The Happy Fitcamper Videos

Announcement! 📣 And correction: Dancing with the Stars of the Magic City. I’lol get it right eventually. 😆 Stay tuned! And p.s. Have you said “yes” to anything lately that scared you just a little?

Heads up: This video contains an important message about bodies and attitudes. It also contains some inappropriate language. Love y’all. Have a great week. ❤️ #dontbeadick #beneficialself #motivationmonday #bodytalk #coachbetter #fitgoals #eatingmovingother #happyfitcamper

When you are constantly trying to find the perfect exercise to meet a client’s unique need, things can get weird. I am constantly carrying other people’s bodies around in my mind. When inspiration strikes, it is likely I’ll grab whatever I can, wherever I am, and work out my idea. No matter what I’m wearing, and no matter who is watching. 👀 Please enjoy this video narration by my husband, who has to see this kind of stuff all the time. We didn’t know the name of the audio he’s trying to mimic, but I think his own personal touch makes it even better. Any guesses as to what I’m working on? #fit #correctiveexercise #traction #shouldergirdle #spine #kyphosis #scoliosis

On this day in history, I got a taste of what it’s like to be a backup dancer for @alfredyankovic . I was 39, and frankly, I needed something to remind me that life doesn’t have to get boring as we age. Saying “Yes” to this last minute offer was scary, but worth it, because it renewed a part of my personality I felt waning. I will never forget that feeling of “what have I gotten myself into” when walking out onto the stage, and the childlike giddiness that rushed over me after the song was complete. I’m glad to have this reminder that a scary “yes” can do a lot for us when we get stuck in a pattern of belief that isn’t helpful. What’s the wildest thing you’ve said “yes” to lately? Is there an opportunity awaiting you now that needs you to be a little brave and step outside of your typical comfort zone? Even if it feels weird, consider the benefits, and if the outcome is a more adventurous or renewed you, go for it. Weird can be good. Just ask Al. Notes: -That’s me on the right. -Weird Al is not only a lyrical wizard, he’s in pretty great shape.

Are you afraid of losing your balance or falling when you are walking? This video is for you. If there’s one thing I’ve been paying attention to for a long long long time, it’s walking. Over the five years, I’ve focused intensely on helping people walk and move better in the face of pain, injury and fear. Now, programming for adults with Parkinson’s, I’ve really come to understand just how much walking means freedom. You don’t have to take every step in fear. BUT it takes practice and know how to move past things like balance. If you have fear of falling, please take this tip to heart. Practice daily. If you are a fall-risk, be responsible and pull in the people on your team. Make them do it, too. Most everyone can benefit from posture practice these days. #gait #posture #balance #fearoffallling #fallrisk #fallprevention #parkinsonsdisease

🦶 ❤️ Foot Appreciation Practice 1 Who: YOU What: Move your feet with intention for 1-5 minutes When: daily, any time of day Where: almost anywhere (probably not: while driving a car, climbing an active volcano, in church) Why: because you want them to stay healthy. Not moving them, stretching and strengthening them, or paying attention to them will almost certainly result in weakness, reduced ability/mobility, reduced sensory and reactive abilities, and increased risk of injury (which sucks. Injured feet are NO fun).

DAY 31- Beneficial Self - How to find yourself quickly If you want to work on Beneficial self, you need to understand what yourself is and how to focus in on you. Here is a quick video with one of my favorite practices for focusing inward and calming the nervous system. Hope you enjoy!

Day 29 - Beneficial Self - Self vs. Selfish. Attempt number 4,572. 🤪 Whew! Y’all. I tried to set myself up for success with a new posting feature, and it backfired. SO - here is the full video for Monday and the theme for week 5. I’ll leave up the other post, so you can swipe to see the definitions and read that caption as well if you care to. Thanks for pardoning my progress (and yours, too). That’s the beneficial way. 🙃 #tryagain #beneficialself #techtroubles #smchallenge

