As long as you’re comfortable experimenting with different intensity levels while working out and understand the limitations of the data, this information can be powerful for your health and fitness.
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5 exercises to beat burnout and stress
Here are some of the best exercise techniques to calm your mind, and they don’t involve running.
Despite what we’ve been led to believe, running around in the street may not actually be the best way to improve your mood. Researchers at Ohio State University compared “arousal-increasing” activities, like hitting a bag, jogging, cycling, and swimming, with “arousal-decreasing” activities, like deep breathing, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. The latter were most effective at calming anger, while jogging (which increases arousal) was the activity most likely to increase it.
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Experts say the benefits of a daily walk
Walking is great for your mental and physical health, and even a short stroll can lift your mood.
“10,000 steps a day” has become an almost religious mantra for many people who take up walking as an exercise habit, but you don’t have to stick to it to reap the benefits of getting outside and stretching your legs.
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This weightlifting workout for people in their 60s will keep you strong for years to come
It’s never too late to start weightlifting, and there’s now growing evidence that it can have lasting health benefits for older adults.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that a year of regular weightlifting in your mid-60s can help you maintain the strength of your leg muscles for years to come.
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![People who cycle are more likely to be healthier, slimmer, less stressed and more mentally positive than those who commute by road or rail. Photo / Jason Dawdy](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/DKEABRQJCZANHE6F57MQIP3A5U.jpg?auth=23329daa525088ccf1ec24553da69a2c37602bef8f014d217f9c1a87aa5b370d&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
Why cycling to work can help improve your fitness
One way to make your commute easier, with an endorphin boost and no trains cancelled, is to ride your bike.
Workers spend thousands of hours commuting to work over their lifetime. While many people are working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average person in England travels more than 1000 miles each year while commuting to work, according to a 2022 UK government survey. One way to make those journeys more enjoyable, and improve your fitness in the process, is to get on a bike.
People who cycle are more likely to be healthy, fit, less stressed, and more mentally positive than those who commute by car or train. Cyclists produce less air pollution, cause less traffic jams, and their commute costs are much cheaper than those who drive or take public transport. What’s more, cyclists know exactly how long it will take to get to work.
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8 fitness myths that make experts angry
Running is bad for your knees. The heavier the weights the better. Ice baths. And many more.
Exercise can be a real miracle cure if done right. But if you follow the wrong advice, you can easily injure yourself. Take sit-ups, for example: once considered the gold standard of core training, we now know that they can make back pain worse.
Brad Schoenfeld, a professor of exercise science at Lehman College in New York, said these misconceptions are pervasive in fitness culture because the science is constantly evolving and fitness influencers share tips based on “anecdote and gym lore.” “Once these opinions become popular and entrenched, they’re hard to change.”
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![Samantha Bluemel from Mode Studio in Ponsonby recommends the best gyms in Auckland.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/S5UOCQJAW5GQRPUNRCOAKY65LM.jpg?auth=587c9a3176f12ac5db1509dcc9126f1a11c59de3691b61f7f62cd82553a78ce9&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Auckland’s best gyms, fitness and wellness spots
Auckland is packed with fantastic fitness and wellness hotspots to help you exercise, recover, stay healthy and develop positive lifestyle habits.
The key is to find what works for you and love it so much that you’ll want to come back again and again. Before joining, try out our joining pack and discuss your needs and preferences with staff – we’re sure you’ll find a friendly coach and other members who are happy to support you along the way.
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Are you lacking in exercise? Here’s the fastest way to improve your fitness
One reason many adults avoid sprinting is because the thought of past injuries (or potential future injuries) scares them. Another reason, of course, is that sprinting is tough, and it often leaves you hunched over, out of breath.
But it’s hard: sprinting puts a lot of strain on our bodies, but if we do it safely, it makes us stronger, more resilient, and healthier.
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![The Meta VR headset delivers immersive fitness experiences, from Les Mills Body Combat to high intensity training, in a dreamlike virtual environment.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/OYJHG7JUDVBFBKIQ2TW4TPMB7I.png?auth=b723f103e2bb309702ef47ed25ae3a83de639f36dd5b0d30d55799b893b44054&width=16&height=9&quality=70&smart=true)
From smartwatches to VR headsets, the best tech to help improve your fitness
When it comes to combining fitness and health with technology, things become even more complicated. With countless companies now promising to supercharge your health with the help of their latest (and often expensive) gadgets, it pays to do your research before investing.
Similarly, taking the time to think about your lifestyle and approach to health is a useful tool worth utilizing to avoid slick marketing that tries to trick you. There’s no point investing in the latest at-home workout solution if you’ve never tried it before, and you don’t need the world’s most expensive fitness tracker if you’re new to exercise in general.
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