Jump! Jump! For Your Bones

Our bones adapt under load.  When we strength train or jump and bound we put load on the bone and encourage healthy bone growth.

Multiple studies reflect this in young people—elementary age through college.  The evidence is pretty clear when younger people jump rope, skip, hop, and even use trampolines, they have higher bone density than their peers that don’t do those activities.

Once we get older (postmenopausal in women) the studies get murkier.  Some jump studies in older populations show no improvement in bone density, but many do.  It appears jumping improves bone density at the head of the femur (leg bone that enters your pelvis) more than it does in the spine for older adults.   Studies that don’t show jumping improving bone density do show improvement in balance and coordination which reduces fall risk and can, therefore, save our bones in other ways.

That means, it is never too late to start, but the earlier you start, the better.

Where to start?

Before jumping you always want to assess the status of your body.  Do your knees and joints feel good?  […]

Jump! Jump! For Your Bones2025-03-28T10:54:46-04:00

Super Duper Posture

 

 

 

 

 

We all want to fight that forward slump.  Gravity makes standing upright a full-time job.  Here are some moves to consider to try and ensure you stay tall.  The good news about all of these, is you can do them for 30-seconds each.  So set the timer on your phone. You don’t even have to count.  To help you remember the moves think MUTT (Mobility, Upper back, Tall, & Twist).

Maintain Mobility

Rib cage circles

Upper Back Strong

Back Pulses

Small Backward Circles

Back Bends with Hands Behind Head

Hands Interlocked Behind Back

Twist & Tall

Spinal Rotation

Sit Tall & Think of Space Between Your Vertebrae

 

Try to get in the habit of doing these moves as often as possible.

Click here to watch Maggie share some tips on improving posture on NBC CT Live!

Super Duper Posture2025-03-13T12:12:16-04:00

Fitness Trends in 2025

This year the fitness world is seeing a lovely blend of holistic approaches to movement. Functional fitness, hybrid exercises, and recovery are all part of the trend. What do those types of movements entail?

Functional Fitness:
These are moves that prepare you for the activities you’ll face in daily life without making you so sore you can’t move the next day. While they can be more isolated, like push-ups or bicep curls, they usually involve the whole body. They don’t always look like a movement you’ll see in daily activity. For example, steps ups alone mimic going upstairs. That is a functional movement. Adding an overhead press adds arm work, increases the cardio challenge, and works more core so it creates a greater functional challenge.

Examples:
Walking Lunges
Push Ups
Squat with Bicep Curls
Step Up with Opposite Arm Overhead Press

Hybrid Moves:
It’s very clear the body needs variety. Doing the same repetitive motions all the time is not functional and can lead to wear and tear. That means throughout the week you want to change up your workout. Try strength one day and stretching the next. Make sure to get in some cardio (both intense, like interval, and […]

Fitness Trends in 20252025-01-22T16:54:17-05:00

Fitness Gift Giving

Stuck on any last-minute gifts for people you love? Encouraging people to move is a wonderful gift. Of course you never want to try to twist someone’s arm if movement isn’t their thing. This year for CT LIVE we put together a few fitness ideas that are playful and practical. Click here to watch. I hope these ideas help with someone you are stuck on. And we aren’t paid by anyone to plug these gift ideas…

Trekking Poles: Can’t speak highly of these enough. I started hiking with them in my 20’s. I was embarrassed because no one my age used them, but my knees felt so good when I used them. People resist them but they are a game changer for anyone you know who likes hiking (and wants to continue lifelong) or anyone you know who is getting a bit older and a little unsteady.

For hikers they give you a more full-body workout, help you move faster, burn more calories, help with balance, and reduce how sore you’ll be after you hike.

A Stretch Strap: this gift can be for the person you know who LOVES stretching or the person […]

Fitness Gift Giving2025-01-22T16:55:11-05:00

Exercise on Vacation

Maggie hiking Mt Kilimanjaro

A few people have asked me what I do for exercise on vacation. The answer: it depends.

Sometimes I don’t. And that’s okay for anyone. It is necessary to allow your body a break from its typical routine for a week or two. In fact, it’s probably good. My regular routine has a lot of physical activity in it. And breaks are vital. As someone who LOVES to be in motion, I probably don’t take breaks as often as I should.

Also, sometimes our personal trips are so physically active whatever we are doing is my exercise. When we hiked Kilimanjaro or the Inca Trail, I wasn’t adding exercise. When I did the El Camino with my mom, I didn’t add more exercise to the 15 miles we were walking each day.  However, if we had access to a pool, I tried to swim for 30 minutes.  But moving in a pool is a wonderful addition to any workout routine, especially if your body is sore.

Maggie finishing the El Camino with her Mom

Exercise on Vacation2024-09-19T16:44:12-04:00
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