Challenge both mind and muscles with wobbly squats
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Squats are a gym staple, right? But what if this straightforward exercise also gave your brain a good workout? A recent study from Germany reveals that performing squats on unsteady surfaces not only develops your lower body but also improves your mental Read More...
A guide to the three kinds of movement your body needs every week
Making physical activity a priority has never been more important for our health in this fast-paced society when sitting all day is the standard. While walking has traditionally been regarded as a basic and accessible form of exercise, there is much more to achieving peak health than simply Read More...
Zumba: The workout that turns fitness haters into dance floor enthusiasts
One faithful day in Colombia in the 1990s, a fitness instructor realized he forgot his usual workout playlist and sparked a spontaneous dance session to loud Latin beats instead. This serendipitous move transformed his exercise class into an exhilarating dance party. With that, zumba was born, Read More...
"Shy girl workouts" are helping women build confidence in the gym
In a society overrun with fitness fads, there is one new phenomenon that is having a particularly positive impact on women's fitness journeys. Meet the "shy girl workout" craze, a warm and inspiring movement that has been gaining traction since late 2022. What is a shy girl workout? The beauty of Read More...
Non-contact boxing could slow early Parkinson's disease and improve quality of life
Good news for all the aspiring boxers out there – a study in the PM&R revealed that non-contact boxing can help slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease in its early stages. Not only that, but the study also found that boxing can improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of Read More...
A personal trainer’s 5 tips for fitting in your workouts amidst the holiday chaos
This time of year is prime time for scheduling and activity. Getting ready for the holidays, finishing up work for the year, attempting to make it to all the events, and everything else in between has packed our calendars to capacity. In other words, ’tis the season for putting fitness Read More...
Bad knees? Here are 5 cardio alternatives that are gentler than running
Keeping regular cardio-based workout sessions in your schedule is fantastic for your overall health and well-being. However, if you’ve ever experienced a knee injury, have arthritis, or if your knee joints are simply suffering from overuse, then you’ll know that running and jogging, the Read More...
Is your excuse for skipping the gym valid? Find out here
As we all know, exercise is vital for managing stress, attaining good sleep, and living a healthy life in general. But when should you push yourself the hardest, and when should you take a break? Which excuses to skip a workout are valid, and which aren’t? To answer this question, the people Read More...
Start a weekly fitness journal to help you maintain motivation
Now that we are nearing the end of the first month of the year, it may be a good time to assess how our new year's resolutions are going. If your goal for the new year was to work out more, then starting an end-of-the-week fitness journaling practice can help you stay committed to it, even when Read More...
A Second U Foundation is empowering the previously incarcerated
For the formerly incarcerated, starting again can be an immense challenge. However, Hector Guadalupe, who was only 23 when his 10-year prison sentence began, found a way to help himself and others rediscover who they are and how to begin again. “When I was serving my time, throughout the Read More...