Everyone goes through phases of their life when they get a new hairstyle or cut their hair short. For a while, you love how it looks and wouldn’t want to go back, but then you see pictures of long, healthy hair. Maybe you want waist-length curls or thick hair that doesn’t have split ends. Some people wait years for their hair to grow out by even a few inches, but you don’t have to spend your future wishing you’d never scheduled that last cut. Check out how to make your hair grow faster with these six simple tips. Anyone can use these tricks to encourage faster, natural growth so that you get the look you want without wasting your time or money. 1. Avoid Chemical Treatments There are many types of hair treatments that all do something a little different. A specific product may get you the platinum blonde shade you’ve always wanted or guarantee straight hair for weeks at a time. If you’ve signed up for these treatments recently, they could be the cause of your hair not growing fast enough. Chemical treatments result in dry, brittle hair. This means there’s no protective layer on the hair strands because chemicals dissolve it during treatments and keep your hair and hair follicles from retaining moisture. Stay away from these services and give your hair time to heal so that it regains its ability to grow faster. 2. Schedule Regular Trims Every eight to 12 weeks, you should head back to your favorite salon. By that point, your hair may have grown a quarter-inch or longer and will have split ends. After your stylist trims these split ends off, your hair will grow faster and appear healthier because there’s no breakage. Your body won’t waste time trying to grow from split ends and will instead thrive with healthier strands. 3. Eat Healthy Food Your first thought may be to find a new product to encourage hair growth, but you should look at your diet. What you eat affects your body, especially in terms of cellular growth and regeneration. Skip your next round of fast food or microwaved meals and eat foods that help your hair instead, like berries or sweet potatoes. These foods have all-natural nutrients like biotin, vitamin C and beta-carotene that are all linked to hair health. Find new recipes and have fun discovering new flavors while enjoying food that’s proven to help you reach your hair goals. 4. Skip Heat Styling Tools Think about how often you straighten or curl your hair. Pressing your hair against a metal tool that’s heated to extremely high temperatures will bake and fray each strand, leading to more split ends and breakage. Don’t zap all the moisture from your hair with this kind of styling. Try new ways to play with your look so that you don’t rely on harmful styling tools while you wait for extra length or volume. 5. Shampoo Less Frequently Another way to accidentally dry your hair out is to use shampoo every day. Shampoo strips your scalp of natural oils that keep your hair follicles healthy. Without this hydration, your hair dries out and stops growing at its natural, faster pace. Shampoo less frequently each week or find one that’s gentle on your scalp. 6. Rinse With Cold Water When you finish rinsing out your conditioner during your next shower, stand under cold water for at least a few minutes for longer hair. The cold temperature constricts and flattens hair follicles, which makes your hair healthier and prevents it from falling out. You’ll also decrease pore size and redness in your skin, which are just a few of the extra benefits of cold water showers. Give Yourself Time It’s hard to look in the mirror every day and wish your hair was longer, but even with these tips, it will take time to get the length you want. Keep up your new healthy routine with better food, no chemical treatments and no hot styling tools to make your hair grow faster naturally.
