Saturday, January 29, 2011

Video - Myths About Strength Training for Women

Although some people think of weight or strength training as being a fitness method for men, women need strong bodies too! Strong muscles is something that we, as humans, all need in order to live healthy and pain-free lives. This video discusses some of the common myths surrounding strength training, and the reasons why this can be an important part of your fitness routine, whether you are male or female. If you're a woman and haven't tried weight training or strength training, you will want to watch this, as it covers a lot of interesting stuff in a short amount of time.

Strength Training for Women - Myths
Many women think that strength training with weights is something only men should be doing, but in reality it holds as many benefits for them as it does for men. In this video we are going to have a look at the most common myths that surround the top...


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Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Strong Way to Women's Health

 Fitness, muscle-building and gym work-outs have gone beyond the traditional all-male club. With all the recent talk about fitness and health and a healthy lifestyle, women have joined the club as well. However, men and women have different fitness needs.

A complete weight training workout can be perf...Image via WikipediaWomen’s fitness and exercise needs are focused on the muscles of the upper back. Most of their exercise work-outs are also designed for the stomach muscles, especially those who have just given birth. At the same time, exercises for women are usually designed for weight loss.

And while men tend to focus on muscle building whereas women work on toning their muscles, strength training is important for both.

Here are a few things to inspire us women to get busy and start building up our muscle strength:

  • Make the performance of your usual tasks easier with a physically strong body. Chores will be easier, lifting your kids, the grocery or the laundry will be a piece of cake. Consequently, it will reduce possible strain on the muscles and injury. Regular training can increase a woman’s strength by 30 to 50 percent. 
  • Lose fat at the same time. A strength training routine done 2 to 3 times a week for a span of two months can result to two pounds of muscles and would mean a reduction of 3.5 pounds of fat. The more muscles and less fat, the faster is your metabolism, which ultimately means your body burns calories faster than before. 
  • Fight osteoporosis. Weight training increases spinal bone mineral density which means a lesser risk of osteoporosis. 
  • Fight heart disease and diabetes. Weight improvement improves cardiovascular health by lowering the bad cholesterol and blood pressure. It also improves glucose use in the body by 23 percent which reduces the risk of diabetes.

Strong, flexible muscles are the road to a healthier you. Not only does strength promote a healthier body, but it also develops a healthier attitude and a healthier heart. Women who engage in regular strength training are more confident, with a more positive outlook in life.

Dumbbell deadlift.Image via WikipediaSo how do you get started?

For those who lead very busy lifestyles, hitting the gym and starting on a regular fitness plan may seem the perfect way to keep fit. But for those starting at a low fitness level, starting out on a regular walking exercise is the way to go. Start at a manageable rate. A 10 to 15 minute walk is a good way to start. Prior to a workout, make sure to stretch your major muscles. Work your muscles on the front of your thighs. Stretch your shoulder muscles by standing straight and rolling the shoulders backward in a circular motion. And of course, don’t forget to observe proper nutrition. Load up on water to prevent dehydration. Consume carbohydrates before starting on your work-out.

For those with joint and bone diseases, swimming may prove to be a less stressful activity for your muscles.

But the most important is, make time for your exercise. If you can’t hit the gym or start on a regular work-out plan, make sure that your day is filled with enough physical activity that keeps you going and always on the go. Women’s fitness is the key to your beauty!

(Be sure to check back in a couple of days  - we'll be featuring a very interesting video about the myths surrounding strength training for women!)

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Some Strength-Training Tools:
    

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Fitness Tips for Women- Stay Fit and Healthy!

Here are 10 tips for women to stay fit and healthy:

1. Staying fit and healthy starts with a balanced diet. Know and monitor the right weight for your age. Consult your doctor to learn what food you should avoid and follow your eating discipline routines. If you are trying to lose some weight, foods with high calories should be omitted from your meals. Fresh foods with high fiber and a small amount of healthy fats should be included a priority in your grocery list instead of red meat, sugars and processed foods (avoid artificial fats and hydrogenated oils like the plague!).

2. Drink plenty of water. Drinking at least eight glasses of water every day cleanses the body from impurities. It is also advised for lactating women to increase water intake to keep the body hydrated.

