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Improve Balance & Reaction Time: Indo Board Training Gear & Suzie on the New “Gigante” 24″ Disc
Waves are a force of nature like no other. Susan does a superb job to illustrate this and more. A great read!
My Cause: Mental Illness Awareness
Train With Me While You Experience Lumeria Maui
Suzie's Health & Fitness Team/Target Heart RateSimone Reddingius Maui Photographer
Surf Stronger Order This!
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by Suzie Cooney, CPT owner of Suzie Trains Maui 
Maui, HI. December 27, 2011 : Your New Year Approach to Health & Fitness Choices for 2012 on Suzie Cooney’s Radio Health & Fitness Segment with the Maui Breakfast Club, every Tuesday on Maui’s KNUI 900AM @ 7:30am.
Make a “lifestyle” choice for life not for one month. Reward yourself with a new surfboard, new running shoes, and make a plan and stick to it and see yourself in that lifestyle. Like what you see in the mirror, but love yourself on the inside first.
Most News Year’s resolutions fail because it is not motivating enough. Forget them, get real and get real simple. Reflect back and see forward. Trainers like myself can help you plan and chart realistic, simple changes that before you know it, it’s March and you’re still on track.
 CLICK HERE to listen to Suzie's Health Segment Now Listen here to Suzie Cooney, owner of Suzie Trains Maui.
Feel free to share your comments and tell us your tips to help our audience can make long lasting, lifestyle choices. Let this be your year to set the pace for yourself, your friends and family. Live the life you always dreamed of now, make it healthy and simple.
Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trans Maui is a weekly guest on the Maui Breakfast Club with Tom Blackburn Rodriguez and Kellie Pali and shares every week, her healthy tip. From how to train for big surf, SUP stronger, train to be extra strong for windsurfing and kiting skills, or how to get off the roller coaster of yo-yo dieting and shed weight for good. For over 12 years she has helped hundreds of people get in the shape of their lives and live the life Maui offers. People come from all over to train and learn from her.
Tune in every week, Tuesday on Maui’s KNUI 900AM at 7:30am or click here to catch the daily, live broadcast from anywhere in the world.
Happ New Year Everyone! See you on the water! Check out my other website: http://www.standuppaddlingfitness.com/ Here you can change your life and discover a new way to get healthy with the awesome sport of SUP or stand up paddling. This is YOUR year to try something new!
Suzie Cooney, CPT
 Suzie Cooney is available on the island of Maui for private, fitness training, stand up paddle ( SUP ) coaching, lifestyle coaching and for public speaking.
If you’d like to join my confidential mailing list and keep up to date with Suzie Trains Maui and other health related news, go here:
 Left to right: Gigante Disc, Suzie, smaller 12" disc, 6.5 in roller, 8.5 in roller, INDO Board Pro, Ying & Yang Rocker Board, Kicktail Aloha! Everyone knows that trains with me or reads my blogs and articles that I ‘m a huge fan of the INDO Board. It has brought all my clients to new levels in fitness and is always exciting and fun; meanwhile allowing me to cater to each individual and their unique needs. I’ve been a team rider and contributor for INDO Board for some time, and their product development, trainer curriculum and application continues to blow me away. My surfers, stand up paddlers, kiters, windsurfers and those also coming off of injuries have enjoyed building their strength on the different INDO Boards and platforms. Even those reentering fitness again or for those who want to freshen up their routine, love the challenge and discover new things about their abilities which allows me at any level, help them reach their personal fitness goals.
Functional training is the key focus of my practice and it’s how I’m sure that when I’m training a surfer or a new mom, all of their kinetic checkpoints are tracking properly before we embark on any new fitness program. The INDO Board training equipment offers me the expansive opportunity to test, observe and ask folks to perform on different, unstable platforms and is part of every assessment for each individual. It allows me to really measure one’s core strength, balance and reaction ability while I’m developing their unique program in my mind, all the while watching them discover new abilities they thought they never had. As a trainer, this is my biggest reward!
