I debated writing this post for a while. Because, well, it embarrasses me. Before I get into this post, I just want to express that in no way do I think I'm a fitness guru or, heck, anyone in a place to give workout advice. However, what I can say is over the past five years, I've changed my approach in light of the demands being a photographer places on my body. And I sometimes get asked for my workout routine by fellow industry peers.

When I moved to Orange County in 2007, I went to the gym regularly and did the same routine I'd done for years. Thirty minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weights. I was frustrated with the lack of change in my body, but it wasn't until I met a fitness instructor, Christy, that everything changed. I started going to her classes and bootcamps and realized that though I was working out, I wasn't working out in the best way for my body type. When I first took her class, I couldn't do a single push up. Not one. So much for all that weight lifting, right?

Six months into taking her classes, I worked my way up to doing eight push ups. Then I high-fived myself.

What I learned was my body responded better to low-weight, high-repetition workouts. Since 2008, I haven't worked out with a weights more than three-pounds each. I've now found a mix of workouts that play to different strengths, all helping my body stay in the shape it needs to be for long wedding days and carrying all my photography gear.

Here's what an average workout routine looks like for me:
Monday – Cycle class – 75 minutes of a stationary spin class – High intensity
Tuesday – Core yoga – 60 minutes of core strengthening
Wednesday – Hot yoga – 60 minutes of intense stretching in 100-degree heat
Thursday – Barre class – 60 minutes of ballet style strengthening – Low weights, lots of repetition
Friday – Outdoor cardio – 60 minutes of running and walking
Saturday – Shoot a wedding – which is the hardest workout of all!

Just after New Year, I asked my best friend to create an at-home workout for me because I needed to shake things up. She trained at the Olympic Center, so I knew it'd be a great pick-me-up, so I'm happy to share it here in case getting to the gym isn't something you can/want to do. The only thing you need is a set of 3-pound weights (or you can use a large can of pinto beans…which is how my mom worked out when I was a kid…true story).

Hope this sheds light into finding the best workout for you and help keep you in shape for the demands of your profession.
Happy Thursday!