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I tried to fit into someone else’s standard of beauty for too long. Now I’m creating my ownI have an unhealthy obsession with mirrors. It started when I was a teenager taking dance classes at first one, then two, then three different studios. Ballet, tap, jazz, modern, acrobatics — I did it allIn the beginning, it was fun. I did it for the love of the art form and for the friends I madeBut somewhere around the age of 14, I began to take it more seriously and see it as a possible career — a future where I could combine my love for the performing arts with my love for writing. By 18, I decided I wanted to major in dance and English so I could write and choreograph musicals. But I had a secret. I wasn’t healthy. I was purging to keep my weight down ahead of every major performance, audition, or anytime the scale crept up higher than my likingIt’s no secret that the dance world has historically elevated a standard of beauty and fitness that’s unattainable for many — and for Black girls, e...

Following my joy in the stables has allowed me to reap more health benefits than going to the gym ever couldI hate going to the gym. I loathe itBLASPHEMY, I know. Especially coming from a physical therapist. Take my license awaI don’t hate working out, though, or getting exercise, or being healthy and fit, or being outside. I just really don’t like boring, gym-based, exercise routineSo what’s a girl to do? Well, get creative, I guess. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of treating patients who promise to do their PT homework but don’t follow through, it’s this: If exercise doesn’t excite you, you won’t do it — and you definitely won’t stick with it long terMy chosen fitness routine might surprise you, but there’s only one activity that keeps me coming back for more — even after a 20-year hiatusCourtesy of Marcy CrouBack in the saddEver since I was a young, carefree, wild child, I’ve had a profound and deep love of horsesI feel a connection to them, and I love everything abo...

COVID-19 has drastically changed our lives over the past 2 years — from the way we interact with other people to the way we work. It has even changed the way we exercise: The digital fitness boom has made exercise more accessible than everThese days, the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine is helping us get back some sense of normalcy in daily life. For many people, that means going back to the gym or pool. But, as with any kind of new treatment, people naturally have questions. Whether you work out at home or in a public space, you may be wondering if you can exercise after getting the vaccine, how soon you can get back to it, and how much you can do. We’ve got the answers for you belowalvarez/Getty ImaIs it safe to exercise after the COVID vacciThe short answer is, most often, yes.research has shown that it’s harmful to exercise after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The only safety considerations depend on your body’s reaction to the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prev...

Hard on the heels of every new year comes a wave of resolutions focused on self-improvementSome people resolve to break certain habits, like swearing or spending too much time on social media. Others plan to work toward better emotional health by keeping a daily journal or practicing better communication skillMany resolutions, however, focus on physical health: get more sleep, drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, make time for exercise. Plenty of people also look into the mirror, feel dissatisfied with their reflection, and decide to make some changes so they can better embrace self-lovWhat you see in the mirror is just one aspect of your identity. It’s possible to embrace and accept yourself as you are even if you don’t actually love your bodIn fact, your body doesn’t even have to enter the conversation. The body neutrality movement rests on this exact concept. So, what’re the basicYour body contains all the vital organs that keep you alive and functioning. It also cont...

With the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was inevitable that physical training facilities worldwide would shut down for a period of timeWhile this was in the public’s best interest to prevent the spread of the virus, people who depend on gyms were left in a lurcAt face value, the gym may seem to be just a place people go to exercise, but it often serves a deeper psychological purposThough fitness facilities have reopened — with restrictions — in certain areas, they remain fully closed in other areas, driving people to find alternatives to hitting the gym. This article dives into the effects of gym closures on people’s mental health and includes some solutions to stay active. I also provide a personal story of how I adjusted to life without gymsPhoto Courtesy of Daniel PreiMajor effects on mental healWalk into any gym and you’ll see people training for a variety of purposes. Some may be working out to become more athletic, whereas others are looking to lose weight or gai...

Fitness apps like Sweat and FiiT are proving to be unlikely solutions to the disproportionate burden women felt through the pandemic, as well as the gaps in gender equity that have always plagued fitnesWestend61/Getty ImagThe gender gap in physical activity is something researchers have studied for years. Women are often less likely to be physically active due to gender roles and responsibilities that command how they spend their free time (1During the COVID-19 pandemic, that gender gap in physical activity only intensified (2, 3). As the pandemic wore on and digital fitness options became more readily available, both men and women began to participate more in physical activities. Yet, the rate at which women participate in these activities still lags far behind that of men (3According to a recent poll, more than half of women (55%) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected their mental health, compared with about 4 in 10 men (38%) (4We know that physical activity improv...

