-
4 Lower-Body Mobility Drills to Help You Get Stronger
Read More: 4 Lower-Body Mobility Drills to Help You Get StrongerWe all know that stretching increases flexibility, and resistance training increases strength. It’s a no-brainer that mobility increases joint motion — but does mobility also increase strength? On the surface, the link between mobility and strength doesn’t make sense. Many strength athletes even regard mobility work as either a waste of precious training time or…
-
Is Stretching Good or Bad? A Comprehensive Look
Read More: Is Stretching Good or Bad? A Comprehensive LookDo you remember the Presidential Physical Fitness Test from grade school? If you’re reading this in the U.S., there’s a good chance it brings back memories of having to do pull-ups, run a mile, and do sit-ups in front of all the kids in your gym class. As an overweight kid, I learned that I…
-
Flexibility Versus Mobility: What’s the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?
Read More: Flexibility Versus Mobility: What’s the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?With the rise of social media, functional training and creative exercises, the distinction between the terms “flexibility” and “mobility” have become blurred. So which are you training, and more importantly, does the type of training you’re doing support your goals? Let’s look at the differences and how to train for each. Then, you can decide…
-
5 Seated Stretches to Do While Traveling
Read More: 5 Seated Stretches to Do While TravelingThere’s nothing worse than spending hours folded like origami into a cramped seat only to arrive at your final destination with sore muscles and cranky joints. According to Bob Anderson, author of the best-selling book Stretching (Shelter Publications, 2020), that lack of physical exertion leads to tight, weak muscles. “Stretching is that important link between…
-
Quick Yoga Session for Anywhere, Anytime
Read More: Quick Yoga Session for Anywhere, AnytimeOxygen Ambassador Andrea Schwartz lives by this mantra: “You are only one workout away from a good mood.” As a yogi, ACE-certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, health coach and nutrition specialist, you’d think her day would be too busy to settle in for a self-care session of yoga. However, she always finds the time.…
-
10-Minute De-Stress Stretching Routine
Read More: 10-Minute De-Stress Stretching RoutineLet’s face it: Life can be stressful. Whether it’s deadlines at work, worrying about bills or just trying to get everything done, it can feel like you don’t even have time to breathe, much less relax. The good news is you don’t need a live-in massage therapist or two-week vacation to unwind. “The easiest way…
-
6 Stretches Hikers Need to Do
Read More: 6 Stretches Hikers Need to DoIf you’re like us, “Take a hike!” isn’t an insult or jab — it’s a welcome suggestion. Hiking is one of the most powerful cardio activities for body and mind, not only building endurance and stamina, but also improving mental health. Although you might not be thinking about it while trekking up terrain and trails,…
-
8 Yoga Poses to Stretch Tight Calves
Read More: 8 Yoga Poses to Stretch Tight CalvesIf you’re anything like me, your calves are tight all the time. “But I practice so much yoga!” I say, incredulous at the fact that my calves keep me up at night with cramps, even though I make stretching a priority. So how is this possible? Tight ankles and overuse. Why Do I Get Tight…
-
Are These 10 Popular Recovery Methods Effective?
Read More: Are These 10 Popular Recovery Methods Effective?If your idea of recovery consists of a few halfhearted stretches and a hot shower, it’s time to level up. Here are 10 of-the-moment practices to help revamp your recovery routine and speed along your progress. 1. Red light Therapy (aka photobiomodulation) The theory behind this practice is that low-level wavelengths of red light penetrate…
-
8 Foam-Roller Exercises to Improve Mobility
Read More: 8 Foam-Roller Exercises to Improve MobilityIf you’ve never invested in a foam roller — commonly found at sporting goods stores for around 20 to 40 bucks — you’re doing your muscles a major disservice. Regularly using a foam roller offers many of the same benefits as a sports massage, including reduced inflammation, scar tissue and joint stress, as well as…
-
6 Exercises to Boost Mobility and Balance
Read More: 6 Exercises to Boost Mobility and BalanceBalance is a component of all movement, and combining it with your mobility training preworkout reinforces equilibrium in your kinetic chain and improves stability, alignment, strength and flexibility. It also can help prevent injury, hone focus, boost body awareness and train patience. Do these moves in order as part of your warm-up routine. Numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 train mobility/balance, and numbers 3 and…
-
The 15-Minute Stretching Routine for Hips and Glutes
Read More: The 15-Minute Stretching Routine for Hips and GlutesOver the past year, many people have been away from the office because of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet that doesn’t mean the epidemic of bad backs and tight hips, caused by hours of sitting hunched over at a computer screen, has disappeared. In fact, with couches, beds, kitchen-counter bar-stool seats and all manner of sometimes…
-
10 Tips for More Effective Stretching
Read More: 10 Tips for More Effective StretchingYou know you need to stretch more. Effective stretching, after all, increases flexibility, which can help you maintain range of motion in your joints. “Having range of motion not only increases your performance in your workouts but also enhances daily life because you’ll be able to move better in everything you do,” says Frances Flores,…
-
The Best Home Gym Equipment for 2021
Read More: The Best Home Gym Equipment for 2021Relying on a gym to get your sweat on is sooo 2019, and if the last year has taught us anything, it’s that we can literally do everything at home — work, work out, have meetings and teach our kids (well, not really). The download of fitness apps grew by 46 percent worldwide in 2020.…
-
5 Stretches to Help You Sleep Better
Read More: 5 Stretches to Help You Sleep BetterEase muscle tension and relax your mind before bed with these pajama-friendly stretches. Ever make the effort to get to bed at a decent hour only to experience a war of attrition with the clock on your nightstand? Its numbers silently tick away while you attempt to quell jumpy legs and a racing mind that…
-
How to Do Lizard Pose
Read More: How to Do Lizard PoseThe weak link for many trainers is their hips. Incorporating lizard pose into your post-workout stretching is a great way to open the hip flexors and hamstrings for better flexibility and mobility. Your hips are likely among the least flexible portions of your body, yet hip flexibility actually improves your overall training ability, training form,…
-
The Rules of Stretching
Read More: The Rules of StretchingWeary of all the research that links stretching to injury? Follow the six rules below to make sure you’re doing it safely and effectively. You don’t need to be able to break out into the splits on cue, but the first step to having a more limber body comes with understanding some general guidelines. The…