Postpartum fitness has been a hot topic around the IC these days, but how many of us out there can imagine giving birth to twins… twice? Maina’s four children are all under 5 years old too. Whoa! As if that isn’t impressive enough, Maina is also the Marketing Director for the Renaissance School (a private, pure Montessori school) that all of her children attend. Did we mention that she’s also a UCB and UCLA alumna? (Go Bears! Go Bruins!) How this supermom finds time to travel here from Oakland at 5:45 a.m. we’ll never know, but we’ve been extremely lucky to have her on the team for more than a year now (we think it’s because she loves Burpies so much).

Classic Maina quote:

“I’m a big football/basketball/science fiction fan AND I’m totally anti-Disney/Princess/Barbie/any commercial form of entertainment for my kids (my kids probably won’t see Disneyland until they can fly there on their own).”

Which calisthenics get your heart pumping the fastest?

0600 struts the deceivingly difficult Farmer’s Walk.

Check out (from left to right) Mars, Patty H., Piera, Cathyrn, Miriam, Seth, and Dave M. cultivating their grip strength.

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Tell us about your sharecroppin’ experience. What tends to go first… hands, forearms, shoulders, or legs?

We have trained you well, people. You are so accustomed to brutally tough workouts comprised of intense moves that the very thought of resting in any way fills you with utter boredom. Why, just look at these Core class folks, who have the opportunity to relax a bit while they count their partner’s sit-up reps. They don’t look exactly overwhelmed with enthusiasm.

Perhaps it’s time we incorporated some coaching techniques into your repertoire, so you can make good use of your rep-counting time. Here’s a few tips for cheering on your partner:

-Watch their form. Make sure they are using good technique, and offer cues to help. (Hint: beginning with the word “don’t” is counterproductive.)

-See if you can help them surpass their amount of reps every set by increasing the speed of your count.

-Say encouraging things like “you’ve come too far to quit now” or “you’re smokin’ this round” or even a simple “good job” can go a long way.

-High fives are generally welcome.

-Congratulate your partners on their successes, and thank them when you’re done.

It’s your turn next.

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Is there anything in particular you find helpful to hear while training?

Not only can Jeremy Steinkoler juggle a medicine ball swiftly while performing single leg raises, he can do it to any rhythm. It comes naturally when you are a gifted drummer and teacher as well as the co-founder of BandWorks, the Bay Area’s leading school of rock n’ roll!

Baby Mateo is 13 weeks old today and I have good news to report about my postpartum comeback. I recently lost a few of those dreaded pregnancy pounds—Yes! But before you go assuming that this has been easy for me or that I’ve had a tummy tuck behind your back, pull up a chair and have a listen my friend. If you’ve ever read my story, you know that I’ve never been one of those lucky women the pounds just melt off of (and no, the nursing hasn’t helped). I’m really the anti-Fitness Barbie. At 5 feet tall (not even 5’1” people), I’ve always had the opposite problem—fat clings to me like scuba gear—but then again, I don’t exactly eat rabbit food.

Here’s what I’ve been up to:

1. I make time and hit the gym (no matter what).

2. I train under the watchful eye of my beloved (lucky me).

3. I try my best to keep up with you guys in class (Have you noticed?).

So, in addition to the obvious: EXERCISE, the other part of this weight loss equation has been (drum roll please) DISCIPLINE.

1. I don’t eat white starchy stuff these days.  I still mourn those cocktail buns from Chinatown, but my morning cardboard (toast) helps.

2. I mainly eat green vegetables, egg whites, fish, chicken, turkey, fruit, and roasted nuts.

3. I drink tons of water.

4. I go to bed hungry a lot of nights.

5. I wake up and say no to crack another day.

6. I fight those inner food demons with positive thinking (i.e. meditation, affirmation, visualization) which for me is the real work when you’re an emotional eater.

Stay tuned, I have a long way to go…

This photo was taken on 6-18-07 (10 pounds ago).

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Okay IC moms, share a special highlight from your postpartum comeback. Give a girl some inspiration, will ya?

We loooove isometric holds. You know you are doing one when you feel muscles start to cramp and ache, when sweat pours off you but you aren’t moving at all. Squat holds, plank, and the beloved hollow hold are among our favorites. But did you know there’s a few tricks to these babies?

-Better form is easier. A deeper squat or a tighter plank is easier to maintain than a wobbly mushy hold.

-Taking short breaths helps too.

-There’s usually a moment when the hold hurts so bad, you know you will break. But did you know if you manage to sustain past that moment, the pain subsides a little? Don’t let your mind give out before your muscles.

-Lots of people have mental tricks to take the hold a little longer. Some people imagine they are squatting or planking over a sharp object. Others try and focus elsewhere, like on the music or their neighbor’s labored breathing. Whatever works for you, find your special isometric place and spend some time there.

What hold do you need to work on?

If asked what exercises we hate the most, the majority of us could probably rattle off a long list. Truth is, there’s probably an equally long list of movements that make you feel good and powerful, at least when you are finished. While jumping movements get some folks giddy, others delight in hefting heavy weights high. Sprints are very popular, because how often in adult life do you get to run at breakneck pace? I’m sure there’s even a few (nuts) out there who love the rower. So while we could go on and on about what is the Worst. Exercise. EVER… What makes you a little happy? What’s your favorite?

Um, okay, I hear you. So, which one do you hate the least?

Joanna Sapir joined the Ice Chamber in June 2006 to lose the extra weight she gained during her second pregnancy. Not surprisingly, she adapted to our style of training quickly and began noticing changes in herself that went well beyond fat loss. Here’s what she has to say about spending the past year at the IC:

“Not only did that extra weight come off (I dropped four sizes), but I found that meeting the challenges of the workouts has been truly empowering for me. I’m stronger not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. I now seek challenge in all aspects of my life, and I prioritize physical fitness, as I can feel the difference it makes in my happiness and health. It really has been an amazing, transformative experience that I don’t think any place but the Ice Chamber could have guided me through.”

Joanna used that renewed sense of vitality to make some major changes in her life. She recently decided to take a break from public teaching in Oakland and is now moving to the country with her two young boys. Bon voyage Joanna! We’ll really miss you.

Click Image to Enlarge

Big risk, big reward. The view from above is grand.