[I’ve Got 5 On It] Step Up Your Home Gym Sessions

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021Leave a comment

How to Set up a Home Yoga Studio — Simple Tips from Amy Ippoliti – YogaOutlet.com

Rewind to two New Years Eves ago as I was dreaming up resolutions for 2020; I was getting into my groove of living in Seattle and was aiming pretty high. I wanted to go back to school to further my education, I was eager to make new friends in this new neighborhood in a new city, and get a gym membership and get back into some kind of athletic shape. Going back to school was easy, or at least on the easier side; sign up, show up to a digital learning environment, digest, regurgitate knowledge, repeat. Making friends was a bit more difficult, but I made do – forming closer bonds with the few friends I had that were local, and making friends with my new neighbors. So, last but not least – it was time to tackle my workout routine. Well, wouldn’t you know it but by the time I was ready to right my workout wrongs – COVID hit. Well, life hack: if you didn’t have a gym membership, you didn’t have to spend time cancelling it!

It did pose a new problem; when the gyms closed, I was left to my own devices. Good news – those devices included healthy limbs, running shoes, a yoga mat, and a few dumbbells. Fast forward to now, and my house has a punching bag, resistance straps, fitness bands, a balance board and so much more. For whatever I would have spent on a fitness membership, I transferred into having equipment of my own – and now I have a ‘no excuses’ gym in my own living room; and I’m here to tell you, you can have one, too!

As we inch towards vacations and social activity amongst the vaccinated, we’re all craving a Hot Girl Summer a la Megan Thee Stallion, and what better way than by leveling up your home gym game. For a full list of my favorite home gym products to level up your work out, check out my personal shopping list on Amazon. But for now, I’ve got five on it and have a good feeling these little home gym additives will get you to your six pack Summer without breaking the bank.

Yoga Mat

Ewedoos Eco Friendly Yoga Mat – $28.95

Living in Los Angeles, it was only time before I fell in love with a local yoga studio. But once I moved to the Pacific North West, I stopped looking for one. Why? I found a great amount of resolve with Gaia and their vast array of yoga instructors, each with their own twists on poses and positioning.

Regardless of what style of yoga, how long you commit to your practice or what level you’ve reached – having a good yoga mat makes all the difference, especially on your joints. From headstands to meditation, and all the nuanced poses in between – having a good mat is the difference from a dedicated practice and not practicing at all.

The Ewedoos Eco Friendly Yoga mat is waterproof and easy to clean. Featuring sturdy gri and multiple guide lines for better posture as well as balance, Ewedoos mats are crafted from flexible Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE for short) which makes for durable, long lasting equipment.

Yoga Block Bundle

Heathyoga Yoga Blocks 2 Pack with Strap – $19.99

Once you’ve got a good yoga mat, it’s only right that you get a few goodies to go with it to elevate your practice! Whether you’re a novice or dedicated to your practice, you’ll benefit so much from using blocks and straps for healthy stretching – and this set from Heathyoga is perfection.

Crafted with EVA foam, the pair of yoga blocks is moisture proof and non slip in addition to providing a bit of a cushion, even under heavy weight.

Coming in a bevvy of different colors, the yoga blocks are durable and flexible while providing the utmost support for perfect posture and your range of flexibility. Not to mention, having a strap in your arsenal makes even the most difficult poses feel doable!

Amazon.com : Mdikawe 53In-62In Adjustable Height Boxing Bag, Adult/Child Training Boxing Suit, Quick Recovery Speed Ball, Standing Air Pump with Base, Suitable for Fitness and Decompression. : Sports & Outdoors

Punching Bag

Mdikawe Punching Bag with Stand – $49.99

After the last year, I doubt I’m the only person who just wishes they could hit something.

From the anti-vaxxers and the anti-maskers to the racists and the internet trolls, from fake news to terrible presidents and politicians spewing contemptuous levels of false vitriol, I can count on so many fingers the times I just wanted to punch a wall; I wanted to get my energy out in a fit of rage.

Now, thanks to having a punching bag in the house – I can get those feelings out whenever I want to in an incredibly constructive fashion.

