All posts tagged: strength

Princess Kate sends quiet message of ‘unity and strength’ with heart-print belted dress

Princess Kate sends quiet message of ‘unity and strength’ with heart-print belted dress

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Princess of Wales looked radiant in a red and white midi dress following her last-minute decision to join her father-in-law, King Charles, at a reception at St James’s Palace on Tuesday evening. Just hours after Kensington Palace had announced her plans to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Cancer Research UK, Kate stepped into the Throne Room of the palace in a Rodarte dress that seemed to send a poignant message. Showing her love and support for others who had been diagnosed with cancer, she wore a silk twill dress covered in dainty white hearts and featuring a belted waist and a contrasting collar. Cherry-hued heels and a matching Miu Miu clutch completed her outfit, while even the ruby necklace and matching drop earrings tied in with the colour scheme. WATCH: King Charles chats with Davina McCall at Cancer Research UK reception Intentional dressing With 15 years of experience honing her sartorial skills as part of the royal family, Kate ensures every outfit is carefully chosen for each occasion. When she travels, for example, she …

A celebrity trainer recommends these three dumbbell exercises to build strength and muscle

A celebrity trainer recommends these three dumbbell exercises to build strength and muscle

Published by Jenni Sidey

Beyond a basic biceps curl, I used to feel stuck on what to do when faced with the dumbbell rack, often opting for a kettlebell workout or gym machines instead. I imagine I’m not alone in this, which is why it’s useful to have a professional share their experience on how to use dumbbells for the best results. Luckily for you, Ngo Okafor, celebrity trainer and founder of Iconoclast Fitness, has shared a circuit that goes back to basics with three moves that cover four fundamental movement patterns—a squat, lunge, push and pull—and hit most major muscle groups. Latest Videos From You may like Give it a go and let us know in the comments how you fare. How to do the full-body dumbbell circuit Perform three rounds of the following three exercises. Squat press Stationary lunge Bent-over row Rest for 10 seconds between exercises, and for 30 seconds between rounds. 1. Squat press “The squat press is a highly efficient full-body movement that combines lower-body strength with upper-body pressing and cardiovascular conditioning,” says Okafor. …

AEKE’s “Strength In Numbers” Event Showed How AI Fitness Is Becoming More Personalized, Data-Driven, and Surprisingly Human

AEKE’s “Strength In Numbers” Event Showed How AI Fitness Is Becoming More Personalized, Data-Driven, and Surprisingly Human

Published by skeptic

The next phase of connected fitness may not be about streaming another workout class onto a screen. After spending an afternoon at AEKE’s “Strength In Numbers” influencer experience event in New York City, it became clear that the category is shifting toward something much more adaptive and personal: intelligent systems that analyze movement, assess the body in real time, and tailor workouts dynamically around the individual using them. Hosted in Manhattan near Times Square, New York City, the event brought together creators from the tech, fitness, wellness, and lifestyle spaces to experience the AEKE S1 Pro AI Home Gym firsthand. The atmosphere felt like an interactive testing lab for the future of strength training. Music filled the room while influencers rotated through assessments, mobility work, strength exercises, recovery features, and live demonstrations of the machine’s AI-powered capabilities. The focus of the event, of course, was the AEKE S1 Pro itself, a compact AI-driven home fitness system designed around digital resistance, real-time feedback, personalized programming, and full-body movement training. But what surprised many attendees wasn’t simply …

Build strength and boost your calorie burn in just two moves with this every minute on the minute workout

Build strength and boost your calorie burn in just two moves with this every minute on the minute workout

Published by Jenni Sidey

If you want a straightforward blast of exercise, but you’re short on time, this kettlebell power circuit might just be what you’re after. Caleb Kinney-Woods, a personal training leader at Life Time Colorado and a certified kettlebell training specialist, designed this workout to build strength and power with minimal equipment. “Using kettlebells lets us train strength, conditioning, coordination and core stability all at once, without needing a ton of equipment or hours in the gym,” he says. You may like This is an every minute on the minute (EMOM) workout, requiring you to complete the reps of two moves every minute. You then rest for the remainder of the minute. Even though the quicker you complete the reps, the longer you have to rest, Kinney-Woods encourages you to perform high-quality reps with proper form rather than rushing. The first few minutes will probably feel relatively easy, but as fatigue sets in, you’re sure to work up an almighty sweat. If you find you aren’t getting enough rest between exercises, or not completing the reps of …

A trainer wants you to try this five-minute glute workout to build lower-body strength

A trainer wants you to try this five-minute glute workout to build lower-body strength

Published by Jenni Sidey

If you spend most of your day sitting down, your glutes are probably paying the price, says Maddy Paupert, head trainer at Xceleration Fitness. “We all need stronger glutes and hips because we all spend too much time sitting, whether that’s at work, at home, or driving,” she explains. The importance of strong glutes can’t be overstated. They help support the lower back, knees and hips, and generally make moving around day-to-day easier. Latest Videos From You may like That’s why Paupert has created a five-minute glute routine that can easily be done from home without the need for gym equipment. How to do the five-minute glute workout Paupert’s workout consists of five exercises, each done for a set number of reps, which should take around one minute per exercise. Paupert recommends doing this workout twice a week alongside your other strength training. The five exercises are: Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. Lying glute bridge x 15 Side-lying hip abduction x 15 each side Lateral …

