March 20, 2008

What is Pilates? Is it Yoga? Aerobics? Fitness? Exercise?

Cosmopolitan Cross Impact Aerobics

March 18, 2008

Simple Guide to Fitness and Beauty

Health is the most previous thing a person has; therefore it is of utmost importance that we take care of our health as much as possible. When a personal is physically fit and healthy, one looks good and lean inside and out!

A person can engage in a lot of different activities to keep fit and work out. One might choose to go for a morning walk or jog everyday. Others may prefer something more sociable, and might choose to plan basketball or tennis with friends. Other people might like to sign up to a gym and workout there, this option is indeed the best choice for achieving a lean look and growing strong muscles.

Exercise is also important as it has many health benefits. It protects the body from a number of diseases and conditions. It is also one of the best methods for keeping happy and content. It is truly amazing how exercise can help improve both a person's mood and self confidence, indirectly therefore preventing one from falling into depression or anxiety.

Of course it is of utmost important for anyone to first consult with their doctor/GP before embarking on any fitness and exercise regime. This is truly important as it will help, among other things, avoid injury.

A well balanced exercise plan should include a mixture of cardiovascular and weight training exercises. This will ensure calories are burnt, whilst also increasing the muscle to fat ratio which will increase a person's metabolism.

When a person who has never worked out before, decided to embark on fitness plan, they should do so in a gradual and slow manner. Over doing it at the start can lead to injury or pulled muscles. Endurance is built slowly over a number of weeks and months.

There is another ingredient to beauty, which does not have to do with being lean and full of muscles. An essential ingredient to it is the beauty from within a person!

The following are some tips you can use to stay healthy and beautiful:

* Read books daily to work out your mind and keep it sharp!

* Everyone gets stressed, and work often has a lot to do with it. Try and do something special for yourself everyday to reduce the stress. Simple things you can do for yourself, like having a hot bath or going for a swim, will help you relieve stress greatly.

* Incredibly enough, pollution also has something to do with people's moods and stress level. Try and combat this by taking in daily vitamin supplements and antioxidants. This will help, for instance, protect your skin from damage. When buying beauty products ensure that contain antioxidants as well.

* Become healthier by cutting out those bad habits! Quit cigarettes and cut down on alcohol drinking. It is amazing the positive effect these two changes will have on your health and well being.

* What if you don't smoke? Then make sure that you stay away from smokers as much as possible! Studies have shown that non-smokers are also at risk of developing lung cancer due to second-hand smoking.

* Be positive! Start the day with a positive outlook towards life. Wake up in the morning and feel enthusiastic for the day ahead. Just as exercise makes a person feel better, so does a smile! Smiles are very positive, and moreover they are very contagious. Not only will it brighten your day, but for others around you as well!

About the Author: Maya Matthews
Freelancer at http://www.freefitnessbooks.com, Maya Matthews strives to provide fitness information to people worldwide. Visit FreeFitnessBooks.com to access free health and fitness ebooks.
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Exercising To Stay Fit

Exercising is one of the best ways that people choose to stay fit and they make it a point to do some form of exercise everyday. They think that it is a good way to stay healthy and there are many people who think that they are right. Exercising is a great way to start the day and many people include vitamins and minerals to ensure their health is afforded optimum energy levels to exercise.

When people eat the right things that nourish and nurture the body, and incorporate a daily regimen of rest and exercise, they are on their way to having a long and healthy life. Exercise will make the body strong and allow people to enjoy activities that they have never tried before. The body will have more energy and vigor and people will delight in the new opportunities that are available to them.

People that fail to exercise on a daily basis might feel slow and lack the energy to perform simple things like making a bed or cleaning their homes. When exercise is introduced into their daily lives, the entire family will take notice and put a greater value on exercise in their lives. Exercising to stay fit makes sense and it can also help save some lives.

Some people are prone to staying at home and watching television all day. They lack the energy to get interested in life and sometimes they feel life is passing them by while they do nothing about it. Simple walks along their street will make a great difference in their lives and it may be up to friends to get these people back into the swing of life. Their friends could just show up and grab their friend up to go for a short walk. Knowing that people care is one of the best ways for people to get interested in life again.

People with health problems are still able to do some forms of exercise. These people want to feel better and they make the effort every day to watch their diet and exercise by doing simple tasks like raising a leg a few times or holding a phonebook in their hands for a short while. After a while, that phonebook will not seem so heavy and they find that they can raise their leg a bit higher with each try.

