At MISSION, we love to hear stories about how our products make a difference in people’s workout, training and life!  This week, Ashley Baratian, was nice enough to share her story and how she discovered her MISSION to become a certified Zumba instructor....

My Mission, by Ashley Baratian

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could find an exercise ritual that you actually looked forward to completing every day? Sounds too good to be true, no?

Well, MISSION accomplished-  I found a solution. If you enjoy music, enjoy having fun and being in a room filled with high energy and a vivacious atmosphere, this will work for you too.

After playing my role as a highly athletic high school student, I gained the miserable “Freshman 15” when I got into college. The 15 pounds then turned into 20 pounds which made me realize that I need to start getting back into shape- I needed to start endorsing a healthier lifestyle for myself,

I signed up for the gym and just wasn’t motivated enough to make a routine out of it. To me, going to the gym and spending 45 minutes on the Stairmaster sounded more like a dreadful chore, rather than a compelling stimulant to help me lose the weight I gained.

I somehow managed to walk into a ZUMBA fitness dance class that the gym was holding shortly thereafter. After walking in late to the class, I found that I was not able to properly follow the instructor; I had two left feet and was nearly five steps behind everyone. The instructor would go to the right and I would go to the left, she would go forward and I would go back. But for some reason, it didn’t matter to me. I still managed to sweat buckets and because of everyone’s support, I had so much fun that I didn’t really care about how badly I messed up the dance moves.  Before I knew it, the hour was over and I couldn’t wait to go back to class.

One thing led to another and I realized that although lifting weights, going on the elliptical machine and running miles upon miles on the treadmill is an appropriate fit for some, ZUMBA was the right fit for me.

After the first two weeks, my waist dropped two sizes and I started to lose the weight that I gained and I couldn’t be more ecstatic about the results. I became a ZUMBA addict- going to class religiously and slowly making my way from the back of the class to the front.

Soon enough, my instructor recognized that I had the potential to become a ZUMBA instructor myself. She took me under her wing and she trained me for months until she thought that I was ready to go get certified and become an instructor myself.  I rationalized the logistics of becoming an instructor and realized that it only makes sense to get paid doing what I love.

Now, as a certified ZUMBA instructor, my goal is to have my students enjoy working out without having to feel the pain of strenuous and monotonous physical activity that takes place in the gym. I want to be able to help those students that want to lose weight but have trouble doing so because they are not really motivated to work out in the gym. With a brightened studio, vibrant energy and smiles all around, the ZUMBA workout can potentially become an addictive and healthy hobby rather than an obligatory chore.

As an instructor, I create exercises that aim to work out the main “problem areas” people tend to find. Namely; abs, waist, biceps, triceps and thighs. Additionally, make sure all my students keep their heart rate up by making the entire class a combination of cardio exercise and muscle toning.

In class, students tend to get pretty hot relatively quickly and release endorphins faster than they normally would because of the intensity of the class. Therefore, they start sweating profusely very quickly even though they don’t feel it.

So, when I came across Mission’s Enduracool towel, it immediately became a must-have for class! An amazing product that was going to help my class be fun, not painful, and help people feel cooler and not overheat.  It is so easy to use… I just soak it in the water fountain before class and snap it a few times before class starts.  Within a minute this towel is unbelievably cool, but not soaking wet, so you don’t have to worry about getting your shirt dripping wet. I use it for a quick burst of cool in between songs on my face and arms, and to cool down after class around my neck. Fun colors like neon green and bright pink fit my outfits perfectly!

ZUMBA helped me realize how good it feels to leave the comfort of my home to enter the comfort of a studio and enjoy other people's company while getting my daily exercise. The fun atmosphere along with the vibrant attire makes my experience as an instructor much more enjoyable.

I never expected to burn up to 1,000 calories in one hour of a dance class.  So, if you are looking for the right exercise fit, try it out!  Make it your MISSION to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and try alternative forms for exercise. Dance off the pizza you ate today, get to Zumba and it will brighten your day!

Just look online to find  classes near you and go see for yourself what all the hype is about. Remember to stay hydrated and listen to your body throughout class!

 

Everyone has a goal this year; whether saving money, spending more quality time with family/friends, quit smoking/drinking, or getting out of debt.  When some of those New Year’s resolutions start to fade, we want to help you keep you focused on what’s important. Getting into shape is, and should always be a priority. 

If you are looking to stay focused on your resolution to lead a healthier lifestyle here are just a few fitness tips to help you keep while managing your busy schedule:  

1. GET MOVING

Engage in fitness activities that will simply keep you moving. Getting in good shape doesn’t mean you have to commit to an intense workout routine. Movement can take place indoors, outdoors and at different paces. Sometimes we underestimate the importance of walking to help get you in shape or even in lowering potential diseases like diabetes and hypertension. People who share the good habit of walking for at least 10 to 15 minutes per day, despite their busy routines, see how beneficial it can be. Check out this article on the secret to losing weight:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/01/the-secret-to-losing-weight-according-to-my-new-high-tech-fitness-monitor-is-wait-for-it-walking/267395/.

2. SIGN UP FOR A RESOLUTION RUN 

This gives you the momentum to reach your goals. Resolution runs give you something specific to plan for and to remain committed to.

If you stay focused on achieving smaller goals first, those will eventually lead to larger resolutions throughout the year. Your commitment will also have an effect on building a larger social circle and setting a good example for your family.  Take a look at why people are signing up for resolution runs: http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Top-5-Reasons-to-Sign-Up-for-a-Resolution-Race.htm . You can find a race that meets your goals throughout the country by using the following link: http://running.competitor.com/race-calendar. 

