New mothers are keen to drop the weight they’ve gained post-pregnancy, but most are unsure about when they can start exercising again. Women who’ve had C-sections need to take extra care as it is major surgery. Most doctors recommend little activity for the first six weeks after, as the body needs to heal during this […]
By Meenakshi S.
Breathing properly is essential during exercise. And while most of us believe that there is little to learn about a function as natural as inhaling and exhaling, when you’re working out, there’s more to keep in mind than just breathing in or out. Proper breathing is essential for delivering oxygen to our bodies, which in […]
Is your hectic schedule taking its toll on your body? Do you find it hard to get through the day after a workout because of those sore muscles? You probably need a massage, which eases inflammation, improves blood flow and reduces muscle tightness. But since most of us can’t fit a session with a masseur […]
You’re getting serious about your weight loss regimen, and a gym membership seems like a good way to get your daily quota of exercise. But don’t be swayed by state-of-the-art machines and swanky interiors. Before putting down the money, weigh these six factors: Is it close to your office or home? One way to ensure […]
A lot of our clients want to know how long they need to work out, and whether you have to work out for a specific number of hours to lose weight. Realistically, you can’t ask how hard do I need to exercise. A workout is usually measured by intensity and categorized as low, moderate and […]
Who says skipping rope is just for school-kids? Jump rope is one of the best forms of exercise for weight loss. Skipping scores because of its sheer intensity. It puts almost every muscle in your body to work, especially strengthening your leg muscles and raising your heart rate. It’s also one of the best exercises for afterburn […]
By Meenakshi S.
On her first visit to the gym, former national level swimmer and actress Pooja Banerjee she recalls how the instructor put her through the paces. “He started helping me stretch, and after a few minutes, he stopped and told me there was nothing for him to stretch, since my body is so flexible,” she says, […]
Is your TV time competing with your workout schedule? Don’t fret; you can watch your show and your weight at the same. TV can even make your workouts go by faster, seeing as how most people need distractions because they don’t like exercise. It may even encourage you to keep coming back, since you’ll start […]
Daily walkers may find it hard to measure whether rounds of the building or park have made any impact on their weight. To best determine whether pounding the pavement is paying off, you need to start using a pedometer. Tracking every step you take, a pedometer can be a big motivator, helping you reach your […]
Looking for some cool solutions to keep your workout on track during the hot summer months? Here are four hot weather workout tips Take a cold shower before your workout A German study has found that a pre-exercise cool down improves performance in the heat — probably because it lowers your heart rate as well […]
Do you often find yourself tugging your T-shirt down at the gym? Or are you distracted while performing a yogasana because your shorts are constantly riding up? Finding the right workout clothes is essential if you want your exercise regimen to go smoothly. Different workouts call for different clothes, so think about the kind of […]
Are you shying away from yoga just because you can barely touch your toes without bending your knees? Well, don’t be discouraged by your inflexibility; you don’t need to be flexible to do yoga. In fact, being very bendy doesn’t make you better at yoga at all. Those with stiff bodies will encounter a few […]
Leg extensions are a staple exercise in the realm of fitness and strength training, renowned for their ability to sculpt powerful and well-defined quadriceps muscles. Often found in leg day routines and recommended by fitness enthusiasts and professionals alike, leg extensions hold a prominent place in shaping lower body strength and aesthetics. As you embark […]
By Aditi Shenai
Trainers today recommend short, intense bouts of exercise as part of your workout regimen. Popularly known as High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT, it keeps your metabolism revved for hours after you leave the gym. It also stimulates muscle-building hormones, which helps in building lean mass, and strengthens the cardiovascular system. While the advantages of HIIT are […]
Long hours at your desk may be rewarded with a great appraisal, but on the flip side, a sedentary lifestyle takes its toll on your health. Complaints of neck, shoulder and back pain are common. But these posture-related problems can easily be tackled, without leaving your desk with these simple ‘yoga in office’ stretches. For […]
