April 26, 2024

Trail Running Know-How

June 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Get Fit Quick Tip

Considering trail running? Here are 3 tips to reduce your risk of a trail wipe-out:

Pick up your feet. When trail running, you’ll find partially covered rocks, tree roots and sticks of all shapes and sizes. All of these obstacles can pose a fall risk to trail runners. No shuffling or dragging your feet on the trail.

Step lightly. Focus on moving your feet quickly and increasing leg turnover. Accept that your stride on the trail may differ from your road running stride initially. Landing heavily on each stride increases risk of falling when running by, through, up and over moveable and moving rocks and small pebbles.

Use your arms. Don’t worry too much on proper “arm form” in the beginning. Move your arms freely as needed to help improve your balance and agility on the trail. You may slip and slide here and there, but your arms can provide a valuable counter-balancing effect.

Our Get Fit Quick tip will always be easy to remember and you’ll be able to implement it the very same day. Our tip will be so clear and concise you’ll be motivated to forward it to all your friends and family to inspire them to live healthy and fit as well.

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Exercise at the Park by Sarah Johnson

April 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

The park is a great place to lounge, relax and get some sunshine. However, if you’re in need of some workout inspiration, the park can also be utilized for a quick and easy workout to boost your mood and energy levels! All you need is a bench and yourself.

Using a bench, you can make plenty of hard work on something that’s usually used for sitting and resting! (Please consult your physician before performing exercises.)

 

Warm Up: Begin by warming up your lower body. Stand with your back to the bench. Perform a Squat up and down to the bench. Try not to sit and rest, but barely touch the bench. Perform 10-15 reps.

Upper Body Strength: Then, turn around and add some pushups! Place your hands on the back support of the bench, or if you’d like more of a challenge, on the seat of the bench. Slowly lower your chest between your hands and push yourself back up.

Lower Body Strength: Now you should be warmed up, and we can add some step ups. Place your right foot firmly on the seat of the bench, and pull your body and left leg up on top of the seat. Carefully and slowly lower the left leg back to the ground, and repeat 10 times. Then switch legs.

Repeat series as desired.

Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahJChicago

 

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Walk your way to fitness! By Nicole Bryan

April 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Walking for fitness is one of the simplest activities from which we can reap worthwhile metabolic benefits, as well as cardiovascular benefits.

Begin with a five to ten minute warm up of walking at a slow to moderate pace, followed by fast paced walking. Important points regarding walking for fitness form include:

 

Focus on walking heel to toe, instead of landing with a flat foot. Doing so reduces our chance of falling and allows us to use our calf muscles easier to power our body forward.

Stride out. Try to cover at least twelve inches with each stride. Also pay attention to keep right foot stride and left foot stride even.

Keep feet parallel. Keeping our feet parallel will insure lower body musculature is able to work at full power.

Knees should be pointing forward. Pay attention to not twist knees in, out or sideways.

Keep hips facing forward. To walk more efficiently don’t rotate the pelvis with each step. Instead focus on swinging legs in a forward direction.

Belly button should be held in tight. Pulling the belly button in tight should be done without holding the breath. Doing so, helps us maintain proper upright posture.

Keep hands open. Clenching our fists will only waste energy and cause us to raise our shoulders up adding tension to our neck.

Pull shoulders down and back. Pinching our shoulder blades together slightly will force our shoulders into a back and down position.

Power arms forward or back. Keeping our arms moving forward and band, not in a side to side motion is the most efficient method to maintain a fast walking pace.

Chin should be parallel to the floor. Keeping our chin parallel to the floor, instead of tilted up will ease neck tension and allow our arms to move forward and back easier.

Head should be lifted with eyes looking straight ahead. When we are looking down the entire time, the tendency is to hunch our shoulders forward and curl our back forward as well. Both of these posture positions can add strain to our lower back and neck.

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Are YOU an Active Traveler? Written by Amy Christensen

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Workout Strategies for the Active Traveler

Written by Amy Christensen

I’m not going to sugarcoat this: Staying active while you’re traveling is incredibly challenging. Unless you plan your vacation around a specific adventure or excursion (i.e., rafting the Grand Canyon or trekking in Nepal), getting outside or keeping up with your regular workout routine takes serious dedication and diligence.

The first, most important thing to do is decide that staying active is going to be a priority while you’re traveling. It’s way too easy to sleep in, have that extra drink, or skip a workout to go do something else. So before you leave; before you pack—decide and commit.

