"Pronation" may sound like a country inhabited entirely by paid athletes, but it's actually a concept that all amateur runners need to understand. The word refers to the way your foot rolls as it hits the ground, and understanding your pronation type is crucial when choosing a pair of running shoes.

Are you an overpronator or an underpronator? And why does it matter? To find out, read more

Beach time is fast approaching. Yay! Unfortunately not all beaches are clean all the time. I am not talking about the sand; I am talking about the water.

Polluted water from roads and streets drains into pipes and eventually makes it to the ocean, and that is nothing you want to be swimming in. Luckily, I have found a site to check on the water quality of the your beach hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is easy to use; you can search by state or by beach name. Without leaving your desk, you can learn if your favorite beach has been closed recently due to health precautions.

Click here for the beach advisory closing website. The site doesn't include beaches on lakes or rivers, just ocean beaches.

Fit's Tip: If you like to swim in natural waters such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, avoid swimming after heavy rains, since many storm drains empty into these waters, increasing the pollution directly after a storm.

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Since many of the exercises require no equipment, Pilates is a great way to work out at home. But it's very important that you do the movements exactly right, so I often worry that beginners may not be getting the instruction they need at home. If you're new to Pilates, but prefer to work out in your living room, then Jennifer Kries' New Body Pilates is a great place to start.

This DVD is a cross between a workout routine and an educational video. Before and during the basic mat workout, Kries — who, poor thing, is much cuter than this unflattering photo! — does a great job explaining both the fundamentals of Pilates and how to do each exercise. For details, read more

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear Fit,
When I have a tough workout at the gym or an intense bike ride, my muscles are so tight and sore. I love to get into a hot shower to relieve my pain, but I read somewhere that heat can make the pain worse. Is this true? Should I take a cool shower instead?
— Sore Savannah

Ahh the age-old question about whether to use heat and ice, that confounds many fitness fanatics. To see what I have to say about this issue read more

We are so thrilled to announce that Sugar user carriefrances will be joining us tomorrow night at the Sugar exclusive screening of Sex and the City! The longtime user is a HUGE SATC fan, and we could not be more excited to meet her and shower her with gifts and a fabulous party among friends.

Carriefrances will be getting goodies from SATC sponsors like Vitaminwater, Swarovski, Mercedes-Benz, Bacardi Mango Mojito, SKYY Vodka, and SJP’s Lovely fragrance. Many attending the screening will also get a t-shirt from SJP's Bitten line from Steve and Barry's. The party will include prizes and drinks from the sponsors above, as well as Lotus Vodka Cosmos, wine from Ecco Domani, and yummy Kara's cupcakes for dessert. Obviously we are counting down the minutes until we can watch these four ladies on the big screen, but we'd like to thank all of you who entered the contest and attend the event. Hopefully there will be many more Sugar soirees in the future.