10 Good Reasons to Try Yoga Ten Good Reasons to Try Yoga Some yoga styles are intense and vigorous, and others are relaxing and meditative. Regardless of which type you choose, yoga is an excellent way to stretch and strengthen...
10 Reasons to Keep Fit as You Age 10 Reasons to Keep Fit as You Age A lot of us don't get the kind of day-to-day physical activity we need, so are physically "unfit." "Physical activity" means any movement of the body that is made by...
7 Steps to Happiness at Your Health Club 7 Steps to Happiness at Your Health Club As our packed closets and garages show, we buy a lot of things we don't use. A health club membership shouldn't be one of them. Your well-being could hinge on...
A Good Walk Can Make You Young A Good Walk Can Make You Young What would you do to take 20 years off your age? The answer may be as simple as walking, says Barry A. Franklin, Ph.D. "Starting at the age of 20, we lose about 1 perce...
A Guide to Jogging Strollers A Guide to Jogging Strollers Since jogging strollers were developed in 1983, their popularity among parents has increased dramatically. Today, jogging strollers come in a variety of shapes and sizes ...
A Heads-Up for Football Safety A Heads-Up for Football Safety In school sports, football is the leading cause of sports-related injuries for children in the U.S. And, thanks to some changes, it is safer than it used to be--especia...
A Positive Step Toward Fitness A Positive Step Toward Fitness Are you having second thoughts about exercising? Good. Have some third thoughts, fourth thoughts, and fifth thoughts, as well, but make them positive thoughts. The way ...
A Rational Diet for Bodybuilders A Rational Diet for Bodybuilders In the 1970s, weight lifters -- now called bodybuilders -- bragged about eating a dozen egg whites every morning to help them get enough protein to build muscles. On ...
A Real 8-Minute Fitness Routine A Real 8-Minute Fitness Routine Eight minutes in the morning -- that's all it takes to help launch you toward a fitter, trimmer lifestyle, according to fitness trainer Jorge Cruise, author of "8 Minu...
Age Doesn't Matter for Yoga Age Doesn't Matter for Yoga More than ever before, Americans older than age 65 are turning to yoga for exercise. What is yoga, and why is it so popular? Yoga is a series of stretches and poses done w...
Arthritis and Exercise: Q and A Answers to Your Questions About Arthritis and Exercise If you have arthritis, you may think you shouldn’t exercise because it could make your condition worse. But doctors and physical therapists insi...
Asthma: Exercising Indoors Asthma: Exercising Indoors When you have asthma, it’s a good idea to work out inside if the weather turns cold. People tend to breathe through their mouth during vigorous activity. When chilly, dry a...
Asthma: Out of Breath at a Meal Asthma: Out of Breath at a Meal If you have asthma and feel short of breath during meals, take these steps to help catch your breath: Eat when you feel rested and relaxed. Don’t wait until you’re exh...
Athletic Shoes: Lace Them to Fit Athletic Shoes: Lace Them to Fit You probably haven't given much thought to the way you lace your shoes or sneakers. Shoe lacing is the kind of thing you learned in kindergarten and then took for gra...
Avoid Injury When You Exercise For Seniors: Avoid Injury When You Exercise Staying active—getting regular exercise—is one of the best ways to minimize the effects of aging. Exercise helps prevent chronic illness and loss of functi...
Avoid Soccer Injuries in Your Kids Avoid Soccer Injuries in Your Kids The school team. The town team. The travel team. If your young soccer player is on the field for several games or practices a week, it may be too much. Most injurie...
Avoid the Top Mistakes in the Gym Avoid the Top Mistakes in the Gym Making time to exercise is an important step toward improving your health. Learning how to avoid common workout mistakes is also important. “Workouts can be challeng...
Avoiding Joint Injuries Avoiding Joint Injuries Most sports-related injuries involve damage to the joints. Common joint injuries include a twisted ankle, sprained wrist, overextended elbow, and damaged knee ligaments. Fortu...
Basic Training: Build Your Own Boot-Camp Workout Basic Training: Build Your Own Boot-Camp Workout Does winter weather have you camping out on the couch? It’s time to join the ranks of the physically active. Studies show everyone from obese children...
Basketball: Make Safety a Point Basketball: Make Safety a Point Basketball is an exciting sport, but it can also be tough on your body. College and professional basketball players must train to avoid injury--and so should your youn...
Bench These Six Exercise Excuses Bench These Six Exercise Excuses The benefits of exercise are many—equaled in number only by our excuses for avoiding it. Just one in four U.S. adults works out at low to moderate intensity for 30 mi...
Benefits of Strong Abdominal Muscles Benefits of Strong Abdominal Muscles Strong abdominal muscles are essential for a strong body. They help stabilize your torso, which reduces aches and pains in your lower back and hips. However, if y...
