5 Easy Exercises You Can Do At Home
When you brought your work home, why not do the same with your workout routine? Going out and hitting the gym with your buddies is now a far-fetched idea with the current situation. But that should not come in the way of you and your fitness. Now you can boost your immunity and strengthen your body with these five simple exercises, which you can do at home every day without any equipment. For beginners who want to give it a try, don't worry, these exercises are perfect for you! 1. Squats We sit and stand for so many hours in a day,especially when we are working or even watching T.V. The muscles that are used during squatting are essential as these are the same muscles we need to sit and stand without any discomfort. When we sit for long hours we weaken and avoid utilising and strengthening the muscles. Generally, people with knee problems hesitate or are afraid to try squats as they believe that it might make the pain unbearable. The truth is if you squat the right way and hold that position, it helps you relieve stiffness, pain, improves your posture and quality of life. If you don't do anything to strengthen these muscles then, you will experience pain doing something as easy as sitting or standing. You just need a few adjustments until you find the right position to squat. How to do it: ● Stand firmly with your back against the wall, place your legs in front shoulder-width apart. ● Slide your back against the wall and stand in the squat position. ● Hold this position for 10 seconds. ● Work at increasing your hold for 5 seconds more each time until you can reach one minute. That is what is going to strengthen your muscles. Need one here If you are new to squats, start with sitting and standing up in a chair. ● Stand in front of a chair. ● Push your glutes into the chair and then come back up, it should be as if you are kissing the chair. Some people might not be comfortable in their knees while squatting. Find a foot position that is comfortable for your knee by spreading your legs a little wider. 2. Wall Push-ups Comparatively, women struggle a bit to do a push-up. With a simple modification, you can extend your shoulder and upper back muscles with a wall push-up. ● Stand in front of a wall. ● Place your hands on the wall. ● Lean in towards the wall and come right back up. ● Then you can also try an inclined push-up. There are various types of push-ups you can do to build strength. 3. Back extensions The idea of maintaining a posture while sitting or working on a computer at home became bizarre. A couch or comfortable chairs like recliners became a popular choice to sit for long hours without getting up and work. Even if you are using an office chair, your back is stretched, shoulders are hunched, and the neck is in a lean-forward position. Anyone would need to work on their back muscles to get your posture back into place. ● Lie down on a mat on your stomach. Make sure to keep your legs together. ● Lift your arms so that they are over your head and stretch for a few seconds. ● Now, bring the navel above the ground. ● While stretching out your arms, legs and spine as far as possible(not in the opposite direction), make sure your face is facing the ground. ● Alternate between your hands and legs and pulse for a couple of seconds. ● Breathe in and hold for 5 seconds. Doing this will strengthen your spine health and strengthens your lower back. If you favour spending a lot of time in front of the TV, I suggest you come forward and rest your face on your two fists right below your chin supported by your elbows. This way, you get to be on your stomach. If you lie on the floor and take the help of your elbows, your upper body and spine are getting some extension and relieves pressure off your back. 4. Core - Abdominal Try planks, they are more effective than crunches and workout every muscle group in your body. When we say core muscles, it doesn’t just stop at your abdominal muscles, it also includes your upper back, lower back, spine muscles and pelvic region. When UR planking make sure UR body is in a straight line from UR head to UR heels, keep UR hip flexors open by keeping UR glutes engaged. ● Start by placing your forearms on the ground similar to an L-shape from your shoulder to your forearms. ● Your shoulders should always be directly above your elbows. ● Your forearms are pressing into the floor so that you stabilise the shoulder and widen your chest. ● Keep your hip flexors open so that they it keeps your glutes engaged. 5. Upper body – triceps Most women accumulate fat in their arms, I call them ‘bye-bye arms’. With the tricep muscles being the least worked muscles. This exercise engages your triceps and glutes. ● With your hands just outside of the hips, sit on a chair or bench. Make sure to keep your knees bent. ● Lift up with your hands and lower down until you are at about 90 degrees. While doing this, keep in mind that your hips are very close to the chair or bench and elbows are bent. ● Keep the elbows pointing behind you, your shoulders down and your abdomen engaged. ● Push back to start again and repeat. These five exercises are simple and can be done at home with no gym equipment. Some exercise is always better than no exercise! Make sure to move your body every hour and stay active to beat boredom and stay fit!