 Suzie Cooney on Gigante Disc photo by Darrell Wong 2011 All Rights Reserved The Gigante Disc, which has been a dream come true not only for training my SUP clients on land before we train on the water, but I’ve discovered so many other modalities and exercises that I’ve never before knew one could do. I often make up a lot of this stuff as I go based on the individual’s ability. You will see this piece of gear as one of my favorites and now on Naish’s website with my fitness articles. My mind is always thinking in that direction as I develop more and more exercises and also combine other tools and weights in conjunction with. It’s literally exponential on what you can do for your own training.
My second favorite new deck is the simple INDO Board Kicktail and the INDO Board Ying & Yang Rocker Board, which is very loose and wide, offering my more advanced clients a lot more freestyle action on a larger surface, but I’ve already implemented other uses! For example, today, setting up my hard core windsurfer, Tim Ellison loves it when I place the INDO Board Kicktail board on top of a semi-inflated Gigante disc in the surfers stance. This is his way of practicing his foot work for wave sailing. Then I fire at him an 8lb medicine ball in all planes of motion. He loves it! The INDO Board Kicktail is narrow and challenging, while the Gigante forces him to keep his knees bent and manage the force production and movement caused by the weighted ball. He’s be happy and completey satisfied if we did this the entire session!
The photo above shows me on my Naish 9’0″ Hokua. This is quite a sassy quad fin and with the INDO Board Gigante disc inflated almost to the max, I’m able to push my body to the max. ( beginners, remove your fins and I may suggest you place two Gigantes with less air at first, one in front and one in the back of board ). Aquiring upper body endurance with a medicine ball or weighted bar, while at the same time challenging all the finite muscles from from my feet, ankles, knees, hips to the core. This will get your heart rate up and burn your legs! AWESOME!
If you want to see a few other INDO Board equipment exercises I’ve referenced, you can also check out my SUP Fitness Tips for Naish. Also, you can check out a recent article on advanced core training featuring my client Jules on the INDO Pro Board.She’s got a rock’n body and loves the
 Advanced INDO Board Core Training. Not just for surfers or paddlers! Everyone can benefit! core challenge.
SUP paddlers, you can take your paddling to the next level with just a few pieces of key INDO Board equipment. This kind of training REALLY transfers to many different types of water conditions. Flat water, to big waves, to Maliko down wind coast runs, require all muscles to fire and this type of training also known as “propreocetion” work is key. You want your body to respond quickly and naturally. That’s why this gear makes that difference. Be sure you take your time and train your brain with the new reaction benefits that will challenge you. Safety is paramount and as you progress in your leg, core and even upper body strength, go back to the basics and start from the top.
Progressions should be safe, managable and always proper form. Progressions are as simple as two legs to one, less air in disc(s) or more air. Tempo, speed shift, holding weights below your knees or resting on your shoulder as you might perform squats on top of the Gigante disc while standing on the Rocker Board.
Hunter Joslin, Chip and Georgette at INDO Board, thank you for all that you do to help us trainers help more of our clients and water sport enthusiasts, and putting smiles on thousands of hard training folks, and for providing a most excellent quiver of fun under the sun or studio lights!
Mahalo and in good health,
Suzie Cooney, CPT of Suzie Trains Maui
While visiting Maui, Suzie is available for professional private training sessions. These may include on and off water sessions should you like. She will take you through all the progressions based on your current level of fitness and assist you safely to success. Call at 808-283-2121 or go to: http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com/suzie-cooney-certified-personal-trainer/
For more information on the cool folks and gear at INDO Board products:
You wonder how top professional athletes eat to win? Practice, like anything! It takes practice and discipline to choose the right training program, know how to recover, what gear to select, but what to eat? People often ask me, what should I eat?
Discover the benefits of knowing what to eat so you can to be your best, finish your first windsurfing slalom event, SUP race, or complete your first marathon. Eating for sports performance requires planning, testing and seeing what digests easily. The last thing you want to worry about is running out of steam and crashing early, or worse losing everything on the course you just ate! There’s no one perfect formula that suits all, so be patient and find out what you like and plan ahead.