500 mg calcium supplement tablets, with vitami...Image via Wikipedia3. Take Vitamins and Supplements. Do not forget your Calcium supplement.  Sufficient Calcium intake is beneficial for women of all ages. This has been proven to prevent having cramps and Pre-Menstrual Period (PMS) Symptoms. It also prevents Osteoporosis especially for menopausal women. Make sure your Calcium is accompanied by Vitamin D-3 for the best absorption, and a stronger immune system! Vitamin E can also boost the  immune system. Women who undergo menopausal period should take Vitamin E-400 as it stops night sweats and hot flashes. Also, Vitamin E is said to help in avoiding wrinkles when aging. (For recommendations of some pure, high-quality, very absorbable vitamins, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.)

4. Quit smoking. If you are smoking, stop. It is also a big “NO” for pregnant women, as this will affect the health of the baby. Pregnant women who smoke may pass the harmful content of cigarettes to babies through the bloodstream. Recent studies have shown that women smokers are more prone to diseases than men smokers. Women who smoke have a high risk of getting breast cancer. Also limit your alcohol intake.

5. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine! Take a walk after work, use stairs instead of elevator or play with your kids when you are at home. Home exercises are also effective especially when you do not have time to go to the gym and would like to lose some weight. Yoga and Pilates are only a few of the many effective exercises you can do at home. (For other ideas, browse the posts on this blog, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html.) Exercising regularly helps limit the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

6. Avoid stress. Many women are prone to too much stress. Stress has been known to cause or contribute to many different illnesses and diseases. As much as possible take time to relax. Read a good book, hang out with friends and engage in sports. Pamper yourself with a hot bath or massage. And do not forget to get enough sleep to revive your energy.

7. Use sunscreen (but sparingly!) to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. It is best to wear hats when in the sun to protect your skin. You need some sunshine for a strong immune system, and ironically many sunscreens can form cancer-causing compounds on your skin! But too much sun can be a problem. It also speeds up the aging of skin cells, which causes wrinkles.You should avoid sunburns, and Big Breast self-examination http://ehp.niehs.n...Image via Wikipediatry to stay out of the sun during the middle of the day when the sun's rays are the strongest. If you must be in the sun, use an EWG-approved sunscreen - you can find a list of good ones at  http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/.

8. Make sure to visit your dentist to keep that beautiful smile. Have your teeth cleaned regularly, and floss daily, to prevent cavities and bad breath.

9. Visit your Gynecologist. Women who are eighteen and above should have a Physical Examination annually especially for the Pap Smear test. Make a regular breast self-exam a part of your monthly routine.

10.  Safe sex is strongly recommended. Use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases if you are sexually active.
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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Basic Yoga Postures and their Variations

Here are a couple of common yoga postures you may encounter, and the correct way to do them. (Please be sure to consult your trainer or healthcare practitioner before beginning a new exercise routine, especially if your fitness level is currently low.)

1. THE COBRA Hatha Yoga Class Cobra Pose - BhujangasanaImage by myyogaonline via Flickr
Do this in easy stages. Lie down, face prone, legs tightly together and stretched back, forehead on the floor. Put your hands, palm down, just under your shoulders. Cobra PoseImage by iwillnotsuccumb via FlickrInhale and raise your head, pressing your neck back, now use your hands to push your trunk up until you are bending in a beautiful arc from your lower spine to the back of your neck. You need go no further than this. However, if you are supple enough, you can now straighten your arms completely, bend the legs at the knees and drop your head back to touch your feet. Even if your head goes nowhere near your feet, drop it back as far as possible and hold the posture with deep breathing. Come out of the posture very slowly, returning to the face prone posture. Relax with your head to one side. Repeat.


