News — Workouts

How Yoga Benefits the Mind, Body, and Soul

 

If you have a regular yoga practice, you’re probably well aware of the benefits that come with time spent on the mat. Not only are you able to reduce stress and increase mindfulness, every minute you spend in a yoga pose benefits your body by increasing flexibility, strengthening muscles, and burning calories.

You also achieve the following things by doing yoga regularly:

  • Perfect posture.

    Poor posture contributes to back, neck, muscle, and joint problems. It also causes unnecessary pain and degenerative arthritis in the spine. Yoga helps balance your head which gives your neck and back muscles relief. They don’t have to work as hard to support it when your head is properly balanced over your spine when it’s erect.
  • Prevention of cartilage and joint breakdown.

    Prevent degenerative arthritis by giving your cartilage the nutrients it needs. When you do yoga, you’re essentially squeezing fluid out so that new fluid can be soaked up. This prevents the cartilage from wearing out.
  • Protection of your spine.

    When a spinal disk gets herniated, it compresses nerves and prevents them from getting much-needed nutrients. Yoga lets you give your disks the attention they deserve. As you twist and bend forward and backward, you’re helping them remain supple. Make sure that you learn the proper pose so you don’t injure yourself while moving.
  • Increased blood flow.

    Any type of relaxation exercise such as yoga increases circulation. You’ll feel it occurring in your hands and feet. Yoga helps with red blood cell production which carries oxygen to the body’s tissue. It helps decrease heart attack and stroke, too. That gives you another incentive to get off the couch and onto your mat each day.
  • Lymphatic system drainage and boosts in immunity.

    Yoga drains the lymph and helps the lymphatic system fight infection. It gets rid of waste from the cells and even destroys cancerous cells. When stretching and contracting muscles, be mindful of all the good it is doing for your body. Yoga drains negative thoughts along with your lymphatic system.
  • A higher heart rate.

    Yoga can be highly aerobic which gives your heart a good, strong workout. This prevents your risk for heart attack and gives you a healthy boost of serotonin which helps fight depression. Yoga makes your body and mind feel great!

It’s never too late to start a yoga practice. In fact, there isn’t much to it, but you do need some gear if you want to be successful at it. For example, you’ll need a yoga mat and loose, comfortable clothing. Athlete Beyond offers a wide selection of fitness apparel for both men and women so shopping our site gives you one less thing to do before getting started with your yoga practice.

You’ll want to wear clothing that looks great and feels great to move in. Athlete Beyond’s apparel is offered in limited runs so make sure to buy your favorite gear before it sells out. Bookmark our website and make sure to visit us often for new clothing for men and women.

Fast and Easy Ways to Sneak More Exercise into Your Day

When it comes to exercising, you can never get enough time in the gym or outdoors. In fact, you’re likely to have a small window of time to work out in, and once you’re done on the treadmill, walking trail or rowing machine, you’d don’t think about it again until the next day. So, what do you do if you didn’t burn enough calories or achieve the fitness goal you set for yourself that day? You don’t stop there! You start incorporating more physical activity into your routine the best way you know how-by multitasking!

Your employer values how you get things done efficiently. Your ability to streamline tasks and make the most out of every minute of your work day is admirable. Why not apply the same logic to your workout routine? You’re going to see favorable results in very little time!

Here are some tried and true ways to sneak more exercise into your day:

  • Plan your mode of transportation.

    If you’re within walking or riding distance of your workplace, why not lace up your sneakers or hop on your bicycle and continue exercising until you get to work? Not only will you save your vehicle from parking lot dings and dents, you’ll save money and the environment by walking or pedaling instead of driving. You’ll also burn calories and tighten muscles in the process.
  • Make walking meetings a workplace standard.

    Why sit and talk when you can walk and talk? Propose walking and talking meetings and see what a difference it makes. Everyone who participates will feel energized, and the activity can even be worked into a workplace fitness plan where every step counts toward greater health. If there isn’t this type of meeting already in place, talk to your supervisor and the HR department to see if they’ll support your idea.
  • Take the stairs.

    If there is an elevator in your place of employment, always take the stairs. Not only is it a great stress reliever, it also helps strengthen your legs. If your pedometer measures the number of stairs you take in a day, make note of the information, and gradually increase the number of times you walk up or down a flight of stairs to access another floor of the building.
  • Make Happy Hour all about fitness.

    Instead of going out for drinks after work, why not take advantage of the extra time you have scheduled with your co-workers by doing something fun and active instead? Head to the park for a game of disc golf or spend some time improving your serve on the tennis courts. Not everyone will be able to join you, but those who do will be glad that they snuck in a few more minutes of exercise, too.

There never seems to be enough time in the day to do everything you set out to do. By combining tasks, however, you’re able to make the most of your schedule and still get in enough physical activity to benefit your health. Follow the tips listed above and discover new ways to get more exercise daily. Not only will you look better, you’ll feel better, too!

