Coaching
Coaching
Cross Training at Home
Taking the time to create a customized cross training program can help you to avoid injury, increase flexibility and become stronger in your chosen sport. Even better news: developing a program that will help you to meet your goals (whether you’re a competitive athlete or just getting started on a regular fitness program) is actually […]
Coaching
Ask an Expert: Planking Basics
I’ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of planking lately, but it intimidates me. Can you share some tips on how to ease my way into the exercise and different variations to get started? –Nicole Challenging most of the major muscle groups and requiring no equipment, planking is one exercise that can benefit nearly any […]
Coaching
5 Ways to improve your elliptical training sessions
You already know that your elliptical trainer strengthens your cardiovascular system without stressing your joints. What you may not know is that there are a lot of ways you can use your elliptical to strengthen your body and train for other activities. Here are 5 ways you can improve your elliptical training sessions: 1. Take […]
Coaching
Benefits of a recumbent bike
Whether you’re a committed athlete looking for a no-impact form of cross-training, or you need a simple way to get started on your fitness goals, there are a lot of reasons to choose a recumbent bike. Here are just a few of the benefits: Comfort. The recumbent bike offers a natural seated position that makes your […]
Coaching
Get More From Your Heart Rate Monitor
After running shoes and an MP3 player, a heart rate monitor is usually the first piece of equipment runners add to their workouts. If you aren’t using one now, you’ve most likely at least played with them in the past, calculating whether you’re working too hard or not hard enough, estimating your total calories burned, […]
Coaching
Choosing the right fitness equipment
Choosing the right piece of home fitness equipment—whether that’s a treadmill, elliptical, or exercise bike—depends on what you wish to accomplish from your home training sessions. As you set up your training plan, here are a few things you might want to consider: Treadmill: Providing a natural workout (as simple as heading out for a walk!), […]
Coaching
Rest stop fitness: Easy workouts while traveling
Travel is a mainstay in my personal and professional life so if I want to practice what I preach, I have to find creative ways to get in exercise when I’m on the road. I’ll admit, at first, it seemed overwhelming because I wasn’t able to duplicate my home routine. The secret to my on […]
Coaching
Color, muddy, obstacle and more: The themed race trend
Running a race used to be a straightforward endeavor. You trained, set a goal, showed up to the event, put on your running shoes, and ran as fast as you could to reach the finish line to meet your goal. But nowadays a new crop of races is taking the running industry by storm: themed […]
Coaching
Treadmills – To Lubricate Or Not To Lubricate?
Ensure Maximum Life Of Your Treadmill With Lubrication Proper maintenance for your treadmill, including lubrication, is a must do! Depending on your model, you may sometimes have to lubricate the running deck with paraffin wax. The reason for applying wax to the running deck is so the running belt moves smoothly over the deck surface. […]
Coaching
8 Vital injury-prevention practices for your workouts
If you get hurt working out, you have to quit exercising for a while. Although it’s true that you should expect some “burn” or discomfort during your workout, real pain is a warning sign that you’re doing something wrong. To keep doing right, observe these 8 injury-prevention tricks from the pros: 1. Know the Danger […]
Coaching
Active in the snow: Cross country skiing
When snow covers the ground, your activity level could decrease dramatically, and understandably so. Not only can it be difficult just to move in all that snow and slush, but it can be equally hard to find the motivation to do so. The problem is further complicated if you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). […]
Coaching
Equipment-free strength training at home
It’s no surprise that bodyweight strength training is one of the hottest trends in fitness today. A natural complement to workouts on your home fitness equipment, this approach to strength training uses your bodyweight as resistance, making for accessible workouts you can take anywhere. The level of difficulty can easily be adapted to your level […]
Coaching
Can your workout be destroying your muscles?
If you’ve ever used any piece of cardio training equipment you’ve seen it: the “heart rate zone chart.” This handy reference tool provides you with some research-based general guidelines for where to keep your heart rate to achieve specific fitness goals. The target zone for most people, and the focus of most exercise programs, is […]
Coaching
Show your treadmill you mean business: The best stretches for runners
Although we all know it’s a good idea to mix flexibility training in with our cardio workouts, many runners are in the dark about how to get the most from their stretching sessions. Physical benefits of a consistent stretching routine include improved performance, reduced injury and muscle soreness and a better transition to post-workout activities. […]
Coaching
8 Ideas to get fit on the cheap
A few years ago, I realized I was spending a good chunk of my income on fitness. Between my gym membership, regular classes at the hippest yoga studio in town, running a few races per month, and the stylish clothes I “needed” to participate in these activities, it was getting out of hand. So I […]
Coaching
Kettlebells: New life to an old workout
It seems like every week someone in the fitness industry is touting a new magic bullet; some new diet or workout or gizmo that is guaranteed to give you amazing results in no time at all. It’s understandable, then, that people have become skeptical of this sort of claim. But now comes the ancient kettlebell […]
Coaching
Consider deck cushioning when looking to purchase a quality treadmill
You need the right amount of support when you walk, jog or run, especially if you have sensitive knees and joints. This makes cushioning and deck support one of the most important features of a treadmill. By design, it’s common for treadmills to offer superior cushion and shock absorption to running on concrete or asphalt. The treadmill’s […]
Coaching
Add in Strength Training to Make your Fitness Equipment Workouts Do More
It’s no secret that making it to the gym can be tough to fit in, but if you’re skimping on strength training, you’re missing the chance to get the most from your workouts. Strength training reduces your chances of injury, letting you workout more intensely and burn more fat to show off that great looking muscle […]