Spinning Bikes

You’ve probably heard about the spin craze that has become so popular in health clubs. Spinning bikes usually have at least a front wheel that spins (which is why they are so brilliantly named spinning bikes). These bikes might be the current fad, but they aren’t very comfortable. The seats are small and hard. The classes make these boring bikes more interesting, but as home exercise bikes, they quickly become tedious.

Stationary Bikes

Stationary bikes (or upright bikes) are the exercise bikes that most people can identify. It’s the same basic model as in the 1980’s. Once again, it’s fairly uncomfortable. You can’t really do anything like read or watch TV because you’re leaning left and right and bouncing, so it, too, quickly gets boring.

Dual Action Bikes

Dual action bikes are aptly named, as they give you both an upper and lower body workout. There are handles that move independently – much like an elliptical machine. It’s a good workout, but a bit tough for beginners, and as usual, the time on the bike will eventually get boring.

You can also get dual action bikes that allow you to adjust the machine to create an arm-pedaling workout. It’s usually fairly difficult to make the adjustments. It’s also two separate exercises, which create a longer workout. Most people aren’t as likely to keep up such a routine.

Recumbent Bikes

Recumbent bikes are the exercise bikes with the comfortable bucket seats. You sit back and lower to the ground as you pedal. These exercise bikes are easy enough for even the most sedentary beginners, and they usually offer workout programs to keep the workouts from becoming mundane.

The Experts Recognize the Advantages of Recumbent Bikes

Most physicians and personal trainers recommend recumbent bikes. Recumbent bikes are better for people of all different fitness levels. You are more likely to keep up a recumbent bike routine over time, the bikes are safer, and there are different benefits for both men and women.

Recumbent Bikes for All Fitness Levels

Even the most sedentary person will find a recumbent exercise bike easy to use. You can adjust the settings to offer little or no resistance as you pedal. People who are overweight will definitely find the seat much larger and more comfortable than other exercise bikes.

Athletes will find the recumbent exercise bike a challenge. The resistance can become incredibly difficult. The bike can simulate pedaling up hills. Most recumbent bikes offer various programs that will require you to sprint and tackle hills. If you want an upper body workout as you pedal, you can easily add weights and do repetitions as you sit back in the recumbent bike seat.

Recumbent Bikes Offer a Sustainable Workout

The programs offered by most recumbent exercise bikes definitely keep the workout from becoming boring. You can simulate a course that is easy or difficult, flat or hilly. When shopping for exercise bikes, it’s better to get a bike with as many variations as possible.

The fact that a recumbent bike is suitable for all levels will keep you getting back on the bike. If you’re feeling particularly tired or lazy one day, you can have an easy workout where you can read a book or newspaper. If you really want to test your limits, you can crank up the music, set the machine to more difficult levels, and add some weights for an upper body workout.

Recumbent Bikes are Safer

Because you sit back and lower to the ground in a recumbent bike, it is better for your body. Most exercise bikes force you to hunch over, causing a stiff back. Some dual action bikes are back injuries waiting to happen. Recumbent bikes require that you sit with good posture as you pedal.

Recumbent bikes also offer one of the few cardio workouts that put no pressure on your knees and other joints. You can’t “cheat” on a recumbent bike and stand up when you’re finding it more difficult to pedal. Standing like that on other types of exercise bikes puts unnecessary pressure on your knees and ankles. Recumbent bikes let your body exercise at an angle where your body weight is not stressing your joints. Even people with back and knee problems will find a recumbent bike easy to use.

Why Men Should Choose Recumbent Exercise Bikes

So many men neglect their lower bodies when they workout, especially in strength training. It’s common to see buffed out men with giant biceps and tiny little bird legs. That’s because it’s easier to get an upper body workout at home. If you just invest in a recumbent bike, you can set the machine to high resistance. You will build leg muscle, and you can even do curls while you pedal.

Recumbent bikes can also allow men to get a great cardio workout without the discomfort that only a man knows on regular bikes or other types of exercise bikes. With the large, comfortable seats of recumbent bikes, you are much more likely to enjoy your workout pain-free.

