Tag: Posture

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Weight Loss Exercise

What is Chi Running?





What happens when you combine running with the practice of T’ai Chi? The answer: chi running. When people first hear about it, they often ask, “What is chi running?”. Chirunning, as it is also called, is a relatively new way of running that focuses on form and keeps you relaxed and meditative while running. Danny Dreyer, who popularized chi running, claims that it will result in less pain and fewer injuries.

What is the Chi Running Approach?

Chi running is mindful running that focuses on every single movement of the body. Its approach is based on the principles of T’ai Chi, yoga and Pilates. Chirunning works with the core muscles and harnesses the mind for more effortless running.

Chi Running as a Running Technique

As a running technique, it teaches runners to move in a more natural and efficient way. The traditional way of running focuses on power and strength for faster running. Chi running, on the other hand, focuses on efficiency with the use of a midfoot strike rather than the heel strike in traditional running technique. A midfoot strike is believed to more biomechanically efficient, resulting in faster running speed with less effort.

Chi Running as a Philosophy

Chi running is more than a running technique. It is also a philosophy of running. It is about running in a relaxed and meditative way. Like T’ai Chi and yoga, chi running provides a spiritual experience and integrates mind and body.

What is Involved in Chi Running?

In chi running, mindfulness means being aware of your body while you run. You pay attention to everything including how your feet strike the ground, your posture, how you breathe, etc. Chirunning requires deep, full breathing so that your body works more efficiently and is relaxed with adequate oxygen.

It’s important to maintain a good posture and remain relaxed while running. Normally people tense their muscles when they exert effort to run faster. This is completely against the principles of chi running. Keeping an upright and natural posture with your muscles relaxed lowers the risk of injury. Good posture allows your body’s chi or natural energy to flow smoothly while poor posture diminishes chi and tires you out.

Does Chi Running Work?

According to the proponents of chi running, this technique minimizes pain and lowers the risk of injury while running. There are no scientific studies to substantiate these claims, although harnessing the mind and body to improve your running technique could enable you to run faster and longer.

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Weight Loss Exercise

Yoga for Back Pain Research

Yoga for Back Pain Research came out this past week and the results were very interesting. According to the latest research, doing yoga daily is more effective in healing your chronic back pain than other conventional back pain treatments. There are also more side effects as a result of using the conventional treatments, such as painkillers and muscle relaxants.

Yoga for Back Pain Research

The researchers closely monitored 228 adults who suffer from acute and chronic back pain problems. They were separated into three groups with two groups attending daily yoga sessions and the remaining group doing different exercises for a few weeks.

At the end of the program they discovered that 50% the participants who attended yoga sessions felt much better compared with only 20% of the other group.

Yoga is More than Meditation

Yoga for Back Pain Research

Yoga for Back Pain Research

The Yoga for back Pain research forces us to look more deeply into what Yoga actually is. Yoga is not just a form of meditation as some people perceive it and the benefits are not just limited to strengthening muscles, improve flexibility and balance. Yoga is an extremely good therapy for relieving back pain, shorten recovery time, reduce swelling and increase blood circulation. Practising yoga daily will help improve your posture and keep your spine in proper alignment.

There are many forms and poses of yoga and not all can help your back condition. In fact some can even worsen it. It is best to attend classes under the guidance of certified yoga instructors as they can advise on what poses are suitable for you.

Back strengthening poses serve not only to strengthen your muscles around the spine, but also help to activate your kidneys and increase the energy in your body. Back releasing poses will help to reduce tension and muscle spasm and improve spinal mobility. These exercises will help to nourish your back muscles and muscle tissues, and are good for people suffering from lower back pain. Stretching other muscles in your body such as the hamstring and thigh will make them stronger and more flexible and lessen the amount of stress on your back. This will finally reduce the tension and relieve your back.

Easier Way to do Yoga

Performing poses on the floor are easier than standing poses as they require less strength and balance. One very important aspect of doing yoga is to learn how to breathe properly, especially when holding the poses. Choose poses with longer hold times (inhaling and exhaling) as they are easier to do.

When you master the art of deep and rhythmic breathing, your body will relax, freeing you of pain-inducing restrictions and eases proper circulation.

Do not eat at least one to two hours before you practise yoga and refrain from drinking too much water before the session.

You should practise yoga daily for an average of 30 minutes, depending on your schedule, objective and fitness level. It is better to practise more often with shorter duration than less often with longer duration as this will produce better result.

If you are seeking relief from back pain, yoga is certainly one of the best lower back pain exercises. Like all forms of exercises, do not push your body to the limits. If you still experience pain after doing yoga, stop and consult your doctor.

Back Pain Treatment is a blog full of interesting information on back pain problems, treatment options and prevention tips. Visit this site for current events and stories relating to back pain and share your thoughts. So now that we have this interesting Yoga for back pain research it is time for you to learn to do Yoga

  • Yoga for Back Pain Research


Yoga for Back Pain Research

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Weight Loss Exercise

Benefits of Abdominal Ball Exercises






Whether you call them Swiss balls, medicine balls, or stability balls, fitness practitioners agree that abdominal balls can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your workout. Swiss balls have been around for years and they are popular as an aid for abdominal exercises. They offer a number of benefits that enhance many exercise routines.

More Effective Abdominal Workout

Abdominal ball exercises are more effective in developing the core muscles because they provide a greater degree of challenge and difficulty. Using a ball for your abdominal exercises makes your body work harder to maintain balance. A Swiss ball abdominal exercise will strengthen the core muscles of your stomach more effectively than exercising on the floor.


Benefits of Abdominal Ball Exercises

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Develop Core Strength

The Swiss ball or stability ball is recognized as one of the best tools to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles. Abdominal ball exercises directly target the core muscles as your body maintains your balance. Keep in mind that one of the functions of your core muscles is to provide support and maintain your balance. A Swiss ball increases the intensity of your abdominal exercise.

Improves Your Posture

The only way to keep your balance while exercising on a Swiss ball is by making sure your body is aligned. Swiss ball abdominal exercises engage the core muscles that support the whole body. The core muscles keep the body aligned, thus improving your posture.

Builds Strength and Endurance

While abdominal ball exercises target the abs and core muscle groups, they also improve overall body strength and endurance. These exercises help strengthen your arms, shoulder and back. They also increase the flexibility of your body.

Aids in Weight Loss

Regular exercise using a Swiss ball is an effective way to lose weight. The increased intensity and challenge of your abdominal ball exercise causes more calories and fats to be burned. You can have the best weight loss results if your exercises are coupled with a healthy, low-calorie diet.

Saves Money

A Swiss ball or stability ball is very affordable. It is one of the most cost-effective devices for a home gym. A Swiss ball is convenient to use and does not take up too much space in your home.

An abdominal exercise ball also helps save money because you won’t have to go to a gym to get a great workout. You can do all your abdominal ball exercises at home.

Many sporting goods stores and online stores offer Swiss abdominal balls in different sizes. You can easily find one that’s just right for you.