This punching bag from the team at Mdikawe is adjustable, making it perfect for any age and any body height, featuring a durable speed bag that moves at lightning speeds.

The unit is highly responsive and quick as hell to install – perfect for improving overall fitness, in addition to your hand eye coordination.

Balance Ball

EveryMile Wobble Balance Board – $29.99

If I close my eyes and think about balance, I’m immediately transported back to my favorite yoga studio in Los Angeles, One Down Dog.

One morning as I was struggling through a practice, the instructor offered this bit of wisdom and it hits me all the time: our yoga practices mirror our relationship with the outside world; a flexible practice means exceptional your life – conversely, someone that finds balance easier in practice engages in better balance in their life as well. I am flexible, in my modes of communication and ways I choose to engage with the world. Unfortunately, I have terrible balance even standing on two feet! So, meet my newest best friend – the wobble balance board from EveryMile.

With a nearly 16″ no-skid surface, this portable balance board has a full 360° of rotation and a 15° tilting incline – paving the way for skillful stretches and improved dexterity. Target your core strength by playing around with one legged balance, or rehabilitate and recover from injury with improved muscle strength.

Resistance Bands

Kootek 18 Pack – $28

For your well rounded workout needs, snag this diverse set of equipment from Kootek and instantly step up your home gym with just one click. Whether you’re gunning for strength training, or want something to keep you on your toes during the work day – this package has you covered.

Last, but most certainly not least – this has been one of my favorite fitness purchases in the last year. Featuring ten different levels of strength training between the tube resistance bands and loop bands, you’ll also get ankle straps, handles, core sliders and a door anchor to ensure wherever you are, you can dive right into the workout your body needs.

Are you keen on heading back to the gym, or have you started to get your home gym into gear?
Am I missing something you love?

Let me know in the comments below!

[LA Life] Trekking Cahuenga Peak To The Hollywood Sign

April 4, 2016April 4, 2016Leave a comment

Now that Spring has officially sprung, it’s been a personal mission of mine to get out and enjoy every ounce of sunshine I possibly can. Depending on your perspective of Los Angeles, it’s easy to flounder under the incorrect assumption that the city is a concrete jungle – but quite the contrary: in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our go-go-go lifestyle are a plethora of green spaces waiting to be explored. From The Huntington Gardens to Pasadena’s Arboretum, Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon – there are a lot of amazing nature hikes to offer, and you don’t even have to go far to get it in.

When we first set out for our hike, we only had one thing on our mind – it’s a beautiful day to get some exercise in. We packed a little pack of water, snacks and goodies and were off, off and away on a Saturday adventure. Not gonna lie on this one, the struggle was definitely real; we haphazardly decided to ascend the Tree of Life Trail to Cahuenga Peak so we could get as close as possible to the Hollywood Sign. Depending on your source, the tree in question is equally referred to as ‘The Wishing Tree’, ‘The Wisdom Tree’ ‘The Giving Tree’ and ‘The Magic Tree’, but whatever you choose to call it – it’s a beautiful hike up a ridiculous incline; meaning you’re going to want some badass shoes to accompany you. As a fair warning, this hike is not for novices or beginners – and I only say this, because I consider myself both, especially when it comes to this trail.

If you’ve been following my adventures over the last few years, I’ve evolved into a nature nymph of sorts and I absolute adore it. There’s nothing like the brisk air and fresh breeze of the great outdoors, but man – was I a sweaty, panting mess by the end of it. This hike is one puppy that you want to pack some supplies for – some snacks with sugar to keep up your blood sugar, sunblock to prevent heat stroke, tons of water to rehydrate yourself and some quick to eat protein like nuts or beef jerkey. Overall, I would say it took us about two hours to get to the top with a few pit stops along the way to stretch our muscles and take in the view. It was only later that we discovered a simpler way to the view, where you can park on city streets and take a paved, lazy river of an incline to the top. Definitely not as gratifying but thank goodness we could take that route out of the park!