There are things you can do to make it easy (okay, easier) to stay active on the road whether you’re traveling on business with back-to-back meetings, or you’re on vacation enjoying the eat-beach-nap-eat-nap-eat again routine.

Create and Put Your Plan in Place Ahead of Time
Once you’ve made the decision to commit, start planning. What activities do you enjoy and are they feasible (based on your available time and location?)

Call your hotel ahead of time and find out if they have a gym, what the hours are and what exercise equipment they have. If the gym isn’t your thing (or you’re camping), find out where the closest bike paths, trails, pools, yoga studios or climbing gyms are located.

Consider what kind of transportation you’ll need and make the necessary arrangements.

Running and walking are two of the easiest ways to stay active outside without too much hassle. Call the local running store for information on hosted group runs.

If you’re a cyclist, check out rental options or bring your bike with you (best if you’re driving) and research local group rides.

If you climb, head to a site like http://www.ClimbFind.com/ to find a partner or hit up the local climbing gym.

Recreation centers usually offer lap swimming, yoga and Pilates. Call or check online for fees, location, schedule and hours.

Time for Action!
Once you arrive at your destination, it’s time to take all the research and planning and get active. Mornings are often the best times to squeeze in activity. Set an alarm for not only the morning, but consider a bedtime alarm to help you get to bed with plenty of time to sleep.

Stay safe! Is the area you’re in relatively safe? Bring a cell phone, cash, credit card and map. Go with a buddy if possible. Be sure you know your route, along with the name and address of your accommodations.

And finally, have fun with it and remember not to be too hard on yourself. Set reasonable goals and learn over time what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. That’s what traveling is all about right? Enjoy exploring, discovering and learning!
 

This article is written by Amy Christensen. Amy is a certified life coach with a passion for helping women step out of their comfort zone and break through self-limiting barriers. Based in Boulder, CO, her company, Expand Outdoors, focuses on creating healthy, sustainable, and fun lifestyle changes. Contact her at amyc@expandoutdoors.com or via http://www.expandoutdoors.com

 

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Being Healthy Outdoors:Get Out of that Gym! By Steve W. Weiss

May 24, 2012 By 1 Comment

When people fail to reach their fitness goals, they always blame themselves when maybe what they should be blaming is their definition of  “workout.”  Being flexible with your definition of what a “workout” means, allows new experiences to enter your health and fitness world. Consider adding a non-workout, workout every once in awhile! Mixing up your approach to fitness will keep motivation fresh and your healthy living inspired!

I have never been more motivated in my life to be active.  There are reasons for this:

I don’t have any “fitness” goals.
Goal setting is crucial for anyone to succeed but let’s be honest; some goals are much more fun to reach than others. Instead of pushing my body to bench 255lbs, squatting 400lbs, run a mile in a certain amount of time on a treadmill or stay at a certain weight for example, I now set goals that sound more like, trying to finish a 5.12 rated rock climb (easiest is a 5.1 hardest is a 5.15a), V8 boulder problem (easiest is a V0 hardest is V15), hike in the backcountry & snowboard difficult chutes, or push through difficult road biking or mountain biking climbs. 

My goals have a physical purpose.
Having the general goal of staying healthy is challenging to reach because health is determined by perspective. Whereas, a hiking goal to hike every 14’er (a peak that is 14000ft) has a definitive beginning and end and being healthy, does not. Specific goals serve a purpose, they’re measurable.

It’s not just physical, it’s mental too.
Being healthy is not just about the physical. Being mentally healthy is just as important. How often do you see someone working out in a gym who looks like they’re in almost a brain-dead state, zoned out and just mind-numbingly bored? Instead of pushing your body but not your mind, why not do both! For example, rock climbing is a great way to push both your physical and mental limits. Rock climbing takes lots of physical strength and endurance, but it takes just as much mental strength to figure out the problems/routes. Think of the rock or climbing wall as a big puzzle.

Travel is my #1 motivator.
Travel is a great motivator to expanding your fitness. Because I climb, snowboard, bike, hike, etc I always am looking ahead to the next trip to do those things. I want to stay in shape so I can perform my best when traveling. Also, travel and new experiences brighten our lives, and gives us a good story to brag about to our friends.

So get active outside of the gym every once in awhile, get dirty, and get ready to be motivated and inspired!

