Looking for a new way to work your body? If you want to be on the cutting edge, you might want to try GST. No, it's not some weird diet drug -- GST stands for Grace Somatomorphic Technique, and according to the website, "is comprised of three unique components that use dynamic movement, oppositional force and friction to achieve radical body transformation."

Riiiiight. So, what does that mean? Essentially, we're talking about a mixture of yoga, Pilates, and Capoeria. Rather than holding specific positions, in GST, you move your body through positions using equipment providing oppositional force. From what I can see, it's a tough workout, but I, for one, would love to give it a try!

It's great for dancers and people recovering from injuries, but GST Body encourages everyone to give it a try. Once you learn the movements, you can start doing them at home and even incorporate them into your workout. You can see a video of some of the moves here, and learn more about GST here.

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For centuries, Chinese men and women have practiced the art of T'ai Chi, a combination of self-defense and flowing, low-impact rhythmic movements that enhance both the body and mind.

Many westerners have also adopted this art as part of their approach to healthy living, embracing the improvements it offers to balance, flexibility, and respiratory and immune function. Unlike many other forms of physical fitness, T'ai Chi can be performed by people of all ages with little risk of injury.

On Saturday, April 26th, cities throughout the U.S. will stage events to celebrate the 10th annual World T'ai Chi Day. Visiting an event in your city would be a great way to learn more about this ancient practice that supports total health and wellness. To find out where activities and events are being held in your city, visit WorldTaiChiDay.org.

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Even with the best of intentions, as well as an admirable amount of effort, the weight sometimes doesn't come off!! Try as you might to get the needle on that scale to budge even the slightest bit, sometimes it's just not having it. This is especially true for people who have already lost quite a bit of weight and are now trying to take off those last ten pounds or so.

To help you shed those stubborn extra pounds, here is a quick tip from an article titled "Scale Stuck?", which appears in this month's edition of Self magazine. I'll be posting one of them a day for the next 10 days.

Hopefully these tips will help you figure out what's causing those pounds to stick around.

Quick Tip #5

Diet Flub: You're an email addict - This serves as a good example of how advances in technology sometimes cause us to be less physically active. Does this sound like you? You work in an office where most of the people with whom you regularly communicate (be it for work-related stuff or just idle chit-chat) are situated within shouting distance. But, since you can't yell over to them, you either send them an email or an instant message. The problem is, you only burn about 5 calories writing an email, whereas actually getting up and walking over to that person would burn eleven. This may seem insignificant, but multiply that difference of 6 calories by the number of times per week you send that email or IM, and you'll see how a simple stroll across the office can add up to some serious calorie burning.

Fix It: Add some movement to your day. In addition to taking that leisurely stroll over to your co-worker's desk, also try standing while talking on the phone, say the folks at Self magazine. Passing along a mere five messages, on foot, to a co-worker can burn as many as 100 calories per day. All said and done, that equals burning off roughly one pound per month!!

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Do you find you just don't have the energy to work out? Chances are the fact that you're not working out is the reason you don't have energy in the first place. And if you're a serial gym-avoider, you probably have a long list of reasons why you shouldn't work out, but I challenge you to rip up that list and instead focus on the reasons why you should work out.

Here's help: Dr. Oz's Excuse-Busting Workout is an simple-to-follow workout that can be as difficult or easy as you want to make it. In addition to walking 30-minutes a day, you'll perform a set of exercises that can be done at a gym or in the comfort of your own home.

So, no more excuses -- do something for yourself and start exercising!

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Exercising while you are pregnant has proven to help reduce fatigue, build endurance, and can help women have a shorter labor. This is particularly true if you use movement in labor by changing positions. Despite the differences in your body, exercise is still important. One of the things you need to determine before you jump right into an exercise program is how fit you are and if you have not previously been on any exercise routine. There are several exercises that you can do while pregnant, even if you were previously a couch potato or sedentary.

Here are four exercises that are safe while pregnant.

Yoga combines exercise and relaxation.
Walking is a great workout for muscles and aerobic fitness.
Pilates emphasizes balance, strength, and flexibility.
Swimming helps relieve stress and strain on muscles and builds endurance.

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It's not exactly new (first developed about 50 years ago) but the Feldenkrais Method is still being used today to help people "promote more efficient movement with less pain, enhance flexibility and stability, and improve well-being." It's used for a variety of different people including those fighting serious diseases to average adults just looking to maximize fitness and body awareness. It focuses pretty heavily on becoming deliberate and conscious in how you move your body, and is available in both group classes and individualized lessons.

This sounds like it would be good for me, and if you want more info too try this link to learn more and find a Feldenkrais Method class or instructor near you.

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Parkinson's is a debilitating disease that affects a person's movement, strength, and balance, and in many ways is still a mystery to doctors and scientists. One thing that is becoming more clear, however, is that regular physical exercise seems to help slow the progression of the symptoms and delay the effects of the disease. And now a certified trainer, David Zid, and a doctor afflicted with Parkinson's himself, Thomas H. Mallory M.D., have collaborated to create a fitness regimen specifically designed for Parkinson's patients.

The fitness plan is available in the book "Delay the Disease: Exercise and Parkinson's Disease," and part of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to support the research, development and treatment of Parkinson's.

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What do you think of dancing? Me? I think I fall perfectly in to the 'two left feet' category of dancers. I have a good sense of rhythm but lack and body coordination to move to the music in a way that doesn't resemble a frog in a blender. And I'm clumsy. Really clumsy. But nonetheless, I love it. I love letting the rhythm, take control of my body and I love letting go. Luckily, I'm not easily embarrassed because I would probably never show my face on the dance floor again.

Okay, enough about my (lack of) dancing skills. Dancing is the latest craze in fitness routines, don't you think? And why not? It's a great way to sculpt your body and if you incorporate some sort of cardio action to it, it's a great way to burn calories too.

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