All forms of exercise are worthwhile and many people who want to stay fit and lead productive lives would not consider starting their day without some form of exercise. They might get on a treadmill at home and run a mile or two before they dress for work, and by the time they reach work they find they have a renewed energy level and a clearer head to handle the pressures of the day better.

About the Author: Jim Brown
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How To Build An Irresistibly Attractive Body

Lifting weights in the gym is one of the methods to build an irresistibly attractive body. This is because when you train with weights, you your muscles will grow bigger giving you a buff and toned body. You can also target your body parts to sculpt the area that is lacking or unattractive. For example, if you want a sexy perky butt, then use the correct exercises to firm up your butt.

Now to build and tone your muscles effectively, you must know some basic rules in bodybuilding. First you must have the passion and the commitment to achieve your ideal body image. With passion and firm commitment, you will just go through the motion aimlessly and will eventually give up since the results you get will not be satisfactory.

Before you start your workout to get that irresistibly attractive body, start with a 10 minute light warm up of the muscle parts you are working out later. This will encourage blood flow to the muscles and will help to prevent injuries.

Next, work out more with free weights rather than with machines. Machines do have its advantages, however, concentrate on free weights. Use good old fashioned barbells and dumb bells.

This is because free weights recruit many stabilizing muscles for balance and control. That means you will work a lot more muscles other than the targeted ones. That will give rise to little bumps, striations and definitions all over your body instead of one huge lump of muscle on your intended muscle. This is why all professional body builders almost exclusively use free weights in their workouts.

Include as many compound exercises as possible into your workout sessions. Compound exercises are exercises that involve 2 or more joint movements. Since compound exercises involve more joint movements, it will that mean that more muscles are involved in the movement Since more muscles are involved, you will be lifting heavier weights and by lifting heavier weights, you will build more muscles.

Your workout must be intensive to encourage muscle growth. Always try to add more reps or add more weight than the previous session. This is called progressive overload. If you don't load your muscles progressively, how do you expect them to grow? They will just stay the same isn't it?

There are many other things you need to know such how correct eating, sleep, rest and training methods to grow your muscles effectively and big. However, this article is written for ordinary folks and beginners who just want to get a tone irresistibly attractive body and not for the bodybuilders, so the information here should suffice.

About the Author: Chris Chew
Chris Chew is a celebrity personal trainer and author of "Burn Fat Build Muscles Fast". Visit his sites Lose weight self hypnosis and Lose weight build muscles fitness tips
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Personal Fitness, The Best Thing To Increase Healt

One of the most overlooked aspects of life concerns our health. Millions of Americans make New Year's resolutions that they don't keep. Not only do they fail to keep them each year, but they generally end up adding on a few more pounds before the next January 1st rolls around. This is a terrible habit. It's a complacent rut that everyone needs to get out of. Whether you like it or not, a major part of living well and feeling great is personal fitness. What kind of shape are you currently in? I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you could be in better shape. Hey, it all starts with a little motivation.

Everyone knows that working out and eating healthy leads to a healthier body. The better your diet is and the leaner your body, the more energy you are likely to have. I can't stress enough how good being in shape can make you feel. It's a physical and emotional surge. Because when your personal fitness levels are up-to-par, you not only have more strength and energy, but you also have more confidence. You know that you look great and that you can do things like head down to the beach in a swimsuit or wear less clothing in public. But when you're overweight, you feel the need to cover up and hide from the world. This can often lead to depression and feelings of regret. NO MORE! It's time to put more time and effort into your personal fitness schedule.

Okay, this is where you can begin. Pull out a sheet of paper and label it with each day of the week. Choose five of these days to exercise on. Many people choose to have the weekends off, but it's up to you. Now, to get started you may want to try three days of cardio and two days of weight training, alternating days. This regular personal fitness regimen with get your body in shape the way it's supposed to be year-round. Always remember, being in great shape is NOT just a summer thing.

Eating right is imperative. You need a balance of good carbs, proteins and vitamins. Typically you can consume as many vegetables as you please. We need like 8 a day, so go for it. As far as proteins go, try lean poultry and fish. Then with good carbs, shoot for brown rice, whole grain breads and low-fat granola. With personal fitness so much relies on your diet. Without a nutritious one, you're doomed.

