Johnson Fitness & Wellness Blog
Articles
Coaching
5 Stretches You Need To Do After Every Run (Including One You've Never Heard Of)
Maintaining a healthy range of motion in your muscles, joints and tendons is vital to a runner’s life. Regular flexibility work reduces the incidence of aches, pain and injury due to muscle imbalance and tightness, and can increase the efficiency of running form and recovery by improving blood flow to the working muscles and range […]
Coaching
Product Review: Elite U7 Upright Exercise Bike
The Elite U7 is a good fit both for athletes who need a low impact form of active recovery, as well as those who are getting started on a workout program. I recently brought home a Horizon Fitness Elite U7 Exercise Bike to take through a few, very fun workouts. The bike is loaded with […]
Coaching
Why You're Not Losing Weight: Part II
Last month I wrote about 10 common eating and drinking mistakes that hold many people back from realizing their weight loss goals. After cleaning up your diet, if you are still not seeing the results you expect, it is likely that one or more of these 5 bad habits could be preventing you from getting […]
Coaching
3 Go-To Workouts to Get You Through Your Week
When you’re just getting started, your home workouts probably consist of jumping on your favorite piece of equipment and seeing what you can do for 20 minutes at a time. While that approach will support your cardiovascular health and help you to burn a few calories, for improved performance and fat loss, it’s important to […]
Motivation
Stay Motivated while Working Out at Home
Nothing beats the convenience of working out at home. No commuting, no heavy gym bags, and no crowded locker rooms. Unfortunately, even committed athletes can find themselves struggling to get started when there’s no one keeping score. Need a few tips to maintain your motivation? Give these a try! Create a Space: While it’s convenient […]
Coaching
Train Smarter, Not Longer
It’s not uncommon for potential clients to contact us asking questions about our training programs. In fact, I always try to thank them off the bat for taking the time the do so. I think it’s important that people do more research before jumping into any type of new fitness program. I recently had a […]
Wellness
Beat the Slouch
You’ve probably all heard the buzz about the dangers of prolonged sitting and the scary headlines like, “sitting is the new smoking.” While it’s true that long periods of sitting can have some very negative effects on your body over time, the fact is that we often HAVE to sit because of our jobs. One […]
Nutrition
Why You're Not Losing Weight: Part I
Despite what you consider your best efforts, are you having problems losing weight? Don’t feel bad, while many people THINK they are doing all the right things, there are quite a few little things that we can all do that will go a long way in finally shedding those unwanted extra pounds. But before we […]
Coaching
Ask an Expert: How to Heal and Prevent Shin Splints
I’m new to running and experiencing painful shin splints. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? – Kelly Shin Splints are a common condition for runners and walkers. The symptoms can include both a muscle tightness in the area around the shin that subsides post workout, or pain along the tibia bone both […]
Coaching
How to Fuel Before, During and After a Long Run
The long training run is the bread and butter for a long distance runner, and developing your personal fueling recipe will aid in stocking your muscles with plenty of energy to prepare for the run, supplementing energy, fluid and electrolytes during the run and provide the nutrients necessary for efficient recovery post run. Although there […]
Coaching
Transitioning From Indoor to Outdoor Cycling
Making the switch to outdoor cycling takes more than just adding a long ride over the weekend. While regular workouts on your indoor bike have left in you a great position for outdoor rides this spring, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep the transition smooth. Here are a few tips […]
Wellness
Ask and Expert: Yoga for Better Sleep
Question: I’ve recently started a weekly yoga class and love how relaxed and focused I feel after class and during my runs. I’d like to start an evening practice at home. Do you have any suggestions for yoga postures that will help me to sleep better at night? Thank you for taking the time to share […]
Wellness
Spring Workout Roundup
The changing of seasons can mean different things to different people depending on what part of the country you call home, but it’s a good chance for everyone to pause and refocus their energy on the fitness goals that are important to them. This can mean learning to run, improving a 5K race time, motivating loved ones, or simply […]
Coaching
Meet Ken Grall
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness experts, Ken Grall! Ken is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association, as well as a Youth Fitness Specialist (YFS) through the International Youth Conditioning Association. He has trained and coached in the fitness and sports performance fields since […]
Nutrition
Ask an Expert: Nutritional Supplements
Question: I’ve read a lot about nutritional supplements lately. Are they something I should consider adding to improve my health and fitness? If so, what is the best (and safest) way to start? I get asked at least a few times a week about different supplements and exactly what people should or shouldn’t be taking to help […]
Coaching
Meet Joli Guenther
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness expert bloggers, Joli Guenther! Joli is a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor and clinical social worker practicing in and around Madison, Wisconsin. She especially loves working with clients on holistic health issues, work-life balance, and fitness for joy and function in daily life. When not […]
Motivation
Ask an Expert: Motivating Others
Question: I’ve recently started a new fitness routine, but my friend has been more reluctant. How do I go about motivating others around me to be active, too? Congratulations on your enthusiasm for sharing your new fitness program! While you’re excited about the benefits of your routine, you’ve already realized that different factors motivate different […]
Coaching
Selecting the Yoga Practice That's Right for You
With so many styles and benefits of yoga available, sorting out the yin from the yang and the power from restorative can be pretty daunting. Looking for a little guidance on finding the right fit for your first class? Here’s an overview of some of the benefits of yoga as well as the styles that will emphasize […]
Coaching
Meet Coach Jenny Hadfield
Take a moment to meet one of our Horizon Fitness expert bloggers, Coach Jenny Hadfield! Coach Jenny is a published author (her books include Marathoning for Mortals, Running for Mortals, and Training for Mortals), a coach, public speaker and endurance athlete. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology, a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science […]
Coaching
Understanding Heart Rate
After running shoes and a source to play music, 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 […]