My Verb - Band

Summer Sessions are just around the corner. Are you ready? Its already pretty hot out, and it will only get worse. Honestly though, be in shape, it will help so much when you can focus on marching and playing and not how much your legs hurt. So, start running, biking, swimming, whatever you do to get yourself ready. Some things I personally would advise...

- Be conscious of breathing. You should breathe out from the sides of your chest, not your stomach, which will help with drum control. When you are working out, focus on breathing out, this will help you not lose your breathe and is also very meditative which will help you on those long runs. Think about swimming, you spent 99% of the time breathing out (if you can't swim try watching someone who can - don't drown). If your stomach is moving you're pushing out your abs which is trying to hold you up and your insides in.

- Pushups - helps fill out your harness/ strap and helps show that drum who's boss, and is good for basic fitness anyway. No girl pushups. The JI Ladies do better pushups than the men anyway.

- Core Work - situps, planks, 100's, obliques, just be sure to work all around your abs. This means work your upper abs, obliques, and lower abs. A strong core will translate directly to better drum control and less back problems.

- Aerobic fitness - try to get out an at least run a few days a week. I recommend swimming becuase it works more muscles, forces breathing habits and is low impact. If you run, please do so with proper form and technique. I also suggest running stairs at a nearby stadium of some sort. This will sort of simulate marching, especially if you stay on your toes.

- Hydration - Drink WATER! Gatorade is good, but you have to be working out for more than at least around two hours and are working very hard in the heat. So, if you're running an hour, skip it. If you come to summer sessions at noon and are in the sun all day working out, have it. It actually works better if you dilute it a bit (and its easier for your body to handle when its not so concentrated). Do not drink large amounts of water every time you stop, please sip. The point is for your body to try not to lose the water and electrolytes throughout a workout, but you wouldn't fill a cup with a fire hose.

Those are the key points to remember for now. This is just advise to consider, please don't hurt yourself.