Here’s a great health article that was recently in The San Diego Union-Tribune about dangerous stretching techniques and the benefits of dynamic stretching before exercise.  It also includes some great tips on how to stretch safely, and a few examples of good stretching exercises for your post-exercise cool down stretching routine.

Are you on track with your flexibility training exercises to stretch safely for your fitness workouts and sports performance goals?

And from my perspective as a foot-fitness expert… good shoes can help support your feet, but keeping your foot, ankle, and leg muscles strong, fit, and flexible is even better.  Even if it’s only for 2-3 minutes a couple of times a week.  Taking time to exercise your feet can help improve your arches, retrain gait habits, and help you enjoy pain-free feet!  Check out the book Fantastic Feet! And lots of other great foot-care goodies here.

Click Here to read more about the iWalk PowerFoot One.

Enjoy a cardio and strength conditioning workout in a short 20 minutes instead of 30 minutes on a treadmill and another 30 minutes lifting weights.  The time savings alone for those days when you’re wondering how you’re going to get a workout in is great inspiration to give Kettlebell training a try!

Plus, the calorie burn for working out with Kettlebells is huge!  Approximately 20.2 calories a minute.  Which is equivalent to running at a 6-minute a mile pace or cross-country skiing uphill at a speedy pace!

Read the ACE research study and checkout the exercises in this 6-week Kettlebell training program developed by ACE exercise physiologist Fabio Comana, and consider using Kettlebells to keep your body healthy and fit.

While Pilates was ranked #9 in the ACSM report, by my assessment of the top ten fitness trends it appears to me that many, if not all, are distinctly related to Pilates training.  In fact I can see application of the Pilates system and Pilates principles for whole-body health to every single one of the top trends.

This is great news for Pilates teachers who are eager to share the great benefits of Pilates, and even better news for the potential increase in health enhancement of people across the globe!  Joseph Pilates would be so happy to know that his legacy continues to grow and flourish,  and millions of people are enthusiastically participating in Pilates.

Whether it’s Pilates, strength training, personal training, core training, specialized fitness programs for older adults, exercise programs for children, functional fitness, sport-specific training, or group personal training.  Pilates definitely fits the bill to provide excellent benefits for strength, flexibility, body awareness, control, and health!

Check out the article I read about the ACSM Fitness Forecast at Pilates-Pro!

It’s nice to hear that not only can you have padding or “pillows” of goop injected into your feet by a foot surgeon, but insoles might help – and exercise is highly recommended!

Personally I would much prefer to start with the exercise option!  It’s got to be cheaper, less invasive, and will help stretch and strengthen the right muscles for better support.  That along with not sacrificing comfort and fit for good looks and perhaps us gals can keep our tootsies happy in those pointy-toed high-heeled shoes.  I am a fan of heels vs. flats, but not for long periods of time.  When I shop for sexy shoes,  if they hit my arch well and don’t squish my toes there’s a good chance I’ll be adding a new pair of shoes to my closet.

Click here to view the WNBC news clip “Tips for Avoiding High Heel Pain”.  And if exercise sounds like a great option for you too…click here for  12 more great Foot-Care tips from Centerworks.com