Why warming up is pivotal, and the myths of stretching.
If asked, most of us would probably agree that we should “warm-up” before we exercise. But do we really need to? In a word, YES. Whether you’re Colt McCoy of the Longhorns or just a weekend jogger, warming up before you exercise is vital. Think of your car. In the rare event that we get a freeze in Austin, warming up your car before driving it can keep you from doing serious damage to your engine. Your body is much the same. A warm-up serves as a gradual introduction to exercise, preparing your body for the work you’re about to do. Jumping straight into a workout “cold” can set you up for an injury, and keep you from performing at your best.
The dreaded, hectic holiday shopping season is well upon us now, and the quest is on for the perfect gift for that special someone. Selecting a gift of health such as a treadmill can be considered a thoughtful choice, as it is a gift that keeps on giving and one that will also help to burn off the remnants of grandma’s calorie-crammed fruit cake.
For fitness retailers, December is typically the second-most lucrative month in revenue behind resolution-packed January. With that said, a substantial percentage of their gross income comes from the sales of treadmills. The reason for the treadmill’s popularity is that it provides a more natural and comfortable form of exercise that we, as a bi-pedal society, are most familiar with. As a result, people tend to push themselves harder on a treadmill when compared to other devices and therefore achieve better results.
Take a hike...and get a massage while you're at it.
Do you want to commune with nature? Would you rather pamper your body with yoga, or perhaps get a world class spa treatment? Maybe you want to conquer your fear of heights by learning how to swing like one of the Great Wallendas on a circus trapeze. Would you believe that you can do all of these things in one place right here in Austin, Texas? Nestled atop the expansive Balcones Nature Preserve just northeast of Lake Travis sits The Crossings Resort and Spa. If you need a spot to explore many avenues of stress relief and spiritual awakening in one place, this could be your answer.
Here’s an experiment. We’re going to give you a couple of today’s news headlines, and your job is to read them without letting your stress levels rise. Think you can do it? Well it sounds easy enough, so let’s try.
The motto “no pain, no gain” was first aired in 1982, when actress Jane Fonda produced a series of workout videos (you know the ones!), in which she used the now-famous phrase along with others, like “feel the burn,” to encourage her fat-burning viewers to work harder during exercise. And it’s still used today. Some personal trainers repeat this mantra to their clients daily, reminding them that there is no meaningful reward without sacrifice.
If asked, most of us would probably agree that we should “warm-up” before we exercise. But do we really need to? In a word, YES. Whether you’re Colt McCoy of the Longhorns or just a weekend jogger, warming up before you exercise is vital. Think of your car. In the rare event that we get a freeze in Austin, warming up your car before driving it can keep you from doing serious damage to your engine. Your body is much the same. A warm-up serves as a gradual introduction to exercise, preparing your body for the work you’re about to do. Jumping straight into a workout “cold” can set you up for an injury, and keep you from performing at your best. 
The dreaded, hectic holiday shopping season is well upon us now, and the quest is on for the perfect gift for that special someone. Selecting a gift of health such as a treadmill can be considered a thoughtful choice, as it is a gift that keeps on giving and one that will also help to burn off the remnants of grandma’s calorie-crammed fruit cake. 