Biking Your Way to Better Health Biking Your Way to Better Health Riding a bicycle can be an excellent fitness activity. Cycling is also a good way to cross-train, because it puts much less stress on your joints, knees, and hips tha...
Build Your Bones with Exercise Build Your Bones with Exercise Your bones contain about 99 percent of the calcium in your body. Every day your body also uses calcium to help nerves and muscles function, and to help blood clotting. ...
Buying a Bike for Your Child Buying a Bike for Your Child Is your child ready for her first bicycle? Most youngsters learn the basics of pedaling, steering and braking on a tricycle or "big wheel" cycle, and around age 4 are rea...
Can You Work Out With a Cold? Can You Work Out With a Cold? Your nose is running, your head aches, and your throat feels like it's been rubbed with sandpaper. So should you hit the gym—or your snooze button? The answer depends on...
Cardio Workout Equipment Primer Cardio Workout Equipment Primer Treadmills, stationary bicycles, elliptical trainers, and other cardiovascular machines are among the most frequently used pieces of equipment at health clubs. But man...
Choosing the Right Group Fitness Instructor Choosing the Right Group Fitness Instructor Compared to exercising solo, group fitness classes offer encouragement and camaraderie with fellow exercisers that can help keep you motivated. The right i...
Common Injuries of the Shoulder Common Injuries of the Shoulder Whether throwing a ball, paddling a canoe, lifting boxes, or pushing a lawn mower, we rely heavily on our shoulders to perform a number of activities. Normally, the sh...
Conditioning Strategies for Peak Athletic Performance Conditioning Strategies for Peak Athletic Performance No matter what sport or athletic activity you pursue, conditioning will make you better at it. Every athletic pursuit is a power event, whether i...
Creating a Home Gym Creating a Home Gym It's convenient to work out in your own home. In fact, having a physical activity routine that's not dependent on getting to a health club can help you stick with an exercise prog...
Dancing Is the Star Dancing Is the Star The best exercise doesn't have to burn the most calories or build the most muscle. It's the activity that moves you to do it time and time again. In that sense, dancing is the bel...
Deskercise for the Office Bound Deskercise for the Office Bound Most people who exercise regularly say that being active makes them feel healthier and more energetic. And that's not limited to joggers or tennis players. Many office...
Does Exercise Deliver for Skin Care? Does Exercise Deliver for Skin Care? Just as everyone wants the perfect flat stomach, many people would love a quick way—short of a surgical face lift—to firm up their faces. That's the hook behind a...
Exercise and Eat Smart to Keep the Weight Off Exercise and Eat Smart to Keep the Weight Off Most dieters committed to losing weight are successful. Yet, a 2012 report from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that in 2009 and 2010, mo...
Exercise Can Ease Fatigue of Chemotherapy Exercise Can Ease Fatigue of Chemotherapy If you're diagnosed with cancer, it's normal to have questions, fears, and a feeling of being out of control of your life. Fortunately, there's something you...
Exercise for Home Bodies Exercise for Home Bodies The experts who tell us we need more exercise agree on one thing. Doing something, they say, is better than doing nothing. And that's true even if you can't get out of the ho...
Exercise for the Ages Exercise for the Ages While regular physical activity is a cornerstone of wellness at any age, it’s during your 30s, 40s and 50s that exercise becomes especially important. These may be the busiest y...
Exercise for the Seriously Unfit Exercise for the Seriously Unfit You've been out of shape before, but this time it's serious. You can't walk across a room without huffing and puffing. Your arms get tired unpacking a bag of grocerie...
Exercise Goals for Healthy Living Exercise Goals for Healthy Living Making exercise part of your daily life isn't hard if you make it a priority. To do that, you need to develop goals and an exercise plan that matches your needs and ...
Exercise Ideas for Older Adults Exercise Ideas for Older Adults Finding ways to get exercise as you get older is a smart and easy way to stay fit and improve your health. Exercise is just as important in your older years as when yo...
Exercise Your Duty to Keep Kids Fit Exercise Your Duty To Keep Kids Fit Do you know how much exercise your kids get? If you take their word for it, you may not have the full story. Children overestimate their activity levels, according...
Exercise Your Way to a Healthy Heart Exercise Your Way to a Healthy Heart Physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and smoking are risk factors for heart disease. So, be the exception rather than the rule. Exercise for a healthier hear...
Exercise Your Way to a Healthy Pregnancy Exercise Your Way to a Healthy Pregnancy You don't have to give up exercising just because you're pregnant. Most women who become pregnant can follow a modified fitness program with their doctor's ap...
