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Stretch It: Propped Up Hamstring Stretch

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 PDT

After a run, my body needs a good hamstring stretch. When you look at the photo, you might think this stretch targets your inner thigh, but propping your leg up and folding forward actually lengthens the hamstring quite nicely.

To give it a try

You can do this stretch on anything sturdy. If your hamstrings are really flexible, place your left foot on something high up like a banister or counter. If your hamstrings are tight, place your left foot on a stair or a chair.
Now adjust your right leg so it's directly under your right hip and both legs are straight.
If you're not very flexible, keep your hands on your hips as you fold forward. If you're loving this, and you want to increase the stretch in your hamstring and also feel this in your shoulders, then interlace your fingers in a fist as you bend at your waist. Pull your hands as far over your head as you can to help add weight to your torso, which will increase the stretch in the back of your right leg.
Stay like this for 30 seconds or more. Then press into your right foot, bend your right knee slightly, and come to stand up. Release your hands if they were interlaced and lower your left foot to the ground. This is an intense stretch so alternately kick your legs and swing your arms to release your muscles. When you're ready, prop your right leg up and repeat this stretch on the other side.

Hollywood Secrets For a Toned, Perky Butt

Self — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:07:28 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Do you still fantasize about your 15-year-old butt? If things have gone south (literally!) since high school, you can rest assured there's an easier way to reclaim your perky backside than wrestling that old cheerleader uniform out of storage.

So put down your pom-poms, pull on your favorite pair of sneakers, and get ready to defy gravity. These three butt blasters from Hollywood's hottest celebrity trainers will whip your tush into shape faster than you can say, "Go, team, go!"

Trainer: Ashley Borden Notable Client: Natasha Bedingfield

Favorite Move: Put a medium-resistance miniband around the top of your knees. If you don't have a miniband, just be sure to stay focused on the alignment of your knees and ankles throughout this move. Start laying on your back with your hands palms up along your sides, knees bent, looking toward your knees (top). Draw your belly button in. Squeeze your glutes and press hips up into a bridge position where you can see your pubic bone without moving your arms (bottom). Hold for a one-one-thousand second count. Count and bring your body back down to the start position. Repeat 20 times with a medium tempo.

Get more butt moves after the break!

Beyond the Basics: Inner Thigh Stretches

Michele Foley — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:15:43 PDT

After a weekend spent doing Pilates and ballet-inspired workouts, I experienced a type of muscle soreness that was entirely new to me - my inner thighs (aka adductors) were on fire. While I have a series of stretches that I do after every workout, I now realize that none of them really target this often overlooked area. If you've also been neglecting your inner thighs the way I have, here are a few stretches to get you started!

Basic Inner Thigh Stretch - Here's a favorite stretch of ours, especially for after a run since you can do it anywhere. This basic stretch will lengthen tight inner thighs safely and effectively.
Butterfly Pose - Also referred to as Baddha Konasana or Bound Angle pose, Butterly pose is one of my favorite ways to end a challenging yoga class. Not only does it get into the upper thigh area, but it's also a great hip-opener that stretches out the lower back, too.
Wide-Legged Forward Bend E - In ashtanga yoga, although there are technically four Wide-Legged Forward Bend poses, sometimes an instructor throws in a fifth, Wide-Legged Forward Bend E. This deep pose is great for stretching your hips, hamstrings, and inner thighs.
Frogger - Imagine how you'd look sprawled out like a frog, and you basically have the gist of this stretch. What's great about Frogger is that you can hang out in the pose for as long as you want to really give your inner thighs a good, deep stretch.
Wall Straddle - The wall is a great prop to use when stretching because it can either support the weight of your body or add resistance. Wall straddle is a great stretch that you can do at home, and it's easy to make the stretch as easy or intense as your body can handle. Just make sure to take your shoes off!
Side Lunge For Inner Thigh - It's always best to stretch warm muscles, but you can't always be in a place where it's easy to stretch on the ground. That's why this inner thigh stretch is awesome - you can stand up and do it anywhere.

Suffer from tight adductors? What's your favorite stretch?

DVD Review: Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body

Susi May — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:05:46 PST

Bob Harper has been reshaping bodies for 11 seasons now on The Biggest Loser, and now he's focusing his baby blues on you. His latest DVD, Ultimate Cardio Body ($15), subtitled "Extreme Weight Loss Workout," makes me think of the show, but Bob seems kinder in this video even though the workout is relentless.

Inside a brightly lit modern studio, Bob and a cast of four, with two women confusingly both named Leah (I kept thinking Bob was getting the gals mixed up), lead you through an hour-long workout combining old-school strength training with old-fashioned cardio moves. Get ready for high-knee marching, running in place, and jumping jacks. These bouts of cardio alternate with basic strength training moves for the lower and upper body, sometimes combining the two. Be prepared to do squats and and plenty of them. You will add a little jumping action to both squats and lunges, and making these moves air borne knocks your heart rate out of the fat burning zone straight into the cardio training. Bob does offer variations if you're not quite up to jumping, but if you're having knee troubles, this workout is not for you. It's heavy on the lunges, squats, hopping, and jumping.

Learn my likes and dislikes of the workout when you

This is definitely a hard workout, and I appreciated the challenge. But the challenge comes from reps upon reps of the same exercises, so it can get a little dull. You do however, bring your quads and hamstrings to the point of exhaustion many times during the workout, which means your legs are only going to get stronger. I did love all the jumping and hoping. At the end of the workout, just when you start to believe you're on the home stretch, Bob has you start hopping. You're on one foot for what feels like a minute, then the other foot hopping for a minute, and then you keep alternating. The rest move is mimicking a jump shot, which means you're trying to defy gravity when you're really tired. I loved the intensity. I also appreciated that the only prop you need is a set of dumbbells. I used five pounders (although for some moves I could have used 8 pounders) and burned 460 calories in an hour - love that.