 - Suzie’s Daily Power Food
In this article I’m going to keep it short and delicious and tell you what I eat to do my best for all the sports I enjoy! My breakfast, everyday consists of healthy, satisfying protein and complex carbs. I need fuel to get me through training 4-5 clients back to back or a training session on the water. I’ll blend a cup of low-fat yogurt ( prefer the Greek higher protein content ), a cup of high quality granola blended with a cup of fresh berries!
Developing and balancing your training routine is for some, much easier than creating healthy eating habits for your sport(s) of choice. I recommend to keep it as simple as possible and to include a combo of fueling carbs with some protein. The two components will be satiating and energy sustaining.
We’ve heard way too long that carbs are bad. Sure, if you’re sedentary and sitting on the couch eating a whole bag of potato chips, a loaf of white bread washed down with a soda, and the only surfing you do is channel surfing!
Think of carbs and associate the word “healthy or whole grains” instead or think of the phrase “complex carbs”; fuel for the brain and your muscles. Most Americans eat “refined” grains with high contents of sugar and little to no fiber. Whole grains or healthy grains contain necessary nutrients like magnesium ( plays an important role in bone health and blood pressure regulation ) Vitamin E ( functions as an antioxidant ) and zinc ( for the metabolism of the foods you eat ).
Carbs are GOOD if you choose the right ones and use it as fuel. Some examples of good carbs are: oatmeal, quinoa or granola. On race day, my first choice is a cup of oatmeal with a pinch of raw sugar for taste with fresh berries on top and a half a cup of coffee and lots of water mixed with a little electrolytes . This is easy for me to digest and can keep me fueled for at least 2+ hours of high intensity!
Next, let’s talk about protein which is necessary to keep your muscles in tip top shape as you break them down. The best way to consume healthy amounts of protein for athletic performance is to eat nutritious, low fat foods such as lean red meat, nuts,egg whites, fish, beans, rice, and low fat dairy products. I also enjoy mid morning during my heavy client loads, a protein shake with about 27+ grams of protein and low in sugar. I’ll use VitaCoco coconut water as my base and add a cup of fresh berries.
How much protein to consume will vary for each person. But for most athletes and in my book all of you are atheltes if your reading : divide your current weight by 2.2, multiply that number by 1.4, the number you come up with is the number of grams of protein you should consume. Another method to try is consuming 10 to 15 percent of your daily calories from protein sources.
The right amount of healthy grains and protein will be different for each athlete ( you ). Eating the two combined all throughout the day is really key. So before performance, during if possible and after to assure proper recovery and repair of the muscles and tissue you broke down. There is a proper balance that one should try to achieve and I recommend taking it slow as you introduce new foods. Be sure you can tolerate certain foods and “practice” combining the two. Don’t wait until the morning of a special event. That can be disastrous. Also, remember to hydrate well before and after.
Make each stroke count, paddle hard, or rig a big sail and enjoy the benefits of eating well.
Aloha and see you on the water and at the finish line!
Suzie Cooney, CPT of Suzie Trains Maui
To train with Suzie while visiting Maui or to hire her for your next SUP Fitness Event/Clinic you can contact her at info@suzietrainsmaui.com
You can also go to her website at http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com
Follow Suzie on Face Book : http://www.facebook.com/suzietrainsmaui.com
Windsurfing is why I moved to Maui from Northern California. Before 1999, I’d sail Sherman Island, Rio Vista, Chrissy Fields, 3rd Ave, Coyote Point, Waddell Creek and Hood River. Windsurfing is still is one of my many passions.
 Sam Bittner! Maui offers consistent trades, warm water, waves and much more. There are many greats that have retired here and new talent charging, like Sam Bittner and Kai Lenny. And then there’s Robby Naish, Matt and Kevin Pritchard, Phil McGain, Mark Johnstone and many others are still throwing forwards, setting the clew on the deck and keeping the sport alive and thriving. Here’s the latest events to mark your calendar, world-wide. Check out the line up on http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/
Introducing Trade Wind Event’s break out 2011 American Windsurfing Tour
The same people who presented the hugely successful 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash, will be a driving force behind the first annual American Windsurfing Tour.
