Winter is coming. Why exercise? Why now?
Even as we face the prospect of a second COVID wave, the approach of fall and winter gives us all kinds of reasons to re-commit to fitness.
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Pandemic blues: Opening up and ramping it up again — slowly
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit our training and fitness routines pretty hard, but the most recent numbers are encouraging
Self-care is about self-preservation, and self-isolation whenever necessary
Self-care can mean a lot of things depending on the circumstances. In these turbulent days, though, it has to start with self-isolation, both for our own sakes and for the people around us.
Is it authentic, or just manufactured influencers? Be wary of ‘advice’ contrived via social media
Influencers with large social-media audiences aren't necessarily health and fitness experts. They just have nice pictures and an air of authenticity.
Anxiety in the time of pandemic: fighting coronavirus with safe exercise, social distancing, and self-compassion
Anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction to this crazy time. We all have different coping strategies, but small acts of self-care can make all the difference.
COVID-19 got you working from home? You can still work out
COVID-19 is disrupting things everywhere in too many ways to count, but that doesn't mean you can't find ways to stay fit even if you're working from home
How are we dealing with the coronavirus at TrainingSpaces?
The coronavirus has public-health authorities running in overdrive. Here's what we're doing to make sure TrainingSpaces is a safe space.
Data-driven performance tracking: a review of some of the latest technology
From wristbands and watches to smartphone apps, there's no shortage of hardware and software you can use for performance tracking.
With weight training, it’s not how much you lift or how many reps, but how hard you work the muscles
Weight training, contrary to popular belief, does not build muscle tone. What matters is skin elasticity and how much fat covers the muscle.
If the shoe fits, wear it out: what to look for in athletic shoes
The lifespan of any athletic shoes depends on what you use them for, how often you use them, and where you use them.
How accurate are the calorie counters on fitness equipment?
While it's tempting to measure our progress by those little LED calorie counters, they can frequently overstate how much energy we're burning.
Feeling the squeeze: the benefits of compression sportswear
Whether it's for a host of physical effects or just boosting your confidence and comfort level, compression sportswear might be worth a try.
Monitoring your heart rate is a great way to gauge exercise efficiency
Knowing your theoretical maximum heart rate allows you to target the intensity of your workout depending on the kind of exercise you're doing.
The Future of Fitness explained: how CBD oil can help you feel better
Unlike THC, cannabinoids will not get you high. But they can help with chronic pain, depression, various inflammations, and a host of other health problems.
Signing on for Dry January can reset more than just your relationship with alcohol
Going dry for January can have psychological benefits, but for true health benefits, long-term abstinence is the ticket.
Anyone can make resolutions for the New Year. Here are some strategies for the New Decade
Are you where you wanted to be 10 years ago? The New Decade is time to re-evaluate not only your life goals, but the ways you're pursuing them.
Let’s never do that again: a decade of bad decisions
As we close the curtain on the 2010s, here's a list of mistakes we need to avoid repeating — and a handful of healthy hopeful alternatives.
All the hype surrounding gluten-free eating? Forget about it
Going gluten-free is an expensive and uncomfortable trend that only helps a small number of people.
We Wish You a Merry Fit-Mas — 2019 Edition
Having trouble picking gifts for your loved ones? Here's our revised fitness-themed holiday gift guide, updated for 2019.
There are predators in the fitness industry. Who knew?
If you're working with someone who puts their bank account or ego above your health and well-being, it's time to rethink.
ELDOA: A new way to stretch and contract your way to relief
Many people undergoing ELDOA report increased flexibility, reduced back and joint pain, relief of neck and shoulder pain, and improved posture.
Matcha brings ritual and a myriad of health benefits. What’s not to like?
Matcha, essentially tea leaves ground into a fine powder, can lower blood pressure, decrease cell damage, and bring crash-free caffeine.
Protein snacks to give your workout an extra boost — or just keep you going
Protein snacks can also reduce hunger, maintain muscles, fortify bones, improve brain function, and support your immune system.
Is it OK to exercise when you’ve got a cold? Well, yes — within reason
If your cold is mainly in your head, moderate exercise should be OK. Below the neck? Put it off until you feel better. Above all, listen to your body.
Ali MacKellar presents Strength in Numbers
A four-week series dedicated to strength training, starting Monday Nov. 11 and running for an hour at a time. Contact Ali for more information.
