Why You Should Consider Adding Classical Music To Your Exercise Playlist

For many people, an essential part of any exercise regime is the music that accompanies it. Whether you’re a runner, a rower or a bodybuilder, there’s a good chance you have a favourite selection of tunes and some headphones to help you through.

Over the past 20 years, static muscle stretching has gotten a bad rap. Once considered an essential part of any sport or exercise warm-up, static stretching has now been removed from the picture almost entirely.

As researchers in the field of kinesiology, we’ve studied the effects of connected fitness on motivation and fitness outcomes. If you’re looking for ways to beef up your fitness during pandemic-related downtime or to replace a pre-COVID-19 exercise routine

The Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week and strengthening activities on two or more days per week.

Even if you exercise everyday – whether that’s at home, at the gym, or taking your dog for walks – you might not be getting as much physical activity as you think you are.

So you’re pedaling your heart out or running like you’re escaping a zombie horde. You’re feeling accomplished, on cloud nine, until … your stomach starts to churn. You may even feel dizzy. Your feelings of accomplishment have turned to agony as you deal with a bout of nausea.

Exercising more is one of the most common new year resolutions people make. But more than a quarter of people fail to keep their resolutions, and only half maintain some of them.

It’s that time of year when many of us are setting goals for the year ahead. The most common New Year’s resolution – set by 59% of us - is to exercise more.

Group exercise is very popular. In advance of the coronavirus pandemic, the American College of Sports Medicine predicted that group fitness would be one of the top three fitness industry trends in 2020 – for good reason.

It’s a common dieter’s lament: “Ugh, my metabolism is so slow, I’m never going to lose any weight.” But does the speed of metabolism really vary all that much from person to person? 

It’s well known that the microbes living in our guts are altered through diet. For example, including dietary fibre and dairy products in our diets encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria. But mounting evidence suggests that exercise can also modify the types of bacteria that reside within our guts.

Self-isolation means far fewer opportunities to be physically active if you are used to walking or cycling for transportation and doing leisure time sports. But equally worryingly, the home environment also offers abundant opportunity to be sedentary (sitting or reclining).

Swimming, aqua-aerobics, and other water-based exercises are popular for people aged 55 and older to keep fit without putting strain on the joints.

Have you been hitting the gym again with COVID restrictions easing? Or getting back into running, cycling, or playing team sports?

As the world digs in for another wave of COVID-19, flu season and winter, people also face a serious risk from reduced physical activity — especially older adults.

For many people, outdoor recreation activities are part of their coping strategy during times of high stress. Connecting with the natural environment is an important contributor to their sense of identity, community and belonging.

Periods of lockdown represent a massive disruption to people’s daily routines, but they also offer an opportunity to establish new habits.

Older adults, especially those over 65, have five times the risk of hospitalization and 90 times the risk of death from COVID-19 compared with younger adults.

Regular exercise changes the structure of our bodies’ tissues in obvious ways, such as reducing the size of fat stores and increasing muscle mass. 

There’s plenty of evidence showing how important nutrition is for exercise, from aiding performance to enhancing recovery.

As winter descends on the northern hemisphere and the temperature drops and daylight hours shorten, many people may want to spend more time indoors.

To the joy of many, indoor gyms have reopened. However, before we pick up the dumbbells once again, we might need to be cautious. 

Falls are a common cause of injury in older adults and can lead to disability. Luckily, the risk of falls can be reduced with regular exercise– but not all exercise.

There are growing concerns about the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young people.

In the early phases of lockdown, the streets were teeming with runners and living rooms were a blur of uncoordinated star jumps and lunges.

The idea that people can be healthy at any weight has gained credence in recent years, despite widespread evidence that obesity creates health risks. While the idea is attractive, it’s also dangerous because it can lull people who need to lose weight now into a false sense of security.

This fall hasn’t felt much like “back to school” for many children. Instead, many are staying at home and attending virtual classes indefinitely.

Nike’s London store recently introduced a plus-sized mannequin to display its active clothing range which goes up to a size 32. The mannequin triggered a cascade of responses ranging from outrage to celebration

Weight lifting, also known as resistance training, has been practised for centuries as a way of building muscular strength.

The menstrual cycle, the pill and their potential impact on sporting performance have long been considered a taboo subject. 