Exercising for Health and Longevity Exercising for Health and Longevity In their quest to live a longer and healthier life, many people turn to supplements, herbal remedies and other forms of complementary medicine. But one remedy for ...
Feel the Power of a Short Circuit Feel the Power of a Short Circuit The top reason Americans don't work out is lack of time. Anita Kube was one of those harried people. After her second child was born, the suburban Chicago mom realiz...
Female Teen Athletes: At Risk for Injury? Female Teen Athletes: At Risk for Injury? Teen girls who are athletes face unique obstacles when it comes to their bodies and how well they perform. Teen girls have their teen growth spurt at an earl...
Finding a Yoga Class That's Right for You Finding a Yoga Class That's Right for You Now that yoga has become more popular, it's easy to find all kinds of classes, and not just in studios devoted exclusively to the practice. They're also offe...
Fit for the Ages Fit for the Ages Why exercise is important According to the Administration on Aging (AOA), exercise is important because a well-conditioned body can repair itself more easily and perform more efficie...
Fitness Folly Times Five Fitness Folly Times Five Whether it's skipping a warm-up or fudging on form, a lot of us make the same workout mistakes. Look around a gym and you'll see people making the same mistakes: Failing to w...
Fitness From Within Fitness From Within Tired of your regular fitness routine? Finding that your motivation to work up a sweat is lacking? Maybe it's time to take an old approach. Look to Eastern philosophies for the an...
Fitness Gifts That Keep on Giving Fitness Gifts That Keep on Giving We're here to help if you're searching for the perfect gifts for the health- and fitness-minded people on your shopping list. Look for these sure-to-please options, ...
Fitness Goals Provide Motivation Fitness Goals Provide Motivation Whether you want to run a marathon or just start exercising regularly, having a goal is an important tool. “Fitness goals help focus your attention, increase your mot...
Fitness Tips for Weekend Warriors Fitness Tips for Weekend Warriors Are you a weekend warrior? Do you sit at your desk during the workweek and then head to the ball field or jogging trail only on Saturdays? Exercise is good for you. ...
Five Fresh Forms of Indoor Fitness Five Fresh Forms of Indoor Fitness When the temperature plunges this winter, don't let your motivation for exercise fall, as well. Cold weather doesn't have to put a chill on your fitness routine, ev...
Follow the Road to Safety Follow the Road to Safety No one is too young or too old to exercise. The United States Surgeon General recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, nearly every day. E...
Foot Care for Walkers Foot Care for Walkers Walking is the ideal exercise for many people. It helps maintain weight, promotes cardiovascular health, and reduces the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, s...
For Better Posture, Strengthen Your Core Muscles For Better Posture, Strengthen Your Core Muscles No matter what your activity -- even standing or sitting with good posture -- you use your core muscles. And yet, vital as these muscles are, most of ...
Gardening in Your Senior Years Gardening in Your Senior Years When you move from the family home to smaller quarters, you may leave a large yard and garden that were equal parts hard work and great joy. To get this space just the ...
Get a New Fitness Attitude Get a New Fitness Attitude You’ve been doing the same old tired gym routine for months. You’ve fallen off the fitness wagon because of injury or a hectic work schedule and want to get back in the swi...
Get in the Swim Get in the Swim As exercise goes, swimming offers its own unique set of benefits. Besides providing a good workout for your heart and lungs, water offers constant, gentle pressure on every part of th...
Getting Back on the Workout Wagon Getting Back on the Workout Wagon For many of us, getting regular exercise is challenging enough. But it can be even tougher when you've taken off a month or more. "When you haven't exercised in a wh...
Getting the Most for Your Health Club Dollar Getting the Most for Your Health Club Dollar Joining a fitness facility is costly—from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 per year. To make sure your money is well spent, manage your membershi...
Give Young Athletes Plenty of Fluids Give Young Athletes Plenty of Fluids Odds are you wouldn't let your daughter play catcher in a baseball game without a facemask. You wouldn't send your son onto a football field without a helmet, eit...
Give Your Energy Level a Tune-Up Give Your Energy Level a Tune-Up Do you often feel sluggish during the day? It might be time to give your energy level a tune-up. Your body requires energy to function. How much energy you have avail...
Give Your Health a Lift Give Your Health a Lift Forget everything you think you know about lifting weights. First, toss out the notion that it's not for you. Weightlifting is one of the fastest-growing U.S. fitness activiti...
Gym Exercises That Work Gym Exercises That Work Even if your work and home responsibilities are time-consuming, it’s important to exercise most days of the week. “The key is to make exercise a priority and make it happen,” ...
Heart Screens for Teens: What You Need to Know Heart Screening for Teens: What You Need to Know Most people don't think of heart problems as an issue among teenagers, and for most of them, it's not. But in rare instances, a teen can have a heart ...
