The one facet of our lives in which we look to achieve success in is of course...balance. We all look to have a balance of fun time and work time. A balanced, healthy diet to maintain a balanced body. We balance our checkbooks and bank accounts. We work off of a balanced budget. And we silently drift between the Yin and the Yang in our lives in order to maintain a homeostasis congruent to a life worth living in peace. Balance is everywhere. And it should be, because it is important. Without it, we tend to feel misplaced, misguided, and often times searching for answers outside of ourselves. Balance, one might argue, is the key to life.
But how do we attain it?
The simple answer is...awareness. By raising our awareness of our choices and what causes us to feel imbalanced, we can then adequately look to change what has thrown us off-kilter. And this elevated awareness can be brought to every facet of our lives in order to improve them.
For you may have noticed even in the simplest tasks, such as working out, that maybe you're not getting the results in which you have been looking for. And that's ok!! The important part is that you have become aware. Now you are ready for a change. Now you are ready to introduce more balance into your routine.
And that is where Flow Motion comes in. We have talked before about how our workouts introduce balance into your fitness. But we have not discussed why this is so important.
The most obvious being- it strengthens the core. Balance exercises, such as being on a Flow Motion mat in the water, fires your core muscles (transverse abdominals, multifidus, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and many other deeper muscles) and strengthens them with less time and effort. This is possible because your core acts more as a stabilizer and force transfer center rather than a prime mover. By introducing balance training you are automatically implementing core strength into your workout regimen as it is constantly used in every movement on the mat's surface. Imagine that- even if you did nothing on a Flow Motion mat except balance exercises, you would still be strengthening your entire core!
And by working your entire core, you are automatically improving any overcompensation issues you may have as well. Exercising on land, while great, tends to allow for participants to rely heavily on their favored sides. Especially if they have had a prior injury which has led to atrophy in a particular muscle. When doing exercises on land, it is easy to ''cheat'' per say, and rely on your stronger side to compensate for your weaker one. Doing this long term often leads to further injury, pain and distress because it puts too much of a burden on one particular muscle group or even bone. Often times, after overuse, symptoms such as arthritis and other problems involving tissues- the most popular being meniscus tears- become more prevalent. This is immediately taken out by Flow Motion. You cannot cheat, compensate, or get away with anything when you are constantly balancing! Which in turn gives participants an awareness of any overcompensation issues they may have overlooked, and the opportunity to correct them. It's simple- balance exercises create a more balanced body.
And along with a more balanced body comes a more balanced brain. The exercises performed on a Flow Motion mat also forces your brain to fire neurons which may have laid dormant for extended periods of time as new muscles are being used and strengthened. It is fairly easy to get into a pattern which repeats throughout our days- inlcuding our exercise routines. After a while your brain becomes used to working in a familiar way causing it to only use certain neurological passageways when conducting movements. This is the brilliant efficiancy of the body in action. However, if we surprise the brain and create an exercise atmosphere unfamiliar to its past records, the brain is made to work in a completetly different way. This makes your movements more refined, your body is able to adapt quicker to unfamiliar situations, and it keeps your brain young by increasing it's neuro-passageways and allowing such phenomenon as increased memory and higher levels of dopamine (the anti-anxiety/happy hormone) to flow.
We have experienced this with our classes. After completing a bootcamp workout, most participants have a feeling of elevated awareness, cognitive function, and an increased feeling overall wellbeing. This is because their brains have traveresed unfamiliar territory, survived, and even thrived- creating a stronger sense of confidence in the individual. It seems Flow Motion is not only great for your fitness, but for your overall feeling of well-being as well!!
And once you put balance exercises into your daily routine- what do you think will happen? Balance will begin to seep into every aspect of your life. Because once you have changed one thing, it is only natural that everything else in your life will change as well. Like pins in a bowling alley- knock the first few over and the rest will eventually follow. Its quite simple really- yet undeniably amazing. Let Flow Motion guide you into a more balance-centered exercise routine and see the results for yourself. Experience balance on the mat- and then bring it to the rest of your life.
Kid's Bootcamp and Classes
Here at Flow Motion we get asked a lot of questions, which is fair. We are a brand new way to exercise on the water, one that most people are understandably unfamiliar with, so questions are always welcomed. However, there is one question that we seem to be asked more than most-
Is there an age limit when it comes to getting on the mats?
The short answer is...no!!
