Fitness

Since many people are now doing yoga in their homes, yoga mats are becoming a popular purchase. But building a yoga mat is a quick and simple way to kick-start your yoga routine. Besides saving...

A mat is a great way to sculpt your body without needing to go to the gym. Use a mat to help you get in shape with tips from a personal trainer in this free video on personal fitness.

Stretching is an important aspect of working out because it prevents injury to the bones and muscles before and after your session. It also helps to return the heart rate to normal after a workout...

Athletes, dancers and those who practice karate are prone to groin strains and injuries. One way to prevent groin injuries is to increase flexibility in the groin tendons and muscles. The major...

Depending on the type of yoga you do, how much you sweat and how often you use your mat you'll want to clean it between once a week and once every few weeks. If you do Bikram yoga or another type...

Many people are interested in stomach exercises because they're trying to improve their appearance and achieve flat abs. But for overall health and wellness, it's important to establish a routine...

Pilates strengthens the core muscles of the abdominal set, obliques and and back muscles. This provides more stability for your spine and keeps your posture much more erect and healthy. Pilates...

Yoga provides a surefire way to boost your metabolism. By focusing on your breath as you hold and move through postures, you'll stimulate your endocrine system, reduce stress, tone muscles, build...

If you enjoy doing yoga or Pilates, you should consider purchasing a floor mat. This is a small, portable mat that spreads out on any surface and is slightly padded. It keeps you from injuring...

Many of the regular Pilates positions are also good cardio exercises. What makes a regular Pilates pose suitable for cardio is the equipment you use and the speed you use to do the exercise and to...

Doing sit-ups and push-ups correctly and with proper form will ensure that you are getting the benefit of the exercise without injuring yourself. You can actually do fewer repetitions of each if...

Traditional sit-ups can often give the torso a slightly bulky appearance, and crunches without good overall core strength can sometimes cause pain. Pilates works the deeper abdominal muscles,...

Yoga is a great way to loosen up your body, become leaner and stronger, loose weight, and relax. Basically, Yoga is made up of a bunch of poses, positions, and transitions done with the body. They...

Joseph Pilates invented the stretching-based exercise system known as Pilates. Pilates is seen as a full mind-and-body workout (and to some, a way of life), and can be compared to other...

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is when distant objects appear more clearly than those that are close. While farsightedness can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or laser eye surgery, yoga...

Originally developed by Joseph Pilates, the exercise regimen known as Pilates was developed while this self-defense instructor was held at an internment camp in Germany. After his release, the...

Yoga is a spiritual and physical practice that integrates the mind, body and spirit. Yoga incorporates breathing techniques with asanas, or yoga poses, to strengthen the body and increase...

When you buy a yoga mat, it comes with a sticky sheen on both sides. This coating helps the mat stick to the floor so you stay put while practicing yoga. However, the sheen can be slippery to...

If your dinner includes lasagna, meatballs,and cannoli, washed down with a can of beer every other night, no amount of abdominal exercises will give you abs of steel. Achieving a flat stomach...

The hip flexors are muscles that enable you to raise your knees upward. These muscles are required for walking, running, sprinting, kicking and any other activity that requires lifting your knees...

For rock hard abs, try these 5 exercises in a circuit. No need to count reps - just do each one to muscle failure (until you can't do another rep or hold the position with good form). Rest no more...

The dolphin pose can be beneficial for your digestive system and can relieve headaches, insomnia, back pain and fatigue plus it is a great stretch for your shoulders and the following are the...

The lion pose can actually be fun and the main benefits of this pose are that it relaxes tension that one has in the face and chest, and usually is done at the beginning of the class. The...

The lotus is one of the seated and twisted poses and has great benefits such as it calms the brain, stimulates your spine and bladder and can ease menstrual pain and sciatica. But if you are not...

Reclining Hero pose is a restorative pose in yoga but for the more advanced students rather than the beginners, so if you have not practiced yoga, do not attempt this pose or ask an instructor...

Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. The system concentrates on strengthening the core abdominal muscles and is based on a combination of aerobics and...

If you're looking to lose weight and sculpt your physique, it is important to work out all areas of your body. This includes your abdominal region, or your core. When you perform a sit-up, you are...

A central component of Pilates exercises concerns alignment of the spine. Along with proper breath control and strengthening of the abdominal muscles, the student seeking to shore up her back...

Isometric and isotonic exercises both build muscle. The difference is that isotonic exercises involve contracting muscles while moving the joints around. Isometric exercises involve contracting...

Child’s pose is one of the restorative’s poses in yoga, and it is one of the easier ones as well, and the child’s pose is also known as balasana in the yogi world. The following are the steps to...

Downward facing dog is one of the most popular poses in yoga and it is considered a “relaxing” pose, and it is not hard to do but if you suffer from knee sprains you can bend them a little.

While there isn't much you can do to actually lengthen your abdominal region, it is possible to tone your stomach muscles for a longer-looking physique. When your core is strong and lean it gives...

The following pose known as Tadasana in the yogi world is a simple pose and often the preceding pose to others that are a little bit more complicated.

According to the Pilates Method Alliance, Joseph Pilates first developed the exercises we now know as Pilates matwork, and he later added machines to create resistance and movement for the bedridden.

Trampolines are a great way for family members to exercise while having fun at the same time. Before you can assemble a trampoline there are a few things you should do, such as choose a location...

A great way to lose belly, hip and thigh fat is to use an inflatable ball, a mat and plenty of space. Burn belly, hip and thigh fat with the advice of a certified personal fitness trainer in this...

Getting a flat stomach after a C-section can be done with a few different exercises while using just a mat. Regain your flat stomach back after a C-section with help from a certified personal...

Strength training can be done at home as long as you have a pair of hand weights and a mat. Discover what exercises you can do at home to build strength with help from a certified personal fitness...

The double straight leg stretch exercise was introduced by Joe Pilates as part of the system of body conditioning he invented during World War I in Europe. The pilates method, originally called...

The Crisscross exercise in Pilates, also called the Crossover, looks a lot like the elbow to knee crunches you might see in a standard exercise or conditioning class. But, the Pilates method adds...

Pilates is a method of exercise developed by Joseph Pilates during World War I in Europe, and brought to America in 1925. Originally called Contrology, the Pilates method is a system of stretching...

A medicine ball is a small ball that is made in several different weights, from two pounds to 20 pounds. These are found in gyms and physical therapy clinics. They are used in many different ways...

Indian push-ups, or Hindu push-ups, use the weight of your body to build strength. Legendary fighters such as Matt Furey and Bruce Lee used this exercise when building muscle. Unlike the regular...

Congratulations! You have decided to attend your first Bikram yoga class. Maybe you have heard about it on TV, from a friend or magazine article. Bikram yoga is also sometimes referred to as "hot...

How often do you clean your yoga mat? Think about all the sweat and dirt your mat has accumulated over the days, months, or years. Especially if your doing Bikram yoga (104 degrees)... hello...

Manual and electronic treadmills offer convenient workouts, any time of day and just about anywhere---including outdoors. If you choose to use your equipment outdoors, you can save time by...

If you can smell your yoga mat during savasana, it might be anything but relaxing. Yoga mats usually don't require extensive cleaning, but regular attention with soap and water will keep your mat...

Pilates is made up of many exercise routines specifically created to target certain areas of the body. The deep abdominals are just one area on which a Pilates workout can work its magic.

Yoga is an overall body and mind workout. Prepare to feel stronger, more flexible and relaxed after the first yoga class. Also, know that it is common to sweat during many yoga classes--even at...

Core body exercises are often overlooked in a workout routine in comparison to cardio or weightlifting. Strengthening the core of your body is just as important because it can help for better...