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Yoga has been helping people achieve deep physical and mental relaxation for thousands of years. It originated in India around 5,000 years ago and has been embraced by the West in recent years, where hatha yoga is mostly practiced. Hatha yoga focuses mostly on posture which involves stretching and aligning the body. It also works with the breath and may include meditation to calm the mind. The half lotus position and the sun salutation sequence are discussed below. (more…)

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The one good thing about having a butterfly brain is that it can be made into an efficient powerhouse. That’s because the brain can be trained just like the body can, allowing for better performance and stamina. By improving your mental concentration, you can save large amounts of energy and become much more productive. Say goodbye to allowing yourself to be distracted and wasting oodles of time avoiding problems and boring tasks. When you maximise your mental power, you also maximise your time. (more…)

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Research shows that regular exercise affects one’s health in many ways, if it is done at the correct level for the individual concerned. Besides building strength and stamina, exercise can boost one’s immune system and lower blood pressure. Here we share some leg strengthening exercises, which should preferably be done in conjunction with an overall strength building programme to include one’s arms, chest, back and stomach. An exercise routine should always start with some warm up stretches and end with an unrushed cooling down session. (more…)

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Sometimes working smart rather than hard is a good idea when it comes to exercise. If you find yourself slaving away at the treadmill but not losing any weight it may be time to change your strategy. Most people think that the more they run the more weight they will lose. This is true to a point – running burns loads of calories – but the more you run, the better your body gets used to running, meaning it starts burning fewer calories. So it’s really important to mix up your routine if you want to keep shedding pounds. (more…)

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Sure you walk but how often do you walk seriously, like it matters, to get a good and proper aerobic workout? Casually walking your dog, stopping to smell the roses or having a coffee on the way there or back doesn’t quite do it. You’ve got to walk at a serious pace without stopping for at least 20 minutes to start getting the benefits. To continue reaping the returns, you’ll have to increase your speed and intensity as you get fitter. (more…)

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They’re happy, they’re healthy, and they live well into their 90s. Some of the world’s fittest people are from Iceland, Japan and New Zealand. These three countries have a few things in common: fresh, high-quality food, an emphasis on exercise and, in the case of New Zealand and Iceland, very low levels of pollution. (more…)

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Going to the gym can take up a lot of your time, especially when you include the time spent driving there and back as well as changing into suitable clothing and showering after. Not everyone has the time to do it regularly and a great alternative is to exercise at home. You do not necessarily need expensive gym equipment, either, and a simple cardio exercise might just do the trick. (more…)

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If you’re looking to trim off inches, lose some weight and get fitter, start swimming. Swimming burns calories, exercises every muscle in your body without stressing your joints and boosts your metabolism. Look at swimming superstars Natalie Coughlin and Charlene Wittstock, Prince Albert of Monaco’s fiancé, to see what getting in the water can do to streamline your figure. (more…)

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You’re never too old for martial arts. Tai chi can reduce the risk of falls in the elderly as well as improve mental health. It’s long been argued by practitioners that tai chi reduces stress and helps with a variety of conditions including arthritis, heart disease, low bone density and high blood pressure. The western medical community is starting to catch on to what China has known since the 12^th century and a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine is encouraging the elderly to take up the martial art. (more…)

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Hate running? Bored in the gym? Consider golf. It’ll help you lose weight, gain strength, give you a good dose of vitamin D, and boost your social life. A round of golf, if you use a pull cart to carry your clubs, can burn over 700 calories. And, according to Swedish research, golfers have a 40 per cent lower death rate than non-golfers. Read on – and then get swinging. (more…)