Stitch is a pain that appears in your side as you exercise and could be related to posture. Those who slump their upper back forward when they exercise are more prone to a stitch as the position aggravates the nerves in the abdominal wall. Try standing up straighter when you exercise and the problem should […]
Plyometrics These movements are designed to increase speed and explosiveness while strengthening joints and muscles. Types of plyometric exercises include broad jumps, vertical jumps and explosive squats. But remember, safe and effective plyometrics are all about quality, not quantity.
Breathing techniques can help calm your nervous system and reduce muscular tension. One key principle is to prolong your out breath, which helps to calm the body. Try this technique: 1. Breath in through the nose, for a count of four 2. Pause for a count of one 3. Breath out slowly for a count […]
Cramp occurs when a muscle suddenly contracts, causing pain. It’s more likely if you’ve been exercising for a long time or are dehydrated. If it starts, stop moving and try to gently stretch out the muscle. If it really hurts you can try clenching your fists! By tensing a muscle elsewhere in the body, it […]
Plateau Seeing results takes time and practice, and even then, it’s common for progress to eventually come to a halt. Since the body naturally adapts to the stresses of exercise (especially if performing the same routine daily), try varying the programme and revving up the intensity to push past workout slumps.
Studies show that muscular tension is on the rise in all of us. For shoulder and neck pain, massage therapy has been shown to increase levels of your body’s natural painkillers – endorphins and serotonin – which help to reduce stress hormone levels. If your jaw is tense, it’s often because you are clenching, or […]
Isolation exercises Unlike compound movements, these targeted exercises hit just one muscle at a time. For example the bicep curl.
Nutritious, cheap and speedy – yet our relationship with frozen food seems to be thawing. Frozen food often gets lumped together with processed food, but that reputation isn’t always fair. Freezing food is like pressing a pause button, slowing down food’s degradation and nutrient loss. This process helps to maintain the original nutritional value and […]
Add in a ‘half rep’ between reps. Once you get to the bottom of a squat, come up halfway then squat again before coming up. This will keep you in the part of the squat where you are weakest for longer, working your muscles harder.
Circuit training A series of strength and cardio moves to blast maximum calories and fat. As you progress, you will be able to repeat the circuit two or three times through with no, or little, rest.