2. THE BOW
Hatha Yoga Video Bow Pose - DhanurasanaImage by myyogaonline via FlickrThis is also an extreme version of the simple bow. It is surprising how many children can do it immediately. Take it, once again, in easy stages. Lie face prone on your mat. If you are very slim have a nice thick, padded mat for this one. Inhale and bend your knees up. Stretch back with your arms and catch hold of your ankles, keeping fingers and thumbs all together on the outside. Inhale and at the same time raise your head and chest, pulling at your ankles and lifting knees and thighs off the floor. Breathe normally, trying to kick up your legs higher and lifting your head up. You are now bent like a bow, balancing the weight of your body on your abdomen. You can stop right here but if you can still stretch further, then slide your hands down your legs, lift them higher, keep the knees together and pull back as much as you can. Hold for a few normal deep breaths, then relax back to the face-prone position, head to one side.


Hatha Yoga Class Boat pose - NavasanaImage by myyogaonline via Flickr3. THE UPWARD BOAT (or just BOAT)
This strengthens your abs, improves your balancing ability, and also helps in digestion. First: Sit down on the floor. Bend your knees and place feet flat on the floor. Second: breathe in, bend back and raise heels off the ground, straightening your legs as possible as you can. Expand your arms with palms facing downward. If you find it difficult to perform, you can rest your hands beneath your knees for support. This may be a difficult yoga posture to perform but after a few practices, you will never have that difficulty again. Third:  while you hold the pose for thirty seconds, you should keep your back in a straight line, and make sure your abs are doing the work. Practice this yoga posture all over again when you have time and you will find it easy to execute after you have continuously repeated it.

For more yoga information and resources, check out our blog posts from earlier in the week, or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html.
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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Dynamic Yoga - Gain Energy & Vitality in 10 Minutes

Do you drag yourself out of bed on Monday mornings, exhausted before you've even begun the week? Or maybe you can't enjoy your evenings, because work drains you of every ounce of energy.

Don't worry, you can boost your energy levels and balance your body with a new form of yoga - dynamic yoga.

Its simplicity and almost instantaneous benefits have made it one of the most fashionable alternative exercises of the new Millennium. Normally known for its relaxation benefits, dynamic yoga can boost your energy levels in just 10 minutes.

It includes some of the most basic yoga postures. You can try each of them individually, or in succession, but none of them should be rushed. However, you should feel the benefits after just ten minutes.

The deep stretches and graceful movements help to unblock energy, improve muscle tone and increase your general stamina. When practiced regularly, say enthusiasts, you will experience improved energy levels, greater sexual vitality and better self-discipline. In the long-term, the breathing and body exercises will help detoxify your mind of tension and strain, creating calm and an inner peace.

Here are some good (and affordable) resources if you would like to try dynamic yoga for yourself:

   

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Is Yoga The Perfect Exercise?

Is Yoga the perfect form of exercise and relaxation?  Let's make a list of what our ideal type of exercise would do.  Firstly it would be simple enough that anyone could do it, but have enough variations and different methods that it would maintain the interest of someone who had been practicing it for years.  It would need to be easy to learn so that people could pick up the basics quickly and stat seeing the benefits as soon as possible.

A yoga class.Image via WikipediaTo be a perfect form of exercise it would need to be capable of keep our body in good shape all by itself.  It would help with weight loss, circulation and increasing the strength of the muscles.  It would stimulate the lymphatic system as well as the blood flow and help the body dispose of waste products, improving the overall immune response system.  It would also have benefits that went beyond health - the sharpening of the mind and an increased sense of well being and contentment.  Ideally it would be an exercise form that required no expensive equipment and that could be practiced practically anywhere, alone or in a group.

This is quite a demanding set of prerequisites for a perfect form of exercise.  Let's see if Yoga measures up to these standards.

Yoga is a discipline that has it's routes in India.  The documents that modern Yoga is based on are hundreds of years old, and the principles behind these documents were practiced long before that.  It is a low impact form of exercise that has been tweaked and customized by literally thousands of different teachers and enthusiasts.  The are numerous resulting 'styles' of Yoga, but they all have the same core background and beliefs.  What we refer to as Yoga in the West is usually the physical component of an entire life philosophy that has it's own beliefs and code of ethics built in.