About the Author: Steven Gwillim
For more information/news please check out: Consumer News Auto Papers Health News Nutrition
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Exercise Tips: 25 Ways to Stay Motivated

We all know that exercise can be pure magic for the mind, body and soul. But how do you go from a sporadic, on again, off again exerciser to someone for whom exercise is a lifelong habit, as natural and necessary as going to work and eating regular meals?

Here are 25 tips from someone who has been on both sides.

1. The first thing to do is to ask yourself: Why are you exercising? Are you trying to get in shape for an upcoming event? Do you want to lose weight, sleep better, increase your energy, gain strength, add muscle tone and flexibility, or just feel a heightened sense of well being? If the reason you are exercising has anything to do with someone else (for example, your boyfriend says you need to lose weight or get in shape), you need a new reason (and, quite possibly, a new boyfriend).

2. Set goals. Set both a short term goal, to achieve in three to six weeks, and a long term goal, to achieve over the course of a year. Make sure your goals are achievable enough that they are not discouraging, but high enough that you have an incentive to tie your workout shoes each day. It is also important that your goals are specific and directly related to your specific motivation for exercising. For example, my main motivation for exercising is to consistently maintain my brighter mood and the calm, energized feeling that I get only from exercising, so my goal is to work out at least 5 days per week. My other motivation is to gain strength and cardiovascular endurance, so my other goals have to do with how long and how quickly I run.

3. Keep an exercise journal or log. Write down how your exercise is making you feel each day. How is your exercise benefiting your mood, energy levels, quality of sleep, weight, and so on? Do some exercises have more significant effects than others? Chart your progress in regard to your specific goals.

4. Take photos of yourself each month in your workout gear so you have a visual record of your results.

5. Make sure you are working out hard enough to release endorphins. Of course, you will want to talk to a doctor before starting any workout regimen, and you want to make sure that you are exercising at the optimum level for you, your body type, and your fitness level. I find that I am much more likely to continue with an exercise program if each workout releases those endorphins and immediately improves they way I feel.

6. Advertisements for fitness products (especially athletic shoes) can be tremendously motivating. Purchase a fitness magazine and make an inspirational collage of images, advertisements and slogans that speak to you. Post your collage where you will see it each day.

7. Make sure you are using proper technique. You want to avoid injury, above all, so check with a doctor or trainer if you experience any pain, or if you are not sure whether you are doing a particular exercise correctly.

8. Join an online community, such as WeightWatchers.com or Ediets.com, which encourages you to log and track your exercise each day.

9. If you enjoy working out with someone, call a friend to help hold you accountable for those daily workouts.

10. Join a group that combines fitness goals with charity fundraising. The Team In Training, from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, for example, provides training to walk or run a whole or half marathon, or to participate in a triathlon or 100 mile bike ride, all while raising money for a good cause.

11. If you prefer to work out alone, give yourself something fun to do while you exercise. Find some good heart pumping music or listen to books on tape. A suspenseful audiobook may be all you need to get on those running shoes each day.

12. Identify the excuses you like to use and have a ready made response. If time is an issue, make sure your workout clothes are ready to go. If you have young children, get a good jogging stroller or set up a babysitting swap with another mom in your neighborhood: you can watch her children while she works out and vice versa.

13. Make sure you have the right gear, which can make all the difference in the comfort level of your workout. A good pair of shoes is essential. And weather resistant clothing or a membership to an indoor gym can help you fight off your own excuses when weather conditions are less than ideal.

14. Once you find an exercise that you particularly enjoy, do a Google search to find out more about any coaches or specialists that may be able to provide inspiration or special training, either through tapes, books, or online resources. If you are a runner, for example, check out JohnBingham.com.

15. Recognize that your will to exercise is going to fluctuate, and exercise anyway. Sometimes it helps if I promise myself that I can stop my workout after 10 minutes if I still want to. At that point, I am usually feeling so much better that I finish the workout.

16. Place a giant star on your calendar each day to indicate that you completed your workout. These visual rewards can be so motivating.

17. Change your routine as you reach new goals. Add zest to your workout and avoid the exercise plateau by increasing the intensity or the duration of your workout, or by trying a new workout or sport.

18. Hire a trainer. If you are in an exercise rut, consider consulting with a personal trainer for a session or two. You will learn new techniques and find fresh motivation, as well.

