Back to the basics??

[desderata]

I haven't gone back to the basics (like many here, that would be the Firm Classics), but I've gone back to Cathe, which is who I graduated to after the Firm. I've tried most types of workouts but realized I get the best results most efficiently when I do total body traditional weight lifting alternated with cardio. I don't have a lot of Cathe's newer stuff and that's ok - the Intensity, Body Blast and Sash series still work great for me and I enjoy them. Heck, I still do MIS, Body Max, Circuit Max and visit some of her older step workouts from time to time.

[Lannette]

I'm another for whom going "home" (back to the beginning) would mean the Firm. I have "gone back for a visit" - single workout - now and then but I'm happier living in my new digs.

Interestingly enough my studies (Egoscue training and Katy Bowman RES training) have taken me back even further to my childhood - when my workout was play. I'm not kidding when I tell you I want a jungle gym for my 60th birthday! I'm amazed at how effective a full array of stretches, natural movement and lots of walking can be. I still throw in my favorite DVDs, though not daily and never for an hour. If I'm going to do an hour I prefer two, three, or even four very different types of movement activities for shorter amounts of time and I don't favor that one hour block any longer. Instead of one block of exercise block of nirvana I get hundreds of little slices of movement joy. it's quite freeing and fun at the same time.

[Sophie]

Originally Posted by Lannette

Interestingly enough my studies (Egoscue training and Katy Bowman RES training) have taken me back even further to my childhood - when my workout was play.

Lannette, how cool you're doing this training! Egoscue has a great approach to pain relief and I love Katy Bowman.

But you're right, I was trying to think of what would be basics for me, and mine would be something similar: playing outside, riding my bike, and walking up and down hills

Alas, as others said, I have a different body to work with. I had a super fun time last spring/summer when I emphasized playing games/sports. But my knees just can't take it and I can't develop any consistency.

So the true basics are to just make sure I get something for every category of strength/cardio/flexibility/ROM. It doesn't really matter what form, as long as those bases are covered.

[JackieB]

I'm another who started with Firm and "step aerobics" and could never go back. I remember those years fondly, though. My body is different now as are my fitness goals.

It is so weird to think I was doing Firm workouts more than 20 years ago (more like 25...).

My "basics" now are Classical Stretch, walking, and other add ons.

[CarlaShanti]

My 'back to basics' would be Firm BSS 1. As it happens, I actually am going back to basics, having had a long hiatus from working out due to reasons. So I inaugurated my return with the Fanny Lifter and Nancy's Super Cardio Sculpt. ('You can do thee-iss. I know it's hard but yoo cay-un!') Great place to start back.

[Sara1000]

Although I stated earlier back to the basics for me would be back to the FIRM, but as far as the type of exercise I do, the traditional strength moves I do with segments from Cathe's workouts are about the same as the strength moves in the early FIRMs. So I guess I am back to the basics, I just structure my workouts differently.

[Gardengirl]

Back to basics may have a different meaning for me. It means walking, weight training without cardio; basically simpler, less complex exercises.

If it means where I started when I began exercising, that would be The Firm, step on a 14" step, and killer cardio. That was the "if it hasn't nearly killed you, you've not really worked out" era. Definitely not going back to any of those.

[sm4987]

Back to basics for me would be the firm workouts. I started with BSS 1 with some Taebo mixed in.

[Breezy Trousers]

Originally Posted by Gardengirl

Back to basics may have a different meaning for me. It means walking, weight training without cardio; basically simpler, less complex exercises.

Same here. When I joined VF in 1998, my "basics" were running and non-complex weight training with some Firms thrown in .... Injuries forced me to stop running in 2001. So now, in 2015, my "basics" are walking -- and non-complex weight training with some Firms-Tracie Longs thrown in!

[FirmDancer]

I agree with what everyone's posted so far. Back to basics really resonates with me right now. For the past few years, I definitely have succumbed to the latest trends (maybe this one will work better !!) and high-intensity workouts. But physically and mentally, what works for me is long-ish walks, simple & straightforward progressive strength training, with some FIRM/TLT/WHFN tossed in for variety, and maybe a circuit each week of kettlebells.

Originally Posted by Lannette

I'm amazed at how effective a full array of stretches, natural movement and lots of walking can be. I still throw in my favorite DVDs, though not daily and never for an hour. If I'm going to do an hour I prefer two, three, or even four very different types of movement activities for shorter amounts of time and I don't favor that one hour block any longer. Instead of one block of exercise block of nirvana I get hundreds of little slices of movement joy. it's quite freeing and fun at the same time.

Totally agree; and I love Katy Bowman !!