The physical focus of Yoga is on poses and slow movements that are low impact and usually use nothing more than our own body.  Sometimes props and supports are used to assist the body in achieving and holding a particular pose.  The poses can vary greatly in their degree of difficulty and even the same pose can have many different stages or levels.  The perfect example is a simple forward stretch.  One person may be able to stretch out past their knees, another may be able to reach their ankles and somebody else may be able to touch the floor.  This level of progression allows us to see a physical difference in our flexibility level as we practice Yoga more regularly.  And because Yoga does not require any special equipment we are not refined to set class times and can practice Yoga anywhere and any time the fancy takes us.  We can even do breathing exercises to clear the mind while sitting at a work desk.

Yoga has some incredible health benefits which stem from controlled breathing and increased blood flow.  Our bodies organs simply do not operate at peak efficiency unless they are receiving the oxygen and nutrients that they need.  The waste products from our muscles and organs are carried away by the lymphatic system.  Both systems can develop chokepoints and blockages that different Yoga poses will address and correct.  The result is a better more regular blood pressure, a more efficient immunity system and a optimal digestive process.

Practice Yoga, Be Healthy! {EXPLORED}Image by VinothChandar via FlickrBecause Yoga movements are slow and simple, the focus on correct breathing has a pronounced mental affect on the body.   It provides us with an enhanced ability to focus, and to un-clutter our thoughts.  This is a valuable edge in modern life and its importance should not be under estimated.

Finally many regular Yoga enthusiasts will tell you that there is a spiritual side to Yoga, how far this affects an individual will probably depend on their beliefs before they begin practicing Yoga, but it can perhaps be thought of most accurately with a greater comfort and connection with your own body.  The increased acceptance of yourself, and comfort with your own being results directly in more happy people.

So, it looks like Yoga does indeed check all the boxes and can be thought of as a perfect exercise form. Plus, it's really fun!  Check out a class near you, or try some of the yoga DVDs we recommend here, or at http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html. They're very affordable, and you can then practice your yoga at home anytime you like.
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Good resources for practicing yoga:
 

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Humor: Winter Workout Video

I thought we'd lighten up for a moment today, and share a funny one-minute video with you. Staying in shape doesn't have to be so serious all the time, as you can see from the video below. :-)

Enjoy a quick laugh, and then pick a fun exercise idea from this blog, and go enjoy yourself!

RMR: Winter Workout
Just grab a ball and get going with your winter workout. (originally aired: February 02, 2004)


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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Safety Issues To Be Aware of With Winter Sports

Taking part in winter sports is a great way to stay in shape and to get fresh air during the winter. Many winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding involve the snow so you can be sure they will take place in cold areas. It is important that you take safety into consideration while engaging in winter sports. You want to have a great time without getting injured - that's no fun!

SnowbaggerImage via WikipediaIt is very important that you stretch properly before you start any type of sports. This helps to keep your body flexible which will reduce the chances of getting hurt if you do fall down. Dressing for the weather is very important because you want to keep your skin dry and your body warm. At the same time you need to have the right equipment on to keep you safe for that particular winter sport.

Many people believe you can only become dehydrated while playing sports in the summer but this isn’t true. Make sure you drink plenty of water and sports drinks throughout the day to keep your fluid level where it should be. Pay attention to the amount of sweat your body releases during winter sports as well. With the cold weather, the mixture of sweat and the cool air can result in hypothermia. Pay attention to symptoms including dizziness, shivering, and exhaustion while you are out in the cold.

You also want to make sure you eat properly while engaging in winter sports. This is where you will get your energy from. Your body may become too weak to trek back from the site of your sport if you haven’t given it sufficient fuel. Keep quick snacks such as peanuts or granola bars on hand in case you need a quick bite to rev up your energy levels.

If you have to travel on rough terrain to get to the site for your winter sport, make sure you have checked over the vehicle. You never know when you may get stuck so make sure you are prepared. The vehicle needs to be stocked with food, water, a radio, a cell phone, blankets, and flares.

Skier carving a turn off pisteImage via WikipediaPay close attention to the posted signs and written regulations when you engage in winter sports. You don’t want to be on ice for skating or playing hockey that is at risk of breaking. There should be posted signs informing you to the status. You also don’t want to be on private land or cross the barriers when you are skiing or snowboarding. Doing so can result in you getting lost or injured. In some cases, it could even trigger an avalanche due to the vibrations of the ground while you are participating in your sport.

