Winter workout

Don't let the chilly winter weather keep you from exercising outdoors this season. Even though it's tempting to curl up by the fire with some hot chocolate, these seasonal sports are fun and a great full-body workout, so bundle up and get ready to burn some calories!

Ice skating. This can be an indoor or outdoor sport. Hit the rink for an aerobic workout that can burn up to 20 calories per minute. Balancing on the thin blade of an ice skate also helps strengthen your core.

Cross-country skiing. This is another sport that will give you a full-body workout and help you burn calories. It's great for working your shoulders, arms, back, chest, abs and legs.

Hockey. Many people view hockey as sporting even in which a fight between players is a main attraction. However this cardio-intensive sport burns around 470 calories an hour and improves flexibility, mental strength and focus, so everyone should give it a try. It doesn't have to be an intense match, have some friendly competition between friends or family this winter.

Downhill skiing or snowboarding. Time to hit the slopes! These sports will help you release some endorphins, improve flexibility and is a great leg workout. Also, being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery can improve your mood and decrease anxiety levels.

Sledding. Have some fun and feel like a kid again while getting a good workout. In order to sled down a hill, you need to climb up it, which works your leg muscles and burns calories.

Shoveling snow. This winter chore is a workout in itself. The heavier the snow, the more calories you will burn.

Click here for more winter workout information.

Clover Tree Workshop

Author Kim Foster hosted an event at the Bellevue Club specifically for mothers and daughters earlier this month. During the workshop, the pairs created their own Clover Trees, where they pasted pictures to represent their wishes, dreams and goals for the future.


The women had a lot of fun working together and making their relationships that much closer and stronger. Below are a few photos from the event.

Brick By Brick Relief for Sandy Hook

Bellevue Club member Joene LaBou wanted to help rebuild Sandy Hook Elementary school after the devastating shooting in December.

In an effort to honor the 20 children and six adults who lost their lives at the Newtown, Conn. shooting, Joene decided to show the students, parents and community members strength by collecting bricks throughout the Kirkland area. Her goal is to collect thousands, with personal messages from community members, ship them to Newtown and have a monument constructed there.

It's called Brick By Brick, and people can stop by Ford of Kirkland to become a part of the project. In the main showroom, there are plenty of bricks ready to paint. Joene and her volunteers have prepped the bricks so they'll stand up against weather and time, but they still need drawings, prayers or words of hope.

As of late December, they've gathered 1,800 bricks, and a Woodinville trucking company has volunteered to take them to Newtown when they're complete. Joene plans to collect through the month of January, but if support and enthusiasm is still pouring in, she may extend the deadline.

Several businesses in the area have invited the organization to collect at their locations, so Joene said she is willing to come to those who want to help. If you want to see where they will be next, visit their Facebook page.

Donations are also accepted, which would be used for materials and the installation of the monument. These donations can be made at any KeyBank in the name of Brick By Brick-Sandy Hook Memorial Fund.

Or, you can mail donations to:
KeyBank
Kirkland Parkplace Key Center
327 Parkplace Center
Kirkland, WA 98033

"We, together, would love to build something from our hearts to theirs," Joene said. Joene has also been in contact with Newtown and Sandy Hook, and they believe the brick monument would be a "great tribute" and symbol of their rebuilding —brick by brick.


For questions, contact Joene at brickbybricksandyhook@gmail.com or 425-941-3915.

Minutes to Thin It Videos

If you haven't yet, read the January article, "Minutes to Thin It", here.

In order to make the most of your workout, you have to make sure to do the moves correctly! We enlisted the help of Bellevue Club trainer Siri Spurrier to demonstrate some of the more complicated exercises from the article. Watch the videos below and consult the REFLECTIONS article for any further explanation.

Oh, and don't forget to have a little fun!

Mountain Climbers


Keep your back straight and your arms strong as you jump in to your body one leg at a time. Keep your head down to lessen the strain on your neck.

Overhead Press


Keep your back straight and your feet about shoulder-width apart. No arching your back or hunching your shoulders. Lift and bring your arms back down slowly, always keeping your shoulder muscles engaged.

Plank Knee Twist


Keep your back flat and shoulders hip-width apart. Bring your knee to your elbow until it nearly touches, then slowly bring it back down.


Seated Russian Twists


Keep your shoulders back because hunching will create a strain on your back. With your arms out in front of you, twist from side to side in a controlled motion, using your abs to do the work.

Single-leg Dip


Keep your hands flat against the mat behind you. Lifting your leg straight up, dip back down, utilizing your triceps and core, but never letting your butt touch the mat. Your elbows should be bending behind you, not to the sides.
  
Squat Jumps


Make sure your knees never go over your toes. After leaning back in a sitting position, you'll want to explode up, landing lightly back on your feet.

Hovering Situp


This exercise is a bit more challenging, so make sure to start slow. You'd rather go at a slower pace and perform it correctly, than rush through it and hurt your neck or back. When you crunch up, make sure to keep your back straight and maintain that 90-degree angle with your legs.