The long answer though, requires more...well, length, in order to explain. Basically if the participant is confident in their swimming skills in case they fall off, can adequately balance when doing the exercises, and is strong enough to lift themselves onto the mat from the water- then we'll be waiting at a nearby pool to get you into the best shape of your life!
And this, of course, includes children.
The benefits of Flow Motion do not stop with the adult population. To the contrary- they extend to all ages and skill levels (again- as long as you can swim!) It came to our attention early on that even though some parents were not exactly thrilled to get their butt's kicked by a Flow Motion workout, their kids often were! So we decided to open our classes to the younger population- with great success!!
We all know kid's have high amounts of energy- which is awesome! But not so awesome for tired parents trying to corral their children throughout the day. But bear not! Flow Motion has the remedy. A 45min class- involving balance, cardio, swimming, jumping, even jumping rope, will not only exercise your children to get them into better shape, feeling healthier, and happier, but also work their cognitive function through tactical balance practice, and tire them out from all the fun they'll be having on the water! It really is, a win-win!
We've seen it in every class we have taught- the laughter, the smiling, the competitiveness, and the thrill to keep on enjoying their time on the water with Flow Motion. Don't believe us? Sign your curious child up for a class- and experience the fun of Flow Motion on the water for yourself!
Benefits of Bootcamp on the Water
We've all been there- lost at the gym, wondering what machine to use next or what weights to throw around. It can be exhausting to just think of a workout routine sometimes. Eventually you become fatigued- not from working out, but from plannning your workout.
Or, maybe you're a seasoned gym rat who spends most of his/her time conjuring what torturous exercise to do to yourself next. And yet, still, maybe the same people and the same places become stale and you just need a break from the routine.
What to do next?
Easy. Find a Flow Motion Boot Camp class and reap the immense benefits of our high intensity, high reward workouts where you'll completely transform your body, brain (through balance practice) and understanding of what it means to be physically fit.
Not convincing enough? Alright, let's go a little deeper on what Flow Motion can add to your life.
The biggest and most obvious benefit is- get maximum results in minimum time. Boot Camp workouts are designed with a time limit which means you show up, do the work, and leave. There's no resting in between sets, talking with friends, or switching songs on your phone. You're here to work and work is what you'll be doing. And through your dedicated effort results will begin to show up in your body. You'll start to see more definition in your muscles, a higher rate of cardio exercise, and increased cognitive function resulting in a clearer, calmer mind. Pretty cool, right?
But it doesn't stop there. With Flow Motion, you're looking at a complete body workout every time you step on the mat. Through our program routines, we are targeting every major and minor muscle group in your body in combination with balance leaving the participant with sore muscles they never knew existed before. And that's a good thing!!
Because...through the mix of total body workouts by combining strength and cardio your body will kick its metabolism into high gear during and long after your workout. That means you'll be burning 5-10 times more calories during a Flow Motion class than you would runnning a treadmill but not only that- because of the high intensity nature of the class, it's possible and more likely probable that your body will be burning calories up to 36-48 hrs after your class!! Imagine that- you're still burning fat and getting in shape even after working out!
And of course, the biggest benefit of attending a Flow Motion class is to beat the boredom at the gym. Combining fun and working out is of course the ultimate challenge, which we at Flow Motion believe have achieved. In every class that we have taught, our participants have said two things- 1. That it really worked their entire body. and 2. That is was a whole lot of FUN. Everyone has left with a huge smile on their faces, wondering exactly what they just did, and more importantly- wanting to do it again. Almost immediately.
So if you'd like to expand your fitness routine, get in better shape than you've ever been in, increase cardio, strength, and cognitive function, and have fun while doing it- Flow Motion is for you. But let's face it, who doesn't want all those things?? So please, stop reading this, and go find a class near you!!! We already know...you won't regret it.
Benefits of Yoga
Above all others, one fitness craze that has been sweeping across the United States and beyond- has been yoga. Wherever you are, in any given town or city, you will most likely be able to find a yoga studio near you. That and a Starbucks. But yoga studios as well- mostly ranging from hot yoga, Bikram yoga, Vinyasa, Kundalini, Yin, etc.
The question is then- why has it become so popular? Where did it come from? And are there any benefits to practicing it?