Make sure you have the proper training before you jump into any winter sport. You don’t want to get in over your head. Watching other people perform the sport may be misleading as their level of skill makes it look easy. Take your time to be cautious and you can get faster and more advanced in your winter sports after you have a firm grasp on the basics.

The quality of your equipment is a very important part of enjoying winter sports safely. Check your ice skates to make sure the blades are sharp enough and they aren’t falling apart. Check the latches on your skis and snowboard to make sure they are still in good shape. Sleds and snowmobiles need to be carefully checked that they are in good working condition so they don’t build up speed and then get out of your control.

There are plenty of fun winter sports to look forward to each year so do your part to make sure they are safe. Teaching children to follow the rules and to wear proper safety equipment is important. However, the very best way to teach them this is to wear that equipment yourself when you play winter sports.
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Tips for Learning how to Ski

Learning how to ski is a great way to ensure you can be a part of the outdoor fun taking place this winter. This is one of the most popular winter sports and it can be a fun activity for the entire family to enjoy. It is a good idea to take free lessons that are taught at most ski resorts instead of trying to learn to ski on your own. These qualified instructors can tell you exactly what your strengths are and help you to work on your weaknesses.

Fun and Ski FestivalImage via WikipediaSome ski instruction classes last for a couple of hours and others can last for a couple of days. Your instructor will be able to determine if you should be moved up to another class based on the basic skills you exhibit initially. You want to take instructions for a class that only has a few students. This way everyone can get plenty of individual attention.

Be prepared for the process of learning how to ski, and have fun with it. The more relaxed you are the easier it is going to be. Too many people get tense while they are learning and this leads to even more falls along the way. The truth of the matter is that you ARE going to fall plenty while learning to ski -- so stop being afraid -- it is going to happen, no matter what. Instead focus on increasing the amount of time between each fall and celebrate as you reach these goals. (I still remember the first time I went down an entire slope without falling once - wow, I was so excited!)

You really need to focus on learning how to control your movements while on a pair of skis so you don’t lose control or start going too fast to be safe. Keeping your knees bent will help to ensure you can avoid injury as you learn how to ski (and the bigger you make your turns, the more you can control your speed). Remember that everyone learns new things at a different pace so don’t compare yourself to what others out there are doing. As you become more comfortable on your skis, you will be able to identify your rhythm as you turn and glide along the snow.

Having the right equipment when you are learning how to ski will help you learn the basics faster. It will also help you remain safe. You should have on ski boots that fit you well and be dressed in layers. The top layer should be a thick waterproof down ski jacket because it is going to be very hard to focus on learning how to ski when you are freezing (and the wind will really cut, going down the slope fast, so you will also need a hat, and preferably goggles).

Two modern Alpine ski boots.Image via WikipediaEven though it is best to have your own equipment for skiing, beginners often don’t want to shell out the hundreds of dollars to buy it. That is quite understandable if you haven’t yet made up your mind if you want to pursue this type of sport on an ongoing basis. Just make sure any ski equipment that you borrow or rent is a good fit for you (ask the professionals at the rental place, and they can fit you properly).

It takes plenty of practice to learn how to ski so don’t think this is something you are going to master right away. Too many people get the idea that skiing is a piece of cake when they watch other people do it. Stick with it though and in a short period of time you too will be gracefully gliding down the slopes and having a great time doing it - it's really one of the most fun winter activities I've ever tried! (And WOW, is it ever great exercise...in fact, if you make a whole day of it the first time, don't be surprised if your legs feel like you ran a marathon for a few days afterward.)
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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Fun Winter Activity Idea - Ice Skating

Ice skating is posbile altough there is no win...Image via WikipediaIce skating is a very popular sport that used to only be available in the winter. If you want to skate outdoors on real ice then that is still the only time to enjoy it. However, with advances in technology it is now possible to experience ice skating year-round at an indoor area as well. Special machines are made to add layers of ice that are continually smoothed out so you will always have a terrific surface to glide across.