Help Girls Stay Active as Teens Help Girls Stay Active as Teens The teen years often bring a sharp drop in physical activity, especially for girls. But girls who trade tennis for television or volleyball for video games could face ...
How and Why to Keep a Training Log How and Why to Keep a Training Log A training log can help you get more from your workout. It will help you organize and save information about your exercise routine so you can work toward a specific...
How Do You Fuel Your Workout? How Do You Fuel Your Workout? Energy bars, fitness drinks, protein powders, sports supplements -- are these the best ways to power your workout? Here's the scoop on which foods can help fuel your fit...
How Intense Is Your Workout? How Intense Is Your Workout? Light, moderate, or vigorous. When it comes to exercising, which do you choose? Although you might think that exercise must be vigorous to be healthy, moderate exercise c...
How Much Exercise Is Enough? How Much Exercise Is Enough? Exercise is a cornerstone of good health—but how much do you need? First, let’s consider how exercise is defined. It’s the same as physical activity, or any movement that...
How to Avoid Common Running Injuries How to Avoid Common Running Injuries Running is a great way to get in shape, but it can also lead to injuries. Knowing about common injuries and how to prevent them can keep you on track toward achie...
How to Avoid Sports Injuries How to Avoid Sports Injuries Sports injuries happen when you exercise or play sports. Although not every sports injury can be prevented, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Sk...
How to Be a Happy Camper -- or Hiker How to Be a Happy Camper -- or Hiker Whether you're a first-time hiker out for an easy walk in the woods or an expert camping in the wilderness, think about safety before you head outdoors. Have fun,...
How to Control Your Temper How to Control Your Temper We’ve all been angry at times. Whether it’s a fight with a friend, an annoyance at work, or something else altogether, it’s never a pleasant experience. But it’s comforting...
How to Fit In Fitness How to Fit In Fitness To get your kids moving, find physical activities they can enjoy at their own pace—and become active with them. "Physically active parents equal physically active kids," says Me...
In Gymnastics, Kids Flip for Fitness In Gymnastics, Kids Flip for Fitness Each Olympic year, gymnastics reenters the limelight. Once the closing ceremonies end, it's gone faster than a double back-flip. Yet the sport provides great all-...
Injuries Plague Athletic Baby Boomers Injuries Plague Athletic Baby Boomers From master runners to members of over-50 basketball leagues, baby boomers are proving that age is no reason to drop a favorite sport. Clarence Shields, M.D., a ...
Interval Training Can Spice Up a Workout Interval Training Can Spice Up a Workout When it comes to fitness, a lot of people think the only way to improve is to do more, more, more. But one way to enhance your workout makes do with "less": i...
Is It Too Hot To Trot? Is It Too Hot To Trot? When the first warm, sunny day of spring arrives, you're rarin' to take your exercise program back to the great outdoors. Whoa, hold your handlebars. If you're not careful, you...
It’s Snow Fun: Skiing and Snowboarding It's Snow Fun: Skiing and Snowboarding Skiing and snowboarding are exhilarating activities and great workouts. Both sports are excellent cardiovascular exercises that strengthen the heart. Because th...
Jog or Walk? Both Boost Your Health Jog or Walk? Both Boost Your Health Which is better for you, jogging or walking? Nearly all studies show that jogging provides slightly more benefits for your bones, muscles, heart, and lungs. But wa...
Jumping Rope: A Kid Favorite with Grownup Benefits Jumping Rope: A Kid Favorite with Grownup Benefits If you're searching for a great piece of exercise equipment, just ask the nearest grade-schooler. Kids jumping rope on playgrounds and at parks are ...
Just Do It—But Don't Overdo It Just Do It— But Don't Overdo It Exercise is good for you. You're probably sick of hearing that message. But did you know too much exercise can make you sick? In a study at the Los Angeles marathon, r...
Kayak Your Way to Better Health Kayak Your Way to Better Health Searching for a form of exercise that's fun and challenging? Try kayaking. Unlike most sports, rowing and paddling activities such as kayaking concentrate on the upper...
Keep Clear of Golf's Hazards Keep Clear of Golf's Hazards Golfers often dwell on how far they can hit the ball. But while many people view golf as a leisure activity, more golfers are becoming fitness-minded. To do well on the l...
Keep Moving to Manage Your Weight Keep Moving to Manage Your Weight You can lose weight by dieting, exercising, or a combination of both. Including exercise into your daily routine offers other benefits besides weight control: it boo...
Kids Need Safety Gear for In-line Skating Kids Need Safety Gear for In-line Skating In-line skating is a zippy way to get exercise, but sometimes it's also a quick way to end up at the hospital. Each year, about 100,000 people are treated in...
