Healthy happy you.
Tight hamstrings are a complaint of many athletes since they're often overworked and under stretched. Here's some things you may not have known about your hammys: Your hamstring is actually made up of 3 different muscles. They run from your booty (sits bones) to the backs of your knees. Tight hamstrings can be responsible for postural problems and back pain, because they tend to pull the hips Read more
What's not to love about a forward bend? These poses feel so good after a run to lengthen the lower back and hamstrings — just the tight places that need a good stretch. If you liked the variation of the pose known as Big Toe Standing Forward Bend, since you hold your toes to pull yourself more deeply into the pose, then you're going to love this variation for the deeper stretch it provides 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
Are the backs of your legs tight? It's important for the health of your back, hips, and knees to keep your hamstrings flexible so do these five easy stretches to target this commonly tight area. Try them at the end of your next workout, when your muscles are warm. Source: Thinkstock 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
Yoga is the perfect exercise for expectant mommas, not only to increase strength and flexibility, but it can also ease common pregnancy woes such as a sore lower back and heartburn. It can also help you hone your sense of balance, which is ever changing as your belly expands. Here's a yoga sequence that incorporates standing poses to strengthen your lower body while increasing the flexibility in Read more
Yoga is the perfect exercise for expectant mommas, not only to increase strength and flexibility, but it can also ease common pregnancy woes such as a sore lower back and heartburn. It can also help you hone your sense of balance, which is ever changing as your belly expands. Here's a yoga sequence that incorporates standing poses to strengthen your lower body while increasing the flexibility in 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
For runners, cyclists, or those who work at a desk job all day, tight hamstrings seem to come with the territory. Give the backs of your legs some love and attention with this yoga sequence, and you're sure to ease tightness in your lower half. Read more
We love running and yoga. We actually find that these two forms of exercise are quite complementary. Yoga is perfect for stretching out all those muscles worked, and often overworked, while pounding the pavement. To ensure that your body can handle all the miles, Kimberly Fowler, founder of Yoga For Athletes, suggests adding these five yoga poses to your weekly fitness routine. This short series Read more
