Are you fire, water or air?

Have you ever wondered why we are a certain way? Why we like and don’t like certain things or our inherent traits and characteristics which makes us, ‘us’. 

Our star sign can reflect many qualities and attributes in ourselves, how we feel internally and how we present externally to the world. Whether that be the aloof nature of the Scorpio, a confident and bold Leo or a balanced Libra, it can give us insight into our inner selves. The main factor of our zodiacs is your SUN sign. Your Sun sign is the main astrological sign that influenced the Sun at the moment of your birth. As a primary influence, this is the main way to determine your traits and characteristics. 

We reference our horoscope to reason with our emotions and actions. So, why don’t we use our zodiacs to determine the nature of our daily workouts?

The astrological signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Determined by our birth date, the 12 signs are broken up into three elements, air, water and fire, each with a particular set of characteristics. 

Star sign faithful or sceptic, here is the next workout to add to your routine (according to the planets!). As always, move in a way that feels good for you and your body.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Aries are bold, energetic and full of charisma. A fire sign, Aries are passionate and make their presence known, always brightening up any room they walk into! This hot headed sign can sometimes get themselves into a little bit of trouble with their fiery nature, they just can’t help it! 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Ankle weights
• Small ball

This workout is a mix of lower body pilates and boxing. The boxing provides an upbeat, intense and heart rate elevating workout, in combination with the strengthening Pilates flow, it’s a dynamic duo!  This combination is perfect for an Aries, incorporating their fierce and strong nature, while incorporating slower strength based movements so they get a total body dynamic burn. 

Taurus (April 20-May 20) 

​​Taurus are patient, pragmatic and are very calming to be around. An earth sign, they are highly loyal and relaxed by nature. Sometimes stubborn and always willful, they will always make their opinion felt. 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Small ball

This workout is a total body flow, focusing on strengthening and toning the body. This workout focuses on total body stability, perfect for the Taurus who provides stability in any circle they are in. You will feel centred and strong after this workout, ready to take on the day. 

Gemini ( May 21- June 21)

Geminis are the twins of the zodiac, having the ability to thrive in many different circumstances. An air sign, Geminis are clear communicators, fast learners and very quick witted. They are known for changing their minds often, making it hard to keep their mind in one place! 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Small ball

An intense ab focused workout, can benefit the Gemini, as their minds can be in a million different places at once. Focusing on the abdominals, this workout will push you to centre yourself and focus on your mind body connection. The Gemeni will feel grounded and centred after this workout. 

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Cancer, a water sign, are caring, protective, highly intuitive and loyal. Cancers love to be at home and make it their sanctuary. As natural born caregivers, they love routine and stability. With all of that flowing emotion, cancers can be moody as they ride the waves of their emotions throughout the day. 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Small ball

This stretching flow will engage and deeply stretch your muscles, leaving your body feeling balanced and calm . This stretch will help Cancers balance their feelings, allowing them to take on the world, feeling refreshed and emotionally and physically rejuvenated. 

Leo (July 23- August 22) 

Leo, a fire sign, is full of life and energy, exuding confidence in every room they walk into. Highly ambitious, Leo’s are natural born leaders, always making their presence known. With all of this power and confidence, they can sometimes come across as a little bit arrogant and overbearing, they can’t help it!  

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Swiss ball
• Ankle weights
• Hand weights

This total body, high intensity workout will strengthen and tone your entire body. Keeping an upbeat pace, elevating your heart rate, this workout is fun and exciting, just like the Leo. Using a variety of equipment, this workout is absolutely perfect for the bold and energetic nature of Leo.

Virgo (August 23- September 22)

Virgo, an earth sign, are reliable, organised, meticulous and thoughtful. Virgo’s are very stable in their friendships. They can be overthinkers and a little bit picky, they have high standards of course. 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Small ball
• Ankle weights
• Barre

This Barre workout incorporates various equipment in order to create a deep and challenging workout. Barre workouts involve that extra layer of complexity, coming from the nature of Ballet, a type of dance which is meticulous and always striving for perfection, just like our Virgo’s! Virgo’s love a challenge and approach them with all they have, this workout will challenge and test the Virgos in the best way possible. 

