urbanathlete

Dogs and Tomatoes

Dogs and Tomatoes

Published by on July 29, 2020 | Leave a response

Until today, I never much cared for cherry tomatoes.

I love ketchup, tomato sauce, and all the many tomato things – but ask me to grab a tomato off the vine and take a bite…Let’s just say I had other opinions! I blame the texture…

So what inspired me to try one today? To venture outside of my comfort zone and try something new?

One place we could look is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This is also an interesting topic to consider amidst a pandemic.

Try your best to visualize this description as a pyramid with five tiers. At the base is Physiological Needs. These needs are air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, and reproduction. Maslow theorized that these needs have to be satisfied before we can do anything else.

The next level is Safety Needs. These are personal security, employment, resources, health, and property. Following this thinking, once we have satisfied our basic needs of food, water, and shelter – then we can focus on our workplace and health.

Following our needs for safety is Love and belonging, which looks like friendship, intimacy, family, and sense of connection.

The next level in the hierarchy is Esteem – respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, and freedom.

At the very top of the pyramid is Self-actualization. This is your desire to become the most or best that you can be. However, before we get to the very top of the pyramid, we have to first satisfy all of the needs that came before it (according to Maslow).

We could easily translate these levels of needs into what we are currently experiencing.

First, people are focusing on providing food, water, and shelter for their families. (Physiological)

Next, we are working hard to maintain and protect our quality of health. (Safety)

Now – these next tiers get a little tricky. The top three needs might be getting a little less love during the pandemic, as we put all of our energy into our physiological and safety needs.

This brings me back to my tomato. It struck me as interesting that, for a brief moment, I thought about something beyond my immediate, basic needs. I thought about the joy and simplicity of picking a vegetable right from the vine and not even washing it.

Have you checked out our 30 Day Resilience Challenge?

Send us questions at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com or head straight to our Online Portal to get started! 

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In Your (Core)Corner

Published by on July 22, 2020 | Leave a response

It’s 6:40 AM on a Monday, and you’re exhausted (the good kind). You just finished an Urban Athlete workout, and you start to grab your things to leave and head to work, when…

Your workout buddy (the one who’s had more coffee than you) asks, “You doing the CoreCorner today?”

You were never one for excuses, so you sigh internally and then say, “Uh yeah sure, I got a few minutes.”

All joking aside, the CoreCorner has become something that is both incredibly unifying for our community, as well as essential to our workouts, during our time in quarantine.

Let me give you a brief description of what exactly the CoreCorner is:

The CoreCorner is quick. It is a brief finisher to the workout and lasts about 3-5 minutes.

The CoreCorner is optional. Need to get to work? No problem – catch it the next morning.

The CoreCorner is challenging. Daily increases to your plank? You have your friends to complain to!

The CoreCorner is fun. Your friends (now also sweaty & out of breath) will be cheering you on.

Step inside the doors to our gym, and you will see the CoreCorner written on a white board. Each week, members anxiously await its change.

Some weeks there are timing intervals, and other weeks there are exercises for reps.

However, the best part about the CoreCorner is that it’s not just abs! By core, we also mean the musculature surrounding your hips and spine. This leaves the door wide open for the types of exercises that you may see, and that’s half the fun!

What started as only a finisher, turned into a pillar of the UA community. Hardships headed your way? No problem – you’ll have plenty of people in your corner, and they’ll be awfully strong too…

We’re always happy to hear from you. Please send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com to get more information or to stay in touch.

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Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk

Published by on July 14, 2020 | Leave a response

I started drinking coffee during my senior year of college. You might be thinking – “Well, that makes sense. She’s staying up late applying to grad schools, on top of studying for her classes. No wonder she started to drink coffee – most people do.”

I started to drink coffee, because my social circles at the time revolved around coffee shops. Coffee became something social to me, as it is for a lot of people.

I don’t know if having my friends there made the coffee taste better, but I was hooked – hook, line, and coffee bean.

It is also important for me to note that these coffee shops were exactly that – coffee shops – not your typical chains. These were the places where even locals said, “You go where?”.

But these were places (I should clarify and say place and not places. I only went to one place. Every day.) where I felt good going and felt even better bringing my friends, new and old.

When the pandemic became a reality, this is something I stumbled over.

I am blessed that the coffee shop, that I frequent in our area, has a drive-thru. This checks one of the two boxes when you say “coffee talk.”

I had the coffee, but I didn’t have the talk. I mean, I talked to the Barista, but you understand…

Coffee is great, but can you go along with me here and say that people are better?

