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Fitness

Beginners Guide: How Long Should You Go To the Gym?

February 24, 2025

Before starting the fitness journey, most people are unaware of where to start, how to go about it and what to expect. The fact that you have taken the first step of the journey, you should be proud of yourself. The most asked question is how long should I work out if I am a beginner? There is not specific answer as many factors are considered. No single duration or workout that can perfectly suits each person. However, to determine the type you spend in the gym consider these factors.

Fitness Level

How fit is your body? Whether you are a gym attender or not, your fitness level is unique depending on your lifestyle and activities you do. Before starting fitness classes, talk to a gym or fitness instructor to give you professional advice on how to go about it. You can start by spending 30 minutes or less for 2 or 3 days on a week. Taking one hour in a gym per day can be risky. You don’t want to injure yourself just because you strained your body too much.

Type of Workout

The duration for workout is not the only consideration. The type and the intensity of workout determine how much time you spend in a gym. Fitness instructors understand that high intensive exercise can injure your body if the right precautions are not taken. That is why you should ask them anything fitness related to understand what work for you. Let the experts tell you which exercise should take what time. For instance, you can schedule for higher-intensity short, workouts during weekdays when you have less time and longer low-intensity workouts on weekends.

Recent and Upcoming Workouts

Fitness and health experts advise people to change the type and intensity of workout to get good results from their hard work. Alternating different types of workouts minimizes the chances of muscle injuries. This can also prevent boredom caused by old routine workouts. Attending group fitness can provide you will opportunity to experience new workouts through the help of instructor and other participants. Choose days to alternate between longer and shorter workouts in order to maintain a balance.

Rest Time

Have ever seen some gym attenders standing and seemingly doing nothing? They are usually taking time to rest between workouts. Doe strength-training exercises, one needs long downtime for rest, recovery, and preparation. When engaging in a weightlifting exercise, a 40 minute session might only involve 20 minute exercise. Give your body enough time to rest and reset.

Other Commitments

While creating time for gym is important, we all have other commitments outside the gym. This means that you might not have much time to attend the gym if you have more commitments. You have to deal with your family, career and friends. Regardless of how busy you are, create time for exercise. Make sure that you make a little time for the gym in your busy schedule.

Working out is a significant step to fitness and overall wellbeing. Changing your lifestyle and incorporating physical exercise schedule is the best decision you can make. As a beginner, take your time to talk to experts to understand the right way to handle exercising to avoid hurting your body through the wrong moves. Start slow and increase time and intensity as your body becomes more flexible and used to strenuous exercises.

Filed Under: Fitness

Fitness and Its Impacts on Wellbeing

August 27, 2024

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Being fit is vital for everybody. A healthy person will perform his daily activities at ease. Ensure to engage in exercises to keep your body healthy. When you engage your body on regular exercises, you will be prevented from many diseases including the chronic diseases. Be responsible for your wellbeing by exercising regularly. In this article, we will explore fitness and how it impacts our wellbeing.

Relationship between Fitness and Health

There is a great connection between exercising and good health. Doctors urge individuals to remain fit to improve their cognitive function. Reach your fitness goals byundertaking the right exercises. Exercising reduces unwanted fats from your body and enhances your mood. Keeping fit also strengthens your body muscles thus better metabolism and healthy weight. When your muscles are strong, you will be protected from injuries since the joints are well supported.

How Fitness Impacts Your Wellbeing

Exercise is vital to the body’s well-being, as it has benefits ranging from physical health to appearance to mental health. Reach out to professional fitness trainers to understand anything fitness-related and the gains of every workout. Here are the impacts of fitness on your well-being.

Fitness training helps you to control your body weight. You will lose the unwanted weight and prevent your body from gaining excess fats. To ensure your weight is in check, engage in more intensive exercises and take more time in the fitness center. Fitness Center Alexandria is among the most trusted gyms that help individuals control their weight, achieve their fitness goals, and improve their overall health.

Fitness enables your body to fight diseases and all chronic health conditions. Engage in regular workouts to prevent diseases like stroke and high blood pressure from attacking you. When your body is active, it will not keep excess fat which is a common cause of many chronic diseases. Your blood flows freely, which means that your breathing system will be okay so your lungs are protected. You also increase your life span by combating life threatening conditions.

Exercising promotes better sleeping habits. A relaxed body will fall asleep easily than a tired and inflexible body. But it is good to take your fitness sessions earlier in the day since exercising close to bed time can make you excessively energetic for bed.

Exercise elevates your mental health and mood. Fitness helps relax your mind and reduce stress levels. Yoga is one of the best practices to relieve you from stress. It helps the body stimulate chemicals that can make you cheerful and reduce anxiety. Being in a good mood all the time helps you maintain a good relationship with those around you.

Physically fit individuals have high levels of energy to attend to other life duties. Since your body muscles are strong and well relaxed, enduring other hard activities will not be an issue.