If you move the seat of a recumbent bike up a bit to bring your legs higher, you can even target the lower abs and have to do less crunches to get the bottom of your six-pack!

Things Women Should Know About Recumbent Bikes

Two words, ladies: legs and bottoms. Recumbent exercise bikes are so comfortable and easy to use that eventually you can do workouts giving you results like you’ve spent hours a day on a stair-stepper.

Recumbent bikes can give you a fat burning cardio workout with enough resistance to help you build long, lean muscle. Picture Tina Turner legs. Recumbent bikes also are great for your inner thighs. Using different programs and settings, you will be able to target different muscle areas in your legs for longer looking, leaner legs.

According to most polls, women claim in higher numbers to not have time for exercise because of more responsibilities in the home. With the positioning of a recumbent bike, you can multi-task to more easily fit in a workout. You are able to read, catch the news, and even use a phone or your handheld organizer.

Finding a Recumbent Exercise Bike

With prices between $200 and $3000, there is quite a variety of recumbent bikes available. Use the Internet to find great deals (including free shipping most of the time). Because the bikes are great for any level and help you to finally be able to stick with a safe and effective workout routine, you can splurge a little. This is definitely one of the best investments you can make for your health.

Michael Walker is a freelance author providing useful information about exercise bikes, recumbent exercise bike and www.all-in-exercise-bikes.com/10001-home-fitness-equipment.htm“>home fitness equipment. His numerous articles offer comprehensive tips and solutions for the fitness enthusiast.

As my weight loss web sites gain more popularity, I find myself answering more and more emails with questions about various weight loss programs and other diet tips. I have noticed that many of these questions about weight loss are very similar to one another. Therefore, I have put together a list of the ten most frequently asked questions about diets and weight loss

1. What is the best diet plan or weight loss program? My answer to this is simple…any diet that provides all the nutrition that you need for health, and in addition, provides fewer calories than your body burns. While this may not be the answer you wanted to hear, the fact is there is no one weight loss program that is best for everyone, you must research the various weight loss plans and find the one that is best for you. Just make sure your diet is a healthy diet.

2. How much should I weigh? Your doctor can answer that question most accurately. More important than how much you weigh is your body mass index (bmi), which measures your height against your weight. There are plenty of free bmi calculators all over the internet.

3. How can I keep off the weight that I lose? The best way to lose weight is gradually. Most weight loss experts would agree that 1-2 pounds per week is the best rate to lose weight. If you lose weight gradually and re-educate both yourself and your body about food, you’ll have a good start. The secret to keeping weight off is to balance your energy needs with your food intake. Eat enough calories to supply your body’s energy needs, but not so many that your body stores the excess as fat.

4. What is the connection between obesity and diabetes? Obesity increases the risks of a number of chronic health conditions, and diabetes is one of them. People who are more than ten percent overweight increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes substantially.

5. How do I decrease my intake of sugar? Obviously, you can decrease your intake of sugar by cutting out sweets and refined snacks, but you should also watch out for ‘hidden’ sugars. Check ingredients. High fructose corn syrup and sucrose are both simple sugars that add lots of calories and little nutrition.

6. How often should I weigh myself? Most diet experts recommend that you weigh yourself no more than once a week. Some go so far as to tell you to throw out the scale entirely! Personally, I think that people who are trying to lose weight should focus less on what they weigh. Yes, I know that sounds strange, but people who are trying to lose weight should focus on how they look and feel more than how much they weight. A more accurate measure of your weight loss is your clothing size. If your clothing is feeling looser, you’re doing great.

7. Do I really have to exercise? YES! The truth is it will be a lot harder to lose weight if you do not exercise. A half hour of moderate exercise daily is the minimum activity level for healthy weight loss. You can get it walking, running, cleaning your house – anything active burns calories.

8. What’s a calorie? A calorie is a measure of energy. Foods are rated with calories based on the amount of energy they provide to the body when consumed.

