Warwickshire Living Article No2

Just Thought I'd share with you the 2nd Article of mine that was published in both Warwickshire and Worcestershire Living magazines.

 Article 2 Warwickshire Living

As I mentioned in my last article exercising is not just heading to the gym or lacing up your trainers to pound the streets.  Exercise is any activity that elevates the heartrate for a sustained period of time but most importantly is ‘Fun’.   There are such a broad range of activities in and around our local vicinity for you to try from the new craze ‘Zumba’ or for me exercising in the great outdoors.  This where is my passion lies and by this I don’t just mean teaching my fitness camps or cycling around the country roads.  I have a huge Zest for exploring and trying many varied and sometimes extreme experiences and challenges which have ranged from Skydiving to Wingwalking.  My recent events I plan to share with you each month beginning with my new and most recent  – Horse Vaulting.

Horse Vaulting conjures up images of horses running up to a really
high bar with a long pole in their hooves to land on a giant crash mat
the other side, but that's not quite how it works! This kind of
Vaulting is best described as gymnastics on horse back. Think
ballerinas dancing on horses from the circus, I'm not sure my very
first session was quite that graceful but it was what we were aiming
for! I have a flex foot issue going on, must point toes!

 The main aim of vaulting is to use the power and movement from the horse and for this you need to be warm and supple ( I was pretty ok with this!) There is a lot of movement from a horse when riding normally let alone when your sitting backwards, kneeling or standing at speed!

 First of all I had a date with the infamous "Bernard Barrel"  who is a training devise that you learn the basics on such as the correct way to hold the Vaulting roller, how to run with the horse ( yes I know the though of running alongside the horse horrified me initially but hey, I’m always game to try anything!), the rhythm of the vault on, and how to distribute your weight in all the different movements. Bernard is extremely well behaved and doesn't move a muscle unlike my partner for the next stage, he has a lot of muscle, about three quarters of a tone, and it all moves!

The horse is called Ronan from ‘www.jive-pony.co.uk’ he’s the Star at this years Moreton  Show in the Cotswolds, so quite an experienced show piece!  ( no pressure for me then!)

 To get used to his pace we did running in time. Sounds easy but as the horse is on a circle you have to run forwards and sideways at the same time as well as keeping time with him.  Once I could canter alongside him competently the only thing left to do was get on! Ronan is a very wide horse and although I felt very safe, boy was I getting a good inner thigh stretch!

We did many basic exercises that used a lot of coordination and
core strength. Things like "leg over the neck" which is ‘exactly what
it says on the tin’. You move your leg over the horses neck and back.
Sounds easy, and it's not too bad when the horse is walking but when
you move onto canter you have to be in time with the horses rhythm
otherwise your fighting to lift you leg up when the horses momentum is
going down. All the exercises we did were learning to use the timing
and rhythm. Leg over the neck led onto "round the world" which is moving from front, to side riding, to backwards, and then returning to front, all in canter, trying to stay in the centre and remembering to hold on! I quite surprised myself here and it sure did get the heart pumping.

 We also did bench into flare leg. ( see photo) This involved kneeling on all four on the horse and then extending a high straight leg out behind. The combination of being soft on the horse, and controlling and balancing the leg out behind is a good challenge.

Free knees was where my thighs came into there own. This
involved kneeling up on the horse but you have to place the weight
along the whole of the shin, not just in the knees or it's
uncomfortable for the horse so this require a slight leaning back with
your hips forward, and the "free" bit meant no holding on! 

 We finished with the stand, in canter. I had Rebecca my trainer sitting
backwards on the horses neck, I had to get up to bench and it's
quite crowded with two up there, jump through to feet, and then gently
stand up while Rebecca supported me. Standing on a cantering horse
is just something else, an amazing experience!

A more sendenatry activity of mine ( though some would say it’s not quite so!) is my vegetable garden.  This is when I have my ‘thinking’ time and where my two boys aged 9 and 7 have my permission to get down n dirty.   You can clear your mind and get in touch with nature with a good ole digging, weeding and sowing and there is nothing more gratifying than growing, washing and eating your home grown vegetables. April/May is the time to get planting and sowing!!

 In my house we even have ‘The Fruit and Vegetable challenge’  how many different fruits and veg can you eat in a day! winner get to choose a family activity for the weekend.  My eldest son is a clear winner with a record of 16, what a great way to get the children trying new nutritious foods, they love a challenge.

Here is my challenge for you:-

For 6 months you as a family have to try ONE new ‘Healthy’ unprocessed food each week so that’s 24 new foods in total.  This could be a fruit, vegetable, meat, fish, grain, nut, seed just something you have never had before.  It’s fun, challenging and exciting for all the family.  Give it a go, and extend your palate.

Ask Nicki Question:-

Dear Nicki, I had a baby 4 months ago and I now go to the gym 2/3 times a week in my quest to shift the ‘baby bulge’ before summer. What exercises can I do to get my flat tummy back?

As we all know you cannot spot reduce fat stores so this means no matter how many abdominal exercises you perform you will not achieve the ‘flat tummy’ if not accompanied by the full puzzle.  Exercise is a key element to losing weight and toning the body, but the main factor is ‘Healthy’ nutrition.  In order to achieve a toned body you also need to feed yourself well and by this I mean  ‘lean and green’ My golden rule is ‘If it grows from the ground, off a plant or tree, if it runs or swims then EAT it.  If it comes out of a box or package then DON’T.  The secret to good abdominal tone is to work ‘Transversely’ by this I mean diagonally and all around the ‘Core’ and not by performing 100’s of crunches.  The Plank is the ‘Goddess’ of all abdominal core strength and tone exercises as it works all around your trunk, pulling everything in tight.

Motivational quote of the month:-

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential are the keys that will unlock the doors to health and happiness – Confucuis

A person grows most tired whilst standing still – Chinese Proverb

Teachers/Trainers open the door but you must walk through it yourself! – Chinese Proverb