Healthy happy you.
I am a big fan of vinyasa flow-style yoga, but in a typical yoga flow class you do anywhere from 20 to 40 yoga push-ups, as my favorite instructor calls the vinyasa, or the link between poses. Needless to say, all those chaturangas really work your upper body. This is why I like to warm up a bit before yoga to lubricate my joints and prime my wrists to take some weight. Here are a few moves I Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! Can't get through your morning without your daily java fix? You're not alone. According to a survey conducted by the National Coffee Association, Americans spend an average of $164.71 on coffee per year. That's almost enough for a monthly car payment or a couple of weeks worth of groceries! Want to wean yourself off Read more
Muscle building is an important component of any exercise routine, but are you strength training the right way? Here are five common myths about muscles, and why they aren't true. Heavy weights make you bulk up: It's a common belief: lifting heavy weights will have you looking more bodybuilder than long and lean. But in reality, your muscles won't get Ms. Olympia-sized from lifting a 20-pound 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
You know that you should warm up no matter what, but if you ever wondered what exactly you should be doing, here are specific warm-ups for different kinds of workouts. Yoga: Think you don't need to warm up before yoga? Think again. Warming up before your class can help your performance and keep you from being sore the moment you stretch out into Downward Dog. Keep your wrists, shoulders, and Read more
The elliptical is a mainstay in the gym for good reason: it's easy on the joints and provides a great cardio and total-body workout. But the elliptical can also get pretty boring and repetitive. Instead of spending a mindless 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, maximize your time by doing one of these eight workouts. Whether you're a beginner, looking for a high-intensity interval workout, or Read more
A solid warmup sets you up for a solid workout. When it comes to prepping for strength training, an active warmup primes the joints and muscles, prepping them for the heavy lifting. Lauren, my Equinox trainer, introduced me to these moves, and after a little light cardio — for me, it's five minutes running on a treadmill at a 6 mph pace, but the elliptical or a little jump rope would work — Read more
We are three days into 2012, but it feels like the year is finally just starting. If one of your goals for the year it to get stronger, we have strength training challenge to jump-start your January. It's simple: see how many push-ups you can do in minute, then share your number in the comments section. If you need to lower your knees to the floor at the start or at anytime during the minute Read more
Downhill skiing is a blast, but if you're not in the mood to race against frigid winds or deal with crazy crowded lift lines, try cross-country skiing this Winter. It may not be speedy, but cross-country skiing will tone your upper and lower body, give you a great cardio workout, and burn almost 500 calories in one hour! Like snowshoeing, cross-country is more social than downhill skiing since Read more
Elliptical trainers are a gym favorite. Not only is this cardio machine joint friendly, it's incredibly versatile — you can go forward and backward, work your arms and legs, or focus on your core while getting your heart rate up. Here are some tips to help you squeeze the most out of your minutes on the machine. If your focus is cardio: Keep your eye on your strides per minute. SPM is the Read more