Overall, the view from the Tree of Life Trail is breathtaking, and the aerial 360 of the city is as stunning as it sound. This is one hike that I not only recommend, but will be doing far more frequently – after all, we didn’t actually make it over to the Tree of Life – we caught ourselves a stellar view of the city instead – so that’ll have to be a day-venture for another time.

[Oh, Snap!] Eagle Rockin’ and Eagle Walkin’ v7

March 8, 2015March 8, 20152 Comments

So far this year I’ve learned that if you’re on the West Coast you should literally pay no mind to Punxsutawney Phil; he might know a thing or two about weather on the East Coast but when it comes to us, just consider him Jon Snow: he knows nothing. For the past few weeks, Danny and I have been on a determined fitness kick. With festival season right around the corner and the wicked terrain of Lightning in a Bottle heading our way in almost T-3 months, we’re planning on kicking our own asses, taking some names and making our bodies into lean, mean, workout machines. A few weeks back, I snagged a sweet crystal ball off of Amazon and we’ve been having a ball (pun) snapping pictures using it. We’ve even managed to discover a few new walking trails around our apartment. Enjoy our journey!

[Self-Discovery] My ’30 Before 30′ Bucket List

January 12, 2014December 2, 20141 Comment

Ever since I turned 29 in December, my head’s been swimming with ways to make the last year of my 20’s a fabulous one. I woke up with the urge to challenge my personal growth last week, and I realized that a ’30 before 30′ bucket list was the perfect way to approach the big 2-9. Sure, maybe it’s a little late and overly ambitious to accomplish 30 things in about 48 weeks, but I’ve always been a better performer under pressure and after the ‘7 Life Resolutions‘ I started living by last year, I know I’m up for the challenge. While compiling this list, I’ve had a handful of ah-ha moments and tiny epiphanies – the first being this: personal goals shouldn’t be tied to anyone else’s existence. Instead, these goals should further your sense of self and individual happiness. After all – how can you successfully contribute to your community, or to a relationship, if you haven’t proven that you can contribute to your own growth? And on the flip-side, don’t believe that growth is a unidirectional endeavor; growth is perpetually infinite and occurs in 360°. In the years after college, there was such a rush to pursue a corporate career that the idea of evolving creatively, or in the kitchen, or spiritually, had fallen by the wayside. Like my parents always said when I was a kid – there’s simply no way to do everything, but like I’ve always believed, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. I can’t wait to incorporating these milestones into my year and become the best version of myself; I know my spirit, my mind and my body will grow in ways I never thought possible.

Read sheet music
Make potstickers
Travel outside of the US
Get published in the Huffington Post
Learn how to ride a bicycle
Get a new tattoo
Pickle my own vegetables
See the Grand Canyon (Saw Zion + Bryce, though!
Have a ‘make-your-own-sushi’ date night
Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
Maintain + use an herb garden
Develop a dedicated Yoga + Meditation Practice
Read at least a book a month
Go camping under the stars
Learn French
Buy a stranger’s meal
Cancel Cable for a Month
Shoot a Gun
Organize my iTunes Library
Do the splits
Watch a Meteor Shower
Host a dinner party
Make Candles
Crochet a blanket
Road Trip to Oregon
Find the perfect shade of lipstick
Visit every museum in LA
Be an extra in a Movie / TV Show
Learn to use a DSLR Camera
Find new hikes

January in the Rear View

February 4, 2013February 4, 2013Leave a comment

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Blogging is a two fold enterprise in my mind, it’s cathartic – it helps me stay organized, it gives me space to work things out, it lets me reflect and evolve; on the otherhand, it’s also a wonderful way to keep track of the moments – small, big, earth shattering-ly large – that have made us into the people we are and have prevented us from becoming those other people.

This year, there’s a lot on my plate but it’s nothing I didn’t put there – almost like instead of getting a meal, I went for the all you can eat life buffet and I simply can’t get enough! The limited time I have is now spent bouncing from my volunteer gig at the Kitty Bungalow, directing the social media content of Beatnet, getting my fitness on, adventuring around Los Angeles and spending quality time with good people. I feel more than rewarded for the time and effort that I expunge upon my life and I fully believe that this year – it shows. So take a gander at the best that January had to offer me, and cheers to a fruitful February!