WEEK 4! DAY 22 - Beneficial Self - SELF TALK Hi there. Please take 5 to listen to or watch this video. It’s your (and my) week 4 assignment. Recap: Your assignment this week = 1) Figure out a detrimental statement/belief you are carrying around about yourself and write it down. 2) Find a supportive/uplifting statement you already carry around with you, or borrow one, like mine, which is inspired by a client*. 3) LOOK at the phrases every day. Start with the unhelpful phrase, then read the supportive phrase. Try to acknowledge the harmful, and carry the good. BS win = I got an office space! Woohoo! New to the challenge? Jump in. For real. Don’t worry about what you missed. If you do better with background info, check out the posts from Feb 20th-22nd to get a solid footing. Have a beneficial week! Let me know how it’s going for you. * Psalm 139 verse 14: “I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.” (WEB edition) Writing “you” instead of “I” may make this easier to digest, if positive self talk is a new thing for you. #45daybeneficialselfchallenge #selftalk #schema #selflove #fearfullyandwonderfullymade #mindsetmatters #beneficialself #happyfitcamper

Recap of live and preview of the 45 Day Beneficial Self Challenge with @ahthornlpc

#12daysofchristmasworkout You did it! Day 12: hip extensions. Lots of different names for these, same concept. Find your hip creases. Fold them (like you do when you’re seated. By the way, This isn’t a hip extension yet, so keep reading). This is your starting point. NOW, flatten those creases. All the way. Like you’re smoothing out a wrinkle in a sheet of notebook paper. THAT’S hip extension. You can do it in all kinds of ways, at most ability levels, and in a variety of places. It can be a dance move, a ketel bell swing, or any of these images shown. It just needs to happen, for optimal hip mobility. 🙌 Now do the thing. And come back later. There’s always more. Happy January, y’all. P.s. if you’ve got bum knees and need a work around for this, let me know. There’s a way. 😉

#12daysofchristmasworkout Day 11! 11 x Back extension of your choice. Watch the video to see various types of back extensions to try. Whatever you exercise you chose for day 10, my guess is that it targeted your rectus abdominus aka “6 pack.” I have nothing against training for a defined, FUNCTIONAL 6 pack. But when fitness professionals and advertisements fail to emphasize that there are more options for a stronger core, it bugs me. Your core is way more than your 6 pack (or one pack, or three pack, or whatever you call yours). It is way more than a fashion statement or a way to lure your lover (please imagine that last part sounding like “luvAHHH”). The core actually wraps all the way around your trunk and includes your back muscles. Your core can unleash your inner BEAST, but you need to work it correctly. One way to start is by recognizing and including your back in your workout. If you’re just joining in, awesome! Go back to Day 1’s post for the explanation, and check previous posts for beginner and cumulative examples of how to customize your own workout. #12daysofchristmas #healthyback #backextension #leglifts #locustpose #salabhasana #bowpose #dhanurasana #diyworkout

#12DaysofChristmasWorkout Day 8! 8 x “Airplane” This move has many names, depending on where you happen to be, but essentially, it is a single leg balance stance with a hip hinge (a fold at your hip creases). Not only is this helpful in training your body for one of the most essential lifts (the deadlift), it is incredibly helpful to improving balance, core stabilization, and proprioreception. Variations: -two bent knees, almost parallel -bent supporting leg, body and flying leg parallel to floor -both legs straight, body at parallel or beyond (working toward backbending) -multiple arm positions Balance hacks: stand near a wall, steady your feet before you move, breathe, arms and legs closer to body center to start and expand as you gain control Beginner: Do 8 alternating repetitions Cumulative: Start with Day 8 and then 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Cumulative old school (like the song): ⭐️ 1 squat (with weight) ⭐️⭐️2 woodchops/standing knee tucks (with weight. One on the right. One on the left) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 slo-mo jumping jacks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 reverse lunges ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 basic burpees ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 side lunges (alternating) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 7 push-ups your preferred way ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8 “airplanes” …(first cumulative option ends)… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8 “airplanes” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 7 push-ups your preferred way ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 side lunges (alternating) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 basic burpees ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 reverse lunges ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 slo-mo jumping jacks ⭐️⭐️ 2 woodchops/standing knee tucks (with weight) ⭐️ one squat (with weight) Just joining? Perfect. Jump right in! Go back to Day One if you want more explanation about this challenge. #balance #12daysofchristmas #diyworkout

Happy New Year! It’s Day 7 of the #12daysofchristmasworkout challenge. Day 7: push-ups 7 x Your way. Even if you can normally do push-ups on the floor (or with feet elevated), remember to check in with your body, including your gut. If you’re eating and drinking a lot right now, wall variations may be the right choice for you today. 😉 Happy New Year, y’all! #diyworkout #12daysofchristmas #hny #2022 #pushupvariation