Emotional cheating isn’t always easy to define. Usually, emotional cheating occurs when one partner finds a degree of intimacy, companionship and fulfillment outside of their relationship in a way that defies the nature or agreements of their commitments to the other person. Often, emotional affairs begin as friendships or even innocent crushes before developing into a sore spot of your love life, so it can be hard to tell if you really are emotionally cheating. Of course, you can’t expect your partner to provide every emotional need in your life. That’s not fair to them, and it’s unhealthy for you. It’s important to have close friendships and avenues to engage in activities or conversations that your partner might not provide the best support for. In many cases, this can help you have a better relationship with your partner by alleviating pressure you both may feel to be each other’s everything. Boundaries are important, though. Where you draw the line is personal to you, your relationship and the standards you set together. However, there are some universal signs that you may be pulling away and emotionally cheating. You Once Felt Comfortable Talking to Your Partner About Close Relationships and Crushes, But Now You Don’t Being honest and open about close friendships with your partner is often a given, because you care about one another and want to know about each other’s personal lives. But sharing about harmless crushes or people you find attractive can also be very healthy! Often, sharing things like small crushes with each other in a relationship can create an environment of honesty and trust, resulting in both parties feeling more secure and stable. If you once engaged in this practice, but have begun to withhold things, ask yourself why. Is it because this friendship or crush no longer feels innocent and harmless? Your Feelings are Targeted at One Specific Person in Your Life Sharing various levels of intimacy across your social circle is a great practice to make sure you feel connected with the people in your life, and are getting all of your needs met emotionally. However, you might be at risk of emotional cheating if every emotional need your partner isn’t meeting is being instead met by one specific person. It is totally alright to have a close best friend or confidant — someone you tell everything to. But when there’s too much crossover — perhaps a best friendship, plus a crush, plus a level of attraction — it may be worth examining if this relationship is actually the primary emotional provider of your life rather than your partner. When you think about emotional cheating, does one specific person come to mind? You Find Yourself Hiding Your Texts, Emails or Phone Firstly, your partner should never be going through your personal property without permission. If they regularly snoop in your things in a way that makes you uncomfortable, it’s totally understandable that you may feel the desire to hide your things in order to maintain your personal privacy, and that’s on them, not you. But if you turn your screen away from harmless glances, flip your phone face down when your partner comes near or delete text messages and emails so that your partner won’t see, you might be looking at a problem. Digital communication is a prime avenue for emotional infidelity. If you constantly feel like your digital footprint is somehow incriminating, the truth is that it might be. You Try Not to Think or Talk About Your Partner When You’re Not With Them While they don’t have to be at the forefront of your mind at all times, if you actively try to keep them out of your thoughts or conversations when you’re with other people, it might be a good idea to ask yourself why you feel that way. Do they stress you out? Do you wish they weren’t a part of your daily life? Would you rather have someone else on your mind? Are you trying to come off as possibly single around specific people? It’s always important to give your attention to the person you’re with and let the conversation flow naturally, as this lays a foundation of respect for healthy communication. But if you try not to think about your partner or mention them around certain people, there might be an unconscious reason for that. If, after some reflection, you don’t think you’re emotionally cheating, remember that you never need to feel guilty about having friends and close relationships outside of your romantic relationship. Friendships — and sometimes even crushes — are a healthy part of life. Building a support system that includes your partner rather than making your partner your entire support system is key. If you’ve determined that you are emotionally cheating, there isn’t a set path of exact actions to take — it depends on what is best for you and your relationship. It could be beneficial to think about what in your relationship led you to need that emotional intimacy from someone else, which can help you address the issue head-on. However you choose to solve the problem, coming to terms with your behavior is often the hardest part. Now you can think about the needs of both yourself and your partner in order to move forward.
