Jumping for Joy

BY MELODY DECARLO

They say that admitting your addiction is the first step, so here goes. My name is Melody and I am addicted to exercise equipment. Okay, that wasn’t so bad. Over the years, I have collected all kinds of equipment. In addition to my surfboards (from short to long) and my stand up paddleboards, I have a bike, Indo Board, hula hoop, Coremaster, Bowflex, inversion table, bosu ball, rollerblades, and some stuff I have probably forgotten about.

The one piece of equipment that I would never want to be without is my rebounder. Several years ago, I got a brochure in the mail about rebounders. I went online and researched their benefits.

Rebounding works every cell in your body. It uses three forces-gravity, acceleration, and deceleration. These forces act against your body and your body gets stronger as a result. 

Rebounding is also very beneficial for your lymph system. This system carries nutrients to the cells and waste products away. Your lymph system has no pump so it is dependent on exercise to work properly.

Rebounding will improve the immune system since all cells become stronger in response to the increased “g force” exerted on the body during each jump. As a result, the immune cells become five times more active.

I also found that this form of exercise is low impact, improves balance, builds bone mass and strengthens joints. It can improve sleep, give you more energy, reduce stress, and increase metabolism.

I was convinced that rebounding would fit into my exercise program. I read that a poorly made rebounder could actually cause injury, so I made the decision to invest in a good quality model and hope that I would be happy with my purchase.

Within a week of receiving my new Cellerciser (the brand I chose), I was hooked. It was FUN!!! I got some dvd’s to go along with it and soon I was doing dance, boxing, yoga, and hip hop on my rebounder. On a visit to my 86 year old mom, I took it with me so I could use it while I was there. I had her try it and within a week, I had to order another one for her. My sister tried my mom’s and, shortly after, she got one, too.

  

We use our rebounders every day. It is the first thing I do every morning, even if it is for a few minutes. I bounce while I am on the phone. My mom bounces during commercials. It is so easy to just jump on it and do a quick workout or pop in a dvd and really work up a sweat.I am so happy that I made the decision to purchase a good quality rebounder. It seemed like a big investment at the time, but now, several years later, I know that it was worth it. I would highly recommend rebounding to everyone. It will improve your health, increase your energy, and make you feel like a kid again. Go jump!

Melody DeCarlo is an inspirational surf teamrider for Girls4Sport. Read more about Melody DeCarlo here (http://www.girls4sport.net/category-s/282.htm).

Achieving “Perfect Imperfection”

BY NAOMI PAULSON

My friend’s five-year-old son likes to sing the lyrics “I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it!” as he runs around the living room. I totally relate to that! Growing up, though, sports were not my thing…unless a neighborhood game of kick-the-can counts. That changed when I decided to hire a personal trainer a decade ago.

When a round of layoffs over seven years ago left me wondering what was next, I made the decision to pursue a career in the fitness industry to pass along all the benefits I’d gained from working with my trainer. The energy, confidence and vitality I felt was something I wanted others to experience, especially women who, like myself, didn’t grow up in sports.This took me on a journey I never would’ve expected.

I was good at what I did, and as someone who tends toward being very black and white, it was all or nothing for me. My experience on the yoga mat was such a great illustration of this. I was going to master the mat. It was about control and perfection. Trust me, this was reflected in my approach in the gym, the kitchen, etc… It has been my experience that the ’either/or’ approach of a black and white existence can be a harsh teacher.

When I look back at the past seven years, I am filled with a sense of gratitude. (Yes, even for those moments where the striving and control were taking over!) I’ve begun to let go of the need to be perfect… perfect imperfection my friend calls it. When I approach life with an attitude of curiousity, as though it’s a grand experiment, it seems to flow with a greater sense of ease. And that’s when I get to see the juicy things life has to offer as I’m not so spun out or tightly wound.

