Yoga! Bending Over Backwards Might Actually Help That Back Pain

Pain in the low back area is a common complaint. It is the most prevalent reported pain, according to a recent report, and one of the leading causes of emergency department visits. Low back pain also affects roughly one third of adults aged 65-74.

What’s the Secret to Longevity? It May Be Golf

Golf is a sport that is enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. About 25 million Americans play this sport. I have been playing golf for nearly twenty years. I love the sport. It is an activity that has kept me both physically and mentally fit. It is engaging and taught me humility, patience, discipline, perseverance and the ability to focus on improving my thinking in order to be successful both at the sport and life.

Yoga Isn’t the Only Way to Clear Your Mind, Try Tai Chi

When it comes to combining meditation and mind-body exercise, most of us might immediately think of yoga and perhaps all the excuses that come with it—“I don’t know the poses,” “I’m not that flexible” or “I’m too old for that.” Sound familiar?

Making Neighborhoods More Walkable Can Help Us All Enjoy Better Health

According to Walk Score, a website that rates the walkability of neighborhoods anywhere in the United States, Canada and Australia on a scale of zero to 100, “The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling (versus compact) neighborhood.”

How Much Should I Be Exercising For My Age?

Physical activity is an important cornerstone for a healthy life. We know it can help with weight management, disease prevention, heart health and better sleep -- at any age!

Prediabetic? Try exercise to control your blood sugar levels

Staying fit into middle age may be one way to reduce your risk of prediabetes and diabetes, according to a new study published in Diabetologia online. Prediabetes simply means your blood sugar is higher than normal, but is not yet diabetes. It is estimated that half of all U.S. adults have either prediabetes or diabetes.

Exercise may help teens dealing with depression

The teenage years can be challenging enough, but even more so when depression is thrown into the mix. Depression is common, especially among teenagers. It’s been estimated that approximately 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood. But there may be a natural solution to help teens who are dealing with depression.

Iyengar yoga: Safe enough for pulmonary hypertension patients to reap big benefits

People turn to yoga for relief from all sorts of ailments – aches and pains, insomnia, headaches, stress and many more. Now, recent research is adding another condition to the list: pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs and right heart.

Small group training: Reap the benefits of a personal trainer at a lower price and with group camaraderie

While some might argue that even the term is an oxymoron, it really isn’t. Small group training, or group personal training, allows people the opportunity to experience the benefits of having a trainer while lowering the financial entry point. The personal trainer continues to provide the personal service clients expect from one-on-one training, but in a small group setting -- typically four to 10 people.

A solution for the dreaded fitness plateau

You had the best intentions when you first started working out, but after a while, you find your motivation has been sapped. Not only is it harder to get to the gym or place where you train, but you just aren’t seeing the results, no matter how hard or how often you exercise. You are stuck on a plateau. How frustrating!

Working out with sand: What is all the hype about SandBells?

SandBells were first introduced in 2008, but are now changing the way personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts design their exercise programs. These spongy, sand-filled bags are constructed with a heavy-duty neoprene outside and leak-resistant stitching. This technology allows the user to drop, lift, swing, throw, toss, slam, glide with and even stomp on the SandBells without damaging them, yourself or other equipment.

Benefits of strength training for women

Strength training, also called resistance training or weight training, is any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance with the expectation of increases in strength, tone, mass and/or endurance. Even though researchers have demonstrated the benefits of weight training for women for years, the number of women who are following this recommendation is still quite low. Research shows that only about 20 percent of women practice strength training weekly, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.