Video Fitness Forum  

Go Back   Video Fitness Forum > Video Fitness Reader Forum > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 02-28-21, 08:20 PM  
Sarah O.
VF Supporter
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
In praise of “mindless” four-limbed aerobics

I was doing Firm Cardio Split today and toward the end, there’s a section with Jen Carmen leading four-limbed aerobics and it’s just double step touches with upright rows and hamstring curls with biceps, over and over and over...and I loved it. I think the music helped, but I felt the same when I was doing Firm Strength the other day and there was an aerobic section with cha-chas and tricep work (Pam Cauthen is just so soothing) and when I did Volume 6 with its many reps. I don’t know if it’s the distressing times, my work, or my age, but I am just loving these moments of uncomplicated, four-limbed movements. I think of them as mindless, but that really isn’t the right word since the easy choreography allows me to concentrate on form. I don’t think I’d be up for seriously complicated choreography (which I used to love) these days. Anyone else know what I’m driving at?
Sarah O. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-28-21, 08:36 PM  
zraipel
VF Supporter
 
zraipel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Raleigh, NC
I am exactly where you are right now. I had a complicated year this past year, and I used to really enjoy complex choreography, but for the past few months I have been seeking out SIMPLE workouts.

I purchased Jenny Ford's Step Hero DVD and it's a great, mindless cardio because she's really just drilling the same step movements over and over. Anything that requires real choreography is not on my radar right now. The trick is finding that combination of simple yet still challenging enough to be worth the time invested.

Tracy Anderson is another one that lets me "zone out" but still work hard. Even her beginner dance cardio workouts are easy enough to follow

I mentioned in another thread that I had done Lauren Brooks' Shut Up and Train for a couple of weeks for yet again the same reason. The moves are basic, very uncomplicated, but I feel worked out. I want to get back to my Kettlebell Kickboxing workouts, but I don't know if my brain is ready yet, lol!
__________________
Stephanie
zraipel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 07:20 AM  
fanofladyvols
 
fanofladyvols's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Modify City, State of Fierce
I agree. Doing something that allows you to lock in and zone out everything else is definitely soothing right now.

The order and simplicity of doing three rounds of the same three exercises and then doing three rounds of another three or four exercises is all the rage in my house, lol.
__________________
Don't just work hard, work smart....Pat Head Summitt

Never give up on your body!-- Miranda Esmonde-White

Word/Guiding Principle for 2024: Embrace: embrace my faith, my family, my friends, myself, the process, the progress, the hard work, the strength program I choose, the recovery methods and rest I need, my life, the good times, and the memories of good people.
fanofladyvols is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 08:23 AM  
upperwside
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: On Canada 💗
I totally get ya. I Hamelin cardio tone for this exact reason. Totally mindless. I got burned out on him and was getting flabby.. But still love his cardio tone with light hand weights.
upperwside is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 11:59 AM  
kat999
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
I did the FIRM's Better Body and Buns yesterday and I totally feel this. It's got some cardio and four-limb, but it's mostly heavy lower body and tall box climb, and it's very repetitive and soothing and only 45 minutes long. It was perfect.

I don't mind learning new choreo and sometimes I do get bored by workouts without much of it, but in this stressful age, I find myself more often than not reaching for workouts that allow me to just zone out, focus on form, or enjoy the music (or if I'm jogging, I'll focus on the scenery and may listen to a podcast or something). I like to get into a real sense of "flow" with my workouts where I go into a meditative state and the time winds up zipping by.
__________________
peace.tranquility.calmness.serenity
kat999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 01:09 PM  
bee
VF Supporter
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Hmmmm, maybe you are on to something..... in the last six months, maybe?, I have really enjoyed the repetitive nature of Ilaria's bodystrike and powerstrike workouts. Years ago I wasn't that fond of them, but these days I find myself crazing them once a week.
__________________
I am @summitbee on instagram.
bee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 01:33 PM  
winnie_p
VF Supporter
 
winnie_p's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
If you are moving opposite limbs, there's an element of bilateral stimulation happening, too. That might help the body to process some of the stress of this year or life in general.

Mindless four-limbed aerobics is sounding pretty nice about now.
winnie_p is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 03:54 PM  
kat999
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ohio
This thread inspired me to do more FIRM today, one of Allie's 60-minute workouts from the TransFIRMer era (the name escapes me, but it's a mix of low-impact cardio, tall box climbs, all the standard stuff, but I would call it more strength than cardio overall). SO much four-limb, lots of moments where I zoned out, and even though this is a more difficult workout overall due to the time commitment (and it's a calorie torcher), I did feel like I really went into that meditative mode due to the uncomplicated, familiar style of the moves. It put me in a great mood.

I think we may be on to something here!
__________________
peace.tranquility.calmness.serenity
kat999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-21, 09:09 PM  
Karla25
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Florida
Yes, I know how you feel. I’ve recently started doing the Firm workouts because I am terrible about doing cardio.

I love Margaret Richard, barre and other non-cardio workouts, but they’re making me fat. Lol. My di#t has nothing to do with my weight gain. As Susan Harris once said “Isn’t this better than dieting?”

It’s easy to zone out (I usually fantasize about wearing loose fitting clothes again) and also feel pretty good about getting cardio/weights in at the same time.
__________________
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau
Karla25 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-21, 01:06 AM  
rhbrand
 
rhbrand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
This thread just inspired me to do Firm Vo 4 today. I forgot how nice it is to just do a few simple moves, easy to master, gets your heart rate up, and I don't have to stand there for 20 seconds thinking "what are they doing"

Might just do a few more of my Firms for the simplicity of the moves.
__________________
Check out my Blog Link in Profile on Home Page
rhbrand is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
4 limb workouts, mindless workouts

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:36 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
© 2009 Video Fitness