• The premier event of the 2011 season is to be held at the famed beach at Waddell Creek, just south of San Francisco. It’s been scheduled for the first weekend in May to take advantage of the prime spring sailing season in Central Cal.
• The infamous Pistol River Wave Bash becomes the second stop, held once again over the third weekend of June during that magical time in Southern Oregon when the spring swells are still hitting and the more consistent summer winds are kicking in.
• Next it’s off to Punta San Carlos, on Mexico’s Baja peninsula, for some world-class down the line wave sailing. To be held over the last weekend of July into the first week of August, in the hopes of coinciding with a tasty south swell from the other hemisphere.
Maui’s own, Sam Bittner is going big for her sport. Support her and windsurfing! Go to: http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/ to follow the tour!
Rig big and hang on for some great sailing action this summer.
 Event Director Sam Bittner Thanks Sam
Suzie Cooney, CPT
If you want to train harder to sail better, carve deeper turns, I can offer you my 11 years of training expertise to help you soar higher, stick your jumps and hang onto a fully powered sail longer. I’ve trained many sailors and as one myself promise you will feel the results immediately transfer to your next session.
Check here for training tips or follow me on Face Book at: http//www. facebook.com/suzietrainsmaui
Balance Training Makes a Difference for Two Maui Windsurfers
Whether you’re carving off the lip or throwing a forward loop, we’ve all had those days where crazy landings or a gust or lack of wind can really throw you off balance and into the water.
My two clients and good friends, Mike Abrams of Pukalani and Tim Ellison, owner of Polli’s Mexican Restaurant in Makawao, both windsurf just about everyday even after an intense training session. They’ve been kind enough to share a few of the things we do in the studio that transfers directly to the success and performance on the water.
 Tim Ellison flying at Kanaha!! Tim, pictured here loves to sail on the outside of Kanaha quite a ways out and knows that sometimes those jibes aren’t going to be full of wind. With all of the balance training we do he writes: “I must tell you though, what a great session I had yesterday. I can already feel the improvement in my balance,and what a difference it makes. I am even more excited about working with you as I can see the difference already!”
Here, Tim is working on independent leg strength and balance at the same time. The equipment we’re using here is called the INDO Board on top of the inflatable disc, made by INDO Board, called the Gigante.
I feel it’s important to to allow each leg work out the different finite muscles and the supportive muscles that support the hip, knee and ankle joint simultanouesly. Tim is incredibly focused and I often have to stop breaking studio records and move onto the next challenge.
 Tim 1 leg INDO Board Gigante Challenge Tim shows up ready to bring it each and every training session three times a week. If you’re sailing on the water, you’ll be sure to notice him with his smooth style and incredible balance!
 TIm on the INDO Board & Gigante Disc Mike knee balancing on stability ball  Mike knee balancing on stability ball Now Mike Abrams, also a regular at Kanaha, (click here see his article and extra action photos) really loves a balance challenge too. Balancing on a stability ball with your knees takes lots of practice, determination and focus. For Mike, it’s like nothing new. BUT, when we ad a 8 lb medicine ball, everything changes. If you’re just starting out on this move, be sure you practice near a stable object like a treadmill or stationary bike-something to hold onto.
 Mike holding 8lb med ball Balance training should be an integral part of your regular routine no matter what sport you enjoy, or even if you’re just reentering fitness at any level. Having good reaction skills can prevent injuries and unwanted down-time. You don’t have to have fancy equipment like this to make the best of your balance training.
Carve harder, last longer on the water with stronger legs, and get your balance game on! Order all the gear here:
For example, just simply stand on one foot with your knee bent softly and your knee tracking over your second toe. Use a long mirror to see how your body performs and to que yourself. If you like, take a dumb bell and hold it out in front of you and then move from side to side and see how you can control your positon.
Tim and Mike, a big thank you to you for sharing your talents and your experience with everyone! See you on the water.
For more tips and if you’d like to be trained by a professional, I’m happy to help. Call me at 808-283-2121 or visit my webiste at http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com You don’t have to be a windsurfer like Mike or Tim to benefit from balance training.
