Okay, I’m in belly mode. In my last blog, I wrote about how I had to slather my white stomach with sunscreen on a beach vacation so I wouldn’t have a bright red middle. It worked! I returned to Colorado from the Delaware beaches sans sunburn on my tummy.
Now that I’m home, I need to get back into my routines. One of those is my three-times-a-week back exercise regimen, which includes a number of exercises focusing on my core.
I work with a wonderful trainer, Dale Greenwald. In his past life, Dale was a champion power lifter and broke his back during a dead lift. I know, OUCH. Lucky for Dale, he was training in physical therapy and thus had the knowledge to rehab himself back to health. He translated some of his rehab into “The Daily Dozen for a Better Posture,” a series of 12 simple exercises you can do to improve your posture, reduce neck and back pain, and improve core strength.
All of our body movements stem from our core, so it makes sense to keep it strong. When I first met with Dale several months ago and shared issues I was having in my lower back, he asked me how much core work I was doing. I said that most of my core exercising was coming from yoga. He said this was good, but that I needed more. So he created a routine for me that includes a variety of lunging and squatting with dumbbells and a fit ball, plus different core exercises and push-ups on a BOSU.
I have been committed to my routine the past few months and have noticed a positive change in my body. My husband has noticed it too! When I’m riding my bike, my whole body, particularly my legs, feels strong. I notice this when I’m out running and hiking on the trails, too.
But when I asked Dale during our last session if I could change things up because my routine was becoming, well, too routine, he smiled and asked, “Do you have a routine of brushing your teeth every day, twice a day?” I nodded yes. “Well then, think of this exercise program as brushing your teeth. I’ve given you the best exercises I know to help you strengthen your core and your back, so try and stick with them.”
I will do my best.
