Wedding Workout: Salute the Sun

I can't think of a better workout for a bride other than yoga. It challenges the body and calms the mind. For a girl planning her wedding, what could be better? Here's a one minute sun salutation video that will talk you through the yoga sequence. Do this a few times in the morning or at night to quiet the mind and get a mini workout in. As always, consult your doctor before you begin any new workout. Now, onto the yoga mat!

Wedding Workout: Barre3

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Ever have one of those days where you know you should work out but don't actually feel like leaving your house, under any circumstances? Well I has having one of those days last week and, in a moment of desperation, decided to check out the OnDemand fitness channels I had seen while flipping through my DVR box. I randomly stumbled upon a thirty-minute class called Barre3. The description said it was a mix of ballet barre work, yoga, and pilates, which sounded great to me since I didn't really want to break a sweat. I decided to give it a try. In this particular video, the only props I needed were a kitchen chair, which served as the barre, and an exercise mat. Score! There wasn't a ton of space needed to do the exercises so I was able to do the whole video in my cramped living room. Double score!

After doing a little bit of pre-workout research procrastination, I discovered that Barre3 is a super trendy fitness program, with celebrities like Madonna swearing by it. And if you don't happen to have Barre3 OnDemand, you can buy a DVD or check out one of the 14 specially-outfitted Barre3 studios throughout the county. Sadly, the majority of the studios are in the Midwest or West. Hopefully they'll start showing more love for the East Coast soon!

So... what did I think? I have to say I was pretty impressed. While none of the exercises seemed super strenuous, I definitely think that Barre3 accomplishes a lot. The movements are tiny-- no jumping jacks or wild leg swings (I didn't even need to wear a sports bra-- triple score!). According to the instructor, this method works by strengthening the secondary stabilizer muscles-- as opposed to the primary muscles that are likely to bulk up. Thus, it's great for someone who wants a thin, well-defined body (and who wouldn't want that?!?). There is no intense fat-burning cardio involved so I don't think this is a good all-encompassing plan for someone who needs to shed a lot of weight. But it's a great option for someone who is already at their goal weight and wants to tone up. Bottom line: I felt the burn without breaking a sweat. Mission accomplished!