When conducting a personal training session, one of the worst things to hear from your client is, "this hurts!" After all, I am there to help them, not to mess them up! However, a lot of the time when a client complains that something "hurts," what's really happened is that they've confused pain and discomfort. Pain is something to avoid; discomfort, on the other hand, is something to… Continue reading

The Mind/Body Connection

I've run many races over the years, usually wearing high-tech sneakers and my heart rate monitor, while meticulously selecting the best running playlist for my iPod. When I run the Brooklyn half marathon next month, however, I am going to try something new; I'm planning to leave all those things at home. A few months ago I made this post about running sneakers, in which… Continue reading

Running, The Mind/Body Connection

I am a big proponent of personal training--not just for my clients--but for myself, too! I'm always eager to learn new ways to exercise and have fun, so when my friend Rick Seedman of the Bar-barians offered to teach me about parkour, I jumped at the chance. (Literally!) About Parkour Parkour comes from a French word meaning "obstacle course." Basically, it involves navigating an urban landscape with… Continue reading

Body Weight Exercises, The Mind/Body Connection

This is a guest post by Jamie Nischan. Old "Doc" Plume, the local hardware store owner, who was known for his miraculous cures for arthritis, had a long line of patients waiting outside the door when a little old lady, completely bent over, shuffled in slowly, leaning on her cane. When her turn came, she went into the back room of the store and, amazingly, emerged within half an… Continue reading

The Mind/Body Connection

Do you have a hard time fitting workouts into your busy schedule? People often ask me when is the best time of day to exercise.  Let's weigh the pros and cons of a few different approaches: Morning People A lot of people like to exercise first thing in the morning in order to get it out of the way. If you do your workout before the stresses of the day start to… Continue reading

Inspirational, The Mind/Body Connection

What makes for a great running playlist? Well besides the obvious stuff, like picking your favorite genre (I like rock music) or finding songs with inspiring lyrics, I like to find songs that I can sync my pacing with rhythmically. When I time my foot strike with the beat, it helps me to keep my footing even. It also enhances my focus when I match my… Continue reading

Running, The Mind/Body Connection

Most fitness professionals agree that stretching is a worthwhile part of a well rounded exercise routine, but lately there seems to be a lot of debate about when to stretch. For a long time, conventional wisdom held that stretching should be performed before your workout, as a means to loosen up the muscles. The theory behind it being that tight muscles would prevent athletes from being able… Continue reading

Stretching, The Mind/Body Connection

It's common knowledge that flexibility is an important part of overall fitness, yet many people still neglect this key component of a well rounded exercise regimen. One way to make stretching more interesting (and in many cases more effective), is by having a partner or trainer to assist you. One great stretch to do with a partner is for your hamstrings and inner thighs. Start by sitting upright… Continue reading

Stretching, The Mind/Body Connection

It's important to use your head when you're working out--literally! Headstands and handstands are great ways to improve your balance, core stability, and upper body strength. They are also a lot of fun! Using the tri-pod technique is one way to learn to do a headstand. Start by placing your head on the ground with your hands about shoulder width several inches below your head. Your… Continue reading

The Mind/Body Connection

Balance is a key component of total body fitness. Unfortunately, it is something that is often overlooked in favor of strength. In my opinion, however, strength without control is not worth all that much. Developing good core stability will aid in balance in most situations and vice versa. It's unlikely to have one without the other. One way to work on this aspect of your game is to use… Continue reading

The Mind/Body Connection