Libra ( September 23- October 22) 

Libra, an air sign, are represented by scales, always striving for balance and harmony. Libra’s are compassionate and highly empathetic, making them amazing friends, family and partners. Libra’s can sometimes be trouble makers and just a little bit mischievous. They will always keep you on your toes! 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Small ball
• Ankle weights

This abs and glutes focused workout, usually the most popular muscle groups to work (just like little miss popular LIbra), will tone and strengthen those sought after areas. This short but intense workout, will elevate your heart rate and get those endorphins pumping! 

Scorpio (October 23- November 21) 

Scorpio, a water sign, are brave, fiercely loyal, honest and ambitious. Although sometimes brutally honest, Scorpio’s always have your best interest at heart. Often a misunderstood sign of the zodiacs, Scorpio’s keep their cards close to their chest and are always just a little bit mysterious. 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Bands
• Small ball
• Ankle weights

This workout is an ultimate glute burn, toning and strengthening your glutes and legs. This workout matches the intensity of the Scorpio, targeting those highly sought after areas. Using different types of equipment, this glute burn will make you sore, in the best way possible, similarly to leaving a Scorpio, it may hurt but you always come back for more! 

Sagittarius ( November 22- December 21) 

Sagittarius, the final fire sign of the zodiac, are fun, exciting, adaptable and inquisitive. A very popular sign, Saggittarius’s can sometimes run into trouble with their lack of filter, this makes them very entertaining and always funny!

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Ankle weights
• Discs 
• Small ball

This workout can be adapted to whatever intensity you need, just add ankle weights! This allows the adaptable Sagittarius to create the intensity that suits them. This is a mainly ab focused workout, using different equipment to level up the intensity and burn. A fun workout to do with a friend, the social butterfly Sagittarius should grab a workout buddy! 

Capricorn ( December 22- January 19) 

Capricorn, an earth sign, are practical, ambitious, disciplined, self reliant and incredibly hard working. All of these hard working characteristics of the Capricorn can present them with a slight touch of pessimism and serious nature. Capricorn’s always get things done, making them great to rely on. 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Ankle weights 

This arm focused workout is a minimal equipment and practical workout. A steady arm burn with some ab strengthening interlaced throughout, the Capricorn will feel strong, disciplined and accomplished after completion. 

Aquarius ( January 20- February 18) 

Aquarius, an air sign is assertive, easy going, cares about the world around them and incredibly independant. This eccentric sign is extremely clever, which can make them slightly over analytical. They feel the world on their shoulders which makes them always trying to change it for the better. 

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT :

Equipment 

• Small ball
• Bands 

This total body workout covers all bases, keeping your heart rate steady and core engaged throughout. This workout will alleviate some of the worldly pressures the Acquarius feels, 15 minutes of pure mind body connection is exactly what they need. 

Pisces ( February 19- March 20)

Pisces, the last water sign in the zodiac, are highly emotional, empathetic, romantic and imaginative. This sign is well loved and for good reason, they are intuitive and always looking out for their peers. With all of this emotion, Pisces can be harsh on themselves and overthink situations.

FLUIDFORM WORKOUT:

Equipment 

• Theraband 

This 17 minute stretching flow is perfect for the stressed out Pisces. Overlooking the ocean, the Pisces favourite place, this flow will relax and release any tension that may have built up throughout the weeks. A full body stretch, this flow will help alleviate any muscle tightness, allowing for the Pisces to connect with their mind, body and soul. 

Let us know if you complete your zodiac inspired workout! Remember 20 minutes a day is all you need to create a positive physical and mental change.

Let’s talk about the swiss ball, and why you should be incorporating it into your workouts.

The swiss ball is a large ball, filled with air, which introduces new movements and positions for beginners to the most advanced clients, including prenatal clients and postnatal mother’s. The swiss ball brings a variety of movements and benefits, with a focus on improving your balance, muscle tone and core strength.