19. Try not to take more than one day off at a time. I have found this really important to avoid losing valuable momentum. If I take two days off, it becomes very easy to take another day, and then another day. That means that if your workout is only part of your weekday routine, weave it into your weekend routine, too.

20. Be gentle with yourself. If you miss a workout or two or three, get right back to your regular schedule. You will feel better instantly.

21. Choose an exercise that you are likely to do each day. Some experts say that walking is the best exercise simply because it is something that is easy to do on a continual basis. There is no need for special equipment, and you can do it absolutely anywhere.

22. If you are walking or running, get a good pedometer to help you track your progress.

23. Schedule your daily exercise on your to do list and in your planner. Think of it as simply something you need to do before your head hits the pillow.

24. Give yourself simple rewards. It is generally best if these rewards are not edible, since a food reward can be a tad demoralizing after you have just worked to burn so many calories in a workout. For long term goals, treat yourself to a new pair of athletic shoes or other fitness equipment. For short term goals, consider a new fitness magazine, workout video, or simply fresh flowers for the dining room table.

25. Try to think of exercise as something you do for yourself: a gift you give yourself, a way to stay balanced and focused, and time when you can be alone with your thoughts.

About the Author: Jamie Jefferson
Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape at http://www.momscape.com . Visit today for the latest online Coupon Codes including money-saving shoe store coupons.
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Setting Health and Fitness Goals

What is the benefit of a health and fitness plan? When you are healthy and fit, you have better mental alertness, you respond quicker, you relax more under pressure, and you are able to wind down out of stressful situations by getting exercise.

Some people when they relate exercise to the idea of going to a gym or going to a sport and working out so hard after the training that it actually hurts. That's not the kind of health and fitness I am talking about. Some people do that and every now and again they will go to training, but in general the idea is to get enough exercise that is actually enjoyable without going to the absolute limit all the time.

I can relate this pretty well to the way that you look after a motor vehicle. If you always drive your motor vehicle to its absolute maximum performance, right up to the red line and then change, what you find is that your maintenance costs start dramatically going up.

I remember when I was a teen-ager we used to take out our cars into the forest around Canberra, and go rally-driving with our street cars, and what we found was that all of a sudden you get all these loose bolts and things falling off and all sorts of things start breaking, simply because the cars were never really designed for that sort of punishment, and the people who have race cars, that are rally cars, once they bring them back from the bush, they go through all the bolts and tighten them all up and put lock-tight on the bolts and get rid of all the dirt out of the joints, and so on, and yet here we were, packing the vehicles out, wrapping them around, and then trying to go to and from work the next day. Guess what happened, sooner or later things started to break, usually sooner.

If you treat your body in the same way that we were treating our cars, that is, taking it to the absolute limit all the time, you will start breaking things, hurting muscles, hurting bones, you need to make sure that your body has time to recover from minor injuries. On the other hand, if you work so lightly that you don't even get a decent work-out; you are totally wasting your time.

We know that going to the gym is not going to be every one's cup of tea; doing marshal arts is not going to be every one's favourite activity - some people might like to play baseball or basket ball , or walking down the street, or walking through the park. A lot of people say "I can't afford a sport", and that may be true but you cannot afford not to exercise.

The process of exercise makes the body subtle; actually before I started doing marshal arts I had to go and see a chiropractor every week or couple of weeks, because I was having back problems, and what I found was that after I started exercising regularly, I didn't get anywhere as near as the amount of problems I was getting before.

Heart attacks are caused typically by cholesterol, and healthy exercise will actually help, but it doesn't actually eliminate the risk of a heart attack. Let's say that you happen to be blessed with a metabolism that is really high or you work out 18 hours a week and you are really fit, it doesn't really mean that you won't have a heart attack, because if you still have high cholesterol or LDL from animal products in a large degree, you can still have a heart attack. It is as simple as that because it is not the fat that gives you a heart attack but the cholesterol.

So don't you think if I work out and I've got this really good-looking body, I really don't need to worry about cholesterol because I am not fat. I am not saying to overly worry about it but keep it in mind that you need to keep a good balance between the types of food that you eat.

There are some interesting aspects about health and fitness. One is that bone strength is improved by doing resistance training, whether it is lifting weight or doing some sort of exercise where you put resistance against your bones even playing games such as baseball or basket ball.

