Fitness

Roll up, roll up and find out about one of the hottest new ways to get fit and have fun — circus training. No, we don't mean circuit training. Think juggling, balancing acts, contortion, the strong man and more.

Roll up, roll up and find out about one of the hottest new ways to get fit and have fun — circus training. No, we don’t mean circuit training. Think juggling, balancing acts, contortion, the strong man and more. Circus skills Troupes like the Flying Fruit Fly Circus and Circus Oz have spearheaded a new […]

If lack of time is challenging your New Year fitness goals, try breaking up your exercise into multiple small bouts. Three 10-minute sessions can be just as effective as one 30-minute session.

If lack of time is challenging your New Year fitness goals, try breaking up your exercise into multiple small bouts. Three 10-minute sessions can be just as effective as one 30-minute session. The following tips are designed to help you be more active in your daily routine throughout the day. This will have enormous positive […]

New research is indicating that many people need to carefully consider their weight loss approach in order to be successful.

Whether you want to lose a little or a lot of weight, there are three essential components for weight loss success: a healthy relationship with food, an active lifestyle and a balanced approach to living.

When was the last time you felt your whole being hum with vitality? Try working one or two of these tips into your day as first aid for feeling worn out.

For many Australians 2008 will be the year to get into shape. However new research is indicating that many people need to carefully consider their weight loss approach in order to be successful. Of those who went on a weight loss plan at the start of 2007, a staggering 68 percent were back to their […]

Whether you want to lose a little or a lot of weight, there are three essential components for weight loss success: a healthy relationship with food, an active lifestyle and a balanced approach to living. So it’s surprising to find that so many people overlook the need to move it to lose it. Most of […]

When was the last time you felt your whole being hum with vitality? Try working one or two of these tips into your day as first aid for feeling worn out. 1. Kickstart with cayenne: Start the day with a glass of warm water, the juice of ½ a lime, a teaspoon of honey and […]

If you're looking for a great way to kick start your New Year fitness resolution – get a dog! Seriously, there is very positive research linking having a pet and fitness levels.

If you’re looking for a great way to kick start your New Year fitness resolution – get a dog! Seriously, there is very positive research linking having a pet and fitness levels. Let’s take a look: Science support A 12 month study has demonstrated that exercising with pets not only benefits the pet but also […]

Now there's no excuse for saying you haven't got time to exercise. These simple moves mean you can wage war on your wobbly bits in 5 minutes flat. Do all six, and you've added half an hour of movement and vitality to your day.

This month we asked sports medicine expert Dr George Janko, McKinnon Sports Medicine for his team's top lifestyle and fitness tips for surviving this silly season.

Now there’s no excuse for saying you haven’t got time to exercise. These simple moves mean you can wage war on your wobbly bits in 5 minutes flat. Do all six, and you’ve added half an hour of movement and vitality to your day. 1.Strengthen your coreStick a note saying “Cinch in my centre” on […]

This month we asked sports medicine expert Dr George Janko, McKinnon Sports Medicine for his team’s top lifestyle and fitness tips for surviving this silly season. Increase that training – whatever it may be. Let’s up the ante! Push harder, faster, stronger, and longer! Do something each day even if only a brisk walk. Remember […]

While your waist measurement, also known as waist circumference, is a simple measure of your changing shape, it is not the be all and end all of body composition. A better approach if you’re looking to trim down and reduce body fat stores is skinfolds.

Can you pinch an inch? When the weight starts to drop off it’s more than likely you’ll have a gut feeling about it, literally. Chances are that your clothes will feel a little looser and you may need to tighten a few notches on your belt. While your waist measurement, also known as waist circumference, […]

Pilates is the people pleaser of today's workout world. There are classes available at every gym and health professionals — such as physiotherapists and osteopaths — are setting up combined practices with pilates studios. Madonna and Gwyneth may swear by the total body benefits, but is pilates your best bet for exercise? Let's take a look at some interesting research that says pilates has a place in your fitness routine.

Pilates is the people pleaser of today’s workout world. There are classes available at every gym and health professionals — such as physiotherapists and osteopaths — are setting up combined practices with pilates studios. Madonna and Gwyneth may swear by the total body benefits, but is pilates your best bet for exercise? Let’s take a […]

If you’re looking for ways to enrich your own life, equip yourself for a new career, or simply improve your understanding of health and fitness, then a fitness instructors’ course might be for you. Here’s the low down on three nationally accredited courses of study you can take: Certificate III in Fitness The Certificate III […]

Walking every day is good, but more and more studies are proving the benefits of strength training for women of every age. Strength or resistance training not only results in a stronger, leaner body, but also offers enormous health benefits. It's not about lifting big weights or beefing up, just making sure you give all your muscles a good workout, especially those in your upper body. If you're not yet including strength training in your weekly workout, here are some great reasons to convince you to start.