When you brought your work home, why not do the same with your workout routine? Going out and hitting the…
Why You Should Be Exercising During A Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us a curveball. Many of us possibly thought about every aspect of our life as we are invariably living in fear of falling victim to the virus. We are ready to try everything and anything to boost our immunity. It is for a fact that working out helps boost immunity. When we say exercise, it need not necessarily mean going out of the way and doing something which UR body isn't used to. All I advise is to move UR body! To reiterate the importance of workout lets start by understanding how exercise has helped us during influenza and how it's helping us now during COVID. The Origins Of Pilates The name 'pilates' was derived from Joseph Hubertus Pilates, the man who used a combination of various exercises. This gave birth to an incredibly effective workout routine that is still trending globally! He suffered a few illnesses during his childhood, making him interested in physical fitness. He was exposed to various types of physical routines in his life before he ended up in internment during World War I. He left Germany around 1912 and came to Britain. He was trained in boxing, diving, skiing, acrobats, self-defence, to name a few. As the war broke out in 1914, Joseph was kept in internment where he developed his fitness routine by fusing several sport-specific workout variations in his unique routine. Slowly this routine was picked up by a few curious inmates stuck in internment with him. These inmates were his first students/trainees and the camp was where he introduced Pilates. The immunity developing aspect of these physical exercises came to light when the Spanish flu was at its peak in 1918. It was observed that Pilates or the inmates he trained were able to ward off the diseases successfully. He was then positioned as a nurse in the hospital wing to care for the injured soldiers. Quote: Attaching springs to the beds of the hospitals, enabled the physically challenged to get a full-body workout with ease. Today we know that piece of equipment as the Cadillac/trapeze table! Cadillac/ trapeze table Pilates was tasked to help along with the recovery of veterans who were physically challenged fighting the war. He neatly worked out a practical and innovative idea to modify his routine to suit his soldiers. Attaching springs to the beds of the hospitals, enabled the physically challenged to get a full-body workout with ease. Today we know that piece of equipment as the Cadillac/trapeze table! After the war ended, he returned to Germany and started working on reforming his techniques and incorporating techniques from the east and the west. He set up his first studio in 1923 in America, and we all know this legacy with its universal appeal. That was the beginning of an exercise powerhouse we now know as Pilates. Importance Of Working Out During COVID 1. Boosts your immunity and improves your chances of fighting the virus, flu or infection. 2. Helps release happy hormones(endorphins) in the body which keep you mentally and physically fit. 3. Reduces stress, prevents weight gain and improves your sleep. As we are living through a pandemic at the moment, it is essential to remember that when injured soldiers can have the urge to work out, we can too. While creating and adjusting to new fitness routines may take some effort, any physical activity during the coronavirus pandemic can help you optimize your health and wellbeing. Use this time wisely to make the most of your lockdown, work out at your pace and as I said before a little bit of exercise is better than no exercise. If you need a little push, then read our other article on how you can build your workout routine.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us a curveball. Many of us possibly thought about every aspect of our life as…
Know UR Body’s Limitations When UR Working Out
We all dream of having a perfect body and there’s nothing wrong in that! In search of overnight results, we sometimes end up pushing our bodies too far. You might be looking to lose the lockdown weight fast and push your body really hard. Without putting in the time and effort towards being fit first, it is not possible. That’s where we can go wrong while we are working out. Working out is more about being aware of your body’s limits and understanding what works for you rather than getting easily distracted with someone else’s workout results. Well, there’s a way to avoid these cardinal workout mistakes and refine your workout routine. In the same path, we find ourselves trying a trending routine that gives us the toned body with minimal to no efforts. This majorly happens when we get inspired by other's routines and want the same kind of results without knowing the effort which goes into it. There are three stages which can define your workout levels Beginners are people who never worked out or made working out as a part of their daily schedule. Intermediate have a routine and are at it for some time. Advanced are ones who work out everyday and follow a certain set of workout routine. Depending on which category you fall under, your body type, BMI and other elements your instructor can easily suggest a workout routine which can work in your favour. I’ve seen many trainers do the complete opposite too, so make sure your trainer doesn’t push you too much. During the current times, where people do not prefer to go out, hitting the gym is not an option. The next best option is to keep up with their trainers virtually. This contributed to me making content on workouts and modifications. The training sessions on social media are making working out at home accessible to everyone. With so many videos being easily available it is hard for people to find the source of information and assess the reality of the workout videos. Quote: Setting realistic expectations and achieving them one day at-a-time helps you achieve your fitness goals in a healthy manner. How You Decide Your Workout Routine Depending on body type, every exercise has to be customized to an individual needs and limitations. People are trying these exercises with the hope that the harder they work, the more fit they become. But all they end up with is sore muscles, and still, some go at it day in day out until they stretch it too far - encounter a spasm or muscle strain. For example, if you are about 70 kilos and are overweight according to the BMI (Body Mass Index), taking up an hour of advance training on the first day (beginner) eventually exhausts your body. In the same way, people with medical conditions or injuries might not be able to exercise the same way in these fad workout videos. Be heedful of… 1. Identify your level of fitness Before beginning a workout, make sure you understand your needs and learn the right way to develop your strength. If you are new to start working out, start walking around the house for 10 minutes and increase the time limit as days pass by. To be fit, you need to spend the time, stick to the routine and build your core strength brick by brick. 2. Recognize your body’s needs Comparing yourselves to another's routine or other's fitness levels. Work with your body instead of overworking it. For example, if a person never did a push-up in life, they wouldn't know how to do it and couldn't do it properly. It is crucial to follow what your instructor and if you are not comfortable with an exercise, tell your trainer. 3. Set realistic expectations Your body is unique and it falls on you to be mindful of it, nurture it by selecting the right set of exercises. Setting realistic expectations and achieving them one day at-a-time helps you achieve your fitness goals in a healthy manner. 4. Give your body rest Resting your body is vital for recovery. Recovery time helps build your muscles the right way. Your instructor should always help you become aware of your resting days when you start a routine. Expert advice: It is highly important for you to discuss your medical history with your trainer to avoid injuring yourself any further. Fitness is a journey and working with your body is what you should be doing. Don’t push your body too hard just because you saw someone doing it. Don’t forget that you have to live in it for the rest of the day! Take it one day at-a-time and you will be surprised that you're closer to your fitness goals than before!