Special skates are used for ice skating that have sharp blades on the bottom of them. The blades allow the person to be able to glide along the ice at very fast speeds if they desire. The amount of friction that a skater is able to manipulate as they move along the ice will help to determine the speed of movement. It also allows them to remain in complete control of their movements at all times.

Most people find ice skating to be more difficult than roller skating as you have to learn to balance your body differently on them. A great deal of weight is placed on your ankles and legs while ice skating. The more you practice the stronger they will become and as a result you will improve your ice skating skills.

After you master the basic skills of ice skating you will be able to start learning various stunts if you want to. The leaps and twirls that professional ice skaters are able to perform are the result of plenty of practice. You may want to pay for classes with a professional in order to learn the right skills to be able to do such feats during ice skating.

You may find you want to participate in various types of ice skating competitions either on your own or as part of a team. These events take place on a regular basis so you may want to search online to find out what is available. If you are under the direction of a coach they will be able to get you signed up for the right competitions. Always pay close attention to your instructor so you won’t get injured as you ice skate. Don’t be tempted to jump into challenging routines too soon or you will be putting yourself at risk.

Tre personer som åker långfärdsskridskoImage via WikipediaIf you choose to ice skate out doors you will need to make sure the ice is thick enough to sustain your weight. Serious injuries and even death can occur if someone falls into ice which has cracked due to the weight on top of it. Always pay attention to signs that tell you to stay off the ice. You should never go ice skating alone in case you do need assistance from another party!

Make sure you are dressed warmly while ice skating out doors. You don’t want to suffer from frost bite. Avoid loose clothing that can get caught up in your skates and cause you to fall. The ice at an indoor center is often cool as well so make sure you dress in layers. This way you can be comfortable no matter what the temperature is.

Whether or not you choose to get competitive with it, ice skating can be a really fun and challenging form of exercise, and it's one that your whole family can enjoy. It doesn't have to be strictly a winter activity, but if you are looking for some fun ways to get outside and be active, give this one a try!
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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Fun - and Effective - Exercise Tip: Mix It Up!

Curso de Instructor de PilatesImage via WikipediaI am a firm believer in mixing up your routine, when it comes to exercise. For me, the main reason is I get bored easily! Even if I find a new workout I really love (like Yoga Meltdown, or Hip Hop Abs), if I do it too often without throwing other stuff in there, I get burned out on it, and then my favorite new workout becomes old news and I am not motivated to do it anymore. This is why I'm always trying new workout videos and ideas.

But there's another great reason for varying your routine, which I was reminded of last night when I pulled out one of my old favorite Pilates videos.... I used to be a Pilates convert, almost to the exclusion of anything else. I got hooked on Brook Silers' book, The Pilates Body, and I did my exercises faithfully at least 3 times a week, for over 5 years - I loved it; I felt so strong, lean, toned, and flexible. Then I hurt my back, and was out of commission for months, and that was the end of Pilates  - at least, of my dedicated routine. I did pick it back up slowly, months later, but it was too late - I was out of shape, and out of my habit, and I've never gotten back into it with the same dedication.

Caribbean Workout: Core PilatesI do still enjoy Pilates though, and I've picked up a few new resources, and I try to keep it in the mix fairly regularly. I've gotten so into Yoga though, for the past few months, and then since my back flare-up in October, I realized I haven't done Pilates at all....  Figuring it was time to mix it up a little, I pulled out my Core Pilates video last night (one of my favorites - it's fun, challenging, and the workouts are each only 20 minutes long), and WOW!  It seemed SO hard! Which surprised me, as I've been doing quite a bit of Yoga and other strengthening exercises, so I didn't think I would have lost that much core strength.... Some of the exercises (which I used to think were fairly easy) seemed so challenging I was unable to complete all the reps.

I felt great, and stronger, after finishing it, but I definitely realized I need to keep Pilates in my workout repertoire!  I figured Yoga would work the same muscles, but apparently though similar, they are different enough that just focusing on one allows me to lose muscle strength in other areas.... So back to Pilates it is, and since it's been a while, hopefully I'll enjoy it more than ever!