After many years of hard work and sacrifice, you’ve finally graduated from college. No matter which degree you have framed in your living room, you’re about to use it to start your career. It’s exciting to apply for jobs and schedule interviews, especially if your next job takes you to a new country. Plenty of college grads move across the world after they walk across the stage because it’s the perfect time for a fresh start. You could finally live in the country of your dreams or get experience from international experts. It’s a major decision that could strengthen your career, but it’s also a major move that requires extra steps and planning. Check out these six tips for moving abroad after college so that your experience is as easy as possible. 1. Learn Everything You Can It’s always wise to visit a place before moving there, but that’s not always possible when you’re moving to a new country. Instead, learn everything you can about the destinations that interest you. Look for factors like: The current state of the national and local economy How many jobs are available The unemployment percentage The price of living The average yearly weather Things to do The average age of residents where you might live These are all crucial factors that could change your opinion about a city or country. You want to move somewhere that has fun things to do, a price of living you can afford and a job market that’s ready to hire college grads. 2. Save Your Money Before you leave, try to save your money for as long as you can. After you know where you’ll live, calculate the cost of moving and any extra living expenses you’ll need to pay after you arrive. An easy way to do that when you’re between jobs is to sell almost everything you own. You’ll make quick money and avoid expensive overseas-shipping fees. You can always buy new furniture and household essentials after you arrive. 3. Check Passport and Visa Requirements You may also run into issues with passport and visa requirements. Some countries require at least 12 months validity on your passport before you can move there, which means having your passport for at least a year. You’ll also need the correct visa to travel that specifies the purpose of your trip. You might apply for a residence visa, depending on the requirements of your destination. Keep in mind that some countries require a work permit along with a visa to live there and earn money. The best way to figure all this out is to contact the country’s consulate office in the U.S. for more information. 4. Find Travel Insurance If you do need to ship things or you know you’ll travel with expensive belongings, it’s wise to find travel insurance. Compare rates and coverage to get what you need to replace anything you might lose during your move. The best protection will also cover your health costs if you were to get sick and require hospitalization before settling down and getting private or national insurance coverage. 5. Visit Your Doctor As early as you can, visit your doctor to get any required immunizations. These will change depending on what country you move to and may not fall under your health insurance coverage. While you still have your current health insurance, you should also stock up on any prescription medications you take. It may be a few months before you get coverage again or figure out all your new information to set up prescription pick up in your new place of residence. 6. Update Your Address After you know exactly where you’ll live after your move, it’s time to update your address with your bank and any of your credit card or lending companies. If you forget this step, they may freeze your accounts and assume your new international spending is fraud. The same thing goes for your monthly subscriptions and saved shipping addresses on shopping accounts. Along with your accounts, you’ll need to set up international USPS mail forwarding so nothing gets lost in the U.S. mailing system. They’ll forward all your mail to the new address for the first few months after your move, which gives you time to figure out what you’ve updated or forgotten about. Write Everything Down Don’t leave the ease and security of your future move up to chance. Write every step of your plan down so that you don’t forget anything. Moving abroad after college can be straightforward and enjoyable if you start planning early and use these tips to remember the fine details of your move.
Stop where you are, and pay attention to your body for a moment. What areas feel tense or achy? Maybe you notice that you clench your jaw or that your lower back feels like you have a red hot bowling ball lodged under your shirt. One free way to ease stress and tension is through stretching. The beauty part of flexibility workouts is that you can do them anywhere. It doesn’t matter whether you’re standing in line at the grocer’s or sitting at your workstation. Try these moves to feel better more quickly. Forward Folds Forward folds are the ideal method for releasing tension in your lower back. You can do these seated or standing, which lets you perform them nearly anywhere. To do a standing forward fold, bend forward as if you want to touch your toes. Breathe deeply as you hinge from your hips. You can hold on to your elbows and gently sway side to side, or, if you have the range of motion, reach down and grab your toes to pull yourself closer to your legs. To perform a seated forward fold, again, hinge from your hip. In this position, focus on posture by lengthening your tailbone away from the back of your pelvis. You can use a strap or yoga blocks to make the move more comfortable. Avoid the temptation to force yourself into the stretch. Jerking or yanking your way into a movement can lead to muscle and tendon tears. Shoulder Mobility Are you one of the many who carries excess tension in their shoulders? You can ease it in several ways. While standing, try moving your shoulders up toward your ears as you inhale, as if you were shrugging, “I don’t know.” As you exhale, let them release, focusing your attention on relaxing the muscles. You can also perform shoulder rolls. If you are in a crowded area, keep them small by rotating only the cuffs forward, then backward. If you have more space, open your arms wide and trace circles in the