We all dream of having a perfect body and there’s nothing wrong in that! In search of overnight results, we…
What Can Make & Break UR Workout Routine
If the idea of fitting a workout in your schedule seems daunting and looks tedious, trust me, you are not alone. Especially when we start working out, even 30 minutes seems never-ending and we can't seem to get the groove. In the current times, we live in; it is a wise choice to stay active by working out as it boosts your immunity and strengthens your body. Since my virtual classes began, I had an overwhelming response from a lot of people who always wanted to attend my sessions, but never got a chance to. They loved the workouts I was putting up on my Insta, and I've also started sharing modified variations of each exercise I suggest. People who never thought about working out in their lives have also been coming forward and looking for ways to boost their immunity and be fit to get ahead of things. Apply the saying, "Something is better than nothing," and the best way to get some exercise is to move your body! Try walking around every hour for 10 minutes and stretch your body. In a day, you would generally work for around eight to nine hours. This way, you can sneak in more than 45 minutes of movement every day. From my personal experience with years of back-to-back training sessions, I observed that one-on-one virtual classes have proven to be more productive! It's just my student and me; they can ask me anything during the session and ask for a variation or other workout-related doubts. This helps me give time to one person entirely, which I can't always do in a group session. The Upsides Of Strengthening Our Muscles & Bones Working out is like an investment you make for your golden years to pass without causing your body to hurt. Sometimes even relieve chronic pain. Probably that's why it doesn't have an age barrier. In a day, we sit or stand. We cannot avoid somebody movement during the whole day. If we don't work out, these simple tasks seem like lifting a mountain. Our spine is the trunk of our body that carries a lot of nerves that our body needs to function. If we tire it out or can't keep it in a proper posture, it would cause severe ailments in the long run. We don't tend to realise that while working on a system or watching TV hours at a stretch. Working out or giving a break helps your muscles and bones to function well and keep you fit at the same time. In this digital age, we can't function without spending a lot of time before our systems, not necessarily work. Or lie comfortably on the bed and hold your phone in your hands for hours together. Either way, it is terrible for your posture. Follow these simple exercises in a day so that you can get your work done without being afraid for your health. 8 Tips That Help You Build An Effective Workout Routine 1. Identify your level of fitness. This will help you understand and define what works for your body. 2. Modify your workout according to your body. Don't tame your body into doing something that will cause pain and hurt to yourself or constraint yourself by saying you cannot do it. 3. Start with a smaller number of sets in the beginning and increase them gradually to get your body accustomed. 4. Speak to your instructor if you have problems with following an exercise they can suggest a few variations which would be more ideal for you. Ask a few questions if you are confused; this will help you stay motivated and will prove to be effective. 5. Know how to guide and position your body while performing any exercise. Always ask your instructor. 6. Don't keep changing your workout routine or switch to intense workout routines when you are just starting to workout. 7. Do the best you can every day, every bit adds up. Try and track your progress through your phone, watch or other fitness apps. 8. Set a recurring alarm every hour that reminds you to walk for five minutes is ideal. Use this time to connect with your friends or relatives via call and make sure you talk and walk. Being aware of your body's limits can transform your exercise routine and life. I've trained many stars, and all of them know exactly what to do if I'm not available to train them. With years of working together, I know their bodies more than they know themselves. I know what works for their body without pushing it too the extremes. I've taught all my students in such a way that they know exactly how their workout routine is and how the temp needs to guide them during each set. Fitness is a way of life and can be only defined by you and your choices. So, chose wisely!
If the idea of fitting a workout in your schedule seems daunting and looks tedious, trust me, you are not…
Best BOSU Ball Exercises For The Ultimate Full-Body Workout!
If trying out a new effective workout and improving your overall balance and stability is on your mind, it may be time for you to start exercising with a BOSU balance trainer. BOSU (stands for Both Sides Utilised) and looks something like a stability ball cut in half. It has a rubber hemisphere on one side and a flat surface on the other side and is excellent for building stability and strength! Best BOSU Ball Exercises For The Ultimate Full-Body Workout! K.Vijay Simha Bachelor in Physiotherapy, Exercise Scientist, Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist If trying out a new effective workout and improving your overall balance and stability is on your mind, it may be time for you to start exercising with a BOSU balance trainer. BOSU (stands for Both Sides Utilised) and looks something like a stability ball cut in half. It has a rubber hemisphere on one side and a flat surface on the other side and is excellent for building stability and strength! The flat surface provides steadiness to perform your workouts with extreme accuracy while the hemisphere on the other hand is partially filled with air and offers sufficient instability that stimulates the functioning of all your core muscles. You can use both the hemisphere and the flat surface to improve your balance and strengthen your core. Use it to do full-body workouts or target problematic areas. It’s easy for everybody to use, even beginners. So here are some superb fun exercises to do with the BOSU ball. 1. Squats - Keep the flat surface up, i.e., place the BOSU ball on the rubber hemisphere. Position your right leg on one side of the ball, the ball will slant to the right - try to balance yourself by placing your left leg on the other side of the even surface. Be sure that you are steady and stable. Now, thrust your hips behind and at the same time lower your body; let your knees bend and then take your arms up close to your chest. Make sure your knees don’t extend beyond your toes. 2. Hip Raise - Lie flat on the ground. Stretch your knees and put your feet on both sides of the ball. Keep your hands by your side, palms flat on the surface and face towards the ceiling. Thrust your hips toward the ceiling. Stop when your thighs are in line with your hips. Lower your hips without placing them on the floor. 3. Lunge - Stand one foot away from the BOSU ball. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, core engaged and chest outwards. The semi-circular surface of the BOSU ball should be upwards. Place your right leg on top of the ball. Arch both your knees and lower your upper body so that your thighs are vertical to your shins. Hold this posture for a second and then go back to the starting position. Step on the ball with your right leg - arch both your knees, lower your lunge and torso. Hold this position for a second and get back again to the beginning position. 4. Full Plank - Flip over the ball and grip it at the ends. Spread your right foot behind your body, stretch your toes and place them on the floor. Now spread your left foot behind you and support your body on your arched toes of both your feet. Keep your core engaged and also ensure your spine is in alignment with your neckline and you are looking down. Hold this pose for 30-60 seconds. 5. Jump Squats - Stand a foot away from the ball. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, chest out, core engaged and knees marginally bent. The hemispherical surface of the ball should be facing upwards. Curve your knees a little as a prep to hop on the ball. Jump and land down on the semi-circular surface of the ball. Be sure that you are in a squatting position, with your back upright. Also, ensure your knees don’t extend your toes. Stay in this position for some time then get up and jump back on the ground - immediately as you land on the ground, squat downwards. 6. Crunches - Be seated on the ball, place your palms on it and place the small of your back against the round side of the ball. Your hips should be closer to the edge of the even surface, at the same time your back should be fully alongside the curve of the ball. Keep your feet flat and your knees arched on the ground. Keep your thumb behind your ears and keep your head up with your remaining fingers. Ensure your core is engaged. Breathe in and crunch up by lifting your upper body. Breathe out as you go up. Breathe in and get back to the starting point. 7. Sit-Ups - Get on the cupola of the ball and slightly slide down. Keep your thumbs behind your ears and keep your head up with the help of the other fingers. Engage your core lifting your upper body and come down to a sitting posture. Breathe out while doing this. Breathe in and go back to the initial pose. 8. Push-Ups - Flip the ball so that the flat surface is facing upwards. Keep your palms on both the sides of the ball. Spread your feet behind you and keep your spinal column in line with your neckline. Engage your core, breathe in, stretch your elbows and lower your body until your upper body is about to touch the surface of the ball. Breathe out and push your body back to the starting point.
If trying out a new effective workout and improving your overall balance and stability is on your mind, it may…
5 Biggest Fitness & Workout Trends Of 2020
5 Biggest Fitness & Workout Trends Of 2020 Leandi van Zyl, CSCS Lead – Sport Science (Strength & Conditioning) Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Some fitness trends have more or less been around for a while with some innovation but the trends this year are fairly new. From workouts powered by technology to online fitness classes, the fitness trends this year are motivating and exciting at the same time! Here are 5 fitness trends for 2020. 1. Functional Training: Before the lockdown, many gyms had developed ways to train people to lift heavier weights, do more repetitions and burn lots of calories. However, recently there has been a shift towards doing the right exercises that improve everyday movement. Functional training helps strengthen you in specific areas that are weak and helps you move better and more efficiently. Functional training is also easier to do at home. The risk for injury is also lower in comparison to programmes that need heavy equipment. 2. At Home HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Workouts: A lot of people have been confined to their homes during recent months, and this has impacted what training looks like. Household items like chairs, water bottles, towels or backpacks have helped to serve as gym equipment for workouts at home. This will continue for the foreseeable future until it is safe for gyms to reopen. A good way to increase the intensity of UR home workouts is by doing high intensity interval training. This incorporates using time as a measurement of intensity. The exercise time in these workouts can range anywhere from 20 seconds to one minute with short rest intervals in-between exercises. These workouts are very effective if you have limited time to do a training session. 3. Yoga HIIT: Yoga has always been popular as an effective way of distressing while improving flexibility. Yoga High Intensity Interval Training uses dynamic yoga stretches in quick bursts to burn more calories while improving muscle length. These classes are done online and do not need any equipment, which makes it easy to do at home. 4. Virtual Cycling & Running: Virtual cycling and running has made it easy for endurance enthusiasts to train in the comfort of their home. It is as easy as hopping onto UR training cycle or treadmill and joining other friends and athletes in a virtual races or exercise sessions. There are many different tournaments and training sessions which can take UR endurance to the next level. The best thing about online racing is that you can compete against top athletes. 5. Technology-Led Training: Whether it is smart watches, fitness applications, GPS devices or heartrate monitors, technology is changing how we train! Technology is ever evolving and so is wearable technology and training programmes. Using the latest technology keeps you motivated and on track, to reach UR fitness goals. Smart watches help you see how much work you have put into UR training session. By looking at your heart rate and the amount of calories burned it is easy to see if you have to push more or less. There are multiple fitness applications that help people stay active during the lockdown. These applications show you what exercises to do and some can help monitor UR training sessions as well. However, these applications do not allow for individualized programmes and can increase the chances of sustaining an injury. What’s great about technology is that you are able to have online training sessions with qualified trainers in the comfort of UR home. This will make UR session more customized and a trainer can make sure you are doing all the exercises with the right techniques. During the lockdown staying active can be difficult but adding functional training, high intensity interval training, Yoga HIIT or virtual cycling or running to UR workout programme can keep you motivated and add some excitement to your routine. Using technology to monitor all the training you are doing is an effective way to know if you are improving. The best thing about technology is that you can take part in any training session without even stepping outside UR home!
5 Biggest Fitness & Workout Trends Of 2020 Leandi van Zyl, CSCS Lead – Sport Science (Strength & Conditioning) Sir…
Top 5 Basic Exercises Your Workout Needs
For a holistic approach towards your training programme there is the need for specific general movements’ patterns to be included to make it efficient. Knee Dominant Exercises Top 5 Basic Exercises Your Workout Needs Leandi Van Zyl (Lead- Sport Science / Strength & Conditioning) Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital For a holistic approach towards your training programme there is the need for specific general movements’ patterns to be included to make it efficient. Knee Dominant Exercises It is important to realize that the movement of this exercise comes from the knee and not the hips. The most basic of these is a squat. It was previously believed that the knee should not cross the toe; however this limits the range of motion of the movement. A better way to look at squats is by comparing the angle of the shin to the angle of the torso - these angles should always be parallel. Other knee dominant exercises include lunges, single leg squats and Bulgarian split squats. Hip Dominant Exercises These exercises are usually neglected due to its technical difficulty. A hip dominant exercises originates from the hip. A lot of people do not have the mobility in their hips or stability in their lower back to perform such exercises. This makes it a crucial movement pattern to add to your workout. It is important to focus on the movement first and then progress towards adding weights. Examples include hip thrust, deadlifts, Romanian deadlifts and good mornings. Upper body Pushing Exercises Here, the most common exercise is a push-up. This movement can take place in two directions - vertical and horizontal. An example of a vertical push is a shoulder press and a horizontal push is bench press. Upper Body Pulling Exercises Often neglected, upper body pulling exercises are important to keep appropriate muscle balance of the upper body. A lot of programmes only focus on pushing exercises and can lead to the anterior (front) muscles getting tight and causing other dysfunctions in the upper back. Like pushing exercises, pulling can be divided into vertical and horizontal. An example of a vertical pulling exercise is a pull-up and a horizontal pulling is a cable row exercise. Core Exercises Lastly, it is important to add core exercises into every programme. The core muscles not only consists of the ‘six pack muscles’ but also includes muscles from the torso, back and hips. The core translates force from the lower body to the upper body and is important in all our daily activities. Core exercises should include rotation, anti-rotation, strength and stability exercises. Adding these 5 exercises into your programme will allow your full body to move better. Always remember to work on the movement first and then progressively load it. For every knee dominant exercise add a hip dominant exercise and for every upper body pushing exercise add an upper body pulling exercise and round it off by adding a core exercise.
For a holistic approach towards your training programme there is the need for specific general movements’ patterns to be included…
Top 5 Lame Excuses Not To Exercise During Quarantine
I will start from tomorrow: You need to understand that there is no tomorrow if there is no today. If there is no now - there will be no tomorrow! Fitness is everything. If you don’t keep yourself fit you are inviting chronic health issues. It’s as simple as that! Top 5 Lame Excuses Not To Exercise During Quarantine Rakesh Uddiyar Director & Founder Body Wizard Fitness Academy & Celebrity Trainer I will start from tomorrow: You need to understand that there is no tomorrow if there is no today. If there is no now - there will be no tomorrow! Fitness is everything. If you don’t keep yourself fit you are inviting chronic health issues. It’s as simple as that! I don’t have access to gym equipment: This is a very common excuse. The truth is there is no interest to exercise. You can train anywhere - at home, office or even when on the move. All you need is a few things which are easily available. Try exercising with resistance tubes, water bottles, or any kind of weights which you can lift. It can be an empty gas cylinder as well. I don’t know how to train: If you really want to train you will. There are various online resources that are easily available. You can also refer to books on exercise or get in touch with an expert in the field. If training alone during the quarantine period is not appealing enough, try registering for some online classes. You can try Zumba classes, HIT workouts, Bachata, yoga and so on. All you need is a WiFi connection and you are good to go. When I train I get body pain: The body pain you experience after exercise is due to lactic acid. This is mainly produced in muscle cells and red blood cells. The lactic acid forms when UR body breaks down carbohydrates to use for energy when oxygen levels are low in UR body. But once the lactic acid lessens, UR body will get used to the movement or exercise UR trying to do. So don’t let pain put you down and ensure you move UR body. Exercise helps you to burn calories and also makes you mentally, physically and emotionally strong. Consider UR body to be a temple and take good care of it. I’m overweight but healthy & don’t care what people think: If this is your excuse, it means you are not motivated enough to take up any exercise. You want to be in your comfort zone. You are not able to control your mind. You need to realize that regular exercise will not only make you healthy during these troubled times but will also help you be the best version of yourself! You cannot assume you are ‘fit.’ Your goal should be to strive for both physical and mental fitness for overall wellness. Also, learn to control UR food cravings and ensure you don’t become or remain an emotional eater. This is all the more important during lockdown, as many people have little else to do besides cooking, eating and relaxing.
I will start from tomorrow: You need to understand that there is no tomorrow if there is no today. If…
Gratitude To Our Healthcare Heroes: We Salute You!
Gratitude To Our Healthcare Heroes: We Salute You! The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is causing turmoil all over the world and some of the people most affected are healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses and paramedics. So as a tribute to the services of our healthcare heroes, we have created a specially recorded video to express our gratitude to them for their dedication and commitment. We have also strived to impart the recommended advice via the beautiful Kuchipudi art form on how to stay safe and protected during this difficult period. Hope you all like it! This idea first came to us while watching the news. We were horrified to witness the insensitive behaviour and unpardonable attacks on doctors and healthcare workers in Delhi and Hyderabad. Instead of saluting them and thanking them for their selflessness, courage and tireless service – people were attacking them! A brainstorming session later, we had decided to create a dance piece as a tribute to the services of the healthcare heroes. But due to the lockdown, creating a new recording seemed next to impossible. The music from ‘Vaidyo Narayano Hari’ that was recorded six years ago came to our rescue. So we decided to utilise the music from this production (as it was easily available to us at this point in time) choreographed a new piece as a tribute, and recorded the dance at home. We believe that this is a time for all of us to stop and reflect on how we can contribute in our own way, and there is nothing more de-stressing than giving back to the community. So it would be good if we could all find ways to encourage and help our heroes at the frontline. It’s also important to disseminate accurate information at a time like this, keep positive and healthy, stay connected with family and friends and help in whatever way possible to fight this pandemic! Dancing helps you to enter a different world as you get totally engrossed in this physical activity that is a combination of graceful movements, rhythmic footwork and expressions! Moreover, you become one with the character you are portraying and try to concentrate on doing it with ease and élan, all of which works as a great stress buster. Kuchipudi is innately a very graceful dance form. Practicing it diligently makes one graceful in all one’s movements and enhances posture and gait, and thus character. Also, each mudra conveys various meanings. Natyashastra, the oldest treatise on dance describes single hand gestures/mudras and double hand gestures/mudras. Animal mudras are easy and fun, especially for young children. Even mudras showing aspects of nature like flowers, sun and moon can be performed effortlessly and when practiced together, is a great way to foster a bond with your children. Additionally, Kuchipudi helps in all-round development as it helps build self-confidence as one loses stage fear during performances. Students are enrolled from the age of six to learn the Kuchipudi dance form but a date or assurance regarding a Rangapravesam (debut on stage) is not provided. This is because it depends a lot on each individual child’s commitment, hard work and dedication. Furthermore, parents are advised not to push their child to do their Rangapravesam since a child should come to a level of proficiency to perform with finesse and be able to hold the attention of the audience. For children to gain experience, they are encouraged to participate in many group performances before their solo debut, given that like any art form, excellence in Kuchipudi comes with a lot of devotion, passion and hours and hours of practice. This art form engages every part of the body from head to toe, starting from the eyebrows/bruha bedhas, eyes/dhrishti bedhas, neck/greeva bedhas, shoulders, arms, hands, waist, core, legs and feet. Both the body and mind get a workout, as you also have to remember the dance sequences, mudras and posture, expressions, and make it all look effortless at the same time! So it’s a fantastic cardio routine which also requires immense coordination. Kuchipudi is one of the noted classical dance forms of India and originated in the village by the same name close to Vijayawada. The present dance form of Kuchipudi can be tracked back to the 16th century, although dance was popular as early as 2nd century BC as is evident through the sculptures at the Amaravati Stupa depicting group dances. Somewhere between the 14th and 17th century, Siddhendra Yogi, stylized the then rustic dance form and gave it a structure and framework. He imparted training only to male dancers, which was the custom at that time. Female roles were also played by men who were beautifully dressed and adorned as females. The ruler of Golconda Abul Hasan Tanesha was enthralled by a Kuchipudi performance during his visit to Machilipatnam and as a gesture of generosity gifted the village of Kuchipudi to the artistes. It was only in 1930 that Vedantam Lakshminarayana brought about a revolution and women were brought into Kuchipudi dance.
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5 shocking workout mistakes UR making
5 shocking workout mistakes UR making Do you sweat a lot in the gym and push the speed of the treadmill as high as you can withstand, but often end up with futile results? Beware! UR workout may cause more damage than good to UR body if precaution isn’t taken. Quick fixes often lead to injuries. Choose lifestyle changes for a minimum of 41 days to start with. While there is a common misconception that warming up is a waste of valuable time during a workout, it is indeed the most crucial aspect for the wellbeing of your muscles. After each workout the body repairs entangled muscles. A 10 minute stretch makes coiled tissues more elastic thus keeping aches and pains at bay. Music does wonders as it helps people forget fatigue and elevates the mood. Reportedly, people run longer and swim swiftly than usual which promotes a higher metabolism while listening to the right kind of music. But music has its downside, listening explosively loud music contributes to hearing loss. The next time you hit the gym, adjust to a comfortable volume and enjoy UR experience! While it’s great to socialise with buddies to keep you motivated, incessant chatter can hamper your effort to achieve UR goal. Conversing too much will divert UR attention from the workout causing severe injury or not getting you the right result in the time spent at the gym. Eight hours of sound sleep is a must before you hit the gym. Insufficient sleep can have adverse effects on your body. We suggest REST over working out when exhausted. Inadequate sleep can hinder weight loss efforts and trigger various health problems. Perfect health includes a balance of Workout, Rest & Nutrition. Sweating during workouts can cause fatigue, muscle cramps and mood swings as the body is depleted of glucose. It’s crucial to pay attention to your irregular heartbeat, dry mouth and dizziness caused by dehydration. While exercising in humid or hot weather, increase UR water consumption by a litre that you regularly consume.
5 shocking workout mistakes UR making Do you sweat a lot in the gym and push the speed of the…
Unheard Health Benefits Of Squatting In The Indian Toilet Position!
