The Best Of Neila Rey Workouts

    In the near 2 decades of being in fitness; I have seen and participated in some of the most basic, torturous, easy, defying and most hardcore training systems around. With my fair share from doing and observing there are those little moments that peak out at you and a light turns on. The light recently has been on Neila Rey Workouts made by an English fitness instructor with a touch of a geeky side that just brings a whole other meaning to the term Circuit Training. She and others work around the clock day and night to come up with workouts that range from beginner to super athlete and all of them have something that is useful, simple and worthy to be apart of the fitness community. It is free in every sense of the word and the only thing keeping it going is donations. These workouts aren't just another scheme to raddle people in but in fact have something for everyone and anybody has a chance to use these workouts how they see fit.

 
    Neila Rey is a beautiful and very fit woman with a passion for fitness. Not too many fit girls I know of have a real geeky side to them which makes her quest that much more awesome. We all have a bit of a geek in us, it's part of our personality and we all strive to feel accepted for that part of ourselves. I have seen many other sites put on workouts based on certain themes like Superheroes but this woman just towers over these guys with a vengeance and not only has workouts based on superheroes but based in movies, anime, fairy tales, Zombies, Martial Arts, Yoga, running, military and god knows what else and she does all of this just to share it for free which takes a lot of balls and a hell of a heart many don't have these days. When you can make a workout based on a cartoon or a dr. who show it has geek written all over it and I'm honored to be apart of it.

 
    With the Superhero Theme as a favorite I must say some of them are not that easy but doable once you get the hang of it but be prepared to sweat and get your ass kicked. So far my favorite Superhero Workout is between Batman & The Flash, tough and no curve balls thrown. Just nine exercises one after the other and take a load off for a couple minutes before repeating the circuit. Her way of understanding a level of fitness and the way she tests people is just that; certain levels that determine your condition the biggest tests being that if you can reach Level 1 that's 3 circuits you're at the first part of being in condition; the second level that's 5 circuits you have reached a difficult level but once you hit level 3 which is 7 circuits you're at the top of the food chain of that workout. Some workouts have reduced number of exercises like say at 4 you can go as high as 15 rounds. Others have you doing a maximum of ten circuits that don't go by levels but by your own challenge to reach that high. There are really cool workout themes in there like Superman, Black Widow, Spiderman, Thor, Hulk, Wonder Woman and even Deadpool (plan on taking that on in the not so distant future) so you're basically getting a great workout in that's challenging and fun that tests cardio, strength, flexibility, speed and balance. It is a great idea to have indeed.

 
    The exercises in these workouts are very basic and not too difficult to get right away but if you added an element that is challenging and a run for your money, she has turned these basic exercises into some of the most advanced workouts I've ever seen. I once went after the Batman Workout and started dying after 3 circuits and I'm a well-conditioned guy so never underestimate these things, it will bite you in the ass if you do. Want to get in great shape for everyday life, these are awesome to start with and beyond. Now I'm not saying these are the end-all-be-all you know me better than that; seriously if you have read any of these near 700 articles you know I never once said "This is the workout, everything else sucks" so with that in mind, these are great ideas you can use to aid in your current training or want to take a break and do something that doesn't take a lot of time, can help maintain your cardio and strength and maybe lose a little weight and put on some good muscle in the meantime. The majority of these workouts are bodyweight exercises so they can be done practically anywhere so you don't have an excuse for not being able to train somewhere. There are extreme few exercises that use weights but you can modify them to kettlebells, cables and others. Some of them do require a bar to do pull-ups or a place to do step ups but for the most part all you really need is the floor and that's it. This was my workout yesterday called the Ninja Workout; worked up a bit of a sweat and was doing exercises I don't normally do like planks, kicking and punching, made it to Level 3 relatively smoothly and felt awesome. Going after The Fireman Workout later today and substituting my 26 lbs. sledgehammer for boxes to lift and using my stairs as step ups. Check them out and see something to try on, there's a theme out there for just about everyone from the Star Wars fan to even Conan The Barbarian.

 
    

Basic Conditioning To Awesomeness

    Whenever people think of what conditioning is, in reality it's not just being in shape at that very moment; it is a lifelong journey. Sure certain athletes or someone with specific goals to get want to get in the best condition as possible for a period of time but the real aspects of it is not to just be in shape for a period but to keep a hold on it even as you age. Even at 70 or 80 a person can be in incredible and awesome condition it has been proven and it leaves a lasting mark on that person's will to keep going for so long. You may not be in the same shape when you were younger and why would you be? However, if you can stay consistent and making certain changes with a progressive system you can even be stronger at a later age. I'm on the verge of my early 30's which is not that old compared to some people but I have become far stronger and more conditioned now than I ever was in my 20's and I believe in that no matter what age I'll be at in the future, I'll be even stronger and in better shape.

