Nicole Brar

Fitness Instructor & Nutritionist

5 Reasons To Add Yoga To Your Fitness Routine

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As a fitness instructor and nutritionist, I am always encouraging my clients to explore new workout routines and activities that can benefit their overall health and well-being. Yoga is one such practice that has been gaining popularity in recent years and for good reason. 

woman stretching on a yoga mat

5 Benefits of Yoga Exercise

Here are 5 reasons why you should add yoga to your fitness routine:

Improved Flexibility and Balance

Yoga involves a variety of poses and movements that can help improve flexibility and balance. By regularly practicing yoga, you can increase your range of motion, reduce stiffness, and develop better balance and stability, which can help prevent falls and injuries.

Stress Reduction and Relaxation

One of the most well-known benefits of yoga is its ability to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Yoga combines physical movement with breathing exercises and meditation, which can help calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Regular practice can help improve your overall mood and sense of well-being.

Increased Strength and Endurance

While yoga is often associated with relaxation, it can also be a great workout for building strength and endurance. Many yoga poses require you to hold your body in a static position, which can help build muscle strength and endurance over time.

Improved Breathing

Breathing is an important part of yoga practice, and learning to breathe deeply and mindfully can have a range of benefits for your health. Deep breathing can help improve lung capacity, reduce stress, and lower blood pressure.

Variety and Fun

If you’re looking to add some variety to your fitness routine, yoga can be a great option. There are many different styles of yoga to choose from, each with its own unique benefits and challenges. Plus, practicing yoga can be a fun and enjoyable way to stay active and engaged in your fitness journey.

Conclusion: Starting A Yoga Practice

Overall, yoga is a versatile and beneficial practice that can help improve your physical and mental health in a variety of ways. If you’re new to yoga, consider taking a class or finding a video tutorial online to get started. With regular practice, you may be surprised at how much of a difference it can make in your overall well-being.

Best VR Fitness Games To Add To Your Workout

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Let’s face it, sometimes regular workouts are just plain boring. However, technology has made it possible to transport yourself to a virtual world. The growing availability of VR headsets is making waves in the fitness industry. 

Why not transform your next workout into an exciting adventure? The beauty of VR fitness lies in its ability to provide an intense and immersive workout, including HIIT. All this while you dodge, duck, and move to the beat of the music.

VR fitness games make you sweat, increase your heart rate, and will help you achieve your fitness goals in a fun way! Let’s take a look at some of the top VR fitness games to check out in 2024. 

Top 3 VR Fitness Games

Beat Saber

We can’t talk about the best VR fitness games without talking about Beat Saber. This addictive rhythm game has taken the VR world by storm. It offers a high-intensity workout as users slice through blocks to the beat of the music. 

With a variety of music packs available, Beat Sabers makes sure you work up a sweat while moving along to the songs you love. 

Supernatural

Supernatural offers a wide range of workouts all set in breathtaking virtual landscapes. Users can take part in several exercises from boxing workouts to HIIT routines. It’s like having a personal trainer, but in virtual reality!

VZfit

For all you cyclers out there, VZfit transforms your simple stationary bike into an outdoor adventure. All from the comfort of your own home! This game is compatible with most VR headsets. It takes you through scenic routes and challenging terrains. 

The game’s immersive experience is sure to keep users coming back for more. It makes exercise feel less like a chore and more like an exploration!

Top 3 Fitness Trends for 2024

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It’s the beginning of a new year, and everyone is trying to achieve their fitness goals in 2024. Meanwhile, some exciting new trends have emerged in the fitness world.

If you want to switch up your fitness routine, why not try incorporating one of these trends into your own workout?

Fitness trends 2024

Let’s take a look at the top 2024 fitness trends:

Fitness Trends For The New Year

Sustainability

Sustainability when it comes to fitness has two different meanings.

As the world becomes more and more concerned about the effects of climate change, fitness enthusiasts are looking for more sustainable workout routines. This can include:

  • Opting for more sustainable workout clothes, such as shopping second hand or using environmentally friendly fabrics
  • Using less electrical equipment like treadmills and opting to walk in nature instead
  • Using second-hand and re-usable equipment
  • Plogging, a combination of jogging and picking up litter

Sustainability also means that people are more conscious about workouts they can stick to over the long term. People are focusing less on intense, grueling workouts. People have a lot of motivation for these kinds of workouts at the beginning, but they don’t stick to them in the long-term.

You want an exercise routine you can sustain over a long period of time. For example, if running 7 days a week is too intense for you, try the hot girl walk trend instead.