Every exercise helps tone UR body but a few positions have extraordinary benefits. Squatting Indian toilet style is one such exercise! Sitting in this position not only helps tone UR thighs, legs and glutes but also enhances UR gut health and eases bowel movements. The squatting position improves your flexibility and is also a good weight-bearing exercise that helps keep bones strong, says Dr. K J Reddy, Senior Orthopaedic Consultant and Joint Replacement Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals. According to him, most daily activities only use a maximum of 90 degree flexion at the knee. However, the knee joint is capable of flexion of up to 180 degrees and the joint is not used to its maximum potential frequently. All the joints in the body have synovial fluid which provide nutrition to the cartilage in the joints. The cartilage depends entirely on this fluid, as it has no blood supply of its own. The fluid acts as a blood substitute for the cartilage. To produce the fluid two factors are required: movement and compression. If the joint is not going through its full range of movement, nutrition will be compromised due to decreased synovial fluid production. This is what happens with the knee and hip joints - due to the lack of nutrition they start to degenerate at an earlier stage. This proves the importance of keeping active and moving joints to reduce degeneration. Squatting involves the full range of movement which helps to get rid of stiffness in joints. The squatting posture also enhances balance. It’s good to practice sitting in the Indian toilet position to make UR back strong. This in turn will help you walk, stand and sit better. Dr. Reddy recommends squatting for five-ten minutes each day (for those who don’t suffer from any previous knee or back problems). Ensure you don’t take up squatting suddenly, as it can damage the muscles and cartilages around UR knees. If you are fit, then UR knee joint will be able to handle it without any excessive damage. When you squat down, you bend UR knees and stretch UR legs. Every muscle in the legs is used while sitting in this posture. It makes UR leg muscles, hips and calves strong and enhances flexibility. When you squat UR colon is naturally compressed as the weight of UR torso is pushed against UR thighs, says Dr. K.S. Somasekhar Rao, Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, Apollo Hospitals. Squatting also helps in coordination and strengthening of various pelvic floor muscles and requires you to strain less during defecation. This may be a taboo subject to discuss, but apparently sitting in the toilet and not squatting, can take a toll on our health. Squatting for defecation may be considered uncivilized but sitting on the toilet not only causes health hazards but also delays the elimination process. In the past, the royal families of Britain and the incapacitated used pedestal toilets. This practice soon filtered down to the common people and to the people in the third world countries. Many industrialized countries of the world also adopted the chair-like toilet. Postures adopted for defecation vary according to culture but worldwide, sitting or squatting is most common. Traditional Indian toilets require the squatting position but people in urban India prefer western toilets which require a sitting position. Squatting is a more beneficial posture as it leads to relaxation of the muscles concerned with fecal continence and defecation (puborectalis muscle), thus it widens the recto-anal angle, protects the pelvic nerves from damage due to less straining and offers better and complete elimination. In the latter part of the 19th century, there was a surge in pelvic diseases linked to the alteration in toilet habits. But the theory that posture during defecation can cause diseases of the bowels was ignored at that time. From the beginning of time, humans have always been squatting to defecate, evident by the fact that children from every culture unconsciously squat for defecation. This is because the human anatomy is naturally designed to function better in this position. The squatting position is considered to be the most appropriate way to defecate as the abdominal muscles work better and there is total elimination, unlike with the sitting posture whereby the abdominal muscles are not supported leading to health hazards later on. It seems like the human body is actually designed to eliminate waste while squatting, as sitting makes elimination incomplete and difficult. If you’ve been experiencing bloating, constipation and hemorrhoids, sitting on the toilet may be to blame! Dr Rao further explains that the squatting posture helps to relax the puborectalis muscle leading to the straightening of the anorectal angle which in turn allows the bowels to eliminate fully. By squatting, the kink - which is at the rectum entry point, is unlocked as the sigmoid colon is lifted. The sigmoid colon is the s-shaped last portion of the large intestine that leads to the rectum. As pressure is taken off from the puborectalis muscle by squatting, incontinence is prevented. Coordinated movement of multiple abdominal and pelvic muscles results in a normal defecation process. Uncoordinated movement of pelvic floor muscles (Pelvic dyssynergia) is the most common cause of constipation seen in all age groups. Predominantly females after child-bearing age are most affected. The squatting position during defecation is recommended to ease constipation of any type. Despite the multiple health benefits of squatting in the Indian toilet style, Dr. Reddy warns that before you take up this exercise, it’s good to be mindful of the fact that if this posture is held for too long, it can also cause joint damage and also lead to osteoarthritis, according to some studies. Do things in moderation, make small lifestyle changes and see a drastic difference in UR health.
Every exercise helps tone UR body but a few positions have extraordinary benefits. Squatting Indian toilet style is one such…
Secrets To Stay Fit & Healthy During Quarantine
Secrets To Stay Fit Healthy During Quarantine Today I’m going to talk about how to heal yourself with fitness. During this quarantine period, everyone is baking amazing cakes and posting amazing food online which may just take you on a guilt trip once everything is back to normal. People need to understand that the quarantine period is not an excuse to suddenly eat whatever you’ve always wanted to. It’s also not an excuse to sit in front of the TV and watch Netflix! There are way many things you can do, even during this period. As far as baking cakes are concerned – go ahead and bake, but ensure you control what you put into UR system. We’re talking about a pandemic, so it’s something that could hit any of us at this point in time, but we have to try and protect ourselves as much as possible. I honestly believe that staying fit will help you stay protected! Food & Exercise Let’s talk about the food part first and then talk about the exercise aspect. I think food is very important. We need vitamins, minerals and the right kind of food to put into our system so that our system is protected. You don’t get vitamin D, vitamin C and all the important vitamins and minerals through cakes or pizzas! The thing I remember most, is the way my parents ate. They are in their 70’s and still go to office every single day of their lives and still move around. Our parents and grandparents used to eat in a certain way. They didn’t have options of pizza and cake, but just ate what was available. They cooked at home and knew exactly what is going into their food. They kept things very simple as there were