Blog Spot February 2021
by Ivana Yu
Greetings from IEEE SCV WIE! We’re now a few months into 2021 and we hope those months have been treating you well.
It’s starting to feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is just ahead. Stay strong, those of you still stuck at home! Luckily, members feeling a little stiff in the joints had the opportunity to participate in a Tabata workout hosted by SCV WIE in February.
What is Tabata? Tabata is a type of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). The entire workout only lasts four minutes: 20 seconds of exercise followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated eight times. The idea is to do heavy training in a short time, unlike traditional cardio that might spread a less intense activity over a longer period. It’s an effective way to improve performance and endurance. But be warned: the high exertion and short respites mean Tabata is not for the faint of heart!
Leading the workout was Kelly Cox, a specialist in fitness and nutrition dedicated to bringing good health to those who are disadvantaged but most in need. Kelly has 12 years of industry experience and a certification as a holistic health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She started by teaching turbo kickboxing at a local Santa Clara community center and soon branched out to Zumba, yoga, and personal training in bootcamps and her own studio. Today she’s pursuing a degree in anthropology, hoping to become a voice for change in public health programs.
Kelly’s high energy and encouraging words inspired everyone to do their best. Most participants had never done Tabata before and Kelly took that into account, guiding everyone through warm-ups before moving on to harder exercises. Not everyone could execute the more difficult exercises near the end, but Kelly gave them alternatives so everyone could move according to their comfort levels.
All in all, a fun but exhausting session! There’s always a certain magic to working out in a group, when you share in the pain yet strive for the finish.
Until next time!