Thread: Cross training?

If you had unlimited time, what would you add to your routine to improve your health, fitness and flexibility?

doesn't ahve to meet the 3 :-).

If I had unlimited time, I'd definetely increase my yoga practice to include at least 2 classes a week, prolly 1 vinyasa & 1 bickram.

I'd also include more weight training, in the actual weight room at the gym.

Nice topic! pilates and walking for me. oh, and I'm hoping to go back to soccer soon but sometimes I have to stragically cover the bruised legs...

I need to step up my cardio, to increase stamina and get rid of some problem fat storage areas (my butt and thighs, for the most part). This summer I was only able to do it one a week for an hour, whoch probably didn't do anything. If I had the time, I'd do it every day, but I'm hoping to get in at least 3x per week now that my daughter is back in school. I lurve the incline treadmill!

For cardio- tennis, plus you get the extra leg work.
For muscle defintion- swimming.

Someone made a snide comment (seemed to me. I could be wrong) saying why would a belly dancer swim or play tennis to enhance their dancing ability. Well, the better cardio control and toning you have the better you dance and look.

well, the obvious answer to that, Mychelle, is why wouldn't you want to do something that would reduce your chance of injury and increase your ability to perform your sport to the best of your ability.:Atwisted:

But that's just me. ..l;,

Seriously, spinning will increase your fast twitch muscle fibers in your legs which will rock your drum solos. just as an example. I don't get why people don't understand that piece of it. not that piece specifically, but how people don't get that overuse injuries will lay you out and cross training will keep you doing what you love.

but I'm one of those weirdos that enjoys exercise.

I've recently started attending this class called a "powerhouse" workout. The teacher is a fantastically fit older woman (seriously, she's late 50's) who kicks my assets, and that's said with the utmost respect and hero worship. She fuses pilates, yoga, traditional dance and muscle conditioning. The lights are low, we use weights (barbells & body bars) bands for resistance. One example of a series of movements that she teaches is one that had me shutting up (a miracle in itself..l;, ) and fiercely concentrating.

• body bar held parellel to floor (bar weighs about 9 lbs) modified dancer pose (yoga) hold for 4 count
• sweep arms up while straightening torso to standing, foot points forwards, arms straight over head, then move to mountain pose (more yoga)
• elbows in, let the hands come down with body bar behind the head for tricep press.

Very slow and controlled, no chance of any joint damage, but holy cow!


I just need a way to fit more cardio and stretching in.

I'd buy and start using the "Yoga for Scoliosis" DVD a couple of times a week. (I currently attend a yoga class, so I'm getting the benefit of a certified instructor correcting my form. The DVD would be a supplement, not a replacement.)

I'd take a ballet class to get the benefit of classical dance training.

I'd do more cardio exercise.

I'd use weights to do some strength training.

HIIT it...High Intensity Interval Training as it is quick and VERY effective

With HIIT you don't need to spend hours and hours walking on a treadmill...although, it must be said, HIIT should only be done about 2 or 3 times per week. Essentially you speed up on the treamill so you are going all out for 20-30 seconds then slow down again for your recovery period (approx 30-60 seconds)...you go through this cycle for about 20-25 mins and will be KNACKERED by the end of it (you won't be able to do weights after this workout, you'll just want to cool down and then go for a shower).

If you are doing this workout on a treadmill you don't get enough time to slow the machine down so generally HIIT is done flat out at the high speed and then you stand on the side of the treadmill for the 'recovery' period then back on again for high speed. HIIT creates max afterburn whereas with steady state you don't get as much afterburn.

Yoga and weights as well...yoga and weights v important.

I already get in plenty of yoga, but I wish I could spend more time on my personal practice. Also wish I could spend more time on my personal rehearsal time.

OK, so I probably could...I wish I would Just Do It ..g.: !

Cardio: There's a new aerobic play class at my health club -- I'm thinking jump rope, hopscotch, hula hoops...that sounds like fun to me. But then I'm probably picturing more anarchy than the instructor has in mind! ..l;,

I wish I had a place to REALLY ride a bike, and the weather for it year round.

Ballet -- either a class, or at least the NYC ballet workout vids, I LOVE those.

More weights! I like the machines rather than free weights. I've laid off them while I recover from an injury and I miss them!

You guys are motivating me to get back into the gym. Hmm.. maybe I'll try spinning again. The class intimidates me - all that equipment and last time I went, I came home with a very numb behind.

I've started doing Pilates again. Pilates and Yoga are the perfect exercises, but I need to do something else to increase my strength and also cardio capacity.

Well now that my youngest is finally in school, I can take the time to go back to the gym. I used to teach 5 Jazzercise classes a week, but my body is stuck in a SERIOUS plateau. My weight and measurements haven't changed in over a year. I gave up teaching two of my classes due to my upcoming move and a lack of participation. I'm now using those days to cross-train. On Tuesday, I did my Temple of Jehan Bellydance Workout video, my Core Training for Belly Dancers video, and then did a yoga workout on "Fit TV". Yesterday I went to the gym and used the elliptical machine. I'm thinking that on Saturday, I'll go back to the gym and actually put together a weight training routine and do some swimming.