Leave No Children on Their Behinds Leave No Children on Their Behinds It's ironic. As concern grows over children's harmful weight, physical education gets less and less emphasis in many schools. In response, there's more and more int...
Living Well to Reach Age 100 Living Well to Reach Age 100 An American born in 1970 can expect to reach the age of about 71. For a baby born today, life expectancy is about 78 years old, and for babies born in 2020, it will be ab...
Make a Splash with a Water Workout Make a Splash with a Water Workout Use water as your medium for an effective workout and you'll be joining a diverse group of young and old, male and female, beginners and professional athletes alike...
Make Exercise a Family Affair Make Exercise a Family Affair An estimated one in five American children is overweight, according to the National Institutes of Health. Serving them healthier meals and exercising as a family can imp...
Make Variety a Goal in Kids' Sports Make Variety a Goal in Sports Venus Williams was practicing her backhand before she started kindergarten. Tiger Woods showed off his putting skills on the evening news at age 2. But for every prodigy...
Making Decisions About Fitness Making Decisions About Fitness You make dozens of fitness decisions every day that can affect your well-being. Some are major, such as whether to join a gym. But most are daily decisions that have an...
Managing Arthritis with Exercise Managing Arthritis With Exercise Exercise has important health benefits for everyone — regardless of age and physical condition. But if you have arthritis, regular, moderate exercise — within your li...
Martial Arts: Something for Everyone Martial Arts: Something for Everyone Looking for more variety in your workout? Give martial arts a try. People of all ages and abilities use the martial arts to get in shape. Martial arts such as kar...
Maximize Your Exercise Time Maximize Your Exercise Time Ideally, you should get at least a half hour of moderate exercise every day. If you're trying to lose weight—or keep it off—you'll need 60 to 90 minutes a day, according t...
Move to the Music: Dancing as Exercise Move to the Music: Dancing as Exercise Don’t like jogging in the park or swatting a tennis ball on the court? Slip on your dancing shoes instead for a good workout. The benefits of dancing go well be...
No Sweat? No Good! No Sweat? No Good! In the heat of summer, it's important to exercise with caution and pay attention to your body. Even if you're fairly well conditioned, overdoing it may lead to heat cramps, heat ex...
Offbeat Ways to Eat Better, Exercise More Offbeat Ways to Eat Better, Exercise More Eat fewer calories and get more physical activity. Health experts stress this is the golden rule in managing weight -- and it couldn't sound much simpler. So...
Off-Season Exercises for Golfers Off-Season Exercises for Golfers If you're an avid golfer, winter weather can really get you down, as you count down the days until spring arrives. The PGA National Resort and Spa recommends the foll...
Organized Sports for Kids Organized Sports for Kids Soccer, lacrosse, baseball, football—getting involved in youth sports is a rite of passage for many children, enabling them to learn physical and social skills on the playin...
Ounce of Caution Prevents Heat-Related Illness An Ounce of Caution Prevents Heat-Related Illness After a few quick stretches, the tennis player goes out on the tennis court for the first match of the summer. The player volleys with their opponent...
Pedal Your Way to Work Pedal Your Way to Work Trading your car for your bike for all or part of your commute can save you cash, increase your fitness and help the environment. You may be surprised at how easy it can be. Ev...
Performance Anxiety Can Choke Up Athletes Performance Anxiety Can Choke Up Athletes An athlete often faces competition in the same way that another kind of performer does: He or she gets butterflies before going on the field or on the court....
Phys Ed: What's Up at Your Child's School? Phys Ed: What's Up at Your Child's School? At the New Hope-Solebury Lower and Upper Elementary School north of Philadelphia, students get their "Feelin' Good Mileage Club" card punched for each lap o...
Pilates: A Core Conditioning Program Pilates: A Core Conditioning Program If you want to work your body to the core, try Pilates (pi-LAH-teez). First developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s as a therapeutic regimen for soldiers, the Pi...
Practicing Better Posture Practicing Better Posture Good posture improves your appearance and reduces stress on muscles, joints and ligaments. So, you’re less likely to have strains and pain, especially in your neck and lower...
Preparing for Your Best Year of Fitness Preparing for Your Best Year of Fitness Here's a word of advice: If you're getting ready to make New Year's fitness resolutions--don't. Instead design a year long fitness plan to ensure effective lif...
Preparticipation Physical Examinations Preparticipation Physical Examinations A preparticipation examination may be required for any child who wants to take part in a school athletic activity or in an organized sports activity outside of ...
Prime Times to Exercise Prime Times to Exercise To get or stay in shape, the best time to exercise is whenever you can do it consistently. But there also are ideal times to work out that can help you reach more specific goa...
