When it comes to making the most out of Xtend Barre, XB Pilates, or any other Openfit workout programs, don’t slouch on stretching! It’s crucial to increase mobility, protect your joints, and get muscles prepped for work — and that means stretching the right way. The easiest (and most enjoyable) way to work stretching into your workout … Continued
Puppy pose, often referred to as “melting heart pose,” is a cross between downward-facing dog and child’s pose. It is the perfect yoga backbend for beginners, as it is gentle on the shoulders and spine. Puppy pose encourages chest opening, which is a surefire way to offset all the time we spend hunched over screens. Read on to learn the steps … Continued
Yoga backbends do more than stretch and strengthen. Backbends also build character! Step out of your comfort zone and keep your spine functioning properly by strengthening the muscles that protect it with yoga backbends. And there’s more. “Given that we can’t actually see our back body, in a metaphorical sense, backbends can help us overcome … Continued
For many, the holidays mean long to-do lists and not enough time to plow through them. They are stress inducing even for the most relaxed. But this year, release the stress dragon for happier holidays by using yoga to reduce stress. “Typically, what happens with the stress response, as well as anxiety, is that the … Continued
We all know the importance of stretching before and after our workouts to help prevent injury and speed up recovery. But a daily stretch — whether or not it’s in conjunction with a workout — is also a great way to help reduce the negative effects of stress and tension on our bodies. Now, with … Continued
When your shoulders are feeling stiff or tight, it can have a ripple effect and change everything from the way you sit to how you move, says Dr. Cordelia Carter, MD, a sports orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Health in New York. “Over time, these seemingly small areas of tightness get more pronounced, and then you begin … Continued
Just like stretching and proper hydration, warm-up exercises are a nonnegotiable part of any workout. You might be tempted to skip your warm-up exercises and jump right into rigorous activity. It feels like you’re saving time and maximizing your effort. But, by shortchanging your warm-up, you’re actually rendering your sweat session less effective and potentially increasing your risk for … Continued
Stretching, like warm-ups and cooldowns, might seem optional, but these aspects of exercise are just as important as your actual workout. There are so many benefits to stretching, for beginners and active folks of all fitness levels. “Stretching improves your body’s ability to move and can increase your mobility significantly while decreasing exercise-related pain,” says Openfit … Continued
Stretching is an essential component of working out, because it can help prevent muscle soreness and injury. Stretching your body, especially your legs, can help you warm your body before a dynamic workout and can alleviate stiffness following said workout. When you are about to workout, “[it is important to] save the more passive stretches … Continued
One of the biggest mistakes newcomers to fitness can make is skipping warm-up exercises before a workout. Not only is warming up valuable, it’s essential, delivering benefits beyond simply preparing your body for exercise, and extending to issues of safety and performance. But older notions of the warm-up may compromise both, making it important to know the difference … Continued