Is it hot in here?

Light a fire under your work team with salsa dancing. Yes, salsa dancing! A London-based Latin dance company, provides workshops for coworkers to develop greater interpersonal skills and liven up the corporate environment.

In addition to team building, salsa dancing is a great cardio workout. Salsa classes are a great way to spice up your individual routine as well, especially if you're feeling unmotivated and bored at the gym.

If salsa isn't your thing, why not try the elegant world of ballroom dancing? Learn a variety of steps, from the waltz to swing. What a great way to have fun and get fit with someone you love!

Of course, if you're feeling like even more sizzle than salsa, there's always one of the latest fashion crazes that's popped up (or, should I say, hopped up) all over London: pole dancing fitness. Out of gentlemen's clubs and into fitness centres, the moves that have driven an entire industry have attracted London women in droves. Most courses are held in safe, female-friendly environments and claim to improve confidence in women as well as muscle tone, and to burn a purported 250 calories per session.

In the worlds of Gwen Stefani of No Doubt, "Keep on dancin!"

Guys vs Gals

It's an age-old feminist debate: Can women perform just as well as men, if not better? When it comes to research in exercise tolerance, experts actually say no. Although individually women may outperform their male counterparts in some activities, overall, women are not built to exert themselves as much as men.

One reason is due to the hormone oestrogen, which can inhibit proteins that fuel the body during intense exercise. That's why women's performance may be better at certain times of the month than others. Men have a constant supply of the energy-producing testosterone, which provides them with strength and endurance.

Women also have smaller lungs than men, and therefore a smaller lung capacity. During intense exercise, women need to breathe more frequently. This causes them to perceive their exertion as more difficult than that of men, even if women are doing the same amount of work.

Instead of carbo-loading to prepare for intense exertion, women's bodies are geared to rely more on fat stores than energy from carbohydrates. When it comes to distance running, women excel, and the reason for that is the greater ability to consume energy from fat, which burns longer than sugars.

A recent study suggests that women benefit most from weights and interval training. In order to maintain optimum fitness, women need to mix up the activity more frequently than do men. This means doing everything from running and biking, to swimming, dancing and yoga, weight training, and kickboxing to kung fu. Variety is the spice of life, and most important is staying fit, for both men AND women. Get a move on!

Get fit with Fido

Want an easy trick to keep fit? Buy a dog. Not only are dogs wonderful companions, but responsible dog owners are said to reap multiple health benefits from their relationship to their furry friends. How do they help? Let me count the ways:

1. Dog owners are more fit, in general, than non-owners. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Western Australia, dog owners are at least 50 percent more apt to achieve adequate levels of physical activity, as opposed to non-owners.
2. Dog walking, according to the University of Portsmouth, helps prevent depression and lonliness in many dog owners in the UK.
   
3. Petting a dog may help lower blood pressure, and could possibly reduce the effects of stress on the body and mind.
4. You've heard of the whole "single man buying a puppy to attract women" ploy, but actually, owning a dog can help people make friends. Dog owners are generally perceived as friendly. Plus, dog lovers tend to flock together. Find a playmate for your dog and a friend, or even, yes, a date!

For very active people, a dog can be a great companion for long runs and hikes in the woods. Dogs can be amazing atheletes as well and can challange their owners with agility competitions. There are large networks of doggy agility enthusiasts in the UK. Many events operate outside of London, but training can be done anywhere.

Considering owning a dog? Think about doggy adoption. Here is a great website illustrating everything you need to know about choosing and owning a dog.

Some Londoners don't have the space, time, or money for a dog. In such a case, maybe you have a friend who is a dog owner, and perhaps you can opt to help take the dog out to the park once or twice a week. Or, consider a side job as a dog walker. Not only will you earn some extra money, but you will keep fit as well.

Breathe easier in the big city

The weather's warming up and some of us are just itching to get outside for our exercise after being cooped up for the long months of winter. However, living in a big city makes outdoor exercise surprisingly risky for our health. Extreme pollution can adversely affect the cardiovascular system, making the heart and lungs less efficient in getting the proper nutrients through the body.
There are ways to enjoy exercise in the city while minimizing our risk of cardiovascular damage.

• First, you can assess the amount of pollution in your area with Google Earth's 3D air pollution map overlay.
• Second, try exercising during early morning hours or later in the evening, after most of the work commuters have disappeared from roads.
• Work out during or just after a heavy fog. Experts say that fogs help to clean the air.
  

• On really hot summer days, opt for indoor climates, preferably ones with air conditioning, or wait until the sun has set to exert yourself out of doors.