air. You can do this with your elbows bent or your arms straight. Cat-Cow Variations Maybe, like many folks, you have pain in your spine. You can perform cat-cow pose standing, seated, or on all fours. To practice the most well-known variation, get on the floor on your hands and knees. As you inhale, let your belly hang down while keeping the core engaged and look up slightly. This motion accentuates the natural curvature of your spine. Then, as you exhale, round out your spine and think of opening your ribcage like an Oriental handheld fan. To do this movement seated in your office chair, place your hands in your lap and coordinate the arching and rounding motions with your breath. If standing, you can set your hand on your thighs, leaning forward slightly as you perform the move. Twists of All Kinds Your spine doesn’t only move along the coronal or frontal plane, which divides you from front to back. This remarkable bone structure lets you do the twist, too. While you can dance it up on your feet, static twists work best seated or lying on the floor. At your work desk, sit with your feet uncrossed in front of you, legs together. Place one hand on your opposite knee and the other on the back of your chair. Do one side and then the other. Don’t worry if your back cracks — as long as you avoid pushing it, you won’t cause arthritis or stunt your growth. On the floor, lie on your back. You can bend both knees or perform a variation with one leg straight. Bring the bent knee toward your chest and then cross it over your body. Extend the opposite arm to the side. Stand Tall and Tense-Relax Do you want a stretch that improves your posture? Stand up straight and elongate your spine. Think of reaching your head toward the ceiling and your feet into the earth. To other people, you’ll exude an air of confidence — while all you did was stretch your backbone and legs a bit. Another full-body stretch you can perform anywhere is progressive muscle relaxation. Tighten all of your muscles — or those in a targeted area — for four to ten seconds. Then, relax them and feel the difference. This exercise helps you to identify areas of tension more readily before your muscles start to ache. Do These Nine Flexibility Workouts Anywhere and Move More Freely Your fitness instructor at the gym advises you not to skip the stretch section because your body needs it. Fortunately, with the moves above, you can do flexibility workouts anywhere you find yourself with a few extra minutes — like waiting in line.
How do people in some remote tribes cure depression when one of their numbers becomes melancholy? They dance! You don’t need to have access to modern medicine to know that this form of fitness can help ease your body, mind — and spirit. Who couldn’t use that during uncertain times? If you aren’t ready to bust a move in the gym, that’s okay. You have ample options when it comes to how to learn to dance at home. From fitness apps to old school record players, these tips have you covered. Check Your TV Listings Dancing is popular all over the world. Maybe you can’t perform some of the stunts the talent at “World of Dance” can master, but you can learn a few basic moves if you remain tethered to the cable box. Pick one or two steps that seem doable and practice them in front of the mirror until you feel happy with your take. Then, add to your repertoire. Add a unique signature style and flair. Turn to YouTube YouTube is the end-all-be-all home for free fitness, and dance is no exception. Pull up the app on your computer and type “learn how to dance” in the address bar. You’ll find tons of tutorials to choose from — you will gravitate toward the channels you love after a while. Try a Fitness App Do you have an Amazon Fire Stick, or do you use a device such as a tablet? You can find a world of apps out there, many of which offer free content to let you try-before-you-buy. You can find one with videos that you love and pay to upgrade as your budget permits. With literally thousands to choose from, you won’t get bored even if you never drop a dime. Lose Yourself in the Music Who said you needed anything other than the beat? Put on your favorite jams and dance around your living room. You can find wireless Bluetooth speakers to let you fill your entire house with sound for that matter — why not? A single command to your smartphone can let you get in the groove while you fold the laundry. Involve the Little Ones Do you have children at home? You can get them involved in dance, too! Kids lack the inhibitions of adults, and as such, they love to move their bodies in a way that gives them joy. Embrace their spirit of playfulness while you frolic around the house together. You’ll strengthen your bond and help prevent childhood obesity in one fell swoop. Try Adding a Barre or a Pole If you took ballet as a child and loved it, why not consider adding a barre to your in-home fitness room? You can perform a ton of toning and flexibility exercises with this device, which comes in handy during yoga balance poses, too. If you want to free your inner temptress while you burn calories, you can find portable poles for exotic dancing. While they do tend to cost more if you don’t want to have to mount one as a permanent fixture in your home, if you have the cash, it’s worth the investment. You can’t find a better upper body system of exercise that only uses your weight. Include Plenty of Flexibility Dancing looks effortless, but it is a full-body workout. You twist, you pirouette, you leap — is it any wonder that leg injuries predominate among dancers? One way to prevent ending up on the disabled list is by including ample flexibility in your dance routine. When you perform bodyweight movements, they tighten your ligaments and tendons. While you want to strengthen them, you also want to elongate them to prevent tears. Think about yanking on a warm rubber band versus a frozen one, and you can see this principle. Keeping your muscles and connective tissues pliable allows them to give instead of ripping if you accidentally move the wrong way. How to Learn to Dance at Home? Listen to Your Body and Move It You can learn to dance, even if you think you have two left feet. Try the tips above, and you’ll be ready to hit the nightclub and show off your moves.
