Fitness From the Stars : Part 2

Zodiaction: Fat-Burning Fitness Tailored to Your Personal Star Quality
by Barrie Dolnick, Ellen Barrett

(Page 2 of 3)

Elements

Astrological signs fall under one of the four elements that, together, are necessary for life as we know it - fire, earth, air, and water. The elements stand for very separate and distinct qualities, and three signs fall under each element. Your sign's element gives you your first clue to a good mind-body-spirit connection. As you read about your sign, you'll see how this element is a building block toward the whole picture. Of course, it's just the beginning. Do you feel somehow connected to your element?

Fire is passion, creativity, and force - Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are fire signs.

Earth is physical reality, abundance, and health - Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are earth signs.

Air is mind, communication, and concepts - Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are air signs.

Water is emotional and intuitive - Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are water signs.

Modality

Each sign is also associated with a modality that describes its energy - how does your sign relate to action? Is your sign scattered or impatient, tolerant or stubborn? There are three modalities - cardinal (directed from one point to another), fixed (unmoving), and mutable (going in many directions). If you're a cardinal sign you like to go after goals on your self-approved strategy. Most of the time your drive takes you where you want to be but if your plan doesn't work, you typically have to start over because you're not interested in Plan B. If you're a fixed sign you take your own sweet time to do anything and it has to be on your terms. You might be called stubborn or inert when you don't make a move, but you're also patient when you need to be. A mutable sign is very flexible, which is great - but it's also very scattered and may not stick to a plan long enough to see it through.

When elements, modalities, and the basic characteristics of your sign are explored, you'll realize how important this information is in determining what your best mind-body-spirit balance is all about.

Here are some little teaser-tips for your best fitness strategy:

Aries - You like a challenge.

Taurus - You need to be in nice surroundings.

Gemini - As long as you're interested, you're happy.

Cancer - You need to trust your environment and the people in it.

Virgo - You need real information and benefits.

Leo - It has to be fun!

Libra - There can be no discord or ugliness.

Scorpio - You need something intense to hang on to.

Sagittarius - Action! Intrigue! Adventure!

Capricorn - You want a real goal and trackable results.

Aquarius - You need freedom and the less crowded, the better.

Pisces - It has to be agreeable and without harsh lighting or tough talk.

After you read about your astrological profiles and get a good handle on the direction and strategies that work best for you, you'll be ready to embrace a smart, thorough workout program that will keep your body as fit as your mind and spirit.

Fitness

There are so many facets to fitness and well-being that we will wow you. This is not what you'd expect - not run-of-the-mill cardio, stretch, and strength. That's like describing a meal as food, liquid, and spice. There are infinite ways to make food, provide drink, and make it interesting, and the same goes for your workout. We have designed a five-star workout just for you and we know why you'll do it - because we totally understand you.

Zodiaction comes up with the fitness plan that works for your sign. We draw from yoga, treadmills, tennis courts, and mat classes. We intermingle disciplines that you may not have even heard of. We take that mind-body connection a step further by providing diet tips and spa therapy suggestions. Probably the most important thing we do is remind you that we totally understand what life's all about. You don't have to be pitch-perfect with Zodiaction; you only have to be true to yourself.

One fact holds true no matter what your sign: a balanced workout is ideal. Your astrological fitness disposition will take over from there and determine the specifics, but balance must be achieved first and foremost. With the stars as our guide, this balance won't be so difficult to maintain.

The Balance Triad

All successful workouts have three key components: cardiovascular training, strength training, and flexibility training, what we call The Balance Triad. You can go for each of these components separately or in combination, and you can focus on one more than the others, but excluding any one of the three will seriously throw you off track.

First, A Cardiovascular Training Breakdown

It's defined as a system of physical conditioning designed to enhance circulatory and respiratory efficiency. You'll be training your heart (a very important muscle) to beat faster, increase body temperature, and break a sweat - sweating is good; it releases impurities and keeps you warm even when it's cold outside. Some signs like cardio more than others, but it's necessary for everyone.

Copyright © 2007 by Ellen Barrett.

About the Author

Barrie Dolnick is the author of the very successful Simple Spells books. She is also a high-profile consultant whose company, Executive Mystic, uses alternative information techniques - tarot cards, astrology, meditation, and spell casting - to guide clients to fulfill their potential. She lives in New York City.

Ellen Barrett, the star of four exercise DVDs, is an instructor on FIT TV and owns the mind/body/fitness center "The Studio by Ellen Barrett." She created one of weight watchers first exercise programs, a new in-home walking fitness routine that she is also helping to launch appearances on weightwatchers.com and at events all over the country. Ellen serves on the Family Circle advisory board as a fitness expert and has served as a consultant to Self magazine, AOL, and Martha Stewart Omni Media, among others. She has also appeared on the FIT TV and Discovery channels.