When you start exercising your bones, you actually strengthen them and managing your bone density or bone strength is partly achieved. Both bone strength, muscle strength adds flexibility. The health of your spine is important so that it is exercised in such a way that the joints get moved and they don't calcify. If you don't do any sort of exercise, what happens is that your back stiffens up, the joints calcify and you are more susceptible to pain.

In my job as a computer programmer, I had a stage where because my arms were always stretched out, I had a problem starting to appear in my back; I went to a personal trainer who did a little bit of work on my posture and strengthening the right muscles and I've never had a problem since. If I tried to manage that, without doing some remedial exercise or maintenance type of exercise, I would have so much pain that I couldn't work.

Some of you probably have jobs where you get plenty of exercise, that's fine.

What sort of goals should you set in health and fitness?

After consulting a health and fitness professional, perhaps go to the gym three times a week. You will be able to measure how much you have done by looking at your score card, and/or setting up a reminder notice in whatever calendar tool you happen to use.

About the Author: Glen Smith
Glen Smith aka Glen The Goals Guy has been running goal setting courses for 13 years. Visit http://QuickStartGoals.com for online training or http://GlenTheGoalsGuy.com blog
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March 17, 2008

8 minut Buns


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8 minut Legs


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8 minut Arms


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8 minut Abs


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10 min pilates sclupting-full


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Pilates for begginers


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Yoga for Beginners with Tara Stiles


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Yoga for Home Invasion with Tara Stiles


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Butt Workout with Kim Strother


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March 16, 2008

How to Get a Good Looking Body

It is often possible to get very near to that amazing body you always have dreamt of. However, it can cost a lot of effort and time to get all the way to the goal. Still you can achieve a lot with less time and cost, as long as you are persistent in your endeavors. Here are some advices to get a better looking body:

You should first plan how you will look. You must decide which body parts you want to be muscular and have round curvatures, and which parts you want to keep slim and gracious. Most persons will probably feel most well with a balanced body shape: Muscular round the shoulders and upper breast, strong arms but not too muscular, slim around the mid, round buttocks, muscular thighs and strong calves.

Other persons will prefer a more v-shaped figure with more muscle mass on the top, and somewhat less at the bottom.

You must also decide if you want changes in you posture, and define these changes. By consistent training you can greatly improve your posture. Your plan must however be realistic. You skeleton sets some limitations of shape and size you cannot surpass.

You must also decide if you want to loose body fat or perhaps gain some fat on your body. You must decide how important it is for you to get a better general condition and gain general wellness, and decide if these goals are more important than improvement in body appearance.

Then you must make a plan for your training, your diet and otherwise for your lifestyle.

The training should contain exercises to gain muscle mass and strength, exercises for your general condition and exercises to get a flexible and agile body. Improvement of posture will result from the combination of stronger muscles and flexibility training.

A repetitive three day's plan with training 45 minutes to one hour each day will give you great results, if the plan is consistently adhered to:

In day one you perform exercises to gain muscular mass and muscular strength, like weight lifting or analogous training methods. You should train all your muscles, but those body parts where you have planned to get must muscles, should be exercised the most.

If you have posture problems, curvatures or bendings in body parts caused by weak muscles or bad habits, these can often be helped for by strengthening the muscles that flex the body parts in the opposite direction. If however, the bending is due to scoliosis or some other disease under progression, the problem need professional treatment.

In day two you do exercises that enhance your general condition, like jogging, swimming, playing ball, and cycling. Choose something that you find funny, and you can also vary between different activities. It is also good to invite some friends to exercise together with you on this day.

In day three you do no hard activities, but stretch out and do exercises to improve your body's flexibility in all natural directions. Yoga exercises are very good to enhance your flexibility and improve your general health. It is also advisable to set out some time for meditation in day three.

The diet is important for achieving and maintaining a good body shape. You must eat 3-5 good meals each day, but do not over-eat.

You need enough proteins. Every meal must have some protein-rich food sources, like: Fish, seafood, lean meat, lean cheese, foul or mushrooms. Also nuts, almonds and sunflower seeds contain protein. These are good food sources, but because of the content of fat, you should not consume too much of them. Eggs are a good protein source, but eat it in moderate amounts to avoid getting too much cholesterol.

In each meal you need some fat from natural sources and you need some carbohydrates. You should however control your consume of fat and sugar. You must not add very much fat or sugar to your food, and you must not eat too much of food with a high content of fat and sugar.

