Becoming mindful of body moves us toward healthier lifestyles

Posted by Karen Kaplan on April 29, 2011 under Fitness, Healthy Living

When was the last time you paused, closed your eyes and focused all of your attention on your breath, on your heart beat, on your body?

Our bodies speak to us, but all too often we are too busy to really listen. In colder months and with stressful situations, our muscles tighten to conserve body heat and armor ourselves to deal with harsher conditions. Our bodies physically pull inward to block the chill of the air; our shoulders round because of the weight of our workloads and other commitments, straining muscles even further. The heat of spring and summer allow the muscles to soften, freeing some of the tension and allowing the body to feel more open and flexible. Read More | Comment

Gearing up for exercise: What sets, reps can help?

Posted by Kelly Rider on April 13, 2011 under Fitness, Lifestyle

Weight training — whether it’s with dumbbells, kettle bells, bars, or just using your own (or using resistance from your own) body weight — can help you become more healthful. If you already have a weight-training routine, or even if you are launching a spring-time plan to get in shape, knowing the difference and relevance of sets and reps will support an exercise plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.

Let’s first distinguish between a rep and a set.

A “rep” — or one repetition — is completing an exercise or movement one time through full range. For example, if you’re doing a bicep curl, one curl — up and back to starting position — is one rep.

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