Working out on a gymball has a variety of physical benefits – from gentle stretching, to intense strengthening – for young and old, and all levels of fitness.  By paying attention to sound technique and good posture you will reap the best results.

By Vanessa Lanham, CHEK Exercise & Lifestyle Coach

How many of us head off on holiday with resolutions to ‘keep up with the jogging’, plans to swim at least 20 lengths every day, or determined to play so much tennis that Wimbledon won’t be able to resist next year. With so much to do at home, and often so little time to exercise, holidays can seem just the time and place to make up for lost time and really ‘get in shape’.

It is becoming increasingly known that exercise is good for both mother and baby during pregnancy. Virtually every ache, pain and discomfort that goes along with pregnancy can be alleviated or lessened with exercise. Most women can continue with their pre-pregnancy workouts throughout pregnancy, although they may have to make certain modifications to make it more comfortable.

By Paul Chek, of the CHEK Institute

Have you ever noticed that your feet, back and/or neck hurt after wearing high heeled shoes to work, but no on the weekend while in flats? Yes-it's true - there is a connection. The body is beautifully designed with a fully functional, durable, shock absorbing foot. Because the foot is the body's only contact with the ground when standing it represents the body's base of support. Wearing high-heeled shoes alters the base angle in proportion to the height of the heel.

By Paul Chek, of the CHEK Institute

Women must be careful not to over indulge in training on weight machines, for two main reasons: to prevent joint injury and to maximize exercise efficiency. Females are generally much more flexible but not as strong as their male counterpart. Plus women experience increased joint laxity when premenstrual, which added together leads to a high susceptibility to joint injury.

By Paul Chek, of the CHEK Institute

Many of you will be indoctrinated in the philosophy that regular cardiovascular (CV) conditioning is important for your health and that such training reduces your risk of heart attack. And you are also very likely to believe that to achieve CV conditioning you must regularly perform CV exercises, such as running and biking or using one of the many CV machines in the gym.