Healthy happy you.
I am a firm believer that Pilates makes everything better. And when I say firm, I also mean that literally. Pilates is a body/mind method of fitness, or as the very Germanic founder Joe Pilates believed, mind over body. I have found mental images help clients understand the details of basic moves. Here are three images that I have found helpful both inside and outside the Pilates studio. String Read more
August is the month when I feel the need to squeeze in a last-minute vacation. And while getting away might be relaxing, sometimes the planning and details are not. Stress for me goes straight to my neck and shoulders, making them stiff and sore. Staring at a computer all day certainly doesn't help. To help relieve some of my last Summer stress, I like to give myself a little shoulder massage. I Read more
When you're strength training, whether you're using dumbbells, resistance bands, or machines, most of your mind is probably focused on the muscles getting worked. That's great, but you don't want to forget about proper form, and part of that means thinking about your shoulders. You want to be sure to relax them and elongate your neck. A trick I do to help me remember to relax my shoulders is to Read more
Many people prefer hitting the treadmill to running outdoors, but if you're not careful, along with that toned tush you might end up with a stiff neck, resulting in a nagging headache. Follow these tips the next time you hop on the treadmill to prevent this common running woe. Keep Your Gaze Forward One gym perk is its televisions, which allow you to catch up on the news or your favorite TV Read more
More so than running outside, I find myself tensing up when it comes to running on the treadmill. And when I look down the row of machines, I see the same thing — runners leaning forward, hunching their shoulders, or running too close to the top of the treadmill. The same running form issues are common no matter if you're running inside or outside, but I've found that the pulling motion of the Read more
A tense, stiff neck can interfere with your daily life, and even worse, your fitness training! Watch this video to learn the pin and stretch massage method to lengthen overworked muscles in the neck, upper back, and shoulders. Try this quick and easy technique after a hard workout, a long day at the office, or to simply unwind. You can even use the massage method on yourself! Press play and learn Read more
While many people love the thrill of biking fast downhill, I am not one of them. I love biking uphill. Call me crazy, but I crave the burn in my lungs and legs. But once you've climbed a hill — and in my neck of the woods, hills can be miles long — you have to get yourself down the other side. Aside from just getting out there and riding, having a few tricks up your sleeve can help. Here are Read more
Indoor cycling classes are an amazing cardio workout, but if you don't know what you're doing, you'll walk away frustrated, or, even worse — injured. Compared to other group fitness classes, indoor cardio cycling is also a little harder to pick up on when trying it for the first time. After getting the lowdown on what to expect from your first class, follow these rules on things you should Read more
Just about as common as Downward Facing Dog, Upward Facing Dog pose, or Up Dog as I like to call it, not only elongates and increases flexibility in your spine, but it's a great pose for opening your chest, throat, shoulders, and the front of your thighs. When doing this pose, try not to tense your glutes or crunch your lower back. If it hurts your wrists to have so much weight in your palms, Read more
Running is all about stepping one foot in front of the other. Sounds easy enough, right? But if your running form is incorrect, you'll end up with aches, strains, and injuries that could prevent you from lacing up your sneaks at all. Make sure to avoid these running-form mistakes the next time you hit the treadmill, trail, or pavement. Head: It sometimes feels good to close your eyes and relax Read more