 
    What defines a basic level of conditioning? Some say you have to able to run this many miles, do this many push-ups, that many pull-ups and be able to lift your bodyweight on specific lifts. Well let me put it to you this way, there's a number of ways that has you at a basic level but it is undetermined because there's no general outlook, a fighter isn't in the same condition as a firemen or a baseball player in the same realm of a bodybuilder. My way of looking at a basic level of conditioning is that if you can handle stress and exercise at a level that is above the average of a normal person that's pretty basic in most cases but I could be wrong so don't take my word for it; however, that doesn't mean you can do the same things as others. I'm in pretty good shape especially as a heavyweight more than the average man but even those who aren't in good as condition as me can do things I can't fathom because they have different leverages and structure than I do.

 
    Wrestling is the toughest sport known to man period. It takes conditioning to a level very few really know of and I'm not talking WWE stuff that's the entertaining side of it, the physical conditioning however is mere ballistic and inhuman once you really hit the surface. If you were to get in condition not exactly like a wrestler but the inspiration behind it because at its peak, it makes a normal person cringe with fear with the way conditioning is done. I'm not talking about wrestling specific workouts, I'm pointing out that with a mentality like a wrestler, you can reach levels of fitness that makes the average person run for the hills, that's the sign of true conditioning. Whether you do 500 push-ups or a 500 pound squat, both have insane strength. If you can generate a well-rounded program that you can use for yourself that has a progressive ideal, you are well on your way to being in incredible shape.

 
    There's no real way to look how high your conditioning goes but I will say this; whatever level you're at there's someone who will be a tad higher than you and there's nothing to be ashamed of, at the same time because we are different, there are elements of that person's condition that you are better at. If you want numbers of what top level conditioning is Here my take on it but this is not facts but opinion:

 
500 Push-ups
1000 Squats
9-10 exercises in a circuit for 10 rounds non stop
Carrying your bodyweight for 100 feet
Running 10 miles
10,000 punches in a boxing workout
300 Burpees
300 Kettlebell Snatches in 10 min.
1000 Strikes with a 20 lb. Sledgehammer in 25 min. or less.
Swim 5 miles

 
    All of these possess a very high level of conditioning but these are just things that I have read and observed so they are not my standards they are in the general area. How you level up in your conditioning is up to you. Any one of us can be in great shape within a reasonable level of health to have a high peak of condition that towers over the average person. There's no one way to be in condition, even at specific sports the conditioning is different and you can't master every single shred of standardized conditioning because it's not ethical or logical but you can be at a high level that is well rounded and it can carry over to the things you need to do for your life like being able to keep up with children, carry groceries, be able to push a heavy cart for quite a period of time, moving furniture, chase down a running suspect, run up flights of stairs to save someone's life, swim out to save a drowning person, not fatigue in a fight, climb a ladder and something like being able to pull yourself up. These are all the things you can do if you're in good condition. Being in condition has great perks and you'll know when to use it and it'll turn on when you don't expect it when it comes to a certain situation. These things are the essence of Awesome Conditioning.

Smart Training

    There's a fine line between being smart about your training and being a complete dumbass and not knowing what the hell you're doing. Granted some people just can't understand the concept of how idiotic certain things are till it's too late. A lot of people these days are looking for the coolest trend, it peaks their interest and want to see what it's like because hey everyone else is doing it right, why not you? Truth is those fads are geared for those type of people; gullible, not too bright and willing to jump in with both feet without looking at things from under the surface or another perspective. I've been there I've tried the bodybuilding gig and taking protein shakes and trained so damn hard I was ready to pass out (I'm not actually joking about that). It's easy to see something new, exciting and something you feel you want to fit into and I can't blame yeah, some of these fitness fads look incredible and the promises are unbelievable but in the end, it's money stealing and 95% of these fads will just fade away quicker than a calorie burn on a treadmill.