Putting the 'Fun' Back Into Fitness Putting the 'Fun' Back Into Fitness Top athletes and movie stars have the time and motivation to stay in great shape. The rest of us, though, often find it a challenge to fit fitness into our lives. ...
Racket Sports: Tops in Training Racquet Sports: Tops in Training Playing tennis or racquetball is an enjoyable way to boost the intensity of your fitness program, as well as improve your balance, strength, and agility. Racquet spor...
Rating Thirst-Quenching Sports Drinks Rating Thirst-Quenching Sports Drinks Sports-drink manufacturers have made a science of finding just the right concoction to replenish bodily fluids lost during exercise. Most sports drinks consist o...
Ready to Exercise? Take It Inside Ready to Exercise? Take It Inside Exercising at home can be just as effective and enjoyable as taking a walk or a bike ride outdoors. It can also save you time and money compared with joining a healt...
Ready, Set, Run! Ready, Set, Run! It may not be as trendy as Pilates or power yoga, but running still delivers a great fat-burning, stress-reducing aerobic workout. Many health benefits have long been linked to runni...
Relaxation Techniques That Really Work Relaxation Techniques That Really Work Everyone experiences stress and its effects. Short-term effects of stress include headaches, shallow breathing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and upset stomach....
Retire Your Excuses for Not Exercising Retire Your Excuses for Not Exercising Most of us know we should exercise, but we have a lot of excuses for why we don't. Keep this observation from certified personal trainer Todd Galati in mind: "I...
Rev Up Your Walking Workout Rev Up Your Walking Workout Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat … again, and again, and again. If that’s the only recipe you know of for fitness walking, then maybe it’s time to spice up your ...
Safety for Snow Sports Safety for Snow Sports Whether you're heading for the mountain to ski or just taking your sled to the hill, you can enjoy a great day out and get some exercise at the same time. The American College ...
Seniors Can Volunteer Their Way to Fitness Seniors Can Volunteer Their Way to Fitness Although a lot of seniors don't work out, they will work for a good cause. "If you try to exercise by yourself, you'll generally come up with any excuse not...
Set Your Clock to Workout Time Set Your Clock to Workout Time As you try to find a few minutes each day to work out, you may wonder: What's the best time to exercise? There are some surprising pros and cons to exercising at differ...
Shape Up Safely Shape Up Safely Regular exercise can improve your health and longevity. But doing too much too soon or not taking proper precautions can cause injury. Start safe If you haven't been active for a long...
Shape Up to Hit the Slopes Shape Up to Hit the Slopes Getting ready to ski or snowboard often consists of trying to remember where you stashed your gear last spring. That approach may get you to the slopes, but it can reduce y...
Simple Exercises to Make You Limber Simple Exercises to Make You Limber No matter what your fitness level, stretching is a valuable activity to add to your daily workout routine. Although stretching is simple to do, it's often the most...
Smart Fitness: Boost Your Calorie Burn Smart Fitness: Boost Your Calorie Burn You can devote only so many minutes a day to physical activity, yet there are so many calories to be burned. How can you get the absolute best calorie-burning e...
Spice Up Your Workouts with a Little Variety Spice Up Your Workouts with a Little Variety Somehow, your workouts have lost their zest appeal. You go to the gym or go out for a jog, but your heart just isn't in it. Maybe what you need is a chall...
Sports and Americans: A Perfect Fit Sports and Americans: A Perfect Fit Many popular sports are homegrown Softball, soccer, swimming, track. Name just about any sport, and you'll find kids—and adults—participating in it. Some of us are...
Sports-Related Knee Injuries Sports-Related Knee Injuries Skiers, football players, aerobic dancers, step-class participants, and athletes who play basketball, tennis and racquetball all have one thing in common—a propensity for...
Stay Fit When You Have a Health Challenge Stay Fit When You Have a Health Challenge Working out when you have a serious illness or health problem can be challenging. But for most people who have health issues, exercising can improve their pr...
Staying Fit on the Road Staying Fit on the Road Whether you're a frequent business traveler or heading out on a family vacation, leaving town doesn't have to wreak havoc with your fitness routine. "The key to taking workout...
Staying Fit the Old-fashioned Way Staying Fit the Old-fashioned Way Stroll down the aisles of any department store these days, and your eye will be drawn to a glittering array of labor-saving devices—everything from snow blowers and ...
Strength Training and Heart Disease Strength Training and Heart Disease If you think that you can't begin a strength-training program because you have heart disease, think again. Heart patients who do a strength-training program three ...
Strength Training at Home Strength Training at Home Strength training improves muscle strength, power, endurance and size. It also reduces body fat, increases body metabolism so you burn more calories each day, enhances balan...
