It's wedding season, and the most popular style in bridal fashion is the sleeveless gown. The secret to looking great while walking down that aisle is a set of strong sexy shoulders. Hey! We can probably agree that all brides are beautiful. But we could also agree that fit brides are spectacular. If your wedding is in the works or you simply want to sport some slinky tanks during the summer, then check out this video. You'll find a variety of simple shoulder exercises that are easy to remember.

For more innovative training videos, visit Fitzness.com.

To find the training equipment used in this video, visit Power-Systems.com.

Source

Hunched over at a desk all day? Here's a quick and easy way to undo hours of bad posture.

Source

Since becoming a mom, October 31st revolves around my son. But I fondly remember all the Halloweens in my college and post-college years -- times when the celebration was decidedly not for children.

If you've got a rip-roaring party to attend this year, it's time to start thinking about your costume. If you look at the Halloween stores, some of the costumes don't offer much more coverage than a swimsuit. So, while you're thinking about your upcoming disguise, start thinking about exercises to help get you in dare-to-wear costume shape. AOL Health has some great exercises for any problem area.

• Abs
• Arms
• Glutes
• Legs
• Shoulders

Your mother was right -- stop slouching and sit up straight! Why? Perfecting your posture is an easy way to look 10 lbs slimmer instantly. And that's just the icing on the cake -- having good posture will help your keep you spine healthy and flexible for years to come. After all, who wants to look like Quasimoto in their golden years?

Check out Divine Caroline to learn the ins and outs of good posture -- and straighten up with these quick tips:

• Sit on the tip of your chair. That way, you're unable to lean back and slouch.
• Check in with your posture every few minutes -- you might be slouching without realizing it. Sit up straight and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
• Get on the ball. The exercise ball, that is. Get one for your home office or ask your company to supply one for you.

How do you keep preserve your posture?

Source

As summer begins to come to wind down in many areas, you might be wondering how to keep up that sun-kissed glow you had in July. While you could, of course, use a sunless tanner, many people shy away from it for fear they'll end up orange and splotchy. If you land in that group, you should definitely add a powder bronzer to your make-up arsenal.

Bronzer isn't only for giving your face a little color, though -- it can be used on other parts of your body to add definition. But, regardless of where you use it, there are some important "hows" to address:

• Use a light touch. If you're using a loose powder bronzer, be sure to tap most of the powder off your brush before applying. You can always go back through and add more, but it can be tricky to lighten it once it's on without starting over completely.
• Find the right color for you. You don't want to get a bronzer that's several shades darker than your skin -- at best, it'll look unnatural, and at worst, it will make your face look dirty. Aim for a shade that's near your natural color, maybe a shade darker, for the most natural-looking results.
• Spread it out. Even though bronzer can be used for definition, you don't want to swipe it on in streaks. Use a fluffy brush and keep the lines soft -- the idea behind bronzer is that you don't see the bronzer.
• Beware the shimmer. Most bronzers have a hint of shimmer, and most of the time, that's fine -- it'll give your skin a little added glow. However, some of them have more than others, and unless you want to look like you're going to Prom, you might want to avoid the super-sparkly types.

Source

Are you working your butt off but noticing not much of a change in your body? Could be something simple holding you back. Like your posture.

Slumping while doing cardio ups your heart rate, says one recent study cited in Prevention magazine. The result: Your workout is harder. Try pulling back your shoulder blades next time you hop on your favorite machine and you'll notice that you're able to take in more oxygen. Your pace should pick up. And you'll burn more calories too.

A little posture goes a long way. Give it a try.

Source

Ah, summer. That means no jam-packed backpacks in my house. No lunches stuffed into packs with all the other gear necessary for school. No bags sent home overflowing with folders and papers and all sorts of things, like library books, we try so hard not to lose. Nope, my kids' backpacks are sitting on a shelf in our laundry room in all of their sedentary glory. Before long, though -- about six weeks here in my city -- school will begin again, which means the backpacks will be out in full force.

Don't pack them until they're heavy, says the U.S. National Safety Council. Loaded backpacks can strain young backs and shoulders, causing pain and injury. Instead, check your child's bag each day and remove any items that aren't needed -- that would be rocks for my guys who like to collect and store them in hidden compartments. Also, make sure your kids use both straps to distribute the load evenly. Not sure you're doing everything the right way? Here are five warning signs your kids' packs are too heavy.

• A difference in posture when wearing the backpack.
• Significant difficulty in putting the backpack on or taking it off.
• Complaints of pain or discomfort when the backpack is on.
• Red marks on the skin from the backpack straps.
• Feelings of numbness or a tingling sensation, especially in the back or shoulders.

Source

Your shoulder joints are among the most mobile you have, and their safety comes from the stability provided by the muscles and ligaments that surround them. That's why an imbalance in these stabilizing muscles can oftentimes result in injury.

In addition to performing rotator-cuff-specific exercises (the area of the shoulder where most injuries occur), it's important to follow a resistance training program that targets more than just your mirror muscles. Be sure that your workout includes an equal amount of pull exercises (pull-ups, rows, etc.) as it does pressing exercises (bench press, push-ups, military press, etc.), as it will create muscle balance and, in doing so, help stave off shoulder injury.

Also, be sure to listen to your body. Pain is never the goal, despite what some meatheads wearing Gold's Gym T-shirts and lycra shorts may tell you. If something feels wrong -- that is, different from the usual burn you have grown accustomed to feeling during a resistance training workout -- you should stop immediately. Failure to do so could take you out o the gym and on the D.L. for several weeks.