There’s a thin line between working hard enough and working too hard. Pushing your body to reach new levels of fitness requires commitment,

The most common site for pain in recreational runners is the knee. For some, especially older runners, the pain can be a symptom of osteoarthritis. But does running worsen knee pain and osteoarthritis?

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact across the entire population, but one group likely to have been disproportionately affected is people with eating disorders.

While many of us may remember skipping as something we did as children, the pastime has regained popularity during the pandemic as a way of keeping fit.

The places and communities that we live in play an important role in our physical health. What we have access to on our doorstep is important to motivating – or preventing – our physical activity levels.

Common poor desk posture is actually very similar to the posture astronauts adopt during spaceflight in zero-gravity. Usually this is a forward leaning posture with a forward head position and the loss of normal spinal curves. Being in space also has similar effects to staying in bed all day.

It’s a common assumption that exercise in older people is difficult and dangerous, so it’s perhaps best avoided.

There’s no doubt that the pandemic has been difficult for people in different ways. But for a lot of people what has kept them going has been their daily exercise.

Has your doctor recommended you go for regular jogs in the park, countryside walks, community food growing sessions, or some other nature-based activity?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made many of us reevaluate our health and take up new exercise regimes.

For thousands of years, humans have rested on the ground using variations of a squat, cross-legged or a kneeling position.

In the current pandemic many parents of young children are finding themselves spending more time in the role of caregiver than usual.

Apart from reduced social interaction and the domestic juggling involved, homes are not usually designed to replicate a workplace environment when it comes to employees’ health.

Whether you’re an ultra-marathoner or have just started, injuries and muscle soreness from running are inevitable. But instead of taking a break, many runners reach for ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to get through injuries or pain.

If you’ve had a surgery postponed due to the pandemic, or one is on the horizon, there may be some work you can do right now to prepare and to help improve your postoperative outcome.

The coronavirus began to affect sporting events as early as January 30, when the Chinese Football Association announced it was delaying the start of the football season.

With the Canadian government continuing to recommend physical distancing measures, many people are finding themselves confined to their homes more than ever before.

When I noticed my 12-year-old son was spending about seven hours a day doing his school work online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I immediately became concerned.

Even just a bit of intense physical activity prompts a “clean-up of muscles” as the protein Ubiquitin tags onto worn-out proteins and causes them to degrade, according to a small study.

Your alarm goes off and it’s time to start another day. What’s your first step? Perhaps making a cup of coffee? You may want to consider a brisk walk instead.

When it comes to losing weight, people often want know the best way to shed excess pounds – and there’s no shortage of fad diets or fitness crazes claiming to have the “secret” to fat loss.

Suffering a quarantine dip in mood? Struggling to find motivation to do anything? You are not alone. 

Many people see stretching as an essential part of any exercise or workout regime.

Throughout history, peoples in many parts of the world have sought ways to develop their energetic potentials for improved health, martial power, and to bring themselves closer to the divine. In China these practices are called QiGong. It is believed that the correct regulation of body, breath, and mind will harmonize yin and yang, balance Qi and blood...

Children across the globe have not been at school for some time, and this prolonged absence from the daily routine has given many of us a chance to think about what should happen when schools re-open.

Recent Fitbit activity tracker data show a significant drop in physical activity worldwide that corresponds with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. In the United States, physical activity has fallen by 12%.

Yoga! Suddenly, everyone wants to know about this gentle approach to whole-self fitness. A Roper poll revealed that over six million Americans (more than 3% of the population) already practice yoga. You don't have to be lean to do yoga.

Scientists are constantly revealing newly discovered benefits of exercise. In experiments over the past 10 years, my research has found that exercise can help with a respiratory problem known as ARDS.

People around the world are staying at home as part of social distancing measures to limit the transmission of the novel coronavirus. In some countries people are being encouraged to exercise once a day.

A third of humanity is now under lockdown. This measure is crucial to minimise the spread of COVID-19, but what impact will it have on health and wellbeing?

When I first laid on a Pilates mat after twenty years of not dancing or doing any sort of physical activity with the exception of walking, surprising and volatile emotions surged up. The first emotion was denial -- I don't need this, I have managed for years without structured exercise. Then there was a deep releasing of regret and grief

Fitbit recently released data showing a global decrease in physical activity levels among users of its activity trackers compared to the same time last year.

