Many people will tell you the answer to this question is to join a Yoga class. To some degree they are right as there are many poses that demand these two skillsets, however, not all Yoga classes provide this and not all of the exercises will relate to functional movement. Holding a pose for set period of time is great, but the timing is not what you would encounter in a real-life situation that often moves fast and requires instantaneous reflexes. There are many people who come to see me for help who possess great flexibility but lack joint stability and control of movements. On the flip side of this are others who have incredible stiffness but lack mobility. Finding ways to improve both of these essential skills is critical for improving their movement efficiency so they can achieve their goals with health and fitness. In this article, I will share with you a workout I have used successfully with many people in the past. Not all of the exercises may relate to your specific needs so you can easily add or subtract exercises as you feel necessary.
Whenever I discuss the process of weight loss with someone one of the first things that always comes up is the role our metabolism plays. Very few people realise that metabolism has much more to do in the body than affect how much weight you lose or gain. Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. Even when your body is at rest, you are still using energy for basic functions such as breathing, circulating blood, and repairing cells. The energy your body uses for these basic functions is called your basal metabolic rate. The faster your metabolic rate, the easier it is to burn the foods you eat for energy and maintain a trim physique. There are many factors that contribute to this and in this article we will discuss the various things you can do to either improve your metabolic rate or maintain it as you age.
Recently I wrote a detailed article about a unique exercise called the “hip airplane” which is a variation of the single leg deadlift that I have been using successfully with people suffering with foot, knee, and hip injuries. Within this one exercise I added some slight variations to increase the challenge and difficulty to further strengthen the weak and lazy gluteal muscles. I received many emails regarding various ways I might progress this exercise once it is mastered for there are a ton of single leg variations you could use. In this article, I will give you a quick look at some of my favourite progressions to try that will challenge your body with multiple skills and strength. I also include some progressions to include for those who play sports. One thing is for certain it is an exercise that applies to people of all ages and something we all should be trying our best to improve.