If you've never thought about your trampoline as a fitness tool, it's time to try some new workouts. With the right technique, a rebounder can help you build and strengthen muscle – and protect your joints at the same time. Plus, you can burn some serious calories. Here are five fitness trampoline workouts to incorporate into your exercise routine. Complete each exercise for about one to three minutes. 1. Tuck Jumps With this workout, you can tone your abs as you jump. You can also alleviate lower and upper back pain when you exercise on a trampoline. If you fall, you won't injure yourself, either. It's essential to follow up each activity with a recovery jump, or a follow-up jump that limits impact and acquaints you with the movement. To complete a tuck jump, stand up straight on your rebounder and gain some momentum before you jump. As you get into the air, pull your legs up so that you can tuck them into your chest. When you land, try a recovery jump. Eventually, you should be able to jump continuously without a pause. 2. Single-Leg Bounces If you want to start with a less extreme rebounder workout, try some single-leg bounces. This exercise can help increase ankle stability, which improves balance. It's also a simple way to build strength within your legs, especially if you're unable to complete more rigorous leg workouts. Stand so that your feet are hip-distance apart. Then, push your weight onto one foot. Lift your other leg and bounce up and down. After a minute or two, switch to the other leg. Make sure to focus on your stationary leg so that your knee doesn't buckle. 3. Pike Jumps A set of pike jumps can help you increase flexibility, which leads to better physical performance. You may not be able to extend your legs fully without practice, but a consistent effort always helps. Over time, you can master this exercise. Stand up straight on your trampoline. As you jump, you'll want to extend your legs outward. Reach your arms so that you can try to touch your toes mid-air. Then, return to your original position. Feel free to squat as you land to reduce the impact. 4. Twist Jumps This workout tones your core as well as your back. If you want a more intense exercise, you can incorporate a free weight or a medicine ball as you jump. When you want to develop your abs, it's best to create movement throughout your workout to engage the correct muscles. Stand up straight with your arms at your side. As you jump, you'll want to turn your legs one way as your chest rotates the other way. This movement creates a twist. After you land, repeat this motion in the opposite direction. 5. Squat Jumps Here's a terrific way to work on your glutes and thighs. Normally, squats can cause your knees to feel somewhat sore or tight, so this exercise can prevent that pain. You may also want to add weight as you learn how to perfect this workout. Stand up straight with your arms at your side. Once you jump, be sure to spread your legs slightly so that you land in a squat position. Keep your back straight and extend your arms outward. Return to your original form before you start again. Incorporate These Fitness Trampoline Workouts Into Your Routine If you're on the hunt for a few new exercises, try these ideas. A trampoline or rebounder can allow you to work on your body, all while you protect your joints.
