Category Archives: Exercise

doTERRA OILS IN MY GYM BAG!!!

 

A few week ago I published the GYM BAG ESSENTIALS video on Youtube → see it here!  showing some staple items I love having with me to enhance my workouts.  Now I’ll be going into more detail about some of my favorites!

LET’S SEE HOW ESSENTIAL OILS CAN ADD VALUE TO OUR GYM LIFE…

First favorite gym bag essential:  DEODORANT!!! We should ALWAYS have it in our bag 🙂 hehe. I use to buy a travel size store brand to keep in my bag ‘just in case’, but why ever settle for that? Our DIY deodorant has coconut oil, and that can be scary to travel with so we just add more cocoa butter to thicken it up!!  I really love this product.  The ingredients we used were aluminum-free baking soda, arrowroot (or cornstarch), coconut oil, cocoa butter and desired essential oils.  We used Lavender.  For suggestions on other oils you can use, full recipe and video tutorial —» check this out!   »»BUY NOW««

I’m also never far from my LIP BALM.  I like to have this with me all the time and you absolutely will find it in my GYM BAG!  Ingredients: beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, peppermint and lavender essential oils.  See full recipe and video tutorial here.  »»BUY NOW««

deodorantLIPBALM

Next, you will find me with doTERRA DEEP BLUE RUB to sooth those achey and tired joints and muscles.  This topical cream is formulated with a proprietary blend of natural plant extracts and other powerful ingredients, including Deep Blue essential oil blend of wintergreen, camphor, peppermint, blue tansy, German chamomile, helichrysum, and osmanthus. For more information, click here.

Anyone who knows me knows I would have a good HAND SANITIZER close!  We all know how dirty gyms can be.  Even in a well maintained facility, blood, sweat and tears happen!!!  In most gyms, hand sanitizer is readily available, but we know that these options are not always the best idea – read 5 Hidden Dangers of Hand Sanitizer here.  By removing the ethyl alcohol (active ingredient in most brands) and the triclosan and replacing them with powerful antibacterial essential oils, we are able to destroy the yucky germs and protect the important good bacteria that helps build our immune system!  So I love having my DIY Hand Sanitizer close!  A simple mixture of Aloe Vera Juice, Witch Hazel, Vitamin E Oil and doTERRA’s On Guard essential oil blend makes for a safe, powerful and effective germ-killer!  Check out the full recipe and video tutorial here!  »»BUY NOW««

 Ladies, how about a nice BODY SPRAY to use after the workout!! Simply add Distilled Water, Witch Hazel and Oil of choice (my favorite —» Lavender) to a small spray bottle and you’ve got yourself a long-lasting, chemical-free fragrance!

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When we need to grab a quick shower in the locker room after the workout, have these shower essentials packed up and ready to use   ↓  ↓  ↓

  • doTERRA PROTECTING SHAMPOO —» It smells amazing and is GOOD for colored hair (there is no ingredient that strips the color!  Yay!!!)
  • doTERRA SMOOTHING CONDITIONER —» Truly leaves the hair feeling soft and thick
  • DIY BODY WASH —» Castille Soap, Vitamin E Oil, Jojoba Oil, Essential Oil of choice – Citrus Bliss is amazing and Vegetable Glycerin. We add all of this to a container with a foam pump. »»BUY NOW««
  • doTERRA HAND AND BODY LOTION —» This is a fragrance-free lotion that you can add in your own favorite essential oils.  Our top pick at the moment is Lavender for healing the skin in the sunny summer months.

SHAMPOO

 

The point of the “gym life” is to make it a lifestyle, right?

Well, what is the lifestyle we are creating?? For us, a cleaner, healthier life ♥

I partnered with Suzanna Underwood and my daughter’s online boutique ♥Of Eden♥ to create the Youtube video tutorials to share the method in which we create our products.  Click the links below, check out our videos and share with your friends ♥

HAND SANITIZER

DEODERANT

LIP BALM

STAY HEALTHY AND FIT MY FRIENDS! 

