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On Mondays, we’ll lock in together: See below for a motivational tidbit to start your week, perspective on movement I’m focusing on, and music I’m enjoying I’d like to share with you 🙂
1/3. Motivation
Never carry over from one day to another accumulated irritations arising from little disappointments.
I'm kicking things off with a little dose of motivation that I, frankly, need to hear myself. May has brought a flurry of both personal and work obligations that I can do (shifting from ‘have to’ but ‘can’ is a mindset I’m focusing on) but I’ve found myself defaulting to creating a precarious list of to-do’s in hopes of going into autopilot and maintaining control of the day.
Honestly, it's been leaving me a bit bleary-eyed and frustrated as some personal to-dos keep getting bumped to the next day. And with that comes this simmering irritation, a little niggle of disappointment that seems to follow me to bed each night.
But this week feels like a real chance to hit the reset button. I'm consciously choosing to focus on harmony, to truly appreciate the things I am accomplishing, and to embrace a little more grace. Life, especially during these busier seasons, demands our flexibility, our ability to bend without breaking, and our willingness to dance with the unexpected. Holding onto those little daily irritations? It's like carrying yesterday's rain into today's sunshine – it only dims the brightness.
This week, I’m inviting you to center your intention with mine: liberate from the accumulation of minor frustrations. Commit to leaving those tiny disappointments behind, allowing yourself to greet each new day with a lighter spirit and a renewed focus. 😊 🌟
This mindset isn't just about feeling better; it's about creating space for clarity, for joy, and for the energy we need to truly thrive.
2/3. Movement
Form Focus on Tricep Extensions
I’ve started incorporating rope cable tricep extensions into my Chest & Shoulder days and over the past week realized my form wasn’t ideal – I was swinging a bit too much and not focusing on controlled movement.
This reminds me of the Barbell Bent Over Row tips I wrote about 13 weeks ago (wow!), where poor form can trick us into thinking we can lift heavier than we should. Increasing weight while sacrificing form is a surefire way to risk injury and negate the benefits of targeting the intended muscle. This week, I refreshed myself on form with help from gym buds, here’s some helpful tips to keep in mind:
Maintain a slight forward torso lean with slightly bent knees & locked elbows to ensure a full range of motion: Standing straight can cause the rope to hit your legs prematurely at the bottom, preventing a complete muscle contraction. Not locking your elbows can lead you to overextending at the end of a rep, also removing tension from the triceps.
Separate the rope at the bottom of the movement & finish near your waist, to maximize tricep engagement and minimize wrist stress: Simply pulling the rope straight down can put unnecessary pressure on your wrists and cause you to push down with your body weight, reducing the focus on your triceps.
For reference, this advice is specifically for the cable rope tricep extension using this type of attachment
When I reintroduce an exercise I’m rusty on, a quick visual reminder is often the most helpful. Here’s a :20 second video from @ArielYu_Fit on YT Shorts I particularly like.
3/3. Music
Do you have one of those songs that you’ve known / listened to for what feels like forever but have never actually visualized the band or artist? She Wants Revenge is one of those bands for me.
A video of a rock band performing live popped up on my TikTok FYP because Cruel World Fest was this weekend - a one-day festival featuring new wave, post-punk, gothic rock and alternative rock bands. Yes, I am upset I am just finding out about this music festival after seeing Duran Duran headlined last year, but we’ll save Duran Duran for another day.
@melissascandids @SheWantsRevengeOfficial @cruelworldfest #shewantsrevenge #cruelworld #cruelworldfest #musicfestival #band #music #concert #pasadena #losa... See more
Turns out the live performance was of She Wants Revenge and the name was instantly familiar. I had added “These Things” to one of my now favorite playlists back on September 28th of 2016. Did some more digging and this song was played on the premier episode of American Horror Story: Hotel. Lady Gaga was just perfection in this season. Sharing some She Wants Revenge tracks with you as a result. Fair warning - may be an acquired taste.
Anyways, here is a totally different one for your ears if you are feeling something groovy, soulful, and smooth.
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