Strength & Power
Before we look at what happens to strength and power as we age, there is one important point to make, and this is: There isn’t a specific birthday when we suddenly become weaker. Ageing is gradual and highly individual, and research can show us general patterns, but people age at different rates. Around 30–40: Muscle […]
Walking to Wellness
Walking is a fantastic form of exercise, and, I think it’s often underrated. It’s free, and, low impact. I started walking a lot, after an orthopaedic surgeon advised me to stop running, even on a treadmill. I can’t say I loved walking at first, but over time I really began to enjoy it, especially when […]
The Benefits of Resistance Exercise
Resistance exercise is any activity where your muscles work against an external resistance. That resistance can come from: Dumbbells Weights2Go Weighted Bottles Your own body weight Resistance bands Weight machines Kettlebells Other forms of external load The muscles have to produce force against the resistance, which stimulates adaptations in the muscles and nervous system. So, […]
The Benefits of Outdoor Exercise
Before we start to discuss the benefits of exercising outdoors, it’s important to note that the benefits of exercise are the same, whether you exercise indoors or outdoors. Exercise can help to prevent, or manage, certain illnesses, such as, stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, arthritis, and many types of […]
To Stretch OR Not to Stretch?
Stretching involves deliberately lengthening a muscle, or group of muscles, usually by moving a joint into a position that gently stretches the surrounding tissues. The main purpose of stretching is to maintain or improve flexibility, and range of motion, so helping your joints to move comfortably, through a greater range. There are several types of […]
Preparing for Outdoor Exercise – Tips
Outdoor exercise can be a fantastic way to stay active. Walking, jogging, running, cycling and hiking all provide opportunities to enjoy fresh air, and, a change of scenery. Exercising outdoors also brings challenges, that you may not encounter indoors, including uneven surfaces, changing weather conditions, heat, cold, traffic, poor visibility and, depending on the activity, […]
Muscle Mass: Why Strong Muscles Matter
When we think about building muscle, we might picture someone lifting heavy weights in a gym or trying to achieve a certain physique. Muscle is about much more than appearance. Our muscles help us to move, maintain our balance, perform everyday activities, and to stay, physically independent. They also play an important role in how […]
HIIT at Home
Looking for an effective workout that doesn’t take up hours of your day? High-Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT for short, could be worth trying. HIIT involves alternating short periods of relatively high-intensity exercise, with periods of lower-intensity exercise, or rest. You then repeat the pattern for a number of intervals. HIIT can include cardio, strength […]