Fitness

Contrary to popular belief, there is no “goal” in yoga practice. Newbies believe that they must strain to their maximum flexibility in each and every yoga posture. Not so. Instead, think of maintaining spinal extension so that you do not…
Read more

With good posture, your spine is in a position to be strong, stable and pain free, says the Mayo Clinic. Its natural curvature distributes your bodyweight in such a way that you do not feel tightness or fatigue. If you…
Read more

For many avid exercisers, it makes sense to spend a set sum of money, once, on a home gym or other piece of exercise equipment that offers workout variety, versus continuing to spend money annually on a gym membership. Home…
Read more

Overview Many different kinds of leg machines in gyms can help you train various parts of the lower extremities. The equipment often puts you in a fixed position and isolates parts of your legs and hips, such as the leg…
Read more

Lower abdominal or stomach fat is some of the hardest to get rid of for women, especially those who have had a baby. However, getting rid of lower stomach fat can be achieved through a variety of exercises and reducing…
Read more

Overview Companies who manufacture and endorse core exercise machines claim that their products help increase strength and firm up your abs. These exercises often target muscles groups in the trunk and hips, similar to sit-ups, trunk rotations and hip and…
Read more

Overview When most people hear the word cardio, they imagine countless hours spent on a treadmill trying to burn unwanted calories and body fat. This thought alone is enough to make people bypass the gym on their way home from…
Read more

The latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles in your back power any strong pulling motion done with the arms; the pectoral muscles, in your chest, power any pushing motion. If you’ve got a very strong back, it’s important for you to…
Read more

Overview Riding exercise bikes provide an excellent aerobic workout without the physical pounding on your feet and knees that come from running and other weight-bearing exercises. Exercise bikes also allow you to work out when it’s raining or dark outside,…
Read more

Poor breathing habits can negatively affect the body by taking away energy and dulling the mind. As the body ages, the rib cage and surrounding muscles become stiff from disuse and the act of inhaling becomes more difficult. This can…
Read more

The muscles of your back are crucial for stabilizing your spine and your torso. The back muscles are part of the rear portion of your core, which includes the glutes, inner thighs and hamstrings. The front muscles of the core,…
Read more

Starting an abdominal-strengthening routine is extremely beneficial: it will strengthen your core to support your spine to promote good posture and relieve back pain. Strengthening your core will also help with other physical activity by stabilizing your torso to save…
Read more

Flattening your belly involves training your rectus abdominis, the muscle that runs along the front of your abdomen, and your transverse abdominis, the muscle that wraps around your waist. There are a number of ways you can train the muscles…
Read more

Many people neglect to train the muscles of the backside or rear, also known as the gluteus maximus. Building muscle in the butt may add a little size to your rear, but it also creates the coveted shapely curves that…
Read more

The American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association recommend that healthy adults get at least 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise, five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorously intense aerobic exercise three days a week….
Read more

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles: the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor and the subscapularis (easily remembered by the acronym SITS). The rotator cuff muscles work together to stabilize the shoulder joint and are the first…
Read more

The lower back is constantly under stress and pressure―especially when sitting―and is prone to injury and other spinal problems, such as herniated disc and arthritis. To strengthen your lower back and spine, you must also integrate other body parts in…
Read more

As you walk down the magazine aisle at your local grocery store, you will notice several fitness magazines with pictures of “six-pack abs.” The people in the pictures put commitment and dedication to a fitness program that used workout machines…
Read more

Overview The bench press exercise is one of the best ways to increase muscle mass in the pectoral (chest) muscles as well as in the front deltoids and triceps in the arms. The butterfly press is a type of bench…
Read more

Exercises that target the underarm or triceps are plentiful. In addition to using your own body weight to perform triceps dips and push-ups, you can use dumbbells and resistance bands to sculpt the area. However, in order to actually burn…
Read more

The hamstring muscle group is commonly the weakest in the body in relationship to other major muscle groups. This weakness is caused by inactivity coupled with a lot of sitting. When muscles are not being used, they become overactive, tight…
Read more

Pilates is a method of exercise that builds core strength, long sculpted muscles, flexibility and graceful movement. While the exercise ball, or stability ball as it is sometimes called, has been adopted as a useful tool by many Pilates enthusiasts,…
Read more

Overview The abs are part of your body’s core. It is this location on the body that is responsible for almost every movement you make during the course of a day. Every time you sit up to sneeze, raise a…
Read more

Created by Joseph Pilates, a German boxer with a background in yoga and classic Greek and Roman workouts, Pilates can help you to gain balance, flexibility and muscular endurance. Because all Pilates movements are slow and purposeful, you will not…
Read more

The stomach muscles are often referred to as the “abs.” This muscle group forms your core, which is an important part of the body to keep strong. According to the Mayo Clinic, weak core muscles leave you susceptible to poor…
Read more

The kettle bell is a piece of exercise equipment that gives you the best of both worlds–a cardio workout that also shapes and tones muscle. The range of motion used in most kettle bell exercises targets multiple muscle groups, meaning…
Read more

The major muscles of the buttocks include the gluteus medius and the gluteus maximus, also known as the “glutes.” Having strong, firm glutes is an attractive and healthy attribute for a man, but many men overlook the glutes during their…
Read more

The abdominal region seems to be one of the first places people notice weight gain. Unfortunately, reducing fat in this region, alone, may not be possible, according to the American Council on Exercise. Combining an aerobic workout with abdominal training…
Read more

The abdominals are six muscles extending from the rib area to the pelvis. They support and strengthen the trunk, assist in breathing and are fundamental to good posture. The abdominals also define the shape of the torso, where the rectus…
Read more

Pilates exercises can be performed on an exercise mat, but there are also hundreds of exercises that are done on specially-designed equipment. Authentic Pilates equipment offers designs that copy or comply to the original designs of Joseph Pilates. Joseph Pilates…
Read more