My friends and I solved this dilemma by coordinating when we were going through the drive-thru (say that 10x fast), so that we could meet-up at a walking trail about five minutes down the road.

Coffee – check. Friends – check. Exercise – a beautiful bonus.

Urban Athlete solves this dilemma by holding Coffee Talk after our 9AM virtual workout every Saturday. 

This is a place where people can come as they are – sweaty (if they just worked out) or freshly showered (if…you know… they happened to sleep in).

I mean it is a Saturday!

Cheers to you and coffee. Cheers to you drinking your coffee.

We’re always happy to hear from you. Please send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com to get more information or to stay in touch.

 

 

 

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Hitting Snooze

Published by on July 7, 2020 | Leave a response

Blog posts should be nothing but relatable, right? Which is why this is a safe space for me to talk about something that you might also do, right? Right?

Okay, right.

Every evening, I set a very ambitious alarm on my phone (the keyword being ambitious). Sometimes, I find myself dreaming that I had an “old-fashioned” alarm clock that wasn’t on my phone, but that’s a whole other monologue…

By ambitious, I mean early – earlier than I need to wake up for the day’s activities. Let me explain this a bit further –

There are some (or maybe most) tasks throughout our day that external factors dictate that we must do. These external factors could be job requirements, set appointments (health, work, or otherwise), or instances where people or lives are relying on us.

To give you an example, I care for horses in my spare time. Several mornings a week, I am responsible for feeding the horses, taking them outside, and cleaning the barn. When my alarm clock, I mean phone, goes off at 5:45 AM – something inside of me says, “Jennifer, you have to get up.” The power that external circumstances (horses needing to be fed, in this case) have over our actions is incredible.

On the flip side of extrinsic (outside of you) motivation is intrinsic, or internal motivation. With intrinsic motivation, you accomplish tasks purely for your own enjoyment, or because you (and no one else) find them important.

To give you an example, last night I set my alarm for 5:45 AM – not because I had to take care of the horses, but because I wanted to read and have coffee before the 7 AM workout. Mind you, this was not a workout I was expected to coach, it was just a workout that I wanted to do.

I snoozed my alarm clock until 6:50 AM.

But Jennifer ! You still had 10 minutes !! (Not at the pace at which I tend to do things…)

In my very sleepy mind, external circumstances did not require that I wake up at 5:45 AM to drink coffee, read, and work out. Nothing was saying, “Jennifer, you have to get up.”

I do acknowledge that there are other factors at play here – quality of sleep, valuing exercise as a must, etc.

Speaking from human to human (although I am a fitness professional), I wanted to start the discussion on what motivates us to do the things that we want to do, so we don’t regret not doing them later.

**Disclaimer: I wasn’t going to say anything…but…I did wake up for an optional workout yesterday! 

What changed in my motivation today? Reach out to us at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com !

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Patience is Key

Published by on July 2, 2020 | Leave a response

Like anything we talk about at UA – we always talk about lifestyle patterns as they relate to the whole person. By whole person, I mean physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Today, I am going to talk about patience, and I hope to discuss it holistically as I just mentioned.

First, let me ask: Do you have a positive or negative connotation with the word patience?

This might very well influence your perception of this blog post, but I am entrusting you to keep reading!

Second question: Can you think of a specific instance of patience or lack thereof?

I am going to share a personal example of patience that is both physical and mental. We’ll get to emotional patience in a bit…

My dad, like most dads, started as my sport’s coach and quickly became my life coach. For better or worse (mostly better), my dad was the head coach of my travel softball team, during my senior year of high school.

He should write a book on his opinions concerning mental toughness. However…I was a terrible hitter (but an amazing catcher…), and he needed to use every coaching phrase in the book to help me get a hit.

Wait for your pitch.

To which every player in a slump responds, “What do you meeaaan wait for my pitch!? I’ll be waiting forever!”

Waiting for your pitch is an example of being mentally patient – taking conscious control of your thoughts, telling yourself that you don’t need to act now.

This leads me to the part of my patience example that is physical. Something physical happens when you are mentally waiting for your pitch – as a hitter, your hands subconsciously stay back. There are physical consequences to your mental decisions. Seems simple enough!

But does it work in reverse? Can your hands stay back without first deciding that you are going to wait?

We can all relate differently to this, which is why I don’t want to give you any specific examples outside of my personal story.

