Lent
Lent is a time for prayer and interior conversion. Get prepared with workouts that will challenge you physically, spiritually, and mentally.
Your hips allow you to sit, stand, walk, run, dance, and kick. While your hip joints can withstand these repeated movements and everyday wear and tear, they're not indestructible. Thankfully, the stretching and strengthening exercises in Lent: Hip-Top Shape are one way to restore joint mobility, keep your hips strong, and relieve hip pain. You will begin this 33-minute workout in a comfortable cross-legged seated position, practicing deep breathing and focusing on the many blessings in your life. After a short warm up to loosen and gently stretch your muscles, you will flow right into a series of half squats, raising your arms to get your upper back and shoulders involved. Transition into low lunge for a deep stretch on your inner thighs, and then work your hips with a sequence of fire hydrants. You will spend the rest of the class on the floor, but don't let that fool you. Your hip joints, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and inner thighs are about to go to work. Wind down with feel good stretches on the muscles you just engaged—which are probably burning—and then relax into hip release for the long hold. A few final stretches and twists will have you comfortably walking, running—maybe skipping—into the rest of the day. The Scriptures and meditations will remind you of the purpose of Lent and invite you to make changes in your life so you can draw closer to God.
Excerpt from In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez (Scepter Press)
Salvation Song, Discovery, by Stanton Lanier, Dum Fabricator, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com)
Whether you prefer Gentle, Level 1, or Level 2 classes, the exercises and poses in Lent: Core-rific can be modified to meet—or challenge—your current fitness level. As with all Pietra Fitness classes, you will ease into the class by calming your mind and nervous system with deep breathing and thoughts of gratitude. Warm up your body with gentle stretches that will release tension and start to build internal heat for the workout. After a brief flow to standing, you will transition back down to the mat for slow bicycles, side crunches, V-sit, and other waist-cinching moves that will work your entire core. Wind down with a long inner thigh stretch that will get at the connective tissue and fascia deep in your muscles, and relax with a few other feel-good stretches. The Scriptures and meditations invite you to examine your attitudes toward things, events, other people, God, and yourself so you can be intentional about what you're fasting from during Lent.
Based on In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez (Scepter Press)
Spread Your Wings, If You Say So, by Stanton Lanier, Dum Fabricator, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com)
Whether you already have muscular glutes and quads or you're looking to strengthen your legs, Lent: Burns So Good will challenge your endurance. You will begin this 29-minute Level 2 class standing in posture pose, practicing deep breathing and focusing on gratitude. After warming up your body with side bends and pike pose, you will step right into high lunge. Take it up a notch with mountain climbers before coming into high lunge on the other side—and then repeat . . . twice. Catch your breath in rock pose and then flow into elevated chest lift on toes to strengthen your shoulders and entire core, stretch your abdominals, and open up your chest. Engage your core, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves as you sit back into half squat and raise up onto your toes. Keeping your heels lifted, slowly see how low you can go. Another series of squats and lunges will definitely have your legs burning! Wrap up with an intense hamstring and shoulder stretch before relaxing into hip release and a few final stretches. The Scriptures and meditations will help you reflect on your prayer life and invite you to make daily prayer a habit during Lent.
Based on In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez (Scepter Press)
Stunningly Beautiful, A Beautiful Thing, by Stanton Lanier, Dum Fabricator, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com)
Do you have poor posture, tightness or soreness in your lower back or hips, or pain in your neck or glutes? Tight hip flexors may be the source of your discomfort—and Lent: Hip Strengthener can provide relief. Your hip flexors allow you to move (or flex) your leg or knee up toward your torso, as well as bend your torso forward at your hip. If you sit for long periods of time or run a lot, some of the muscles in your hip flexors tend to shorten and become restricted. Exercises that stretch and strengthen not only your hip flexors but also your back, glutes, and core are essential for loosening your muscles, increasing your range of motion, improving your posture, and preventing injuries. That's why this 25-minute workout includes leg lifts, back-bends, low lunges, hip rolls, bends and twists, hip releases, and inner thigh stretches. As with all Pietra Fitness classes, this Gentle workout will also calm your mind and nervous system with deep breathing, and it will enrich your soul with Scriptures and meditations that invite you to reflect on the manner in which you carry the little crosses that come your way each day.
Excerpt from In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez, (Scepter Press)
Lush Meadows, Heart and Soul by Stanton Lanier, Dum Fabricator, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com)
If you compare this workout to a song, plank-hover-chest lift-plank-pushup-pike would be the refrain. (It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) Even though this repeated flow engages all the muscles in your body, it will be a nice break from the unique twists and challenging sequences that make up the verses of this Level 2 class. You will begin Lent: Anthem lying on your back, focusing on your breath and all the blessings in your life. After working your core with the Pilates 100 and counterbalancing that strengthener with a few quick stretches, you will immediately get your heart pumping by rolling up to your feet, jumping back to plank, and flowing into that first refrain. Get ready for lunges (with twists), pike pose (with a twist), arabesque, and other tricky moves that will challenge your balance and work your entire body. The Scriptures and meditations invite you to contemplate the purpose of penance and to reflect on what you are offering up this Lent.
Based on In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez (Scepter Press)
Open Eyes, Strength is Yours by Stanton Lanier, Dum Fabricator, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com)
A swan dive is a compound exercise that works your back, core, glutes, hamstrings . . . really, your entire body. Lent: Swan Dive is loaded with swan dives—over 15—and other dynamic moves that will give you the full-body workout you've been looking for. You will begin this 32-minute class in a cross-legged seated position, working on your breath and calling to mind the many blessings in your life. Warm up by gently stretching and releasing tension in your neck, back, chest, arms, sides, and hamstrings. For the rest of the workout, you will alternate between a series of swan dives and poses such as Lunge 2, angel pose, plank, half squat, and more. Wind down with a long inner thigh stretch that will relieve any tightness deep in your muscles. End this invigorating class with a few final stretches and twists before relaxing in quiet pose. The Scriptures and meditations will remind you of God's incredible mercy and forgiveness and invite you to extend that same mercy and forgiveness to others.
Based on In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez (Scepter Press)
So Loved Solo, Scarlet Thread, by Stanton Lanier, Dum Fabricator, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com)
Want a full body workout? The compound exercises in this class target and utilize multiple major muscle groups and joints so you can work your entire body in just 36 minutes. You will begin Easter: Resurrection sitting in a cross-legged seated position, calming your mind and nervous system with deep breathing and thoughts of gratitude. Immediately fire up your core by sitting back on your sitz bones and incorporating different arm and leg movements that challenge your balance and engage all the muscles in your midsection. Finish warming up with a few gentle stretches and side bends before coming to your hands and knees to work your glutes, hamstrings, and hip flexors. Come to plank, engaging your core, shoulders, back, and quads, and then open up your chest with elevated chest lift on toes. Lunge 2, Open Arabesque, and more will test your stability and leave you feeling like you just got an excellent workout. Wind down with Hip Release and feel-good stretches that will loosen up tight muscles and increase your range of motion. The Scriptures and meditations will open your eyes to the reality of what Jesus did for you when he rose from the dead, filling you with immense joy and newness of life.
Excerpt from In Conversation with God, Francis Fernandez (Scepter Press)
So Loved, Walking on Air, by Stanton Lanier, Resurrexi, The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey