Category: Exercise

Roller Enhances a Leg Stretch

Post author By Mukul
Post date March 28, 2010
No Comments on Roller Enhances a Leg Stretch

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For a more intense stretch in the backs of your thighs and calves, try elevating your foot on a roller. But it’s important to put only your lower ankle and heel on top of the roller; this avoids any pressure on your Achilles tendon.
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STEP-1. Sit upright on the floor with your left leg straight in front of you and your left heel on top of the roller. Bend your right knee and position your right foot against the inside of your left knee (if your left knee tends to hyperextend, place your right foot directly under your left knee for support). Inhale, sit up tall and reach your arms overhead.

STEP-2. On an exhale, maintain a long spine as you tilt forward, hinging at the hips. Keep your left leg straight and rest your fingertips on the roller. Hold this stretch for 10 to 20 seconds while breathing fully. Focus on feeling the stretch in the back of your left thigh and calf. You might feel a stretch in your back and hips too. Switch legs and repeat.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Tags Achilles tendinitis, Achilles tendon, Anderson Varejão, Ankle, Cleveland Cavaliers, David Blatt, Foot, Heel, Hip, Injury, Knee, Leg, Los Angeles Times, Magnetic resonance imaging, Minnesota Timberwolves, Thigh

Exercise

Centering Body and Mind

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You must have noticed that when you’re stressed and your mind is scattered, it’s hard to find your balance. Practice the tree pose to help you feel centered and to focus your mental state. You’ll also strengthen your legs and release tension in your thighs and hips.

Step-1. Standing on a flat, level surface, shift your weight to your left leg and bend your right knee, bringing the sole of your right foot to your inner left thigh. (If this is too difficult, you can lower your foot, placing it anywhere on your left leg.) Press your palms together in front of your chest. Remember to push the sole of your foot and your inner thigh equally toward each other. Take three to five breaths while balancing on one leg….CLICK & SEE

Step-2. When you feel steady and want to experiment with your balance, bring your arms out to the sides, palms turned up. Slowly shift your gaze upward and focus on a single, fixed point. Practice calm, steady breathing. Then lower your foot, shift your weight to your right leg and repeat, raising your left foot.

Source : Los Angeles Times

Tags Foot, Health, Hip, Knee, Leg, Los Angeles Times, Podiatry, Thigh

Exercise

A Bridge to a Relaxation

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Whenever you feel tightness in your chest, shoulders and back, practice this variation of a backbend, or bridge pose. It will help release tension in your mid- and upper back as well as stretch and strengthen your hips and legs.

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Step-1. Lie back on a mat with your heels resting on a sturdy chair. Extend your arms alongside your body, palms flat on the floor. Make sure your feet are hip-distance apart and your knees are parallel to each other.

Step-2. On an inhale, press firmly on your feet as you raise your hips toward the ceiling. Interlace your fingers and rotate your upper arms outward so your shoulders can roll under. Keep your arms and hands on the floor while imagining your shoulder blades are moving up and through your chest. This will help open and release tight spots in your upper and middle back and chest area. Hold this position and focus on slow, deep breathing. To come down, release your hands and slowly lower your hips to the floor.

Source : Los Angeles Times

Tags 2008 Summer Olympics, Adho Mukha Svanasana, Al Pacino, Album cover, Ames Research Center, Apple Inc., Associated Press, Balasana, Basketball court, California, Counties, Foot, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times, Scapula, Shoulder, United States

Exercise

Ab Crunches Get on a Roll

Post author By Mukul
Post date March 22, 2010
No Comments on Ab Crunches Get on a Roll

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Here’s a new way to spice up your basic abdominal crunches using a 36-inch round roller. This is a challenging exercise, so be patient if you find it difficult at first. And remember: It’s important to keep your shoulders and hips level throughout the entire move.

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STEP-1. Sit at one end of the roller, line up your spine on the roller and lie down on it. (Scoot down enough to make sure the back of your head rests on the roller.) Place your feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart, with your knees bent, toes facing forward. On an inhale, extend your arms straight behind you, elbows tight and thumbs facing the floor. Focus on maintaining your balance.

