Last week I shared how I exercise and mentioned I’ve been going through a big shift via the work I’ve been doing with Aaron at Origin of Energy. I say it plain: it’s boosted my energy levels and corrected my posture, two things that have suffered horribly from having an autoimmune disease. His technique is sure and steady and gentle and strong. The guy is beyond passionate and so so knowledgeable. Anthony Minnocello calls him The Guru. I’d peg him as “genius”.
Since I’ve been up north I’ve been doing the training on my own, using a ridiculous assortment of props – two tequila bottles as hand weights, my Le Creuset pot filled with coins as a dead weight, and the picnic table bench as a step-up.
This week I popped back to Sydney and got Aaron to do a bit of a program that we can all do at home, using stuff around the house as props.
The deal is this:
- We run through 3 different techniques (an easy and harder version of each). Do each technique for 1 minute. Then rest for a minute. So, 3 minutes on, one minute off. Repeat 5-6 times. In a week or so I’ll post some extra ones, to mix it up. I think I include an extra walking out push-out as well. Throw that into the mix too!
- You only have to exercise 25-30 minutes to get a fantastic workout. Any more taxes the system and is a waste of energy.
- Do it 2-3 times a week. The rest of the week walk, swim…move every day (but, again, it doesn’t have to be taxing).
- Stretch before …just easy versions of the exercises. Nothing fancy.
- We exercise in bare feet. I’ll write more on this soon. But I say for now, try it. It’s amazing for your core, your balance and for fine-tuning the subtle muscles throughout your body.
- The exercises make use of a bench/chair/step/garden ledge, a pot filled with sand or coins, a green shopping bag (the kind you get from the supermarket) which you can fill with books, and two bottles of booze/waterbottles filled with water.
- As you do the workouts focus on keeping calm. Work hard, but stay serene and balanced. Breathing through your nose helps.
- Aaron has this great suggestion: a lot of surfers who travel a lot carry hession bags with them. They head to the beach and fill them with sand, do their workout, then dump the sand. You can do the same if you travel, or if you have a sandpit at home.
- I do this when I travel to cities: if I get in late of a plane and feel all cramped up, I run the fire stairs. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
- Aaron’s techniques are great to do if you know your body quite well and are familiar with good workout technique. But I ALWAYS recommend getting a trainer to show you through techniques, so you have proper alignment. At some point in your life. A worthwhile investment.
PS The marks on my arms and leg are dire blue bottle injuries…I’m allergic, it turns out…
PPS We’re training in the OoE studies in Bondi Junction (above the train station). They run group training session there 4-5 times a day. For more info, go here…It’s not expensive! They also have a small shop and kitchen where you can buy smoothies and raw butter and activated nuts and organic meat and berries.
PPS The post below contains an overview of the philosophy behind this kind of “caveman” approach to exercise….read on if you’re interested in learning more.
If you have any tips to share for working out at home with makeshift equipment, share and share alike!
[...] I’ve just posted on how to exercise at home, using techniques I’ve learned from Origin of Energy’s Aaron and his [...]
Oh No! There is something going on with the sound. x
[Reply]
March 4th, 2011 at 10:39 am
really? is it ok now?
[Reply]
March 5th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
yeah it doesn’t seem to be working for me either, but may just be my computer
[Reply]
So simple. Just couldn’t catch how many times a week. I love this idea of using what u have, it means no excuses ever.
[Reply]
March 4th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Oops just saw the answer, so forget that question.
[Reply]
Looking good, Sarah! This is beautiful in its simplicity. Once again, thank you so much for sharing these gems of health wisdom. Your posts have a knack of cutting through complication and jargon to the kernels of good stuff! I love the bare feet idea, too. x
[Reply]
Love it Sarah, thank you. I do a number of these exercises already but had never thought to “mix them up” like Aaron suggests. Besides making them harder, it adds variety to maintain motivation. Will try these today!
Super -thanks again.
[Reply]
Great post. I’m all for exercising at home and discovered this website http://www.bodyrock.tv a while ago which posts new workouts daily and uses minimal or no equipment and is easily modified for all levels. Short and intense is the way to go!
[Reply]
OMG , I could never fill my Le Creuset with scratchy coins….
[Reply]
March 4th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
I put in a bag first!
