All posts tagged: routine

From ‘it helped me stick to a routine’ to ‘I despise it’: 11 people explain how they’re using AI for fitness | Well actually

From ‘it helped me stick to a routine’ to ‘I despise it’: 11 people explain how they’re using AI for fitness | Well actually

People have mixed feelings about AI. While many people regularly use it – 62% in the US and 69% in the UK – trust in the technology is low. In the US, only 26% of people have a positive view of AI, according to one NBC poll, and in the UK, 78% say they worry about negative outcomes from AI. So it is perhaps no surprise that readers’ responses to our callout about AI and fitness were varied. Some said they rely on AI to shape their workouts and diets while others said they refuse to use it at all because of its impact on the economy and the environment. And many were somewhere in between – they found it a useful tool, but were less than thrilled about the technology’s impact overall. “Developing a fitness program requires more than a cookbook approach, which is what you will get from AI,” says Dr Carol Garber, professor of movement science and education at Columbia University. Garber recommends working with a (human) certified exercise professional if at …

I tried the latest routine from the internet’s favourite yoga instructor and I think it’s one of the best practices for tight hips

I tried the latest routine from the internet’s favourite yoga instructor and I think it’s one of the best practices for tight hips

I’ve been practising yoga for more than 10 years and have worked with hundreds of teachers at studios all over the world. But I always come back to the routines Adriene Mishler posts on her Yoga With Adriene YouTube channel. The routines are simple to follow and always make me feel better, physically and mentally. Her latest video is a 12-minute routine for stiff hips. Since I regularly experience hips and lower back pain from working at a desk, I was excited to give it a try. Article continues below You may like It’s a gentle routine, which is ideal for breaking up the working day, providing my body a break from sitting and my mind a break from thinking. How to do Yoga With Adriene’s gentle yoga for tight hips Gentle Yoga For Tight Hips – YouTube Watch On You don’t need any equipment for this routine, just a yoga mat or something comfortable and non-slip to lie on. My experience trying Yoga With Adriene’s gentle yoga for tight hips Despite being just 12 …

How to Master a Curly Hair Routine, According to an Expert

How to Master a Curly Hair Routine, According to an Expert

Your old instinct to wrestle curls into submission is outdated, as far as modern grooming is concerned. In this climate, culturally and weather-wise, it pays to understand your hair rather than try to outmuscle it. “The biggest misconception is that curly hair is ‘difficult’ or ‘unmanageable,’” says hair stylist and groomer Kavya Rajpowell. “In reality, it just needs hydration, structure, and the right cut.” Guys often arrive armed with myths that brushing will tame it, or that conditioner is optional if the hair isn’t long. The new approach in modern grooming is based on observation, so watch how your hair behaves when it’s clean, untouched, and air-dried. By Rajpowell’s logic, curls aren’t a problem to be solved, they’re a fiber with behavior to be studied. The trick is learning the language. Here’s the only curly hair routine you ever needed. How should you wash curly hair? “Curls don’t need stripping, they need preservation,” Rajpowell says, championing low-lather, sulfate-free cleansers or co-washes that clean without dismantling the hair’s natural lipid layer. Frequency is where most men …

“I like to prove to myself that I can do hard things”—a yoga instructor shares her varied weekly workout routine

“I like to prove to myself that I can do hard things”—a yoga instructor shares her varied weekly workout routine

Welcome to Workout Diaries, a series where we ask expert trainers to talk us through what a week of exercise looks like for them, helping you figure out how to develop and maintain an effective workout routine. Puravi Joshi is a yoga teacher and reformer Pilates instructor based in London. Exercise is a big part of her life, but she doesn’t just stick to the types of movement she’s trained in. “I like to keep things quite varied and fun,” she tells Fit&Well. “I used to do HIIT four times a week, but I was exhausted and I ended up hating it, so I completely stopped.” Article continues below You may like “Variety keeps things fun and it also keeps your body guessing, because otherwise progress can get stagnant,” she adds. Below, Joshi shares what a week of exercise looks like for her. Puravi Joshi’s weekly workout routine Monday 6.45pmOne-hour run club Tuesday 10am75-minute slow yoga flow Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. Wednesday 1pmOne-hour strength …

“You don’t need an hour, a gym membership or a complicated program”—a certified trainer shares the 21-minute routine that builds strength, balance and confidence

“You don’t need an hour, a gym membership or a complicated program”—a certified trainer shares the 21-minute routine that builds strength, balance and confidence

There are many benefits you’ll experience if you work out at home. For instance, this sessions devised by certified trainer Jill Jones will help strengthen your bones and muscles, improve your balance and stability, and aid mobility and joint health. But most importantly, according to the owner of Colosseum Gym in New Jersey and co-founder of online platform FitQuo, it will boost your confidence and independence as you age, something Jones believes is “worth more than any fitness metric”. Article continues below You may like “When a new client walks through my door or logs into a session from their living room, the first thing I tell them is that you don’t need an hour, a gym membership or a complicated program,” she tells Fit&Well. “The reason this routine works isn’t just the exercises—it’s that it’s doable. “Consistency beats intensity every single time. People start nervous and intimidated and leave capable, confident and educated. That shift, the moment they realize what their body is still capable of, is exactly why I do this work.” Jones’ …