3. ENLIST SOME HELP

A third important tip to tackle your fitness resolutions is to find a workout that accommodates your budget.

After spending so much money on holiday gifts and trips, the last thing people want is to add another expense to the year’s budget.  Luckily, there are options to save cash while taking advantage of free offers, gym discounts, and nutrition tips.   If you are willing to spend a bit more on a personal trainer, you will have the privacy and comfort in your home by controlling the temperature, the music, cleanliness, equipment and having no audience around. But you can save money by motivating a friend or colleague to split the costs. There is also a cheaper and fun way to workout from home with DVDs that include fitness videos like Zumba for a variety of levels and interests. Zumba fitness is centered around dance and aerobics, heavily inspired by Latin music. The following links contain valuable information on how you can make the most out of your Zumba workouts :   

Tips for Beginners: http://www.livestrong.com/article/259924-zumba-for-beginners/

100 Zumba Workouts Online for Free: http://www.squidoo.com/100-zumba-workouts

Follow the instructor’s steps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rvJQUD5XwY

4. FIND INSPIRATION FROM EXPERTS

Mission sat down with company partner and Olympic Triathlete Sarah Haskins during a training session last year, and talked to her about setting goals and living a healthy lifestyle. She recommends you to get out there, follow your passion, eat healthy, and protect your body. What motivates her is to focus on what needs to be done to achieve a specific goal. Check out at what she had to say below:

Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QhrBVgSUzY

Accomplishing goals : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEybsKNAjc0

Motivation to Achieve Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYbkdsWDWYY

5. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT:

You don’t need to “over-gear” with expensive items to make working out a little more enjoyable and less painful experience. Nevertheless, you need to be aware that one of the most important pieces of equipment to any kind of exercise is choosing the right shoe. If you decide that running is your thing, you are better off with a shoe that provides a firm heel, good support, and lightweight. Also make sure you are using a shirt made of wicking fabric, wicking socks, comfortable tights, and for women, a comfortable sports bra. Check this article for more tips on essential equipment for new runners: http://www.active.com/running/Articles/3-Gear-Essentials-for-Newbie-Runners. Products like anti-chafe are must-haves, especially in humid weather, and now you have the option to prevent chafing using silicone-based creams or sticks that stay in place longer than waxed-based anti-chafing products.

Mission Athletecare has developed an Anti-Chafe formula that outlasts the competition:  http://www.missionathletecare.com/collections/anti-chafe. 

Additionally, having a muscle rehab product in hand will help you get back out there quicker:  http://www.missionathletecare.com/products/max-muscle-rehab.           

So, get your Mission on, and keep those resolutions going all year round!

 

                                         

As the editor of Mission's blog, I have the job of figuring out what comes next. Given that the Olympics are around the corner, we at Mission will be checking in with some of our athletes to talk training - a topic that many of you are interested in. Via Facebook and Twitter, you've shared news of your latest race, upcoming season, and personal fitness goals. In fact, more often than not, one of your comments leads me to a workout of my own later on in the day... But back to the Mission athletes. I figure their secrets will benefit us all. Before we jump in with their favorite workouts and tricks of the trade, I wanted to write a post about the preparation needed before one even begins training. Baby steps, if you will.

Before considering which race to sign up for this spring, I spent some time searching the web for sources that deal with the importance of training and came across a wide variety of opinions. The articles that I have included here offered some of the best advice, in part because they spoke to the fundamentals of training as an everyday endeavor for the everyday athlete.

In an article for xtri.com, Brad Stulberg breaks World Champion triathlete, Jordan Rapp's quote, "train as much as possible" into two parts. He writes:

"1) Train as much: More volume and more intensity is good, so long as...
2) As Possible: The body and mind are in a position to successfully adapt to the applied load."

His article, available here, made me reconsider the feet to the fire approach I initially thought was necessary to start training. The idea isn't to ambush your body. It is to first, be thoughtful, and second, act accordingly. As Stulberg writes, we, the training athletes, need to consider the rest of our lives - the amount of time we spend at work, the amount of time we sleep, the amount of time we would have to recover after working out - before we can commit to a training regimen. I completely agree.

Tip 1: Be realistic.

I found more valuable insight at the New York Times and Tara Parker-Pope's blog on health and wellness (one of my go-tos for insight re: fitness, health, food and the intersection of the three) where Nicole Kolata was writing about the limits of personal workouts.

Kolata sat down with University of Indiana's sports psychologist, John Raglin, to talk about a recent trend and the focus of his studies, overtraining. Raglin's advice to the everyday athlete is to take notice of your body. "You should feel tired... but if you do too much with too little rest, your performance gets worse, not better. Serious athletes recognize these issues — whether they respond to them or not is another matter. A lot of recreational athletes really have no idea.”

If you're not sure how to keep your workouts in perspective, Kolata suggests writing in a diary or taking notes on how you feel after training. The act of recording will help you stay atune to what your body may be telling you.

Rule 2: Take time to recover.
Rule 2.5: Take notes.

A little late to the race, I stumbled across ESPN anchor, Sage Steele's blog about preparing for her first half-marathon. (You can follow her on Twitter by searching #RUNSAGE.) In the latest entry, two trainers - both marathon runners and moms - Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea, give her some "sage advice," beginning with:

1. Don't think, just go. (For their other tips, read the rest of the article here.)

Perhaps more than anything, you and I, just have to start. Lace up the old Nikes and get out there. Reading these articles was step one. Onto step two and the actual running!

Stay tuned in the coming months as I'll be writing about our athletes as many of them gear up for the Olympics. I'll let you in on their training secrets and the Mission products they're using to keep them in prime condition. I welcome any of your suggestions as to what comes next. To stay in touch, visit our Connect page here.

Now, back to training!