9. Can I lose weight without changing my diet? The best weight loss results happen when you burn more calories than you consume. If you only need to lose a small amount of weight and your diet is generally healthy, you can lose weight by increasing your activity level to burn more calories. If your diet is poor, or if you’re more than a few pounds overweight, you really need to learn a new, more healthy way of eating, or you’ll put the weight back on when you go back to ‘normal’ eating.

10. What are the best all around diet foods? The diet foods mentioned below are five of the best diet foods that should be included as part of any weight loss program and diet plan. 1. Whole Grain Breads 2. Fish 3. Spinach 4. Olive Oil 5. Pink Grapefruit

In a recent blog posting, Stephen Shapiro, www.goalfree.com, and author of the recent released book, Goal-Free Living speaks of changing the way you approach New Year’s Resolutions.

Rather than resolutions, he says to choose one or two words to describe your next year. He calls these themes. So, instead of dieting, “health” or “confidence” may be good themes.

I wrote about taking your resolutions one step at a time and making them attainable in a recent article entitled “Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions.” (http://www.hiptobefit.com/node/31). My point was to take a goal or resolution and break it down into attainable pieces.

After reading Mr. Shapiro’s blog (and ordering the book), I began to ponder what my “theme” would be for 2006. My first thought was to “relax” more and not to be in such a rush to fit everything into everyday. Another was to make my time “count,” i.e. be the most productive, so I could have some free time or at least not feel so “pressured.”

Everything seemed to point to productivity. If I could be more productive, this would help my stress levels and ultimately allow me to feel like I have accomplished something day to day, week to week, etc.

So my theme is productivity. What does this entail? Well, as I started making a list, turned out to be quite a lot.

Over the past two years I have read many books and articles on time management. Millions of people read the same information in hopes of making more money, having more free time, less stress and accomplishing more in their daily lives. I ultimately want control of my day. If I can have control and don’t feel like my day is controlling me…I am happy.

Therefore, with the aid of the time management gurus and a few things I have come up with on my own, here are my 10 items to help make me productive in 2006.

Number 1: Make a list of the things I need to accomplish (on the following day) before I go to bed. I have read where this helps your subconscious start working on the list. For me, it helps me get out of bed quicker and easier the next morning because I know where I need to start my day; i.e. number 1 on the list. As I look at the list, I don’t feel so overwhelmed because I know getting through the list is “doable.”

Number 2: Get up at the same time everyday. For me, this is 5:30. Sit up, get out of bed and do not think of hitting the snooze. This has helped me gain a few hours each day, which leads to bonus days and weeks over the course of a year.

Here is a bonus tip: Put your alarm clock out of reach. I have to walk across the room to turn my alarm off. Therefore, I am already up. My wife will tell you, I am pretty much “out of it” when I sleep. I am very capable of hitting snooze while still in “la-la” land. I must move the alarm out of reach.

Number 3: Set two to three uninterrupted time segments during the day to generate money. These are the times when I focus on making money. Fifty minutes is what works for me; no phone calls, answering emails, pee breaks, etc. A great idea is to set a timer. Work straight through your designated time period until the “bell” goes off. This has probably been the best piece of advice (from Alex Mandossian- http://www.alexmandossian.com/) that I have put into practice to help me be more productive. I feel more accomplished each day knowing that I put these focused, revenue generating times into my day.

Number 4: Take small breaks throughout the day. For me, this is immediately after the revenue generating periods. It is a quick break to re-charge my brain. This can involve a walk around the office, grabbing a healthy snack or catching a quick segment of “The View” (http://abc.go.com/daytime/theview/) on T.V. Some gurus will recommend a “power nap” during the day. I rarely do this. Once I am up, I am up. Recently I wrote about an article concerning meditation, entitled “Breathing Can Make You Smarter?” (http://www.hiptobefit.com/node/44) as a way to clear the mind and help re-focus. I have not tried this as of yet, but am planning to give it a try soon.

Number 5: Take one full day off per week. Some weeks I will get in two! I do not allow myself to get caught up in work details (unless there is an absolute emergency). These days are mostly filled with family activities and “honey-do” projects around the house (you know, honey do this, honey do that). This has been a great addition to my productivity plan. I was reluctant to try it at first. I soon realized, however, it actually makes me more creative and efficient on my work days.