Strength Training Myths Strength Training Myths If you haven't started lifting weights, it may be because you have run into some of the myths about strength training. Read on to dispel these myths and to get the facts about...
Strength-Train with Yoga Strength-Train with Yoga Many people think yoga is essentially a stretching regimen. If you happen to be seeking stronger muscles, yoga can provide that, as well. Yoga also helps people relax and foc...
Stretches for Your Lower Legs Stretches for Your Lower Legs Stretching can keep your lower legs limber and your joints pain free. The following stretches involve the ankles and knee joints. Keep these guidelines in mind when doin...
Stretching at Tee Time Stretching at Tee Time Golfing isn't considered a demanding aerobic sport, like running or biking, so why bother with stretching before a round? "A player who doesn't stretch before a round takes lon...
Stroke Recovery Begins with Rehabilitation Stroke Recovery Begins with Rehabilitation If someone you love has had a stroke, or "brain attack," in which a blood vessel in the brain was blocked or damaged, you may wonder what lies ahead. A stro...
Super Stretches for Your Upper Body Super Stretches for Your Upper Body Fatigue, stress and bad posture can cause stiffness and soreness in the shoulders, neck, chest and upper back. Doing the following stretches regularly can help pre...
Swing’s the Thing Swing’s the Thing You can call them the Lindy Hop, the Charleston Kick, the Helicopter, or the Fireman's Toss. But whatever you call the steps and moves couples perform while they swing dance, label ...
Tai Chi: Exercise for Mind and Body Tai Chi: Exercise for Mind and Body Stroll through a Chinese city early in the morning, and you’re likely to see groups of people exercising in the park. You’ll see them moving through a series of sl...
Take a Hike to Family Fitness Take a Hike to Family Fitness Tell your kids to take a hike -- and go with them. Even if you live in the city, you can still get out for a walk together to a city park or to the store. The whole fami...
Take a Lap With Indoor Cycling Take a Lap With Indoor Cycling When you cycle outdoors, weather, traffic and rough terrain can conspire to foil your good intentions to work out. That’s one reason people are taking their cycling wor...
Take Care When You Take a Walk Take Care When You Take a Walk A stroll around the block could be hazardous to your health. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in miles traveled, pedestrians are 36 times mo...
Target Your Heart Rate for Better Health Target Your Heart Rate for Better Health Moderate exercise for 30 to 60 minutes on most days is good for your heart -- and your overall health. Your watch can remind you how long you've been working ...
Teach Teens to Stretch Teach Teens to Stretch Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., and his staff have a saying: "An adolescent athlete can never stretch or study too much." Stretching to stay flexible is vital -- particularly when your ...
The Best Reasons to Strength Train The Best Reasons to Strength Train First the bad news: Muscle mass naturally decreases with age. If you don’t do anything to replace the muscle you lose, you’ll add fat. Now the good news: Strength t...
The Inside Scoop on Outdoor Fitness The Inside Scoop on Outdoor Fitness A lot of us have grown used to spending most of our time sitting around indoors. We've grown bigger, too: Two out of three Americans weigh too much. If we could ju...
The New Face of Aging The New Face of Aging The first baby boomers have turned 60, an age once linked with rocking chairs, reading glasses and rheumatism. This new wave of seniors is more likely to join in fitness classes...
Think Before Buying a Treadmill Think Before Buying a Treadmill There was a time when the only place you'd find a treadmill was in a physiology lab or a sports medicine clinic. Not anymore. Treadmills have become one of the hottest...
Treadmill Routines Make Indoor Exercising Less Routine Treadmill Routines Make Indoor Exercising Less Routine Treadmills have become a staple of millions of indoor workout rooms across the country. And with their presence has come a storm of ideas about ...
Treadmill Workouts: How to Go the Extra Mile Treadmill Workouts: How to Go the Extra Mile Working out on a treadmill can be a fun and effective way to stay in shape. And because it's not dependent on weather conditions, it offers you the flexib...
Try Team Sports for Fun and Fitness Try Team Sports for Fun and Fitness Do you ever feel lonely or bored while running, walking, or lifting weights by yourself? If so, it may be time to join a team. Many people find exercise more rewar...
Update Your Workout With a New Fitness Class Update Your Workout With a New Fitness Class If you’ve never taken a fitness class or haven’t been to one since high- and low-impact aerobics made their debut in the early 1980s, now’s the time to co...
Using Dumbbells for a Fast and Effective Workout Using Dumbbells for a Fast and Effective Workout Dumbbells, one of the most underrated and versatile types of exercise equipment, can help you build strength and muscular endurance. Although you can ...