[Reply]
So timely Sarah……..am working from home today and didnt get to the gym as met a friend for breakie and have had thr guilts. Love the holistic approach; am lunging with wine bottles which i intend to drink one off later then recycle the bottle! Now thats sustainable exercising!
Am using the big tin of baby formula Coles delivered to me by accident as my squat weight too!
Have been scoping out the OOE. I have a gawp in from time to time. Ive heard great things but not ready to leave my current gym membership yet …
PS you are looking really lean- good job
[Reply]
March 4th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Love the baby formula tin idea!
[Reply]
Hi Sarah, love the video! You are looking so great, as always. Just wondering if you could answer a question…
I love your philosophy of exercising for just 25-30 minutes everyday, and keeping things very gentle and grounded… do you think that this applies to people trying to lose weight as well? I know that it is mostly diet that will help with weight-loss, but in terms of exercise, should a person trying to lose weight push themselves harder in order to boost their metabolism?
Just wondering. I know you are not a trainer but I’m always interested to hear what you think! Thank you : )
[Reply]
March 4th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
It depends. If you’re well, yes push a little harder. But 25 minutes is still the right amount of time. Intense and short exercise using weights – as opposed to long cardio sessions – will fire up your metabolism for the whole day. Cardio over long periods will simply have your body storing fat and calories (cos it thinks, “shit I’m going to need energy…this run could be going forever”.
Gentle and grounded is also still applicable as this approach will have you focused in your body…aware of all the muscles, activating them properly, which works your body harder.
We drop to our “happy” weight over time, as our body – our hormones, our metabolism, our digestion etc – settles into a good spot. It’s the only way.
[Reply]
March 4th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Thank you Sarah : ) Makes a lot of sense. xx
[Reply]
YAY!! This is awesome, so quick and easy. I have a 7mth old baby so have to try and fit in my exercise around his schedule, at the moment I am walking almost every morning with him and I try to get to 2 yoga classes a week….I can do these exercises in the park when we go for our walk. I love the guys at OE they are amazing, oh how I wish they had a studio on the Nth Shore.
[Reply]
March 8th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Hi Sarah, just a quick follow up…. I did the sequence for the first time yesterday whilst on my morning walk with bub…OMG my thighs are screaming today, great quick but effective workout
[Reply]
Holy attack of the bluebottles, Batman! I got stung on the face and the hands diving in the last week, but nothing like that. Ouchies!
I love the barefoot thing. Sadly my gym insists on footwear so Im seeing how long I can get away with Vibram Fivefingers as shoes… I am definitely going to try some of those exercises!!
So you are telling me Aaron has guns like he does, exercising 25-30 minutes? Really??
[Reply]
What perfect timing Sarah! Just when I have lost my motivation and thought I needed to sign up with expensive personal trainers, you have come to the rescue
J
25 mins a day sounds a whole lot more achievable then trying to fit in an hour. Can’t wait to get stuck into this routine..loving the barefoot idea too.
I have a whole stack of canned soup in the cardboard (gross stuff that my boyfriend bought).. I now have a new use for them!
[Reply]
Thanks Sarah ..
Will def check this out as am able to do so.
mw
[Reply]
I am going to give this a go. Thanks Sarah!
[Reply]
Oh this is great Sarah. I so like their philosophy and yours…I looked at the website for these guys in Melbourne, but not too sure what’s happening. Gwinganna girl here also and barefoot sooo resonates. thank you.
[Reply]
[...] Sarah Wilson – How to exercise at home [...]
do you have any suggestions for a 78 year old sugar loving fatty ?
[Reply]
[...] and how’ rundown of the “caveman-ish” style of weights that I do and here’s how to exercise at home, with a video! When I’m in Sydney, I go to Origin of Energy in [...]
[...] Paleo also incorporates a particular type of fitness…. exercise that’s not about slogging it out at the gym or running marathons. I’ve been exercising this way for a while. Catch up here and here. [...]
Thanks Sarah, this is perfect timing for me as I have just quit boot camp, spin classes and working out at ridiculous intensity and swapped to walking each morning before breakfast, pilates and I will be trying the hot yoga on the weekend. I have set my self a goal to give this a go and take it down a notch and I love working out in bare feet its liberating. Love your work!
[Reply]
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really recognize what you are talking
about! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my website =).
We can have a hyperlink alternate arrangement between us
[Reply]
Very shortly this web site will be famous amid all blogging visitors, due to it’s fastidious posts
[Reply]