5 reasons why you should run or cycle in the morning

5 reasons why you should run or cycle in the morning
If you're looking for a simple way of improving your fitness levels and burning calories, then the obvious choice is to go for a run or cycle. You don't need a sports club membership nor do you really need any expensive equipment (you can pick up a free bicycle on Freecycle!). Here are 5 reasons ...

Spending all day sitting at your desk? The perfect cure for limited shoulder mobility

Spending all day sitting at your desk? The perfect cure for limited shoulder mobility
If you spend all day sitting at your desk, you probably suffer from a pretty poor posture – a tight chest, rounded shoulders, limited shoulder flexibility and a sore back. In this article, I will look at a couple of solutions that will help you to achieve a better posture, make you feel more supple ...

Why tai chi is a great, practical mindfulness tool

Why tai chi is a great, practical mindfulness tool
Mindfulness is becoming very popular now, the art of being in the moment. One of the problems with mindfulness is that many people find it difficult to just sit still with their eyes closed and concentrate on themselves. One way of getting round this and still applying mindfulness techniques is by learning tai chi. The simple ...

Why anyone can learn tai chi

Why anyone can learn tai chi
From a recent Lumosity newsletter: How the brain learns: 2 key research insights Can brain research help us become better learners? Here are 2 key research insights to keep in mind next time you learn something new. 1. Learning means new connections in the brain Your brain works like an electrical circuit. Every time you learn ...

Why everyone should do tai chi – and it’s not just for the reasons you think!

Why everyone should do tai chi - and it's not just for the reasons you think!
Intrigued? Well, let’s just cover the reasons that you think you should do tai chi: helps you to relax and de-stress improves your health improves your balance keeps you moving, particularly if you’re in your senior years improves your sense of wellbeing There are loads of other reasons why people do tai chi but these are ...

Obesity to OMG: one woman’s journey

Obesity to OMG: one woman's journey
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to many inspiring and successful people. One such person is fitness coach, Roberta Saum, who has honoured me by allowing me to interview her. Thank you, Roberta! Darren: Tell me a little about your background. Roberta: I currently work as an online ...

Top 5 reasons an exercise bicycle is the best fitness machine

Top 5 reasons an exercise bicycle is the best fitness machine
Exercise bicycles are great for keeping up your fitness levels when the weather is less than favourable or you just don’t have time to get to the gym (or even if you just don’t want to pay monthly gym fees). Here are my top 5 reasons why I prefer an exercise bicycle over any other ...

Great music for tai chi and yoga

Great music for tai chi and yoga
As a tai chi teacher, I always play music when I am running a class because: it helps to set the right mood it can hide any background noises such as things going on outside the room. For these reasons, I would also recommend that if you practice tai chi, yoga or meditation, then you, ...

The best exercise for combating shin splints

The best exercise for combating shin splints
If you do a lot of exercise such as running, walking or tennis, you may find that your shins start to hurt. This pain may take the form of a dull ache or a stabbing or burning sensation. This is known as shin splints. It basically takes place when you over-exert the front of the ...

Exercise of the week 5

28 day lunge challenge Lunges are great for working the glutes, calves, thighs and even your core. Regularly practising them can improve your lower body strength and endurance, your balance and your fitness levels. Everyone knows what a lunge is but here’s a video in case you’re not sure: The 28 day challenge is to ...