March 2007 - Posts
By Kathy Kaehler
Have you caught your reflection in the mirror lately? If you are like most people, the shoulders are rounded forward, the upper back is hunched and the belly is protruding. It’s not a pretty picture.
Well it doesn't have to be that way! You can improve your posture with some simple exercises at home or the office.
Here are three spine-straightening activities to try:
1. Stand against a wall and press your shoulder blades back. Let your lower back keep its natural curve, and keep your chest lifted and your chin parallel to the floor. Hold this position and breathe in and out 10 times.
2. Sit in a sturdy chair with your back straight and your abdominal muscles pulled in, extend the arms straight forward at shoulder-level. Exhale and round the shoulders and back. Pull the chin in towards the chest, contract the abdominal muscles and hold until all the air is blown out. Inhale as you return to the upright position. Repeat 10 times.
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By Gregory Joujon-Roche
A big reason many people don’t feel like working out is because they’re preoccupied with their daily problems and weighed down with the lethargy that comes with those problems.
But you can physicalize what’s on your mind, and work through it -- and past it. You probably physicalize your emotions all the time, without even being aware of it. For example, when you get off the phone after a difficult business call and you smack your hand on your desk, that’s physicalizing your emotions.
In fact, it’s virtually impossible not to physicalize your emotions, because the mind and body are inseparable. The body almost always responds to what’s going on in the mind, in one way or another. Too often, though, the way it responds to negative emotions is with subtle tightening and tensing.
The classic American way to get rid of this accumulated tension at the end of the day is to drink it away during a happy hour, eat it away during dinner, numb it away in front of the television -- or a combination of all three.
Why not let exercise help? Simple stretching can get rid of a lot of pent-up emotion, especially if you stretch your neck and shoulders, where tension loves to live.
Then when it comes time to work out -- watch out, world! Now you can get cathartic in a big way. And it’s going to feel good.
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By Kathy Kaehler
Sometimes I just feel like curling up on the couch and closing my eyes, or grabbing a diet soda to keep me going. But instead, a little movement is exactly what I need.
Research shows that even 5 minutes of physical activity can effectively boost your energy. So whenever you’re feeling sluggish, try this quick pick-me-up. It will help transport blood and oxygen to your muscles and your brain to revive your body.
Do each of the following exercises for 1 minute, and you should feel ready to tackle the rest of your day.
*Straight Leg Kicks. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart, your hands on your hips. Kick your right leg in front of you to about hip height; at the same time, reach out with your left hand and touch your toes. Keep your abs pulled in tightly and your upper body upright. Repeat with the opposite leg and arm. Continue alternating sides for 1 minute. (If you can’t touch your toes on the first few kicks, reach as far as you can. As your body warms up, you should feel more flexible, so continue trying to touch them.)
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By Gina Lombardi
Were you always the last kid picked in gym class? Or the one who didn't make the team?
If that’s a sore subject, well, now’s your chance for revenge.
The hottest fitness classes sweeping the country happen to be flashbacks from our past – Hula-Hoops, dodgeball, relay races, jumping rope, tag and even tug-of-war. For added nostalgia and fun, some even include music from decades ago.
But this time everyone gets to play!
Here’s a sampling of some of the new classes:
*Dodgeball. Crunch Fitness offers four or five rounds of hard-core dodgeball, followed by an abdominal workout and stretching. At Equinox, there’s a staff member monitoring the game and keeping score, kind of like in 9th grade.
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