Everyone’s heard that you need to have a proper diet and routine exercise regimen to lead a healthy life. You may eat fruits and veggies while avoiding sugary foods, but you’ll notice a few different ways exercise affects your life once you do it regularly. The first change may be a few delayed or missed periods. When women begin exercising, they may not see immediate changes in their menstrual cycles. Anything from a daily jog to intense weight lifting could impact your period differently than the women you know. It’s natural to wonder why you’re missing periods while you complete workouts you enjoy. Read on to learn why some exercises cause missed periods so you don’t need to worry the next time your menstrual cycle is supposed to start. You may miss it because of one of these reasons, but it’s always good to talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your health. 1. It Causes Early Spotting During the week before your period, you may complete a workout and notice some spotting afterward. Spotting is also known as breakthrough bleeding. It can look bright or dark red and become a light flow that happens off and on. There’s no currently known direct cause of exercise and spotting. As far as experts know, it could be the result of a few different conditions. You may be more prone to structural changes in your uterine lining because of its shape or your DNA. It may also indicate a disordered endometrium, which up to a third of women experience in their lifetimes. If you experience a week of early spotting, you may slowly shed your uterine lining and not experience your regular period. 2. It Results in Physiological Stress Even if you enjoy every workout you complete, rigorous exercise can result in physiologic stress. This kind of stress affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and disrupts its hormonal cycle. When this axis can’t produce hormones regularly, it sends broken messages to your ovaries and can keep your body from ovulating. This is also known as exercise-induced amenorrhea and could be a condition you have if you miss periods regularly while you have a strict exercise schedule. 3. You’re Not Eating Enough Athletes with severe exercise routines may restrict their caloric intake to reduce their muscle mass. If a trainer or a nutritionist doesn’t guide this decision, it could result in missed periods. Not eating enough and exercising too hard might cause you a female athlete triad diagnosis. It’s a condition usually seen in young women and leads to low energy levels, making it difficult for the body to function. Your body may conserve energy by reducing hormonal production, delaying or stopping ovulation completely. 4. It Increases Stress Hormone Production Everyone naturally produces cortisol, whether they exercise or not. It’s a stress hormone that regulates normal bodily functions like blood sugar levels, sleep cycles and memories. Intense exercise can make your body think you’re in a fight-or-flight situation, so it increases your cortisol levels to protect you. Part of protecting you is directing hormones and energy towards crucial things like your digestive and venous systems. Exercise and increased stress drain your energy, leaving little left for the menstrual cycle. Adding less intense workouts in between the tough ones leading up to your period may help your body ovulate on schedule because it gets a bit of a rest. 5. You’ve Dropped Weight Quickly If you’ve kept up your challenging workouts for some time, you may have dropped weight quickly. Even if this was your goal, your body might balance it with late or missed periods. Exercising increases your metabolism, which directly relates to the hypothalamus and its production of hormones. When your metabolism uses more energy to shed weight, your hypothalamus translates that activity as another physiological stressor. Early, irregular and missed ovulation can be a direct symptom of exercise-induced stress. Talk With Your Doctor These are some of the most common reasons why exercise causes missed periods, but it’s always smart to talk with your doctor if you have any concerns. They may recommend a change in your diet or routine so that you experience regular menstruation while you achieve your health and fitness goals.
