Running is a sport that can be done anywhere and at any level. There are casual runners, long distance runners, marathoners and race athletes, all pursuing to run better. It is often the runner’s high that keeps them going – the elated feeling at the end of a good run. Running as an exercise is extremely beneficial and is known to have great health benefits. Studies have found that 30 minutes of running every day has a positive impact on health and sleeping patterns. In fact, running is suggested for dealing with depression and mental health. It is a great way to lose calories as it promotes after burn- which is the ability of the body to burn calories after the workout is performed. What happens to the body during running? When you start running at first, you feel your body almost revolting against the very idea of running! Your breathing goes faster and your pulse is high. Your body starts getting warm, and you can feel your blood coursing through your body. After a while, your body gets used to this and starts improving- you start making gains in stamina and run faster and better. Your body can transform only because of the recovery process of the body.

In the fast-paced modern world, where time is of the essence, we use everything at our disposal to make ourselves more efficient. This sometimes means using caffeine to pull off all-nighters, to complete assignments, or to do away with the mid-morning drowsiness at work. But is caffeine good for your health? Does it have any health benefits? Caffeine is a methylxanthine drug which helps to stimulate our Central Nervous System to change our brain function by altering our perception, mood, consciousness or behavior. It is found in a wide variety of plants, most commonly in the leaves and beans of the coffee plant, in tea, and in cocoa. Benefits of Caffeine Consumption A majority of the world consumes caffeine daily, in some form or other. Caffeine is absorbed in the stomach and usually reaches the bloodstream within an hour or two of consumption. It is mostly used to increase alertness, but research has shown that caffeine, in the form of coffee, reduces the risk of diseases like strokes, certain cancers (mouth and throat), Parkinson’s, etc. Caffeine can also increase the effectiveness of certain drugs, and most commonly of pain relievers. It is for this reason that a number of headache drugs have caffeine included in their formula.

Piloxing is the latest entrant on the fitness scene, and it has all the ingredients of being a hit with the crowd – a fun group activity, an intense workout and full of strong basics. This creative and revolutionary workout is a combination of Pilates, boxing, and dance. Created in 2009 by Viveca Jensen, a Swedish Fitness Expert, this exercise form has taken the world by storm. Offering the benefits of Pilates, boxing, and dance, all in just one class, it has proved to be popular among women. The Piloxing class is a group workout with pulsating music led by a trained instructor. The official Piloxing class has three variations – Piloxing for beginners, Piloxing Knockout for advanced performance, and Piloxing Barre. The company licenses the program to clubs across the world, and you can attend a Piloxing workout in over 92 countries! The Basics – Pilates and Boxing Pilates is a popular workout that works on both the body and the mind. The Pilates workouts are done with a mat and specialized apparatus. There are many benefits of Pilates: Develops core strength Helps gain muscle strength and flexibility Enhances breathing awareness and control It’s a low impact exercise that can help in rehabilitating from injuries Promotes weight loss Improves posture Boxing, of course, is as old as time!

If you are pregnant , you have probably been given a zillion instructions. Everyone you know suddenly becomes an expert on what to eat, how to sit, how to walk, etc. You yourself may be reading up as much as possible to know more about what to do and what to avoid. While you may pay attention to your dietary and sleep habits, you may miss out an important aspect—what to listen? Do you know that by 23-27 weeks, your baby starts hearing sounds from outside the womb? It is believed that unborn babies can hear sounds from outside the womb and the sounds are loud, similar to a train running through a subway. So, it is important to monitor what you say aloud and hear since it may have some effect on the baby. In particular, much has been written about the effect of music on the development of fetuses. Benefits of Music in Pregnancy Music is known to help relieve anxiety in pregnant women. In addition, music has been shown to positively influence bodily characteristics such as heart rate, breathing, learning and brain development of fetuses. These effects of music are brought about by changes in the hormone and enzyme activity of the mother.

Pilates and Yoga are often referred to in the same breath, mainly because of their similarity of blending mind and body in their exercises. Pilates is, however, a fairly new fitness system and was developed in the early 1900’s by a German physical trainer, Joseph Pilates. The benefits of Pilates are numerous and have been vouched for by celebrities and, even Olympic athletes, like Andy Murray! Pilates is a complete body exercise. Joseph Pilates, in fact, called the system ‘Contrology’ to focus on the control of mind and body. There are six major principles on which Pilates’ exercises are based on – Concentration, Control, Precision, Flow, Center, and Breathing. Every exercise uses these principles in tandem. The original Pilates has 34 mat exercises and the modified exercises are supplemented with the use of specially designed apparatuses like the ‘Reformer’, the ‘Magic Circle’ and the ‘Wunda Chair’. As a runner, you must be wondering what are the benefits of Pilates exercises for you and how they can enhance your running performance. 5 Ways Runners Benefit From Pilates: Improves your core – It is important to cross train while creating a training regime for running. Running every day is not the best way to train your body, not even for marathons!