Help keep the lungs of other exercisers clean by walking or biking to your local destinations. Pay it forward!

Get fit while you flop?

London seems to be going crazy over the FitFlop, a sandal that made headlines in New York due to it's reported thigh-toning powers. The shoe's built around a micro wobbleboard that the company claims helps to tone leg and bum muscles while you walk. The latest in summer footwear, worn by the likes of celeb singer Carly Simon, comes in a variety of styles and colours, as well as men's and women's versions. Clicking on the website reveals several emphatic testimonials.

Experts say use caution when wearing flip-flops of any kind, however. The lack of support they offer is not ideal for walking long distances or for playing sports. Excessive wear can cause damage to the achilles tendon and sometimes calf muscles as well. In addition to muscle damage, the flat rubbery sole of most flip-flop styles can cause the foot to roll inward, which can damage the arch of the foot,
Foot Pain from Flip Flops - The most popular videos are a click away not to mention that the whole of the foot is exposed to everything from blisters to fungi.

The bottom line: there is, as you probably suspected, no "easy way around" a proper hour of exercise every day. If you want to have toned legs and a superstar bum, start challanging yourself by taking on those hills as you walk. Walking is a fantastic way to get fit and to maintain a healthy heart, and you've got the whole summer, so get moving!

Too late to benefit? Never!

Health professionals and experts all over the world are pushing seniors to get active after several studies and reports have confirmed that people at any age reap the benefits of physical activity when it comes to health and longevity.

Exercise can help stave off heart disease, muscular atrophy, diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, obesity, joint problems, and a vast number of other ailments by which age increases the risk. In addition to health benefits, exercise can be a fun way to enjoy retirement or to spend weekends with a partner or family. Instead of sitting around watching the telly in the evening, sometimes a nice walk can help refresh the soul.

If you're over 50 and just beginning an exercise programme, it's important to consult a GP to find out what type of exercise is right for you. Starting slowly and with the assistance of a professional (preferably one trained in geriatric health and fitness) helps kick start an injury-free programme. Some fitness centres offer special programmes for seniors.

Comfort and care are vital to keeping fit past age 50. Take the time to listen to your body. Heart monitors are a good thing for fitness buffs of any age, but can be extremely important to seniors in keeping track of just how hard they are working. Ask your doctor or a certified fitness professional as to what equipment would best benefit you and your routine.

Some of the best activities reccommended by health experts for seniors:

• Walking. Whether it's fitness or race walking or just a leisurly stroll, many people can reap the cardiovascular benefits of walking. When the weather is unpleasant, this activity can be brought inside by using a treadmill, either at the gym or at home.
• Yoga. Recent studies have shown that yoga is one of the best stretching exercises for seniors. Take a beginner's course and get stronger, more relaxed, and limber!
• Swimming. Due to the low impact nature of this sport, it's a wonderful way to get in shape both cardiovascularly and in helping build muscle tone. It's also a lovely activity for summer heat. Try a water aerobics course for added guidance and benefit.
• Dancing. With so many styles to choose from, the possibilities are endless! For women, belly dancing can be a fun way to revive your "mo-jo", while couples dancing is a great idea for a night out with your partner.
• Golf. On a nice day, what better than to socialize with others and take a walk in the sunshine? It's never too late to pick up the clubs, so get on the green!
  

Put your heart into it

I always love a gym with a conscience.
This week, Saddlers Sport Centre on Goswell Road is holding a fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation. Guest instructors will teach a variety of classes, and the gym will also be staging a raffle and an auction for a variety of wonderful prizes.

Other BHF events can be found on its home page. The BHF holds a number of fundraising walks, runs, bike rides, and other physically challanging events.

Other health-oriented organisations hold similar activities. The popular athletic shoe company, ASICS UK has a site that lists charity runs held in the UK. Participating in such events usually requires some prior planning. Generally speaking, a person cannot just show up to participate in this type of fundraiser, as organisations usually do not sell tickets. The onus is actually on each participant to acquire a donation, or sponsorship from friends, family members, coworkers, or strangers, which will go to the organisation for which he or she is running, biking, etc.

Spring and summer is a great time to get outdoors for fitness, but while you're out there, why not check out something that not only helps yourself, but does a great service to others as well!

Fit and Fat--A debate laid to rest?

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine may have settled the medical debate as to whether people carrying excess body fat can maintain completely fit and healthy bodies through proper exercise. According to the study, exercise did not completely eliminate the risks of heart disease caused by the excess fat on the body. Although being active does lower a person's risk, the study found that people of a normal weight who were active had the lowest risk of all.