The original eight limbs of yoga offer insight into how yoga has been culturally appropriated. Here’s how you can honor yoga’s roots whilepracticeDecolonizing yoga is a trendy topic right now, but what does that even meaThe decolonizing yoga movement is twofold. First, we uplift Blyoga teachers in order to promote more diverse representation. Second, we teach the full eight limbs of yoga (not just a physical practice) in order to honor yoga’s ancient roots. Getty ImagThe history of yoYoga is an indigenous practice that has origins in Egypt and the Indus Valley — two ancient civilizations that date back over 5,000 years. As a desi (an Indian woman living in the diaspora) yoga teacher and activist, I educate folks on how yoga practices from India have been appropriated, and what I wish to see for a decolonized future of yogOne of the most harmful myths that creates erasure of the essence yoga is that it’s simply a workout. Yoga is a holistic philosophy that gifts us a set of tenets, whi...

Recovering from exercise addiction is no small task, but it is possible when you find the fun in moving againStatistics show that exercise addiction affects approximately 4% of school athletes, 8–9% of fitness enthusiasts, and 21% of those with an eating disorder (1Trusted SourceThe condition often exists alongside an eating disorder or body image issue, and sometimes substance abuse. Fortunately, it is curable with time, patience, commitment, and supporHere are 10 tips on how you can mend your relationship with exercise and find joy in movement again. The Good Brigade/Getty ImagVocalize your feelinTry not to sit alone with your thoughts. If you’re experiencing anxiety around exercise, feeling stressed about a particular issue, or need help feeling comfortable, attempt to communicate that to someone you trusAs lonely as this journey of healing your relationship with exercise might feel, you don’t have to go through alone. If you need a friend to ride to the gym with you, ask them. If ...

You might not think twice about going for a run in your neighborhood. But as someone who is wrongly perceived as a threat, I have to consider the worst case scenarioImagine it’s 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday. The weather’s absolutely perfect for an outdoor walk or jog, and you’re excited to breathe in the fresh air as you burn some calorieThen you look down and notice the color of your skin. Seconds later, you remember that you’re the only person with your skin color in your entire neighborhood. Soon your mind is filled with memories of when you’ve received quizzical stares from your neighbors, or they’ve crossed the street when you’ve approached them — even in the pre-pandemic worlAfter giving it some thought, you concede and decide to hop on the elliptical machine in your hot, stuffy garage insteaSadness overcomes youan you picture something like this happening to you while you’re trying to work out? This is my personal exercise story in a nutshell. chabybucko/Getty ImagDangerous until ...

Weight lifting and stretching are useful at any age, but there are specific benefits for older adultsWith aging comes concerns about strength, balance, and mobility. But integrating resistance training and stretching into your routine can keep you feeling healthy and sNot sure where to start? Read on for a primer on how aging affects your body and how movement can make a difference, plus a full-body workout and stretching routine that you can do at home. ALTO IMAGES/Stocksy UnitHow does aging impact our bodiesAge may just be a number, but some physical changes do occur as we get older — and these can affect our health. They includeDecreased range of motNotice that your shoulders, hips, or knees don’t move as well as they used to? As you age, your range of motion — the full movement potential of a joint — decreases due to changes in connective tissue, arthritis, loss of muscle mass, and moreBy how mucIn a study published in the Journal of Aging Research, researchers analyzed shoulder a...

Rogue and NordicTrack came up again and again as we vetted the best home gym equipment, from bags, bands, and barbells to bikes, treadmills, and rowersA quick look at the best home gym equipmBest workout mat: Gaiam Premium Extra-Thick Yoga Mat | Skip to reviBest resistance bands: Whatafit Resistance Bands | SkireviBest workout bench: FLYBIRD Adjustable Weight Bench.| Skip to revBest heavy bag: FITVEN Freestanding Punching Bag | Skip to revBest equipment mat: BalanceFrom High Density Equipment Mat | Skip to revBest suspension trainer: TRX All-in-One Suspension Trainer | Skip to reviBest dumbbells: Rogue Dumbbells |Skip to reBest adjustable dumbbells: Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells | Skip to revBest kettlebells: Rogue Rubber Coated Kettlebells | Skip to radjustabkettlebell: Stamina Adjustable Kettle Versa-Bell | Skip to revBest barbell: Rogue Ohio Bar | Skip to revBest weight plates: Rogue Echo Bumper Plates V2 | Skip to review Best all-in-one home gym: Bowflex PR3000 Ho...

To improve flexibility and mobility, athletes and active individuals often rely on several forms of stretchingThese involve lengthening or flexing a muscle or tendon to promote enhanced elasticitOne method is active stretching, in which your own muscles are used to provide resistant pull, and this creates the stretchThis article will detail active stretching, how it differs from other forms of stretching, and how to perform it. Marco Govel/Stocksy UnitWhat is active stretchinActive stretching is a method of improving flexibility. It involves active contracting of one muscle (tagonist) as a way to stretch an opposing muscle (the antagonist), with no external forceActive stretching is also often referred to as static active stretching — which means nonmoving — because the end position of the stretch is held for a set amount of time. But instead of holding your stretch using a prop, such as a strap or band, you’re simply holding the stretch with other muscles. This is why it’s called st...