As warmer weather quickly approaches, you’ve probably started to think about your fitness routine. This year, it may not be possible to hit up your favorite beach destinations – but that doesn’t mean that you can’t aim for a healthier lifestyle. After all, diet and exercise matter even when you’re not on vacation. Here are a few ways to get on track for a toned figure. Always Choose Healthy Foods Even though they taste yummy, it’s time to set down those chips and crackers and choose a more nutritious alternative. If you don’t change your diet, you’ll never see the benefits of a consistent fitness routine. These two concepts need each other to work. Your body requires the right fuels to burn calories and tone muscles. As long as don’t overeat, it doesn’t matter when you consume your snacks and meals – some people believe that smaller meals have an impact on your metabolism, but that’s not always the case. Be sure to listen to your body and eat different nourishing foods. Don’t Drink Much Alcohol It’s important to note that beach body fitness doesn’t have to mean thin or skinny. As long as you sweat every day and choose wholesome meals, you’re on your way to a body that feels its best. Your goal doesn’t have to be about weight. Instead, it should revolve around a healthier lifestyle overall. Therefore, it’s essential to avoid harmful substances like alcohol. You can strive for a balance, but it may be smart to forget these beverages altogether. If you do want to shed some pounds, you may want to lose those mixed drinks. When combined with soda and juice, alcohol becomes more calorie-heavy. Additionally, alcohol can lead to specific health issues, like heart disease. A few drinks throughout the week probably won’t hurt you, so you can drink with a little moderation. Incorporate a Workout Routine If you want to tone your body, it’s necessary to create the correct workout routine. Though everyone has different abilities, you can modify most exercises to fit your preferences. It’s essential not to work out too often, either. Even if you want to achieve a slim figure, your muscles need to rest. When you start to organize your fitness plan, make sure to prioritize several types of exercises so that your entire body can benefit. You should always warm-up before a workout and cool down as soon as you’re done. As a result, you should feel less stressed and more capable. Sleep Enough Every Night It’s easy to fall into a pattern where you go to bed too late, especially when you have responsibilities related to school or work. Everyone’s human, so it’s not always possible to prioritize rest as you should. That said, it’s essential to meet your daily requirements as often as it makes sense. This way, you can enjoy an enhanced mindset, which always helps when you want to improve your lifestyle. Most adults need around seven to nine hours every night. Though you can’t fully make up for sleep loss through naps, you can rest throughout the day to feel more alert. In any case, more sleep can make a major difference when it comes to your fitness goals. Use These Tips to Perfect Your Beach Body Fitness Plan At the end of the day, your idea of beach body fitness may differ from someone else’s. If you want to be your strongest and healthiest self this summer, try these ideas to create an improved lifestyle routine.
Are you wanting to shed the quarantine 15 but overheating before the second mile of your run? Don’t worry — you can get an effective workout with the help of a swimming pool. If you want to create the ultimate swim workout, you can choose from a variety of activities. You can also make up individualized routines that combine ideas from the practices you love the most. Yoga on a Paddleboard If you thought it was challenging to balance in tree pose on land, wait until you try it on a rocky paddleboard. You will blast your core with this workout. The introduction of summer heat makes it feel like a hot yoga class — but relief is only a splash away. You will develop mindfulness and take your land practice to new heights. Surfin USA Another core-blaster, surfing will also improve your sense of balance. Plus, it gives you an exhilarating sense of freedom when you feel as if you are flying over the water. You will get a full-body workout. You will blast your quads and hamstrings as you keep your knees bent to balance. You use your arms as you swim out to catch the wave and to help you remain upright. Aqua Tabata If you are familiar with land Tabata, you might know that it balances 20 seconds of intense activity with 10 seconds of rest. You then complete eight rounds of each exercise following this pattern. While the land version often includes high-impact moves that prove problematic for folks who have arthritis or other joint problems, taking it in the water cushions your knees and hips. The buoyancy supports most of your weight, making it more comfortable to improve your range of motion. Aqua Zumba Do you like to dance? Maybe you feel like you have two left feet on land, but look how graceful water mammals like dolphins move in their native environment. This workout blends the fun Zumba philosophy with resistance moves that tone your entire body while you stay cool and comfortable. Who needs a crowded nightclub floor when you can get your groove on in the pool? Water Skiing Water skiing looks simple to the observer — how can you work your muscles by standing there? However, you do most of the work as the boat pulls you along. It takes massive core strength to get yourself upright, and it doesn’t become a picnic to balance once you get there. You also use your legs and arms, making it a total-body workout. Once you master the art of getting on your feet, you can start experimenting with tricks that will make the folks tanning on the beach ooh and aah. Water Volleyball Are you one of those folks who stick to fitness better when you work out with a group? If so, water volleyball may be for you. The resistance of the water makes it more challenging to get to the ball, firing up your hamstrings and quads. The water helps take away some of the advantage taller players have on land if you are shorter. Plus, it’s a fabulous way to make new friends — and you’re more likely to avoid the urge to snack on your couch when your teammates need you. The Strokes Finally, you can’t go wrong with old-fashioned swimming when it comes to water workouts. You can do anything from the breast to the crawl stroke to get your entire body moving. If you don’t like what chlorine does to your hair, you can always don a swim cap to protect your locks. Alternatively, head to the beach. Saltwater often makes for gorgeous tousled waves that let you slip a coverup over your swimsuit and head directly to lunch with your best friends after you get in your workout. It also takes strength to swim against the current. Too Hot to Sweat It? Try an Ultimate Swim Workout You don’t have to sweat it out all summer to get in fabulous shape. With these ultimate swim workouts, you will look and feel your best while keeping cool.