 
    What most need to realize is that in order to even get the results you want, its not always the program that's the problem, it's the understanding of your own body. The body is capable of great things and we sometimes take for granted the way our bodies repair themselves and grow both the inside and outside but none of us are invincible. There is a limit to what our body can withstand but that threshold isn't the same with everyone, some can handle things far greater than others. To get the very best out of your training is to learn your body's capabilities and learn when to stop and when to keep going. Some of these workouts like those crazy Crossfit WOD types are insane and they expect some chick or dude who is a beginner to do that advanced workout that even Superman would say "uh uh." Not saying Crossfit isn't bad but it does have its cons like everything else and in more ways than one. I believe in finding what the body is capable of but to a certain degree; I want to able to train everyday even if it's just a qi gong workout to build that internal power but if I can't even move a single inch of my body there's something wrong there.

 
    There are three types of people in fitness; one is the guy/girl who is smart about what they do and understands when to push and when to back off, the second is that person who believes in pushing to the limit practically every workout and would rather die getting that last rep even if his form is way off and the third is that poor gullible shmuck who doesn't know their ass from their elbow and chases after fads like a woman who's a shopaholic (sorry ladies) and just puts themselves in harm's way without even taking the time to go through the techniques and what could be useful. It is a challenge we all face and I go through phases where I'm particularly interested in a certain program but if it's new to me completely, I test out the waters and find out if my body has the greenlight to do some tough stuff and more so if they actually have any interest to me afterwards. I have pushed myself to limits that would make most people cringe and have seen great friends push themselves so hard it took them awhile to get back to the frontlines. I'm a firm believer in pushing to see what you're capable of but only do it when the time is right and you're 100% ready because if you're not you're going to suffer some consequences.

 
    To make the right choices in your training is by experimenting and if something doesn't feel right regardless of what the workout says, it's best you don't so it. If it something you're interested in and it helps you plus you're happy and you're not fighting it that's what you ought to get good at and utilize it within another program that perks you up. Mix it up, make a game out of it, use your brain and don't always listen to what some dumb trainer told you to do, do it because you love it. I've seen some awful trainers in my time but the best ones I know of helps you find that passion, the type of training that excites you regardless of what you're feeling and they will push you but they also know what buttons to push. Don't be a shmuck who's a sucker for every fad that came his way; be that person who trains with passion, willing to push when you need to and smile about it not frown and bitch because bitching just makes things worse. I get it sometimes we can't be giddy all the time when we train because I'm certainly not the type of guy who jumps for joy like a little school boy who saw the coolest candy in the candy store at every workout, I have days where I just want my workout to be over with and let it go the rest of the day but at the same time even in that state at times I know I'm making things happen for myself because it's my passion and practically my birthright for doing this so even on the bad days, it's still awesome in the end. Do what works for you and celebrate your accomplishments and your challenges, find what you love and let it be the driving force for anything that comes into your life. Be awesome.

Batman’s Conditioning

    For anyone that has the read the comics or has seen Batman Begins, we know how rigorous the Caped Crusader's training is, although exaggerated in some ways, in others it is admired. He doesn't do much in the realm of weights although it's been seen a time or too possibly in the cartoons but what you see from him is a no bullshit entity of superior conditioning; Push-ups, Squats, Pull-ups, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Parkour, unbelievable endurance, crazy strength for a guy without super powers and his awareness and understanding of his body is just incredible. To get a basic idea of the closest thing to a realistic Batman workout is by doing the Batman Workout. There is even a challenge which has you doing the main three bodyweight exercises; Push-ups, Squats and Sit-ups over a 30 day period that has an increase in repetition.

 

    When it comes down to it, some of the best athletes in the world relied mostly on bodyweight training it's a known fact; guys like Rocky Marciano, Ricky Henderson, Hershel Walker, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantel, Frank Gotch, Karl Gotch, The Great Gama, Lou Thesz and others. So whether you want to believe it or not, bodyweight training is an incredible staple of physical conditioning and it's even made its way not just in Batman but others like Doc Savage. Batman in my opinion takes it to its very peak doing things that weights can't even measure even if he was equipped with a gym chalk full of machines and weights. He uses what's practical, efficient and can be used anywhere because as you know he stalks the night for viscous criminals and needs that reserved endurance and strength to take them down and brought to justice. Think about it, if you're the city's night watchman and need to stake out the most notorious crooks even those that freaking huge (Bane and Killer Crock ring a bell?), do you really think weights are going to help in the long run for the strength you need as you're fighting them off? I'm not saying weights aren't good they are in many cases but yet when it comes down to it you need that reserved strength like a conditioned fighter. You have to able to use it a moment's notice and not for a short term workout; it's got work outside the gym as well as in.

