learning styles

I am always amazed at how important learning styles are. Yet we still tend to teach to only one or two. I applaud the teachers who intentionally work to engage kids with the other two learning styles. I am very interested in learning all I can so I can help in the cause. Just as we all beat to different drums we learn and grow in different ways yielding different paths creating incredible futures that can only be successfully maneuvered by truly believing in ourselves which brings us back to we need to be taught and engaged by our teachers.

when should we stop learning?

 High School? Bachelors Degree, Masters, Doctorate. For me its never over because the the more I learn the more I realize I don't know. This may sound very Buddhist and although it is, it is also very true. I am reading a book that says understanding history isn't knowing facts and dates its truly about, uncovering issues, arguments, and theory's so the more we learn the more we realize how connected our world is. The history I learned in school was so compartmentalized and one sided its like teaching that when you run a marathon the only muscle being worked is your hamstring?

How to combine fitness and family time.

We have gotten so used to going to the gym either alone or with a friend, but what about our kids? We may send them to participate in a team sport but we don't actually have them workout with us. why not? I think creating a new game night, one with buckets of exercises would be a good idea. One way to play will be to list
100 push-ups
90 sit-ups
5 minutes in plank
150 jumping jacks
100 leg kicks
if your family has 4 or more than separate into 2 teams and see who finishes first.
The reason I bring this up is because this creates such a win/win the kids get to see you model fitness, they get to participate and your creating memories.

six ways to work on balance

1. Seated knee lift -on a balance ball or edge of a chair, pelvis and spine neutral, knees flexed, feet on the floor hip distance apart, arms reaching to sides, lift one foot and hold for 30 seconds then switch feet.
2. balance on one foot -the other to the side with both arms reaching out to sides.
3. lay on stomach and reach back to grab ankles holding knees together as much as possible.
4. push up, start in plank position place feet on a stability cushion or pillow, bosu, or balance ball
5. use a broom or mop handle, start with feet shoulder width apart use broom or mop handle to stretch up and to the side 10 on each side.
6. standing knee lift- standing legs hip-distance apart, holding the ends of a flex-band(or strap) arms reaching toward the ceiling, arch of one foot on flex-band. keeping arms straight, lift one knee with control ex: press down extending knee.

creating cultural capital

I had never heard the term cultural capital until a friend explained this to me the other day, capital is defined as stuff such as real estate capital or financial capital so cultural capital is knowing the rules or etiquette's each culture has. I believe this will be quite useful for the youth I work with.
  I am definitely going to incorporate it at my next youth empowerment which is Friday's at the DASH center for the arts on 1504 MLK Jr. Way from 9-11:30pm

how to fit in at least the smallest dose of exercise in everyday

* Stand up and stretch every 30 minutes
* find an excuse to take a short walk around the home or workplace once an hour.
* walk to the farthest bathroom when going to the restroom.
* Stand and/or walk around the room when talking on the telephone.
* Get up and move (or at least stand up!) during every commercial break while watching TV. or between chapters/articles while reading.

time on our hands

So many have no time because of work and family, and so we at
A Better U  have put together a program for whole families to work out together. As they say families that play together stay together. When we combine as a team it brings alot more to the table and alot of laughter to the group. Let me not forget to mention the sweet sweat that takes place. We like to challenge  both the beginner through to the advanced and everywhere in between.

what to do when a strike keeps your kids home.

Amy's top ten things to empower, educate, and mobilize
1. do a family report on a country you and/or your kids are interested in. (each person researches an area-- wars, people, culture, climate)
2. play games even  hide and seek or eye spy but change up the rules
3. start a garden even if your working --agree on an area, let them work on it while your working.
4. make a family bucket list--trips, experiences ect..
5. family fitness time ---walking going to a park
6.creating a family exercise bucket that everyone works to complete
--300 push-ups, 500 sit-ups, 10 miles, ect..
7. read a book together as a family
8.create a drama each person gets a part
9.have a family Olympics --invite others to participate
10.as a family take the community dance class at the DASH Center for the arts on Thursdays at 7pm

exciting times

we are just starting our group classes and launching programs for the fall season. we are going to offer group training for families so every-one can get into it. I have a schools Out WA meeting in Ellensburg for after school programs on Sept. 9th. I am also teaching healthy cooking at REACH here in Tacoma. World vision has donated food so that the youth taking my class not only learn to cook but also have food for the weekend, 65% of the kids in this program are homeless so its very cool to serve them. 

working it out

We have the pull up station in full affect. Clients have a love hate relationship with it and so do I, soar hands, humbling to my strength, but ever so much fun. I am also going to add a class schedule for weekly walking, yoga, and boot camps.
Our way of working with people is so individual along with inspiring a group camaraderie. so if you want a new and fun work out partner--or a few check us out....

results

I got a lot of compliments from current clients about there results---flat abs, shoulders and backs that look incredible, I am so excited to get to work with people at all levels of fitness.

new classes

I am going to start classes in a couple weeks---a walking club, yoga, and a boot camp if your interested let me know times and dates that work--fyi I teach yoga on Tuesday nights at 8pm for 5.00.

moving forward

we have shirts with our logo--WOOT WOOT! Marc is finishing the backyard pull-up station.
I am busy working out Art of Hip Hop and Hawaii fit teams from the DASH center. I am teaching a healthy cooking class at the REACH center here in Tacoma. The class allows me to teach both how to cook the basics and how to balance foods, its really exciting for me to work with youth!
      I am thinking about starting a yoga class there at 10:30am on Fridays just to see how the kids respond?

Summer is here!

Today was great! AOHH had a killer workout 300 burpies, 150 pushups, 160 ab kicks, 150 squat presses.
Hawaii Fit rocked their workout to0--ready for bathing-suits! 
new client was fierce!

Recital

The teams I have been working with for the last 2 years are having a recital on Saturday I am excited to see how well they are performing! The DASH Center for the arts here in Tacoma WA is performing at Jason Lee Middle School at 7pm tickets are $5.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door.

UMOJAFEST

I went to a community event in Seattle yesterday called UMOJAFEST  with the Art of Hip Hop kids and it was fun. They brought out a pull up bar and talked about fitness, it made me so happy! Plus my kids showed great form on there pull ups, and there poetry!

Business

Today was great! Started with a wonderful new client, went to class about registering as a woman owned business, danced! and ran a workout for my awesome Hawaii fit team, over all a great day!

today

big decisions need to be made!

sunny in Tacoma

today is a great day for both a run and a walk! maybe some yoga and catch with my dog Ace