Now if I could just get my dieting under control. The stress of trying to sell a house is killing me!!

Running and biking for toning my booty and thighs! Also great for stamina!

Yoga and ballet- great for flexibility and grace (for me, which I feel I lack! HA!)

Upper body weights and push ups (to tone those snakey arms)

Sit ups for tight ab movements and to keep my 30-something belly in shape!

But over all, all of these just just feel good and healthy! :)

I just finished my first session of Fitness Bootcamp. I loved it, highly recommend it and am going back again in a month. http://www.survivorbootcamp.com/

I'm also thinking yoga/pilates - helps to strengthen the hips and knees.

If I could figure out my schedule correctly I'd start taking muay thai twice a week and put swimming and a circus skills program back into my workout rotation.
Right now, I do cardio ( BodyJam and BodyCombat) 5-6 times a week, in part because I teach one of these programs and am figuring out whether I have time for a full-body weight workout three times a week or a split-sytem 5 days a week... I haven't liked thre programs I've been flirting with for the last month. Ugh.
HIIT... It's the new thing in training right now, I know. Problem is that cardio-wise I am not a machine-using person. I really like my cardio dance and martial arts programs better. I'm not sure I know how to incorporate HIIT effectively for strength training, which may be of better use...

Originally Posted by bul_bul_ksa

HIIT it...High Intensity Interval Training as it is quick and VERY effective

With HIIT you don't need to spend hours and hours walking on a treadmill...although, it must be said, HIIT should only be done about 2 or 3 times per week. Essentially you speed up on the treamill so you are going all out for 20-30 seconds then slow down again for your recovery period (approx 30-60 seconds)...you go through this cycle for about 20-25 mins and will be KNACKERED by the end of it (you won't be able to do weights after this workout, you'll just want to cool down and then go for a shower).

Oh, is that what I've been doing all these years? I agree, it is a great workout, especially for people with a low boredom threshold when it comes to training. If I try to do a long, steady cardio workout, I immediately get this voice in my head that says "You can stop anytime you want, go on, stop!" over and over (or maybe I'm just mental!)



I also do Capoeira, unfortunately only intermittently due to time/child constraints. it is the BEST workout ever for strength and cardio, and boy do you know about it the next day.

My favorite is doing weights in the gym, I like to keep it short but intense when I'm there, no reading magazines on the exercise bike for me!

yoga, ballet, contemporary dance

Originally Posted by shimarella

If I could figure out my schedule correctly I'd start taking muay thai twice a week and put swimming and a circus skills program back into my workout rotation.
Right now, I do cardio ( BodyJam and BodyCombat) 5-6 times a week, in part because I teach one of these programs and am figuring out whether I have time for a full-body weight workout three times a week or a split-sytem 5 days a week... I haven't liked thre programs I've been flirting with for the last month. Ugh.
HIIT... It's the new thing in training right now, I know. Problem is that cardio-wise I am not a machine-using person. I really like my cardio dance and martial arts programs better. I'm not sure I know how to incorporate HIIT effectively for strength training, which may be of better use...

I'm with you, but it seems as if group fitness is dead, or at least very ill. I prefer a hard hitting hour long class where I don't have to think about what I'm going to do next. sigh.

I would take ballet, jazz and tap and compliment that with weight training. I just can't get excited about "regular" cardio workouts, I find that dance keeps me interested in keeping on with the workouts.

Really, if I just did my NYC Ballet workout DVD more, I'd be better off. *sigh* Where does the time in the day get to! ..g.:

Originally Posted by shimarella

If I could figure out my schedule correctly I'd start taking muay thai twice a week and put swimming and a circus skills program back into my workout rotation.

So what does circus skills training involve...? I'm intrigued

For me, when I did have the time, I did gym with trainer 2x a week and once session on cardio or aerobics class by myself, dancing 2x sessions per week and a beginners ballet class (no pointe) which out of them all really kicked my *ss... it was all the jumping I think... jumping is really hard ..l;,

This combination kept me pretty happy, and I really noticed the difference ballet made in my dancing, but realistically I find it hard to keep to a regular schedule long term... I get bored ,s::

IF, if i had the time I would add NIA to my program... and weight training and ballet...

if I had the time.....cr.:

Circus skills for me would be a focus on aerial work/conditioning, some juggling, some poi, some hooping.. basically all the toys gathering dance in my living room! Seriously I'm already too tipsy from my happy hour meeting to work in the air like I said I would... damn, I need some structure in my life!

Originally Posted by kina

I'd also include more weight training, in the actual weight room at the gym.

I like to weight train, jog, stair stepper, roller blade, cross country..and similar when I can. I find that many of these other exercise improve my dance in making my legs stronger and other areas more fit as well.

The hard part is finding time for these things.

Lisa