Category: Exercise

Pectoralis Minor And Rounded Shoulders

October 15, 2012
Pectoralis Minor  Muscle
Shoulder Blades (Scapulae)

Stand sideways in the mirror.  Do your shoulders look rounded?  Are your shoulder blades sticking out?  Your shoulder blades should lie flat on your rib cage, and shouldn’t be noticeable.

Do you exercise your chest more than your back?  Do you neglect chest stretches?  Do you usually sit with your shoulders slumped forward?  These are typical reasons your Pectoralis Minor tightens up.

Muscles work together, like an orchestra.  When one isn’t doing its job, it affects other muscles and bones. Continue reading “Pectoralis Minor And Rounded Shoulders”

Quick Tips: How To Clean A Yoga Mat

October 14, 2012

When a Yoga mat gets dirty, it won’t give you the traction you need to hold your standing poses.  A dirty mat will also smell like a pair of old shoes.  During Stick Pose, the stale aroma will not be pleasant.

There are two ways to clean your mat.  If you don’t have alot of time, you can keep your mat clean with a spray bottle filled with a homemade antibacterial and antiviral solution, or purchase one already mixed. Continue reading “Quick Tips: How To Clean A Yoga Mat”

The Robot Suitcase: No Muscle Needed

October 3, 2012

The Robot Suitcase Takes The Work Out of Traveling

The latest invention to take the work out of traveling, is the robot suitcase.  Named, “The Hop”, it requires no carrying, and uses a bluetooth signal on your smart phone to move alongside you.

The Hop suitcase is another modern convenience that takes the muscle out of daily living.  Electric knives, can openers, popcorn makers, peelers, and all sorts of kitchen gadgets require little effort.  Just plug it in and go. Continue reading “The Robot Suitcase: No Muscle Needed”

Exercise of the Month: October 2012

October 2, 2012

Exercise: Pilates Hundred

PILATES HUNDRED

Type: Body Weight Exercise

Muscles Worked: Abdominals

Equipment: Exercise Mat

Correct Form: Keep your torso still, as your arms move.  Don’t squeeze your chin onto your chest, or thrust your chin toward the ceiling.  Leave space between your chin and your chest as if you’re holding a tennis ball under your chin. Continue reading “Exercise of the Month: October 2012”

Muscle Beach: Then and Now

September 30, 2012

There really is a place called Muscle Beach.  Now located in Venice, California, Muscle Beach dates back to the 1930s.  At the original site, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) installed exercise equipment south of Santa Monica Pier, in Santa Monica.

Muscle Beach, Santa Monica  1948

Muscle Beach became world famous for barbell, weight lifting, and body building. Acrobats, and body builders, worked out for free.

With rising obesity rates, municipalities are bringing a new version of Muscle Beach to a city near you.  Playgrounds for adults are popping up in Miami, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and Washington State.

New York City recently opened Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx, a place where anyone can get fit for free.  The city plans to bring 24 new adult playgrounds within the next 18 months.

Read more about adult playgrounds in the New York Times 6/29/12 article, “Mom, Dad, This Playground’s For You”.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training

Study: By 2030 Most Americans Fatter and Sicker

September 28, 2012

A recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Trust For America’s Health reveals an upward trend in obesity in the United States.

By 2030, thirteen states could have an adult obesity rate above 60 percent, and 39 states could have obesity rates above 50 percent.

Obesity related diseases will increase, along with health care costs, as obesity rates climb.  The report, F As In Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2012, shows two futures for America’s health.  A grim outlook based on current statistics, and a brighter future if measures are taken to reduce the alarming rate of obesity.

More on the subject from Reuters Health News, The Facts Behind America’s Obesity Epidemic, and Fat and Getting Fatter: U.S. Obesity Rates To Soar By 2030.

While obesity is a national problem, rates are highest in the south and midwest.  By today’s forecast, the state of Mississippi will lead the nation in obesity rates, since it is now the fattest state in the country.

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Copyright 2012 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training