FitSugar

Got Bunions?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Bunions! If you have them you know where they are. That bump on the joint growing just south of your big toe. While you might want to blame your shoes for your bunion, it would be more accurate to blame your parents (they are such excellent scape goats aren't they). Bunions are most often caused by "faulty foot" structure that is an inheritable trait. Certain foot types increase the risk of bunion growth, although ill-fitting shoes can and do worsen the pain, but they are actually caused by a change in your bone's structure. This causes your big toe to grow at an angle and bump into your second toe, instead of pointing straight. The bones in your foot go all out of alignment, which causes pain and that bump to form on the inside of your foot just below your big toe.

There are certain foot types, such as flat feet, that are more susceptible to developing bunions. Some pregnant women tend to develop bunions too, because hormones can loosen the ligaments in their feet, causing them to flatten.

Shoes do contribute to the pain of a bunion, by rubbing and pressing on the bone growth. So those pointy brown stilettos really are just adding to pain. High heels are terrible for bunions, because they push weight into your toes, cramming them even more. Standing on your feet for long periods of time can also aggravate symptoms.

Fit's Tips: If you are prone to bunions, try to wear shoes that have big toe boxes such as shoes made by Keen or Earth Shoes.

Source

A Little Sanskrit Lesson: Body Parts

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:45:00 PDT

When you take a yoga class (especially Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Jivamukti classes), sometimes the instructor will call out the names of the poses in their original language, Sanskrit. Here's a list of some body parts in Sanskrit, so you can get familiar with them. Knowing these Sanskrit words really helped me to remember the names of certain yoga poses.

Pada - foot or leg, as in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A (Extended Hand to Big Toe pose or Standing Hand to Big Toe A)
Angustha - big toe, as in Supta Padangustasana (Sleeping Big Toe pose)
Hasta - hand, as in Padahasthasana (Foot to Hand pose)
Sirsa - head, as in Sirsasana (Headstand)
Janu - knee, as in Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee pose)
Karna - ear, as in Karnapidasana (Ear Pressure Pose)
Anga - limb, as in Trianga Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana (3 Limbs Facing 1 Foot Western Intense Stretch Posture or Half Hero Forward Bend)
Pincha - chin, as in Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Stand)
Sava - a corpse, dead body, as in Savasana (Corpse pose)

If you're lucky, your instructor will only use the Sanskrit names of poses, so after hearing them over and over again, they'll become ingrained in your brain. It's still okay to call poses by their English name too - it doesn't matter what you call them, just as long as you're doing them, right?

Strike a Yoga Pose: Standing Hand to Big Toe D

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT

We've made it to the last of the four Standing Hand to Big Toe poses in Ashtanga Yoga. This series is perfect if you're a runner or biker because not only does it increase flexibility in your hips and hamstrings, but it also strengthens your quads and core, and challenges your sense of balance.

Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana D
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose D
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe D

To give it a try

Gym 101: Strength-Training Warmup

Susi May — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:12:55 PST

A solid warmup sets you up for a solid workout. When it comes to prepping for strength training, an active warmup primes the joints and muscles, prepping them for the heavy lifting. Lauren, my Equinox trainer, introduced me to these moves, and after a little light cardio - for me, it's five minutes running on a treadmill at a 6 mph pace, but the elliptical or a little jump rope would work - Lauren has me do three out of these five moves. Mix and match the exercises however you please, or do them all for a very thorough warmup.

Rocking Lunge
Give an active stretch to both your hips and hamstrings with the rocking lunge. Start in a deep lunge with your right leg forward; you can even bring your left knee to the floor. Straighten your right knee to rock your weight back and onto your left foot to lengthen the hamstring. Flex your right toes as you rock into the hamstring stretch. Return back to your deep lunge and repeat for a total of 10 times on each side.

Toy Soldier
A walking kick, the toy soldier stretches out the back of the leg, both hamstrings and calves. Step forward on your right foot, and kick your left leg forward, bringing your left toes toward your right hand. Step onto your left foot and kick the right leg, bringing right foot toward left hand. Take 20 steps total.

Keep reading for three more moves.

How to Get Rihanna's Rock-Hard Abs

Shape — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:32:58 PST

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

Rihanna is one hot singing sensation. Having recently been named the best-selling digital artist of all time - thanks to a whopping 47.5 million downloads of her hits - the sexy songstress is also a top contender for album of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards.

But not only does the Barbadian beauty know how to rock a stage, she also rocks a bikini, too! No stranger to showin’ off some skin, getting that taut and tight tummy definitely takes work.

The Top 10 Best-Dressed Stars at the Golden Globes

That’s where inspirational fitness expert extraordinaire Ary Nuñez comes in; she’s been training the artist hard for almost four years. “We focus on the core muscles and we do a ton of repetitions,” Nuñez says.

See Rihanna's ab workout after the break.

The Best Indoor Workout Classes (Because It's Freezing Outside!)