But lastly, we also have the power to be patient with our emotions. To stay with my softball team example, you can imagine the frustrations that might occur within any team dynamic. If everyone acted on their very first emotion to surface, it would create a rather tumultuous experience…

That first emotion is incredibly valid, however other emotions often arise when you give yourself the time.

This week, be patient with yourself, as you try to be patient – in all areas of your life!

Cheers to you.

Growing impatient to get working out? Give us a call at 215-248-2130, or send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com ! 

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An Ode to Planks

Published by on June 25, 2020 | Leave a response

How many plank exercises can you name in 30 seconds?

Star, Front, Forearm, Side, Tripod, Plank Reaches, Plank Jacks, Single-Leg, Elevated.

That was my list! What’s yours? Set a timer on your phone, and let us know. Or maybe I just gave you nine plank exercises that now you can’t get out of your head…(Plus two already had plank in the name!)

Planks are great, because they are universal. They can be done anytime and anyplace.

Planks can also be done by anyone. Young, old, seasoned gym goers, newcomers, and everyone in between – everyone seems to know innately how to plank. (Also note how easily I just turned plank into a verb – another cool plank trick!)

Can you remember when you were specifically taught how to do a traditional front plank?

I don’t recall our middle school softball coach saying, “Okay y’all, we’re going to do this crazy exercise that works our core, glutes, quads, and shoulders all at the same time. I’m going to need you to put your hands under your shoulders and straighten you legs and keep your knees off the ground and hips low.”

She just told us to hold a plank, and we knew what to do!

Planks are also great, because they are scalable. They can be made more challenging or less challenging.

Is a two-arm high plank too easy? Switch to a tripod plank! Too hard – come down to your forearms.

*Disclaimer: The tricky part about planks is that you can put considerable stress on your wrists and shoulders, if you are recovering from an injury in one of those areas. No problem – maybe try a V-Sit hold to stick with an isometric movement. There are so many core exercises to be done that don’t involve being on your hands!

Finally, planks are great, because they provide instant feedback to the exerciser. Maybe you’ve tried to see how long you can hold a plank, or for a week you decided to increase how long you held a plank daily by 30 seconds.

In both scenarios, you can tell immediately if you’ve reached your goal of holding a plank for three minutes, for example. It gives you, the exerciser, something tangible to work towards, as well as to celebrate!

We love planks for all these reasons – and more!

Want to plank with us? Give us a call at 215-248-2130, or send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com ! 

 

 

 

 

 

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What Modifying a Workout Really Means

Published by on June 17, 2020 | Leave a response

You and I both have things that we just really love to do.

You and I also have things that we know are good for us to do, but they may not be what we necessarily love to do.

Everyone exercises for different reasons. For some of us, it may be because we love it. For others of us, it may be because we know exercising is good.

So what keeps us from doing something that we love to do or that we know is good for us?

With exercise, this can often mean previous or current injuries and pain.

Let me begin by saying that sometimes our bodies absolutely and 100% need rest – not only to just slow it down, but also to be given enough time and space to stop completely.

However, there is also a time and place in a group workout setting where the workout needs to be adjusted or modified to suit your body’s needs.

For the remainder of this post, I’m going to stand firmly behind the belief that to modify a workout does not mean to make the workout easier. To modify a workout simply means to change it.

Whether we are in the gym or online, the format of our workouts at UA are always the same. After we demo the exercises for the workout, there is always time allotted for people to voice what their bodies are telling them that day.

Did they sleep funny? Is this their first workout back from a vacation? Do they have an old knee injury that’s flared-up?

Coaches provide the clients with options for that exercise when they see it in a workout. As the rounds go on, the client feels equipped to make real time decisions. Maybe on one round they need to do Swings, instead of Vertical Jumps, but on the next round their knees feel okay to jump.

In a workout, each exercise targets a specific muscle group and joint. The amazing news (and why workouts can have so much variety) is that there are countless exercises that work your quads, some that put stress on the knees and others that do not. The same could be said for your hips, core, and shoulders.

There is always a work around, and work arounds aren’t always easy.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can work out with UA while at home, please follow this link: urbanathlete.wodify.com or send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com! 

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200 for T1D

Published by on June 10, 2020 | Leave a response

JDRF’s mission to support all those with T1D is near to the heart of Urban Athlete and its members. From a 5k Farmer’s Walk to our Annual Burpees and Burgers event each summer, Urban Athlete is always looking for ways to give back to JDRF.

Some quick facts:

T1D is an autoimmune disease and is not related to diet or lifestyle. 

T1D occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin.