 

7 MINUTE CARDIO STEP WORKOUT

Here’s a quick workout you can do anywhere!  Use your Tye4 to increase intensity and help you stabilize and balance so the movements are clean and executed  safely and properly.  Oh and it will  remove the pounding and impact, so yeah, use it and wear it! (if you don’t have one, order here)

DO THIS —» Get to some stairs and perform each exercise for 30 seconds.  Wear a TYE4 (wearable resistance) to add resistance and reduce pounding and stress → SHOP NOW ← Watch the video below to see each exercise.

  1. RESISTANCE PUSH-UPS » arm bungees crossed
  2. JUMP SQUATS » ALT. PARALLEL & PLIE SQUAT » leg bungees triangle
  3. JUMP SQUATS » ALT. PARALLEL & PLIE SQUAT » leg bungees crossed
  4. RESISTANCE PUSH-UPS » arm bungees crossed
  5. PLANK JACKS » arm bungees crossed
  6. PLYO LUNGE » hold leg bungees
  7. BOX JUMP » hold leg bungees
  8. JUMP ROPE » hold arm bungees
  9. JUMP JACKS » leg bungees triangle
  10. JUMP JACKS  » leg bungees crossed
  11. RESISTANCE PUSH-UPS » arm bungees crossed
  12. KNEE-UPS » hold leg bungees
  13. TRICEP DIPS » arms inside leg bungees
  14. PUSH-UP JACKS » arm bungees crossed

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL FITNESS RETREAT 2015

I’M GETTING EMAILS ALMOST WEEKLY NOW ASKING IF I’M DOING A FITNESS RETREAT THIS YEAR… AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES!!!!  SO I DO HAVE PEOPLE WANTING TO GET A TRIP TOGETHER.  I NEED A FULL GROUP 8-10 TO BOOK THE TRIP.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED… READ ON ↓ ↓ ↓  AND PLEASE SHARE WITH ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO COULD USE A REFRESHING GETAWAY THAT JUMPSTARTS THEIR HEALTH AND FITNESS GOALS!

♥ THIS IS TRULY A LIFE CHANGING WEEK ♥

Jumpstart metabolism, cardiovascular fitness and muscle sculpting program with an intensive week spent at a beautiful, spacious beach house focusing on workouts, nutrition, relationships and team building.

My passion is walking with others, coaching and cheering them on as they find freedom so they are empowered to take every opportunity and live an extraordinary life.

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Below is a general description of this 15 day plan.

After I have the group together, I personalize the fitness, food, and supplements for that specific group.

houseCollagePHASE 1

10 DAYS LEADING UP TO THE RETREAT

Nutrition: 10 Day Cleanse. A gentle cleanse that allows you to keep your calendar!

  • Rids body of toxins
  • Removes impurities
  • Improves digestion and absorption
  • Coaching on what you should eat
  • Prepares body for the Retreat

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  PHASE 2

We will do a variety of different workouts and will use innovative equipment like Tye4® wearable resistance/assistance and HeadFloater™ to stretch, strengthen and improve postural muscles- both you will use on the trip and take home to continue using! The workouts will be created after I evaluate the group. I will write a personalized program to meet your needs and reach your goals!

A few  of the classes that will be offered…

* Tye4 (Reformer) Pilates—» Pilates will sculpt the body by developing long, lean, balanced muscle. We will use Tye4 to provide much needed support for certain areas (like the neck and hip flexors) which, in turn, causes the proper muscles to work harder. It will also allow you to add resistance when necessary.

* Tye4 HIIT—» This is a Tabata style HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout that incorporates familiar exercises, but the Tye4 makes this much more effective: 1. Tye4 eliminates pounding and stress on the joints. Instead of creating wear and tear on the joints, you will actually build them stronger. 2. Your heart rate will be higher while using Tye4, therefore burning more calories.

We will be creative with our workouts and enjoy SUNRISE SESSIONS in the morning on the beach and SUNSET SESSIONS on this beautiful rooftop gym.  People with specific needs will have separate workout sessions if necessary.  This is PERSONAL TRAINING at it’s finest.

 

StAugustineWOAfter our workouts, we will be sitting on the beach or around the pool taking in proper nutrition so our body can recover properly.  Does it get any better than that?  I’m thinking NO!

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Supplements and Nutrition We will use the AdvoCare brand for our supplementation. AdvoCare has over 20 years of research and testimonies behind the products, has an alliance with Informed-Choice (3rd party company) to certify the products are banned-substance free, and has over 72 products so a personalized plan can be put in to place for each unique individual depending on their goals, needs, life-style and preference.

