Pool running, often called aqua jogging, is a great activity for exercisers who have medical conditions or physical limitations which limit them to water based activities. It is also excellent off-season training for runners...
A typical Thanksgiving meal can tally up anywhere from 2000 to a whopping 7000 calories. The American Council on Exercise estimates that the typical 160-pound exerciser would have to run at a moderate pace for four hours, swim for five hours or walk 30 miles to burn off the turkey dinner...
As days get shorter and temperatures drop, many outdoor walkers and runners head indoors and hit the treadmill. For many, the transition means that exercise becomes less consistent. Without the incentive of outdoor enjoyment and time away from the stresses of home and work, it becomes harder to stay motivated. But treadmill [...]
A lunge works all of the major muscles in the lower body. This one basic exercise strengthens the glutes (butt), quadriceps (front of the thigh) hamstrings (back of the thigh) and the calves. It also stretches the hip flexors and promotes balance and stability in the ankle and knee joints. Like the [...]
No one aces a fitness test. It is not a pass/fail endeavor. A well designed fitness evaluation simply defines strengths and weaknesses so that it is easier to set and reach specific fitness goals . A fitness test also provides a baseline to refer back to when evaluating progress. On the path to better health [...]
Running enthusiasts struggle when injury keeps the mileage down, or worse, prevents running altogether. Sometimes injuries can’t be prevented, but often simple stretching exercises performed at the end of a run while the muscles are still warm, can prevent chronic and common conditions. These four stretches should be done at the end of [...]
The best place to exercise is not always the gym. Great workouts can take place in the home, around the neighborhood and even at the local playground – with or without the kids. If family fitness is the goal, give the kids a whistle and let them coach Mom and Dad through parts [...]
The ancient chinese martial art known as Tai chi chuan, or tai chi, has been studied and proven to relieve stress. This increasingly popular form of exercise has other health benefits as well. According to the Taiwan News, nationally renowned author and tai chi instructor Bill Douglas will soon be giving a presentation to the [...]
A well performed push-up is the most efficient way to strengthen all of the major muscle groups in the upper body. The push-up strengthens muscles in the chest (pectorals), back (latissimus dorsi), the shoulders (deltoids) and triceps (back of the upper arm). Because a push-up requires an exerciser to stabilize the body, important [...]
Walking is an excellent form of exercise. Walking burns calories, strengthens muscles in the lower body, provides relief from stress and builds aerobic endurance. But walking for fitness should feel different than the kind of walking we do in the course of our daily activities. To achieve fitness benefits, a walking workout [...]
