Healthy happy you.
As a child who refused to swim because of a strong fear that sharks might live in my swimming pool, my relationship with swimming has come a long way. I now consider it one of my favorite ways to get my heart rate up. One lasting emotional holdout was the backstroke; I just didn't like it. These days, however, I am loving it. I find the backstroke to be the perfect antidote to hunching over a Read more
For me, swimming is a natural complement to running. It is cardio and strength training all in one and oh so easy on the knees compared to running. Plus it is great to focus on the upper body, since running really works the legs. I will admit there are some strokes I used to avoid (and some I think I will never master like Butterfly...hmmm, I see a new goal in my future), like backstroke. I Read more
Winter, in many places, forces us to move our workouts indoors and swimming is the perfect way to stay inside and get your heart rate up. Here's a workout I did recently. Try it you'll like it. Warm up: 100 yrds Freestyle - easy 100 yrds kick Freestyle 100 yrds pull Freestyle 100 yrds kick Backstroke The Main Event: 100 yrds Freestyle 25 yrds Butterfly or Breaststroke 100 yrds Freestyle 50 yrds Read more
Swimming always makes a splash at the Summer games, and Natalie Coughlin did just that in Beijing by becoming the first American woman to win six medals in one Olympics. A serious foodie as well as a gold medalist, Natalie took time out of her intense schedule to talk about her plans for London and how cooking calms her. Natalie's training day starts with a 4:30 a.m. wake-up, and she's at the Read more
Two-time Olympic champion Natalie Coughlin is legendary for her 100 meter backstroke, impossible to beat as part of the freestyle relay team, and one of Team USA's brightest hopes for this year's London games. We met up with her at a shoot for her new Pantene ad and discovered that Natalie's also quite the glamour puss when she's on dry land. "I'm a girlie girl when I have the chance," she said. Read more
Many of us are starting to move our workouts indoors. Temperatures are cooling off and daylight is becoming increasingly limited; the days are going to get even shorter. One way to move your cardio inside is swimming and here is a fun workout to try. Sprinting intervals are not just for running; they're great for the pool too. I suggest adding some sprints into your swimming workouts to keep Read more
I know many runners and cyclists, who though tempted by the lure of mixing it up in a triathlon, ultimately skip these races because they're intimidated by the swim. Not only is swimming in open water scary, unlike running, it is also considered a skill sport, similar to tennis or golf because technique is so important. If you feel less than confident in the pool, taking lessons to hone your Read more
I am a big fan of vinyasa flow-style yoga, but in a typical yoga flow class you do anywhere from 20 to 40 yoga push-ups, as my favorite instructor calls the vinyasa, or the link between poses. Needless to say, all those chaturangas really work your upper body. This is why I like to warm up a bit before yoga to lubricate my joints and prime my wrists to take some weight. Here are a few moves I Read more
