By Gillian Mandich, MSc, PhD(c) (@GillianMandich) Most of us have dabbled with different breathing techniques, whether it’s during yoga, Pilates, Lamaze, or a Darth Vader imitation (c’mon, admit it). Breathing is what keeps us alive, and without even thinking about it, we breathe about 15 times per minute (that’s more than 20,000 times each day). ...

By Jon-Erik Kawamoto, MSC, CSCS Q: What are some ideal sources of fuel to keep your stamina up during a hike? A: When on a challenging hike, pack snacks that are easy to digest yet energy-dense. A blend of nuts, seeds, and dried ...

By Ryan “6 Pack” Lapadat (@6PackLapadat) You have seen all of the latest YouTube videos on how to lift, read all of the online articles written by the experts (or self-proclaimed experts), and you feel more ready than ever to start your journey into gym life. But where do you ...

By Bahram Dideban, MD We all have moments when our workouts get us down, possibly even enough to stop us going to the gym (insert gasp here). Whatever the cause — too much time at work, an injury, a lack of results, or simply a loss of motivation — once we’ve ...

By Bahram Dideban, MD From giggling throughout gatherings with family and friends to roaring with amusement during large-scale Hollywood blockbusters and comedy shows, laughter can (and should) make regular appearances in our lives — for many, many reasons. There’s no denying that smirking, smiling, and full-on laughing can all induce positive emotions — clearly they make us feel ...

Start out small. Think about the activities that they like or used to like when they were younger, and suggest doing some of those things with them. Even an evening walk together a couple of times a week with good conversation based around goal setting can help stimulate the person enough to ...

By Julia Kawamoto, MPH Choosing what to eat during a workout really depends on what was consumed pre-workout as well as the intensity and duration of the workout. During exercise, the body effectively turns off digestive functions by directing blood ...

By Yuri Elkaim (@YElkaim) Carbs have gotten a bad rap recently, with many popular diets advising eaters to limit their consumption or sometimes avoid them altogether. Paleo, for example, recommends that followers eat only certain carbs like sweet potatoes, bananas, and plantains, provided that these foods are eaten to fuel a workout, while Keto eaters avoid ...

By Bahram Dideban, MD (@itsbdmd) They say spot training is impossible — if you want washboard abs, sit-ups and crunches will pale in comparison to a proper diet and regular exercise. And while that might be true for the majority of your anatomy, it turns out that there is one vital ...

By Bryan Smith (@Catalyst_SPT) Big gyms are great. They house a plethora of equipment, all the floor space you could ask for, and, if you are lucky, you may even get to witness the upper thighs of a senior citizen in short-shorts that haven’t seen the light of day since the Leafs won ...