My approach has certainly changed. I love to get out and hike, my gym ID shows signs of wear and I am eating more green leafy produce than ever before. The difference is it comes more from a place of what feels right and a commitment to living healthy. The struggle to master (ie: control) is greatly diminished. Learning to listen to my body (rather than my head) has been key in this evolution.

There’s no one-size-fits-all program, but I do believe everyone can achieve their optimal level of health and live from a place of balance. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. It’s no longer from the gym floor, but I still am able to help people make changes in their lives. As a health and nutrition counselor, one thing that I believe is universal: To treat oneself gently yet honestly allows them to make greater progress with better sense of self. And that’s why I do what I do… to pay that forward.

Yoga SUP: Enhance Your Standup Paddle Session with a Little Yoga

Emma-Rose Rossoff. Photo credit: www.jockbradley.com.

BY EMMA-ROSE ROSSOFF

There are a few great things about living in the Columbia Gorge. It’s a small town full of fun and kind people, great local food, wine and beer, and an abundance of sports to go with!  If you’re living in the Gorge, chances are you enjoy at least one water sport.  Personally, I can’t get enough of SUP (Standup Paddle)!  I love to paddle around the river or a lake on a calm day, or do a down-winder if conditions permit.  If you’re anything like me, you might also enjoy doing a couple of outdoor activities a day, at least when the weather is nice.  For the past three years, I’ve combined my two favorite things – yoga and SUP.  

You may have heard that practicing yoga will enhance your other sports.  It has definitely improved my skiing, kiteboarding and even helps me jog with better posture and awareness.  But you might be surprised to know that SUPing will enhance your other sports, including yoga!

At first, trying SUP for the first time may be challenging.  For some of us, certain balancing muscles have been underused.  That same feeling might return when you try your first yoga posture on a SUP.  Over time, though, you will begin to explore your comfort level on the board.  Just knowing that if you fall–it will be into water and not the ground–might give you the courage you need  to try new and challenging poses and transitions. I love the added element of challenge to each yoga pose that being on a movable surface brings. Here are some poses at varying levels of challenge.  Hopefully, they will inspire you to combine your own favorite sports with yoga!

Thread the Needle www.jockbradley.com

Thread The Needle is a good pose to try if you’re just starting out.  It’s gentle, and you can easily get into it by starting on all fours, then sitting back towards Child’s Pose and finally threading one arm underneath the chest. This pose is meant to be restful, so make any adjustment to feel comfortable and relaxed.  

Upward Facing Dog www.jockbradley.com

Another, slightly more challenging pose (on a SUP) is Upward Facing Dog.  With both hands planted into the board, try to roll the shoulders up, and then back down the spine.  This not only feels really juicy, it also helps expand the chest and shoulders.  The full pose requires only hands and the tops of the feet to be in contact with the board, but if you’re feeling unstable, benefits won’t be lost if you cheat a little and bring your legs to rest.

Warrior II www.jockbradley.com

If you’ve had a little practice, and are ready for a standing pose, try Warrior II.  This pose is powerful and energizing, so challenge yourself by staying for a while.  Note that in this pose, the heel of the forward toe is best situated on the center line of the board, while the inner arch of the back foot is aligned there as well, toes pointing at a 90 degree angle with the center line.  

Headstand www.jockbradley.com

Feeling daring?  Get into a Headstand!  This is one of the most fun and energizing yoga poses, so if you’re practiced in them at a wall, or inside your home, try it outside.  The same alignment rules apply; remember to keep your shoulders broad, elbows shoulder-width distance apart, and pull your torso away from your head, so that you don’t put too much pressure on your neck.  

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll find YogaSUP to be as fun as I do!

Thank you, Jock Bradley, for providing great photographs.  Thanks, also to Tatiana Howard, for being an amazing assistant.

Girls4Sport sponsored athlete Emma-Rose Rossoff is a stand-up paddler, yoga instructor and ski instructor.  She runs her own outdoor yoga business, Anahata Yoga in the summer months.  She also teaches yoga and skiing during the winter months at Mt. Hood Meadows. She lives in Hood River, Oregon.