Work Life Tips

Pilates – Exercise Plans Tips

Pilates is popular with stars and athletes. It concentrates on the body’s “core” and is a great way to tone, stretch, and strengthen your muscles without straining the joints. It is sometimes used in physical therapy and rehab. Your local gym may have pilates mat classes, but make sure the instructors have experience and more training than a weekend workshop. If you’re really interested, and can spend more money, look for a studio or facility with highly trained instructors and special pilates equipment.

Tai Chi Benefits – Exercise Plans Tips

Tai chi was originally a martial art, but is now used more commonly for its health benefits, and as a relaxing mind-body exercise. It has been shown to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, improve blood pressure, and reduce stress. It can also improve strength and agility, especially if you incorporate knowledge of its roots in martial arts.

Positive Thinking – Exercise Plans Tips

Do you believe in yourself? No? Then start believing.

If you don’t believe you can reach your goal, then you won’t. Period. You are allowing yourself to believe that you are not good enough…but you are good enough! How about a story…

One of my old Personal Training clients, Beth, a woman in her mid fifties who went from 200+ pounds to under 130lbs, didn’t believe she could jump up onto a platform. This platform was maybe 20 inches off the ground. She had jumped onto the platform which was about 10 inches off the ground with ease, but this one was higher. For weeks I tried to get her to jump onto the 20 inch platform, but she kept saying ‘I Can’t Do It!’. She would stand in front of it for 2-3 minutes each time and never make an attempt. Finally, I forced her to say she could do it and to actually walk right up to it and jump. So she did…. and she made it! Later, she did it 6 times in a row!

The power of positive thinking can really help you excel in your workout program, and help motivate you. Talk with people who encourage you when you feel down about how your goals are maybe coming slowly. If you stay positive about it, the chances of you reacihg your goal will be much higher.

Weekend Workouts Not Enough – Exercise Plans Tips

Don’t save all your workouts for the weekend. Regular exercise will build up your tendons and ligaments slowly, as well as your endurance. Vigorous exercise done only occasionally can lead to torn or strained tissue, and won’t do much to improve your sports performance either. Regular workouts also lead to better health benefits.

Yoga Benefits – Exercise Plans Tips

Yoga exercise increases muscular strength, reduces tension and stress, has a low potential for injury, is non-competitive, has spiritual and psychological benefits, and a 5000 year track record. The 84 basic yoga positions, or asanas, range from simple bending and twisting to pretzel-like contortions reserved for the most advanced practitioners.

Yoga instructors suggest that yoga be studied with an experienced teacher rather than learned from a manual. Also note that yoga teachers in general are unlicensed and unregulated. Find an experienced teacher affilated with a reputable yoga organization.
There are also good yoga videos if you can’t get to a class. Use books to supplement your training.

12-minute Fitness Test – Exercise Plans Tips

To get a good idea of your fitness level before starting an exercise program, try running or walking for 12 minutes and see what kind of distance you can cover. If you cover a mile or more you’re in decent shape. You should feel good about where you are. Start your exercise program at a more vigorous level if you do well. Don’t feel bad if you don’t get close to a mile. Most beginners can’t. You just have to start out at a pace that is comfortable for you and increase it as your fitness improves.

Balance Training – Exercise Plans Tips

You may not feel you have time for specific balance training, but you still need good balance to get the most out of your other exercises. Here’s something you can work in easily. Get about an 8-foot length of 2×4, lay it 4-in. side down on a floor or other flat surface, and practice walking back and forth on it. Do one foot in front of the other, forward, backward, sideways, progressing to lunging movements. Slower is harder.

Taking the Stairs – Exercise Plans Tips

It’s important to your health and fitness to stay active throughout the day, rather than just when you’re working out. Walking more and taking the stairs will help achieve this. Avoid elevators unless you’re going higher than the 3rd floor (or more if you’re fit) or carrying something awkward or heavy.

Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy – Exercise Plans Tips

The benefits of exercising during pregnancy are numerous. These include: reduced weight gain; reduced chances of becoming hypertensive; less likely to develop gestational diabetes; improved mood with less depression; better sleep patterns; reduced labor time; may reduce chance of surgery; more rapid weight loss after pregnancy. Work with your doctor to develop the best plan for you.

Outdoor Workouts – Exercise Plans Tips

Schedule your outdoor workouts early or late in the day. Avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., to minimize damage from the sun. City dwellers can also avoid built-up auto emissions by going out early and staying away from busy streets. You still need sunscreen in the morning or afternoon.