Also vary between different natural fat sources to get all the essential fatty acids you need: Fat fish, nuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, olive oil, rape oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil, marine oils, nut oils and sunflower oil. Do not use only soy oil or corn oil as many people do. Neither use much butter. Do not consume chemically altered fat.

As sources of carbohydrates use mostly full corn bread or cereals, peas, lenses or beans, but also add some sweet fruit.

In order to get enough fiber, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, every meal must have some fruit or vegetables in a natural condition. Supplements of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants and special nutrients can be of help.

A training program as depicted combined with a good diet, will often make you loose fat over time. However, if you are heavily over-weight, a more specific slimming regime can be necessary.

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Knut Holt is an internet consultant and marketer focusing on health items. At his web-site you can find health advices, training supplements, vitamins, minerals and natural drugs against common diseases, like: Acne and skin problems, over-weight, hypothyroidism, hemorrhoids, heart trouble, joint pain and rheumatism, depression, constipation and digestive trouble, cold, flu, men's and women's problems, and more.

http://www.abicana.com

Body Building Equipment

Generally, people think of body building equipment as weight machines. While weight machines are some of the best ways to work specific muscle groups, there is still a lot of other body building equipment you can use to help tone and work your muscles to their fullest potential.

Of course, you will want to have some type of weights to help you with your body building goals. A stable weight bench and some barbells as well as dumbbells will help you workout at home. If you’re not able to get to a gym, having these types of weights at home will contribute to your workout program and help you build your muscles in an amazing way.

An exercise ball is a cheap way to work your ab muscles and make them strong. You simply roll over the ball and perform sit-ups while using the resistance that the ball can give you works your abs. Exercise balls can be purchased in many places including discount stores like Wal-Mart, and are relatively inexpensive when you consider what they can give you in the long run.

Body building equipment doesn’t have to be expensive. You can actually come across some great deals when you search out the types of machines that you want to enhance your workout. Check online and look in the classified ads of your local newspaper to find Nautilus machines as well as treadmills or stair step machines.

You should look for reliability in body building equipment before you buy. This is especially true if you are buying a machine with pulley systems. Look at the cords and see if they are strong and not frayed. If there is any sign of stress on the pulleys, don’t buy it.

If you are looking to buy some body building equipment from a large company, be sure that they are reliable and offer a guarantee. It’s convenient to have your own weight machine in your home, but if it doesn’t give you the workout that you need, you’re just throwing your money away.

The equipment you use when you are undertaking a body building program can be very important. You will want to choose the type of equipment that will give you maximum results and contribute to your goals not take away from them. There are many places you can go to get this type of equipment, but know what you are looking for before you buy.

Body building equipment can greatly enhance your workout sessions and tone your body to new proportions. Use the equipment that will work the parts of your body that you want to concentrate on and then watch your muscles thrive!

Need more tips and help on bodybuilding 101 visit The Bodybuilding Trainer.

Alternative Treatment For Hips, Legs and Feet

Pain may occur in part or all of the leg, including the hip, thigh, knee, calf, and foot. When pain is felt within the joint area itself (where two bones join) and is accompanied by swelling, heat, or stiffness, there may be an underlying condition, such as arthritis, or a musculoskeletal dysfunction of the joint. When pain spreads diffusely into the leg, it may be spinal or pelvic dysfunction or "referred" from the back.

Hip Complaints

Hip complaints are generally felt as pain in the groin, hip, or in the buttock, although it may spread into the thigh and knee. Pain is usually worse when walking, rising from a chair, and lying on the affected side and can be exacerbated by warmth.

The causes of hip complaints and associated pain are manifold and include arthritis and previous joint distortion. Mechanical dysfunction of the pelvis, lower back, or knees can also cause hip problems, and occasionally infection may be at the root.

Treatment

It is vital to get sufficient rest, since strain exacerbates the condition. Avoid sitting with your legs crossed.

Hydrotherapy Cold compresses may be used.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Acupressure This will reduce pain.

Acupuncture Treatment will aim at balancing the energies.

Alexander Technique Postural awareness exercises will be taught.

Chiropractic Spinal, hip, and pelvic adjustments are common methods of treatent. A practitioner will look at the problem of the whole person.

