FitSugar

Martial Arts Classes to Try: Krav Maga, Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do

Heather Dale — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:24:53 PDT

Martial arts is an umbrella term used for systems of training for combat. Boxing, karate, tai chi, tae kwon do, krav maga, kung fu, kickboxing, wrestling, and jiu jitsu all fall into the martial arts category, because they all have the same underlying principle - protection from physical threat. Martial arts can be broken into five categories including: grappling styles, stand-up or striking styles, low-impact styles, weapons-based styles, and MMA (a hybrid sports style).
Now that the weather is finally workout-friendly, you've gotten back into your Spring training groove. To keep your momentum from losing any speed, be sure to mix up your workout routine with interesting new classes. Here are three types of martial arts sports that are guaranteed to mix up your regular workout routine!

DVD Review: Step-by-Step Tai Chi with Tiffany Chen

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:30:00 PDT

If you're like me, you use fitness DVDs to get in a good cardio workout on a rainy day or when your kids are napping. A friend lent me this Step-by-Step Tai Chi ($20) DVD recently, and I decided to give it a whirl one afternoon when I was feeling mellow. Tai Chi master Tiffany Chen begins saying that most people think of this discipline as an elderly person's exercise (just what I thought!), but that everyone can benefit from it. Just like yoga, it's a wonderful complement to all sports because it teaches you how to focus and be aware.

This style of Tai Chi involves a series of 60 movements. You can learn them individually (in the Step-by-Step Movement section of the DVD) or you can do the Complete Form. Chen's verbal explanations as she performs the movements are really helpful, especially when she talks about the energy of your body being like a bouncing ball. Every time you relax and exhale, think of the ball sinking all the way down, and then catch the momentum of the ball bouncing back up to guide you into the next movement. The most important thing she stresses is not to rush through the movements but to breathe and to relax. Eventually you'll memorize all 60 movements, and you'll be able to move through them on your own, at your own speed. Although I didn't feel like I used my muscles too much, my body did feel calm, relaxed, open, and aware. I can see why doing this regularly could have a positive effect on your mind and on your other workouts. If you're interested, you can order it through Acacia. Trust me - it's much better than that Nude Yoga & Tai Chi DVD I told you about.

To see a clip of this video

Fit For April: FitSugar Must Haves

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:45:00 PDT

April is a sign of Spring, which means exercising outdoors, longer days, and the unavoidable approach of bikini season. Hopefully you're already motivated by the warmer weather, so check out a few items that'll help you celebrate April the fittest and healthiest you can.

Cool or Not: Nude Yoga & Tai Chi DVD

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:30:00 PST

I was perusing the fitness videos in Barnes & Noble and I came across this - Nude Yoga & Tai Chi. Hmmm . . . I know there's Naked Yoga classes out there, where yogis practice their asana nude because they think it is more natural and emotionally and physically freeing. So the response in the past from you all to the naked yoga was fairly negative. So I am thinking you'd probably be a little reluctant to attend a live nude class, but what about going naked with a video?

A New Exercise Movement: NIA

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Sick and tired of the same old treadmill routine?

NIA (pronounced NEE-ah) stands for neuromuscular integrative action, and it's one of the many ways you can breathe life into your stale workout routine. NIA is an interesting blend of the fluidity of Tai Chi, the flexibility of yoga, the randomness of modern dance and the energy of martial arts. NIA is done barefoot to music and delivers cardiovascular and whole-body conditioning. It starts off slow and explodes with energy over the course of the class which is typically an hour. Want to know one of my favorite things about NIA? It supports the Pleasure Principle of if it feels good, keep doing it, if it hurts, stop! The class is gently lead by an instructor, so if you don't do well with having an instructor barking orders at you, NIA may be a perfect fit. Think of it like this: If boot camp is like your older brother that went to military school, then NIA is much more like your somewhat peppy hippie sister who wore flowers in her hair and protested the war.

To find a teacher near you and to try it out, check out NiaNow.com. If you try it, be sure to let me know what you think!

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day: April 28th

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Get excited, but not crazy excited, more like peacefully excited for World Tai Chi & Qigong Day on April 28th - that's this Saturday.

World Tai Chi & Qigong Day has been created to educate the public on medical research indicating that 70 to 85 percent of illnesses are caused by stress. Emerging medical research has shown that Tai Chi & Qigong can both profoundly benefit personal, physical, emotional and mental health. World Tai Chi & Qigong Day begins at 10 am with groups in New Zealand, and then quietly spreads time zone by time zone across the globe, to finish with the final events in Hawaii. Check out the site to find a World Tai Chi & Qigong Day event near you.