Number 6: Exercise daily. I am launching my new video within the next week entitled “It’s Hip To Be Fit! It has two 7 minute routines designed with the busy professional/working parent in mind. These are full body routines that have strength training and cardiovascular benefits included. I come up with some of my best ideas when exercising. It makes me feel more energized throughout my day as well. I could go on for hours about the benefits of exercise; mostly to make one more productive.

Number 7: Plan my meals. This is probably the most overlooked area in most individual’s fitness and daily routines. Food is fuel for the body, especially the brain. I like to include this plan on my “night before” to do list. At the very least, I make a quick mental note of what and when my next meal or snack will be. I do this immediately after finishing a meal or snack. I am not hungry after finishing a meal and make “fuel choices” vs. “foolish choices.” Refer to “Think Nutrition in 2006″ (http://www.hiptobefit.com/node/25) for more ideas and tips.

Number 8: Twice a week write down 20 ways to improve what I am currently doing. The areas can include business, personal, spiritual and relationships. Some gurus will recommend doing this daily. I find this gets repetitive. For me, better ideas come with writing 20 ideas just twice a week. It is like a personal brainstorming session. I have been amazed at the results in my productivity with just this activity alone. I will have my wife do the same thing and then we will compare lists. It has helped us to understand each other’s goals and helped spark new ideas for all areas of our lives.

Number 9: Read, listen or watch new information daily. I try to get in 2-3 hours of learning each day. For me, this includes fitness, financial, marketing, motivational and spiritual learning. This helps improve my knowledge base. Knowledge is everything; it gives me options.

I am able to get this learning time in by getting up early and by listening and watching learning material while I exercise and/or do “honey-do” activities. There is so much information on audio and video today that I am able to accomplish this while multi-tasking.

Number 10: Jot down 5 things that went well over the course of each day and 5 things I would have done differently. I usually do this immediately before writing my list of “to do” items for the next day. I reflect on each item mentally, only writing down the things I really need to take from any experience. This has helped my stress more than anything; showing me what I have accomplished each day. Also, it shows me that the things that did not go so well are not that bad or that there is a viable way to correct them.

I have done each of these things, one time or another, over the past several years. For 2006, I am putting them into practice daily.

The idea is to help me with my New Year’s theme or resolution.

The theme for me is productivity, both for myself personally and hopefully to those around me. No, I don’t claim to have all the answers. I can say these ten tips have worked for me. Honestly, as mentioned before, I think this gives me a sense of control and peace to each day.

My goal is to provoke the potential (http://www.hiptobefit.com/node/40) inside myself.

Ultimately, I want this plan to help make me a better me…one day at a time.

Isn’t that what all resolutions are about?

When designing a custom sauna, you can either do it by yourself if you have the knowledge or hire someone reputable to make a design plan that fits your particular needs. Either way, you have to decide which type of sauna you would like, what you will be using it for, location of the unit and how big or small it needs to be constructed.

The exterior of custom saunas is highly dependent on whether the sauna will be an indoor or outdoor one. This may also determine part of the design – if it will be outside, you may want to either use no windows, very strategically placed windows, or frosted or opaque ones. This would give you more privacy and prevent others from ruining the experience for you.

Some custom design saunas have a single bench that is only suitable for sitting up set against the walls of the room. However, to really get the full relaxing effect, you should have a plan drawn up with a double bench. This means a single, elevated bench with a second one the same size or slightly smaller a little below it. The design of these custom saunas will almost look like a pair of bleachers. The reason you want to incorporate this type of bench in your plans is because it not only allows for more than one person to be in, but also to lie down. Being able to recline is essential if you want to take advantage of the relaxing properties of a sauna.

