by Maggie Spilner
Wonderful walks are both relaxing and invigorating, but if you want to kick butt, literally—building strong glutes and thighs; strengthening your core, which helps improve posture and tighten abs; and stepping up to cardiovascular fitness quickly and efficiently—try stair climbing. Wayne Wescott, Ph.D., renowned exercise physiologist, military fitness consultant and author of Get [...]
by Dr. Madan Kataria
The slogan of all laughter clubs is, “Fake it ‘til you make it.” This is based on a scientific fact that even if you are faking it, the body cannot differentiate between real and make-believe emotions. This is how laughter exercises convert artificial laughter into bouts of real laughter. It hinges on [...]
by Kim Childs
Most yoga classes take place in quiet rooms, full of earnest faces in various states of relaxation and concentration. Not so with laughter yoga, an unusual workout for the body, mind and spirit that aims to banish the blues by busting a gut.
Laughter yoga clubs began in 1995 with Dr. Madan Kataria, who [...]
by Katy Bowman
Have you ever compared the benefits of a walk around the park with taking an anti-inflammatory medication? How about correlating a game of hopscotch with high bone density? Many of us are very compliant when following a drug, herbal or vitamin prescription, but when our health care practitioner recommends exercise as a treatment, [...]
by Joan McCutcheon
Who can keep their feet still and their body-motor idling while listening to Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild? Or, for post-Boomers, AC/DC’s T.N.T.? As Sonny and Cher sang succinctly in The Beat Goes On, “Drums keep pounding a rhythm to my brain.” Music is, indeed, the magic that can boost our heart rate, [...]
By Lisa Moore
Ever dreamed of having the long, lean muscles and six pack abs of a dancer but without the tutu and endless hours at the barre? Ballet Fitness, a workout for non-dancers, can sculpt the body, improve posture and instill confidence.
The hour-long class uses a series of resistance bands and simple ballet exercises to [...]
by Kate Hanley
One of the great things about yoga is that as long as you have a yoga mat and some stretchy clothes, you’re good to go. Yet, there is one yoga prop I love. The next time someone asks what you might like as a gift, consider asking for a yoga bolster (see cushion [...]
Over 4000 years ago Chinese medicine said, “Blood is the mother of Qi.”
Qigong helps to release Qi blockages- small areas where the blood cannot go, or areas where disease can occur. Blood can work itself through closed off capillaries when a person is relaxed and increasing Qi in that area.
Wherever Qi goes, blood follows. Normal [...]
Creating a bicycle friendly community
By Lisa Moore
Cycling offers an array of health benefits for all ages, while enjoying the freedom of being outdoors. In Charlotte, cyclists can hit the pavement year round to improve cardiovascular fitness, increase joint strength and mobility, lose weight, boost immunity and reduce pain and stress levels.
Riding as little as 30 [...]
by Gail Condrick
Looking for a cardio workout that engages both mind and body with a side order of consciousness? The Nia Technique may be just the ticket. In each hour-long Nia class, enthusiasts experience the creativity of dance, the precision of yoga and the power of martial arts, as they move to music that rocks [...]
