Tag Archives: outdoor exercise

Our 5 Favorite Fitness Apps

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Our iGnite leaders are sharing their favorite fitness apps to help you with strength training, run training, HIIT workouts, yoga, stretching and more! Since we always have our phone with us, a customized workout can be just a few clicks away. These apps are great to use when you are traveling or when you may only have 10-15 minutes to squeeze in a quick workout. Here are our Top 5 Favorites:

sworkit

Sworkit – Your own personal trainer! Sworkit provides you with personalized video workouts by real trainers. Videos of each move and audio coaching lead you through each session. You can work out to pre-made routines or design your own.

The app includes choices from strength, cardio, yoga or stretching with a duration anywhere from 5 to 60 minutes. No equipment required.

timer-app

Interval Timer – This app helps you keep track of your work and rest periods during workouts. We use it in iGnite classes to keep track of tabatas (ex: 40 seconds of squats/15 seconds of rest) or any other type of HIIT workout.

Interval timer can be customized to any length and has different beeping noises for work and rest. It is the perfect workout companion.

running Running for Weight Loss – This app has unique interval plans of running, walking and sprint intervals for maximum calorie burning. You can choose from different training programs with levels of difficulty from beginner to advanced.

You can also use the app to train for a 5K, 10K or whatever your goal may be. It tells you detailed statistics such as distance, pace and calories burned throughout and at the end of the workout.

nike Nike+ Training Club – Get expert guidance from Nike master trainers. Choose the amount of visual guidance you get in every workout, and use the audio cues to take your eyes off the screen. This app has over 100 strength, endurance or mobility-focused workouts designed by Nike athletes and trainers. You can enter and record other activities you do, like running, tennis, etc. and keep track of your fitness life.

yoga

Daily Yoga – This app has more than 500 yoga poses with instructions and over 50 complete yoga sessions. The yoga sessions include soothing background music. There are three different intensity levels and several duration choices to choose from. You can find the routine that’s right for you.

Member Spotlight: Marion Forbes

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Roots:
I’ve lived in Austin since 1994, when my husband Keith and I moved here as he finished grad school. My dad was a native of Austin, his father was an engineering professor at UT, and his half-sister was living here when we moved. She introduced me to walk the hike n’ bike trails in Austin. My parents and older sister all went to UT for college, so we have lots of ties here.

Family life:
I am married to Keith, who I met in college at Duke, where we both were members of a Christian singing group. We married about 5 years after college when I had begun my pediatric residency and he was in grad school. We used to do worship music at various churches over the years, since he plays piano and I sing. We are blessed with three awesome children by adoption, each arriving to us as a baby. The oldest is Louisa, who just turned 18 and is a senior at Austin High. The second is Jonathan, 15 and a sophomore at McCallum, where he plays piano and is in the band. Lauren rounds out the group. She is also 15 but 6 weeks younger than her brother. She is Louisa’s full sister and was a surprise to us! They are the best kids, they get along well and they love their adoption stories.

Work life:
I am a pediatric hospitalist, which I’ve done for the past 19 years in Austin. I used to work at the old Children’s Hospital on 15th but now work at Dell Children’s. I love my job. It gives me joy and great satisfaction to help children and families through the stress of illness. I feel so honored to work with the caring professionals there. It is a wonderful team. And best of all, I get to do it part-time so I can also be present for my kids!

The biggest lesson I’ve learned through my iGnite experience…
I’ve learned to trust my body to be strong and my energy to be enough for each day. I enjoy exercise and the outdoors, and I find it so much more motivating to workout with others, so iGnite suits me well! The other women are so inspiring and encouraging to me.

I’m most inspired by…
My kids inspire me. They are unafraid to be themselves, which keeps reminding me to live an authentic, present life!

In my free time…
I’ve been reading a lot lately. I helped start up a book club in our neighborhood a year or two ago, and it’s been fun to read a big variety of books chosen by the group. I rediscovered books about 7 years ago – when the kids were finally all in school! – and I’ve been a happy reader ever since. I also do some creative sewing and even a little quilting. I’m saving more of that hobby for when I have grandkids!

My celebrity look alike is…
Katie Couric and Princess Leia from Star Wars, so I am told!