#12daysofChristmasworkout Day 3: Jumping Jacks Only three reps. I love today’s move because, if you are scared of jacks, there are ONLY THREE. And if jacks are such a breeze for you that peeing in your pants never crosses your mind and zero about today’s portion feels like a challenge to you, especially ONLY THREE, then I’ve got an extra cue you: Go SLOW AS CHRISTMAS 🎄👀 I mean it. Start with full awareness of your body and attempt to execute these as slowly and with as much control as you can. No, you can’t really control your speed mid air (gravity will take it from here, thanks). What you CAN control is your form, your take off, and your landing. Remember, you can progress any of these movements by integrating weight, although my suggestion today is just practice with the body. And please, whatever you do, don’t forget to do Day 1 and Day 2 if you’re opting for one of the cumulative versions (like the song). Here’s my personal order for today: ⭐️ 1 squat (with weight) ⭐️⭐️2 woodchops/standing knee tucks (with weight. One on the right. One on the left) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 slo-mo jumping jacks …(first cumulative option ends)… ⭐️⭐️ 2 woodchops/standing knee tucks (with weight) ⭐️ one squat (with weight) Just catching up? Go back and check out yesterday’s post to see both Day 1 and Day 2 moves. Check the day before if you want more explanation about this challenge. Now go get it! #12daysofchristmas #diyworkout #getfit #newyear #onramp

Day 2 of #12daysofchristmasworkout challenge Options for different activity baselines: 1) Perform a movement twice (ideally, you will perform the same move as yesterday). 2) Perform a new movement twice, then perform the Day 1 exercise for one rep. 3) Perform the Day 1 movement for one rep. Then perform a new movement twice. THEN perform the Day 1 exercise for one rep (again). This is the version I’m building. 4) Choose your own adventure. I’d love to hear about what you design! These are suggestions for if you get stuck or prefer to be led through movement. #dyiworkout #12daysofchristmas #newyearsresolution

#HolidaySprint Focus of the day: EAT Focus of the week: CHALLENGE Don’t wake up sad in January because you lost sight of something important to you. This week, check the following categories and determine any specific short term goals you want to achieve, or more importantly, goals you’ve already been making progress toward: HYDRATE 🍎 EAT 🥘 MOVE RELATE BREATHE REST Each one of these categories is important to self care, but the steps required to achieve harmony in these categories will look different to all of us. If it helps, pick out a power focus from the list. Make that the holy grail of your self-care focus. Then, assign small achievable goals for the easier stuff. Moving and eating aren’t my most challenging categories. Rest? Now THAT is hard for me, despite my relaxed (read: slap worn out) repose in this video. This week, I know that consistency and boundaries around bedtime are what I need most. The cool thing is, I hacked the focus of the day, EAT, to help me make that possible. By setting up easy grab produce and planning simple dinners including one pot meals, DIY night, birthday takeout for my hubs, and—lucky me—dinner hosted by my friend, I can reallocate energy spent in the kitchen, to energy spent on getting myself a better night of slumber. Sustain the good. Make intentional choices every day to move you closer to milestones. Maybe it’s just an inch today and an inch tomorrow, but that’s two inches in the RIGHT direction. As for me, I’m headed to dinner with old and solid-gold friends 😘 If you need more help getting a clear plan on how to course-correct in one of these areas, please DM me. I’m here to help. Unless it’s fashion and videography. Let’s find you another helper for that one.

Say NO to sucking it in, and remember how cool your body is. Also, if you feel triggered by seeing my body, ignore your phone screen and listen to the audio. Hope you are faring well and find meaningful connection this week. I’ll be skipping tomorrow’s post, but see you back on Friday. #NOvember #dontsuckitin #yourbody #appreciate #sixpack #thankful

Day 13 of NOvember. In an effort to say “NO” to reinventing the wheel today, I’m recycling content from last NOvember that has sparked me to think and work in new ways. Last year, I had the privilege of talking to @houselifestyles about my month of NO. We went down the rabbit on other topics like my background, yoga and more, but it all counts. I’m ever so happy to be connected with Lindsey and her amazing circle, and to have an inside view of the work she does. If you ever need some help saying NO to eating or lifestyle behaviors that don’t serve you, be sure to put her on your list of allies. And please go check out her podcast, “Direction not Perfection,” available (I think) wherever podcasts are …um…podcasted. 😆 You listen to us talk about NOvember in episode #99 #november #sayno #boundarypractice #sayyestono #pocast #wellness #houselifestyles