Every form of exercise has its pros and cons. Cycling — stationary, road, or otherwise — is no different. On the pro side, there’s the exhilaration of whipping along under your own steam. There’s the increased cardio endurance, the simplicity of the movement (no special instruction required), and the leanness and legs of steel that come … Continued
When you think of stretching, visions of gym class warm-ups might come to mind — all those static stretches and a few shoulder rotations thrown in for good measure. But don’t confine stretching to a quick or mindless warm-up, says Openfit Live trainer Carlos Teasdale, CSCS, who delivers powerful, dynamic stretching sequences through Openfit Live stretching … Continued
If you have limited time for your workout, you may figure it’s more effective to skip the warm-up and cooldown and focus on the muscle-building, calorie-torching meat of the workout. But it’s important to carve out a few minutes to help your body prepare for — and recover from — a tough workout. We asked … Continued
If you ever felt lighter after a good stretching session, you might’ve wondered, “Did I just lose weight? Does stretching burn calories?!” Of all the other unconventional ways to shave off a few calories (like passing gas and watching Netflix), stretching seems to be the most useful. Read on to find out how stretching can … Continued
Stretching can help to improve flexibility and mobility by decreasing muscle tension, increasing blood flow to your muscles, and easing your muscles back into their natural resting state. And because inflexible muscles tend to tire more quickly — causing neighboring muscle groups to work harder from picking up the slack — a regular stretching routine may help you get more out … Continued
You already know that recovery is an important part of any workout plan. Recovery can include foam rolling and stretching, proper post-workout nutrition and hydration, and rest (both in the form of days off and adequate healthy sleep). But not all recovery is passive. Some of yours should be active recovery. Don’t let the seemingly paradoxical term fool you — active … Continued
Whether you’re walking for weight loss or pushing yourself with new HIIT exercises, your stretching routine is just as important as the workouts themselves. It helps you warm-up, cool down, and improve your overall fitness. “Muscle strains and overuse injuries can often happen as a result of decreased flexibility,” says Openfit Live Trainer Gowrie Hayden. … Continued
So you’ve finished your calf exercises, and now you’re looking for stretches to unwind. Is there anything wrong with cycling through the same calf muscle stretches you’ve been doing since middle school? No, not exactly. But considering your body and training plan have likely changed over the years, your long-standing routine may not include the best … Continued
Stretching shouldn’t be an afterthought. When done regularly, it can improve your posture and ease muscle soreness. And if you’ve been spending hours hunched over a laptop (or working from your couch), there’s no feeling quite like a good stretch. The easiest way to work stretching into your workout routine is with our new XB Stretch program, with … Continued
Although it might be tempting to skip a stretch session before or after a workout, you could be missing out on big benefits. Stretching exercises don’t just help your body get extra bendy, they’re also a key component of overall fitness. Whether you’re a runner, HIIT enthusiast, or an Xtend Barre regular, stretching is essential. What are … Continued