Custom saunas can come in all sizes. When making your plans, you must figure out how many people will be using it and how much room you have in your home or on your property for it. Next would be the aesthetics – do you want a cedar-colored wood, or perhaps the ultra light pine look is more to your taste. Even little things like brass or silver doorknobs need to be included in custom sauna design plans. And the heating element, either wood-burning, electric, gas or infrared, must also be considered.

Investing in a book that goes over the nuances of custom is an excellent idea. This will give you more of an idea of shapes and sizes of saunas, and can help you decide if a permanent or portable one is right for you. Custom saunas, no matter how elaborate, are an excellent investment in your health, relaxation and overall well-being. Make sure that if you are going to go through the trouble that you get exactly what you want – and good luck!

Plantar fasciitis pain is often felt at the front part of the heel on the bottom of the foot. This heel pain spreads along the bottom of the foot towards the toes. If the ligaments of the foot bottom have tightened up overnight due to inflammation, putting your weight on your foot to walk when getting out of bed in the morning becomes painful. The tight foot area is stretched as you put your weight on your foot, which causes a ‘hot’ kind of pain that runs along the heel toward the toes.

Besides having pain when getting out of bed in the mornings, you may find that the pain in heel of foot condition is only a problem after being stationary for a while, or late in the day or while doing certain kinds of activities.

Here are pain in heel of foot treatments that help reduce inflammation of the plantar fascia:

* Use Ice Massage – fill a sports water bottle with water, freeze it and place it on the floor. Roll your foot over it for 20 minutes two times a day. Doing this will both help decrease the inflammation causing the pain in heel of foot condition while stretching out the arch.

* Use a Contrast Bath – to help decrease chronic inflammation, try contrasting treatment between ice and heat. Pay attention to how the pain in heel of foot condition feels when alternating between ice and heat since some people find they do better with ice while others have better results with heat.

* Take Anti-inflammatory Medications – medications such as ibuprofen will help decrease inflammation that occurs in the fascia. However, don’t simply mask the pain with a medication. If you reduce the pain with the anti-inflammatory medication but keep on participating in activities which cause tearing and inflammation of the plantar fascia, you are not healing and will likely not improve. Continue resting, icing and stretching while you take the medications. * Reduce or Avoid Activities that Aggravate the Condition – climbing stairs, walking or running on hills, squatting, lifting heavy items and walking on uneven terrain all can make the pain in heel of foot condition worse. Limit the number of times you go up and down stairs and try to avoid hills and uneven terrain. If you have to squat down, keep the inflammed foot flat on the ground and in front of the other. Do not lift heavy items. Besides reducing pain in heel of foot inflammation, stretching exercises can be effective in helping treat heel pain. Learn as much as you can about self treatments for pain in heel of foot conditions. Plantar fasciitis pain can be just annoying or it can become so serious that you cannot walk. Understanding heel pain causes can help you know how to find relief. Foot surgery should always be considered the very last resort.

Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing

Some kinds of exercise cause problems for asthmatics. Activities like climbing and skiing have an additional problem. Not only are there the exercise problems, but the altitude itself can cause an additional challenge of its own.

It is possible that people with asthma are more likely to be affected by altitude sickness. But what is altitude sickness? And why should asthma sufferers be more likely to suffer from it?

Simply put, people who live at lower altitudes can become ill when they visit high areas. They can feel light-headed, suffer from headache, suffer from fatigue, insomnia and palpitations, or experience lack of appetite, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

One of the most acute collections of symptoms is around breathing difficulties; liquid accumulates in the lungs.

Will altitude affect your asthma?

The conditions are high altitudes are often dry and cold, and these conditions tend to worsen or trigger asthma. If your asthma is triggered by cold conditions, you might find that high altitudes are a problem, as the air temperature usually decreases at higher altitudes.

Bear in mid, though, that fit, healthy people with well-controlled asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes, provided that they go up slowly. Recognise and accept your limitations. Make sure you have all your medicines with you. You may need to adjust your dose, and to plan your intake before, through and after your activity.

But be careful. In freezing conditions, pressurized inhalers may not work properly. They should be warmed (e.g. in the hands) before use.

Take it easy

Climbing and skiing can be very strenuous exercise and may trigger exercise-induced asthma in some people.

