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Weekend Workout: Three Moves for a Healthy Back
You may not be able to see it, but that doesn't mean your should neglect it. I am talking about your back. A strong back is an essential part of a strong core, and it can help you maintain proper posture and prevent pain.
Work It Girl: Reverse Arch Stretch
Constantly hovering over your keyboard, with your shoulders hunched over not only contributes to terrible posture, but can be a real pain in the neck and back. I know this stretch looks a little provocative and is reminiscent of FlashDance, but it is the antidote to a day of blogging.
- Sit on the edge of your chair.
Get on the Ball: Saddlebag Busting Leg Lifts
If you're unhappy with the extra bit of padding on the sides of your thighs right by your bum, here's a move that can help smooth out your saddlebags, which I affectionately call my lower love handles. You can't spot-reduce the area, but toning sure does help.
To learn how to do this exercise, read more
Strike a Yoga Pose: Intense Side Stretch
For all you runners and bikers with tight hamstrings, this is the pose for you. It's one of my favorite stretches to target the backs of the legs, but it'll also give you a nice stretch on the sides of your body, as well as your chest and shoulders.
Sanskrit Name: Parsvottanasana
English Translation: Intense Side Stretch Pose
Also Called: Scissor
To learn how to do this pose read more
Stretch It: Towel Foot Stretch
If you think about it, your feet take a lot of beating, from pounding the ground when running, to walking all over the city, to wearing high heels. They carry the weight of our entire bodies, so take time to give them some TLC. This stretch will target the muscle in the soles of your feet, but will also stretch your calves.
No Equipment Necessary: Tabletop Lift
Tabletop may look easy (shown in the photo on the left), but once you hold it for a while, you'll feel your thighs, booty, and triceps burning. It's also a great exercise that will open your shoulders and chest. Here's a variation that will strengthen your core and increase flexibility in your lower back and hamstrings.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Staff
Some yoga poses require flexibility like Tortoise, some are all about your strength like Scissor Legs Side Crow, and some demand extreme balance like Headstand Scorpion. Then there are poses that don't call for much but your stillness and attention to breath.
Sanskrit Name: Dandasana
English Translation: Staff Pose
Also Called: Stick
To learn how to do this simple pose read more
No Equipment Necessary: Plank V Jumps
It's so important to warm up before exercising, especially now that colder temps are sweeping across the country. Exercising muscles that aren't warmed up is more likely to lead to injury, so here's an exercise you can do that will not only get your heart rate up, but it'll also strengthen your upper body and core.
Music: "Never," by Tina Arena
To learn how to do this dynamic move read more
Strike Yoga Pose: Locust
We've talked about some extremely challenging variations of Locust pose such as Inverted Locust where you're balancing on your shoulders and chin, and Locust Scorpion where your feet are touching your head. Now let's take it down a notch and do plain old Locust pose. It's a great way to tone the muscles in the back of your body.
Lunge Combo: Side Lunge to Curtsy
When I write that Hannah, my trainer at Equinox, is kicking my behind, I mean that she's really working my glutes. No joke. Here is a move she taught me recently; it's highly effective for toning the backside.
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