no fancy recipes and ingredients. They had normal vegetables, dals, and rotis. So the first thing you need to do is to go back to being simple. Go back to what UR parents and grandparents ate and unfortunately, this does not include pizzas! If you don’t have anything better to do than cooking, make sure you cook something that is good for you. I think there are enough things you can make with healthy ingredients. For instance, take cauliflower. Today, it’s become the new pizza base. Any and everything you want today, is cauliflower! So basically, you can make good choices. You can also make healthy alternatives to every single thing. Coming to the topic of exercise and fitness, I’m not saying to go out there and run a marathon or workout for two hours nonstop. I’m saying spend 30 minutes of UR day moving. I read a quote which I really like and I think it’s amazing! It says if you come out of this pandemic not healthier or fitter, then it was never a lack of time. That was UR excuse. It’s always a lack of discipline! Fitness doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym and lifting hundred kilos. Fitness means being active! Sometimes, just helping out in the house is good enough. During the SOHFIT 40 Day Challenge on our active recovery days, we get people to clean their house. I think it’s a very good workout and we also get to appreciate the work done by our house help. Interestingly, in rural India everyone just sits on their haunches and squat. They don’t have seats. Due to this exercise, none of them have knee issues or backache problems. They are all good at it because they keep doing it. For those who sit on their chairs the whole day, it could be quite difficult! I eat one meal in this position. Even though it could be my quickest meal ever, I try to eat at least one meal while squatting. What we can learn from this is that exercise is not only gymming – it is not only going crazy for 20 minutes! Exercise is any kind of movement that keeps you active. This is especially significant at a time like this when everyone is sitting at home on their chairs and not doing much with their lives. In such a scenario, the number of steps you take in a day is also going to go down and you are going to be less active. So you need to stretch every single day and need to do some kind of activity for at least 30-40 minutes a day. You also need to eat simple. Boost UR Immunity The right foods help to boost immunity and exercise helps to release the right hormones in UR body. A lack of equipment at home shouldn’t be a hindrance. UR body is more than enough. During the SOHFIT 40 Day Challenge, we give people bodyweight exercises to do. Exercising at home in a limited space and with limited equipment may not be everything you want, but trust me, when I say that you can enjoy working out at home too! I used to think that I won’t be able to live without a gym, but I’ve been working out in my living room for four weeks now and I’m enjoying it! Some people may get a high out of lifting heavy weights and if UR missing them, you can get creative about the same. I lift my son and squat. I also lift a chair and put it on my back. I even fill up a backpack with stuff to make it nice and heavy and then work out with it. Also, as you may not feel like going to the gym for quite some time in the short-term, you will need to work out at home and continue to take your health seriously. Once things ease out a bit, you can even get UR trainer to come to UR place for workout sessions. Online and virtual coaching is also a great option during this time. 5 Qualities Of An Ideal Trainer 1. Look for a person who is willing to listen and not someone who stamps their authority on you – instructing you to do only this or that. 2. A trainer needs to understand who they’re working with and cater to that, as set principles cannot be applied to every single person. 3. I strongly feel that every coach needs to look the part. I don’t think I would train with anyone who is big, fat and out of shape. The reason being, a coach should always inspire you to work harder! 4. Be aware of coaches who try to oversell themselves. A trainer should not be giving you advice on medications or on food – because they are not qualified for this. It’s vital to choose a trainer with good qualifications. 5. Man management is also important because your coach will be spending more time with you than possibly your best friend does! If you take a coach for five days a week – you will be spending five hours a week with this person. So UR trainer needs to be someone you can communicate with. An important point to remember is that UR trainer does not need to touch you to show what’s working and what’s not. Exercises can be explained by the trainer showing you the movement. Just in case it’s really necessary for a trainer to touch you to convey something important – permission can be first sought to maintain a level of decency. Why The SOHFIT 40 Day Challenge Is Cool! I believe you can only get better and fitter if you combine food and workouts. One by itself is never going to work, so both needs to be combined. I like to keep things simple and thus have a structure in place as far as workouts are concerned. Every coach needs to know where they can push boundaries and push buttons and how they can gradually bring their ‘students’ up to a level where they can push them even more. From that perspective I like the challenge, because this is what we do in the challenge. Five coaches look after you every single day to make sure you are covered. We also try to find alternatives to everything; we ensure UR checking UR food and that your food is right. I also don’t believe in diets or following diets to get fit. We make you accountable not only to yourself but to UR community and group (as you are put on a WhatsApp group together). Additionally, we constantly cheer you on and motivate you which I feel is very important. The fact that UR friends have done something makes you want to try it out too. Even if we are stuck at home right now, it doesn’t change the fact that we are social animals and we work better when there is some social accountability involved in what we are doing! The fact that you have 30 other people on the group encouraging you, sharing their experiences, their workouts, how they did the workout, explaining their workout strategy and so on - is motivating enough for you to go ahead and give it a shot! This works much better than personal accountability and that’s why I like it! I feel there’s so much more to working out. Working out is one part of it. Being with your friends and sharing things that a lot of people don’t usually share – right from insecurities, what works for you, what doesn’t, what’s been happening, UR injuries and so on, are things you don’t generally share. I’m very proud of the SOHFIT 40 Day Challenge programme and I love it! I always wanted to help people and the purpose of this challenge is to help as many people as you possibly can, even if you can’t meet them in person. Most importantly, we want people to come out of this lockdown situation a lot healthier and a lot better to face the world – that’s the endeavor! Stay safe yes – but also stay sane, because staying at home constantly can have an impact on UR mental state as well. This challenge gives you something to do and a structure to look forward to. So hurry and book UR slot now! The last date for registrations for the fitness challenge is 16 March 2020 for the 20th April edition. Log onto: https://www.sohfit.com
Secrets To Stay Fit Healthy During Quarantine Today I’m going to talk about how to heal yourself with fitness. During…