This equipment-free workout is designed to be done at your desk to build strength and muscle

This equipment-free workout is designed to be done at your desk to build strength and muscle

Published by Jenni Sidey

If you were interested in joining the military, there are some fitness tests you would need to pass in order to qualify. But not all military roles are physical. In fact, many military workers are desk-based and experience the same challenges as regular office workers, That’s where Lt. Col. Jason Barber, PA-C comes in. He is a U.S. Army Reserve soldier, strength and conditioning coach and a leader in the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system. Latest Videos From You may like As part of Barber’s role, he supports desk-based military personnel to stay fit and ready for action, using a system inspired by special forces training methods. This may sound like Barber builds intimidating, difficult workouts, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. He has shared his go-to exercises to improve strength and fitness—and you can do them at your desk, while at work. He says that the full workout can be done “right at your desk, in 10 minutes, or less”. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and …

Why grip strength matters for longevity and five kettlebell exercises to improve it

Why grip strength matters for longevity and five kettlebell exercises to improve it

Published by Jenni Sidey

Research is showing that grip strength is not just a reflection of hand or forearm strength but an important indicator of overall health and upper-body strength. It provides a useful window into your body’s muscle strength and muscle mass. People with stronger grip strength tend to have more skeletal muscle, which is essential for movement, posture and joint stability. As we age, a loss of muscle mass—known as sarcopenia—increases our risk of falls, reduces mobility and contributes to a loss of independence. A weaker grip can also be a sign of neuromuscular ageing, and there is robust research linking lower grip strength to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and poorer long-term health outcomes. While it doesn’t directly cause these conditions, it can act as a warning that your physical strength needs attention. Latest Videos From You may like One way to improve your grip strength is through kettlebell training. Unlike dumbbells, which have an even weight distribution directly from your palm, a kettlebell’s weight is offset from the center of gravity creating a pulling …

Trauma survivor Elizabeth Smart finds strength in bodybuilding : NPR

Trauma survivor Elizabeth Smart finds strength in bodybuilding : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Elizabeth Smart says she has gained confidence as a competitive bodybuilder. She continues to be an advocate for women and victims of sexual violence after she was kidnapped when she was 14. Kim Raff for NPR hide caption toggle caption Kim Raff for NPR The first time Elizabeth Smart stepped on stage at a bodybuilding competition, she was terrified. She says her smile froze. Her hands shook. Every movement had been choreographed and practiced over and over again, down to the turns and poses she would hit beneath the bright stage lights. But there was only so much she could do to prepare for the pageantry. Unlike in training, she was wearing oversized costume jewelry, including a large ring. The blonde hair extensions were new, too. Then, as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, the ring snagged one of the extensions. “I just ended up ripping through the extension and just taking out a chunk of my hair, and then turning around and smiling,” she says, laughing about it now. At the time, she …

Can’t do a lunge? Try this exercise to boost your single-leg stability and strength

Can’t do a lunge? Try this exercise to boost your single-leg stability and strength

Published by Jenni Sidey

Lunges are a great exercise to improve lower-body strength, stability and balance. Since they’re a unilateral move—meaning that they’re done one side at a time—they can address muscle imbalances and strength discrepancies while promoting better overall coordination and endurance. Lunges can also work the core, which has to work to keep the body stable and balanced over a single leg. Unfortunately, lunges can be difficult to do if you’ve got knee issues, joint pain, or restricted mobility. I work with plenty of personal training clients that fall into those categories, so I’ll often swap lunges for step-ups instead. Latest Videos From You may like Step-ups can be modified for most fitness or ability levels, progressed as you get stronger, and don’t require any equipment besides a step. If you’ve been looking for a lunge alternative, give them a try. Why are step-ups a good alternative to lunges? Like lunges, step-ups target each leg independently from the other. It’s common to have a “good” or “stronger” side, but this can often lead to faulty movement patterns, …

8 Simple Habits People With Exceptional Inner Strength Practice When Life Feels Lonely | Brock Hansen

8 Simple Habits People With Exceptional Inner Strength Practice When Life Feels Lonely | Brock Hansen

Published by Jenni Sidey

Have you ever been lonely in a crowd? Have you ever been perfectly content in a room all alone? I’ve felt these things and, like you, have been perplexed by them. Loneliness is more than just being alone or not having enough friends, though that can certainly contribute.  It is a complex mental and emotional phenomenon based on an emotion that is key to survival for children, motivating them to stay close to caregivers. When they experience too much loneliness, they are at greater risk of mental health problems in adulthood. All of us have experienced some degree of abandonment, even if only for a short time, and remember the painful and scary feeling.  When we are reminded of this feeling or anticipate it, we get a twinge of abandonment distress and experience loneliness. This can happen among a crowd of friends or after closely shared intimate moments, but it doesn’t have to overwhelm your life.  Here are the habits people with exceptional inner strength take on when life gets lonely: 1. They realize loneliness …