 

   Despite no superpowers and doesn't heal quite as quickly as most heroes, Batman is the only human hero that is practically superhuman. Sure he doesn't have much sleep and has to keep up appearances as Bruce Wayne but when he gets in that zone, in that mindset where no matter what the odds he finds a way to get the job done and that goes along with his training. Like I said if you ever read what his actual workouts are like it is grossly exaggerated and makes even the most conditioned athlete look like a small chump but yet there are possibilities if we even cut down to a 1/3 of what he does would benefit anyone who wants to get in some serious shape. If he actually existed and taught even remotely a small dose of his conditioning secrets, think of what that would mean to a MMA Fighter, Boxer, Baseball Player, Track Athlete and Strongman.

 
    His training is in my opinion, underrated yet led by example because you don't have to do the exact same things he does (quite frankly no one can) but you can however do something and think in a different perspective on elevating your strength and conditioning to another level using a progressive system and the understanding of food intake, recovery and sleep. Batman in most people's eyes is the greatest Comic Book hero ever created and why; because he's more relatable as to being human and struggling to do well in the world like the rest of us. Sure we don't have his billions of dollars and a secret batcave or hell even the damn gadgets but even without those things he's still human and has developed himself through hard fought training, brains and the will to fight for what he believes in. So the next time you knock a system of exercise that seems too basic and is only good for endurance; do half of what Batman does and see how well conditioned you are.

Get It Right In The Hole

    I was never really that big of a fan of Golf unless it was on a video game or watching movies like Tin Cup, Happy Gilmore or Caddyshack. I barely think it's a sport but yet in a way I admire Golfers for their key eye on how to go for the right shots and those unexpected putts in the hole from 100 ft is pretty awesome. It takes much more than hitting a ball with a messed up looking stick and knocking it in a Gopher hole. Your eye sight needs to be sharp, timing your swing is a key and regardless of power you need a rhythm in speed and technique. Sure some guys can knock a ball 300 yards or more but how many can accurately secure a ball on the green from say 75 yards and have it be less than 20ft from the hole, that's some serious Golf right there.

 
    Now beyond the swing, you don't need to grip the club that hard and you don't need to hit it so hard you pull a muscle, you can have a great swing with a solid grip that is stable but not crushing. There's not a whole lot of strength in it once you get the hang of it. Flexibility is a factor and the ability to breathe. Some of those guys pull muscles not from straining their swing but because they're holding their breath and yet lose their power. Think of it this way, you're an avid Golfer; what if you can jump up your game just by your thoughts along with your practice? The mental part of the game is even more essential than the physical and knowing the ability on how to use your mind within your own realm of imagination. Also your breath is your power more than your muscles, when you know how to breathe and have that pattern in your swing, you can generate more power without needing to tense up.

 
    Picture yourself in your own little Movie Theater, you have your own seat in the press box or wherever you choose to sit, no one is around and the only thing that is going on is you watching a movie. Breathe a little deeper and sink into your private film as you watch yourself hit the ball further with that perfect swing, feel the air in your body as the wind runs through the course, it's the perfect weather and it's just you, your clubs and the hole you're shooting into. Picture walking up to the ball with ease, feel the grass in your feet, see it as if your shoe padding felt like the grass you are walking on. You take out your next club and you intuitively know it's the right club. You make another perfect swing, you breathe into the club as you go up and come back and hit the ball, it goes another 60 yards or so, you're getting closer, feel your heart riddled with joy and feeling happy. Everything is quiet, feel that warm weather, the sensation of power in your hands as you grip the club, you zoom in on the flag, zoom out and get ready for your shot, you are confident, you have incredible control of the ball and it goes where you tell it to go. As the ball is heading to the flag you know right there it's going to land just mere feet away and your winning shot is in your grasp. You get to the top of the putting green, your shot is just a couple feet away but you want to savor the moment, take in that deep breath of fresh, crisp air and as you take out your putter, you are not only going to win this match but you made it ahead to where the other golfers can't keep up. The shot is yours, bring that putter back breathing into the pull back and as you come forward in your swing, it becomes a magnet for when it hits the ball that magnetic field puts it right in the hole. You are the champion, the big winning check is yours and you earned every penny of it. Picture this often and see what happens in your game.

 
    When you take that long driver and you want to put that ball so far out, the blast of the club to the ball is so loud it carries over to the next course. That is power my friend, make that club crack with super accuracy and majestic strength, your fellow golfers will think you're on steroids. The sound of lightning striking, thundering power into the ball with effortless aim and sending that ball into the stratosphere as you send it home while having it go for the ride its life. This is beyond the game, it is your game and you have the power to become a champion.