FitSugar

Yoga and Regular Stretching Proven to Relieve Back Pain

Leta Shy — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:58:02 PDT

A new study has found that yoga isn't just good for the mind - for chronic back pain sufferers, yoga and stretching can alleviate pain and reduce dependency on pain medication.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, split 228 back pain sufferers into three treatment groups: yoga class, stretching class, or at-home self-care with a back pain book. The yoga group's therapy consisted of weekly 75-minute beginner viniyoga (a style of yoga that focuses on therapeutic and individualized practice) class as well as videos to follow daily. The stretching group was also given videos for daily practice as well as weekly 75-minute stretching classes that focused on stretching major muscle groups and strength training. The self-care group used the book The Back Pain Helpbook.

Find out how the groups fared after the break.

Sit Up Straight! 8 Exercises to Stretch and Strengthen the Shoulders and Back

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:17:47 PDT

Sitting at a desk, lifting heavy weights improperly, or neglecting to stretch the shoulders can take a huge toll on posture. Even if you think you're sitting up straight, you may still be slouching your shoulders and upper back. Crunch trainer Tim Rich shows us some key stretches and exercises that you can do to strengthen your back and open up your shoulders.

Improve Your Posture and Relax Your Back With Yoga Twists

FitSugar — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 05:00:00 PST

One of my favorites parts of yoga class is when it's time to twist. Not only do twists make your back feel incredibly good and relaxed, they also help straighten the spine, meaning better posture and improved breathing. But the benefits don't end there - spinal twist poses also help you digest a big dinner and aid in, ahem, moving things along. Here are five poses that'll have you twisting and shouting for joy.

Stretches to Help Your Travel-Weary Back

Leta Shy — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:00:50 PST

The holidays can be bad news for the back. From sleeping at the airport to sitting for long periods of time in a car or lugging around all those heavy bags and presents, there are too many ways your back can go from perfectly aligned to aggravatingly achy.

Stretching out your muscles is the perfect combatant to help relieve any back pain your hectic holiday schedule has left you with. So if you've been bad to your back over the holidays, here are some great ways to stretch and stop the pain:

Strike a yoga pose. Simple yoga poses like the Downward Facing Dog will stretch and align your spine, and the Fish Pose will help relieve stiffness in your neck and shoulders.
Start flexing those hips. Weak hip joints lead to overcompensating in our lower back, so add hip-strengthening exercises to your daily stretches to help combat future back pain.
Stretch in bed. Not only will stretching in bed help recharge your body for the day ahead (or help you relax for a good sleep), exercises like the "spinal twist" will target your lower back and help get it realigned.

Running Tip: Stretch and Strengthen Your Back

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PDT

Life taxes the human back and spine. After working with so many clients with lower and upper back pain, I sometimes wonder why we ever stood up as a species. It is truly important to keep your spine both supple and strong. Here is a great series of yoga poses to increase both flexibility and strength. Just click on the link to learn how to get into each pose.

Standing Forward Bend - You can keep your feet together or have them separated so they're under your hips. Just let your torso and head hang, and you can bend your knees slightly to bring more of the stretch into your lower back.
Take a vinyasa to the ground and come into Cobra. Be sure to keep your shoulders relaxed away from your ears and lift your head as high as you can to lengthen through the spine.

Want to see the other stretches? Then

Now stand on your knees so they're directly under your hips and come into Camel. If you want to take this pose even further, try doing Advanced Camel using an exercise ball. After you're done with this pose, take a counter pose for your lower back by doing Child's pose.
After stretching your back, take a vinyasa to Down Dog and do a Jump Through so you're lying on your back. Bend your knees and come into Half Wheel. After five or more breaths, repeat this pose, or...
Come all the way up into Full Wheel. Work on bringing your hands and feet a little closer towards each other to increase the stretch even more. Then after five to ten breaths, slowly drop onto your back, hug your knees into your chest and rock over your spine from side to side.
Sit up and release your lower back with a Seated Forward Bend.

Fit's Tips: This is a great sequence to do all at once, but ease into it if your back muscles are tight. It may also feel better on your back to do Child's Pose in between each back stretch. Source

Hip and Back Stretches For Mommies-to-Be

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:00:59 PDT

It may not be the safest idea for an expectant momma to train for an ultra-marathon, race through the lake waterskiing, or hit the trails mountain biking, but she can and should still do moderate exercise. During my pregnancy, prenatal yoga was my saving grace. It strengthened my muscles, increased flexibility and balance (which I lost as my belly grew), and helped me mentally and physically prepare for labor. I've already led you through a sequence to open tight hips and hamstrings, and here's another one that will stretch your hips and back, which should alleviate some of the lower back or pelvic pain many pregos complain of.

Heavenly Massage Technique to Try on Your Valentine - or Yourself!

Zelana Montminy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:33:21 PST

Not sure how to express your love this year come Feb. 14? We say go for an experiential, hands-on gift and give your valentine the ultimate tension-relieving neck rub this year. Watch this video to learn the pin and stretch method to lengthen overworked muscles in the neck, upper back, and shoulders. This quick and easy massage is perfect for after a hard workout, a long day at the office, or to simply unwind and get in the mood.

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

Keep Running: Prevent Plantar Fasciitis With These Tips

Susi May — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:06:42 PST

From pounding the pavement running to spending a day in fashionable shoes that lack proper support, feet take a beating. If you're training for a race this Spring and upping your mileage, it pays to show your peds some love. You can do some preventive prehab to avoid coming down with a case of plantar fasciitis. This painful condition, which can be common in new runners and affects women more than men, occurs when the the fibrous band that runs from the heel bone to the base of the toes stretches too far and tears. These micro tears cause inflammation of the fascia and the tissues surrounding it, making every footstep painful and abruptly stalling your training schedule. If you're experiencing some unexplainable heel pain, try these methods to keep plantar fasciitis at bay.

Got Two Left Feet? Let Zumba Help You Find the Beat

Self — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:12:19 PST

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

If you're anything like me, Zumba has always held a certain allure, but the very idea of dancing in front of a roomful of people sounds about as appealing as doing my taxes or making a spur-of-the-moment appointment at the DMV. I'm not just painfully shy about busting a move but hopelessly uncoordinated in the booty-shaking department.

So after years of avoiding Zumba for fear of embarrassing myself, I decided it was time to stop being a wallflower and start working up a sweat. "I used to be a very shy person but I have learned that everything in life is about attitude," says Gisella Ferreira, a Zumba instructor at the Brasil Brasil Cultural Center in Los Angeles. "Having a positive attitude makes all the difference, so go with an open mind and let yourself enjoy the party!"

As for doing the actual dance steps, Ferreira is quick to point out that literally anybody can follow along with a little practice. "I see new Zumba students every day that have never danced in their lives and are able to dance through the whole class," she says. "Zumba is a world dance fitness party. It's easy to do, effective, and totally exhilarating." If that's not enough motivation, Ferreira says Zumba burns between 500 and 800 calories per class and targets "glutes, thighs, calves, abdominals, core, pectorals, biceps, and triceps."

Ready to get this party started? Add this five-move sequence to your regular workout routine four days a week and, before you know it, you'll be dancing in the streets. Read on for the workout.