Tag Archives: yoga

Weber Sisters Reveal Fitness and Exercise Tips (Part 2)

“Very compatible, yet very different”

By:  Weber Way to Wellness Reporter
**The images contained in this article exclusively found at AliciaWeber.com are copyrighted © Alicia Weber & Kim Weber.
Click here to visit JD Productions.

The Weber Way to Wellness Reporter interviews the Weber Sisters – two sisters 2 years apart that are both fitness gurus.  Kim Weber is a fitness executive for high-end fitness studios with an Exercise Science B.S. and a Global MBA   Alicia Weber is a Fitness Expert and Fitness/Nutrition/Solutions Consultant with Biology and Communication degrees.  In Part 1, we learn about humble beginnings in Fitness and their winning workouts!  Click here for Part 1 or continue reading Part 2 as they reveal Exercise Tips and How to Stick to Exercise!

Kim Weber is a California Girl - a Land Animal that can show you how to put a groove in every move as she specializes in pilates & yoga!!
Alicia Weber is a Florida Girl - a Land/Water Animal like a Lungfish! She can get you to "Huff, Puff, & Triumph" with your lung or aqualung as she specializes in aquatic therapy & physical fitness testing/training!!
  1. 1. Q.  What do you admire most about your sister?

Alicia answers, “I am baffled by how my sister handles high levels of stress and dramas in fitness management and turns businesses around in a way no one else can do!  When the average manager only lasts 6-months at a time, she lasts years and loves it, while making a big difference.  She amazes me!”

Kim answers, “I admire her un-wavering confidence.  She’s always believed in herself no matter what.  She’s never been one to give in to peer pressure or pressures of society.  No matter what’s trendy or not, she’s always happy being her.  Because of that confidence she’s always made wise decisions.”

 

 

 

 


2. Q.  What advice would you give someone just starting out in exercise to stick to it?

Alicia Weber is excited over physical fitness!

Alicia answers,

“Don’t think of exercise, but “excitementcise” –  You want to think about activities that excite you and throw in a little movin’ & groovin’!  It’s easy for me, since I get my kicks from strenuous activities, but some people don’t like to move.  Nothing beats the benefits of movement though! If you like to sing, try to Dance off the Inches: Hip Hop Party
style with your song.  If you like to watch tv, try simple Healing Yoga Moves at every commercial.  If you like boating – try a Hobie Mirage Sport Kayak and enjoy fun and speed as you paddle and pedal effortlessly!  Remember, if you don’t MOVE, you will loose your groove!  *If you want to learn more, I have fun and unique personal training programs available in Central Florida. ”

 

 

Kim Weber is excited over physical fitness!

Kim answers,

“I agree that people need to find something they enjoy.  With exercise there are really no rules. You don’t have to join a gym to exercise.  If you enjoy walking your dogs, then make that your exercise.  If you prefer exercise to be your ‘alone time’ then that’s ok too.  Or, get a group of friends together to exercise together. Take the stairs, park at the back of the mall parking lot, etc.  It all adds up and doesn’t have to be regimented.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weber Sisters Reveal Fitness and Exercise Tips (Part 1)

“Very compatible, yet very different”

By:  Weber Way to Wellness Reporter
**The images contained in this article exclusively found at AliciaWeber.com are copyrighted © Alicia Weber & Kim Weber.
Click here to visit JD Productions.

The Weber Way to Wellness Reporter interviews the Weber Sisters – two sisters 2 years apart that are both fitness gurus.  Kim Weber is a fitness executive for high-end fitness studios with an Exercise Science B.S. and a Global MBA   Alicia Weber is a Fitness Expert and Fitness/Nutrition/Solutions Consultant with Biology and Communication degrees.

1.        Q.  How long have you both been in the fitness industry and why do you love working out?

Kim Weber has years of training & an advanced education in Yoga & Pilates.
Alicia Weber represented the U.S. in Perth, Austalia, in 2000 for triathlon.

Alicia answers, “We both started as a lifeguard.  When I took my first lifeguard job at 17, people began asking me for swimming and exercise tips.  I was a self-coached world-class triathlete and National Champion runner.  People would look at me and want my help and it stemmed from there and I branched out into fitness training and a variety of facets in health and wellness.  Constantly expanding my physical fitness is extremely exciting for me!!”

Kim answers, “I’ve been in the fitness industry for over ten years.  After being a lifeguard as a teenager, I went on to become a group fitness instructor.  I taught all kinds of classes and got into personal training as well.  After years of training experience, I moved over to the management side where I started managing a Pilate’s studio in Las Vegas, NV.  I fell in love with fitness management and went on to get my MBA to continue with these aspirations.  I love working out because it makes people, especially women, feel good about themselves.  Our self esteem is largely based on how we look and feel.  When we get results we feel energized and accomplished.  This feeling fuels people to change their life and change their world.”

2.        Q.  Exercise was always part of your lives.  What are your favorite types of workouts?

Kim and her lovable pooches out on a walk!
Alicia holding the world record book that she is in between her feet.

Alicia answers, “I love anything that is very challenging (both muscularly and aerobically) in the area of strength, speed, and endurance.  In 2010, I set a record 24 world records in this area of fitness.”