Steve W. Weiss is an avid road tripper, adrenaline sport junkie, and social media nut based out of Utah. When he is not out climbing or snowboarding, he is blogging on his websites: TheMostEpicTrip.com, MountainEnthusiast.com, and SteveWWeiss.com. He also co-runs a twitter chat specifically for rock climbing called #ClimbChat every Tuesday at 7pm(MST). His main goals in life revolve around traveling the world for rock climbing and snowboarding, while doing other outdoor sports as well. It might just be easier to connect with him on twitter at @SteveWWeiss.

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Ask A Pro by Tera Busker

March 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Question: What exercises can I do while my kids are playing at the park? –Bonnie in OH.

Answer:
Do a circuit-style workout consisting of six exercises. Each exercise should be done for 30 seconds or 15 reps each. After completing one exercise, move right into the next exercise without rest. After all six exercises are complete, take a 60 second rest. Beginners should stop the workout after one circuit and move right into the cool down. Progress to performing three circuits of all six exercises for a 30 Minute Park Workout.

Start warming up your muscles by taking a 5 minute walk or light jog around the park.

Platform Pushups
Find a platform that is about waist high, for example a step on the jungle gym. Place your hands about shoulder width apart on the platform. Keeping the back flat, core tight and hips down, perform a pushup.

Bench Step Ups
Using a bleacher or a bench, step up on to it with your left foot. Use and up, up, down, down cadence. After 30 seconds, switch and step up starting with your right leg.

Plank
To get into the plank position, start on elbows and knees, locking hands together. Straighten legs and raise your body so that you’re supported by the balls of your feet, with feet hip-distance apart. Face the ground, being careful not to arch your back or lift your hips.

Walking Lunges
With your right leg, lunge forward about three feet until your right thigh is parallel to the ground and your left knee is nearly touching the ground. Pause momentarily and then repeat the forward motion with your left leg. Lunge forward for 30 seconds and turn around and lunge back the way you came. To make this exercise harder, try doing the walking lunges up a hill.

Bench Dips
To do the bench dip, go back to your bleacher or park bench and have a seat. Grab the edge of the bench keeping your hands close to your hips. Walk your feet forward slightly until your hips are off of the platform and your knees are at a 90 degree angle. Bending your shoulders and elbows, drop your hips straight down towards the floor about six inches. Push yourself back up.

Hanging Abs
Hang from the high monkey bars, arms bent or straight. Pull your knees up towards your chest and then lower them back to your starting position. Be sure to keep the movement slow and controlled. Remember – this is an ab exercise, so your abs should be doing the work, not the legs. Try not to use the momentum and swing the legs.

Walk around the park for 5 minutes at a slow pace to cool down. Finish off the workout by stretching the muscles you just worked.

Tera Busker is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and owner of Fitness To Go, an exclusive In Home & Private Studio Personal Training Service based out of Roberts, WI. www.fitnesstogo.net

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Extra Hour of Daylight means Extra Exercise Opportunities by Tanja Djelevic

March 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

With the arrival of Daylight Savings Time, you now have an EXTRA hour of sunshine! Spring is the best time of year to take your workouts outside, and here are a few fun and energizing ideas:  

Greet the sun: Find out what time the sun rises (http://www.sunrisesunset.com), and get outside to do your workout while watching the sun wake up.

Run: Go on a run through your city park to check out the signs of life and spring. There is nothing more satisfying than feeling your surroundings wake up from the winter sleep.

Hike: Whether you go on an early morning hike in your neighborhood or a week-long expedition to someplace new, hiking is a great way to leave your stress behind. Just remember to drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen!

Cycle: See the world and get your aerobic exercise! You can find great bicycling routes on websites like http://www.mapmyride.com or http://pedaling.com.

Socialize: Now that you have an extra hour of light, invite a family member or friend to join you for an after-work walk or jog. Get some fresh air and catch up at the same time! 

Organize: Create a fitness triathlon for a group of friends or coworkers. Take them all outside for a weekend extravaganza and choose 3 fun and athletic activities to do as a group! For example, you might do a 5K or 10K group run, make a stop at the Roman Rings or Rope Climb, and then finish off with a great yoga session on the lawn! 

Tanja Djelevic holds a Masters Degree in Psychology, specializing in Stress Management Therapy and Behavioral Life Coaching. She is a NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) and has fitness certifications from Reebok, AFAA, ACE, Powerhouse Pilates and C.H.E.K Institute. She has worked with a myriad of celebrity clientele including Matt Dillon, Pink and Rachel Weisz. Connect with Tanja at www.loudfitness.com

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