Here are five of my favorite exercises to strengthen the core without sit-ups or crunches: Plank: Beginning in all fours, lower elbows to the ground and extend one leg back at a time. Keep the body parallel to the floor. Push the ground away with the elbows, draw navel to the spine, squeeze the legs, […]
Do you have an over-arching theme for this year? I summed up my goals and resolutions in one word: ENERGY. This is the year of ENERGY. For me energy means mental focus and attention, physical strength and endurance, and prana or vital life force. My resolutions are centered around cultivating, protecting, and healing […]
Thinking about creating a home gym? You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a bunch of fancy equipment and you don’t need a lot of space. You can get a great workout at home with a one-time investment of $400-$1000. Here are my top picks for your home gym: Manduka Pro […]
Here are the five biggest mistakes I see at the gym and ways to avoid them: Not properly warming up and/or cooling down The first big mistake I see happens at the beginning of the workout: neglecting to warm up or starting with static stretches. These are probably the same people who leave without […]
What is Speed, Agility, and Quickness? Speed is the ability to perform a movement or move in one direction as fast as possible. Quickness is the ability to react and rapidly accelerate. Quickness means you’re not just fast, you’re also explosive. Agility is the ability to change directions quickly while in motion. This requires deceleration, […]
Power is the ability to produce maximal force in minimal time or strength x speed. Strength is the amount of force a muscle can exert against an external load. And speed is the ability to perform a movement or travel a set distance as fast as possible. Unlike other components of fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, […]
Balance is the ability to maintain the body’s center of gravity over its base of support. Balance is both static (standing still or holding a yoga pose) and dynamic (walking, getting up out of a chair, dancing, or flowing in Vinyasa Yoga). Balance is achieved as the brain receives sensory input from three […]
What is Strength? Strength is: A. The ability of the neuromuscular system to produce internal tension to overcome an external force. B. The amount of force a muscle can exert against an external load (weights, bands, gravity, etc.). C. Dictated by the ability of the nervous system to recruit and activate muscles. D. My favorite […]
What is flexibility? The dictionary says it best: Flexibility is the ability to bend easily without breaking. Is Mobility the same thing? Perhaps you’ve heard the term mobility at the gym or on social media lately. This is not the same as flexibility. Mobility refers to ability to move safely and effectively through exercises, […]
Cardiorespiratory fitness is measured by VO2 max and refers to the ability of heart and lunges to deliver oxygen to the body. Cardiorespiratory efficiency is improved with activities that use large muscle groups and increase the heart rate: a brisk walk, Zumba, swimming, cycling, running, jumping rope, rowing, and even intense circuits of body weight […]