Why exercise aerobically?

We hear about aerobic or cardio training on the news all the time: Studies show we should do 30 minutes of aerobics.  Thirty minutes every other day or three days a week will help with your weight managment, the heart pumping well, the brain well oxygenated and the cholesterol down.  But do you really know how to do it right?  Next to proper nutrition, this is the most important aspect of your weight loss regimen.

Heart Health Exercise

You may be running on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike, but not achieving the right results - Yes, there is a right way and a wrong way to exercise for 'heart' health.

Fat Burning Zone

You've got to train for 30 minutes in your 'fat burning' zone to drop the extra weight. Do you know how long it takes you to reach your 'fat burning' zone?  Do you even know what it is? 

Cardiovascular Improvements

To improve your cardiovascular system, it's important for you to learn how to use a heart rate monitor and how to progress through your cardio training.  

I can show you how so you get results, and not waste your time.

Contact me to learn how to reach your fat burning zone.  Read my blog for addtional information.

If you ever experience chest pain while exercising, STOP IMMEDIATELY and consult a physician or dial 911.

Why Train With Weights?

You've heard the phrase: "The strongest shall survive" right?  Well it not only applies to competitive athletes, but to everyone - men, woman and children of all ages.

Studies have shown that men and women in their 60's, 70's and 80's have reversed their immobility and increased their quality of life through exercising with light weights. 

Increase Bone Density 

Using resistance increases bone density, decreasing your risk for osteoporosis and even reversing the effects of osteoporosis.  Women tend to lose upper body strength after the children have gotten too big to be picked up and carried around, so it's important to maintain that strength through resistance exercise.  It'll help maintain bone density in the upper spine too.

Equipment Types 

You could use a home gym type of fitness equipment, or a bowflex type or even a crosstrainer type of equipment, but free weights are really the best.  This means using dumb bells or plates on bars to 'resist' against your muscles, making them work and grow strong.  Also, using your body weight as resistance works well, this is part of the theory behind Pilates type of mat exercise. 

Reduce Body Fat 

Even if your goal is to lose weight - just working out with 5 pound dumbells burns calories, but also the muscle they create burns calories even when you're not working out.  Plus, you'll want to be sure to have those muscles toned up for after you lose the weight, so you'll look firm and tight, not flabby and loose.

Tone Your Muscles 

If you're relatively thin, but just want to fill out your clothes better, resistance training is the only way to go.  Light dumb bells firm up the muscle tissue just enough to make you look fit.

Achieve Your Goal

Whether your goal is to lose weight, tone muscles or grow big bulky muscles, you'll need to do some type of resistance training.

I carry with me dumb bells ranging from 1 pound to 10 pounds, which is plenty for the average person working out at home.  To grow those bigger "Arnold" like muscles, you're going to need a gym membership or an olympic weight set in your home gym. 

Whatever your goal is, I can show you how it's done and get the results you're looking for.   Contact me to start today!

Read my blog for some more information.

Why should everyone stretch their muscles?

It's not necessary for all of us to be as flexible as a yoga specialist, but flexibility throughout the joints, and in the muscles and surrounding tissue is important for general health and to prevent injury. 

Joint and muscle stiffness create limitations, tension, pain and poor posture.

Feel Healthier 

Having loose and flexible joints and muscles helps us to feel relaxed, increases blood flow, increases energy and reduces the pain you may feel after exercising.

All of my exercise routines include total body stretching.  I'll show you the proper way to stretch, as you can actually get hurt by stretching the wrong way.

Target Areas

Should we find a particularly inflexible area of your body, we'll spend more time warming up stretching that area. 

Contact me to start feeling better today.

 Why use that big ball?

The physio ball was used in physical therapy and rehabilitation for years before the fitness industry discovered how important it can be. 

It's an excellent tool for stretching the back, shoulders and neck muscles.

Just sitting on the ball helps to improve your posture.

More Challenging 

Working your core (back, abs & obliques) on the ball requires more effort than on a flat surface, thereby strengthening more of the muscles and deeper into the core muscles.

The unstable surface while sitting or lying on the ball causes us to use some muscles that we hardly ever use, but shouldn't be neglected. 

More Variety

Exercising with the ball gives us more variety to our routine workouts.  Why use a flat bench, when you can use the ball?

The Right Fit

They come in different sizes, so it's important to know what size is best for you.  I can help you with that, so call before spending the money on the wrong size ball.

Yes, it can be a challenge to use, but it's fun and it gets results. 

Contact me to let me show you how it's done.  Read my blog too!

Why do we sometimes need to add stability, coordination and balance training to our routines?

How long can you stand on one foot with your eyes closed?

We all know that as we age we lose our stability and are more likely to fall and break a hip.  It happens to thousands of people each year.  Having good balance is extremely important to anyone diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. 

Why wait until we're older and have already lost our balance to train for it?  Why not work toward maintaining our balance as we age?

There are many ways to train for stability, balance and coordination, they can be pretty fun to do too, contact me to let me show you how it's done.

See my articles in my blog for more information.

Plank for a Strong Core