Introducing the swiss ball changes the position of the body, incorporating different muscles to challenge your body to move in new ranges of movement. It requires focus and balance, which challenges your mind-body connection. It adds weight to movements, fatiguing your upper and lower body muscles and activating your core to help stabilise your body on the ball. A total body swiss ball workout effectively works every muscle in the body, while bringing pace to your workouts to increase your heart rate.

How does the swiss ball add challenge to your workout?

• Adds instability to your movements by reducing your base of support and creating instability in your position. 
• All your muscles are required to work together to stabilise and support your movements on the swiss ball, ensuring a total body workout every time.
• It adds weight to specific movements which fatigue the muscles in your arms and legs.

How does the swiss ball support your workouts?

• It allows you to move in an elevated position, seated and off the floor which is highly supportive to prenatal members, elderly members or injured members working through a rehabilitation program.
• The swiss ball provides a softer surface, allowing you to work through movements such as a chest lift, off the hard surface on the floor.
• You can add the swiss ball to specific movements to provide feedback and a sense of rolling.

Now that you know the benefits of the swiss ball, join me on your mat for my top 3 exercises using a swiss ball.

The Lunge!

A Fluidform fundamental movement. Let’s add a swiss ball to challenge your balance and add weight in your arms for a total body activation.

1. Come into a lunge position with one leg forward, one leg back with a slight bend in both knees and chest leaning forward. Rather than using a barre as a base of support, place your hands on the swiss ball in front of you, creating an unstable support. Complete any lunge sequence with this instability to challenge your balance.
2. Progress the movement by moving the ball underneath your back leg, with your shin and foot prompts up on top of the ball. Move through a lunge sequence with this sense of rolling through your back leg. This will further challenge your balance, and place more weight into your standing, supporting leg. You will feel this move deeper into your glutes, and a sense of opening through your hips.
3. Integrate your entire body by holding the ball between your hands. Move through your lunge series, moving your arms up as you go down, and bringing them back to your eyeline as you come up. This will quickly fatigue your arms and back muscles, as well as increasing your heart rate.

Pelvic curl

A Fluidform fundamental movement to help with mobility, alignment and strength in your torso and hips.

1. In your pelvic curl position on the mat, place one foot onto the swiss ball to create instability in your lower body, hips and pelvis. Start with one leg, work through your pelvic curl sequence before swapping legs. You will be able to work through a greater range of movement with your foot elevated and supported by the ball. This will increase mobility in your spine.
2. Advance the movement by placing both feet on the ball. This removes your stability with one foot on the floor, further challenging your pelvic stability, abdominal strength, spine and hip mobility.

Pike

The ultimate total body exercise to build strength and finish your workout session on the mat. When you add the swiss ball, it requires strength, control and trust in your body.

1. Come into a 4-point kneeling position and place one foot onto the ball behind you. Come into a plank position by pushing the ball back, and bringing your other foot up to the ball. Feel pressure through all 10 fingers on the mat and open through your chest. Pull your knees and swiss ball in towards your nose, feeling your entire body activate. 
2. Advance the movement by alternating between a bent leg pike and straight leg pike, sending your hips upwards as the swiss ball rolls inwards towards your nose.

The body is now warm and you are familiar with the swiss ball, let’s get moving! Here are my top 3 swiss ball workouts. Try layering these workouts with your current challenge or workout routine to progress your swiss ball practice.

Mini swiss ball 11

Mini swiss ball 12

Mini swiss ball 7

Here are your top workouts of 2022 revealed, as chosen by our Fluidform members.

Most-played workouts:

1. Mini Abs 26
2. Mini Abs 25
3. Mini Abs & Glutes 1

Top-rated workouts:

1. Mini Legs & Glutes 4
2. Mini Barre 12
3. Mini Abs 24

Top swiss ball workouts:

1. Mini Swiss Ball 6
2. Mini Swiss Ball 9
3. Mini Swiss Ball 10

Top barre workouts: 

1. Mini Barre 12
2. Mini Barre 10
3. Mini Barre 6

Pregnancy-safe workouts: 

1. Quick Stretch 2
2. Mini Glutes 5
3. Mini Arms 3

Did your favourites make the list?