Homeopathy The following specific remedies may be suggested: Arnica 6c and Rhus tox. 6c.

Osteopathy Specific work into the hip and its surrounding structures, as well as the pelvis and spine, are the best forms of treatment.

Rolfing Treatment consists of expansion of the pelvis and postural integration.

Massage This should be firm and deep with Ruta grav and Arnica creams, and camphor and ginger oils.

Housemaid's Knee

Bursitis of the knee, or Housemaid's knee as it is commonly called, is the inflammation of, and excess fluid over, the kneecap, caused by repeated rubbing or pressure on the knees from kneeling. The inflammation and fluid prevent the free movement of the joint, causing pain, swelling, and heat.

Treatment

Knee pads should be worn while kneeling, or a foam rubber mat used to reduce pressure on the kneecaps. After the swelling subsides, exercise, within the limits of pain, is recommended in order to strengthen the thighs.

Diet and Nutrition Vitamins A, C, and B complex may be supplemented to reduce the severity of the condition and encourage the body's healing processes.

Hydrotherapy Cold compresses should be applied to the affected area when it becomes inflamed.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Acupressure and Acupuncture A practitioner will address specific points.

Chiropractic Specific joint adjustment, as well as adjustment of the spine and pelvis.

Herbal Medicine Comfrey and slippery elm (used as poultices on the affected area) and infusions of camomile and passionflower, taken internally.

Homeopathy Specific remedies include Ruta grav. 6c, Arnica 6c, and Bryonia 6c.

Massage Local massage with Ruta grav. cream, tiger balm, and ginger and lavender oils is recommended.

Osteopathy This is useful for specific work into the knee and its surrounding structures. Read out for herbal medicines. Check out herbal supplements and skin disorders

Pilates Abs Workout

by Juliet Cohen

Pilates is a great way to strengthen abs without doing even a single crunch. It is an exercise that primarily focuses on strengthening and creating a better looking stomach and buttocks. it also increases your flexibility improves your posture and strengthens the body’s muscles. Pilates and Yoga are similar they are both mind/body activities. Their focus is on breathing and posture. However, they can't take the place of traditional cardio and strength training exercises. There are several different pilates abs exercises such as, plank. This is when you are in the push up position and you are using your elbows to support your body weight. Pilates moves are by far the best abdominal exercises. Where crunches work primarily the rectus abdominus (the large "six pack" of muscle in the center of the abdomen).

Pilates works the deeper abdominal muscles and the stabilizers that help to hold it all in. It has also been shown to lengthen the muscles considerably,giving a taller, leaner appearance. Many exercises that tone the abs. There are many more, and Pilates is meant to be done in one smooth-flowing sequence. You then contract your abs holding this position for 30 to 60 seconds and repeat as many times as possible. There is also the 100s position, in which you lie flat on your back with your legs together and straight. Lifting your head and shoulders off the ground you pull in your abs. Roll-Up exercises-Sit with your legs straight and your arms in front of you Holding your abs in, slowly roll all the way down, feeling each vertebra press into the mat.

Until you're lying flat, being careful not to let your feet pop up. Now raise your arms on high your chest and slowly roll your trunk up and forward, tightening your stomach, until you're back to the starting position. Crisscrosses -- With your head slightly emboss,bring your knees to your chest and place your hands gently behind your head (don't interlace your fingers). Inhale and slowly twist to the right, bringing your left elbow to your right knee while extending your right leg. Hold this long enough to exhale. Now inhale and return to the starting position. Repeat, bringing your right elbow to your left knee. The Teaser -- Lie flat on your back with your legs straight out and arms on the mat, stretched straight up over your head.

Lift your legs up while raising both arms overhead until your fingers are pointing at your toes. Breath and slowly roll back down, feeling each vertebra press into the mat, back to the starting position. Repeat three times. Rolling exercises- Sit up and pull your ankles in toward your buttocks, wrapping your hands around them. Bring your head toward your knees and lift your feet off the mat so that you're balancing on your tailbone. Tighten your tummy and slowly roll backward just until your shoulders touch the mat be careful not to roll on your neck. Immediately roll back up. Strong Pilates body depends on the powerhouse woven and deep layer of lower back and abdominal muscles. This system of exercise allows the person to move elegantly and stand boldly throughout their life.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for http://www.healthatoz.info/, http://www.health-disease.org/ and http://www.health-care-articles.info/ .