Your Fitness

BODYTEC: How does a trail running shoe differ from a regular running shoe? RYAN SANDES: Trail running shoes generally offer a bit more support and have a more aggressive grip. The midsole is normally a little more stiff, and the upper is made out of a more hardwearing material. Why’s it important to have the…

Stania Davies, 45, was the winner of one month’s free training at our Umhlanga Ridge studio in our Well I Am Challenge. She shares her experience as a newcomer to EMS training. How did your first session go? I was a bit apprehensive at first – I was unsure what the “shocks” to my body…

The body is simple, if you treat it well and learn to understand it. The time of day you exercise, what you eat during the day and the amount of sleep you need, all influence your workout. Knowing how your body works accordingly can make you better and brighter, but unfortunately there is no definitive…

The signs of a good workout are not at all as obvious as sweat and soreness. In fact, those could be signs of a bad workout. A good workout speaks in a whole other language, and thankfully David Fabricius who is a registered biokineticist, knows this language quite well. He has given us a few…

Dominique Mann, SA’s Top female Aerobic Gymnast, on what it takes to excel BODYTEC: What motivates you to keep training hard? DOMINIQUE: I have a few things that motivate me. I love the feeling of being in control of my body. I love putting on my favourite pair of jeans and looking great, but most…

We’ve got nothing against rain. In fact, we’re in the throes of a major drout so we’re literally gagging for it. The problem with it is it can be a major motivation killer. A chilly downpour and your evening run turns into a Game of Thrones TV marathon, right? So to help keep your exercise…

You may feel like you’re made up of muscle and that other not-so-great body element (fat!), but in fact, the average adult human body is up to 65% water. And just like our drought-stricken dams, these levels need to be kept topped up to keep the whole system running efficiently and healthily. It helps to…

1 You need a goal Goals, a naggy word, but proven to be very effective in pushing you forward. They exist to remind you of what it is that you want to achieve. You may have a whole list (lose weight, run a 10k, get a six pack) but setting your sights too high can…

The most common cause of back pain is inactivity, so it makes sense to rev up your exercise programme to deal with your sore back. But while pushing weights or hitting the road may drag you away from your desk (or the couch), they may actually make your back condition worse. ‘A lot of time…