Healthy happy you.
The knee-to-chest stretch is a great way to stretch out the muscles of your lower back. This is one of my favorite back exercises because it feels so good. Here is how you do it: Lie on your back with your knees and hips bent and the backs of your heels flat on the floor. Slowly pull one knee to your chest as far as you can — you should feel a stretch in your lower back. Keep the opposite leg Read more
What's not to love about circuit training? Combining heart-pumping elements of cardio with strength-training moves means you torch calories while toning muscles. It's just so efficient. Here's a fun yet challenging circuit workout I did recently with my Equinox trainer Lauren. The workout has you performing each exercise for a minute, which means you need to keep a stopwatch handy, but you have Read more
You want to love running, you do, but every time you head out for a run, you end up hating it even more. Check out some of the most common complaints below, and find out how you can turn your relationship with running around for the better. "My Knee, My Back, My Feet — Everything Hurts" Pounding the pavement is not easy on the body, and one reason for aches and pains is poor running form. Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel, Cameron Diaz . . . Who hasn't watched their favorite movie stars walk the red carpet and grown a little envious of their mile-long legs? Granted, most leading ladies are blessed with superior DNA, but that doesn't mean you can't score long, lean gams too! "What is possible for others is Read more
I don't think I've ever met a runner who doesn't suffer from tight hips, hamstrings, or a lower back. The receptive movements and strengthening aspect of running can cause tight muscles that need extra attention. Of course you should never skip the stretching session after a run, but here are three lower-body stretches you should do every day — even on the days you don't run. Open Lizard What Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! She played a frumpy reporter in The Help, but in real life, Emma Stone is the epitome of young Hollywood glamour. The 24-year-old made the transition from child actor to leading lady look effortless, but Stone puts plenty of hard work into every project she tackles, including her Pilates workout. "There's not much to Read more
If you're feeling tight in the hips or side body, Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana) should be your go-to pose. It's part of the primary series in ashtanga, and I always relish the moment when I know it's coming up in the sequence: it's perfect for giving much-needed love to muscle groups that tend to get overlooked. If you want to take this pose to the next level in your practice, here are four Read more
If you have the ever popular office job that involves sitting at a desk for eight hours a day, it can wreak havoc on your precious body creating tight hips and lower back pain. Many stretches for your hips also stretch out your lower back, so these poses are like two for the price of one. Butterfly Sit on the floor, bend both knees, and bring your feet together. Using your hands, open your feet Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Do you still fantasize about your 15-year-old butt? If things have gone south (literally!) since high school, you can rest assured there's an easier way to reclaim your perky backside than wrestling that old cheerleader uniform out of storage. So put down your pom-poms, pull on your favorite pair of sneakers, and get Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! If you're anything like me, Zumba has always held a certain allure, but the very idea of dancing in front of a roomful of people sounds about as appealing as doing my taxes or making a spur-of-the-moment appointment at the DMV. I'm not just painfully shy about busting a move but hopelessly uncoordinated in the Read more