Some kinds of asthma may be eased

If your asthma is triggered by house-dust mites, you may even find that your asthma improves. Surprised? Why should this be? Simply because the house-dust mite cannot survive at altitudes higher than ‘the snow line’.

Take time to acclimatize

People with asthma who fly directly into a place that is at high altitude will not have time to acclimatize and may experience problems. So talk to your doctor so that the altitude if you’re flying to a high-altitude destination several weeks before you leave. This will allow you time to work out a personal asthma action plan for the trip.

Your plan might involve increasing your preventer treatment for several weeks before the trip to give the airways extra protection. Or measuring peak flow while away to determine how altitude is affecting your lung function. Or even simple things like ensuring that you have enough medication and backup medication.

Take care when exercising

Make sure you feel right at any particular altitude before going higher. If you start feeling breathless, slow down. Drink plenty of water, and eat small snacks often to prevent altitude sickness. And, do tell your fellow climbers and skiers that you’re asthmatic.

Remember to take everything in stages, talk to your doctor and keep your medicines to hand, and you should have a better time this winter.

Acne and pimples: Try toothpaste. The chemicals in the tooth paste that are used to scrub your teeth clean actually dry out the pimples over night. Lemon juice will have the same affect. Be sure to wash with warm water in the morning. If your acne isn’t phased by these two remedies, try boiling 3 teaspoons of basil leaves in 1 cup water and applying it to the affected areas via a cotton ball. Rubbing raw garlic on the affected area will also help blemishes to disappear with minimal scarring.

Bladder/Kidney Problems: Boil cranberries and let me fall apart into the water. Cool and drink the water, and make sure to not add sugar.

Bags Under Your Eyes: Mix 1 teaspoon of tomato juice with a pinch of turmeric powder, half a teaspoon lemon juice and a teaspoon of flour. It will make a paste. Apply around your eyes for 10 minutes and then wash off.

Energizer: Drink a mixture of grapefruit juice and lemon juice in equal parts to eradicate that tired feeling at the end of the workday.

Gum in Your Hair: Surprisingly, this can be remedied easily by soaking the affected hair in Coca Cola. The gum will easily wipe out.

Hangovers: Drink plenty of water! Alcohol leaves the body in a severe state of dehydration. Also, try some honey. The fructose in the honey will help the alcohol dissipate from your body.

Heartburn: Because heartburn is caused by an overload of stomach acid trying to make its way up the esophagus, try sitting up and eating rice pudding that was made with milk. It will help absorb all that extra acid floating around your stomach. If your heartburn reoccurs often.

The perfect diet should be combined with a healthy weight management or activity program. Weight management may conjure up that dreaded “exercise” word. And exercise to some means pushing the body beyond limits, experiencing painful in joints, muscles, bones – everywhere. No pain no gain, right? Wrong. Instead, replace the word “exercise” with “activity” and incorporate this in your daily routine. And a general rule of thumb for guidelines about “activity” would be to strive for a minimum of 30 minutes for adults or 60 minutes for children of moderate physical activity daily. Individual activity goals depend upon each person’s health and weight goals and issues. Begin by checking with your medical advisor or healthcare physician to get a green light on which activities would be suitable for you, what your target weight range should be and a strategic plan to improve your health. In a nutshell, during activities, calories are burned, pounds are shed in the long run. And the number of calories burned depends upon the duration and intensity or the activity. Slow and steady is the rule of thumb. And note daily progress. For those who have never been very active at all, it may be advisable to begin slow like with walking 10 minutes each day, gradually building up time and distance with increased “brisk” pacing. Even if you can’t get out to walk, bike or swim, take stairs instead of elevators and escalators. Clean your house. Clean your car. Wash windows. Wash your dog. Check out exercise videos, cassettes and workout books from the public library and put some of their ideas into action (Visit www.idealbodyfitness.com for more info). Check out your local fitness centers, YMCA, community center, too, for ideas. Partner up with a neighbor to walk or join a community volleyball team. There are unlimited ways to be active and enjoy life at the same time without using painful weight loss strategies.

