Ever notice how the calf muscle seems to get little attention? Rarely do group fitness classes dedicate blocks of time to calves like they do for ab workouts or the butt. While the calf muscle often goes unnoticed as an important muscle, but it’s more important than you think. And sure, some are born with a nice
If you were to ask me what exercise I would perform if given only one option, it would undoubtedly be the burpee. Burpees hits almost every muscle group while providing the aerobic and endurance benefits. It even helps strengthen the core. (It is important to note, though, the person has to be in proper shape to start
Jumping jacks go way back. That’s what I love most about this traditional exercise. You probably learned how to do the jumping jack while in elementary school. It’s a basic exercise that most anyone can perform, and can be modified to fit any fitness style needed — even for the newest exerciser. What are jumping jacks good for?
Swimming is a sport that we seem to do often when we’re young and then slack off on as we age. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in fact, 36 percent of children aged 7–17 years old swim at least six times a year, compared to only 15 percent of adults. (1) But if you
Let’s take a moment to reminisce. Think back to the time when you were eight years old and playing outside with your friends. Maybe you’re thinking of the time you and your friends spent hours jumping rope or playing leap frog. Maybe you’re recalling the time when you spent a whole day at the pool
When something sounds too good to be true, it often is. That isn’t the case, though, when it comes to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), specifically “one-minute workouts.” I like to call this type of exercise burst training, since it’s comprised of short, high-intensity bursts of exercise, with slow recovery phases, repeated during one exercise session. Burst
When you learn about the complexity of shoulder anatomy, it’s clear the best shoulder workouts for women should be on your radar. Why? The shoulder is considered the most mobile joint in the entire human body. (1) As a “ball and socket” joint, the shoulder’s joint capsule allows for a wide range of up-and-down, back-and-forth, movements
Exercise bands, also known as resistance bands or resistance tubing, are one of the best ways to build strength. These affordable pieces of exercise equipment can even help serve as a remedy for joint pain. Even better? They’re super travel-friendly. In fact, they serve as the perfect option for adding resistance when traveling, since they take up very
Maybe you’ve been meaning to start but just haven’t found the right routine … or even the right exercise hack. Perhaps you’re recovering from an injury or haven’t gotten around to it. Whatever your excuse, I’m here to tell you that today is the day to start working out. That’s because the benefits of exercise
Free weights and in this case, dumbbells, came onto the scene as a staple part of physical fitness and strength training as early as ancient Greece and in a similar form in India. Even back then, athletes and coaches understood the importance of strength and power for their performance and experienced a wide range of