If you find you're getting bored with an exercise video or style, try a similar type of exercise, or a different workout in the same style - not only will you enjoy it more, and be more motivated to exercise, but your body probably needs it as well. Working out all the same muscles all the time can lead to imbalance and pain, which then of course leads you to exercise less, which is the absolute worst thing for your body, if you want to stay strong and healthy. Mix it up, have fun, and give your body a new challenge!

Try some of the workouts below, or visit our website at www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html for some more ideas.

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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sledding - An Extra-Fun Winter Exercise!

Winter doldrums got you down?  Get some exercise! If you're feeling trapped indoors by the cold snowy weather, you may think you don't have many options for outdoor activities, but here's one that will get you moving - and laughing!

Sledding in Colorado Springs.Image via WikipediaSledding is one of those winter sports that both children and adults can enjoy. There are so many ways you can go sledding that you can make do with just about anything. It can be an impromptu  event that takes place after a snow storm has blown in. Sleds come in many different sizes so you can have one person on one or several at the same time. You can use a variety of different items as sleds - just get creative, and use your imagination!

Common household items that are often used for sledding include cardboard boxes, trash can lids, and even laundry baskets. Inner tubes are also a common item used for sledding. They are lightweight and round like a donut. You can sit on them or lay on them. You can travel to the hills around your home to enjoy sledding or even enjoy those that the snow plow makes as they remove the snow from the streets  in some cases.

The biggest problem with this type of sledding is that you have no control over the speed or how you will stop. Therefore you don’t want to climb up too large of a hill as you will pick up momentum as you go down. You also want to investigate the landing area so you won’t be at risk of running into trees or other objects that can result in an accident.

Sledding is a winter sport that the entire family can enjoy. However, make sure you protect everyone from the cold with thick gloves and hats. You also want to wear boots with plenty of traction that are waterproof. This way your feet will stay dry and reduce the risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Make sure you all pay close attention to the warning signs of these problems so you can protect against them.

It is very important for children to be supervised while sledding. They may not be paying close enough attention to how cold they are getting. You also don’t want them getting lost in the snow. Sometimes injuries happen such as bumping heads with each other or cutting a lip. While they are usually minor, having a parent around to deal with such issues is important.

If you are planning to buy a sled, the best time to buy sledding equipment is in the fall when they put out the new merchandise. You may be disappointed with what is left over if you wait too long into the season to buy them. You also don’t want to have the first snow storm come along and you don’t have anything to go sledding with as it may be too dangerous to travel to the store at that time.

Children sledding in Berlin, 1947Image via WikipediaSledding is one of the least expensive winter sports which also makes it very popular. You don’t have to travel and you don’t have to invest a great deal of money for the equipment. Most people already have hats, gloves, and boots for the winter time anyway. Investing is a few good sleds isn’t going to cost you very much either. Instead of being cooped up indoors during the snow, get out there and enjoy it!

Most adults feel like a kid again when they go out sledding. It is a great way to relieve childhood memories and to get some great exercise during the colder time of the year when too many people simply don’t venture out for such activities. Take your time to try out different types of sleds too so you will find those that are a good fit for your size.

(For more fun ways to exercise, even in winter, visit www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html.)
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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Keep Your Exercise Resolutions This Year!

To A Happy New Year!Image by Scott Barlow via FlickrNow that you've set some specific and attainable resolutions for getting healthy this year (see previous post), here is a quick article on how to make sure you actually KEEP those resolutions!  Most resolutions tend to go by the wayside before spring even turns to summer, so they don't really do you much good. I prefer the word "goals," but regardless, putting a plan into practice to actually achieve these resolutions is a great help to making sure you actually get to where you want to be.

Check it out, and please feel free to share your own exercise and health resolutions below, as well as your tips for keeping them!

Happy New Year!

Keeping Exercise Resolutions | AstroNutrition
So now that the New Year is officially right around the corner it is certainly time to get into gear and make those resolutions. If you are like many people though, you will probably be making the same ones you've made each year.
Publish Date: 12/28/2010 16:59
http://astronutrition.com/blog/keeping_exercise_resolutions


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