Is your cardio routine a myth? A fitness expert challenges everything you know about heart health

Is your cardio routine a myth? A fitness expert challenges everything you know about heart health

For years, cardio has been the undisputed king of the gym. It’s been credited with everything from shifting fat and boosting heart health to helping us live longer.  But how much of this is actually true? Is cardio really a non-negotiable staple of our fitness regimes? Personal trainer and author Rubén Ávila, who is CEO of Barcelona-based gym and physiotherapy centre Myofisix, sets out to address misconceptions surrounding the modern definition of cardio, and its true role in our health. The fitness expert starts by challenging the vague, catch-all way we use the term “cardio” these days. “You could say the word ‘cardio’ is inspired by Kenneth Cooper’s [1969] book, Aerobics, which focused on improving the cardiovascular system through steady-state running. Since then, though, all sorts of activities have been lumped together under that same umbrella.”  Ávila explores the common blunders we make when discussing cardio – but are its benefits a “myth”? Well, yes and no. The issue is that we assume what we call “cardio” these days has automatic health benefits that don’t …

A personal trainer recommends this three-move stretch routine to all her senior clients, and they can all be done either seated or standing

A personal trainer recommends this three-move stretch routine to all her senior clients, and they can all be done either seated or standing

Many of my over-60s clients struggle with stiff muscles and restricted joints, but getting onto the floor for traditional stretches can often be difficult. Fortunately, there are ways you can improve your mobility, increase your flexibility and prevent injury while staying upright. When I work with a senior client who has mobility concerns, I always recommend the following three standing and seated stretches that open up common stiff spots. Doing them on a regular basis can improve your range of motion and prevent pain and injury. Best of all, you don’t have to be over 60 to benefit. If you’ve got a chair nearby, you can give them a try for yourself—no matter your age. Article continues below You may like How to do the stretches These stretches are appropriate for all fitness levels, but check in with your doctor before trying them, especially if you’re dealing with any current or chronic injuries. Proper positioning is important when stretching, so if the stretch doesn’t feel right, consider meeting with a certified personal trainer for guidance. …

All you need is three minutes and this beginner routine to start enjoying the benefits of Pilates, according to a certified instructor

All you need is three minutes and this beginner routine to start enjoying the benefits of Pilates, according to a certified instructor

Want to try Pilates but don’t know where to start? Start here, says certified Pilates teacher Evia Valeniece. The BetterMe instructor created this three-move routine to introduce newcomers to this century-old discipline. “It’s perfect for home workouts. It’s beginner friendly, it’s quick and because it is low impact and doesn’t involve heavy weights, I believe you can do it every day to promote good posture and general wellbeing,” Valeniece tells Fit&Well. Article continues below You may like Her three-minute sequence combines classical and contemporary Pilates exercises to target your legs, glutes and deep core muscles, which Valeniece says are vital for everyday activities. It will also help improve coordination, balance and train the mind-muscle connection that is so integral to Pilates, she adds, pointing to the leg lift as an example. “Your whole body is completely neutral. It’s not moving. It’s not shifting because you are using your deep core muscles to hold yourself still,” she explains. “Only your leg is moving and you’re learning how to target that specific area. That helps in other …

“I’m rarely motivated to exercise so I schedule exercise into my calendar like meetings” says an expert trainer as she reveals her weekly workout routine

“I’m rarely motivated to exercise so I schedule exercise into my calendar like meetings” says an expert trainer as she reveals her weekly workout routine

Welcome to Workout Diaries, a series where we ask expert trainers to talk us through what a week of exercise looks like for them, helping you figure out how to develop and maintain an effective workout routine. Former model Nancy Eagle is a certified personal trainer for health and fitness app RWL and RWL luxury wellness retreats, which run across Europe. Her love for fitness began as a kid when she tried every sport she could, including athletics, netball, soccer, basketball and horse riding. She initially signed up for the RWL app as a customer and was later inspired by its co-founder Cecilia Harris, whose son Eagle went to school with, to become a personal trainer. Article continues below You may like But despite being a fitness coach for the last six years, Eagle says she is “rarely motivated” to exercise, so she schedules workouts into her calendar like meetings. She tells Fit&Well: “Considering health and fitness is what I do for a living, the last thing I generally want to do is actually exercise …

Put the fun back in your fitness routine with this 10-minute follow-along workout from The Curvy Girl Trainer Lacee Green

Put the fun back in your fitness routine with this 10-minute follow-along workout from The Curvy Girl Trainer Lacee Green

Ever feel like beginner-friendly workouts are anything but? That’s how BODi Super Trainer Lacee Green felt, so she devised a three-week, entry-level program designed for genuine newcomers to exercise—or those just getting back into it. “My beginner-only plan is for every body and everybody,” Green tells Fit&Well. You may like Green’s program combines low-impact cardio, strength, core and mobility workouts for a total of five sessions a week and 30 minutes a day. One of the routines she loves—that she says will provide a flavor of the plan—is a total-body cardio workout inspired by seven different sports. “There is no repetition, it’s all bodyweight and super fun,” she says. “We do basketball, we do pickleball, we do soccer, and it’s really going to get your heart rate up.” It will all count toward the CDC’s recommended 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, while incorporating resistance training elements to strengthen your bones and muscles, she explains. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. And Green has …