STEP-2. On an exhale, sweep your arms straight in front of your chest, fingers pointing toward your feet. Simultaneously raise your right foot, contract your abdominals and roll your head, shoulders and chest off the roller. Pause for two seconds while pressing your mid-back down against the roller. Slowly return to the start position with your arms overhead. Repeat, raising your left foot off the floor. Continue to alternate legs for eight to 12 repetitions.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Tags Abdominal pain, California, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Cougar, Counties, Crunch, Foot, Friday (1995 film), Hematuria, Instagram, Kidney, Kidney stone, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times, Mobile home, United States, Vertebral column

Exercise Health & Fitness Healthy Tips

Etiquettes of Gymming

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Don’t let your gym work against you. Watch out for these common pitfalls, suggests fitness expert Althea Shah.

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Like everything else, a workout also has its own set of etiquettes and rules which, if not followed, can send your regimen for a toss. Being able to drag yourself every day to the gym is good, but even more important is to have the correct know-how of the dos and don’ts while exercising. Althea Shah, fitness expert from Gold’s Gym India, Mumbai, lists the common dangers prevalent in the gym.

Out of form: All exercises are designed in a specific manner to provide optimal results. It’s common knowledge that lifting maximum weight (as per one’s capacity) during the last set of any exercise provides maximum benefit. It helps one attain ‘muscle fatigue’ which gives the ‘after-burn’ effect (calorie burn after finishing the workout). However, the worst thing that one can do is to compromise on the right ‘form’ so as to be able to lift that ‘extra’ weight.
Without the best form, workload goes waste or becomes unproductive. Those who swing weights while lifting and bend their backs during a bicep curl are at a high risk of injuries.

Lifting too much: Never lift more than what your muscles can handle. Gradual, progressive resistance is a far more effective way to increase muscle strength. When helping somebody with his workout, align your body such that it allows you to aid the lifter, without any risk of injury.

Keep it clean: Always wipe the equipment with a gym towel before and after use as it helps prevent spread of diseases. Though there’s a lot of etiquette emphasis on wiping equipment (such as the cardio machines) after use, it is also imperative to take your health in your own hands and wipe it before use as germs could still be transferred from adjacent machines.

Don’t go barefoot: The human traffic in locker rooms, combined with absence of sunlight, creates a perfect environment for germs to flourish. Always wear footwear to avoid athlete’s foot, a fungus infection that usually starts with itchy scales and blisters between the toes. Footwear will also keep you from slipping on wet tiles.
Those frequenting jacuzzis and pools are at high risk of catching contagious skin infections such as dermatitis. Chlorine in the water kills most germs, but if it doesn’t contain enough chlorine, you could catch a hair-follicle infection which needs antibiotic treatment.

Junk the mobile: Gym is for working out. So do just that. Smsing and chatting on phone not only wastes time, but the smart ones who try to multi-task their workouts with cellphone activity are at high risk of injuries. Treadmill accidents account for more than onethird of the reported injuries, with people either tripping or falling off them. Learn to use the machine first and refrain from checking your cell phone while working out. Also, be careful not to go too close to someone lifting heavy weights. He/she might, by mistake, drop them on your feet.

Fit to size: The gym equipment is designed to accommodate a wide range of body types and sizes, so it’s imperative that you adjust it to your size. Not doing so reduces the machine’s impact on your muscle. The muscle, hence, goes partially trained, leading to sluggish contribution in muscular growth.

Don’t jerk: When you jerk the weight, it’s likely that you’re jerking other muscle groups as well. This can lead to strain and injury. The back muscles are particularly vulnerable to such injuries. Remember: control the weight, don’t let it control you.

Right equipment: Before using any equipment, check that there are no loose nuts or screws on the machine. If the machine rattles or works with a jerk during exercise, stop immediately. Also, check cables of weight machines to ensure they aren’t frayed or damaged, and are covered with a protection sleeve.

Source: The Times Of India