Walking every day is good, but more and more studies are proving the benefits of strength training for women of every age. Strength or resistance training not only results in a stronger, leaner body, but also offers enormous health benefits. It’s not about lifting big weights or beefing up, just making sure you give all […]

There is no magic nutrient — hormone, drug or protein powder — that will effectively increase your muscle mass without exercise. The only way you can increase your muscle size is by stimulating growth at a cellular level. The best way of achieving this is by following an individually tailored weight training program plus a diet that gives you increased energy. By combining diet and weight training you can expect to increase your body mass by about 0.5kg per week.

There is no magic nutrient — hormone, drug or protein powder — that will effectively increase your muscle mass without exercise. The only way you can increase your muscle size is by stimulating growth at a cellular level. The best way of achieving this is by following an individually tailored weight training program plus a […]

With so much focus being turned onto childhood obesity recently, you're not the first parent, grandparent, or nanny taking a second look at the habits of the little ones' in your care. The best place to start is with a review of how much physical activity and screen time they're getting each day. And at least one hour of exercise and no more than two hours in front of the TV should be your aim. If you're stuck for ideas to get kids turned on to a more active lifestyle, check out my top tips below:

Getting geared up with the right footwear for your type of exercise is incredibly important—the right shoes for the job can prevent injury and maximize performance. But with such a range in sports shoes these days, how can you be sure if the shoe really fits?

With so much focus being turned onto childhood obesity recently, you’re not the first parent, grandparent, or nanny taking a second look at the habits of the little ones’ in your care. The best place to start is with a review of how much physical activity and screen time they’re getting each day. And at […]

Getting geared up with the right footwear for your type of exercise is incredibly important—the right shoes for the job can prevent injury and maximize performance. But with such a range in sports shoes these days, how can you be sure if the shoe really fits? Proper fit The biggest consideration is to make sure […]

Visit any local running route or gym and you'll see people exercising with the help of little white gadgets. The rise in the popularity of super-slim iPods has seen more and more people turn to their favourite tunes as a way to boost their moves. What fantastic technology to be able to have all your best workout tracks ready at the click of a wheel? But what is research showing about music as an exercise aid? And what should you consider to help get in the groove?

Visit any local running route or gym and you’ll see people exercising with the help of little white gadgets. The rise in the popularity of super-slim iPods has seen more and more people turn to their favourite tunes as a way to boost their moves. What fantastic technology to be able to have all your […]

If you're used to running or walking a local circuit for fitness, you better have a plan B for winter. Rain, hail, sleet and shorter daylight hours are bound to see you caught out and unable to work out. More and more people are turning to home based treadmills, that they either purchase or hire, and here's why...

If you’re used to running or walking a local circuit for fitness, you better have a plan B for winter. Rain, hail, sleet and shorter daylight hours are bound to see you caught out and unable to work out. More and more people are turning to home based treadmills, that they either purchase or hire, […]

If you picture a yoga class and see relaxed, calm bodies, gracefully poised in a tranquil posture, then you haven't been to Bikram Yoga. Here you'll find hot, sweaty bodies, getting a great cardiac yoga workout in a purpose-built, heated room. Bikram Yoga is taking off around Australia due in part to the celebrity followers like Madonna, plus the reported health benefits. Let's take a closer look.

If you picture a yoga class and see relaxed, calm bodies, gracefully poised in a tranquil posture, then you haven’t been to Bikram Yoga. Here you’ll find hot, sweaty bodies, getting a great cardiac yoga workout in a purpose-built, heated room. Bikram Yoga is taking off around Australia due in part to the celebrity followers […]

What do you need this January to burn off those festive excesses? Check out our counter below to how many minutes of moderate or high intensity activity you typically need to do to burn off common Christmas fare. So what are you waiting for? It's time to get moving and get back in shape this New Year.

What do you need this January to burn off those festive excesses? Check out our counter below to how many minutes of moderate or high intensity activity you typically need to do to burn off common Christmas fare. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get moving and get back in shape this […]

One way to keep in shape this summer is to keep active during your holiday break. You can still enjoy the holiday feel-good factor while you improve your fitness.