Bob also begins the workout with some static stretching, it's not too deep, but I didn't feel ready to stretch my cold desk bound body after pressing play on the remote control. I wish the warm-up was slightly more dynamic, and that warm-up stretches were actually part of the cooldown, when my worked muscles were ready for the sweet relief of flexibility training. I must say, this is a total body workout, including your heart. This workout is perfect for small spaces, but if you live in an apartment, your downstairs neighbors might not appreciate all the jumping. You can buy the DVD directly from Bob's website or Amazon.

Here's a taste of the workout:

Mistakes You're Making in Yoga Class

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:08:16 PDT

People love yoga because it's such a welcoming form of movement - there's something for everyone. Yoga is all about embracing your body's limitations and honoring the light and joy within you. With that said, you're not going to feel very blissed out if you pull a hamstring trying to stick your leg behind your head. Here are some no-nos when it comes to attending a yoga class.

Not warming up: Even if the room is heated, the class should begin slowly, with postures and movements that gradually warm up your muscles. Sun salutations, Cat and Cow, circling the neck, wrists and ankles, and Child's Pose are all great to do at the beginning of class. If the instructor begins with challenging poses, arrive early so you can do five to 10 minutes of your own warmup.
Trying to be like Polly Pretzel in the corner: It's hard not to look around at the other students in your class, especially the ones who look like they know what they're doing, but don't try to emulate them perfectly. Everyone's body is different, so don't expect your pose to look like Susi Stretchy's.
Being competitive with yours truly: Just as you shouldn't compare yourself to others in the room, don't compete with yourself either. Honor your body's abilities at the present moment, and don't try to do what you did two years ago, or get as deep into a pose as you think you should. When you walk into a yoga class, leave your ego at the door.
Doing poses you're not ready for: I always encourage my students to try new poses, but not if your body isn't strong or flexible enough. When working on backbends, you know whether it's a better idea to do a beginner version like Cobra versus an advanced version like Scorpion.
Being too cool for props: If you're struggling to get your hand to the floor in Rotated Triangle, place your hand on a block instead. Don't think of props as wimpy or just for beginners. Blocks, straps, and bolsters can make poses feel more comfortable and stable, and sometimes you'll feel an even deeper stretch when you use them.

Keep reading to find out what other mistakes you might be making.

Yoga Styles Decoded

Shape — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:34:24 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Hatha Yoga

Origin: Introduced in 15th-century India by Hindu sage, Yogi Swatmarama, Hatha poses - Downward Facing Dog, Cobra, Eagle, and Wheel, for example - make up most yoga sequences practiced today.
Philosophy: The goal of Hatha yoga is to bridge the body and mind with the breath in a series of physical poses called asanas.
What to Expect: Prepare for a gentle routine that often includes Sun Salutations, balancing poses, forward bends, and back bends to work the body and focus the mind. These movements all lead up to the final relaxation - the blissful Savasana at the end of class.

Try it if…
… you want an easy-going class that will challenge without overwhelming.

Ashtanga Yoga

Origin: One of the oldest forms of yoga, Ashtanga yoga was first recorded in ancient Indian manuscripts, but brought to life by K. Pattabhi Jois, who has been teaching it since 1948. Ashtanga (which literally translates to eight-limbed yoga) is influenced by Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a yogic guideline for a meaningful life.
Philosophy: The Ashtanga technique is concerned with linking breath and movement - also known as Vinyasa. The advanced practice utilizes the dristi (the gaze) and the bandhas (internal body locks), which assist in holding the challenging poses of the sequence.
What to Expect: Think of traditional Ashtanga as the zen form of yoga. You'll flow from pose to pose with your breath - no props, no music, and no self-help lecturing - staying present in the moment. You'll earn your Savasana, the final relaxation pose, with plenty of arm strengthening chaturangas, inversions, and other advanced poses.
Try it if…
… you're looking for an old-school, kick-ass practice that's rooted in tradition rather than trend.

See even more styles of yoga decoded after the break!

Strike a Yoga Pose: Wide-Legged Forward Bend E

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PDT

In Ashtanga yoga, although there are technically four Wide-Legged Forward Bend poses, sometimes I've been to classes where the instructor throws in a fifth - Wide-Legged Forward Bend E. This pose is great for stretching your hips, hamstrings, and inner thighs.

Sanskrit Name: Prasarita Padottanasana E
English Translation: Feet Spread Intense Stretch Pose E
Also Called: Wide-Legged Forward Bend E or Wide-Legged Split

You definitely don't have to go down this far. Want to see the variations for this pose? Then

Start off in Wide-Legged Forward Bend D pose.
Widen your stance a little in order to place your palms flat on the ground right below your shoulders.
Start to inch your feet further apart, making sure to keep your heels wider than your toes. Keep the soles of your feet flat on the ground at all times to protect your knees.

As your hips get lower, you can prop yourself up with your forearms, and then move down to your shoulders.
If your shoulders are on the ground, turn your head to the side, and rest your cheek on the ground so you don't bruise your chin.
To get out of this pose, slowly come back on to your hands and walk your feet closer together until your big toes are touching.
Stay here in a forward bend until you're ready to slowly come to stand.