We all know we need to exercise but navigating the best path to our fitness goals can be confusing. This resource is designed to help with your exercise journey. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a fitness pro, it’s common to feel unsure about what’s right for your body. We’ve got practical tips and tools that work for everyone, no matter your fitness level. So, whether you’re new to fitness or a regular gym-goer, this resource has something for you, making it easy to figure out what works best for your unique self!
Ready to spice up your fitness routine? How about trying some strength training? Check out our weekly workout program tailored for home workouts – no need for any fancy equipment. Get set to kick your metabolism into high gear and boost your overall functional fitness. Just clear a bit of space and have some fun getting stronger and healthier.
Walking, swimming, dancing, golfing, skiing… there are countless ways to move. We know that exercise is essential to living a healthy life. The best part is that you get to choose how to be active, so do something you enjoy and make physical activity part of every day.
Get the Most Out of Your Workout
Tip: Use Free Weights
Weight machines are great for helping you learn the correct form, but once you’ve got it down, it’s time to move to free weights. Exercises using free weights like dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells lead to greater hormonal responses compared to similar exercises performed on exercise machines. That’s mainly because free-weight exercises use a wider range of muscles. When you have to move a free-weight and you don’t have anything guiding or supporting you like a machine, all of your synergistic muscles have to fire to help you with the motion.
Your mind and body are powerful allies. How you think can affect how you feel, and how you feel can affect your thinking. The relationship between our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviours and our physical health is real, and it has a powerful impact on our well-being at every level. Understanding this connection and learning how to manage and support it is the ultimate wellness goal.
Get the Most Out of Your Workout
Tip: Swap Stretching for a Dynamic Workout
We know that stretching before a workout is important, but dynamic stretching is the way to go. Dynamic bodyweight movements mimic the workout that you’re about to perform and better prepare your body for the workout. They increase blood flow and improve your range of motion without compromising the elasticity of your muscles and tendons thereby helping to prevent injury and soreness. So, if you’re about to go for a run, spend five to ten minutes doing lunges, knee raises, and leg swings before you hit the pavement.
Give your body what it needs! Whether you’re training for a marathon or simply trying to maintain good health, it’s important to do the right amount of exercise for your needs and goals. But when it comes to exercise, more is not always better. Rest and recovery are critical components of any successful training program. Learning what this means ensures that you give your body what it needs during and in between workouts.
Get the Most Out of Your Workouts
Tip: Preface Your Workouts with Energy-Rich Foods
Carbs tend to get a bad rap, but they can be useful when it comes to getting the most out of your workouts. Carbs are the body’s main fuel for a high-intensity workout. When your body is fueled, it’s going to put forth more effort and you’ll get better value in terms of caloric use and muscle growth.
Keep in mind that this is specifically when like interval training or a long-distance run, so munching on carbs before a light jog or yoga class doesn’t come with the same benefits.
It’s time to up your fitness game. Our exercise routines can often benefit from new tips, tools, and resources. Learning can help keep us accountable and motivated, and ensure that we are exercising properly and pushing ourselves to achieve our best.
Get the Most Out of Your Workouts
Tip: Listen to Music
Listening to your favourite tunes can really boost your energy during a workout, but studies show that listening to music AFTER your workout can help you recover faster as well. According to research, music boosts our serotonin and dopamine levels, which promote recovery. To help get your blood pressure and heart rate back to normal after a good workout, listen to music that you find relaxing.
Program Prep
Laura introduces some of the exercises that will be part of the training program that begins next week. She offers tips on proper form and suggestions for modifications that you can do to get the most out of your workout!
