Now that it's the end of 2021, I thought I'd post with my hits and misses...
HITS:
Yvette Fit.com (my 2nd year of subscribing) and still loving it! I really like how she makes each and every workout fun! I have to modify, sure, but I make it my own and get a great workout each time while having fun and keeping my joints happy. Best annual deal out there at $69/year! ETA: Yvette has a special for $59.99/year going on right now until 1/3/22! CODE: NY2022
6' Round Yoga Mat Cathe's brand - loving it! Which has enabled me to using it for
Cathe's Mobility workout. Done regularly, I have really noticed how it keeps my hips and joints flexible.
(Don't really take to her Yoga much - just the Mobility workout and love how she includes a Timesaver option also)!
Cathe's Sept. '21 rotation - This rotation urged me to follow someone else's rotation (it's been awhile!) and inserted my own workouts with the said format in the following two months. I also added the BOSU in place of the step, namely in Athletic Training, which took away the dread and added in the safety.
Cathe's Boss Loops Glutes & Core - Enjoyed this one more so than her Total Body Band workout. Mish Mosh #4 (Double Standing Lower Body strength with Low Impact Cardio) in particular is a favorite premix. I like that I can use my wide fabric bands I already owned and can make it a little more intense. Also, I found another hit in
Cathe's Live Boss Bands & Loops Metabolic #363 workout and purchased the download!
Gymnist 2# wrist weights - Found on Walmart.com, they are the slip-over-the-hand kind with no velcro, etc. Easy to use and provided that little bit of extra for lifting weights or during kickboxing/boxing workouts. I also have been known to use them around my knuckles in k/b...
55" Stability Ball - Cathe brand. Ever since that thread warning us about the burst stability ball, LOL, I purchased this and so glad I did. I originally had a 65" inch for years (was really made well but I knew it was old)...getting the 55" inch now works so well with my low ceilings for bringing the ball over my head, etc. and it fits my body better (those hamstring roll-ins are a lot easier now!). Mine is a pretty lime green color.
Daily meditation - this year I managed to do some form of meditation 365 (provided I do it tomorrow!) days...I'm still in shock I could hang tough - even started this practice Sept.'20! It has really made a difference for me emotionally as well as spiritually.
YOUTUBE HITS:
Michelle Briehler - love her demeanor and especially her barre fusion workouts.
Mady Morrison - Her channel is in German, but has the platform of music playing while following along with no cueing. I really love her stretches - namely, her
Back Pain Relief stretches, which I have done umpteen times this year! It helps to keep my lower back in my happy place.
Olivia Lawson - I think it was this year I discovered her? I love her all standing workouts mostly and I could do them barefoot if I wanted. She is my Leslie Sansone of YT!
Two Birds Yoga Lately, I've been enjoying Fiona's classes--they make me feel so good! It took a little while to get used to her deep voice (and usually voice-over classes), but now I'm in tune to it and find it very hypnotic and relaxing.
MISSES:
I haven't purchased very many DVD's this year so not too many misses, but I did subscribe to
Barre 3 during the Black Friday deals on a whim of adding more barre work in my week and wasn't too impressed with the site since the last time I subscribed (2016). I found the platform hard to navigate and not being able to pick my level of fitness thru the workouts was a complete turn-off. Also the site asked how my body was feeling after every workout I did which got annoying. I found them pretty easy and not very challenging...maybe I wasn't doing the right ones for me? Also not being able to even search for a specific workout was crazy! (Hopefully it just wasn't on my end!).
The deal was a discount for 3 months but I canceled after one month (and it really wasn't even THAT great of deal). Live and learn.
All in all, a good workout/fitness year for me!!
I feel like I managed to keep my endurance level up to standards with Yvette/Cathe but still keeping joints happy (Mobility/Yoga) despite a major arthritis flare-up practically the whole year. Striving for balance, I am.