By Bonnie Pfiester

When I think of aerobics classes I can’t help but think of Jazzercise, leotards, and leg warmers. Thank goodness aerobics classes have evolved over the years into so much more than just floor aerobics and bad styles.

Today, health clubs offer a large spectrum of group exercise like Spinning, Kickboxing, Pilates, Step, Zumba, and even seated exercise classes for seniors.

So, why is group exercise growing by leaps and bounds? First and foremost, group exercise offers affordable professional guidance. Since many people can’t afford one-on-one training, group classes are a great alternative. Whether it’s learning proper form or just being motivated, group classes offer the direction, education, and encouragement so many people need.

Let’s take a moment and talk about plateaus. If you’ve ever experienced one – and the odds are, you have – you know that it’s just about the most frustrating and dangerous thing that could happen to a fitness plan. Maybe you’ve lost a little (or a lot) of weight, but you still have more to go. Maybe you are starting to see clear definition, week by week, in your abs or arms, but then suddenly, everything seems stagnant. For weeks, the scale, tape measure, or BMI calculator doesn’t budge. It may be driving you crazy, but rest assured that this happens to everyone. Many a dieter has fallen prey to plateaus, feeling their attempts to get stronger or leaner are futile, but it is essential that you kick start your fitness routine. Here is some information from fitness experts to keep in mind the next time you find yourself on a plateau with no clear end in sight.

Tracking your progress on a fitness plan is one major key to success. Here are five ways to find out if you’re losing fat and gaining muscle, without ever stepping onto a scale! Many dieters get discouraged by minor weight gains, but what they don’t realize is that they’re probably just gaining muscle. Plus, scales can fluctuate a couple of pounds per DAY. Here are five gauges of fitness that are more effective than scales.

1. The squeeze of your skinny jeans – Everyone has a pair – those killer jeans that look awesome on you when you’re in peak physical form. Maybe it’s been a few years since you’ve fit into them, but you keep them around because some day, you’ll wear them again. Skinny jeans can be a great motivator. One fun strategy is to take weight-loss-ad-style photos of yourself in your current jeans each week of your workout plan. In a few months, you, too, can have a cheesy shot of you in an oversized pair of pants – and then you can promptly change back into those sweet, skinny jeans.

By Jamie Yu

A lot of our jobs these days involve sitting at a desk, glaring at a computer screen sometimes up to 8 hour a day and beyond. The result of this over a long period of time can create tension and stiffness in our backs, wrists, neck, and legs which can only be detrimental to our overall health and wellbeing not to mention cause a decrease in productivity in the work place. As I have mentioned in another article, some of us even find our lives far to hectic to even exercise outside of work.

Here are couple of simple stretches/exercises you can do whilst seated at your desk that should bring some welcome relief:

• Shoulder Rolls: This exercise is helpful for those that sit in any one position for any considerable length of time as part our work. It’s fantastic for stress in the muscles of your back, and can also help relieve tension in the area where the trapezius is located.
  
  Sitting upright, breathe in as you lift your right shoulder to your ear. Then exhale as you slowly roll your shoulder around and back, dropping it away from your ear. Do 3 revolutions on the right side before alternating to the left shoulder.
  

The LA times recently ran an expose on something that’s simply a fact of life for many outdoor exercisers: poor air quality. We’re currently in the midst of “smog season,” which runs from May 1 to October 1. The combination of heat, sun, air pollution, and smoke may cause lung irritation and shortness of breath even in the healthiest of athletes.

Improve your sex life with increased blood flow, agility, and vitality! Here are some tips that will enable you to have better sex:

1. Be fit – It seems so simple, but it’s imperative for a healthy sex life. Get on top of any existing conditions you may have, like high cholesterol or diabetes. Be sure that your prescriptions don’t have any sexual side effects. Eat a diet that’s low in fat and try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Finally, ensure that you’re getting enough rest. These are easy ways to prime your body to be in peak shape.

By Bonnie Pfiester

Setting goals is not difficult. It's maintaining balance and staying focused while trying to reach your goals that are a challenge. It's so easy to get sidetracked by things that don't matter; allowing small stuff get in the way of your plans. This happens with work, relationships, fitness and other areas of our life. Priorities get choked out by circumstance and a lack of accountability. Reaching goals requires planning, measuring and correcting.

Jumping rope is one of the most exciting and effective exercises for athletes. It’s no wonder everyone from weightlifters to football players to gymnasts are fans of this “miracle” workout. Jumping rope improves agility, enhances balance, and burns about 200 calories per 15 minutes. How can you make jumping rope work for you? Use it to challenge your already intense routine.

Intensity is defined as exceptionally great concentration, power or force. It is what separates those who make modest gains over the years from those who make massive gains, year in and year out. If you look around the gym, it is easy to spot the people that train with a lot of intensity. Training with maximum intensity will literally force your muscles to grow; it leaves them no choice. They have to adapt; they have to grow.