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Toning & Shaping

Muscle toning exercises to keep your body strong

on Tuesday, 05 March 2024. Posted in Doctor of Fitness, Toning & Shaping

Regular exercise is crucial for our overall health. In addition, looking good can also be a significant motivating factor. It takes time and dedication to transform our bodies from a softer appearance to a more toned, muscular physique. Choosing the right workouts that offer the best results is essential to achieve your fitness goals efficiently.

Body Toning And Strengthening Exercises

Before starting any new exercise routine, always consult with a healthcare professional or fitness expert.

Wall Squats. Stand with your back against a wall. Mimic a sitting motion in a chair by bending your knees and lowering yourself into a seated position. Maintain a straight back as you press yourself back up to the standing position.

Side Planks. Assume the side plank position, with one arm supporting your weight and your bottom leg serving as an anchor. Keep both legs extended.

Tricep Dips. Grasp a sturdy object, such as a chair or table, depending on what is available to you. Position your hands with palms down and fingers facing you on the support base. Engage your triceps to lift and lower your body during the exercise.

Bicycle Kicks. Raise your legs and pedal while lying on your back. You can keep your arms at your sides, cross them in front of you, or place your hands on either side of your head.

Push Kick. You can do this exercise on all fours or while standing and supported by a chair. Kick back one of your bent legs as though you were pushing something from behind, then repeat with the opposite leg.

Remember to begin with a proper warm-up and cool down, and gradually increase the intensity and difficulty of your workouts as your strength improves. Consistency is the key to seeing results in muscle toning and overall fitness.

Yoga basics

on Tuesday, 12 December 2023. Posted in Doctor of Fitness, Toning & Shaping

Learning to do yoga can be intimidating, especially considering the poses that seem to defy gravity and the wide variety of class options. However, you don't need fancy equipment or the flexibility of a gymnast to practice yoga. As long as you get the basics, you can start your yoga journey to fitness.

Yoga is a practice that combines physical and spiritual aspects and originates from Indian philosophy. It has been around for thousands of years and offers a wide range of forms, from gentle, contemplative practices to more challenging physical workouts. Mind-body exercises usually involve performing a series of physical poses while practicing deep breathing techniques.

To get started on yoga, you need to familiarize yourself with some basic poses, which are the building blocks of the practice. It is good to learn these as you build your yoga practice regularly. As you move through each pose, remember to breathe slowly and steadily. If a posture is challenging, take a break after completing it, especially if you're out of breath, and resume the pose once your breathing has returned to normal. The objective is to hold each pose for a few steady breaths before moving on to the next one.

The great thing about yoga is that it's accessible to everyone, regardless of age, weight, or fitness level. It's a powerful tool for calming the mind and strengthening the body. Don't be intimidated by yoga jargon, fancy studios, or difficult poses - anyone can practice yoga and reap its rewards.

Don't get discouraged if your first class does not go as planned. It may take a few classes to find a teacher who inspires and encourages you to practice regularly. Once you have chosen the right class structure and instructor, you will begin to feel more in control of your life.

Proper Posture

on Tuesday, 10 July 2012. Posted in Doctor of Fitness, Toning & Shaping, Strength & Conditioning

Your mother was right – you need to stand up straight! 

But not just because standing (or sitting) with your shoulders pulled back and your stomach pulled in makes you look taller, thinner and more confident.  It turns out that good posture actually has some real health benefits as well. 

First and most importantly, the simple act of sitting or standing up straight strengthens your spine.  On the other hand, getting into the habit of hunching over, either in your chair at work or while you’re standing, can result in changes to the curvature of your spine that could be permanent.  Since your spine is incredibly important to your overall health, keeping it strong and healthy should be a priority – and good posture is an excellent starting point. 

Second, there’s pain – or more specifically, the avoidance of pain.  All that hunching and scrunching puts pressure on your spine and your joints, and can lead to everything from headaches and muscle pain to arthritis to carpal tunnel syndrome.  Taking a moment to adjust your posture and stand up straight can reduce some of that strain and pain instantaneously, while helping you avoid more serious issues later on down the line.

Last, but not least, is performance.  Good posture keeps your body in proper alignment, and a properly aligned body is in the ideal position to perform at its peak.  Whether you’re exercising, working or just hanging out and having fun, practicing good posture while you do it takes less energy, leads to less wear and tear on your body, and lets you keep doing whatever you’re doing longer and better.

So the next time your mother tells you to stand up straight, throw those shoulders back and stand a little taller. 

And while we’re on the subject, it won’t hurt to eat your vegetables either.

Pregnancy

on Tuesday, 05 June 2012. Posted in Doctor of Fitness, Toning & Shaping, Fitness for Women, Fitness

It may seem hard to believe in an age when celebrity “baby bumps” are on the cover of just about every magazine.  But back in the old days, being pregnant was looked upon as a “condition” that was spoken about in hushed whispers.  In fact, the very idea of pregnancy was so “out there” that when Lucy Ricardo on “I Love Lucy” was expecting, censors wouldn’t allow the word “pregnant” to be spoken on the show for the entire season!
 
Three decades later, a very pregnant actress Demi Moore posed naked on the cover of Vanity Fair in the ‘90s, and suddenly pregnancy was viewed as beautiful, and even sexy.  Today, pregnant women are even prouder of their “bumps,” showing them off in revealing maternity wear instead of hiding them under layers of drapey fabric and cutesy prints.  And while celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Reese Whitherspoon are certainly leading this trend, they’re not alone.  All kinds of mothers-to-be are showing off their curves in clingy tops and dresses, and the sight of a pregnant woman in a bikini is no longer regarded as shocking. 
 