For more balance tips, check out other articles I’ve written : http://www.athleta.net/chi/2010/04/15/the-new-wave-of-balance-training/
and http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com/blog/2010/02/quick-reactions-and-good-balance-can-make-a-better-stand-up-paddler-by-suzie-cooney-of-suzie-trains-maui/
You can also follow me on Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/suzietrainsmaui.
In good health and Aloha,
 Suzie Cooney, CPT
 Mike Abrams ripping on Maui! “I moved to Maui to enjoy my passionate, favorite sport of windsurfing, and to raise my skills to the next level. Because Maui offers the best ocean conditions in the world for windsurfing, you have to be even more physically fit to tackle the more difficult open ocean conditions, including big waves. Windsurfing daily is simply not enough to help raise your sailboarding skills to higher levels. I knew I needed to strength train with a professional, but not with just any weight lifting coach. I wanted to find someone who also windsurfs because I figured they’d be much better at understanding how to tailor the workouts to better fit my favorite passion. I was in a real world of hurt because my old personal trainer gave up his business for another career. Then one day at the surf shop, my prayers were answered, when I found Suzie Cooney’s CPT business card, that said ‘Surf, SUP, Windsurf, & Kite Stronger NOW
I called and arranged an appointment. It was one of the best steps I have ever taken which has had nothing, but HUGE positive effects on improving my windsurfing skills and increasing my level of enjoyment on the water. Suzie comprehends our beloved sport of sailboarding so well, that she knows exactly what core training exercises, and balance procedures to execute during our workouts. She actually works-out with me for many of the exercises, and makes absolutely certain that each exercise is performed correctly, with the right breathing, and body posture.
 - Mike Abrams SUP’n with style and check out the whale!
On most training days, I usually will sail the same day, and I can immediately experience the benefits of Suzie’s tailored training. As an example, my light wind water jibes are much easier now and I hardly ever fall into the water. I also notice, that I can make stronger jumps, as well as make more aggressive cut backs on wave faces. I attribute all of these improved skills to Suzie’s training. I feel very certain that without Suzie Q’s training, I would still be a much weaker sailor. Suzie is one of the most professional, caring, brightest people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I am so lucky to have one of the best trainers one could ever dream about, for ocean sports. Once you train with Suzie you will start sailing stronger, and happier right away. Suzie is simply the very BEST, certainly a 10 out of 10 in my life. I can’t wait for my next session with Suzie. Try her once and you will never go back or be the same on the water. “
I am so fortunate to know Mike and to be able to see him sail so strong! Mike is passionate about Maui and windsurfing and SUP too. He is so much fun to train and performs well!
See you on the water Mike!
Your fan, Suzie Cooney, CPT Suzie Trains Maui http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com
As you can see from some of my posts, I think using the Indo Board in my training sessions with people is really fun, challenging and raises a person’s confidence on and off the water. You don’t have to surf to enjoy the benefits of this great training tool. For years, I’ve put clients on the Indo Board post op bilateral hip and knee replacements, and those reentering fitness; to help improve their reaction skills and of course balance skills too. It’s also great for toning your legs.
It’s so fun to see their big smiles and looks of focus and determination. I often will time people to the point of fatigue or failure. Then we hop on again for more endurance drills. Putting a couple of dumbbells in your hands or kettle bells definitely add to the burn and fatigue AND challenge. I’m using a 10lb kettle bell in these photos.
You can easily modify in many different ways, the ways in which you progress yourself to more advanced moves. Always take caution as to the type of surface you perform on. For beginners, I’ll throw a yoga mat underneath the drum to slow it down a bit. Or, simply put the board on a disc for my more elderly clients, and then have them hold onto me or a very stable object.
It really makes a difference when you carve and as you push the rails or even on a windsurfer, or stand up paddle board. I can notice a huge transfer of control in strong or light winds and strength when I jibe into a turn, and when stand up paddling while trying to catch waves. I love it!
For fun, here’s Indo Boards September 2009 Newsletter to read more. Thanks Indo Board, that was fun! Suzie
My custom bathing suit by, Julie Stone of Posh Pua
Come train with me and let’s ride!Follow Suzie on Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/suzietrainsmaui
Suzie Trains Maui
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