Anyone just do Classical Stretch?

[sundari]

When I did CS/Essentrics daily only I gained incredible flexibility. I also had no dread factor to working out because they were short workouts. However I did after a while want some variety and did move on. In so doing I lost some flexibility. I should include these again since they did make me feel good. They are relaxing workouts probably because you get the kinks out of every body part.

[Sara1000]

I did one this morning I had recorded from PBS. It was surprisingly aerobic. I like the idea of getting flexibility, strength and cardio all at the same time!

[donnamp]

I'm just popping in to say I did CS/Essentrics just about daily from the end of Jan through the end of March - I didn't do it exclusively, I included other workouts as well - including some weigh training,( but training w/ weights is no longer the mainstay of my program at all). Anyway, since the beginning of April I sort of got distracted and moved away from doing CS but I'm going back to (almost) daily CS as I can feel a difference in my body from NOT doing it. I definitely feel less balanced, less flexible, less aligned. And I have been doing other "therapy" type workouts like Jill Miller, yoga and Allaire Back fitness. But nothing seems to "balance" me as well as CS.

Donna

[TinaT]

Donna, if you've moved away from weights as the "mainstay" of your workouts, what did you replace it with? besides CS?

[donnamp]

Hi Tina,

I generally go w/ more body weight stuff - Pilates, some yoga, some barre/ballet, some Ellen, etc. I will use light weights with barre and Ellen but I have definitely moved away from my heavy FIRM workouts of the past. Right now though I am doing The Daniel Plan (modified, I'm following the rotation template but not using the DP workouts exclusively) so I am doing more weights now than I have in a long while. But, I'm still going on the lighter side.

I will also sometimes follow Jessica Smith and will do some weights w/ her as well - but she generally puts out rotations/challenges that are pretty well balanced between traditional weights and more flowy/barre workouts.

Donna

Edited to add, I will also sometimes do Margaret Richards workouts!

[TinaT]

I generally go w/ more body weight stuff - Pilates, some yoga, some barre/ballet, some Ellen, etc. I will use light weights with barre and Ellen but I have definitely moved away from my heavy FIRM workouts of the past. Right now though I am doing The Daniel Plan (modified, I'm following the rotation template but not using the DP workouts exclusively) so I am doing more weights now than I have in a long while. But, I'm still going on the lighter side.

Donna, this is how I'm feeling these days. Tho, I am giving Tracie Long a go to see how her functional methods works on this body of mine. I haven't gone past 5 lbs in weight with any of her routines. I'm blending in CS/Essentrics.

[donnamp]

Hi,
Tina - a revelation just struck me, I said I have been doing more weights now than I have in a while, and guess what? I'm also more stiff, achey and out of alignment, too. Sometimes, these connections just don't get made until you see it in writing. I did a CS last night for the first time in a week or two and it was AMAZING the difference I felt afterwards.
Maybe some bodies are just not meant for weights? Although I am curious about what you're doing w/ Tracie Long and going lighter - let me know how that works!!!

Donna

[yogapam]

I wish I could do CS/Essentrics every day, but I just get bored doing the same thing every day and a dread factor sets in. Exercise ADD I guess! So I am settling for 3 X/week along with barre, KBs, cardio, & yoga.

[Lori_Michigan]

Originally Posted by TinaT

Donna, this is how I'm feeling these days. Tho, I am giving Tracie Long a go to see how her functional methods works on this body of mine. I haven't gone past 5 lbs in weight with any of her routines. I'm blending in CS/Essentrics.

Too funny -- I'm doing the exact same thing! I won't go above 5 pounds or my body hates me. I love these Longevity series because they are so easily modified and under an hour. I feel like it's a great workout and I'm working my spine and hips, too -- perpetual areas of soreness for me. I really like how calm and confident she is, too -- oh and she's 47 (or 48)!

[donnamp]

now, I'm really curious to try Tracie's workouts w/ lighter weights. I haven't gone super heavy w/ my workouts - 8 lbs is pretty much the max I'm using.

but, since I'm feeling more sore, achey and out of alignment than I was before (when I was doing fewer weight workouts and more body weight/classical stretch/essentrics), I'm wondering if I just need to take more days off and do workouts w/out weights - or it could be a fluke and I'm sore/achey and "off" for other reasons. One never knows!

Donna