The fact is, pregnancy really does make a woman more beautiful -- and not just because of the miracle of life growing inside of her.  That tiny life actually does certain, specific things to the body that enhance a woman’s beauty.  Increased hormones and blood flow give pregnant skin that “glowing” look you might have heard about.  Many pregnant women notice that their hair is thicker and more lustrous than in their pre-pregnancy days, and their fingernails grow longer and stronger. 
 
Commonly, pregnancy carries with it back pain or hip pain. Dealing with aches and pains can really cut into enjoying this exciting time in your life. Staying fit and healthy during your pregnancy helps decrease or prevent the pain now, and makes your postpartum recovery faster and easier. There are certain exercises a pregnant woman shouldn't do but there are plenty you can do that will make you feel better. Our pregnancy and postpartum programs are designed with you and your health and comfort in mind.
 
If you’re pregnant, don’t forget to enjoy this very special time in your life to the fullest.  Whether you flaunt it in a bikini or prefer a more modest style, now is your time to rock that bump – and celebrate the beautiful woman you are and the mother you’re about to become.

Pregnancy

on Tuesday, 05 June 2012. Posted in Doctor of Fitness, Toning & Shaping, Fitness for Women, Fitness

It may seem hard to believe in an age when celebrity “baby bumps” are on the cover of just about every magazine.  But back in the old days, being pregnant was looked upon as a “condition” that was spoken about in hushed whispers.  In fact, the very idea of pregnancy was so “out there” that when Lucy Ricardo on “I Love Lucy” was expecting, censors wouldn’t allow the word “pregnant” to be spoken on the show for the entire season!
 
Three decades later, a very pregnant actress Demi Moore posed naked on the cover of Vanity Fair in the ‘90s, and suddenly pregnancy was viewed as beautiful, and even sexy.  Today, pregnant women are even prouder of their “bumps,” showing them off in revealing maternity wear instead of hiding them under layers of drapey fabric and cutesy prints.  And while celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Reese Whitherspoon are certainly leading this trend, they’re not alone.  All kinds of mothers-to-be are showing off their curves in clingy tops and dresses, and the sight of a pregnant woman in a bikini is no longer regarded as shocking. 
 
The fact is, pregnancy really does make a woman more beautiful -- and not just because of the miracle of life growing inside of her.  That tiny life actually does certain, specific things to the body that enhance a woman’s beauty.  Increased hormones and blood flow give pregnant skin that “glowing” look you might have heard about.  Many pregnant women notice that their hair is thicker and more lustrous than in their pre-pregnancy days, and their fingernails grow longer and stronger. 
 
Commonly, pregnancy carries with it back pain or hip pain. Dealing with aches and pains can really cut into enjoying this exciting time in your life. Staying fit and healthy during your pregnancy helps decrease or prevent the pain now, and makes your postpartum recovery faster and easier. There are certain exercises a pregnant woman shouldn't do but there are plenty you can do that will make you feel better. Our pregnancy and postpartum programs are designed with you and your health and comfort in mind.
 
If you’re pregnant, don’t forget to enjoy this very special time in your life to the fullest.  Whether you flaunt it in a bikini or prefer a more modest style, now is your time to rock that bump – and celebrate the beautiful woman you are and the mother you’re about to become.

Pregnancy

on Tuesday, 05 June 2012. Posted in Doctor of Fitness, Toning & Shaping, Fitness for Women, Fitness

It may seem hard to believe in an age when celebrity “baby bumps” are on the cover of just about every magazine.  But back in the old days, being pregnant was looked upon as a “condition” that was spoken about in hushed whispers.  In fact, the very idea of pregnancy was so “out there” that when Lucy Ricardo on “I Love Lucy” was expecting, censors wouldn’t allow the word “pregnant” to be spoken on the show for the entire season!
 
Three decades later, a very pregnant actress Demi Moore posed naked on the cover of Vanity Fair in the ‘90s, and suddenly pregnancy was viewed as beautiful, and even sexy.  Today, pregnant women are even prouder of their “bumps,” showing them off in revealing maternity wear instead of hiding them under layers of drapey fabric and cutesy prints.  And while celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Reese Whitherspoon are certainly leading this trend, they’re not alone.  All kinds of mothers-to-be are showing off their curves in clingy tops and dresses, and the sight of a pregnant woman in a bikini is no longer regarded as shocking. 
 
The fact is, pregnancy really does make a woman more beautiful -- and not just because of the miracle of life growing inside of her.  That tiny life actually does certain, specific things to the body that enhance a woman’s beauty.  Increased hormones and blood flow give pregnant skin that “glowing” look you might have heard about.  Many pregnant women notice that their hair is thicker and more lustrous than in their pre-pregnancy days, and their fingernails grow longer and stronger. 
 
Commonly, pregnancy carries with it back pain or hip pain. Dealing with aches and pains can really cut into enjoying this exciting time in your life. Staying fit and healthy during your pregnancy helps decrease or prevent the pain now, and makes your postpartum recovery faster and easier. There are certain exercises a pregnant woman shouldn't do but there are plenty you can do that will make you feel better. Our pregnancy and postpartum programs are designed with you and your health and comfort in mind.
 
If you’re pregnant, don’t forget to enjoy this very special time in your life to the fullest.  Whether you flaunt it in a bikini or prefer a more modest style, now is your time to rock that bump – and celebrate the beautiful woman you are and the mother you’re about to become.
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