun Salutation series.  Followed by:

**Take a moment to measure three degrees of rotation using your handy-dandy tool, it’s not very much is it?**

While standing (Second toe, knee, hip, boney shoulder bit should all be in-line): Scissor kick <—Horrid exercise but we captured the visual for you, Forward, To the Side, To the Rear:  3 degrees only.  This is a very slight movement:  While standing.  Work on this for a few minutes alternating legs.

**This is the only time you may use a wall for inversions!  Do not do this program in a yoga pose head stand!!!**

Gracefully flow into a Handstand … Level and stacked hips, allow your breath to control tension.  Perform 10 of our slight “kicks” — These are not “kicks” but you get the point.  Front , Side and Rear for each leg.  If you take your time you should be in a Handstand for One Minute.  Flow back down to the earth beneath you and perform 10 Perfect Push Ups.

4 to 5 times through would be a good healthy start.

Notes:

Torque, Force Closure, Pelvic Stability, Load Transfer … What does all this mean exactly?  Feel the twinge in your back when you do crazy mindless movements?!?

Have a splendid day peeps … ENJOY!!!


Over, Under or Around

Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course-

It’s always a pleasure to start the week with a beautiful message.

Especially when Melissa stops over from Sweet Wholesome Health!

Over, Under or Around

What happens in the face of adversity?  Do you give up when something (ex. an injury) holds you back from your routine?  Sometimes it’s so off-putting that all we want to do is feel bad for ourselves, throw our hands in the air and give up on everything we have worked for. We get used to our scheduled activities that keep us healthy and then a wrench is throw into the works.  It can be so hard to continue to move forward when you feel like there is something blocking your entire path.  In the past I would even convince myself that maybe it’s a sign and that I should never have been doing it in the first place.

Whether you believe in signs or not, this is not the time to give up. It is a chance to reflect, grow and adapt!

Here are some thinking points to aid you Over, Under or Around your hurdle:)

  1. Change direction.  Pivot and go down a road you always wanted to try.  Maybe it’s more yoga and less running for a while or spend time learning a new skill, building your spiritual practice or growing your relationships:)
  2. Re-evaluate your goals-  what do you want?  Has it changed?
  3. Set goals and a timeline for your recovery-  use this time to explore something, use your time in a new way and know that you have opportunity while you recover.

When something in your life throws you off … You have a choice.  You can adapt or give up.  It may seem easier at first to give up, but take some time to think about all the accomplishments you are giving up, the loss of momentum and your emotional state.  Are you feeling uncomfortable, sad and maybe depressed?  To adapt, you have to get outside the box, put thought into your next move and step up.  You might fall along the way, but you will also feel strong in your ability to be flexible, determined, and open!

Every day we should be looking for opportunities to challenge ourselves, get outside of the normal, comfortable and prepare ourselves to embrace the unknown.  Find a way to live and love your life every day no matter who or what stands in your way:)

The Plan-

The Workout-

To awaken the senses and prepare for another long week that ominously awaits us.

A brisk Walk/Trail Run/Hike … Anything outdoors.  Followed by:

A free-flowing, graceful Sun Salutation series until you find balance and your breath effortlessly carries you from movement to movement.

Notes:

We honestly cannot say thank you enough to Melissa for writing such an inspiring post, especially on a Monday.  Her message is always pure and honest … In essence the polar opposite of our abrasive and cantankerous style you have grown to love?!?  Be sure to head on over to Sweet Wholesome Health to say hello today … ENJOY!!!


Promise

Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think-

*Taking the time to actually read this post today may increase your chances of having a great day?  Just saying peeps.

There are only a few athletes here at CultFit.  Paid to play a sport or were ever fortunate enough to have finished in the money.  The rest of us have never been a top athlete in any given discipline.  That’s not to say we have not taken immeasurable joy and made lasting memories from merely showing up and having fun on a Saturday morning.

When you show up to an event, a race, heck even a bridal shower?  Are you too busy judging whether you are good enough to be there in the first place?

When we do this to ourselves, we miss out on the magic of being present for an amazing experience.  No sh!t Sherlock!  We all want to do well!  Many more of us want to be the best competing on any given day, which is totally cool in our book.  But to refuse to participate because you’re not quite top-tier is sad.

How loud do we need to scream in panic before our message starts to settle in?  We are heading down a very dark road peeps.  Where extreme levels of performance have become the guard rails and running on these roads is dangerous to all of us.

This is our challenge to you this weekend:

Remember going outside just to play?!? When was the last time you went  to a park and joined in on an impromptu game of football (proper football, not the ‘Merican crap) with some friends?  Have you ever stopped at a trail head and asked someone if they care to join you for a bit (the offer of a cold beer or coffee increase your chances)?  Play, peeps … Plain and simple.

Each and every one of us is deprived of play in our lives, a crying shame to say the least.  For many of us; the simple experience of what play should be has become work.  We are way over organized in our daily lives :  Gotta  schedule this task … I just have to check in on Foursquare and tell this business they suck on Yelp!

Quick being cruel to yourself, PROMISE?!?

The Plan-

Come play with us this SUNDAY.  Not like that perv!?!

The Workout-

A dynamic sweat inducing Warm Up of your choosing.  Followed by:

20 Broad Jumps
20 Perfect Pull Ups
20 Hard Style KB Swings
20 Walking Lunges (each leg)
20 Perfect Push Ups
20 KB Piston Push Press (heavy)
20 Romanian Dead Lifts (heavy)
20 Goblet Squats (heavy)
20 Meter Sprint (Out and Back)
20 Minutes focusing on the movement that you feel you need to work on the most!!!

**Caution!!!  Normally when random peeps stop by and see a program like this they instantly assume balls to the wall, hard-core, ELITE, gotta kill myself before the weekend.  Right?  Get your head straight right now … Breathing and Hips!  Before you even start say:  Breathing and HIPS!!!  Out loud.**

Notes:

Pinky swear?  Melissa from Sweet Wholesome Health will be back on Monday!!!  Have a great weekend and ENJOY!!!