April is National Stress Awareness Month, which typically coincides with tax season, a notoriously stressful time of year for many. This year, the added stress of the coronavirus compounds the “normal” April stress. While it’s obvious that feeling stressed is unpleasant, it is also important to understand the toll that stress takes on our bodies, especially as we age. As we get older, our bodies have a harder time bouncing back from stress. We produce adrenaline and cortisol, which make our … [Read more...] about Simple Exercises for Combatting Stress
Touchmark Health and Fitness Club
Debunking Detoxes and Cleanses
The new year is in full swing, and many people are hard at work trying to get fit and lose weight. Complicating matters are the numerous messages we’re inundated with from the fitness, nutrition and wellness industries that have conflicting information. In particular, topics like detoxification, cleanses, hydration and sports drinks can be confusing. Because February is American Heart Month, I’d like to address my concerns with detox culture and the potentially damaging effects it can have on … [Read more...] about Debunking Detoxes and Cleanses
Training for a Strong Heart, Body
Most everyone knows that there are many benefits to an individualized exercise program, but let’s elaborate on one crucial aspect of everyone’s ideal program: the heart. There is absolutely no excuse to neglect your heart muscle. It is our body’s most important muscle and functions much differently than any other type of muscle tissue. The heart’s efficiency can be characterized by the term cardiac output, which is measured by combining heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV). HR is the number … [Read more...] about Training for a Strong Heart, Body