Saturday, March 30, 2013
Yoga instructor Melody Lima shares a few breathing practices or Pranayama that you can do at home.
This column was written by Melody Lima, a yoga instructor at the Montclair YMCA. Yoga is the perfect tool for destressing yourself. It all starts with the breath: Slow, long, easy breathing helps to calm the mind, lower the heart rate and allowing the yoga student to observe oneself. Next time you are looking to relax or need a moment to calm your mind and spirit, try one of these Yogic breathing practices or Pranayama. Deep Breathing Lie on your back, palms up, legs slightly separated and relaxed. Begin to consciously release all the muscles in your body and then pay attention to the sound of your breath as you slowly inhale and exhale. Notice your abdomen rising and falling with each breath. If you do not feel comfortable lying down …
Monday, March 25, 2013
The beauty of Pilates is that the training that your body acquires carries over into everything else you to do, says exercise instructor Gigi Gould at the YMCA of Montclair.
This column is written by Gigi Gould, a certified Pilates and group exercise instructor at the Montclair YMCA and a certified breast cancer exercise specialist. We've all watched them at some point, I am sure: Poised, with total concentration, at the back of their spring board, and then suddenly those couple of perfectly placed runs down the board, with a spring onto two feet at the board's end, precisely aligned in parallel upon landing. The synchronized movements of the arms with the body into that bounding jump before the swift somersault into the direct downward dive into the water. A higher score achieved for the least amount of splash. It's all over in a matter of seconds but the amount of concentration, energy and precision to …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
YMCA fitness team member Tom Massot offers a few suggestions to mix up your regular workout routine!
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Wednesday, February 13
The following column was written by Tom Massot, a member of the fitness team at the YMCA of Montclair. Try New Things As a member of the fitness team at the local YMCA, I tend to see people on the same piece of cardio-equipment day after day. Instead of the same old workout routine which can get boring, how about mixing it up for a change? Try a piece of cardio-equipment you wouldn’t use normally. Instead of using the treadmill today, try an Elliptical cross-trainer. If you tend to use the stationary bike for a warm-up, try our brand new Helix lateral trainer. Using a vast range of cardio-equipment is a successful approach to preventing chronic diseases, improving overall cardiovascular health and maintaining good physical fitness. Foam …