It is impossible not to note the relationship between fitness and well-being. A healthy exercise routine is the pillar to a proper physical and mental health. Your body will be strong, relaxed and energetic to deal with diseases and handle difficult tasks. It is crucial to make fitness your life priority if you want to lead a joyful and healthy life.

 

 

Filed Under: Fitness

Best CrossFit Workouts to Get Fit Faster

March 30, 2023

You’ve likely seen a friend, co-worker, or high school classmate post a sweaty selfie while bragging about their WOD and expressing their love for CrossFit. This popular workout gained widespread attention a few years ago when box gyms began appearing across the world. The competitive nature of CrossFit has created a devoted following among its participants, and you may be wondering whether CrossFit workouts are the ideal way for you to get fit faster.

It is a high-intensity workout that combines various functional movements such as lifting, running, and gymnastics to improve overall fitness and athleticism. Unlike traditional exercise programs that focus on isolation exercises, CrossFit workouts are designed to be constantly varied, functional, and performed at high intensity. Whether you are new to CrossFit or a seasoned athlete, these workouts are sure to take your fitness to the next level.

Read on to discover the world of CrossFit and decide whether it’s for you.

What is Crossfit?

CrossFit is a fitness program that emphasises high-intensity workouts that combine a wide range of functional movements, including weightlifting, running, and gymnastics. The goal of CrossFit is to improve overall fitness and athletic ability through constantly varied workouts that challenge the body and mind.

The workouts are designed to be scalable to any fitness level, so beginners and experienced athletes can participate in the same classes. Crossfit training is typically done in a group setting, which creates a supportive and motivating community environment. CrossFit has gained popularity because of its focus on functional fitness and its ability to help individuals achieve a well-rounded level of fitness. The program aims to improve strength, endurance, power, agility, and flexibility, which are all essential components of physical fitness.

What are the best Crossfit workouts?

Deciding the mix of Crossfit workouts can be a daunting task, particularly if you don’t know your own limitations, or are new to the field.

The following list is some of the best Crossfit exercises in detail with varying levels of intensity. Each workout is designed to challenge participants’ strength, endurance, and mental toughness in different ways.

  1. Fran: This workout consists of three rounds of thrusters (a combination of a front squat and overhead press) and pull-ups, with decreasing reps for each round. The prescribed weight for the thrusters is 95 pounds for men and 65 pounds for women, and the goal is to complete the workout as fast as possible.
  2. Cindy: This workout is an AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of five pull-ups, ten push-ups, and fifteen air squats. The goal is to complete as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes.
  3. Helen: This workout consists of three rounds of a 400-metre run, 21 kettlebell swings, and 12 pull-ups. The goal is to complete the workout as fast as possible.
  4. Murph: This workout is a tribute to a fallen soldier and is one of the most challenging CrossFit workouts. It consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and another one-mile run. The goal is to complete the workout as fast as possible, with a weighted vest for added difficulty.
  5. Grace: This workout is a test of strength and speed, consisting of 30 clean and jerks for time. The prescribed weight for men is 135 pounds, and for women, it’s 95 pounds.

Conclusion

CrossFit is a fitness program that focuses on high-intensity workouts that combine a variety of functional movements. Although challenging, Crossfit is a rewarding exercise programme that can help people of all fitness levels achieve their fitness goals. With its constantly varied, functional, and high-intensity workouts, scalable to any level, supportive community, and emphasis on overall fitness, CrossFit is an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their physical abilities and overall health.

Filed Under: Fitness

Easy and effective exercises to improve mobility for seniors

April 28, 2022

Poor strength and loss of balance are the major reasons which lead to injury and death from falls among those aged 60 and above. Fortunately, the risk of a tumble can be avoided and the ability to recover increases by incorporating some simple workouts in your daily routine.

Be on the move

Remember, movement is medicine. The first most important step in improving flexibility and physical fitness in the elderly is to always be on the move. Even a bit of walking is enough to set the fitness wheels in motion. Try and spend the maximum part of the day on your feet, doing whatever you like, whether it is jogging, swimming, or gardening just to ensure you are getting adequate movement. This will help stretch out those backs and hips and prevent them from tightening caused by too much sitting or bad postures. If you are already having extreme mobility issues, getting a mobility scooter in order to go out and get fresh air and feel independent, could help boost morale.

Stretching

As the years pass by, all seniors usually face a decline in flexibility and muscle strength. Stretching exercises help improve the moment of the body joints and allow better posture. It will also release tension and soreness in the muscles, which will eventually reduce the risk of injury. Twelve months of results on stretching have shown increased physical fitness, perceived well-being and functioning and an overall decrease in pain. Seniors should exercise their major muscle groups by stretching for at least ten minutes, twice a week.

Wrist and ankle rolls

Poor limb circulation is a major cause of concern in older adults. This can result in stiffening of joints, loss of balance and reduced mobility. Warm up your hands and feet before attempting these steps:

  • Sir on a stool with your feet planted firmly on the ground.
  • Open and close your first five times with fingers fully extended. Roll your lists ten times in clockwise direction and repeat with the opposite direction.
  • Now do the same with the feet. Lift your foot off the ground and point your toes and flex them ten times. Roll your ankles ten times outside and then ten times inside.

