Equipment of the Month: Peanut Stability Ball

EQUIPMENT OF THE MONTHPeanut Stability Ball 

Recommended Product: The Peanut is a good choice for older adults, pregnant women, rehab patients, or anyone who needs more stability than the standard exercise, ball during exercise.

Product Category: Core Strength, Balance and Stability.

How To Use It: The Peanut Stability Ball activates the core muscles and improves balance.  Easier to control than the standard stability ball.

Portability: Remove the air from the ball, and you can carry it anywhere in a tote, or shopping bag.  The inflated peanut shaped ball takes up more room than the standard size stability ball.  You may need to purchase a pump, unless it’s included in the price.

Benefits: Excellent addition to a home gym.  Cost effective. Offers a total body workout. Often includes exercise chart with purchase. The Peanut Stability Ball acclimates older adults to core balance training.

Fitness Level: Beginners, Seniors , Prenatal, Rehab

Type of Workout: Seated, prone, and supine exercises


Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City..  For her complete bio, visit the About Page.  

Hiking Accident Prevention: Safe Trip Planning Know Before You Go

Trip Planning Resources For Hikers and Backpackers



Backcountry trip planning is crucial for your safety. Before your trip, check the weather conditions.  In some areas, typical weather patterns  may display an abrupt drop in temperature, sudden rain, or snowfall. 

FOREST TRAIL IN WINTER

Choose trails that match your health and fitness skills.  Learn about seasonal trail conditions, and crossings.

Whether you’re planning a day, an overnight trip, or longer trek, preparation is key while traveling the backcountry. Advance planning can save your life.  Learn trail survival skills before you go.

Start your trip early, in order to allow sufficient daylight for your journey. Check the weather report. If it doesn’t look good, plan an alternative trail with better conditions.

If you decide to hike in extreme weather, you’ll need to spend more time preparing for your trip. Study the trails, and check up-to-the-minute weather reports, warnings and alerts. While on your trip, if things get bad, turn around and head back. It isn’t worth risking your life. There’s always another day, and another trail. But you only have one life.

NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND WEATHER

Slot canyon in Utah
SLOT CANYON UTAH

The National Park Service: A federal government website that provides information about current weather, trail conditions, warnings, alerts, and news. Safety Tips from the NPS.

U.S. Forest Service: A federal government website that provides information about visiting national forests for multiple outdoor activities.

National Weather Service: A federal government agency that provides weather forecasts, and warnings of all types of hazardous weather conditions affecting the public.


This is a partial list of state websites that provide information about current weather, trail conditions, warnings, alerts, and news about parks and recreation areas. To find additional state parks websites, use the name of the state, followed by the keywords state parks.


StateParks.com: A non-government website to American State Parks.

Hike-NewEngland.com: A non-government website to an online trail guide for New England.

Appalachian Mountain Club: Trip planning, conservation, education, guided adventures.

Adirondack Almanack: Adirondack Explorer’s Online News Journal. Covers regional history, arts, nature, food, and news. The Adirondack Mountains are located in New York State.


Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 25 years experience teaching exercise in New York City. Visit the About Page to read her bio.

February Is National Chocolate Lovers Month


CHOCOLATE OCCASIONS

Valentine’s Day February 14 – Birthday – Wedding Anniversary – Christmas – New Year – EasterMilestoneBirth – GraduationPromotion – Engagement





Irene Pastore, is a Certified Personal Trainer, fitness blogger, health educator, and speaker. She has 23 years experience teaching exercise in New York City.  For her complete bio, visit the About Page.