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Fitness

Spark your fitness creativity

From what we eat to how we exercise, bringing ingenuity to the table can not only make life more enjoyable, but it can also enhance our chances of achieving our goals. Here’s how you can do it. Creativity: the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. When you hear the word “creativity,” what comes to your mind? I think of young children, painters, dancers, and spoken-word masters. But this perspective is limiting in so many ways, because the truth is, creativity is one of the most important characteristics of being human. It’s one of the main traits that makes us successful as individuals and as a species, and we all have it—whether we see it or not. The question is, why is it so important and how do we cultivate it in our day to day life? Creativity makes life infinitely more

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Fitness

The value of getting outdoors

For exercise, we are always faced with two roads: indoors or outdoors—the gym, say, or Mother Nature. The first is familiar, a path well worn by routine, control, and familiar faces. The latter is foreign: it tends to be a path explored in good weather, to-and-from the car, and when you go on vacation. Even so, nature is unpredictable, more or less. That’s a good thing. When was the last time you took your gym outside? When was the last time you made the choice to take the road less travelled? In Robert Frosts’ poem, and in your overall fitness, when you take “The Road Not Taken,” it makes a difference. There are many benefits. IT’S SOCIAL In all seasons, outdoor activities tend to be social. Hiking, skiing, garage gyms, cycling, tobogganing, swimming, and even walking are activities we tend to do with others. And when we work out with

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Health

2020’s top 4 fitness trends

In order to go forward, we need to look backward. We are now in a new decade – technically, it’s a fresh start, but online, I see everyone using the hashtag “#2020” as a reflective noun. You know the expression, “Hindsight is 2020”? People are becoming a lot more mindful and aware of themselves and what is essential. They’re taking a deeper look within and into their past, in order to figure themselves out, instead of just looking outward for external gratification or help. So it’s only fitting that for an industry which used to be based on looks, the fitness trends in 2020 are shifting to be all about your mindset –  figuring out your wants, needs, and habits. This is a list of not just new and upcoming trends for 2020, but also current fads that are going to skyrocket this year! Each one designed to make your

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Fitness

The art of Chi Running

ChiRunning takes you back to the natural and efficient style you had as a kid. I came into this world flat-footed and flailing with the upper body structure of an NFL linebacker—thanks, Dad—and the ground speed of the average Clydesdale. To further drive home my point, grade school gym class was less a time of physical activity and more a time to reflect on how best—dramatically—to avoid physical activity. After decades of perfecting my ability to fake injuries or illnesses not reported since the turn of the century, I ventured into the world of personal fitness. Slowly at first, with modest weight lifting and some aerobics classes, but pretty soon I was pounding the pavement every morning for a run. Soon, I was a regular at my physiotherapist’s office, on a solid diet of anti-inflammatories and wrapping myself in ice packs whenever I felt like rain was coming. Though there

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Fitness

Managing hip health to stay hip

Because of their position in your body, your hip flexors can be injured by direct trauma, repetitive strain, or power and speed activities. Hip flexor muscles can cause problems for athletes of all fitness levels. These muscles start at the low back, overlay the pelvis and run down through the front of the thigh. The position of the hip flexors makes them vulnerable to injury from direct trauma, repetitive strain, or power and speed activities. The hip structure disperses athletic forces that impact the lower body, which has a great impact on the flexor muscles. Kinetic energy is transferred through the pelvis and spine into the upper body. If the pelvis and hip are not properly aligned, the hip flexor can cause problems through the body. If athletes rely on their quadriceps and hip flexors instead of utilizing their hamstring and glutes, the flexor muscles may become weak. Stiffness in the

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Fitness

The latest fitness technology for 2020

Every January there’s a huge technology show called CES or Consumer Electronics Show, held in las Vegas. Companies from around the world showcase their coolest gadgets and gear and this year, there was no shortage of fitness technologies on show! We rounded up some of the best fitness technology for 2020 that you might want to take a look at. From sneakers to rowing machines and more. In every case, these gadgets have sensors in them and connect to an app on an iPhone or Android device. The Livall BH51 Neo Helmet This is a pretty cool cycling helmet for mountain biking or just road riding. It’s packed with sensors that detect acceleration and deceleration. It also includes a mic and speaker so you can take calls via Bluetooth on your phone and has LED turn signal lights! One cool thing is it has fall detection so if you zonk

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Health

Finding the root cause of pain

“The closer one is able to get to the root cause and resolve it, the more likely it is to find a cure or significant long-term pain relief,” says Dr. Ko. Like Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, originator of this Four-Component theory in treating chronic disease, he asks the patient, “What was happening at the very beginning of the pain problem?” This often gives clues about the area to focus on. For example, structural causes of low back pain include car accidents, falls, collision sports and traumatic childbirth. These often lead to strained sacroiliac joint ligaments, which Dr. Ko treats with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. Biochemical causes include Celiac disease (gluten sensitivity—only 50% of patients have bowel complaints), hidden infections such as Lyme disease, and exposure to toxins such as pesticides on a farm or golf course, heavy metals and solvents. Psychological problems include post-traumatic stress disorder (a screening question is to

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Longevity

Getting your mind ready for winter

This is the season when Nature lies dormant—but plans for spring. What can we learn from her? The season that will not be defined is winter. Many have complaints about this time of year: It is cold, dark, and gloomy. It is harder to drive, energy bills are sky high and we’re all stuck inside. I know, that is but one side of it but let’s follow it along a bit further. Winter as a place or time of internment is prison–Alcatraz was like that. One of the arguments for internment is to give the person who has acted outside of the law a time to reflect on better ways, to recharge and to prepare to contribute when the internment is over. Putting it this way, prison doesn’t sound all that bad. Winter is the season of internment. We have the “inter” of internment. Do we have the benefits? If

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