The majority of us fall into the trap of using the same equipment daily at the gym for our workouts. Why not try something different? Our bodies get used to the same routine, which prevents progression in goals whether it be weight loss, an increase in strength or flexibility. Try adding in new equipment or exercises to push pass a plateau. …

Resistance bands get a bad rap. You may have seen one hanging on a wall at your gym. Do you ever see anyone use it? Well, everyone really should be! They are the perfect compact workout that anyone can do. Yes, anyone. I use them with my Cardiac Rehabilitation patients (ages range from 30s to 90) — and, I do them myself.

When searching for a resistance band, don’t go just by the color. Look more at the dimension of the tube. The smaller the tube, the less resistance.

One question I get a lot is, “What do I do with resistance bands?” The great thing about resistance bands is that you don’t have to remember specific exercises. If you just pull the band in opposite directions, you are getting a muscle strengthening workout.

Here’s a quick resistance band workout that will hit every major muscle in your body just for you! …

Running is a great form of exercise but if that’s all we do, our bodies will be out of balance. Cross training is essential to preventing injury. A great addition to anyone’s weekly fitness routine, runner or not, is yoga. Yoga helps to strengthen, stretch and lengthen our muscles. Think of every step you take while running. You are exerting three to four times your body weight just with one step! It’s no wonder we hear of runners who have bad knees, hips, ankles, feet and low back pain. The pain is not from running but our bodies overcompensating for imbalances.

The following list of postures are my favorite to do after a run or anytime. I’ve been known to roll out my mat while I watch TV at night to sit in Garland Pose or my favorite, Legs-Up-The-Wall. …

We’re getting closer to summer! The days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising. Have you begun to get bikini ready? Last month I discussed the first part of the plan — cardio (read the post, here). If you’ve been doing that, great! Let’s move on to part II — strength training. Strength training helps to tone and firm all your muscles. You want to feel confident and strong while wearing shorts, tank tops and a bikini this summer. Strength training is where it’s at!

My strength training plan calls for supersets. You’ll be performing two different exercises back to back. With no rest in between sets, your heart rate stays up therefore burning more calories and upping the intensity.

Before you begin the plan, warm up at an easy pace for 5 to 10 minutes with light cardio such as walking. For the weighted exercises, chose a weight that will be challenging enough that the last repetition is almost unbearable. Rest 60 to 90 seconds in between each superset ….

The days are getting longer. The temperatures are getting warmer. What does that mean? More skin will be showing! Toss out the long sleeves, pants and skirts. Break out the tank tops, shorts and mini skirts. But before you do, let’s work on getting your body bikini ready. It’s been covered under way too many layers for the past six months. The first step in getting bikini ready? Cardio.

February is Heart Month. Did you know heart disease is the number one killer of women? Most women fear breast cancer. They routinely get their mammograms and do self checks each month. But what about your heart? What do you do to keep your heart healthy everyday? Most women, especially younger women, think heart disease is something you don’t have to think about till you are at least 70. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I have worked in cardiac rehabilitation for more than 10 years. During that time, there has been an increase of younger people having coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), heart attacks and stenting. The youngest patient I ever had was in her late 20s. It was scary that she was actually younger than me!

February is a month all about love. Why not share your love of fitness with your partner? You know what they say, “A couple that works out together, stays together!”

One thing I admire about health and fitness magazines is how they showcase exercise. I love images of exercise moves, the easy directions and the small-scale workout plans that are tangible and easy to do at home. This is what I want for Breathe. I want Breathe to be a resource for women to come to …

One of my goals for 2012 was to try to expand my workout options. I love running, yoga and weights but I need something new every once in awhile for a little extra “umph!” I tried Aerial Yoga at Rasamaya and it revived my inner Yogi. After that class, I bought a 10 visit pass. …

It’s a new year and I needed something new in my workout routine. I’ve done yoga for a few years but my practice has dwindled since having kids. I want 2012 to be the year yoga returns to my life. While looking for a new yoga studio, I came across an offering for Aerial Yoga. …