Healthy happy you.
After a long run or a good leg workout, my hamstrings always feel tight. This is one of my favorite stretches for hamstrings called the Lying Hamstring Stretch. Here's how to do it: Lie on your back and lift your right knee up. Grasp behind your thigh near your knee with both hands and pull knee close to chest. Slowly extend your knee as you straighten your legs (get as straight as possible, Read more
The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below. A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the Read more
Many a runner has been sidelined by knee pain caused by the iliotibial band (aka the ITB). But knowing how to deal with this long band of fascia, which runs down the outside of the thigh from the pelvis to just below the shin, can help keep an injury at bay. Knowledge is power, and we want to help keep you on the road. First off, fascia is a stiff connective tissue (like tendons and ligaments) Read more
As Summer nears, our thoughts turn to what's underneath those layers of Winter clothes. If you're looking to tone your backside and legs before bikini season, here are five essential lower-body moves fundamental to any workout. And don't worry — you can do them anywhere! The squat: That burning in your upper thighs as you hold a squat tells you just how great this move is for lower body Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar! Lady Gaga has finally dropped her latest masterpiece, and Born This Way was born to inspire our workouts. The '80s-inspired opus is full of gym-ready grooves, from Eurodisco to Latin rhythms. Let's get moving! Gaga training sessions with Harley Pasternak consist of a 25-minute routine combining strength and cardio. The Read more
Sometimes, weekends or after-work evenings are made for time on the couch. Whether it's because you've had an exhausting day of meetings and workouts or because you're indulging in a marathon of your favorite TV show, the couch can beckon in just the right way. Unfortunately, the cuddly couch can be the opposite of comfort. Spending too much time sitting or lying on the couch can cause more pain Read more
Yoga ball, exercise ball, gym ball, fitness ball — whatever you call it, it's a must have for all active people. An exercise ball can be used for both stretching and toning exercises, but if you're new to this piece of gym equipment, here are some things you should know. When choosing an exercise ball, you should know they come in three sizes, depending on your height. Check the list below to Read more
Simple Salabhasana can be turned into fancy incarnations of the pose, like Inverted Locust, where you balance on your shoulders and chin, and the Locust Scorpion, when your feet touch your head, but plain ol' Locust pose is a yoga class staple. This pose strengthens the back, booty, and the hamstring, areas of the body weakened by hours hunched over a keyboard. Here's a variation known as Locust Read more
Ahh, I feel relaxed just looking at this picture. If you feel stressed out, depressed, or have a splitting headache, give this a try. Not only will it instill a sense of calmness, but it'll give you a slight release in your lower back and a stretch for your hamstrings. You'll need an uncluttered space at a wall and a bolster, blanket, or pillow. Place a folded bolster, blanket, or pillow Read more
