Friday Fitness FUN!!

Don't panic, I'm not starting an exercise blog! However, it is important to understand the physical demands puppetry (performing) can place on the body. So, to (hopefully) prevent serious damage to your muscles and joints...I think it's important to prepare yourself. To that end, I'm continuing in vein previously posted...exercises to assist ya in performing!

This time, we'll talk about the back! Again (and it's important) I AM NOT a Doctor! If you have any questions regarding these or any exercise, please consult with a healthcare professional!

Oddly enough, strengthening your abdominal muscles will help you keep your back strong and healthy (weird, isn't it?).

MODIFIED SIT-UP: Strong abdominal muscles protect your back! Lie on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Slowly raise your shoulders off the ground while keeping your chin tucked. Touch your fingertips to your knees and hold for the count of five. Do not arch your back.

STRAING LEG RAISE: This strengthens your legs and abdominal muscles. Lie on your back with one knee bent so the foot is flat on the floor; keep the other leg straight and slowly raise it 8" off the floor. Hold for five seconds, lower and relax; repeat five times then change legs.

Now onto stretching. I find myself hunched over a computer for long lengths of time--you might be doing the same--so for those of us, a few stretches can really make a difference and keep us limbered up for performing! No sense in letting all that hard work we're doing go to waste!

NECK PRESS: I love this exercise! Press your palm against your forehead, then use your neck muscles to push against your palm. Hold for ten seconds and repeat six times. Then press your palm against your temple and use your neck muscles to push against your palm, holding for ten seconds and repeating six times on each side. Then cup both hands behind your head and use your neck muscles to press back into your hands. Hold for ten seconds, and repeat six times.

EXTENSION STRETCH: If you have been sitting or bent over for a while, simply stand, bend your knees slightly, place your hands on the back of your waist and stretch backward while looking at the ceiling. Hold for a count of five then slowly stand up.

For more information on your spine, spines in general, or more ways to keep your back healthy visit www.spine.org

Enjoy!

See you after the weekend!

Raise your hand...and arm!

I'm getting ready for a busy summer (check out our Swazzle News section, if you don't believe me :-) and thought I'd share some of the exercises I do to get myself prepped for performing. Please note, that I am NOT a Doctor or physical trainer. These are exercises I do under the supervision of MY trainer and I thought I'd mention 'em for your benefit.

If you are unsure of HOW to do these exercises, talk to your Doctor (OR, just ask for a day pass from your local gym--you can usually get one pass as an incentive to join!).

We'll start with shoulder excercises--believe me, ya needs good, strong shoulders for puppet work!

Shoulder Press (my favorite! I do them with free weights but, you can find great machines for this exercise at your gym):

- Stand so that your feet are directly under your hips and knees are slightly bent. Your elbows are bent (this brings your hands to shoulder level). Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing out.

- Lift both dumbbells up at the same time (slowly) and allow them to meet in the center (above your head). Pause for one second and lower back to the start position of the shoulder exercise

REMEMBER: BREATHE! Exhale as you lift the dumbbells UP and Inhale as you lower them. To make this exercise effective, do it slow and steady. DO NOT USE YOUR BACK TO LIFT (NO ARCHING!). If you find yourself arching your back, lower the weight (don't be hero!) and start with fewer reps.

I recommend building up to two sets of 15 reps.

Front Raise (NOT my favorite but, I do it with a smile!):

- Stand so that your feet are directly under your hips and knees are slightly bent. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, arms down, palms facing your thighs.

- Keeping your arms straight, lift the dumbbells up until they are at shoulder level. The ONLY joint moving is your shoulder. Pause for a second and slowly lower back to start

REMEMBER: Again, the Breathing--Exhale as you lift UP and Exhale as you LOWER. NO ARCHING THE BACK! This particular exercise is a bear at times and the temptation is there--DO NOT GIVE IN! I MEAN IT! Also, don't let your arms bounce back up on you. Stay in control of this exercise. Slow and steady.

I recommend two sets of 15 reps.

For more shoulder exercise tips, click here

Enjoy!

Mustard Pancakes

I recently saw an episode of this super sweet show and I gotta' tell ya. I love it! It broadcast on Oregon Public Broadcasting and features some of the cutest characters I have ever seen.

I don't know everything about it yet (I haven't programed TiVo to include it--but, I will!). The episode I saw had Courtney (the talented Courtney Campbell--co-creator of the show and it's human star!) going out of town and the emotional journey her leaving sent her friends/pets--the puppet cast on. The puppets are gorgeous and so sweet looking, you're teeth hurt. The performances are wonderful. Oogleberry Ink Dog just breaks your heart in the above mentioned episode. Mr. D is another stand out--an aloof cat with attitude (you know, the usual cat stuff...hey if you saw a sweet and welcoming cat character--you'd wonder what what wrong!).

The cast is just great. Oogleberry Ink Dog and Mr. D are performed by Frank Meschkuleit (my hero!). Tiny Tina Ten Toes is played by Lee Armstrong (yay Lee!), and Mo is played by Trish Leeper (another Fraggle Rock alum). On a weird side note; I have one of practice puppets she built and I LOVE that sucker. Too bad she isn't building them anymore. They were the best!

For information of showtimes click here

To purchase Mustard Pancakes click here

"The series strives to empower children to become thinking, feeling, caring people who are ready and able to contribute to the world around them." from the website

Cast:
COURTNEY
Courtney Campbell
MR. D
Frank Meschkuleit
OOGLEBERRY INK DOG
Frank Meschkuleit
MO
Trish Leeper
TINY TINA TEN TOES
Lee Armstrong



Enjoy

all photos are from the Official Mustard Pancakes website and are copyrights of Mustard Pancakes and it's holdings

Gotta Getta....

GUND!

I love the plush toys from this company! Years ago, Gund had the rights to the classic Pooh characters and put out some lovely hand puppets. I brought them for just about everyone I knew who had a baby! Gund still makes a line of super soft hand puppets (like the lion above). Beautifully made and so soft, you can't stop petting them. Go on. You know you Gotta' get one!

AXA Equitable's "800 Pound Gorilla"

I just saw this commercial for Axa Equitable and had to find out about the animatronic gorilla featured as the "800 pound gorilla" in the room. Apparently it's a gorilla from "Instinct" (Touchstone Pictures). See the commercial here. It's a windows mediaplayer (just an FYI).

Enjoy!


Additional: In case you were wondering, the Gorilla used in this commercial--if it was, in fact, from "Instinct", was made by Stan Winston Studios