Healthy Life Guide

This article was originally published by AskMen UK. Spin classes in dark studios with strobe lights, where the only requirements for entry are and an enthusiasm akin to Ben Stiller in Dodgeball and lycra so tight your balls look nonexistent. Crawling around like a wild animal on all fours. Yoga for men . If you can think it up, men are doing it. And we're not judging – we think every guy should embrace his inner fitness freak. Did anyone expect the day would come when men joined pilates studios? Took barre classes ? Did Zumba ? It's all great and amazing if it gets you moving. And these days there's a weird and wonderful fitness class for just about everything. Here are some of our favourites. Namasdrake Yes, it is what it sounds like: a completely Drake-themed yoga class. Because we're not collectively mega-obsessed with Drake or anything. In the class, which started in Los Angles and was also offered in Philly this summer, participants join in an hour-long vinyas...

This article was originally published by AskMen UK. If you're into fitness at any level, you'll have heard of Barry's Bootcamp. The famously tough, much-loved US workout originated in West Hollywood in 1998 and arrived in London four years ago – and has since obtained a similarly devoted fan base on this side of the pond. Their signature hour-long workouts involve 30 minutes of interval cardiovascular treadmill routines mixed in with 30 minutes of strength training, and cater equally to fitness fanatics and relative beginners. The classes are structured by five muscle groups (Arms + Abs, Butt + Legs, Chest, Back + Abs, Hard CORE Abs, and Full Body), and trainers and intervals vary. In short, no class is the same, which keeps it fresh for regulars. With some seriously motivating playlists accompanying hard-hitting workouts designed to keep your body guessing, Barry's is truly the original fitness class with a nightclub vibe. WHO'S MY NEW PT? Sandy Macaskill is co...

We think of all running as cardio, as a “fat-burning exercise. However, consider how a sprinter’s body is different from a distance runner’s: the sprinter needs a bigger, more muscular build, whereas the distance runner is lean. If you’re looking to combine the strength and speed of a sprinter into your running – at any distance and at any level of expertise – you might want to enrol in a precision running course. Precision running is a coach-led training method that varies the speed, incline, and duration of your runs in relatively rapid succession. It helps burn fat (which is often the main goal of its participants) and builds the muscle and stamina necessary for both effective running and improved pace. Many distance runners take precision running courses as a way to improve their race times. When mixed into a standard training routine, the interval training steadily increases a runner’s race pace by conditioning the body to sprint and recover at fast, consistent in...

The road to reaching your fitness goals is a tough one. It’s especially difficult to stay motivated. The trip is long and treacherous and full of failures and successes and obstacles and frustrations and triumphs. And that’s not just for the folks that have an estranged relationship with the gym. Whether you’re training for a marathon, trying to ditch that last 15 pounds or hoping to reunite with a long-forgotten six-pack , it just ain’t easy. But when it comes to discovering a better version of yourself, there are some universal principles that we can all benefit from. You may not always be able to control exactly how your body feels each day, but you can control your attitude. You can manage your emotions. You can dictate your commitment and consistency . And there are tools to do just that. With some hard work, and attention to these rules to keep you, you will reach your fitness destination. How To Get Motivated Envision Success Before you get started on any journey, it’s...

When you think of Pilates you probably get a little bit sleepy. It's mostly laying on your back and squeezing your core muscles, right? Well, if that's your perspective it's about to seriously change. We took an Alphalates class at the Chelsea-based Pilates Squared studio, and it was anything but easy. The hour-long core and alignment workout was created especially for men by a former professional dancer and a former ex military soldier — and there's not much staring at the ceiling involved. The workout, originally developed by German physical fitness specialist Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, incorporates 500 different exercises which are designed to train the body’s “powerhouse — the abdomen, lower back, hips, and bum — while working against resistance. Also known as "the art of controlled movements", it improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the entire body. WHO'S MY NEW PT? Caron Bosler is a fo...

Doing shuttle sprints and endless press-ups all day on a beach in Italy, while tough, still doesn’t come close to real US Navy SEAL training. Even when you throw in an assault course and lying in the sea, arms locked, with waves breaking over your head. This is what I tell myself as I attempt the Spec Ops challenge, a trial designed to give a squad of soft journalists a taster of exactly what it takes to become an elite special forces hardass. Hosted by Luminox , the Swiss watch brand that provides suitably tough timepieces for the SEALs, it can’t be much more than an amuse bouche. Not without killing us, anyway. Our instructor, however, is as authentic as our wrist candy. Rob Roy (no relation to the Scottish outlaw) was an active SEAL for two decades and a member of Team Six , the antiterrorism unit that entered the public consciousness after whacking Osama Bin Laden. Now Roy lends credibility to everything from corporate gigs to PlayStation games, giving the benefits of his exper...

“Never – goes the oft-touted weight room catchphrase – “ skip leg day . But, in a modern fitness world that’s given rise to armies of enormo-armed, ab-tastic, teeny legged gym rats, the age-old saying holds true. And yet, don’t fret. We’ve got a leg day leg-up that will boost your strength and burn your fat. Who’s My New PT? Steve Cook . Fitness model, Optimum Nutrition athlete, men’s physique icon and one of the single biggest fish in an ever-growing pond. At the recent Arnold Classic Europe event in Barcelona, AskMen watched on as hundreds upon hundreds fridge-sized fanboys queued for hours at a time just to get a firm handshake and selfie with Mr Olympia 2014’s fourth place finisher. More than half-a -illion subscribers to his YouTube channel eat up his accessible, highly effective workouts – and we’ve got one of his best right here. What Are We Doing? Big. No, not a Tom Hanks reboot, Big is Cook’s custom-built regime to get “bigger, faster, stronger....