Holistic Wellness

More and more people now understand that exercise isn’t just about losing weight or sculpting your body to perfection. Exercise should support and improve all areas of your life. Some ways to incorporate this include:

  • Functional fitness: These exercises build strength and endurance for activities you encounter in every day life, such as lifting groceries, climbing stairs, walking, etc.
  • Yoga & Mindfulness: Yoga classes can be an intense workout, but it doesn’t always have to be – both kinds are okay! This is all about connecting your mind and body together and improving mental health.
  • Outdoor Exercise: Spending time in nature has proven benefits for our emotional well-being. Why not kill two birds with one stone and get your fitness on in nature?

Technology

With so many technological advancements these days, it’s no wonder they are making their way to the fitness world. During the pandemic, many people turned to virtual workouts instead of going to the gym. This trend hasn’t stopped, and we’re seeing virtual reality play a bigger role in home workouts.

People also want more data from their workouts so they can optimize their exercise routine. We’re now seeing a huge increase in people using wearable technology and fitness trackers.

How To Know If Virtual Reality Fitness Is Right for You

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It’s the new year, which means everyone is trying to reach their fitness goals right now. However, this far into the year is when many people start to fall off the bandwagon. Don’t let yourself be one of those people!

vr fitness

If you’ve been trying the same old fitness routine year after year, and still aren’t sticking with it or seeing results – it might be time to try something new. Trust me, I understand how many barriers there are to reaching your fitness goals. Why not make it a little bit easier with virtual fitness? 

Here’s how to know if virtual fitness is right for you:

3 Signs You Should Switch To Virtual Fitness

Virtual fitness (or VR fitness) simply refers to exercise programs that are delivered digitally. This can be through your computer, apps on your phone, or your TV. Like many things these days, it is completely remote, which means it is way more flexible than going to the gym.

Still not convinced? Let’s get into the signs you should make the switch:

1. You feel insecure at the gym

The gym should be a place that empowers everyone who goes there, but I know this isn’t always the case. If you aren’t feeling your best, you might feel self-conscious exercising in front of others. Women often tell me they aren’t comfortable at the gym unless it is female-only, and not everyone lives near a women’s gym. 

You can skip all of the insecurity by just exercising in the comfort of your own home!

2. You struggle to motivate yourself

Exercising at home is great, but that often means exercising by yourself. This is a real problem for people who struggle with motivation. Going to an exercise class or having a workout buddy can help motivate you to work out because it makes you accountable to someone else. 

With virtual fitness, you get the benefits of staying at home while also having others to hold you to your exercise. 

3. You want an affordable, convenient option

Going to the gym is not always convenient or affordable. Gym memberships can be costly, especially if you want to hire a personal trainer for more in-depth guidance. Not everyone lives near a gym or has the time to go enough to make the money worth it. Life gets bust, and when it does, fitness is usually the first thing people put on the backburner.

With virtual fitness, it is much easier and more cost-effective to fit your exercise into your lifestyle. You essentially get to bring your fitness classes and personal trainer into your home without paying the premium! 

5 Tips For Staying Motivated On Your Fitness Journey

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As a fitness instructor and nutritionist, I know how challenging it can be to stay motivated on your fitness journey. It’s easy to start strong, but maintaining that motivation for the long term can be tough. That’s why I’m here to share my top 5 tips for staying motivated on your fitness journey.

woman wearing athletic clothing chopping a pear in her kitchen next to a bowl of fruit

How To Stay Motivated To Exercise: 5 Tips

Set achievable goals

Setting goals is a great way to stay motivated, but it’s important to make sure they are achievable. Start with small goals that you know you can accomplish, and then gradually increase the difficulty. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and help you stay motivated.

Find a workout buddy

Working out with a friend is not only more fun, but it can also help you stay accountable. When you have someone to exercise with, you’re less likely to skip a workout or make excuses. Plus, you can cheer each other on and celebrate your progress together.

Mix it up

Doing the same workout every day can get boring quickly, so it’s important to mix it up. Try new exercises or workouts to keep things interesting and challenge your body in new ways. You can also try different types of fitness classes or workout programs, like VR Fitness classes, to keep things fresh.

Track your progress

Keeping track of your progress can be incredibly motivating. Use a fitness app or journal to record your workouts, track your progress, and set new goals. Seeing how far you’ve come can be a powerful motivator to keep going.

Reward yourself

Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for your hard work. Treat yourself to a massage, a new workout outfit, or a healthy meal after hitting a major milestone. Celebrating your accomplishments can help you stay motivated and on track.

Conclusion: Finding Motivation

Staying motivated on your fitness journey can be challenging, but by setting achievable goals, finding a workout buddy, mixing up your workouts, tracking your progress, and rewarding yourself, you can stay motivated for the long term. Remember, fitness is a journey, not a destination. Keep pushing yourself and enjoy the ride!