Do It and Kick Ass
Do It and Kick Ass Doing It
General Manager + Fitness Lifestyle Coach at DIAKADI, Gina Gutierrez, breaks down the 6 simple daily practices to starting this year off right.
Diakadi is a fitness, performance, and life facility located in soma San Francisco, and we have been kicking ass for the last eight years. We love what we do. Together as a team, we live and teach what we call the 6 DIAKADI Elements, core values that inspire us to slow down in life, laugh out loud, move pain free and discover our passion and purpose. We hope these elements inspire you to launch your New Year in healthy, active spirits..
1. Movement
Thrive:
We recommend getting an assessment by a trainer, physical therapist, or health practitioner and throwing out the mantra ‘no pain, no gain!’ Listen to your body, correct imbalances and posture, then develop a program with proper alignment to avoid future injuries and problems. Form always comes first.
Kick Ass:
Already have a fitness program? Our bodies are incredibly smart in how they adapt to stimuli, so the same stimulus over and over will lead to a quick plateau in your training. Playing with your tempo such as trying a 3:2:1 (vs 2:0:2 tempo which is very common) can help you gain strength and muscle mass, while also increasing your functional strength in both sports and daily living. We recommend you check out our blog for more detailed info.
2. Fuel
Thrive:
Look at food as a gift rather than a chore. Simple reminders such as selecting whole, real foods rather than processed items can help you lose some body fat but more importantly, live a healthy lifestyle. Focus on taking in vegetables and good sources of protein, some fruit, nuts and grains.
Kick Ass:
Experiment with changes in diet - gluten free, dairy free, reduce alcohol and sugar - for 6 weeks to know how your body reacts to it. Eat what your body understands to digest.
what your body understands to digest.
cultured
3. Restore
Thrive:
Ideal Sleeping for the body is 10p-6a. From 10p-2a our body is in physical recovery while 2a-6a, it is in mental recovery. We encourage pre-sleep activities to promote restful sleep such as no electronics or bright light (TV, computers, tablets, phones, overhead lighting) for 1-2 hours before bed.
Kick Ass:
Breathing focused meditation is great before bed to clear your head.
4. Balance
Thrive:
Don’t fill your life with stress and pressure or you will miss out on enjoying day to day. Prioritize yourself over all things and take care of YOU. By doing so, you will be a complete individual to do your best at work and in relationships.
Kick Ass:
Every day you walk in the gym, ask your body, what are you physically able to do today? Be honest with yourself and do not run your body down. Like mentioned above, recovery (in the form of sleep, yoga, meditation) does wonders for the body.
5. Focus and Passion
Thrive:
Ask yourself, “What drives and motivates you in life?” Have you ever wanted to try something new or devote more time to a passion like kite boarding, photography, writing a novel, dancing, volunteering? Go for it! Experiment with a class or organized session and discover.
Kick Ass:
Once you find that activity you enjoy, create a habit and make time for it.
6. Spirit
Thrive:
If you could do anything this weekend what would it be? Promote your spirit with connections with yourself and your love for family, friends and hobbies.
Kick Ass:
No matter what goals we have—weight loss, muscle mass, functionality, longevity, or simply general health—looking at the BIGGER PICTURE of our health and wellness will always be the most efficient path to truly taking POSITIVE steps towards reaching our goals.
