Workouts Archives

While a true DC snow day has yet to occur this winter season, you can never be sure when a winter wonderland may be upon us. It is easy to get bundled up indoors and accept that feeling that you never want to leave your bed on a day that appears so frigid. However, even if you can’t make it to the gym, clear some space out in your apartment, and motivate yourself to burn some calories without even having to feel the cold.

Check out this fun snow day workout (c/o Situps and Sequins), and save it for a day when you’re stuck inside!

Melanie Rubin is a Physical Therapist in DC and a group fitness instructor at MINT.

Holiday season has already begun, which means our normal routine is altered as we are busy with travel plans, visits with family and friends, more time to veg around, and routine gym closures.

Just because you will be busy during this holiday season, does not mean you shouldn’t take some time for yourself to maintain the fit bod you’ve been working towards. While it is human nature to indulge over the holidays with treats and sweets, it is important to keep up with an exercise regimen – to get you feeling accomplished, strong, and less guilty following those holiday meals. Because you may be traveling over the holidays and/or the gym has adjusted hours over the holiday weekend, that does not mean that you can’t find a way to work out in the comfort of your own home.

Take a look at these fun holiday themed workouts to give you some inspiration and incorporate them into your routine over this holiday season! Enjoy!

Melanie Rubin is a Physical Therapist in DC and a group fitness instructor at MINT.

We all know that sitting for too long isn’t good for your health. Insert the century of at work fitness. First, it was the ball-chairs that keep your core engaged during your 9-5. Then it was the stand-up desks. I’ve heard rumors of friends of friends who have co-workers using treadmill desks, but I have yet to see one. What does all this mean? We’re craving activity at work.

From dips to planks there are an array of activities that you can do during the workday. The key to incorporating exercise into your routine? Schedule them on your calendar and/or find a buddy to do them with you. My suggestion? Start with doing something twice a day, once before lunch and the other in the afternoon. Expert tip: don’t schedule them on the hour. That’s when meetings start. Have them 5 minutes before the hour instead.

Becky and her co-workers give new meaning to the word “teamwork.”

My office does push-ups (click the link for proof!) when we’re sluggish after lunch. Someone will sense the low energy and promptly announce that it’s push-up time. If you aren’t on the phone or otherwise engaged, you assume the position. Feet in your office, hands in the hallway and we count. We do them in sync, with lots of variation in form. When we started there were some who did them from a kneeled angle, and now, we even have some who have upgraded to clapping push-ups. Doing them regularly has allowed each person to demonstrate growth, no matter where we each started.

Whether you do wall-sits or seated leg raises, try adding something new to your deskercise routine. You’ll be surprised at how well office supplies double as dumbbells, or other exercise props, from paper weights to reams of paper you can find all sorts of things to pick and put back down as part of a weigh-inclusion routine. See how creative you can get!

Becky Walker is a MINT Ambassador and Jump-Roping Extraordinaire