Arm raises

Follow the steps below to strengthen your arms and shoulders to assist with lifting movements:

  • Plant your feet flat on the floor, keep your back straight and hold a football between your palms.
  • Stretch your arms, keeping your elbows slightly bent and lift the ball slowly to shoulder level. Hold for a few seconds and lower it to rest on your legs. Repeat ten times.

Yoga

Yoga is fast gaining in popularity, especially with older adults, and for good reason too. The various yoga positions are a gentle type of exercise that is not only perfect for overall well-being but enhances flexibility and body strength as well. Yoga utilizes movements that focus on the body as a whole rather than on any particular part. At the same time it targets the important aspects of emotional, spiritual and mental well-being.

End note

Your body has all the tools to maintain mobility. Keep things simple, don’t overwhelm yourselves with these exercises but keep progressing. These are the keys to success.

 

Filed Under: Fitness

Get Fit Slowly and Safely

June 11, 2021

Fitness, more specifically physical fitness, is defined as a state of health and well-being measured by professionals that evaluate your cardiovascular function, body composition, core, and muscular strength, as well as vertical jumping ability and flexibility. 

Past definitions included the level of fitness needed to carry out a day’s activity without overwhelming fatigue. Before the Industrial Revolution, this definition was when people were required to do more physically demanding activities than our modern, convenient, and all-too-often sedentary lives. 

When defining physical fitness, most people incorrectly evaluate fitness based on their physical appearance rather than the metrics discussed already. 

Instead, the focus should be on cardiovascular function, flexibility, and muscular endurance as the primary metrics for defining fitness. 

Fitness is a crucial ingredient to living a long, healthy life, but you need to be careful when you start a new routine for your safety and create an exercise routine that is sustainable for the rest of your life. 

How To Get Fit Safely

Now that you understand the definition of fitness and what to measure, the next step is how to improve your overall fitness. 

The first thing is to consult your primary care physician to evaluate your overall fitness and suggestions of the types of wholesale changes you should be making to your diet and overall wellness. 

Understand that the World Health Organization recommends a fully grown adult to conduct at least 150 minutes of light activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. But, again, be sure to consult your doctor to examine if you have any underlying issues or unknown health concerns before beginning a program. 

Once you decide to get fit, the most significant issue for people is that they get too ambitious and try to do too many vigorous activities before their bodies are ready for duress that vigorous exercise can place on the body. 

By trying to do too much, too soon, you’re putting your body at risk of injury. 

A better strategy is to get fit slowly, taking a holistic approach to your overall wellness. 

A holistic approach examines all areas of your wellness in addition to your exercise routine. 

The type of foods you eat, the amount of water you drink, improve your sleep, eliminate unnecessary risk factors such as alcohol and smoking, and improve your flexibility are all essential pieces that make up the whole picture of fitness. 

Exercise Tips For The Beginner

When beginning an exercise routine, think about finding an “accountability buddy” that can keep you accountable to those moments when you lack the motivation to train. 

Having a system to keep you in check is crucial for motivation and momentum. However, getting started is always tricky. 

In fact, Sir Isaac Newton observed in his first law of motion that objects at rest stay at rest unless acted on by an outside force.  

Keeping things going once you get started is difficult as well, so finding an external “motivator” such as a workout buddy or coach is a great idea. 

Another suggestion is to choose activities that you enjoy doing as part of your exercise routine. For example, if you don’t like swimming, don’t add it as your primary cardiovascular routine, instead find something you do enjoy, whether it’s going for a hike, running, mountain biking, or what-have-you.

If you decide to take on an activity that requires safety gear, such as mountain biking, be sure that you get accessories and equipment that are correct for the type of terrain you’ll be experiencing. 

  • Helmets
  • Gloves
  • Mountain bike goggles
  • Shoes
  • Elbow and Knee Pads
  • Tire Patch Kits
  • Water Bottle – full
  • Light Snack 

You Are What You Eat

Diets rich in proteins, vegetables, fruits, and grains are a better indicator of nutritional health than one loaded up with a bunch of processed, salty, and sugary foods. 

Keep in mind that many unnecessary calories stem from hidden sources used in processed foods to enhance flavor without adding any nutritional value. 

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is crucial for the body to be healthy and replenish itself, especially as you add an exercise routine to your daily habits. 

It is recommended that the average adult sleep 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night, and the trick is to put aside your phones, tablets, TVs, and other screens at the latest 90 minutes prior to bedtime. Then, create a routine before going to bed that relaxes your brain and body, preparing for rest rather than being active or stimulated before sleeping. 

The objective of measuring fitness is to get an understanding of your overall health. Therefore, fitness is not defined by appearance, instead measured by cardiovascular function, physical strength, and flexibility. 

Combined with a rich diet in foods that are not processed and getting high-quality sleep are all essential components to your overall health and wellness.

Filed Under: Fitness

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