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New Runners Be Careful
If you're not normally a runner but have decided to take it up once the weather turns, congrats, just be sure to be careful.
This is because new runners are more likely to ignore foot and ankle pain and are at higher risk of injury since beginners or average runners take nearly twice as long to finish the same distance and also tend to weigh more than experienced runners, leading to more stress on feet and ankles.
This is not meant to discourage new runners but to serve as a friendly reminder: If you're thinking about taking up running this Spring, wonderful, just be sure to listen to your body and pay attention to any aches and pains.
Backpacking: The Essentials
If you love to camp, you'll love backpacking. Basically instead of packing all your stuff in your car and driving to your campsite, and enjoying nature with people all around you, you pack all your gear into a backpack and hike to a remote and way more private location. No neighboring campers playing acoustic versions of their favorite Metallica tunes until the wee hours of the morning.
Class Act: Vinyasa, Power, Mixed. What's it All Mean?
When checking out the yoga class schedule at your local gym or studio, your brain can get all twisted up trying to figure out which class to take, and you haven't even stepped on a mat yet. Allow me to explain.
Vinyasa or Flow - Usually a fast paced class, the instructor plays music and makes up the sequence, like a choreographed dance.
Other Search Results
DVD Review: Cardio For Beginners
I was looking for a way to get my heart rate up on a rainy day and didn't feel like hitting the gym. So I popped in Cardio for Beginners ($15). It consists of two 10-minute sessions, two 20-minute sessions, and a 5-minute stretching session at the end, so you can mix and match workouts depending on how much time you have.
DVD Review: Element Pilates Weight Loss For Beginners
Although I shy away from DVDs with "weight loss" in the title, this one looked so appealing, I couldn't resist giving it a try. Element: Pilates Weight Loss For Beginners ($15) did not disappoint. Hosted by Brooke Siler of Re:Ab Pilates studio in New York, this 51-minute video splits its time between Pilates mat work and "cardio" moves, all filmed soothingly by the seashore.
DVD Review: Shiva Rea — Flow Yoga for Beginners
If you've always wanted to experiment with Flow Yoga, you're going to love Shiva Rea's DVD, Flow Yoga for Beginners ($15). This DVD is all about creative, fluid movements, and it's full of inspired, rhythmic music with heavy beats and gorgeous scenery in the background.
I love that Shiva Rea begins this practice in a seated position, to give you a chance to slow down your body and mind, so you can prepare yourself for complete awareness.
Swimming Plan For Beginners
I am a fan of the Couch to 5k program for helping people get up off their couches and out onto the streets. I also like the Beginner Bike Plan for preparing folks for endurance biking. Now I bring you a plan to get you in the pool, since swimming indoors is a great Winter workout.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Beginner's Gate
Seated postures are great for meditation because they are easier to hold than some poses (like Half Moon pose), and because you are so grounded, they instill a sense of calmness.
This pose called Beginner's Gate also opens your hips and hamstrings, and allows you to practice lengthening your spine and sitting nice and tall.
Sanskrit Name: Parighasana
English Translation: Cross Beam of a Gate Pose
Also Called: Gate
Want to know how to do it?
Runner's World Beginner Program
If there is more than one way up the mountain, there is definitely more than one way to begin a running program. I am a fan of the Couch to 5k plan that Cool Running created that prepares you for a 5k in eight weeks, but what if you want a plan that gets you to the 5k mark a few weeks earlier? Runner's World has a plan that will get you up and running a 5k in as many weeks.
DVD Review: Element Yoga for Beginners
Last night I convinced a good friend of mine to do a new DVD that I had to review with me. As it was called Element: Yoga for Beginners ($10.09) I knew she would give me some good feedback on what she thought about the DVD since she is a yoga newbie. Being an avid PopSugar fan, she was excited to learn that the Anusara instructor in the video, Elena Brower, had taught yoga to celebs like Christy Turlington, Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, and Eva Mendes.
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