Insulin is necessary for the body to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. 

The brain’s primary energy source is glucose! 

Although our circumstances have certainly changed this year, our heart for JDRF has not.

From June 19th through the 21st, Team Urban Athlete will be completing the 200 for T1D Virtual Ragnar Relay. Our team of runners will collectively run 200 miles together, over the course of those three days.

Yes, you heard that right! 200 miles!

We are thankful for our supporters, near and far, who will make this relay fun (and doable!).

There is no cost to join the Ragnar Relay, but JDRF will use every dollar raised through fundraising to continue its innovative research efforts, government advocacy programs, and arguably the most important – being a cornerstone in the community.

Urban Athlete and community are synonymous for many of our members. This sense of camaraderie is felt, because we realize that our gym is a small part of a much larger community.

Strength. Power. Community. (Or so we were told during Trivia Night!)

If you’d like to learn more about how you can work out with UA while at home, please follow this link: urbanathlete.wodify.com or send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com! 

 

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Rooted

Published by on June 3, 2020 | Leave a response

There are so many wonderful metaphors to be made with trees, and I am sure you’ve already heard quite a few.

The first metaphor to trees I heard came when I was riding a horse. (Seems accurate enough…)

My trainer told me that my core was the trunk of the tree and my arms were the branches. With a wobbly trunk, I had a tendency to stiffen my branches. I looked forced and rigid, when I needed to be fluid and effortless for the horse.

I needed a stronger base, a stronger trunk – stronger roots.

Physically, I needed to strengthen my legs and core muscles, in order to take the load off of my arms, shoulders, and neck.

What are you rooted in, physically?

Trees are smart. When the temperatures start to drop in the Fall, trees send the chlorophyll from their leaves to their trunk. Here, the chlorophyll is stored so that it can later be used for energy.

The tree receives information (cold weather) and then takes action (stores chlorophyll). It understands that its leaves must fall, in order to preserve its trunk and branches.

It can be good practice to take note of how we respond to a change in events, change in people, or even a change in temperature. The lens that we use to process information is incredibly important, because it sets us up for how we will respond. Our lens is often what is most important to us.

What are you rooted in, mentally?

Am I being too forward, when I say that we’ve all picked bark off a tree? We might have done this absentmindedly or purposefully – admiring how easy it was to do.

The bark is the tree’s outermost protection, its first line of defense. As soon as we pick it off, all sorts of unwanted organisms are free to grow!

As humans, we might all have a different emotional protection, but we all know the feeling of when someone or something starts to pick at it. We can feel ourselves being tested and exposed, and it hurts.

However, we need this ability to feel, because it is at the root of our decision making.

What are you rooted in, emotionally?

Unlike trees, we can choose where we put our roots physically. mentally, and emotionally. We also have the freedom to decide just how strong they are.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can work out with UA while at home, please follow this link: urbanathlete.wodify.com or send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com! 

 

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In the Holiday Spirit

In the Holiday Spirit

Published by on May 27, 2020 | Leave a response

We know it’s been hard to keep track of what day it is…Can you believe it’s already the holiday season?

(My apologies if panic ensued…)

More like the season for holiday workouts!

This past Monday, we held our annual Memorial Day workout at 9AM with over 40 people in attendance. Some were near and others were far, but the tradition is to start all holidays with Urban Athlete.

This year was no different.

The surrounding circumstances – 100%, but the people (with a few faces added and others greatly missed) and the reason for gathering together over Zoom remained the same. We wanted a challenge and a sense of normalcy, but most importantly we wanted to be together.

The first holiday workout was Thanksgiving Day in 2006, and we’ve been holding holiday workouts ever since! Thanksgiving workouts are always at 8AM, so there is time to make turkey (or avoid it altogether…).

In addition to Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day, we also hold 9AM workouts on New Year’s Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. The workouts are always a little tougher, a little longer, and usually outside!

A holiday workout is extra special, because it is the only workout of the day. This means that people, who normally go to different workouts, get to spend time together! The UA community comes together every day, but holiday workouts are special for this reason.

You can always catch our crew showing their holiday spirit by wearing crazy themed socks, sweet bandanas, and possibly a tutu…

Whether we’re coming together before our own holiday celebrations or dressing up in crazy (by crazy, I mean cool) outfits together, we’re always coming together. And working hard – always working hard.

 

If you’d like to learn more about how you can work out with UA while at home, please follow this link: urbanathlete.wodify.com or send us an email at urbanathletephiladelphia@gmail.com! 

 

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