Essentially, every active individual is at less risk for heart disease than inactive individuals, however, excess weight also contributes to overall health. Becoming physically fit is important for all functions of the body, but carrying around extra weight, especially in the midsection, can hinder a person's overall progress.

Say you're fit, but the weight hasn't seemed to come off like you thought it would. You've minded your calories and deprived yourself of chips, chocolate, or a pint at the local pub with friends. What can you do to help trim off the excess?

Experts say that keeping a food diary is an important and simple tool in weight loss. Whether it's a handwritten journal or wall calendar or a trendy new website, a food diary keeps people "honest", and, when people visually see what and how many calories they are eating, it helps to keep mindless snacking to a minimum. Sometimes we take in more calories than we realise, and writing it down keeps it all under control.

Watching portion sizes and measuring food can work well for some. If pulling out the measuring cups seems too tedious, there are plenty of handy tips and tricks available online for eyeballing portions. Strict measuring is always a good, safe bet, however, considering that when we are hungry, our eyeballs seem to see less food than there is on the plate!

A good rule to live by for weight loss is to figure out how many calories you need to eat per day to get to your goal weight. Subtract that from what you currently take in. Half of the difference should be dropped from your caloric intake, and half of it should be burned off in exercise. So, say you have 500 calories to drop. Take 250 off your diet, and find extra activities each day to burn off the rest, whether it's a long walk in the evening, a brief yoga or pilates session, or some power squats, lunges and situps before bed. Make the most of your day by getting off the tube or bus one stop before your normal one, or biking or walking to closer destinations instead of taking public transport or a car. Find something physical to do at weekends that you enjoy to get rid of those extra unhealthy calories for good!

A doctor once told me, "Eat half of what you think you should eat, exercise regularly, and forget about it." In it's simplified way, it's good advice. Don't sweat small stuff, just sweat, and enjoy it!

Thinking Thin

Believing in one's potential for weight loss may be helpful in actualizing weight loss, according to a recent study conducted by Queensland University of Technology. The study is congruent with a trend of thinking begun in 2006 by American author, Rhonda Byrne's book, The Secret. In the book and the subsequent movie, Byrne explains self efficacy techniques that she claims help a person to realise his or her life goals.

What is self-efficacy? For laypeople, it's basically a strong belief in an aspect of yourself that has the potential to influence the outcome of your life. Scientists have been researching the power of self-efficacy for years and the brain's influence over a person's mental and physical health, as well as other aspects of life.

Believing in oneself and positive thinking are difficult in a city like London, where depression and stress are leading mental illnesses. New studies have even shown that depression can in fact have a negative effect on the body and lead to physical ailments. What can a person do to get into a positive frame of mind?

Counseling can effectively help a person acheive healthier thinking patterns. Many people claim that proper meditation also helps. Visiting a stress-management centre might be the answer for some individuals, or simply reading books on positive thinking and working through negative thoughts and fears.

Above all, a healthy diet and exercise are the foundations for a healthy mind and body, so it's important to stay consistant and on-track. As for the rest, it might be worth a try. Perhaps we all need a bit of self-efficacy in our lives. It definitely couldn't hurt!

A workout of a different colour

Think you've seen it all when it comes to weird and whacky new fitness gadgets? The companies iJoy and OSIM have both developed similar versions of the same new exercise machine. The iJoy Ride and the iGallop both claim to tone core muscles and thighs while reportedly simulating the movements of a horse.

As a long time horse rider and trainer, I find it difficult to believe that a machine can simulate the movements of a real horse. A horse is a live animal and no two horses have the same movement due to stride length, terrain, and body conformation. Do these machines move like Quarter Horses or like Danish Warmbloods? A person riding a huge dressage-trained warmblood is going to get a heck of a better workout than the person jogging around on a western pleasure horse. The movement is sproingy-er, more elevated. Just watch the movement of a warmblood as opposed to a western pleasure horse.

At any rate, I suggest that a person not waste his or her money on such rubbish. Want great core muscles? Get out and ride the real thing. As a bonus, you acquire a new skill. Even Londoners can find places to ride!

Gearing up for a great workout

If your idea of workout gear is a ratty t-shirt, old shorts and old trainers, you may want to rethink your outfit. Experts say that what you wear can actually influence your workout habits, length and intensity.

Comfort is key and different clothing styles can work for different activities. Consider which activities in which you will be participating. Ask an instructor, a reliable expert friend, or visit your local sporting goods store for advice on what type of clothing is neccessary to be the most comfortable and safe while performing a certain activity or participating in your sport of choice.