All included in the cost.

INCLUDED

All-Inclusive Cost: $1,500
8 people minimum // Deposit: $6,000 to reserve house ($750 per person)

  • 6 nights
  • All meals, snacks, drinks
  • All supplements (10 Day Cleanse -prior to retreat- vitamins, protein shakes, etc…)
  • Kitchen coaching – clean, ‘real food’ meals and snacks
  • Coaching on how to fuel and repair body
  • 9 workouts
  • Personal Coaching
  • Tye4® you will use and take home
  • HeadFloater™ you will use and take home
  • AshleyBensonFitness Swag!!!
  • Beach access
  • Heated pool/hot tub at the house
  • Game room (Shuffleboard, Pool, Poker Table, Ping Pong Table, X-Box 360)
  • HD flat screen TV in every room
  • WiFi

NOT INCLUDED

  • Travel to the house
  • Optional Friday evening meal at local restaurant
  • Leisure Activities:

boating. fishing. miniature golf. jet skiing. kayaking. parasailing.

sailing. snorkeling/diving. wind-surfing

FOR MORE INFO AND TO BOOK A TRIP, EMAIL ME!!!!

ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com

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TYE4® HIIT PLYO WORKOUT

 ♥ LOVE ♥ LOVE ♥ LOVE ♥

Wearing Tye4 while doing jump training is a smart idea.  First, it allows you to jump against resistance, which〈oh my gosh〉makes it harder.  LOTS and LOTS of muscle burn and isolation will occur = greater intensity.  Second, it reduces stress on the joints!  It’s like landing on a trampoline.  This is great news for me considering I have “old knees” and “can’t do jump training anymore without causing terrible inflammation”  I have yet to have an issue after training in the Tye4.

FOR ME, TYE4 MEANS MOVEMENT FREEDOM ♥

HERE ARE THE EXERCISES I PERFORM IN THIS VIDEO…

JUMP SQUATS full movement – touch the ground, then reach as high as you can at the top while jumping.  Don’t cheat here.  Reach the arms high as your back lengthens while in the air.   Modify: touch knees rather than the ground, and eliminate the jump part, just reaching up with the arms.  This is still a great exercise!

JUMPING JACKS  3 variations

  1. standard jack– you will feel this in the upper body b/c the arm bungees creates resistance
  2. triangle jack– no arms, hold leg bungees triangled out to the side, creating resistance for the adductor muscles —» inner thigh
  3. crossed jack– hold leg bungees crossed in front to create resistance for the abductor muscles —» outer thigh

ROTATION JUMP  3 variations

  1. slalom jump – jump right → front → left → front
  2. 90º jump – jump facing back, then back to the front
  3. 360º jump – full turn

SQUAT TRIPPLE TAP JUMP   facing right → squat → tap ground 3x → jump turning to the left.

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE  for more info!!

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CARDIO WORKOUT 37 MIN VIDEO

  • This workout has 8 SETS, each containing 2 EXERCISES that will be repeated 2x.
  • 40 seconds ACTIVE
  • 15 seconds ACTIVE REST
  • Wear your Tye4 to ↑ intensity (the sweat factor!) and reduce stress on the joints.
  • Hold leg bungees when doing the 15 second ACTIVE REST part
  • I’m recommending how to use Tye4, but keep in mind you can always ↓ upper body resistance by moving 1 or both hands from loop 1 (closer loop) to loop 2 (outside loop) for a quick change up.

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ROUND 1

  1. SLOW BURPEE        —» hand loop 1
  2. JUMPING JACKS    —» same

ROUND 2

  1. LATERAL STEP + REACH       —» hand loop 1
  2. VENTRAL JACKS                  —» same (hold arm bungee close grip for ↑ resistance)

