Healthy happy you.
Squats. Love them or hate them, you got to admit they are here to stay. A simple and extremely effective exercise, squats can become a little dull. Here are some ways you can spice up your squats and make them more challenging, too. Lift one heel at a time as you lift and lower your hips. Also try lifting both heels together – this will challenge your balance. Instead of lifting and lowering Read more
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar! There are lots (and I mean, lots) of reasons why my motivation to work out during the Winter plummets — from the snowy commute to freezing cold winds to the cold, dry air that hits my chest with such force that it becomes hard to breathe. (Ahem, there's a reason I sign up for races that are after September — this Read more
Squats — you love 'em or you hate 'em, or you love to hate 'em. In any case, they are a simple, effective, and versatile move to have in your workout arsenal. Squats work your lower body, from your calves to your hamstrings, glutes, quads, and lower back. They help prevent injuries that can be caused by imbalance or overuse, and they also help with your balance. And they're easy to do anywhere! Read more
While there's nothing quite like running outdoors, frosty temps can make it impossible to do. For those freezing days, there's the trusty treadmill. Whether you are a beginner runner or advanced, we've got the perfect treadmill workout for you. From a treadmill workout that mimics running up and down San Francisco hills to another that has you ascending a mountain, you'll swear you're actually Read more
You get more bang for your exercise buck doing full-body exercises, so we have rounded up three of our fave moves — each will work you from head to toe. No worries if you're a strength training newbie! This video contains moves appropriate for all fitness levels. If you think the advanced burpee (aka squat thrust) is beyond you, check out these variations of the move. One will surely work for Read more
Whether you have five or 50 yoga classes under your capris, Chair pose (aka Fierce) is one of the many basic postures you'll strike just about as often as Down Dog since it's the first pose in Sun Salutation B. As a yoga instructor, I've noticed some major no-nos that you'll want to avoid to prevent discomfort and to make sure you're getting the most out of the pose. Weight too far forward: Read more
You've been running regularly for some time and have completed a few 5K fun runs. But now it's time to step it up and take this distance seriously. Here are some tips to help you beat your personal record when running 3.1 miles. During Training Add speedwork: If you want to run a faster 5K, you have to practice running faster. Coach Andrew Kastor recommends adding 80-meter sprints into your Read more
I've tried hundreds of yoga DVDs, and many of them I've only used once. Videos created by Shiva Rea are different though. Her calming energy, dynamic yoga sequences, creativity, and strength are inspirational. Her Creative Core + Upper Body video is my absolute favorite, but I also keep Fluid Power — Vinyasa Flow Yoga near my DVD player. I have another DVD to add to my pile of faves: Shiva's Read more
If you hit the treadmill, trail, or road most days of the week, here are some reasons you should spend some time on a yoga mat. An Easier Time on Hills All those standing poses like Warrior variations, Fierce, and Goddess are yoga's version of squats and lunges. Within a few yoga classes, you'll notice that your quads, hamstrings, and glutes feel stronger while running, which means an easier time Read more
Once you've mastered the basic moves of strength training — like squats, lunges, and planks — gym time can become a little dull. Workouts creep by slowly due to boredom, and if you don't push yourself to the next level, you may find your fitness level stalling as you coast onto a plateau. When the going gets boring, it's time to get unstable. Performing seemingly simple exercises on an Read more