I’m officially a runner now =)

…a FIT runner…

..and I’m getting faster =D

Got my House fix with Richard Vission and Donald Glaude

I submitted my DNA to 23andme and finally got some answers about my ethnic background

We got the old crew back together for some karaoke and catching up in Koreatown

…I also made some new friends and we went on an adventure to the gorgeous Getty Villa – now I can knock that off my LA Bucket List!

Attended the LA East Yelp Elite Kickoff Event only to walk away the winner of some major swag and pampering.

Saw Coachella Weekend 1 tickets come and go; but I’m okay with that since I’m not paying for my ticket this year 😉

Spent some major cuddle time at the Kitty Bungalow; since we have such a fabulously high turnover rate I’ll probably never hang out with these kittens again!

..and they have a mini-Sake!

I ate beyond well last month – it helps that I’m a sushi freak =)

I’m also addicted to the BTA Benedict at Tart

..and you can’t go wrong with Dim Sum from Bao!

The past 31 days have been beyond crazy, wonderful and beautiful – they’ve been filled with great friends, wonderful food and fantastic memories to last a lifetime. With January over and out and a kickass lineup for my February weekends,I’m stoked to see how the rest of my year is going to play out: bring it on!

Workout Wednesday: Putting a Cramp in your Style

August 29, 2012August 29, 2012Leave a comment

I think each of us has been here before:

It’s been a while since you’ve worked out, but your playlists are updated and your gym clothes are ready to rock. You eagerly drink some water, jump into your running shoes, suit your earbuds up real nice and head out the door. When you hit the sidewalk, your legs begin bouncing – urging you to move forward. As your iPod shuffles to your latest favorite song, you break into a skip, then a jog…and finally a run. You’re feeling your energy as your feet hit the pavement, you might even be singing along without realizing it – and then you notice it, a stitch in your (insert appendage here). Then it cripples you – and you’re left wondering: what is wrong with my body?!

Well the answer, my pretties – is that your workout just got cramped. As an athlete, I can tell you from a lot of personal experience that there’s nothing worse than getting into the groove of a good workout and getting sidelined by a cramp. In the back of my head, I’m thinking – hey, body! why are you acting like its your first rodeo?! But the fact of the matter is that no matter if you’re a world class athlete or about to commit to your first workout – cramps happen, but you can help!

The most common cramps for me are side cramps while running, foot cramps as a swimmer and calf cramps after a workout or a long night of dancing. So what exactly is going on and what can we do if we want to keep the workout going?

Make sure you’re warming up properly and breathing right during the exercise. If you’re planning on going for an epic run, try walking or jogging to warm up your entire body and make sure your body is hydrated enough to sustain the ass kicking you’re giving it. If you notice a cramp coming on, try to even out your breathing and avoid exhaling when your feet hit the floor, if it won’t go away give yourself a break and get into some stretches. Your body is a temple, you don’t want to destroy the foundation.

On the typical, cramps have one of two causes – dehydration or poor nutrition.

Think about things this way – your body is approximately 80% water but your muscles are closer to 75%; so when you work out, your muscles get dehydrated faster than your body. When this happens, the muscles lose elasticity, become taut and eventually – if not re-hydrated – they’ll spasm, or cramp. The other possibility is that your body is lacking in essential vitamins like iron, calcium and potassium, which is key for preventing muscle cramps.

Lucky for us, these are things we can control. At the very least, on the daily you should pop a multivitamin in the morning and get your 8 glasses of water. In this “go-go-go” world, it’s hard to avoid caffeine and soda. However, if you’re serious about treating your body well – either curb your use of diuretics like coffee, soda, alcohol and energy drinks which naturally deplete your body of water, or for every “naughty” drink have double the amount of aqua. When it comes to nutrition, an apple a day might keep the doctor away but a dose of potassium a day will keep the cramps away. Dried fruits like apricots, prunes, dates, coconuts, figs and raisins contain a whole lot of it. And for the fresh fruit lovers, try throwing more avocados, bananas, peaches and oranges in your diet.