Yoga's origins lie in India- more specificallythe Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India over 5,000 years ago. Developed out of some of the oldest sacred texts, mystic seers called Brahmins and Rishis began to compile and refine the movements that would later become modern yoga. The purpose for their practices was to teach others the sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (karm yoga) and wisdom (jnana yoga). The initial practice of yoga was essentially to be enlightenment, not to attain it.
As their message began to spread, other practicioners began to refine the movements even more- creating systems and flows in order to cleanse the body and break the bond the mind has on daily life. And over a period of years, what they created essentially has become our modern system of yoga with a few present day tweaks here and there.
So, besides as a way to quiet the mind and understand your innner being (because, you know, even THAT might not be enough to convince people to give yoga a try) are there any other tangible benefits?
Yes!
Yoga has many wonderful benefits.
Just to name a few:
- Increased flexibility.
- Increased muscle strength and tone.
- Improved respiration, energy and vitality.
- Maintaining a balanced metabolism.
- Weight reduction.
- Cardio and circulatory health.
- Improved athletic performance.
- Protection from injury.
And this is where the Flowmotion mat comes in. They are specifically designed with a yoga practice in mind. With a full, comfortable foam pad, and the ability to make quick adjustments with bungees and fabric handles, the mat helps both beginner and practiced yogis expand into the healthy being they long to see in themselves.
But imagine this as well if you will. Sure, yoga can give you all of the aforementioned benefits, but what happens when you add in an unstable surface on the water? Well, to put it simply- imagine those benefits but two-fold and twice as fast. That is what working on your balance while discovering your flow will provide. It forces the body to adapt quicker, creates stronger balance poses, and provides the practitioner with all new obstacles- each and every time they step onto the mat.
And while practicing the ancient art of yoga on land will certainly make you feel an overwhelming sense of well-being, doing it on the water will provide a sense of true accomplishment and growth.
This is the future of exercise. This is the future of yoga. And we will be here to collaborate with you as you take your health and overall wellbeing from the future and bring into the present.
Land vs. H20
In recent years, the fitness industry has began to explode with new ideas, methods, techniques, and tricks for increasing one's overall health and wellbeing. Workouts such as P90x and Crossfit have slowly made their way to every state in the country. Which is great! If it works for an individual, if it makes one feel stronger, fitter, and healthier, then by all means continue with it. However, what if the feeling of plateauing with these workouts creeps into your body and you are looking to take that next step? Well, that is where the water comes in. We at Flowmotion believe we have discovered the natural progression of physical fitness by creating a boot camp and yoga program designed on the water for the purpose of working your body like it has never been before.
How does Flowmotion achieve this new and exciting workout?
One word: balance.
We all know, squats are hard, pushups are a pain, and burpees were created by the devil. And we also know they are difficult on land, and they work really well in getting you into shape. But what if we did all of these exercises on the water? On an unbalanced surface? What type of progress do you think you could make? It cannot be measured. Simply because putting your body into unfamiliar movements and motions forces it to use not only muscle groups which you were unable to use before but also new neurons will be firing in your brain in order to process the motions you are doing. Which keeps the body young and more importantly, the brain.
As Louis Stack, a Canadian National Speed Skating team member explains, "Balance is both a movement skill that enhances technique and a conditioning element that can be improved. Another way to understand balance is as a function of the nervous system, which is directly influenced by the five senses. A sixth sense- proprioception- in the muscles, bones, hands, feet and connective tissues alerts the body when balance is threatened. The body's balance centers- the eyes, ears, and feet- work together to sense imbalance and correct posture. When you lose balance, you brain sends instructions to the muscles and bones about how and when to react."
The idea is to keep your body in a constant state of heightened alert and awareness while exercising in order to dramatically increase the benefits of your workout. We all know someone who runs on the treadmill constantly waiting to lose weight and increase their cardio. And it happens...for a while. But the infinite intelligence of your body understands routine as well as your mind and in that routine it becomes comfortable. And once it is comfortable- change never takes place. You will plateau, you will stop shedding pounds, and you will not become stronger. The same principle exists for workouts on land. If you keep repeating the same patterns you will reach a stopping point. BUT!! If you decide to include an aquatic fitness class on Flowmotion into your routine- your body will be constantly readjusting, changing, growing, and evolving into the fit vehicle you wish it to be. It has to. Simply because what you will be doing is different. And change always results in different results.
So if you're ready to move into the next phase of your exercise journey, allow Flowmotion to show you the way. Contact us directly to purchase a mat or find a class nearby! Get on the water and evolve!
Check out an intro video below!!