Blog

Foam Rolling

Posted: 02/10/2012

Foam Rolling?A decade ago strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, and physical therapists would have looked quizzically at a thirty six inch long round piece of foam and wondered "What is that for?". Today nearly every athletic training room and most strength conditioning facilities contain an array of foam rollers in different lengths and consistencies.What happened?...

Getting Motivated to Exercise and The Elements of Self-Motivation

Posted: 02/06/2012

Getting motivated to exercise is always easy when you're planning it for the future. That early morning workout at the gym on Monday is just what you need to get back on track. You may even be excited about it...right up until the alarm goes off and you actually have to follow through. It's then you realize that all those things that motivated you a few days ago are suddenly...

Water and Your Body

Posted: 01/23/2012

After oxygen, water is the human body’s most important need. Water carries waste products and toxins from the body, actively participates in many chemical reactions, acts as a lubricant and cushion around joints, serves as a shock absorber inside the eyes and spinal cord, aids in the body’s temperature regulation, and helps maintain blood volume.Water Protects Your...

Exercising with Lower Back Pain: Increase Strength & Flexibility to Decrease Pain

Posted: 01/13/2012

It’s a common problem for many who exercise. It makes everyday activity difficult, and scares a lot of people away from any physical activity. It’s lower back pain. For those of you who suffer from it, there is hope.  While there are a multitude of things that can cause back pain, from genetic malformations to injury, a number of recent studies show that a lack...

10 Ways to Keep the Flu Away This Season

Posted: 01/06/2012

As Rhode Island's flu season gets into high gear, it's time to get smartabout prevention, according to the RI Department of Health. Here are 10ways you can keep the flu at bay, even if you got your vaccination earlierin the winter...1. Use your elbowFlu viruses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. Cover your coughs and sneezes by coughing or sneezing...

Effects Of Quitting Smoking

Posted: 01/02/2012

One of the first noticeable effects of quitting smoking is that you can breathe easier. But the real benefits come from the times when your lungs are challenged by some kind of flu or bug.Within days of stopping cigarettes you will notice it is easier to take a deep breath. In a couple of weeks you should be rid of the cough and find it easier to climb stairs.But you will really...

Golden Rules of Goal Setting: Five Rules to Set Yourself Up for Success

Posted: 12/22/2011

Have you thought about what you want to be doing in five years' time?... Are you clear about what your main objective at work is at the moment?... Do you know what you want to have achieved by the end of today?If you want to succeed, you need to set goals. Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting not only allows you to take control of your life's direction; it...

Your Holiday Fitness Program

Posted: 12/16/2011

The holiday season can be enough to derail even the most dedicated exerciser. Here are some tips to help you stay fit through New Year's.You're busy, you're stressed, it's chilly out ... so why not just take a break from your fitness program until the New Year?Sure, you can always come up with an excuse not to exercise. But slacking off on your fitness program during the holidays...

Healthy breakfast: Quick, flexible options to grab at home

Posted: 11/30/2011

If you skimp on breakfast, you'll miss out on important health benefits. Learn what makes a breakfast nutritious, and get some out-of-the-box options.It might be the last thing on your morning to-do list, or worse, it might not be on your list at all. But a healthy breakfast refuels your body, jump-starts your day and may even benefit your overall health. So don't skip this meal...

The Importance of Flexibility

Posted: 11/30/2011

As you age, your muscles naturally lose strength and size and can become less supple and stiffer. This can affect the range of movement around your joints, which may lead to stiffness in the muscles and joints. It is this loss of tissue elasticity that can cause muscles and joints to tighten up. One of the key reasons that muscles lose their natural suppleness and flexibility...