Using Exercise to Ease Chronic Conditions Using Exercise to Ease Chronic Conditions Before the advent of modern medicine, a person diagnosed with heart disease, arthritis or some other chronic condition might have been told to take it easy -...
Using Free Weights for Resistance Training Using Free Weights for Resistance Training Resistance training is a type of strength-training exercise that gets you to use your muscles against some form of resistance. The most common forms of resi...
Using Sports Psychology to Improve Your Fitness Using Sports Psychology to Improve Your Fitness Fitness has a mental component, in addition to physical challenges. Even if you're in great shape, you can encounter intellectual obstacles that can de...
Using Yoga to Relieve Stress Using Yoga to Relieve Stress To combat stress, many people turn to meditation or other mental stress reduction tools. But stress also creates physical response in the body and, as such, can be manage...
Walking Works for Everyone Walking Works for Everyone Fit people may think walking is "too easy" to keep them fit. Overweight people may wonder if they really can become trim by walking. Older people and those with medical con...
Warm-water Exercises for Older Adults You're Never Too Old to Make Some Waves Older adults who want to improve their health are turning to warm-water exercise. This form of exercise can ease joint pain and other aches. Water is great for...
Ways to Improve Your Workout Ways to Improve Your Workout A proven way to improve your health is finding -- or making -- the time to exercise. But just going through the motions won't give you the health benefits you want. Exper...
Weight Room No Longer Off-Limits to Kids Weight Room No Longer Off-Limits to Kids Strength training is an important part of physical conditioning for adults, along with aerobic exercise and stretching for flexibility. But what can—or should...
Weight Training for Teens Weight Training for Teens Although children can begin weight training earlier, they don't usually build muscle until they hit puberty and hormones make it possible to increase muscle mass. "Research ...
Weight Training for Women Weighing in on Weight Training for Women Misconceptions about weight training—often based on unfounded fears of becoming too muscular—can keep women from pushing their fitness levels. That’s unfortun...
Weight-Training Moves That Boost Metabolism Weight-Training Moves That Boost Metabolism Starting as early as your 20s and throughout your 30s, you'll naturally start to lose muscle -- and gain fat at a rate of about 2 percent per decade, espec...
What Is Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm? What Is Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm? Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) used to be called exercise-induced asthma. The term bronchospasm means tightening and narrowing of the tubes that bring air ...
What’s Up with Shortcut Workouts? What's Up with Shortcut Workouts? Fast-fitness clubs are springing up across the country. You can find 30-minute workout centers for women and cross-training facilities for men. Breakneck fitness DVD...
When Exercising, Don't Skip Stretching When Exercising, Don't Skip Stretching It's no stretch to say that a lot of us underestimate the value of flexibility. While it's true that stretching won't strengthen your heart or flatten your stom...
Why Physical Activity Is Important Why Physical Activity Is Important If you’re like many Americans, your average day consists of driving a half hour or more to work, sitting at a desk for six or seven hours, and then driving home. Yo...
Work Out on the Water Work Out on the Water Instead of getting in the water this summer, try getting on it. With a sailboat, canoe, kayak, windsurfing outfit or pair of water skis, you can explore a whole new world of act...
Work Out Your Health Club Choices Work Out Your Health Club Choices As people learn the benefits of keeping fit, the decision to join a health club can become easy. Deciding which one to join, though, can be tough. Millions of Americ...
Working Out a Workout at Work Working Out a Workout at Work Move, stretch, take breaks – does that sound like a workout? Does it sound like work? The office may seem like an odd place to work out, but you spend most of your day t...
Working Out in the Cold Working Out in the Cold Cold weather doesn't have to put a freeze on your outdoor exercise program. If you take precautions, you can still work out when the weather turns chilly. Wear the right cloth...
Working With an Online Fitness Coach Working With an Online Fitness Coach Working out with a personal trainer is an effective way to get in great shape and stay motivated to exercise. Still, not everyone can afford a personal trainer, o...
Worried About Clots? Take a Hike Worried About Clots? Take a Hike Whether you're stuck on an airplane or glued to a computer, staying put for hours can be risky. Dangerous blood clots in the legs—what doctors call deep vein thrombos...
Yoga for Your Mind and Body Yoga for Your Mind and Body Besides being an effective stretching component of any fitness routine, yoga also offers a powerful mental workout that can help you beat stress, feel more in control of y...
You Can Be Your Own Fitness Coach Who's the Coach? You Are! A personal trainer can help you boost your exercise motivation, stick to a regular fitness routine, and push yourself past a plateau. But if you don’t have the time or money...
Your Personal Rx for Exercise Success Your Personal Rx for Exercise Success Like your signature, the exercise routine you prefer is individual. If you’re outgoing, for example, working out in a group situation could be what keeps you com...