Wellness
Wellness
Mental Health Series: Why Self-Care is Important
The classic struggle It’s the classic struggle of finding balance between work and life. While we know that we need to recharge, it’s easy to feel like a hero when we spend all of our time working and caring for others. Our American ideals of hard work and emphasis on achievement make it easy to […]
Wellness
Barre Workouts You Can Do At Home: Part II
In Part I of this series, Joli explained the benefits and history of Barre workouts. Here she gives us a basic workout you can start doing at home today. The “fold-over” series Adding barre exercises to your home workouts is a powerful way to specifically target the glutes and core. Barre instructor and international instructor, […]
Wellness
Barre Workouts You Can Do At Home: Part I
One of the hottest trends in fitness right now is a fresh take on an old classic … barre workouts. Offered by boutique studios around the country, these workouts emphasize precision and the development of long, lean muscle by building on the techniques of yoga, pilates, and dance. Using a few simple props and the […]
Fitness
How to Recover from an Injury and Maintain Fitness Using the Elliptical
When aches and pains cross our path, it’s easy to think our fitness will be lost as we heal, but in many cases, we can maintain and recover efficiently by employing a new paradigm of training called active recovery. Healing from knee pain. Take Emily, for example. She was training for her first half marathon […]
Wellness
How To Stay Fit Into Your Seventh Decade And Beyond
More than any other age group, one size does not fit all when it comes to creating a training plan for older adults. While we can all give examples of phenomenal athletes who continue to compete into their seventh decade (and beyond), many of us are more concerned with continuing our daily activities and avoiding […]
Wellness
The Answer To A Mom's Question: How To Do Yoga With A Three-Year Old?
Question: I recently started taking a yoga class for active recovery and love how it makes me feel. I’d like to share yoga with my three year old daughter, but I don’t know where to start. Do you have any tips on practicing yoga with small children? Answer: I’m so glad to hear that you’re […]
Wellness
Beat the Slouch
You’ve probably all heard the buzz about the dangers of prolonged sitting and the scary headlines like, “sitting is the new smoking.” While it’s true that long periods of sitting can have some very negative effects on your body over time, the fact is that we often HAVE to sit because of our jobs. One […]
Fitness
Ask an Expert: How to Heal and Prevent Shin Splints
I’m new to running and experiencing painful shin splints. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? – Kelly Shin Splints are a common condition for runners and walkers. The symptoms can include both a muscle tightness in the area around the shin that subsides post workout, or pain along the tibia bone both […]
Wellness
Ask and Expert: Yoga for Better Sleep
Question: I’ve recently started a weekly yoga class and love how relaxed and focused I feel after class and during my runs. I’d like to start an evening practice at home. Do you have any suggestions for yoga postures that will help me to sleep better at night? Thank you for taking the time to share […]
Wellness
Spring Workout Roundup
The changing of seasons can mean different things to different people depending on what part of the country you call home, but it’s a good chance for everyone to pause and refocus their energy on the fitness goals that are important to them. This can mean learning to run, improving a 5K race time, motivating loved ones, or simply […]
Fitness
Selecting the Yoga Practice That's Right for You
With so many styles and benefits of yoga available, sorting out the yin from the yang and the power from restorative can be pretty daunting. Looking for a little guidance on finding the right fit for your first class? Here’s an overview of some of the benefits of yoga as well as the styles that will emphasize […]
Fitness
Understanding Heart Rate
After running shoes and a source to play music, a heart rate monitor is usually the first piece of equipment runners add to their workouts. If you aren’t using one now, you’ve most likely at least played with them in the past, calculating whether you’re working too hard or not hard enough, estimating your total […]
Wellness
Exercise During Pregnancy
As a part of your prenatal care, your doctor has probably already talked to you about the importance of exercising during pregnancy. Benefits include everything from better sleep and improved mood to an easier birth and better outcomes for you and baby. Even if you weren’t regularly exercising before pregnancy, you can still start a simple program […]
Nutrition
Simple Recommendations for a Healthier Heart
February is American Heart Month in the United States, aimed at bringing attention to a national effort to prevent one million heart attacks in the United States. Simple choices in diet and exercise can have a substantial impact on your overall heart health by improving overall cardiovascular function and decreasing cholesterol and tri-glyceride levels. For […]
Wellness
Ask an Expert: Fitness for New Moms