Another facet of comfort is feeling good in the clothes you're wearing. Choosing a flattering workout outfit can help to boost a person's confidence, even if he or she isn't at his or her target weight or fitness level. Choosing clothing that neither fits too tightly nor too loosely allows for movement and a more appealing silhouette, which can create a higher self image while sweating it out in the gym or on the field. Having a higher self image while working out could help a person stick with an exercise programme for a longer period of time.

Finally, proper support gear for the body can help extend a person's workout. Most importantly, make sure that you're wearing the proper shoes for your foot type and workout activities. Ask your doctor if you might need special insoles. If you have weak knees or ankles, you may want to think about a support brace, although this is not a substitute for proper physical therapy.

Finally, coming into 2008, the trendiest and most exciting additions to your wardrobe are technological gadgets. From heart monitors to time pieces, to wearable fitness coaches, technology on the go can both help boost your fitness regime and also help you to look great and accomplish your goals. When it comes to fashion, everyone's different, but don't forget to suit yourself!

Fit Kids: making efforts in 2008

A worldwide survey conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine revealed that, among several fitness trends in 2008 was combatting the growing child obesity crisis. Children in the United States now have the possibility of a lower life expectancy than their parents because of the epidemic, and the UK is following suit. Parents are encouraged by the UK government to start modifying their children's diets and to encourage children to get away from video games and the telly and to get moving.

The weather is warming up and summer will be fast approaching. There will be plenty of opportunity for children to participate in outdoor activities. However, events can become rained out and allergies can prevent some children from fully enjoying the outdoors. New gym facilities geared toward younger participants obliterate excuses to sit around on the sofa in any season.

Gyms made for kids help to teach children to use their muscles efficiently and to be active from an early age. Developing coordination, balance and strength not only helps children's physical health, but attending active classes also can help build confidence and social skills.

A large influence on children's activity level is the activity level of the parents, so, if you are not moving with your kids, now is the time to start!

Love me, love my gym membership

Single and finding it hard to find a "fit" partner? Posting personal web ads only to attract scads of couch potatoes? Tired of daydreaming about fellow fitness diehards at your local gym because you don't feel comfortable approaching them in real life? Web entrepreneurs have answered the prayers of active singles who seek likeminded mates. Dozens of fitness dating sites have swooped onto the scene.

The UK's own, Dateactive, not only provides an interactive dating site, but also keeps members posted on various fitness activities in the UK and all over Europe. Whether you seek a fitness buddy or an athletic mate, this site allows you to browse sporty singles and contact them for a membership fee of £15/month. Singles events are also arranged by the site as an in-person meet-and-greet fun activity. As a bonus feature, you also get a daily horoscope.

Looking for singles outside of the UK? FitSingles.com has access to active singles all over the world. Keeping the active individual in mind, the Website also has access to activities and events, which allow person-to-person interaction. The site also has a chat feature, allowing for real-time conversation for those shy persons to warm up to a potential mate or activity partner.

Website entrepreneurs are springboarding off of the success of internet dating sites such as Match.com, and developing more specialized online dating services. Gone are the days of scrolling endlessly through potential partners to find the one or two who share similar fitness interests. Gone are the days of posting an ad that's answered by people whose idea of a workout is getting up to grab another beer from the fridge. Developers are creating sites for likeminded people, hopefully increasing people's chances of finding "the one."

A virtual blessing...or virtual insanity?

We live in a high tech world gone mad. We can do everything on the computer now: shopping, bill paying, banking, even travel. And now we can also go to the gym without getting too far away from our computer desk. In a crowded city like London, sometimes the last thing we want is to spend our free time duking it out over a bloody machine with the other 50 gym members filling a sweaty, muggy fitness centre.

Take the VirtualGym TV website, for example. It holds downloadable video aerobics, spinning and dance classes for all levels. It even claims to have a customized "personal trainer" feature that adapts a programme for each individual's needs. The site claims to be "the future of fitness."

Even Nintendo is chucking its poker chips in, in response to the obesity crisis in the UK. The Wii Fit is a virtual gym that targets those those video game-fried couch potatoes. It's a console that provides BMI and fitness tools, as well as a variety of yoga, aerobics, and other virtual classes. This handy dandy little box that hooks up to the average television set will be available the 25 April.

If that still seems a bit impersonal, meet Maya. She's the virtual trainer for Yourself Fitness, a software programme designed for Playstation, Xbox or PC. According to the programme's website, Maya adapts to your own customized settings and creates a programme for you. She even is able to adapt each workout to how you are feeling that particular day. That's pretty impressive-sounding!

