Companies saw a 171 percent increase in fitness tracker sales from 2014 to 2015, according to the International Data Corporation, and hoped that those numbers would continue to skyrocket in 2016. Instead, bad press and negative reports quickly turned this fad into one that might leave as quickly as Livestrong Bracelets or Gangnam Style did. Or do these devices still have a chance?
There’s no thrill like the buzz you got when you first learned to bike. Pedalling away madly, with the wind rushing through your hair – that rush of riding a bike for the first time is incomparable. However, riding a bike is always fun. The thrill settles down, but the exercise and the fresh air are always a guarantee. And biking or cycling, whatever you may call it, is good for physical, physiological and mental health -- for a healthy mind makes for a healthy body and vice versa.
The physical benefits of pedaling
My semi-professional sports career taught me a lot about sportsmanship, my physical limitations, and the art of tennis. But one of the most important lessons was the importance of cross training to build endurance. Whatever your sport, here are 5 ways to build your endurance through cross training.
I spent years working in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and later also as a nutritional coach. Over time two things became very clear. The first was that most people were coming to me for weight loss (even if they claimed other reasons) and the second was that their results had very little to do with me.
Welcome to our #WellnessWednesday yoga primer. Yoga is a wonderful way to become attuned to your body and increase circulation and flexibility. Each week I'll offer you a pose with benefits and instruction.
Few people call karmic yoga “karmic yoga” these days, but it still exists. You might know these classes as the weekly or monthly free class at your local studio. Perhaps there’s a donation-based class near you. Karmic or karma yoga is based from the Bhagavad Gita, which is a sacred Sanskrit Hindu text. There are three key paths to realization, and karmic yoga is one of them.
When we look at Michael Phelps or Missy Franklin, we see a pair of gold-winning superstars that have taken the Olympic community by storm, but it probably never occurs to us that we’re looking at arguably two of the healthiest people competing today. One of the most important things we can do is go for a swim. Here are five mega-health benefits from swimming.
This move defies the age, gender, social, and financial barriers of most exercises we know. It is a very accepting and inclusive type of movement; you need no equipment, fancy instructions or special skills to do it.
It’s merciful when you break the rules and it gives you a chance to express yourself. It’s ok, and it is recommended to do what your body tells you to do as the sound transports you to unexpected places.
You’ve seen the classes before. They’re often listed as “Rock ‘n’ Roll Yoga” or another less zen-sounding name. Personally, I teach classes called “Namaslay” and “That Asana Though,” one with a rock playlist and the other featuring rap and hip hop. Of course, listening to pop music while working on your flow is far from traditional. It’s certainly not what the original practitioners of yoga envisioned when they came up with the asanas! However, almost nobody practices yoga in modern times like it was originally practiced. That’s okay!
Welcome to our #WellnessWednesday yoga primer. Yoga is a wonderful way to become attuned to your body and increase circulation and flexibility. Each week I'll offer you a pose with benefits and instruction.