Can’t motivate yourself to exercise? Consider these added benefits
There are always good reasons to exercise, but for those times when you feel like you're in a rut, here are a few more.
Fueling your workout: what to eat before and what to eat afterward
You want a balance of protein and carbohydrates so you have the energy to work out and the nutrients for tissue repair and muscle mass afterwards.
The Future of Fitness Explained: a primer on MCT oil and some of its supposed benefits
MCT oil is often linked to the keto diet and other trends, but it's worth examining some of the glowing claims in more detail.
Fake meat may be getting a lot of play, but is it healthy?
It's natural to be interested in the fake meat products hitting the market, but don't assume they're the answer to ethical, environmental, or nutritional questions.
On weight training and how to avoid getting stuck in the comfort zone
If your first rep and your last rep feel the same, it's time to move up. Your goal is to be challenged by your last rep, without compromising your form.
Why fall is the ideal time to start running
Beginning a running routine is one of those September resolutions that can be part of your reset and re-commitment to fitness and yourself.
Guest blog: three things you need to know about weight management
In a guest post, kinesiologist Rachel Lau discusses 3 key strategies to managing weight in a healthy and happy way. Remember: there is no ideal body shape!
Recommitting to your goals means recommitting to yourself
Recommitting: Whatever the summer's done to your schedule, September is the ideal time to get back on track.
Connected Fitness: It’s trendy, effective (and expensive), but is it for you?
These costly machines can make a difference, but you want to be committed to putting in the effort before plunking down the cash.
Do you need to detox? Or just stop eating things that are bad for you?
Instead of buying into the detox hype, you can do yourself more good by eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
Martial arts: not just kung fu movies, but a way to fun, fighting, and fitness
Martial arts experts like Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and maybe even Chuck Norris can teach us something about overall fitness.
The future of fitness, explained: the 7-minute workout
The 7-Minute Workout is a set of 12 maximum-intensity exercises using only body weight as resistance. It's worth a try, as long as you don't sacrifice form in the process.
Self-care is about self-preservation
Self-care sounds like a great idea, but sometimes we're so stressed out and depleted that we don't know where to start. We can start with small steps.
Don’t take bad habits on holiday: Three tips to keep vacations good for your health
Vacations feature all sorts of temptations: overindulge at the buffet, skip your exercise routine, ignore your commitments to yourself. Here are 3 ways to enjoy without backsliding.
When time is crunched, HIIT and Tabata can help you work out harder rather than longer
High Intensity Interval Training can get your heart rate up and clear your head in as little as 15 minutes. It's what you want when you're pressed for time.
Your gut’s connection to your emotional state makes it your second brain
The emotional connections between your brain and your gut depend on beneficial bacteria. You'll want a healthy mix of prebiotic and probiotic foods.
Fat-shaming response to Nike’s plus-size mannequins shows just how far we still have to go
The backlash to Nike's plus-size mannequins highlights an obsessive focus on impossible ideals, making it that much harder to develop healthy body images.
Finding motivation for exercise isn’t always easy; ultimately you have to look within
Exercising in the hope of some external reward isn't very effective motivation. It's better to think of the work as your reward to yourself, for its own sake.
Don’t let unhappy high-school memories keep you out of team sports
You don't have to be a world-class athlete to enjoy team sports. Finding something in common with others can be its own reward.
They’re berry good for you: Acai and goji and bil, oh my!
Berries pack a lot of goodness into small packages. They don't just add flavour -- they're terrific sources of vitamins, antioxidants, and more.
Focus on supplements: collagen can help with many things, but is it right for you?
The preferred sources for collagen supplements are humanely treated animals — free-range, pasture-raised, no antibiotics, and avoiding fish farms.
Do you really want to change?
Focusing on quick results obscures the fact that change is more effective measured in small increments. If change is important enough to you, you might have to put it in your schedule to underscore your commitment to it.
How Relative Fat Mass Index improves on Body Mass Index as a measure of health
Relative fat mass index improves on the body mass index by accounting for bone, muscle and fat proportions, starting with a simple measurement of the waist circumference.
Diets come and go, but how do you decide which one works for you? Listen to your body
Atkins, South Beach, Mediterranean, juice cleanses, paleo, keto ... every new diet arrives to great fanfare and then brings on the critics. Listening to your body is key to figuring out what works for you.
Celebrating one year of TrainingSpaces
From an empty room to 13 trainers and their clients, 7 days a week. And dusting. Lots of dusting.
TrainingSpaces is marking its one-year anniversary!