It seems as though companies are trying to find a way to adapt current technology to aid people in getting fit. However, I'm a bit skeptical about how well a virtual personal trainer could work. True, it could provide an aide or a suggestion, but without a doctor's or real person's assessment as to an individual's fitness, I say it's still a bit risky. Plus, there's no one around to watch the person to assess whether he or she is moving correctly through an exercise with correct positioning, etc. Personally, when I was able to enjoy the benefits of a personal trainer, I enjoyed the fact that he or she was able to "spot" me when I was lifting weights or doing squats or lunges beyond my limitations. Having a bit of help at the end of a set and someone to watch my muscles working helped me to get much stronger much faster.

Perhaps with time the technology will get better and there will be a way to give someone a proper "personal training" workout. Until then, I believe that, while these virtual "trainers" can be helpful in a person's fitness programme, they are no substitute for the real thing.

Hot Stuff!

The UK's 'hottest' new yoga trend seems to be here to stay, in spite of controversies. Bikram yoga, a Hatha yoga practice that is performed in a hot room, was started by Indian yoga champion, Bikram Choudhury. Heralding his form of yoga's miraculous health benefits, he brought his practice to the US in the early seventies, where movie stars began to join in, and his business began to prosper.

The guy is a self-made man, an entrepreneur, but he's undergone attacks on everything from his opportunistic, uber-capitalist nature, to his medically controversial, 'westernized' yoga methods. Some say that a heated room isn't neccessary for yoga, that the body sufficiently warms itself during standard yoga practice. Some say that, without meditation, it's just not yoga. Plus, there's the fact that Bikram's yoga is a franchise. Needless to say, he's ruffled quite a few feathers in the yoga world. But, does it really work?

I decided to try Bikram's yoga for a month. As many gyms do, the studio had a beginners' special. The entrance to the studio, located in basement of a brick-coated facade on a narrow back street, nearby to the bustling traffic of City Road, was small and narrow itself, considering the large number of people shuffling in and out. Drenched bodies with red faces, slid past me as I tried not to let them touch me. It was clear people were getting a good workout, which was surprising to me, as I'd always been a big 'cardio' fan, dismissing yoga as a practice for lazy people who didn't want to work hard.

Here, my assumptions were far from the mark. As I sat in the dimmed studio, scorching hot air burning my nostrils as it seared its way down into my lungs, I noticed a sea of lithe, lean bodies surrounding me. My slightly-above-average frame, with its large, thighs and wide hips, practically hulked over the majority of the women in the room. One or two slightly larger women, begginners like me, I imagined, dotted the back of the room. I started to wonder what kind of crazy workout I was in for. I prepared for the worst.

Bikram yoga consists of 26 postures, two of which are actually breathing exercises. As I sucked in air through my nose and breathed it out in a "haaa" sound from my throat, my knuckles clasped tightly under my chin, moving my head back and forearms up and down, keeping the rest of my body perfectly still, I noticed tiny pearls of sweat dripping from my elbows.

The first 50 minutes of the class is a standing series. Ten minutes into the thing I was dripping sweat like a melting ice cube. Yet, in spite of all the complicated balancing and stretching I was doing, I felt oddly calm and relaxed.

"Smile, relax, it's just yoga!" My instructor, Dominique, called out to us, while we all wobbled around on one foot, grasping the other with both hands.

The remaining 40 minutes are on the floor, seperated by two full minutes of savasana, which is is lying on your back, relaxing everything. I was definitely relieved to learn that each pose on the floor series was followed by 20 seconds of savasana. Although we were on the floor, we weren't in any way taking it easy. We were compressing our fronts, choking the throat, or back bending, compressing the kidneys. The instructor explained the health benefits of what we were doing, whether it was improving the digestive system, stirring the metabolism, or releasing toxins.

By the final savasana, I was spent. That first class, body drenched, red-faced, I weebled my way back home, feeling tired, but lighter, taller, leaner, and stronger. I attended two more classes that week.

My month's almost up and I can testify that, in spite of the controversies, I do feel a lot better. It's definitely turned me into a yoga-head! I've noticed a leaner middle, leaner thighs, a taller, straighter posture and stronger, firmer bum-muscles! In addition, my knees no longer hurt after I run four or five miles the way that they used to. Whether or not it's 'yoga' makes no difference to me. What matters to me is that I feel much healthier. I have more energy, less cravings for 'crap' food, and I sleep much better. I will definitely keep this practice up as a part of my regular fitness routine!