‘Armed’ with some good advice, you don’t need to hit the gym to keep your upper limbs in shape. Here are three ways you can strengthen and tone your arms without weights: Arm rotations Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold your arms out parallel to the floor, cupping both hands as if you’re […]
Overtraining is best defined as a state where a fitness enthusiast has been repeatedly stressed by training to a point where rest is no longer adequate for recovery. It is manifest in a collection of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms, which are commonly referred to as “burnout”. It is different from post exercise tiredness; it […]
Can exercise prevent cancer? February 4 was World Cancer Day, and among the many diverse benefits of a fitness regimen, research has shown that staying active can protect people from colon, lung, breast, prostate and endometrial cancers. An increasing risk of these cancers is linked to weight gain and obesity. Although in other cancers, exercise […]
Wondering what moves to master to improve your core function and gain an edge in that running competition? Or looking for a way to boost your balance so that playtime with the grandchildren is painless, and they’re impressed with your agility? Find the answer in Functional Training (FT), which can help adults across all ages […]
Staying in shape is big concern for women. And in today’s troubled times, so is self-defense. Kickboxing can help you conquer both these worries at the same time. Kickboxing is a total body workout, not just target areas. A series of punching, kicking and various other movements, it’s a combination of cardio and resistance training […]
Exercise is hard work. But letting your body recover after a workout is an equally important discipline. During workouts and training, the body is put through a process of intense stress and breakdown. Hence it needs sufficient time to cope and build back. A muscle that has not fully recovered will weaken, leading to a […]
The endless nursing-diapering-rocking sessions of babyhood and the countless tantrums of the toddler years leave little scope for new mommies to hit the gym. But there’s no excuse for lugging pregnancy weight around on your child’s third birthday. Experts say you should stop considering your kid a hindrance to your workout routine and rather make […]
Are you ready to start work on reducing those thunder thighs? Let’s start with your saddlebags, which is the fat located around the hips and thighs. Here are five steps to losing those saddlebags: Aerobics Do aerobic exercises five to six days a week, about 45 to one hour sessions. Jumping rope, running, swimming, tennis […]
Set on wearing sleeveless this summer? It might be a good time to check on that armpit fat. The jiggly bit of flab that hangs off your arm and underarm isn’t easy to lose, but you can build the muscles in certain areas to make it appear tighter. A combination of cardio for fat burning […]
The race has been run, and you’ve hit the finish line. But it’s not time to stop yet. At the end of a marathon, many runners tend to come to a dead stop, heading straight for their cars. But it’s important to keep moving even after the run, and get your heart rate down by […]
Injuries are the biggest obstacle any runner faces, and during a long-distance competitive run like a marathon, I’d advise you be extra-careful to ensure old wounds don’t flare up. Some things you can keep in mind before the big race: The right biomechanics This means running with good posture, correcting the wrong muscle and joint […]
Worried that your fitness routine is half-measured? Maybe it’s time you tried a full body workout. Full body workouts are compound workouts, where all major muscles and joints are involved. They are more effective because multi-joint workouts recruit more muscle fibers and are effective in changing the body faster than the isolated or single joint […]
Four out of every 10 marathoners ‘hit the wall’ – experience an intense loss of energy – during the marathon race. This happens because their bodies run out of glycogen (stored carbohydrate that is converted to energy) forcing them to slow down. But you don’t need to stock up on factory-made energy bars, gels or […]
Having trouble buttoning up your favourite pair of jeans? It’s time to focus on working off that belly fat. Abdominal weight, known as visceral fat, isn’t just a sign of being out of shape. It can be dangerous – as it forms between your organs, within your abdominal cavity, it secretes proteins that can trigger chronic inflammation, putting you […]
Want to get your rear in gear? All you need to do is work on the muscles – glutes, quads and hamstrings – that are there. With butt-fat burning exercises, and a few dietary changes, you can achieve a toned buttock. 5 Exercises to tone your butt 1. Gluteus kickbacks Get down on your hands […]