From an empty space to more than a dozen trainers offering everything from body sculpting to bellydance, TrainingSpaces continues to redefine the boundaries of wellness.
Is it authentic, or just a manufactured influencer? Be wary of ‘advice’ contrived via social media
Having a large social-media audience doesn't make someone a health and fitness expert. It just means they have nice pictures and an air of authenticity.
When treatments go wrong: speak up, it’s your body
When you're in pain, you need to speak up. You're the expert on your own body, and if something's not going right, you need to flag it for the care team.
Guest blog: why bellydance? Join Kelly May 15 and find out
People of all ages and genders are enjoying bellydance for the fun and to help their minds reconnect to their bodies
IV therapy: magical health infusion or expensive and temporary placebo?
IV therapy clinics are popping up everywhere, offering everything from magical nutrient cocktails to simple hedges against fatigue. Are they worth it?
Intermittent fasting worked for Hugh Jackman. Is it the future of fitness?
Intermittent fasting helped Hugh Jackman get all pumped for Logan. Can it work for you? Here's what you need to know about this new diet and fitness trend.
Special-occasion weight loss and what happens the day after
When all your weight-loss efforts are pegged to one special occasion, where do you find your target and motivation afterward?
With weight training, it’s not how much you lift or how many reps, but how hard you work the muscles
Weight training, contrary to popular belief, does not build muscle tone. What matters is skin elasticity and how much fat covers the muscle.
Don’t take bad habits on holiday: Three tips to keep vacations good for your health
Vacations feature all sorts of temptations: overindulge at the buffet, skip your exercise routine, ignore your commitments to yourself. Here are 3 ways to enjoy without backsliding.
Forget dancercise comparisons: appreciating barre for its isometric benefits
Barre routines are all about isometrics -- isolating body parts where the muscle doesn't noticeably change length and the affected joint doesn't move.
Assembling your care team: do you need bodywork specialists to supplement your personal trainer?
Your personal trainer can suggest bodywork specialists, such as massage therapists and chiropractors, to help you zero in on trouble spots and relieve pain.
Chaga mushrooms: the newest superfood?
It has anti-fungal and and anti-viral properties, and may even prevent and slow the progress of cancer.
Measuring your progress means finding the right way to measure
When you're working toward a goal -- weight loss, body shape, whatever -- don't make the scale the only measure of your progress.
Jesus and the Apostles didn’t binge at the Last Supper, and neither should you
You can sabotage your diet before it even starts, by binge eating the forbidden foods in one last spasm of indulgence. Then the cycle starts all over again.
With weight training, it’s not how much you lift, but how well you lift it
We've discussed the benefits of weight training, but it's also important to maintain proper form if you want to avoid painful injuries.
What happens when the whole idea of exercise triggers anxiety?
While regular exercise has been linked to emotional well-being, there's also evidence that it can boost anxiety. There are strategies for handling that.
You don’t really hate exercise. It just feels that way
From childhood awkwardness to poor self-esteem, we can all find excuses not to exercise. Even though we know it's good for us.
Top 5 things to look for in food tracking apps
Food-tracking apps can be very useful when you want to focus on nutrition, but some are more useful than others.
Economics 101: is joining a gym worth the investment?
What are your goals? How often will you go? Are there costs beyond the monthly fees? Just some of the things to consider if you're looking at a gym membership.
Hello 2019: a realistic approach to New Year’s resolutions
It's always tempting to aim high with plans for self-improvement, but a realistic outlook will probably increase the chances for success.
Avoiding Stress-mas: self-care for the holidays
Going easy on the holiday cheer goes hand in hand with going easy on yourself. This week, six tips to help minimize Yuletide stress
We wish you a merry Fit-mas: TrainingSpaces’ holiday gift guide
Gadgets? Gift certificates? Workout gear? Water bottles? Our holiday gift guide makes shopping for your fitness-addicted friends easy.
Indulgences and regrets: avoiding the holiday-party pitfalls
From eating strategically to burning calories on the dance-floor, there are ways to keep seasonal celebrations from derailing your progress.
Committing to a class — and getting the most out of your commitment
Committing to an exercise routine is a big step. That said, group classes are a great way to get more for your money — and Toronto offers plenty of choices.
When it’s not just you: is Crossfit the new step aerobics?
Group fitness has staying power for a reason. Humans are social creatures, and whether it's crossfit or step aerobics, the emphasis is on working out together.