Monday, May 29, 2006

Yoga for Fitness

Discover the Benefits of Yoga


Yoga has become very popular for good reasons:

  • Gain increased flexibility and range of motion

  • Enjoy reduced pain in joints and muscles

  • Develop a stronger immune system

  • Stronger lung capacity and therefore higher quality respiration

  • Increased metabolism (which can lead to weight loss!)

  • Improved breathing and a more oxygenated body


Yoga Exercises

Sunday, May 28, 2006

This Exercise Will Test You!

Crocodile walk

You're face down. The object is to crawl along the floor with your torso as close to the floor as possible without touching. It's hard to describe the leg/foot and arm/hand positioning. Just plop down and figure out what works for you. Helps body control, and develops strength. With all of the crawling movements, just go until you feel fatigued. Track your progress by what distance you can cover. For instance, how many minutes, or seconds, can you crawl? Set ever-increasing goals.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Exercise in the Summer

Summer is almost here and everyone is heading outdoors. Here's some ways for you to enjoy the outdoors and get in shape as well.

1. Bicycling

When you ask many adults when the last time they rode a bike is, they cannot answer. Although bicycling is a favorite pastime, many adults do not take advantage of this great option for exercise. Not only does bike riding exercise the body and build a stronger cardiovascular system, it allows you to get out and enjoy nature, fresh air, and see new sites.

2. Jogging or Walking

Both jogging and walking are GREAT ways to get fit. Not only do they tone the muscles, relieve stress, create a healthier heart, and improve lung capability, they make you look wonderful, which in turns helps you get excited about doing other exercise for fitness.

3. Swimming

Swimming is an excellent way to get into and stay in shape. If you do not own a pool, many high schools have aquatic centers, or there is always the YWCA or YMCA, or your local gym. Many offer water aerobic classes that will help you tighten your body, lose weight, and get a good overall workout.

4. Tennis Anyone

Tennis is not only a fun sport, but also a great way to exercise. You do not have to be a Venice Williams to play; in fact, you do not even have to be good. Just running after the ball alone will help get you into shape. This is a great way to strengthen your cardiovascular system and lose weight. You can find tennis courts in just about every city and if you would like to play but have no idea how, lessons are reasonable.

I have added a new health section to TudeFitness Exercise Zone

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Exercise Tips

Quick Exercise Tips

* Get up a half hour earlier and exercise
* Add a variety of exercises to keep from getting bored
* Try dumbbells for strength training. They offer full movement and generally no spotter is needed
* If you absolutely, positively are only going to do one type of exercise, make it an aerobic exercise
* Get an exercise ball. You can do a wide variety of exercises and you will love it!

Check out some sample exercise ball exercises at Animated Exercises

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Exercise by Starting Out Slowly

Spring brings people to the park as they begin exercise to get fit for the summer.

Unfortunately, most start out too quickly and try to do too much to make up for the winter of inactivity and, as a result, become too sore and end up dropping out.Don't let that happen.

Build up your endurance gradually, starting out with as little as 5 minutes of endurance activities at a time, if you need to.

Starting out at a lower level of effort and working your way up gradually is especially important if you have been inactive for a long time. It may take a few weeks to go from a very long-standing sedentary lifestyle to a regularly followed exercise routine of 20 minutes or more at a time.

Your goal is to work your way up, eventually, to a moderate-to-vigorous level that increases your breathing and heart rate.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Outstanding Exercise

Ever hear of Burpee's?

No - not where you pat a baby on it's back until it burps. Burpees is an outstanding exercise that works the core muscles hard.

Here's how you do it . . .

1. From a standing position, jump as high as possible and land down on your feet with your hands on the ground.
2. Kick your feet back. For a moment you will be in a push up position and jump back up again as fast as possible.
3. Repeat for the required repetitions - work your way up to about 20 of these and your heart will be a pumpin'.

More exercise tips at TudeFitness Exercise Zone