Fitness Archives - Healthy Smart Living

Gallop to Great Health: The Enchanting Benefits of Horseback Riding

September 20, 2023

If you live in the city, you may never have been exposed to horses, but there are several reasons why this activity should be on your radar. Humans have been riding horses for centuries to help with transportation but also because of sport and pleasure. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of horseback riding. Is horseback riding a sport? Horseback riding is definitely a sport, and there are several equestrian events in the Olympics. These include racing, show jumping, speed jumping, and endurance events. Horses are also used to play polo, a sport where riders have mallets and hit the ball through goalposts to score points. You must have a strong level of fitness to participate in these activities. Benefits of horseback riding There are several physical...

horseback riding

Step into Pilates: A Beginner’s Primer

Nicole Hopkins

September 6, 2023

Fitness, Top Picks

New to Pilates? This guide covers the essentials, helping you embark on a rewarding fitness journey with Pilates as a beginner. Starting Pilates is an excellent way to improve both physical and mental health. As with anything new, though, trying to figure out where to start can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, beginners Pilates exercises are easy to learn and can give you a challenging (in a good way!) workout. This is a guide to Pilates for beginners, so we will cover the basics, and hopefully, you'll feel confident and excited about your fitness journey by the end of this article! Crash Course: Pilates For Absolute Beginners 1. Benefits First, let's talk about the benefits. Anyone can do Pilates because it's customizable to suit your fitness and flexibility levels. It provides an...

Unlock Your Body’s Potential with Somatic Exercises

Nicole Hopkins

August 3, 2023

Fitness

As the push for mind-body awareness and better health has increased, somatic exercises have become more popular. Somatic movement is an excellent way for people of all ages and fitness levels to incorporate activity into their daily lives, regardless of how busy they are or if they have mobility constraints. Let's talk about how to unlock your full potential by adding somatic practices to your everyday routines. Somatics: What It Is and What It Means For You [caption id="attachment_6534" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Madison Lavern on Unsplash[/caption] The definition of somatics is "of the body." In our context, though, it refers to staying in the moment and being present while you perform a set of movements. For a more scientific somatics definition, a recent article from the journal Frontiers in Psychology says...

somatic exercises

Zumba Benefits: Dance Your Way to a Healthier You!

Julia Zakrzewski

June 21, 2023

Fitness

Zumba is an aerobic dance exercise that helps you improve your fitness while having fun! You can follow choreographed dances online through Youtube or visit an in-person class to start experiencing the Zumba benefits today. Background of Zumba Zumba was first created by a Colombian dancer and choreographer in 2001. He has trademarked the name of his workout program, which is now practiced in over 180 countries worldwide. The choreography is inspired by Latin music and movement, but the sequences are meant to be accessible to all - even if you have no dance experience. In North America, most classes are between forty-five minutes to an hour long, and the music is upbeat, catchy, and easy to move to. What Makes Aerobic Dancing So Healthy? To remain healthy, your cardiovascular...

Zumba

Fight Classes: Protect Yourself and Get Fit

Nicole Hopkins

April 14, 2022

Fitness

Whether you're looking for a way to shake up your regular workout routine or want to learn how to fight, there are many options available. Regardless of your size, fitness level, or comfort zone, combat sports, and martial arts can help you feel stronger and more confident should you ever need to defend yourself. Below are five excellent self-defense workouts to help you lose weight, get strong, and learn proper offensive and defensive fighting techniques to boost your confidence. Muay Thai Muay Thai combines offensive and defensive moves. These techniques can be used in close quarters, such as a sharp elbow strike to an attacker, or to create space, such as using a push kick to give yourself room to escape a threatening situation. This martial art utilizes nearly...

self defense

What I Wish I Knew Before Running a Marathon

Casey Crowell

January 27, 2022

Fitness

2021 was the year that I finally crossed off a long-standing item on my bucket list (or maybe had a quarter-life crisis); I ran the New York City Marathon! While I was a health and exercise science major in college and learned a lot about marathon training, I realized that there was SO much that I could have never really prepared for. Below are some of the things I learned, as well as some things I wish I knew before signing up for the big 26.2. You’re going to have bad run days. Some days you’ll feel on top of the world after a good run – and some days you’re going to feel like you have cement in your shoes. That’s ok! When you put your...

marathon tips

10 Wellness Accounts You Need on Your Instagram Feed

Casey Crowell

October 27, 2021

Fitness

Sometimes, we all need a little extra…oomph to get up off the couch and get moving. We live in a time where so much of our lives are influenced by what we see on social media, so why not use it in a way that benefits your life? We handpicked 10 accounts that will leave you feeling strong, motivated, and enthusiastic about health, wellness, and fitness! These influencers cover a range of wellness practices, including workouts, mental health, body positivity, injury prevention, nutrition, and more. If you’re going to spend time on social media, be sure to fill your feed with the wisdom, positivity, and strength from these influencers! 1. Alex Silver Fagan - @alexsilverfagan Along with posting killer workouts, Alex shares inspirational captions that give your mental...

influencers

Learn Your Workout Limits and Reduce Your Chances of Getting too Sore or Tired

Laura Jones

August 25, 2021

Fitness

Whatever your style of training is, whether you go to the gym, attend classes, swim, cycle or do any other form of exercise, we all have our own limits, and these are different for everyone. If you are struggling with feeling sore and tired after your workouts, or you question if you are pushing yourself too hard, then check out these tips to help you learn how to prepare well, and understand when you are pushing yourself too hard. Firstly, it can be perfectly normal to feel tired and sore after a workout, and you won’t feel like that forever, but there are also ways of preparing for a workout so that you can reduce your chances of getting too sore or tired afterward. What to do...

fitness recovery

Fun Outdoor Group Workout Ideas

Margaret Vasileva

June 9, 2021

Fitness

The coronavirus pandemic came unexpectedly and has certainly made its mark on our lives. While it made many social events impossible, it also inspired us to try new ways to keep active. For those who are still wary about getting too close for comfort, outdoor workouts are a wonderful way to social distance, while still interacting with others. Be sure to experiment with different classes and stick with the ones that bring you the most joy and excitement. Group Bike Riding Riding a bike is a top-notch cardiovascular activity that strengthens your heart muscles, works your lower body, and stabilizes your core. And when done with a group, you will find lots of motivation and support from your fellow cyclists. A road that might be difficult for a...

workout ideas