 Kim answers, “I love dance based orthopedic exercises like Pilates and Yoga.  I also love to run and hike outdoors, especially with my dogs.”
 
 

 

Cooling down after a long night of cackling and a sweaty morning workout!
3.  Q.  What is your most memorable moment together in exercise?
 
 
Alicia answers, “We were on a family trip in the Badlands and as soon as we arrived in the evening, I jumped out of the car and took off running.  Thank goodness my sister followed after me because she saved my life!!  I accidently began to take off on a 200+ ft high cliff and she grabbed my legs and pulled me back before I fell. I then learned why they are called the Badlands!  My energy levels were out of control (too many endorphins from distance running) as a teenager, but I am under control now.”

Kim answers, “For me it’s probably when we were both on the high school swim team.  I didn’t enjoy it, especially the thought of jumping into a cold pool at 6 am in the dark, freezing Pennsylvania winter weather.  Alicia loved it though.  She used to
give me her flippers when we had to swim laps to help me be less miserable!  At that point I knew I must be more of a land animal!”
Kicking back after a night on the town in Las Vegas, NV!!

Continue with Part 2 revealing Tips for Exercise here….

How to prevent or get rid of back? What exercises are good for back strengthening?

By:  Alicia Weber

If you are a person that believes walking briskly 30-minutes a day will take care of everything and there is no need for anymore exercise – THINK AGAIN!!

The primary muscles used in walking are the lower extremities including the hamstrings, quadriceps, adductors, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles. There are other muscle groups involved that act as stabilizers such as the gluteals. Walking alone fails to strengthen back muscles properly and chronic low back problems are a growing trend in America.

A walking-only program is really only targeting one area of fitness of the 5 fitness areas – aerobic capacity wellness.

One common trend I find among exercisers that limit their exercises to walking are weak back muscles. On the same hand, if these walkers start adding back and abdominal-specific exercises into their routines they can get immediate gains in fitness and feel even better!

According to the National Health Interview Survey there was an increase from 3.2 percent of the population in 1997 to 8.3 percent of the population in 2006 that experiences chronic low back pain.

There are several possibilities as to why there is an increase in low back pain including
1.) increase in obesity
2.) increase in stress levels that trigger low back pain
3.) increase in depression that is linked to low back pain
4.) sedentary lifestyle with prolonged sitting
5.) improper ways to pick up objects, poor posture, or overall lack of care for the back
6.) failure to strengthen back muscles (in particular the Multifidus M.)

If you have back pain, what do you think is your cause? Finding the cause is one step closer to working on a solution. Overall, back pain is a choice. If you fail to strengthen your back, then you will fall back in overall health! The bottom line is to keep your back strong by doing back strengthening and stretching exercises (see below) to prevent back pain.

The multifidus muscle is a thin muscle found deep in the spine. It needs to be strong, sturdy, and stable to keep each vertebra working effectively. The multifidus muscle is the key muscle in the back that needs to not only contract to produce strengthening effects, but it must be elongated. The multifidus is the strongest muscle in the back and the key stabilizer in the back.

It is possible that traditional back surgery could disrupt the alignment of the multifidus muscle causing the spine to have trouble maintaining an upright position as well as create pain and discomfort. Minimally invasive spine surgeries can result in less disruption of the multifidus muscle and in turn cause less trauma than traditional back surgery. If one is seeking back help via physical therapy, chiropractics, or other methods of back relief and severe back pain continues, then it would be best to get an x-ray. Consistent pain is a sign of seriousness.

Back strengthening and stretching can never go out of style. In fact, I am a firm believer that a back exercise should be performed everyday at least once. It is important in the selection of the back exercise and performance of the back exercise in achieving results.

 For instance, if you want to use the back machine in the gym – work on doing greater reps and lighter weight (i.e. a 115 lbs person may just use 50lbs and do 15 – 20 reps even if they could easily use a lot heavier weight.). So back exercises ARE about endurance training and NOT about power training (heavy weight and high intensity). Over doing the back with intense exercise and heavy weights can strain the low the back and cause harm.

Whether you are new or a veteran of back exercises, there is one stretch that can really open up the back and all you need is a chair.

The Moving Warrior Pose is a great way to stretch and strengthen the back! Do this exercise for a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of 2 minutes. Always start with just 1 set and over time build to doing several sets. The reaching out and stretching up and then reaching out and coming back in works gluteal stabilization, leg endurance, posture alignment, and stretches and contracts the Multifidus M. Once again, because the multifidus is such a small muscle in the back, we want to keep the intensity low and keep the exercise slow. Combine deep tortoise breathing with this moving warrior pose to get additional benefits. Try to do 2 – 4 breathing cycles/min or less. Read here if you want to learn more about tortoise breathing.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEBSHMDXzmg

Always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program even if it is for the back. When one is just starting back exercises the goal will be to work on more stretching. Once stretching is down, the person can add more strengthening. Focusing on the single multifidus muscle ( such as in the picture above in the gym back machine) is advanced and can be implemented into a back program overtime.  Learn more by reading BACK FAQS

The Multifidus M.