Self — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:35:01 PST

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

There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets - from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September - this born-and-raised Floridian prefers to train outdoors during the Summer.)

But it is possible to sculpt, strengthen, and sweat (majorly sweat) without having to be freezing cold during the winter. So when the weather outside is frightful, head indoors for these top full-body workouts that will help ward off Winter weight:

Indoor cycling: Ruth Zukerman, cofounder of NYC's FlyWheel cycling studio, is heating things up indoors with her 45-minute, heart-racing classes. (Self favorite Jillian Michaels is even a recent investor in the company). "I wanted to be part of the most innovative and effective indoor cycling program, and that is FlyWheel. I am thrilled to join the FlyWheel team," Michaels said in a press release. What makes cycling such an effective alternative is that it's taking the fun full-body workout people love indoors, and instead of scenery, you'll stay motivated to challenge yourself thanks to encouraging instructors and a killer playlist. Flywheel has an awesome on-bike technology board that lets you compete against other riders in the class. Plus if you're looking to shape up before hitting the slopes, "indoor cycling is great preparation for all Winter sports, especially skiing and snowboarding. I know from personal experience that when I hit the slopes I don't tire out easily or suffer from the kind of après-ski muscle pain that most people do, and it's because of indoor cycling," Zukerman says.

Try this move: If you're riding an exercise bike at home or the gym, try some interval training. One thing we often do at Flywheel is a "Sprint Chorus," meaning we increase our RPMs to a sprint during the song's chorus and then revert to a cadence on the beat of the music as the chorus ends.

More best indoor workouts after the break.

Solid Bright Colors Rule the Red Carpet as Award Season Kicks Off!

Allison McNamara — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:42:20 PST

We predict that solid brights will be a big red-carpet trend this season. At last night's People's Choice Awards, leading ladies Emma Stone, Nina Dobrev, Kristen Bell, and Ginnifer Goodwin all opted for punchy head-to-toe brights. Nina and Emma both opted for green, while Kristen and Ginnifer went for red and pink. These vibrant hues really pop on the red carpet, and we can't wait to see more gorgeous get-ups at the Critics' Choice Awards tonight.

Cameron Diaz Goes Gray For a Pampering Pit Stop

Lauren Turner — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:52:05 PST

Cameron Diaz left a Beverly Hills nail salon and headed to her car on Saturday. She popped up in LA after spending time in Hawaii with friends last week. Cameron Diaz wore a bikini on the beach, where she also showed off her super blond hair. The bright new locks complemented her neon-accented bikini, but Cameron sported a more neutral look, in head-to-toe gray, this weekend.

Cameron will be back to work soon when she starts promoting What to Expect When You're Expecting ahead of its Spring release. The movie is just one of Cameron's big-screen projects this year, including the crime comedy Gambit, which she spent the middle of 2011 filming alongside Colin Firth. She's being recognized for her funny side at this week's People's Choice Awards with a nomination for favorite comedic movie actress. We'll be LIVE from the event so make sure to tune in on Wednesday!

Jessica Simpson Spends Her Sunday Shopping For a Wedding Dress!

Allie Merriam — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:06:54 PST

Jessica Simpson was in head-to-toe black yesterday for a extraspecial shopping trip. The expectant mother stepped out in LA to continue the hunt for her wedding gown! Jessica has been engaged to fiancé Eric Johnson for the past year, though the pair reportedly pushed back the date of their ceremony once they learned a baby was on the way. Jessica visited Monique Lhuillier's shop with a friend, then swung by other stores to pick up holiday gifts.

This Christmas will be Jessica's last without a child and, perhaps, as an unmarried lady. She recently spoke about her experiences being pregnant while on The Rachael Ray Show. Jessica said, "I felt [the baby] move the other day for the first time and I had big crocodile tears. It was the coolest thing ever. It did a flip or something. I was like, 'There it went. It's there. It's really there.'" The New Year is bound to bring life-changing events for Jessica, who's among your favorite famous women of 2011.

Shoe Review: Nike LunarEclipse+ Shield

Susi May — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:48:10 PST

When you pick up a stability shoe, you expect it to have some weight to it, keeping with the notion that it takes a lot of extra shoe to keep an overpronating foot on track. But the times they are a changin', and running shoes have gone minimalist, across all categories. When I picked up the LunarEclipse+ Shield ($140) that Nike sent me to test out, I was pleasantly surprised by its lack of heft. One of my size eight shoes clocks in at around 9.8 ounces - light for a stability shoe.

The LunarEclipse has a bouncy feel. It's got cushion and spring. The sole is not overbuilt like previous generations of stability shoes, so I can feel the road under my feet, especially at push-off - I feel my big toe adding to my propulsion forward and I like it. The sole is flexible, which adds to the shoe's responsiveness. The stability of this shoe comes from what Nike calls dynamic support, a technology it developed for the Lunar series the company introduced a few years ago. Using strategically placed dense foam, the shoe limits excessive pronation without making the shoe too stiff.

Keep reading for more deets on these kicks.