Shine Bright & Let Your Freedom Ring

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iGnite-Happy4th_2016

Freedom allows us to shine our brightest. How do you let your freedom ring and shine bright? Here’s inspiration from some of our iGniters…

“I believe that we all have a light within us; I think of it as the Holy Spirit and I visualize a candle that burns steadily as we stay connected to our authentic, true source. Sometimes the candle flickers and gets dim and we need others to help us rekindle it. I believe I am shining brightest when my candle is able to light the way not only for myself, but to help light the way for others who may be struggling.” –Amy Younkman

“I shine bright when I can teach someone to do something they didn’t think they could do, or when I see three people in one day learn to surf that have never tried it. Women who said they would never water ski again and they do it! The smiles on their faces just makes me feel shiny! Also, seeing 50 plus year-old amazing women racing each other up one of the biggest and steepest hills and seeing women of all ages do pull ups and begin to love them! The freedom to lead the way I want to lead and teach the things I want to teach makes me so happy. Seeing the joy of accomplishment is the ultimate SHINE.” –Kathleen Parker

“I let freedom ring through education, religion, and relationships. Through my freedom I am able to shine bright by teaching young minds to be creative, to think for themselves and encourage them to chase their dreams. I am able to shine bright and grow daily in my relationship with my savior Jesus Christ. And, lastly, I shine bright when I am surrounded by friends (new and old) and family. I am inspired and encouraged by how bright they shine in their own way!” – Jessie D’Andrea

“I let my Freedom Ring & Shine Bright by being as healthy, independent, and self-sufficient as possible so that I can role model that for my daughters. I shine my brightest when I am connecting with other people whether it be enjoying fun times together, encouraging people through life, listening to live music, sharing a meal, or exercising outdoors in a group with other iGniters!” -Sarah Hamilton, iGnite member

“I shine my brightest in two ways, with one is when I am being someone’s cheerleader. I love to encourage, motivate and yell loud for anyone, whether it be in a competition, in a class or silently cheering in prayer! It makes my heart pound, and I get chills! The second is when I am around children. Kids make me smile and laugh. They teach me to practice patience and how to love hard. They enjoy the small, simple things in life, and they have crazy, amazing imaginations and dreams. I want to live like that.” –Molly Daniels

“I feel like I shine brightest, and that I am doing what God has called me to do, when I am with children and youth, specifically when I am leading and coaching them in living healthy, active lives, opening their eyes to the many different ways to do that, and helping them recognize their unique and special qualities and their talents and gifts. And I feel most fulfilled when I am connecting with my own children in this way, through “play,” moving in new and different ways with them and enjoying the miracle of our bodies, while also enjoying nature and God’s beautiful world around us.” –Alli Phillips

“One of the ways I let my freedom ring is by owning my own business. I love the freedom of getting to create a business that is an authentic expression of my heart and how I see the world, as well as the flexibility of working for myself and choosing who I get to work with. As for as when I shine my brightest? I feel I shine my brightest when I am leading, teaching, coaching, loving, encouraging, helping others, making people laugh and sharing God’s awesomeness. I am also super shiny when I’m spending sweet time my amazing family and friends, including my two precious children and husband, when there’s lots of playing and dancing. –Neissa Brown Springmann

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

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iGnite - Enjoy the Outdoors

by Alli Phillips

I encourage you to watch this short video summarizing new research on the positive effects of outdoor exercise on emotional state and mental health. What I find especially interesting is the finding that not all outdoor exercise is equal in its effects on our mental/emotional health…. Supporting what most outdoor exercise enthusiasts and iGniters already know, the research indicates that exercise in natural outdoor environments has a greater effect on mood and mental-emotional health than exercise in man-made outdoor environments. Although similar in some short-term affects on physical health, exercise in nature compared to indoor or even other outdoor “city-dweller” environments, is vastly more effective in improving mental and emotional state, and therefore important for overall health in the long-term.

Living in Austin, we have so many great opportunities to workout in nature.
Here are some suggestions:

Running/Hiking:
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Bull Creek Trail
Brushy Creek Trails
River Place Preserve Trails
Walnut Creek Trails
McKinney Falls Trails
Hamilton Pool Nature Trail

Swimming or Water-Running/Treading:
Barton Springs Pool
Twin Falls on Barton Creek
Bull Creek
Hippy Hollow
Hamilton Pool

I do hope you’ll get out and enjoy the great outdoors right here in Austin! Add hiking and/or swimming in nature to your summer bucket list…It’s cheaper and more effective than therapy and medicine!

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