We're not knocking unisex gyms — so many great ones are out there — but sometimes, a lady just wants to sweat it out with her fellow ladies. Female-only workout spaces breed a certain level of comfort and inspiration that others don't. For starters, you don't have to worry about being hit on or watched and you can go hard without a care in the world. Also, such spaces tend to cater more to feminine needs (i.e. bathrooms are stocked with feminine hygiene products, girly deodorants, hair ties, etc). Best of all, though? You're surrounded by like-minded women who encourage, inspire, and commend you — and that's motivating AF.
New year, new gym membership? Welcome to the fitness club. The gym is a great place to be this time of year, but it can also be a little overwhelming. To help you feel comfortable at the gym and reach your fitness-related goals, we reached out to a handful of people who know the gym-sphere best of all: trainers. With their help, we've uncovered some of the biggest gym-related mistakes people make so you can feel like a pro the next time you sweat it out.
If you're like most people, the start of the new year signals a time to recommit to a regular fitness routine. The thing is, it's easy to get bored at the gym, especially if all you do is run on the treadmill. That's why we asked top fitness and wellness experts for what they think is going to be popular in 2019. The following nine trends will make working out more fun so that you can reach your goals this year.
The holidays are all about indulgence, while the new year brings with it a renewed sense of self-improvement. Now is the perfect time to set your New Year's resolutions and achieve your fitness goals all throughout the year. Committing to a healthy lifestyle seems hard, especially after the seemingly neverending festivities, so we've rounded up three easy ways to help you get your fitness on all year long.
There's been a lot of talk about CBD oil this year and its potential for helping people with sleep issues, stress and inflammation (not to mention beauty and skin care benefits), but you may not know about the potential benefits of CBD on endurance and overall fitness. The claim sounds crazy considering CBD is one of the main chemical compounds in cannabis (found in both hemp and marijuana varieties), which isn't usually associated with energy boosts or healthy eating. Before we explore the topic, however, it's important to hash out the legal issues of the compound, which depend largely on the source of your CBD.
Are you the type of person who struggles to work out solo, mainly to wander around a gym with no direction? Do you like to work out in a group setting where someone tells you what to do, while surrounded by others going through the exact same experience. If this sounds like you, you may benefit from taking a group fitness class. Whether you like to stick to one type of class like yoga or indoor cycling or you like to mix it up with Class Pass, there are endless types of classes and gyms to choose from. I tried out eight of the current most popular fitness classes and break it down so you know exactly what to expect and maybe it will help you start on a new fitness journey that you truly enjoy and want to stick with. Here's how I fared — from the invigorating to the most sweat-inducing.
Like many people do in the days leading up to January 1, I deliberately sat down with a journal and wrote out a list of goals I wanted to accomplish in the next 365 days. I covered all the biggies: finances, fitness, travel, relationships and even mental wellness. Also, like many people, I felt a bubbling confidence while scribbling away that made me feel like this year was going to be different in terms of actually achieving said goals.
Working out used to mean throwing on an old t-shirt and shorts and heading to a globo gym where you could anonymously sit on a recumbent bike for an hour. But times they are a-changin'. Ratty t-shirts are being replaced by stylish athleisure wear, and boutique fitness classes are giving regular gyms a run for their money. People want the close-knit community boutique gyms provide, and they're willing to pay triple the price of a regular gym to get it. But, calorie-burning-wise, are these trendy classes actually worth it?
Who wants to diet during the holidays? Thanksgiving, New Year's and every party in between revolves around food (well, okay, family, but food's a close second), so counting calories or carbs during these months feels like a task better suited to the Grinch. Still, no one wants to greet the New Year in pants two sizes too small, either.
Some people will tell you that summer bodies are built only in gyms -- but we're here to tell you that those people simply lack imagination. The way we look at it, we're constantly burning calories. Standing in line for an hour to buy your first Balmain dress from H&M burns 94 calories*. Reading "The Girl on the Train" for 30 minutes? Torches 44 calories.
Sure we all stock our medicine cabinets with the latest anti-aging lotions and concoctions, but what if the secret to youthful skin isn't contained in one of these bottles or tubes?
As I stand in the dark wings of the stage, I feel my nerves kick in. After months of skipping nights out with friends, turning down my favorite meals and logging countless hours in the gym, I only have ten seconds of undivided attention from the judges. As I muster up confidence, I hear my coach's voice in my head, "You deserve to be up there. Stand with pride. You earned this moment." Suddenly, I hear my name echoed throughout the auditorium and I feel my body begin to shake. Taking a deep breath, I puff up my chest, channel my inner goddess and step into the spotlight of the stage.
We're all about self-acceptance, but if we're being honest, it'd be nice to know how to lose body fat. Whether it's for health reasons or purely to feel more confident in a bikini, sometimes we're on a mission to lose body fat fast — but it's not an easy task. There's an insane amount of information out there on how to reduce body fat, and it can be tough to weed through the fat-burning facts — and myths.
So your bod is pretty fit -- but your butt? It's flat, flabby or generally un-fabulous. Luckily, yoga can help you nip your butt issues in the bud. Exercise and wellness guru Mandy Ingber shares fitness and mindfulness tips with the soft-bodied, stressed-out masses in her new book, "Yogalosophy: 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind-Body Makeover." Since nothing says mind-body balance like a well-toned tush (um, right?), Ingber shows us five yoga poses for getting a firmer butt. Your path to a pert posterior starts here.
Thanks to desk jobs, sky-high shoes and fitness classes gone awry, it seems like there's always some body part that's aching or out of whack. While it's tempting to find relief inside your well-stocked medicine cabinet, sometimes all your body needs is a little finessing, by way of some quality time on the yoga mat.
For whatever reason, there's this prevailing idea that all beauty editors are skinny girls who eat salads, down shots of wheat grass, and live to take spin classes.
Butt workouts are one of the most worthwhile physical endeavors you can undertake. Not only does a toned butt help ensure that you aren't placing undue strain on your knees or back, but it leaves a lasting impression whenever you walk away.
Picture your butt in its current state. Now, picture your butt in its ideal state. If you're like most women, you're probably envisioning a butt that's tight and toned. But the journey from flat butt to perky, pert rear end can seem unachievable without the help of trainers who whip celebrities' derrieres into tip-top shape.
Let's talk about sex. Sometimes, especially as women, we have a rough time fulfilling our potential for pleasure. "It comes down to energy and inhibitions," says sex therapist and author, Dr. Jane Greer, PhD. "For women, inhibitions flow from feeling uncomfortable with our bodies." She says that insecurity is the primary reason why women struggle to enjoy sex. Luckily, there's an easy cure: Exercise.
