Reaching a fitness plateau means you're getting stronger (congrats on all the hard work), but it also means it is time to kick it up a notch. You need to add some new challenges to your workouts. My Equinox trainer Lauren has taught me one simple tweak will make every exercise harder: go one legged. Taking one leg off the floor forces your entire body to work harder to keep you on balance. Here Read more

We spend a lot of time waiting in line, at the doctor's office, or for a dinner reservation, to name a few. But that doesn't mean time waiting should be time wasted. Strengthen your muscles with only the slightest disturbance to your neighbors. Here are four relatively discreet exercises you can do when standing around in public (with little or no embarrassment!). Lower-body barre moves: Barre Read more

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don't have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I've seen in classes over the years. Not Going Deep There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in Read more

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 Read more

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! It's the stuff of dreams for raunchy Saturday Night Live comedy writers, but the Shake Weight might be worth more than just a few laughs. In case you haven't heard of the Shake Weight, it is, according to its makers, the "revolutionary new way to shape and tone your arms, shoulders and chest." Basically, it's a Read more

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! If you're a novice like me, you might not realize that there are many different kinds of Pilates.  And those incarnations are not defined as "hard, very hard, and nearly impossible." Celebrity trainer Sara Kapuchinski just opened her new LA studio i heart fitness xo, where she teaches West Coast-style Pilates to a Read more

Don't walk or bike to work? Then you may think that your time spent on your commute is the least healthy part of your day. And while you may spend hours every day sitting, in your car or on the bus and then at your desk all day, you can still find ways to be active and healthy during your travel time. Whether your trip to work is a short hop on the light rail or a start-and-stop ride down a Read more

Barre-based workouts have become increasing popular thanks to Natalie Portman's dancer bod in Black Swan, the Tracy Anderson Method, and barre3; and Bar Method, a ballet-inspired sculpting program with studios across the US, is no exception. The method, which is taught as an hour-long class, focuses on isometric movements, light weight work, stretching, and subtle moves at the barre. It is also Read more