Exercise & Fitness Archive

Choose your classes and instructors carefully to make sure you get the best experience.

It's no surprise that yoga is becoming increasingly popular. Research has shown not only that it's a good form of exercise, but also that it can reduce body aches and pains, specifically in the neck and lower back. Still, not all yoga classes are created equal. There are different types of yoga and different levels of difficulty, not to mention variations from one instructor or studio to another.

This means that some classes may be better than others for your unique health needs or fitness level. Below is a quick guide to help you find the best fit to make the most of your yoga class.

Time can pass awfully slow when you're hoping to see results after embarking on a new exercise regimen. But if you do gentle core work consistently, you can start to see progress in as little as two to four weeks. Once you do, you might wonder when and how to progress from there or how to just maintain the gains you've made. Either way, our tips below will help.

When to progress

Repeatedly challenging muscles makes them stronger. As you get stronger, exercises in your routine will become easier to do. You're ready to progress if you can manage all four of these tasks throughout each exercise:

Strength training isn't just for bodybuilders. Like aerobic exercise, it's important for everybody, and it should be a part of any comprehensive exercise program. Of course, if you've never trained with weights before, it can seem a little daunting. But as long as you ease into it gradually and take the proper precautions, strength training is safe for most people.

Use the six tips below to help you get the most from your strength workouts.

You've tried different diets — and have even been exercising regularly — but those extra pounds won't budge. Don't give up. It may be that you haven't yet found the weight-loss strategies that work for you.

"Everything works for some people, but no treatment is equally effective for everyone," says Dr. Lee Kaplan, director of the Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital. "No method is fundamentally better than any other. The key is finding out which therapy is best for you, and that takes trial and error."

Take advantage of free medications, blood pressure screenings, and exercise classes to stay healthy and save money.

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Medical costs are soaring, but not every step you take to improve your health has to cost an arm and a leg. Some services are even free, regardless of your financial need. "These are incredibly helpful, although few of my patients know about many of them," says geriatrician Dr. Suzanne Salamon, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. The trick is knowing where to find the services, and this month we have suggestions on where to look.

Free exercise classes

Exercise is essential for overall health and mobility, especially as we get older. Many organizations support that by offering free exercise classes for older adults. Good places to find free classes: hospitals and senior centers. Give them a call, or look on the Internet to see an organization's event calendar.

Even if you exercise regularly, sitting for long periods during the day is unhealthy for your heart.

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On average, we spend more than half of our waking hours sitting down: working at a computer, watching television, traveling in a car, or doing other sedentary things such as reading or chatting with friends. But long stretches of uninterrupted sitting have a range of undesirable effects that may harm your heart, says Dr. Beth Frates, who directs wellness programming for the Stroke Research and Recovery Institute at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

"Sedentary behavior affects your body in many different ways, even down to the molecular level," she notes.

Whether you run or walk, these popular local events can be an effective fitness motivator.

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Motivation can be one of the greatest obstacles to staying active. If your interest in exercise is waning, consider signing up for a local 5-kilometer (5K) race, which covers 3.1 miles.

"These events are ideal for older men because they can accommodate almost any fitness level and experience," says Michael Clem of the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding National Running Center.

In the journals

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Low back pain? Try yoga. A study published online July 20, 2017, by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that low back pain sufferers who completed a 12-week yoga program reported less pain and better quality of life compared with those who received standard care, such as medication, physical therapy, and exercise.

The study specifically looked at military veterans, average age 53, 74% of whom were men, who had experienced chronic lower back pain for at least six months. The 12-week program consisted of two hour-long instructor-led yoga sessions per week, with home practice encouraged. The sessions emphasized poses to stretch and strengthen the core and improve joint mobility. Relaxation and breathing techniques helped to reduce tension and pain perception.