Question: As a new mom, there are days I can barely get a shower, let alone eat right and exercise. Do you have any tricks to help me lose the baby weight, while still caring for my newborn? — Julia Congratulations on your new family member! While it may seem like the baby weight takes forever to […]
Wellness
Post Workout Soreness (or DOMS)
The term “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness” (or DOMS) is usually seen as the bane of new exercisers, but even experienced athletes know that changing up your workout routine or intensity can result in some serious pain for the next few days. If you’re recovering from your first tough workout, you might be wondering how to […]
Wellness
Five Benefits of Pool Workouts
While triathletes already understand the benefits of a pool to balance out workouts, nearly all of us can benefit from including pool workouts in our training schedules. You can always head for open water during the warm months of the year, but most communities also have more convenient options year round. Check around for a […]
Fitness
Fitness Trackers: 4 Reasons to Start Tracking
It’s an amazing world of health, fitness and technology. Fitness trackers are more than glorified watches. They allow us to tune into our bodies, improve our health and fitness, and connect with an inspiring world of social activity. Simply put: data is power. I remember my first fitness tracker. It was a watch the size of a brick […]
Wellness
Horizon Elite Bikes
Exercise bikes are a great addition to your fitness routine and can be used as a form of cross training, to help recover from an injury, or simply a low-impact, yet high-performance way to burn calories. There are three main types of exercise bikes, all of which can be found in the new Horizon Elite bike […]
Fitness
Warm Up and Cool Down Basics
Jumping directly into (or out of) a tough workout isn’t the best approach. Abruptly starting your workout can leave your brain and body craving a bit of transition time. Cooler weather and slippery conditions can also make you vulnerable to injury and fatigue immediately after your workout. So what are the smartest ways to start and end your […]
Wellness
Exercise at Work
Even if you’re getting in regular workouts, there are a lot of reasons to build more fitness into your day and yes, exercise at work. Research is demonstrating that spending your day sitting may undo some of the good from your daily workout and if you’re struggling to fit in your workouts, building in a […]
Wellness
Ask an Expert: Best Way to Wash Workout Clothes
Help! I recently rewarded myself with some new workout gear for sticking to my training plan and they’re already getting stinky! Do you have any advice on the best way to wash workout clothes to keep them smelling fresh? -Lindsay Rewarding yourself with some new gear is a great idea! And keeping them smelling fresh? […]
Wellness
Ask an Expert: Fitness Advice for Busy Parents
Q: Do you have any advice for busy parents who want to make fitness a priority? I feel like I’m struggling to fit everything in—eat right, exercise, keep up with my kids, etc. But with work, after school activities and our weekend obligations, I’m finding myself struggling to even get the laundry done. Good for […]
Wellness
Essential safety gear for runners
Whether you’re exercising in darkness or sunlight, with a friend or alone, it’s wise to invest in pieces of essential safety gear that will keep you safe for miles to come. Here are four of my top picks: Runner’s ID. Exercising with identification is not only smart, it’s a new accessory. Gone are the days […]
Wellness
Simple yoga moves for morning and evening
Nothing beats the energy of a group class coupled with the instruction of a knowledgeable teacher–but attending a daily yoga class is out of the question for most. However, just by investing a short block of time in the morning or evening, you’ll find that fitting in a short practice that will provide you with […]
Wellness
Exercising safely in the heat
The summer season comes with longer days and more frequent outdoor exercise activity which means whether you’re riding your bike with the family or training for a half marathon, it is wise to understand how the heat and humidity affects your body. Let’s take a look at the signs and symptoms of heat illness and […]
Wellness
How exercise adds up
You’ve probably heard the American Heart Association’s recommendations countless times: Maintain a moderate intensity for 30 minutes, 5 days per week. For years, this has been the standard amount of exercise promised to help keep your heart healthy and your weight down. And at first, 30 minutes every day of the week may sound easy […]
Wellness
The many factors that affect caloric expenditure
It’s practically impossible to talk about exercise without the topic of “calories” somehow coming up. Whether you’re trying to lose weight by burning off excess calories or just trying to fuel your activity by making sure you eat enough, being able to accurately track your caloric expenditure can be a powerful tool. Frustratingly, though, there […]
Wellness
Supplement reviews: Garcina cambogia
Losing weight is hard. It’s no wonder, then, that people are constantly searching for a new food, workout or supplement that can give some real, practical assistance when it comes to dropping a few pounds. When a supplement does show some promise, it’s not unusual for it to skyrocket in popularity, especially when it receives […]
Wellness
Are you at the mercy of your genes?
