Articles

The Rumor: Exercise is the answer to staying young, so the more I do it the longer I’ll live Popular exercise trends range anywhere from 8-Minute Abs to 80 minutes on the elliptical, and even include extreme ultra marathons. Advocates of each present some piece of science that validates why their exercise program is superior for...

Fitness fashion is in right now. Sales of workout gear are growing faster than the sales of everyday clothing because people are deciding they want to look good while they work out — not just after. But good workout wear has to be as functional as it is fashion-conscious. This snapshot of current fitness fashion...

The Rumor: Yoga is a religious practice. Before doing their first Downward Dog, many people wonder whether yoga is spiritual — or even a religion. Some are wondering all the way to the courthouse: One Christian couple in California is suing their school district to keep yoga out of the classrooms. Meanwhile, yoga teachers in...

The Rumor: You can trick yourself into enjoying a workout Every once in a while you hit a rut, and exercise — your usual relaxation go-to — just doesn’t work. In the winter, you may be trying to string together a week of morning workouts when the temperature drops; in summer, rooftop happy hours beckon....

Even if you’re a dedicated outdoor exerciser — the kind of person who wears shorts to run in 25-degree weather (guilty as charged) — winter can be a bummer. Ice, snow and plummeting temps make participating in sports like baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, cycling and even football near impossible, plus the dreary weather can suck...

I think the core is one of the most important areas of the body to strengthen. Many of my clients want to tone their abs for vanity purposes and think crunches will do the trick. In reality, it’s best to work the entire core region from hips to shoulders, and to focus on the deepest...

The Rumor: Stretching really doesn’t do anything for you Cats stretch. Dogs stretch. Even mice stretch. But does it really do anything for us humans? The Verdict: Stretching has benefits if you do it right A regular habit of stretching improves your joints’ range of motion. That keeps you limber so you can do more things...

Are flexible people born, or can anyone get more Gumby-like if they try? It’s certainly a question anyone who’s sat on a yoga mat next to a human pretzel has pondered. The good news is that anyone can improve their flexibility, and it’s important to do so, since it’s a key component of health and...

After the ball drops in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, don’t let injuries make you drop the ball on your resolution to get in shape. Check out this list of fitness trends — and the injuries they commonly cause — so you’ll know what to avoid. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) HIIT programs grab the...

Many doctors are now recommending strength-training activities such as weight lifting for people of all shapes, sizes and ages. But before you get started, you’ll first need to conquer all those weight-lifting myths and stereotypes racing around in your head. Myth 1: You’ll get huge unless you lift light weights. The only way your muscles will burst...