What does acupuncture really feel like? For some, the idea of having 15 or so acupuncture needles inserted at various points around the body sounds like an absolute nightmare. This post shares what acupuncture feels like and how it can be beneficial. […]
It can be hard to sort through the noise and confusion of the health, fitness and nutrition worlds. But one truth backed by research and supported by experts is that strength or resistance training is the best thing you can do to improve your overall health. […]
The relationship between muscle, menopause and glucose are inextricably linked if you seek optimal health. A few weeks ago, we shared a post discussing the importance of muscle for metabolic health. Muscle — and, in particular, having more muscle — is linked to better insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization. The body also burns more calories at rest when it has a higher amount of muscle, making it easier to maintain a healthy body weight and also maintain bone density. […]
For most of us, time in the gym is centered around two key factors. We want to live a long healthy life free of disease and we want to enjoy every minute of it with as few limitations as possible. We look at these as the concepts of Lifespan (a long healthy life) and Healthspan (a life free from limitations and pain). And in both instances, muscle is one of the key organs to support our goals, largely for the significant impacts muscle has on our metabolic health. How well (or not) we metabolize the food we eat impacts nearly every system in the body. […]
Menopause — the period of time following the last menstrual period — typically occurs between the ages of 48 and 55. In the United States, the average age is 52, but can be earlier; women who are undernourished, smokers, or live at high altitudes are especially at risk for an earlier age of menopause. Menopause is “confirmed” as having occurred if a woman does not have a menstrual period for 12 months. Due to the shift in hormones during menopause, the body experiences a variety of physiological and psychological symptoms. But these hormonal changes can also impact exercise and training. […]
Tennis elbow — or Lateral epicondylitis — is a very common overuse injury experienced by both racket sport players and those that work with their hands alike. The term lateral epicondylitis indicates that there is inflammation at the common tendon that attaches a group of forearm muscles to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow (lateral epicondyle). Acupuncture is a powerful tool to treat tennis elbow, or any similar repetitive-use injury. […]
Exercise benefits the brain in many measurable ways. A popular book among our team of personal trainers is “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.” Written by John J Ratey, MD and Eric Hagerman, “Spark” argues that exercise helps produce “Miracle-Gro for the brain.” Most of the evidence supporting this argument was drawn from the previous decade of studies on learning capacity, cognitive decline, and brain health. The book is now seven years old, making some of that evidence almost old enough to vote. […]
There are numerous benefits to strength and resistance training; greater strength, increased mobility, reduced injury risk, improved quality of life, and many others you’ve undoubtedly heard before. But how does exercise increase bone density? One of the understated benefits of strength training is bone mineral density and preventing osteoporosis. Strength training and load bearing exercise is one of the primary tools you can utilize to maintain or build up your bones. […]
Socially distance, wash your hands, wear a mask and exercise! As athletes we all exercise for the benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, lowering blood pressure, and body weight control. And now, more than ever, we need exercise to ward off viral illnesses. […]