We are, in many ways, subject to the genes we were born with. In the fitness world especially we tend to think of our genetics as limiting factors, either for the good or bad. When we struggle with specific trouble spots, we blame genetics. Conversely, when someone has little-to-no difficulty gaining muscle or excels at […]
Wellness
Finding silver linings in life and appreciating what we have
Recently, Linda, a woman in my water exercise class for cancer patients, told me that she was scheduled for a major surgery. To stave off her fear and in anticipation of the unknown, she made a list of everything she is grateful for and all that is good in her life. That is something, I […]
Wellness
The perks of workout buddies
It wasn’t until she was 60 that Ginny Hlavenka, of Holmdel, NJ, got in shape. “I never thought exercise was for me. I found it boring and could never stick with it for more than a few weeks at a time.” Until her friend invited her to tag along at a water aerobics class. “The […]
Wellness
Are you functionally fit?
In your everyday life, how often are you required to do something that even remotely resembles a bench press? And even though they are all the rage in the fitness world right now, how useful is a muscle-up to the average person? This line of thinking has lead to the growth of functional fitness. This […]
Wellness
Get up to ward off diabetes
Do you sit down for more than four hours each day? If so, it’s time to get up! Recent research suggests that the more time you spend sitting, the higher your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a dangerous condition marked by high blood sugar levels. It’s the fifth leading cause of death […]
Wellness
8 Reasons you're tired
Do you find yourself yawning, rubbing your eyes and dozing off around 2:00 p.m. every day? If so, you’re not alone. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common complaint among Americans. Fatigue is sometimes caused by a medical problem. But if a trip to the doctor reveals that you’re OK, certain behaviors may be to blame […]
Wellness
Exercise and fibromyalgia
Conditions that cause pain in your joints and muscles can lock you into a terrible loop. Often sufferers are afraid to exercise out of concern that it will worsen their pain. Unfortunately, the lack of exercise will usually make their condition more difficult to bear. Fibromyalgia, which affects 5.8 million Americans, is just such an […]
Wellness
How to talk to a friend who is sick
Anyone who’s dealt with a serious illness knows how it goes….you’ll bump into a friend you haven’t seen in a while who has heard about your situation and they’ll ask “How are you?” Even if you answer “Fine,” they’ll then lower their voices an octave and say, “No, how are you really?” Or you tell […]
Wellness
Reasons to watch less TV
We all grew up hearing about how too much TV was bad for us. It was killing our braincells or destroying our eyesight or making us socially awkward. Despite all these warnings from our childhood, the average American still watches about 34 hours of TV every week,with another three to six spent watching recorded shows. […]
Wellness
5 Fitness books (you didn't know were about fitness)
Athletes understand the value of cross-training, but did you know that cross-reading can be just as valuable? Some of the best insights into your training will come from experts in other fields. If you’re looking for something to read this spring, try one of these fitness classics from other sections of the library. Bonus points […]
Wellness
Skin cancer: One of the biggest threats to outdoor athletes
In general, exercise is a good thing. However, if you’re an outdoor athlete, take note: being active outdoors puts you at a high risk for skin cancer — which could be deadly. Outdoor Athletes and Skin Cancer If you run, bike, golf or play other sports outside, you have an increased risk for skin cancer […]