Contributed by Nicole Cutler

Eating healthy foods fosters a healthy body. Some foods can even reverse or at least prevent illness from worsening. Seven foods revered for their support of wellness include: 

Almonds – Full of protein and Vitamin E, almonds reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.

Apples – Their fiber lowers cholesterol and glucose levels. Apples are also rich in Vitamin C which protects your body’s cells and helps maintain a healthy blood pressure.

Blueberries – Loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants, blueberries improve memory and reduce cellular damage associated with aging.

Broccoli – Besides providing calcium, potassium, folate and fiber, broccoli also helps prevent diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

Garlic – Its anti-bacterial properties fight infection and garlic’s active ingredient lowers cholesterol and minimizes blood clots from forming

Oats – Commonly advised for diabetics, oats reduce cholesterol while having little effect on blood sugar levels

Wild Salmon – The Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon reduce inflammation and help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing blood clots.

To learn more about our Fitness Boot Camps in Central Park New York, our Private Personal Training Services in New York City or our Massage services at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan please click on our contact form or call us at 212-255-5842 and receive your first personal training session at 50% off the regular price.

Our personal training gym is located in Midtown Manhattan NYC, but our personal trainers can also provide in-home personal training sessions in the following New York City neighborhoods: the Financial District, Nolita, Little Italy, Chinatown, Tribeca, Soho, Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, West Village, East Village, Meatpacking District, Flatiron District, Chelsea, Gramercy Park, the Garment District, Times Square, Broadway, Fifth Avenue, Central Park, Upper East Side and Upper West Side.

Private Personal Training in Manhattan NYC. Our certified personal trainers in New York City always recommend stretching before a workout. Begin slowly and warm up a little, and put emphasis on the muscles that will be most heavily involved in your workout.

Although our certified private personal trainers in Manhattan NYC know the benefits of yoga have enormous benefits on the aging body to keep it in balance, strengthened, and flexible, we also know that stretching before an intense workout has benefits too.

There are many ways to stretch muscles. Stretching can be either dynamic (aka: active or ballistic) or static (aka: isometric or passive). Here is a clarification of different ways in which to identify and categorize stretching:

• Ballistic stretching is an active or dynamic form of stretching, but because it involves bouncing (which causes the muscles to tighten up by repeatedly activating the stretch reflex), it is not considered useful. This kind can lead to injury. So don’t bounce! Ballistic stretching should only be used when preparing for certain kinds of exercise like martial arts.

• Dynamic stretching consists of controlled leg or arm swings and torso twists. This kind improves flexibility and can be quite useful. Don’t stretch cold muscles! Warm up the body prior to stretching with jumping jacks, running in place or jumping rope as this increases blood flow around muscles. Rotating the wrists, bending your arms, rolling your shoulders, swinging your limbs or twisting your torso is stretching that allows the body’s natural lubrication to protect joints.

• Active stretching is one in which you assume a position and hold it with no assistance except the strength of your agonist muscles (the cooperating muscles). The tension in the agonist muscles helps to relax the muscle being stretched. Many yoga positions are examples of active stretching. This increases flexibility and strengthens the muscles.

The benefits include mental and physical relaxation and increased agility and balance.

• Passive (aka: relaxed or static-passive) stretching uses another force to hold the stretch (the floor, your hand, a wall). Doing a split (using the floor as resistance) is an example of passive stretching. Placing your ankle on a dance bar is also an example of using an apparatus for resistance. This kind of stretching is helpful in healing injured muscles or stretching after a workout. It helps avoid soreness.

After exercise, slowly bring your heart rate down before you begin stretching in order to avoid blood pooling within your muscles, which can lead to cramps and dizzy spells. If you’re wet and sweaty, take a bath or shower then stretch, as the hot water will help relax the muscles, and prevent you from catching a chill.

• Another kind of passive or static stretching is isometric stretching (does not use motion). Isometric stretching involves using resistance (through contractions) of the stretched muscles. It greatly increases flexibility and strength in the tensed muscles. One should assume a position, tense the desired muscle (for 7-15 seconds); then relax for 20 seconds.

Hold the stretch until you feel the muscle loosen off, then repeat for a further 15 seconds. After exercise, slowly bring your heart rate down before you begin stretching in order to avoid blood pooling within your muscles, which can lead to cramps and dizzy spells.

Always stop if you feel any pain. And remember to breathe regularly and rhythmically: never hold your breath.

Our certified private personal trainers in Manhattan – New York City also recommend stretching after your workout when your muscles are warm and you’re ready for a cool down. Finally, remember to stretch before a workout after the warm up. Stretching cold muscles can cause injury.

For private personal training or yoga in Manhattan NYC, contact us at 212-255-5842 and receive your first personal training session at 50% off the regular price.