OK great but what are they? Well, Tai Chi describes the vast ways of martial art styles originating in China. Most recently reports are saying that Tai Chi is an effective way to prevent shingles. Qigong on the other hand is an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine involving the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body. Together they make two wonderful forms of promoting a healthy, happy you... hey, that's kind of like FitSugar.

Gisele Bundchen Gets a Head Start on a Workout With Her Tai Chi Teacher

Lauren Turner — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:11:55 PDT

Gisele Bunchen ran into her Tai Chi instructor on her way to class in Boston this morning. She was up early for a workout session after running errands with her dog, Vida, yesterday afternoon. Gisele's back in Massachusetts with her family following a getaway last week to the Jamaica, where Gisele hit the beach in a bikini with her son Ben. The timing of her trip lent support to the rumors that Gisele's the face of the 2012 Givenchy campaign, stories that started when male model Noah Mills tweeted that he was heading to the Caribbean for the shoot. Gisele's latest gig may be a hot topic in the fashion world, but the Bundchen-Brady family will switch focus to Tom's football career this weekend as his Patriots take on the New York Giants.

6 Unique Ways to Fend Off Illnesses and Avoid Medical Bills

Emily Co — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:57:16 PST

There are very few things that are worse than getting sick. Not only will you have pricey medical bills to pay, but you may also have to skip out on work. Fortunately, you can employ plenty of preventative methods to avoid falling ill. We've heard the usual "eat right and exercise" advice, so here are a couple of tactics that you may not have heard of:

Immune boosters in a pill: Although you've heard of the usual immune boosters like vegetables and fruits, there are a couple of holistic cures you might want to try. There's New Chapter's LifeShield Immunity ($20), which is a supplement made out of a combination of mycelium, fruiting bodies, spores, and extracellular compounds from tonic mushrooms.
Take ginseng with your vaccine: When you get a flu vaccine, try taking some ginseng with it so you'll bounce back from the effects of the vaccine. There was a study done in which only 13 percent of the group of participants who took ginseng with flu vaccinations caught colds vs. 37 percent of the placebo group.
Trick yourself psychologically: Don't discount old wives' remedies! Even if you don't have any scientific proof, perhaps the cures have some sort of psychological effect that results in physical effects. For example, a cure for cough that works for me is rubbing vapor rub over my feet and wearing socks at night. Another scientifically disproved treatment is Airborne, which somehow always fends off a cold when I feel one coming on.

Read on for more tips.

Eat For More Energy

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:24:36 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Diet Tips from Ashley Korff, RD
by the editors at Fitness Magazine

Do you wake up every morning and bounce out of bed, ready to take on the new day? Probably not, but registered dietitian and FITNESS advisory board member Ashley Koff says that fantasy can be a reality. In her new book Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged, co-authored by trainer Kathy Kaehler, Koff shares simple suggestions for moms - or anyone! - to live a more pep-filled life.

"Today we're giving out our energy to so many different spaces. It's really important to focus on how to bring some energy back in your life," Koff says.

Here are her top five tips for a diet that will rev your engine:

Aim for better energy, not just more. "The pursuit of more energy can lead to harmful highs and lows, as people often turn to espresso, sugar, or supplements. I tell my clients to aim for 'better' energy by following the next four steps."
Watch your portion sizes. "Think of one carbohydrate serving as about the size of your fist and one protein serving as the size of your palm. I don't recommend cup measurements because caloric and nutritional needs depend on your body size."
Be a "qualitarian." "The type of fuel dictates how your body runs. Try to make the highest quality choices available, and you will get more nutrients. Our bodies perform best on foods that it recognizes - in other words, non-processed foods."

Keep reading for more energizing tips from Ashley.

5 Easy Ways to Beat Back Pain

Shape — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:50:49 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

If you've ever had back pain, you know it's the worst. You can't move without it aching, and almost any chore ends up feeling like a workout. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to get back pain relief; many of which take almost no time at all!

Massage. If you're wondering how to relieve back pain, one of the easiest ways is to book a massage for back pain. A recent study from the Group Health Research Institute found that Swedish massage may be better for easing low back pain in the short term than medication.
Yoga. Turns out that back pain relief may just be a Down Dog away. According to a 2005 study from the Annals of Internal Medicine, yoga may be more likely to relieve chronic back pain and reduce the need for pain medication than conventional exercise or reading a self-care book.
Tai Chi. Many times people suffer from low back pain because they have a weak core. Mind-body activities like Tai Chi can help relieve back pain because they improve balance and core strength.
Vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D has been linked to musculoskeletal pain. While not specific to low back pain, a University of Minnesota study found that those with chronic pain were more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency. If you're looking for how to relieve back pain, consider asking your doctor about adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet.
Epsom salt bath. If a massage doesn't fit into your budget, then a warm Epsom salt bath is the next best thing. Take a warm bath with a pound of Epsom salt a week for quick relief.