Source

When I was younger, I used to have perfect posture. I had a choir director who just drilled posture into us. Through the years, my posture has changed. I'm a writer, so my job has me glued to my computer desk all day long. I try to maintain good posture but by the end of the day, I find my shoulders hunched forward and I end up with an aching back.

I found an article about this simple exercise designed to improve your posture. The exercise is dubbed "The Superman" because you start with your arms stretched straight out in front of you. There are no weights required and it works all the right muscles. I tried it and my back and shoulders feel loose and better than they did before. Whether it will improve my posture remains to be seen, but I'm willing to give it a try!

Want to try something different? Back in March, Jacki posted about a posture exercise she's been having luck with. Developing better posture is well worth the effort. Not only will your back and shoulders thank you for it, better posture can even help you look slimmer in your swimsuit.

Source

Running off to a seven o'clock meeting tonight, only an hour after getting back from work? Have to shuttle the kids off to soccer practice, but still have to squeeze in a trip to the grocery store, dry cleaners, and the bank some time in between? The list of daily obligations can go on and on, can't it? This is probably why working out may never seem to make it into your daily routine -- It Doesn't Fit!!

This may very well be the case; or, perhaps more accurately, it just may seem like it's the case. Despite what many so-called fitness gurus may tell you, it's not necessary to spend half your life in a gym in order to get in better shape. In fact, working out for over an hour per day can lead to the release of a greater amount of cortisol, a hormone that can actually cause you to gain weight.

Okay ... talk, talk, talk. That's all I've done so far. How about something more substantial, Chris? Sure thing. Here's an exercise you can do that will work just about your entire body. Best of all, you can squeeze it into those in those tiny spaces that exist between junior's academic decathlon quarter-finals and your evening conference call with the folks in the Houston branch who want to discuss the new product roll-out (don't ask ... this scenario was just the first to pop into my head).

Source

Prevent muscle mutiny with these four feel-good moves from the April issue of Women's Health, on newsstands now! Instead of letting a great workout leave you feeling miserable, use some of these suggested exercises to prevent muscle imbalances in your: back, knees, neck, and shoulders.

Ball Squat with tubing

Pain-prone area: Fronts and sides of the knees
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and wrap resistance tubing around your knees so there's no slack in the band. Place a stability ball between the middle of your back and a wall, but put only enough pressure on it to keep the ball from falling. Squat down as if sitting on a chair, pushing out against the tubing to keep your knees from caving inward. Press back up to start. Do two sets of 12 reps, resting for 30 to 60 seconds between sets.

Source

Resistance training, when done properly, will strengthen bones, muscles, and joints. When done incorrectly, however, a host of potential problems arise. This is certainly the case with shoulder exercises, as it is this part of the body that many lifters injure (the author of this post notwithstanding).

The shoulders are made up of the deltoids (anterior, middle, and posterior) and rotator cuffs (supraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor, infraspinatus, and teres major). Any of these regions are susceptible to injury if strict form is not adhered to, or if attempts at lifting too much weight are made. Sticking to a weight you can handle, and not continuing past the point of technical failure, will help ensure that your shoulders remain injury-free.

This is not to say that muscle soreness of any kind will not occur. In fact, delayed-onset soreness is how your muscles are supposed to feel after a strenuous workout. This is nothing to worry about. But, if you're experiencing more of a shooting or dull pain, you may want to see an orthopedic surgeon. Signs of serious shoulder injury include a stiffness and a lack of normal rotation, if you lack the strength to complete normal day-to-day activities, or if your shoulder feels as though it may pop or slide out of its socket.

Source

Depending on where you live and your weather preferences, kayaking season may just be getting started or it may be finishing up. And if you have no idea which then maybe you should consider finding out, because kayaking can be great exercise for both your mind and your spirit. Rowing and paddling are great upper body workouts that can also help you improve flexibility, circulation, and joint health. Plus getting out on the water, away from the stresses of your everyday life, can really boost and rejuvenate your spirit.

If you're interested in trying it consider taking a class, and research what's available in your area because there may even be a paddling club that can help you meet others in the hobby.

Source

Just because summer is pretty much over doesn't mean that you have to go into workout hibernation for the next 6 months. The best way to be swimsuit ready for next summer is to stay, or get into, shape over the winter months. If running or all of the fancy equipment at the gym isn't for you, or if you're simply looking for a change, why not try out this water workout that promises you can lose a size in as little as two weeks if you devote yourself to it.

In-pool exercises include the Egg beater, which works arms, legs and abs, the Surf's Up for abs legs and butt and the Toe touch for shoulders, back and abs. There are 8 exercises in all, which will work pretty much every body part that you could possibly want to tone. Plus water workouts are low impact on joints and since you're in the pool, you can stay cool while working up a sweat.

Source

Recently a small study confirmed for college kids what I think many of us already knew: too much time spent on the computer means aches, pains, and sore muscles. The study looked at 27 college students and found that the more time they spent working on the computer, the more complaints they had of aches and pains over the next 24 hours. Spending three or more hours a day on the computer increased musculoskeletal symptoms by 50%, with the most common complaint area being the neck, followed by the lower back, upper back, and shoulders.

Posture is obviously important, as is taking frequent breaks to sit back and stretch. Since computers aren't going anywhere anytime soon, researchers will now be setting up larger studies to hopefully gain some ideas on how to help students stay healthy while studying and working (and the rest of us too!).

Source