ROUND 3

  1. HIGH KNEES PAUSE        —» hold leg bungees
  2. FLY JACKS                       —» release leg bungees, hand loop 1

ROUND 4

  1. BICYCLE CRUNCHES        —» leg bungee over shoulder
  2. LUNGE JACKS                 —» hand loop 1

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ROUND 5

  1. PLANK SLAPS         —» hands loop 1 (switch to loop 2 to ↓ resistance)
  2. STUTTER JACKS      —» same

ROUND 6

  1. LATERAL HOPS           —» hold leg bungees
  2. HIGH KNEE JACKS     —» release leg bungees, hands loop 1

ROUND 7 

  1. LEG RAISE + CRUNCH    —» leg bungee back cross w/arm bungee wrap
  2. PLANK +  LEG RAISE      —» same

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ROUND 8

  1. TOE TOUCH KICKS   —» hand loop 1 or 2
  2. BASIC JUMP JACK    —» standard using upper body resistance, or hold leg bungees out or crossed

PURCHASE TYE4® CLICK HERE!

Thanks to FitnessBlender.com for a great workout!

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

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TYE4 HIIT 1 DEMO

HIIT – high intensity interval training – is definitely trending in 2015 in the world of fitness.  I love this workout and I’ve been loving it even more since I started using Tye4.  The resistance of the bungees takes this workout to a NEW LEVEL… because in does increase intensity… and isn’t that the point of this kind of workout???  My heart rate increases 10-20 beats per minute on EVERY exercise!!!  AND… it removes the stress that high intensity exercises can cause on the joints.  It adds just enough stability to clean up the move and allow for some MAJOR MUSCLE ISOLATION!  I mean, really.  WIN WIN.

PURCHASE TYE4® WEARABLE RESISTANCE SYSTEM CLICK HERE

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

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PILATES USING TYE4 DEMO 2

The Pilates exercises in this demo are fantastic, but there are a few problems:

  1. 1. The hip flexors may be over used or stressed
  2. 2.  The abdominals fatigue and the lower back arches which can cause injury
  3. 3. It’s easy to strain the neck in this flexed position.  And it’s just really uncomfortable for many people.

So I got really excited in class today as we found a way to use Tye4 to take care of every one of those issues!!!  The bungee variation I use in this demo assist the hip flexors allowing for a greater abdominal contraction which gives support to the lower back.  Now the hands are freed now to give support to the neck!

BUNGEE VARIATION  I’ve wrapped the leg bungees around the outside of my arms.

PILATES SEQUENCE

  • Double Leg Lower Lift
  • Scissor Kick
  • Alternating Leg Press
  • Mountain Climber

PURCHASE A TYE4® WEARABLE RESISTANCE SYSTEM HERE

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

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PILATES USING TYE4® DEMO

 

The Tye4® bungees adds resistance to these Pilates exercises – like Reformer Pilates.

EXERCISES IN THIS DEMO

1. DOUBLE LEG LOWER LIFT::  I’m showing the advanced version – holding leg bungees out to the side on the floor.  To modify, hold leg bungees but sit on your hands and squeeze your glutes (squeeze that butt!)

2.  LEG CIRCLES::  Here I’ve pulled the right arm bungee long and put that hand loop on the left foot.  Hold the bungees connected to the foot together or separate them.  Guide the leg in a circle, retracing each time.  5 each direction.  Keep the hips from rocking.

3.  SCISSOR KICK::  This demo shows an advanced variation.  To modify, don’t hold the leg bungees and reach high up on the leg closer to the chest.

MORE ON TYE4 CHECK OUT MethodPilates.com

PURCHASE TYE4 WEARABLE RESISTANCE — SHOP NOW

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

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6 WEEK TYE4 BOOTCAMP – CLASSES STARTING THIS WEEK!!!

CLASSES OFFERED

TYE4 FUNDAMENTALS [Monday 7:00 pm, Crossfit Murfreesboro]
learn how to use Tye4 in more complex variations to maximize results, learn how to apply it to a variety of different exercise styles and get an awesome workout at the same time

TYE4 PILATES [Tuesday 5:15 pm, The WareHouse, Murfreesboro]
build long, lean muscle, increase flexibility & mobility, and strengthen your entire core

TYE4 HIIT [Wednesday 7:00 pm, Crossfit Murfreesboro]
high intensity interval training – using Tye4 will increase intensity, burn more calories and protect the joints while working harder

TYE4 FUSION [Friday 8:45 am, Murfreesboro KettleBell Gym]
cardio, barre, strength and Pilates

Space is limited.  Once you purchase your class you spot will be held.