ATHLETE Women's Drawstring Casual Shorts Make Working Out Easy

The right apparel makes working out easy. That’s why it’s important to find shorts that look good and feel comfortable while wearing them. If you wear the wrong clothing to work out in, you’ll feel hot, sweaty, and very unhappy.

The Right Material is ‘Breathable’

Avoid this by carefully selecting apparel that fits your body and ‘breathes’. Moisture wicking material is ideal, especially if you plan to work up a sweat. The wrong clothing adds bulk to your body and raises your body temperature to uncomfortable levels.

Choosing the Right Workout Wardrobe

SparkPeople recommends asking the following questions when choosing workout clothes:

  • Is it comfortable? Can you move well in it? Does it rub against your skin? Is it the right length?
  • Does it wick up moisture well? You want to feel cool and comfortable at all times. When you work out, you sweat but you don’t want to feel wet or sticky.
  • How does it fit? Does it cling to you or feel tight? Is it loose and easy to walk, jog or run in? Can you strike the perfect yoga pose in it?
  • Can I layer it with other apparel? Does it allow room for leggings or pants? Can you mix and match colors so that it works well with your existing wardrobe?

A Drawstring Allows You to Loosen and Tighten Shorts Easily

Of all the clothing you have to choose from, a pair of drawstring shorts is ideal because the string can be loosened and tightened however you see fit. As you lose weight and gain muscle, you can still wear the same shorts without worry that they’ll be too small or too big. This allows you to maximize the use you get out of the apparel and refrain from spending more money to keep yourself outfitted with athletic clothing.

Fun and Fashionable Apparel Makes Working Out a Priority

ATHLETE Women’s Drawstring Casual Shorts are exactly what women need to wear for a successful workout. Not only do they look great, they feel great on, too. Made with poly material and designed with a slit on the side, the shorts are fashionable and loose-fitting, making them a must-have for walking, jogging, running, and yoga.

Mix and Match Tops and Shoes for a Look That You Love

The shorts come in two different colors, black and pink, making it easy to match the shirt and shoes you’re wearing. The pink apparel is two-toned with a thick band of white at the top. You can easily wear the shorts to your aerobics class or yoga studio with pride because they look fantastic and allow you to move with ease.

Layer Shorts Over Leggings During Cooler Days of the Year

The shorts can be worn over leggings, too, for a look that is trendy and fun. They come in size Small to Extra-Large and are made of 100% polyester. They wash and wear well, making it effortless to care for the apparel and use it for years.

Dressing the Part Adds to Your Fitness Success

The key to a successful workout is having the right apparel. When you dress the part, you have an easier time getting in the mood to exercise. ATHLETE makes getting dressed for the gym quick and easy.

The 5 Best Summer Workouts for Men and Women

Summer is in full swing, and you know what all this beautiful weather means: time to get outside and get moving. Whether or not you’ve spent the better half of this year hiding inside on the couch, take advantage of the sunshine and channel some serious summer energy to get in shape. Looking for some awesome summer workouts? These are our top 5 summer workouts for men and women—they’re perfect for anyone! Check it out:

  1. Get Fit Summer Challenge

This summer body challenge by Buzzfeed is at the top of our list because it’s so detailed. They give you a workout for every day of your routine that combines strength and cardio. They’ve also gone the extra mile to include 25 healthy recipes to eat while you’re on the plan, and we all know how important a healthy diet is! They even help you decide what meals are best for your activity level—Buzzfeed really outdid themselves. This workout plan has it all.

  1. The Super Organized Full Body Schedule

Why do we love this summer workout schedule? It’s easy to follow and it’s thorough. Each workout is laid out for you in order: arms, abs, and legs. Every day you simply mix and match which area you’re focusing on—but it’s always the same simple workouts. Do this for a month and you’ll watch yourself get toned right before your eyes. Then repeat until the summer is over and the leaves start to fall.

  1. Ultimate Summer Workout Plan 

This workout plan by Active stresses the importance of commitment and consistency. They encourage you to use this plan as a starting point, and to branch out and get creative from there to create your own personalized plan. The workout template incorporates just about every type of workout imaginable—from cardio to bodyweight calisthenics to hill and stair repeats. What better way to get committed than to make it your own? Brilliant.

  1. The Yogi’s Summer Plan

Have you always wanted to become a master yogi? Summertime is the perfect opportunity to take your mat outside and get stretching. This article by Yoga Journal has a fun step-by-step flow that’s perfect for summer, and it includes a video as well, which is always helpful to make sure you’re nailing those tricky moves.

  1. For Rainy Days 

It’s not always sunshine and butterflies during the months of summer. Rainy days are a drag, but that doesn’t mean you should skip your workout for the day! This indoor cardio routine will get you moving without having to leave the comfort of your home. Afterwards, you can hide in bed all day. We won’t judge you.

The best part about summer workouts? Showing off and taking advantage of your sweet workout clothes. Check out Athlete Beyond for performance athletic apparel that is equal parts efficient and stylish. Their sweat-wicking material will keep you dry all summer and it looks good. It’s a win-win!