The June Five Exercises For Leg Strength, Balance, Core Strength and Flexibility

June 8, 2016July 3, 2025Anne

We are doing a bit of a leg focus this month. Below are photos of the moves, click here for a full description of the exercises.

Wide squats are one of my favorite exercises. I can remember my former ballet teacher Jojo telling us to do grand plies (the ballet version of this move) any chance we get. Brushing your teeth? Do some grand plies, waiting on the bus, plies. Why? This move strengthens your back, hips, legs, core, and works your balance. What a great exercise!

Anne wide legged squat riverside park 6.10

Reverse Warrior is harder than it looks. You start in a low lunge, then lift your front arm (without letting your knee roll in or sneak back – try to stay in your low lunge). Here Michelle demonstrates this move. Nice work lady!

Calf Raise is another sneaker. Looks easy, difficult to execute properly – that is lifting your ankles right over the middle part of your foot and coming down slowly without crashing down. Try ten of these standing on both feet, then try ten standing on one leg (start on your weaker or tighter leg). When that becomes easy you can graduate to the block, hold weights, or try closing your eyes.

Roll Over. How many times have you heard me say “relax your neck”? Hopefully you hear me say that in your sleep. Why do I repeat this over and over? If we tighten our necks we are not working as efficiently as possible (if your neck and jaw are tight I’m betting your abs are doing nothing) and we are putting ourselves at a higher risk for injury. If you have not done this move with me please do not attempt it from a quick look at this photo, it’s another deceptively difficult move.

Dessert Cactus is an excellent chest and arm stretch. This is a really good one to do if you have been spending a lot of time in front of the computer. Look how happy Kathleen is to be doing her cactus stretch!

Anne McCranie is a Portland (Sellwood) Oregon based Licensed Massage Therapist and Personal Trainer. She offers these photos to remind you of the moves we have done together. Please check with your medical professional before beginning a new exercise program.

To join one of Anne’s ongoing classes call her at (503) 705-4762.

May Five Exercises

May 21, 2016July 3, 2025anne

Have y’all been doing your five? Each month I give my clients five new exercises and encourage them to do one minute of the moves every day. Here are photos of this month’s Five to jog your memory.

Click here for a full description. Click here for Fluid’s spring class schedule.

Baby Bear:

Seal:

Flight:

Plank:

Side Angle:

Anne McCranie is a Portland (Sellwood) Oregon based personal trainer and licensed massage therapist. She offers private training as well as weekly classes. Looking to get moving? Contact her today for your complimentary consultation. (503) 705-4762

April Five Exercises For Core Strength, Back Extension, and Standing Balance

April 2, 2016July 3, 2025Anne

The April Five

Here are photos of this month’s moves. Click here to see full descriptions of these exercises. Could you do one minute of each of these today?

1) Warrior II:

2) Leg Pull Back:

3) Swan Dive:

4) Double Leg Kick:

5) Rolling Like A Ball:

Anne McCranie is a Portland (Sellwood), Oregon based Personal Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist. She offers these photos to remind you of the work you have done with her in a private training session or class. Please see your medical professional prior to beginning a new exercise program.

March Five Exercises for Strength, Balance and Mobility

March 10, 2016July 3, 2025Anne

The March Five

Have y’all been doing your Five? Click here for full descriptions of these moves.

In need of personal guidance? Join us for an ongoing class, or call to schedule a one on one session with Anne (503) 705-4762.

1) Crescent Lunge:

2) Pilates Push Up:

3) Half Moon:

4) Boat:

5) Single Leg Kick:

These photos are meant to jog your memory about the exercises we have done together. Please see your medical professional prior to starting a new exercise program.

Sports Illustrated’s “Plus Sized” Cover Model

February 16, 2016July 1, 2025Anne

Did you see this week that Sports Illustrated has featured a “plus size” model on the cover of their 2016 swimsuit issue? There are actually three cover models, my girl Rhonda Rousey, model Hailey Clauson, and “plus sized” model Ashley Graham. While I applaud S.I. for including a variety of body types, when I saw Ashley’s photo I thought “plus size, really?”.

Depending on the brand/ designer miss Graham, wearing a size 16, likely has a 36 inch waist, and 42 inch bust. To give some perspective, the average American woman stands 5’4″, weights 140 pounds, wears a size 12-14, and measures a 35 inch waist and 40 inch bust. My concern is that we continue to set unrealistic beauty standards, and comparing ourselves to these photos can actually hurt us. Research has shown that looking at images like these of “perfect women” for even a few minutes is enough to have a negative impact on a teen girl’s body image.

Also please keep in mind when you view these highly photo shopped images what you see in the magazine or on your computer screen is not real. This person does not actually exist, at least not looking like that.

Personally I would kill to have Beyonce’s butt (and dance moves), or Lindsey Vonn’s thighs. I would rather be able to squat heavy weights, go for a 4 hour hike in the Gorge, or hold a plank for two minutes than fit into the same jeans I wore in my twenties.

Hooray for S.I. for inching the bar a tiny bit forward.

What are your thoughts on how the media affects your (and your daughter’s or granddaughter’s) body image? What have you done to improve your body image or notice or change your self talk?

Let me know in the comments below…

Anne McCranie is a Portland (Sellwood), Oregon based Personal Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist. She offers one on one and small group training to ease pain, lower stress and increase mobility.