Baby, it’s Cold Outside

Staying fit during winter, two people lace up their gym shoes on an icy trail. Embracing winter fitness.

Maintaining a safe workout routine through winter’s ice, snow, and freezing temperatures Fact checked by Shannon Sparks   Do you welcome the arrival of the winter months? Or do you dread the shorter days — the cold (sometimes bitterly so) temperatures and unpredictable snowfalls that Chicago winters can bring? Whether you revel in bracing the […]

How to Keep Moving While You Work

Woman working at a standing desk to avoid being sedentary and getting some movement

Fact checked by Shannon Sparks   Nearly all of us sit too much. Unless you work as a preschool teacher, fitness instructor, or construction worker, you probably fall into that category.  But a few simple lifestyle changes can prod you to increase your movement, decreasing the risks associated with remaining stationary all day. “Whenever I have […]

Is Sitting Worse Than Smoking?

Woman sitting on sofa snacking with remote control demonstrating a sedentary lifestyle

Build more activity into your day How much time do you spend sitting? Probably more than you realize. The average American adult sits for more than nine hours a day.  All that sitting means that more than 75% of us, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), aren’t getting the recommended amount of exercise. […]

Putting Treatments into Motion

Treatments into Motion: Parkinson's Disease - Chicago Health Online

Parkinson’s disease — a progressive movement disorder — has no cure, but better treatments are giving more hope If you had told Rick Mazursky 13 years ago that he would be working out most days, hitting stickers on a boxing bag while simultaneously spelling words aloud, or balancing on a stability ball while throwing punches, […]

Sneak in Fitness

Mary Lou Cerami paddleboarding

Kick the sitting habit with exercises for body and soul Above photo: Mary Lou Cerami paddleboarding “Sitting is the new cigarette,” says Angie McDermott, certified athletic trainer and owner of Konscious Body in Kenilworth, relating a popular thought among health professionals. “I get what they mean.” Most of us think of exercise as something we […]

In Brief

Runner

Don’t Just Stand There; Move! We’ve long known that sitting all day is bad for our health. But since most of us can’t escape the cubicle farms and the sit-down culture they’ve created, we’ve instead turned to standing desks. And while standing is much better for us than sitting, it should not be mistaken as […]

Yoga offers a wide range of health benefits

yoga pactice

Harvard Health Letters Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical activity, breathing, and focused mental attention. A growing body of research shows that yoga offers a range of health benefits, including a low-impact cardiovascular workout. “It packs a powerful punch,” says Maren Nyer, an instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and director of […]