Healthy happy you.
If you run, bike, ski, or sit at a desk all day, chances are your hamstrings are screaming for some attention. Get on the floor and give them what they crave — a seated forward bend. This pose looks simple enough, but here are some ways to increase that deep stretch in the backs of your legs. Before folding forward, sit with your legs straight out in front of you. Take your right fingertips Read more
Seated forward bends feel amazing on your hamstrings and lower back. Doing this pose with a partner, called Double Sandwich, can add some some weight to your torso and help you elongate your spine even further. It also gives you an even deeper stretch than you could ever do on your own. Continue reading to find out how to do this pose. Read more
If you have been doing a lot of walking, running, biking or hiking this summer, chances are your hamstrings could use a good stretch. Here's a sequence of stretches to loosen up your tight hamstrings. Standing Forward Bend with Wrist Release - Place your hands on the mat, palms facing up with your fingertips facing you. Now step your feet onto your palms, pressing your toes into your wrist Read more
I just told you how to do Seated Forward Bend on your own, so now you can try it with a partner. It feels amazing since you can have your partner gently pull you into a deeper stretch for your hamstrings and lower back. It's so important to communicate when doing Partner Yoga. Be sure to speak up and say "pull harder," or "that's too much," or "stay there," or "I've had enough." This pose is Read more
The rowing machine can be intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it's an effective way to spice up your cardio routine. But while the rowing machine, also called an ergometer, is a calorie buster (about 280 calories in 30 minutes for an 130-pound woman) and a good leg and core workout, improper form can lead to back injuries if you're not careful. Read on for our tips on proper rowing Read more
Ahh, the Seated Forward Bend. You either love it or you hate it, but we can all agree that it's great for stretching out our hamstrings and lower back like no other pose. It's great to do before and after a run or bike ride, or if you've been standing for a long time. Sit on your mat with your legs extended straight in front of you. Reach your hands underneath your tush and pull the fleshy Read more
I don't think I've ever met a runner who doesn't suffer from tight hips, hamstrings, or a lower back. The receptive movements and strengthening aspect of running can cause tight muscles that need extra attention. Of course you should never skip the stretching session after a run, but here are three lower-body stretches you should do every day — even on the days you don't run. Open Lizard What Read more
No matter your fitness passion, from snowboarding to CrossFit, you likely do squats in your sweat sessions — they're a fitness staple. Sometimes, the more simple the move, the more careless we become when doing it, and before you know it you have sloppy squats. Here are four common mistakes that plague the standard squat. Next time you head to the gym, take a little time to get back to basics Read more
Whether you have five or 50 yoga classes under your capris, Chair pose (aka Fierce) is one of the many basic postures you'll strike just about as often as Down Dog since it's the first pose in Sun Salutation B. As a yoga instructor, I've noticed some major no-nos that you'll want to avoid to prevent discomfort and to make sure you're getting the most out of the pose. Weight too far forward: Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Your office nemesis isn't that know-it-all in the cubicle over, it's lurking right beneath you: your chair! The more you're sitting, the less calories you're burning... not the ideal bikini body plan. Picture this: when sitting, your activity in your muscles drops and the calorie-burning rate decreases to just about one Read more
