UM Personal Training

By Kerri Chase, B.P.E. This holiday season is undeniably different than years past. Traditional gatherings with friends and loved ones have been replaced with mingling of the virtual variety through FaceTime and Zoom. It's our current reality, but it doesn't mean we can't make the most of if it. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy and happy over the holidays. For some, the holidays can be a lonely time. For those that are newly isolated, it may be difficult to cope. Perhaps we need to make a concentrated effort to reach out to people for our own wellbeing and for theirs. Plan virtual meetings with friends. Set dates to FaceTime. Plan virtual games or activities. Put time aside to shop online or to get groceries. All of our tasks may seem overwhelming, but if we write them out and set dates to complete them, it helps to get things accomplished. It also makes down time much more relaxing because we know that things are taken care of. Try to maintain somewhat of a rout...

By Kerri Chase, B.P.E  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us aren’t working in our regular environment. Since the dawn of office-life time, we’re accustomed to having a dedicated space (office, desk) for our work. These spaces are often designed with your ergonomic health in mind. Your DIY WFM set-up? Probably not (and if it is, good on you!). Here are some tips to ensure your at-home work/study spot is as efficient for your well-being and performance as possible: Your eyes should be level with the top of your computer monitor. This is easier with desktop PCs, but a struggle with laptops where the keyboard and screen are fixed close together. You can raise your laptop up by putting something under it so your eyes are at the right level. Remember to keep your shoulders relaxed and low. Don’t let them creep up. Think of keeping your neck long.  Your forearms should be parallel to the floor. They should rest on a support, rather than being held up. Don’t reach too far for your...

by Adam Toffan, M.Sc, NSCA-CSCS, CSEP-CEP , Assistant Fitness Training and Assessment Coordinator, UM Recreation Services With the ongoing pandemic, many of us are working and studying remotely. Some of us now find ourselves in much more sedentary environments than we are used to. Sedentary behavior is cyclical in nature: When one is sedentary, it becomes harder to be active. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that result from an overly sedentary lifestyle which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. The conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, increased waist circumference and abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  Today, I want to discuss how standing or walking intermittently through the day combats these conditions. I also want to shed light on strategies you can use to squeeze short bouts of activity into your day.  We all know being active is important to your health. The largest issue people cite for not bein...