You want to work up a sweat, but you don't know how to get started. Have no fear! It's easy to get moving when you have some of the best workout apps for women. From your own personal trainer to an in-house yoga studio, you'll find new ways to burn calories and feel good. 1. Aaptiv The membership fee for this app costs $15 per month or $100 per year, a bargain compared to how much you'd pay for a personal trainer in a gym. Once you download the software, you'll gain unlimited access to more than 2,500 audio-based fitness classes led by certified professionals. Don't like running? No problem! Check out programs based around walking, yoga, stretch training, cycling, meditation or the elliptical. It's impossible to get bored with the options, since the app ads around 40 new classes each week, making it easy to refresh your routine. 2. Yoga Studio Studies have found that yoga lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension, boosts weight loss and increases mindfulness in all areas of life. If you don't want to leave home to reap these rewards, try downloading the Yoga Studio app. You'll gain access to 75 classes, including sessions to reduce back pain and increase flexibility. Customize how much time you spend on the mat, from 15 minutes up to an hour. Each class offers video and instructor commentary to help you move from one pose to the next. As you log in each day, you can move your ability level from beginner to intermediate and on up to advanced. 3. Motify Do you want an all-in-one app that offers every kind of workout imaginable? If so, Motify is for you. With this software, you can access cardio and strength workouts, pilates instruction, yoga sessions, guided meditation and nutritional advice. You can also connect with friends and track each others' progress. Once you log in, set a personal health goal, whether it be to get a bikini-ready body or increase your core strength. The right exercises will help you build muscular endurance and maintain a healthy weight. 4. RunKeeper Do you love to run? Now there's an app for you. Runkeeper is an easy-to-use software that's ideal for runners of all levels. Log in to set goals, track your times, get audio updates and motivation, break personal records and follow tailor-made plans for how to improve. If you want to exercise with friends, use the option to connect with others and share your activities and goals. You can also join community-wide challenges, such as completing a 5K or training for a marathon. This app is free to use, but you can also opt for the premium version for advanced features. 5. Couch to 5k Do you picture yourself as a competitive runner but don't know where to start your fitness regimen? This app is ideal for those new to working out. The program can help anyone transition from a couch-based lifestyle to running a 5k — all in less than seven months. Each week will come with new challenges. During the first seven days, you'll start with a brisk walk and work your way up to a job. By week nine, you'll be able to complete 30 minutes of running. The goal is to build up your stamina and promote success gradually. To ensure you stay hydrated on your fitness journey, bring along a water bottle that you can refill on the go. 6. Obé Fitness Are you the type of person who loves to hit live classes due to the accountability factor? If so, try out Obé Fitness, an app that allows you to live-stream classes hosted by professional trainers. Now you can get a studio-quality workout without ever leaving home. Missed your morning session? Have no fear. Obé also offers more than 4,000 classes on demand, from yoga and pilates to HIIT and dance. This subscription-based service costs $27 a month or $199 per year, but it's well worth the price if it helps you stick to your fitness goals. Start Working Out With These Apps There's never been a better time to break a sweat with technology. The six best workout apps for women allow you to access countless classes, track your progress and connect with friends. What are you waiting for? It's time to get those muscles pumping!
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