One way to keep in shape this summer is to keep active during your holiday break. You can still enjoy the holiday feel-good factor while you improve your fitness. Spa reviver Check out Golden Door www.goldendoor.com.au Fitness resorts Check out Fitness Escapes www.fitnessescapes.com.au Walk on by Check out Intrepid Travel www.intrepidtravel.com Sun, sea and surf […]

Keep your pelvis, lower back and hips healthy with daily hamstring stretches, especially if you spend much of your working day sitting. Try this intermediate hamstring stretch in the kneeling position.

Keep your pelvis, lower back and hips healthy with daily hamstring stretches, especially if you spend much of your working day sitting. Try this intermediate hamstring stretch in the kneeling position. Kneel upright behind the back of a chair, about an arm’s length away. Place your hands on the back of the chair. Find a […]

Boost your incidental activity with these workout hints when cooking in the kitchen or watching your favourite TV program.

This exercise helps release tension from the bottom of your feet and is excellent if you spend a great deal of time in high-heeled shoes.

Boost your incidental activity with these workout hints when cooking in the kitchen or watching your favourite TV program: Cooking capers Turn on some music that you can dance to, or move along with, while cooking. When getting the ingredients out of the cupboards feel how heavy they are by lifting them up and down […]

This exercise helps release tension from the bottom of your feet and is excellent if you spend a great deal of time in high-heeled shoes. Walking over a stick Align your bones in the standing position. Step the balls of your feet onto a stick or thin broom handle and rest for a short time. […]

Much of the activity required to support functional posture occurs at the deepest level of skeletal muscle in a process that we rarely notice. But it is the carriage of the upper back, head and arms that conveys a distinctively attractive posture. This is the area of the body that clearly demonstrates grace and poise.

This exercise is designed to articulate and create and awareness of the spine through flexion.

Much of the activity required to support functional posture occurs at the deepest level of skeletal muscle in a process that we rarely notice. But it is the carriage of the upper back, head and arms that conveys a distinctively attractive posture. This is the area of the body that clearly demonstrates grace and poise. […]

This exercise is designed to articulate and create and awareness of the spine through flexion. Align your bones sitting on a chair with your hands beside your knees as shown in the photograph. Take your chin down towards your throat and begin to roll down through the spine allowing the arms to slide down the […]

You can practise these pulls as often as you like in sitting and standing postures.

Sit cross-legged on the floor and align your bones in the sitting position. Visualise the diamond shape of the pelvic floor muscles. Gently draw the centre of the diamond upwards. Hold this lift and breathe naturally for up to 10 breaths. Release the muscle and begin again. If you lose the feeling of the upward […]

This exercise gently releases and mobilises the spine.

This exercise gently releases and mobilises the spine. Align your bones in the standing position. Soften the knees and swing the arms diagonally across the body with fingers dropping towards the floor. Lift your arms up to the ceiling extending the legs and begin to turn your head to the other side. Soften the knees […]

There's nothing worse than finding the motivation to drag yourself out of the house for that run, swim or cycle than to be struck down with a cramp or stitch. The pain can really hit you hard and literally stop you in your tracks.

There’s nothing worse than finding the motivation to drag yourself out of the house for that run, swim or cycle than to be struck down with a cramp or stitch. The pain can really hit you hard and literally stop you in your tracks. Common as they are, funnily enough, there is not that much […]

In days gone by children used to walk miles and miles to school and back each day, often without shoes! And perhaps in your childhood you walked or biked to school alone or with your neighbours and siblings. But in today’s busy world it’s not so common. Kids still love to ride bikes and a […]

This new exercise craze is taking off around the world, not just as an intensive 'get-in-shape' tool, but as a regular part of a training program. But what’s involved in this military take on physical activity?

This new exercise craze is taking off around the world, not just as an intensive ‘get-in-shape’ tool, but as a regular part of a training program. But what’s involved in this military take on physical activity? What’s the difference? Just like any other group activity or fitness class, boot camp, provides added motivation of working […]

What to consider when choosing a personal trainer?

What to consider when choosing a personal trainer? Personal trainers used to be confined to a celebrity’s entourage, but now they’re commonly used by many people and there’s a huge range of different types of trainers and training on offer. Not only are they sought by the young and fit, but older people are using […]

Feet are the foundations of the body and whether you’re a weekend warrior pounding the pavement or an elite athlete on track, the right footwear can make a big difference to your training, performance and recovery.

If you participate in sport or physical activity that lasts for longer than 90 minutes, your body will be crying out for a refuel before the siren sounds or you reach the finish line.

How you can reap health benefits from being fit, even if a little fat.