Online Streaming of Fitness Classes

Today in my neck of the woods (Wisconsin), I am feeling pretty grateful for unseasonably warmer weather. Yesterday we hit as high as the mid 50’s and today we are in the 40’s. It is quite a contrast from a year ago when we were digging ourselves out after receiving more than two feet of snow. Winter can be a difficult time to exercise. It becomes especially challenging when the clouds are grey, the temperatures are frigid or there is a ton of snow. Who wants to go out in that? Maybe it’s not even the weather. Maybe you are … Continue reading

The Fitness Week in Review for Jan 27-Feb 2

We’ve negotiated a smooth segue from January to February. For most of us, January is a month of transition, we’re recovering from the holidays, we’re going back to school, we’re going back to work, we’re getting started on new work out programs and new goals. February is different though. February means the New Year isn’t just arrived, it’s here, we’re in it, we’re down in the shallow end and we’re starting to really wade out into the year. It’s been an interesting week here for me and as I described in a blog I wrote late yesterday, I’m waiting on … Continue reading

Post Natal Fitness – Sleep is Vital

Yes, I know you’re sleep deprived and I know that you’re losing sleep and struggling to get things done, take care of that new little baby and you’re still thinking about getting back into shape. This is part of the reason why we hold back on getting started on our fitness programs until 6 to 12 weeks after the baby is born. By the time your baby is three months old, they should hopefully be on a regular schedule of sleep and so should you. Sleep is an important time for your body to perform repairs and maintenance for your … Continue reading

The Fitness Blog Week in Review October 28-November 3rd

Good morning and welcome to our first week in review for November. It’s the 11th month of the year and it’s getting cold outside! With 19 days left to go till Thanksgiving we have a lot to be thankful for and we’ll start with our ten reasons to be thankful for fitness later on today. In the meanwhile, here is our Fitness week in review: Saturday, October 28 In It’s Beautiful Outside: Get Out of the House discussed that getting your kids off the sofa and out of the house is something we should take every opportunity to do. In … Continue reading

The Fitness Week in Review October 21-27

Welcome to our last Fitness Week in Review for October. It’s been a busy week and month here at the Fitness blog. Don’t forget that we turn back our clocks an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, October 29. So we all get an extra hour tomorrow and that’s always something to cheer about! So without further ado, here is our Fitness Week in Review: Saturday, October 21 When Is My Child Old Enough to Go Skiing? sought to answer a question that many parents have especially now that winter is approaching and many areas are starting to see snow. … Continue reading

For the Love of Running

I don’t love to run. In fact, on most days I dread the thought of having to lace up my Brooks Ariels and hitting the trails near my home. Still, I do it, because it is a cheap way to maintain a decent fitness level and it allows me to occasionally devour my daughter’s leftover jelly donuts with the least amount of guilt possible. Apparently I am not the only one. According to a new survey, more and more people are turning to running as a way to get fit. Officials from some of the biggest marathons and triathlons in … Continue reading

Tone Your Body and Strengthen Your Core with Pilates

For many people, exercise has become part of their daily lives. There are many different exercise regimens out there and television and the media is filled with infomercials claiming benefits from specific types of equipment and exercise plans. There are so many different forms of exercise to choose from, and so many options offered at gyms and health clubs, choosing an exercise program can be difficult. While many different programs can be combined to achieve the benefits of strengthening, toning and conditioning, it is possible to get all of these benefits from one exercise program: Pilates. Created in the 1920s … Continue reading

Yoga for Dummies – DVD Review

Yoga for Dummies is a designed to provide balanced workout for the mind and the body. These exercises can all be found in Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies For someone who has never practiced yoga, this is a great beginning DVD for first timers. The host is named Sara Ivanhoe. She teaches what she calls the daily dozen. These are 12 basic poses including some challenges and modifications. Ivanhoe has a very approachable voice and a calming manner. She offers the concepts and information along with the jargon in a manner that is ideal for introduction to yoga. However, those … Continue reading

Exercising Pain Away

At one time, a common fitness saying was ‘no pain, no gain.’ This is incredibly inaccurate. Frankly, pain is the body’s warning sign that something is wrong and that there is imminent danger to that area of the body. So if you’re performing an exercise and there’s a lot of pain: STOP. Exercise is good for helping to reduce pain, however. Think about it, when recovering from a bad injury, the doctor often prescribes physical therapy. Physical therapy is work that helps to rebuild the muscles of an area slowly under the auspices of a professional. You can use exercise … Continue reading