you had me at happy body: 30-minute weekly workout

Hey, Happy Lady! Have we got a treat for you. And guess what? It's on the house! (You can tip us later. We accept all bribes, preferably in red wine and fine cheese.)

But first... some history.

About a year ago, we decided to start our own neighborhood workout group. We had grand plans of a weekly, boot-camp style, 60-minute workout with lots of equipment. We even went so far as setting up all the stations in our backyard, labeling each one, and inviting all our friends and neighbors. It was a great idea in theory, but in reality, it was a lot of work and time that we did not have.

As the weeks went on, our workouts evolved. We ditched most of the equipment, we stopped setting up stations, and as the summer progressed and the temperatures increased, we decided to move it indoors. (Happy Ladies can be delicate flowers in the California valley heat).

Then, one week, Vicki stumbled upon a great workout style called "tabata." Did someone say ciabatta?? No. Get your head outta the bread. This, Happy Ladies, is one of the best exercise concepts known to (wo)man. The idea is that you perform an exercise at maximal intensity for a set amount of time, typically 20 seconds, then rest for a shorter period of time, typically 10 seconds. Basically, a form of high intensity interval training.

First off, it's great for those that tend to get bored during workouts. Second, it's a great way to push yourself to the next level... because let's face it, you can do most things for 20 seconds. And third, it blasts calories in a fraction of the time. (Read: more time for happy hour.)

So, without further ado, here is your workout. 

Try it out and let us know what you think!

Julia & Vicki