In the 21st century, we all spend a ot of time in front of a screen... whether at home, at work, or even at play. What this often does is cause a distortion of our posture that then leads to problems in our body leading to discomfort and pain.

Worried about COVID-19? You may be putting yourself at undue risk, because chronic anxiety suppresses the immune system and increases our risk for infection.

Supporting girls and women in their efforts to be physically active must become a global public health priority.

Childhood trauma has a devastating impact on both the mind and the body of children who experience it. But that mind-body connection also offers a path toward healing.

Older women are more likely to take up exercising and stick to it if they are part of a small group guided by a personal trainer.

Tai chi is growing in popularity in the UK, with more clubs and classes popping up around the country and people of all ages wanting to give it a go.

Recently, several elite sportswomen have spoken out about toxic sport culture and the damage it does to their long-term health.

Children today spend more time sitting than ever before. And research shows that as they grow up, children tend to become more sedentary and less active.

As an exercise and health researcher, I can confirm that snow shoveling is an excellent physical activity.

Increases in physical activity tend to be followed by increases in mood and perceived energy level, research finds.

There are more incidents of skeletal muscle ruptures that are causing harm in other parts of the body.

Once only used by bodybuilders, more and more people are using sports supplements as a regular part of their health and fitness regime – and the industry is booming worldwide.

Wearable fitness trackers have less accuracy when used in certain ways.

Research shows that the benefits of older people going to exercise groups go beyond self-improvement and provide good value for society,

You know physical activity is good for you. But, that isn’t always enough to get or keep you moving.

The rise of wearable fitness trackers has increased the number of people monitoring their heart rate, both throughout the day and during exercise.

Exercise is not only good for your physical health, it’s good for your mental health, too. Indeed, many people even take up exercise as a way of boosting their mental well-being. 

There are a lot of reasons people don’t exercise, and a lot of misconceptions about exercise.

Qigong has helped me understand and connect with myself as an energy being. Different forms of qigong emphasize different qualities, from meditative and healing to medical and martial arts; some incorporate branches of philosophy, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Professional sport is full of stories of elite athletes “choking” emotionally and mentally under the pressure of competition.

For the first time in human history, older people outnumber younger people. This has created unique health challenges. Dementia may be one of the scariest.

Endurance running is in. Fitness enthusiasts and elite runners alike spend their weekends pounding the pavements and bounding through the countryside.

Exercise is recommended for people who are overweight or obese as a way to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

It’s free, requires no equipment and the scenery can be stunning – it’s no wonder running is among the world’s most popular sports.

When you hear the word “cancer” probably the last thing that you think of is physical activity.

While the condition is often associated with older adults, rising childhood inactivity and poor fitness levels mean that the risk factors associated with heart disease are more common among teenagers than most people think.

Millions of people around the world, including nearly 60% of Americans, Australians and Europeans, participate in sports.

Ageing is inevitable and is influenced by many things – but keeping active can slow ageing and increase life expectancy.

Perhaps your GP has recommended you exercise more, or you’ve had a recent health scare. Maybe your family’s been nagging you to get off the couch or you’ve decided yourself that it’s time to lose some weight.

Moms in low-income neighborhoods say physical and social barriers in their neighborhoods discourage them from allowing their children to play outside, according to a new study.

Most people -- men especially -- tend to skimp on the stretching facet of their workouts. By committing to a flexibility routine, however, you can actually prevent injuries that can sideline you in later years and instead continue to use your body more fully, because you'll maintain greater range of motion in your muscles and joints.

As a society, we aren’t getting as much exercise as we should. In fact, current activity guidelines state that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity – or 75 minutes of vigorous activity – every week.

For some school children, PE is the best lesson of the week – a chance to leave the desk behind, get outside, and enjoy a run around with friends.

Physical inactivity is a global health problem. But despite overwhelming evidence that regular exercise is highly beneficial, the challenge of encouraging people to be more active remains.

It’s well-documented that regular exercise is good for us. Being active can reduce your risk for a variety of diseases such as heart disease and cancer, as well as improving psychological well-being.

Rainbow Yoga! The perfect 17-minute practice to brighten your day, to help turn darkness into light.

Expectant mothers receive an avalanche of information about potential risks to their baby.

A number of sexual assault survivors report enormous benefits from specialized classes, but not all therapists are on board.