There are seven divisions of yoga. Hatha yoga is concerned primarily with the body and the asanas. Bhakti yoga focuses on the path of love and devotion. Mantra yoga has something to do with recitation and repetition of words and verses. Karma yoga is a service through action and work. Janan yoga is on the intellectual path. Raja yoga is a synthesis of Bhakti, Karma, and Janan. And Laya yoga is the secret path or known as the “Yoga of Dissolution”.

Yoga has many advantages over other methods of maintaining health, such as aerobics, athletics, gymnastics, games, and various other forms of exercise and is often described as the best form of health insurance for all from the age of seven to seventy seven or more because it has a lot to offer to everyone. The two main advantages of yoga are prevention of disorders and ailments and maintenance of health and fitness in daily life. Other advantages include supple joints, flexible muscles, relaxed and tension-free mind and efficiently working vital organs such as the heart, lungs, endocrine glands, liver, pancreas and good balance between various functions. When doing yoga, you will not need any costly equipment and materials, or playgrounds, gyms, etc. And you don’t have to worry when is the right time to do it because you can do yoga all throughout the year. It can also be practiced inside the house or in the open, just alone or if you want, in groups. The only thing you need is a thick carpet spread on the floor and covered with a clean sheet of cloth. Remember that yoga should only be practiced on empty stomach although you can do it at any time during the day.

Everyone can benefit from yoga. It will benefit you irrespective of whether you are young or old, lean or heavily built, highly educated or unlettered, rich or poor, from higher or lower middle class, busy, over busy, or retired or worker in the factory or in the field. However, this benefit may not be possible if one does not practice the correct technique of yoga or practice it irregularly. Yoga has a wide range of technique and this can fulfill needs in almost people especially those who really have the determination and the motivation to do the techniques in a regular basis. Yoga can fulfill this need irrespective of your work, or your lifestyle. This can help everyone play his or her roles more efficiently, more smoothly and more comfortably.

If you have ever read a fitness magazine…

If you have ever watched TV ads about latest machines that will “magically” reveal your abs…

If you have ever gone to a gym and seen tens of people lying on the floor doing crunches….

Then beware – because chances are you are a victim of the two biggest abdominal training hoaxes!

Hoax # 1

Just doing some midsection exercises can reduce your “love handles”.

Fact:

You cannot reduce fat from a certain targeted area of your body just by using exercise alone. The abdominal area is no exception.

So, if you want to get a flat stomach and reveal your abs, losing the fat covering them is the way to go.

The only way to do this is to lose fat proportionately from your entire body by burning more calories than you consume.

How? By doing these two things:

1) Have a healthy and balanced permanent diet: dark green vegetables, fresh fruits, whole wheat and whole grain products, non-fat dairy products, fish, poultry breast, lean red meat, egg white.

You should cut out all sugar, soda, non-whole grain products and saturated fats: These aliments should only be a reward for achieving a goal, not a habit!

2) Start exercising

Aerobic and weight training will raise your metabolic rate. In result, your body will burn more calories.

* aerobic exercising

3 times per week, conduct an exercise that keeps your heart rate elevated for at least 30-45 minutes (ex: walking, running, cycling, swimming, aerobics, etc)

* weight training

Alternate days of aerobics with weight training. You will build muscles that will burn more calories, even when at rest!

Hoax # 2

You have to do tons of crunches.

Fact:

Overuse of crunches will only shorten your abs, pull your head forward, and give you bad posture. Do you really want to look like Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre-Dame?

Any standing exercise that will contract your abs will do, but you should specifically target your lower back to strengthen the muscles that support your spine.

The easiest exercise is sucking the gut in, also known as the “stomach vacuum”…

1. Exhale. Suck in your gut.

2. Maintain the contraction for 10 to 20 seconds.

3. Repeat 10 to 15 times, as often as you like throughout the day (…while in the shower, sitting at your desk, while driving, etc.).

Time now for YOU to take action!

PS: Do not forget to consult your doctor before starting any diet and exercise plan.