*** You will need to bring a mat to class. For Pilates, non-slip socks or ToeSox are preferred. For more on what to wear with Tye4, check out this post.

LOCATIONS

CrossFit Murfreesboro
831 Park Avenue, Murfreesboro, TN 37128

The Warehouse
730-A Middle Tennessee Blvd. Suite #14
Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Murfreesboro Kettlebell Gym
(Stronghold Fitness)
730-A Middle Tennessee Blvd. Suite #9
Murfreesboro, TN 37129

TYE4 CLASSES & PRICE copy

PURCHASE TYE4 WEARABLE RESISTANCE — SHOP NOW

FULL VIDEO WORKOUT ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

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Questions, email me!

ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com

 

FITMARK BAGS GUEST POST: TYE4

[This is from a guest post I wrote for Fitmark September 2013 – see it here.  Now, over a year later, I’ve continued using  Tye4 personally,  with test groups and with my clients.  If I had to rewrite this post, I would not change a word.  More on Tye4 here ]

There is a new fitness love in my life, and it’s called Tye4®. I attended the Official Tye4 Launch and Training Workshop in New York this summer and am now teaching five Tye4 classes a week and can’t stop talking about it! This new fitness tool has my creative exercise juices flowing and has given me a fresh excitement and hope for the health, strength, and the repair of our bodies.

The Tye4 is a wearable resistance. It’s a harness that can be worn higher or lower on the chest, depending on preference, with easy adjusting straps. It has a bungee that attaches to both feet separately, and one that attaches to both hands.

tye4collage.jpgIt was invented by Joan Breibart, Founder and President of the PhysicalMind Institute. She introduced the first Pilates certification program, the first Mat Work Pilates Video in 1991, ‘Working Out The Pilates Way‘ and other books, articles, and inventions that have helped the Pilates Method evolve and benefit our generation.

I teach two different classes: 1. Tye4 Fusion and Tye4 Pilates. The Tye4 Fusion class is a combination of aerobic, barre, strength training, Pilates and stretch. I start with a dynamic warm up that loosens our spine and hips and awakens the body to move. Using Tye4 gives us something to push or reach through (a closed kinetic chain) and enables greater stretch and lengthening. We move from warm up to full on sweaty, aerobic exercise. I give high impact options for some of the moves, but it is optional. The beat of the music is fast and we have fun feeling a full body burn.

Next, the music slows down and relaxes our minds so we can put full focus and concentration into the Barre moves. Here I use the Tye4 to assist in leg lifts and balancing. We don’t over work the hip flexors and because we are able to hold balance so much better and longer with Tye4, we feel a beautiful burn from our glutes all the way down into our calves in the stabilizing leg! I LOVE THAT! Honestly, this is where I start sweating! Hard work.

After Barre, I take my class through a series of strength moves, including pushups and plank. Again, using the Tye4 is changing the game! We use a front cross leg bungee variation when doing a modified pushup. The leg bungee cross “reminds” the body to keep the core engaged during the movement, and the crossed hand bungees provide resistance! I no longer have to nit pick on form. It just happens with Tye4! And modified or “girly pushups” create such a surprising burn!

I wrap up our class with Pilates down on the mat using Tye4 in each exercise. We now can move with more control, stabilize with more awareness, and stretch deeper. As I’ve heard from a few of my clients, “I can really feel my muscles now.”.

I agree with what About.com had to say about the Tye4, “What is so great about the Tye4 is that the lines of resistance feedback to the core of your body. This is very Pilates approach to fitness. It’s an effect we get from much of the larger Pilates equipment like the reformer, but getting that direct feedback with something as portable as the Tye4 is unusual.”.

Tye4 was invented in the Pilates world, but it is a creative, effective tool that can be used with many other types of fitness.

For more information, visit TheMethodPilates.com and ‘Like’ my my FaceBook page Nashville Fitness for the latest updates on classes, workshops, and Tye4 talk.

So far, I’m getting great feedback from every one of my clients who have tried it out. It seems to be quite addicting! If you can’t tell, I’m really excited about Tye4 and I hope you take some time to look into it. Maybe it’s something you can incorporate into your exercise routine or use to bring your clients to a new level of health!

Stay fit,
Ashley Benson
Fitmark Ambassador 2013

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