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and now operating at 46 Tioga Way

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Marblehead MA 01945
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Salem Fitness Center, MA Blog

Live The Zumba Life

11 September 2019

Salem Fitness Center - Zumba in Salem, MAFeel every beat. Sync every move. Work every muscle. There is no reason to look elsewhere for a rewarding fitness workout than Zumba. Zumba targets different muscle groups at once for total body toning. Zumba boosts your heart health. You not only get aerobic benefits (it really gets your heart rate up), but you also get anaerobic benefits, the kind that help you maintain a good cardiovascular respiratory system.

These are the reasons why Zumba is a great alternative to fitness programs:

  • It is fun. The more you enjoy your exercise routine, the more likely you are to stick with it. Many people say they have so much fun dancing that they forget they are actually exercising.
  • Great for weight loss. Zumba Workout is a powerful exercise with a 600 to 1,000-calorie burn in just an hour.
  • Tones your entire body. You may feel sore in places you never knew existed, but it gets results. Zumba targets lots of different muscle groups at once for total body toning.
  • Boosts your heart health. You not only get aerobic benefits (it really gets your heart rate up), you also get anaerobic benefits, the kind that help you maintain a good cardiovascular respiratory system.
  • Helps you de-stress. Turning your attention to dance, and away from the daily grind, is a great way to relieve stress. Studies show that exercise is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and enhancing overall cognitive function.
  • Improves coordination. In Zumba, your arms and legs are generally moving in different directions so it requires a good deal of coordination. Repeated practice improves coordination and helps you feel more comfortable moving your body.
  • Makes you happy. Every time you exercise, you release endorphins, which trigger positive feelings throughout the body.

Zumba is for any age and will be adapted to any fitness level. It is found that Zumba is a pretty good workout similar to moderately intense exercises like step aerobics or cardio kickboxing. But the most impressive part of Zumba is that the women enjoyed the class so much that they made it a habit very unusual for an aerobic exercise program. It seems like most of them had fun, made friends and did not see Zumba as hard work. The people who practice it feels more independent and make their lives more purposeful.

Surely Zumba is well aware of its reputation as your mom's workout. But here is the thing: When you are counting reps, calories, and minutes spent in a specific heart rate zone, you forget that working out and moving your body to music will feel you joyful. An activity like Zumba is designed to let you have fun while moving your body in a judgment-free zone. When you are doing a yoga workout, you will literally feel your brain quieting down. It is a beautiful thing!

Everyone is very accepting, the whole community is supportive and they do not judge you based on the way you look. Everyone is there to have a good time. Zumba Fitness Workout is for everybody. There is no 'no' in Zumba. It not only changes your body but it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood. You come to class, you enjoy yourself, and you let the music do the rest.

For more tips on Zumba, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Yoga As Self-Care Healing Initiative

1 September 2019

Salem Fitness yoga classes in Salem, MABe kind to yourself. Do Yoga! Ultimately each person must develop their own relationship with the self to weave together the threads of the body, mind and soul. Yoga is a great form of self-care. Yoga practice is about healing the self through self-discovery and self-acceptance. It is a practice that will transform you and strengthens your life force within.

It is not about being good at something. It is about being good to yourself. With yoga you will feel having like a warm hug for your brain plus body. Lengthen, strengthen, and de-stress with slow-paced sequences. YOGA is a workout practice that will transform you from the inside (reduced stress, lower blood pressure) out (toned muscles, flexibility). When you are working on mastering poses, think of each body part as a member of a team, united toward a common goal.

Choose your YOGA for self-care tools. Fueled by your positive intention choose the desired outcome to which you will work. Perhaps you are feeling anxious and want to compassionately and kindly reduce your anxiety. Or maybe you feel that anxiety in the shortness of your breath. You might as well choose a technique that helps you slow your breath.

Based on your individual needs and intention, choose a few simple ones that work well and lead to outcomes relevant to your needs. Practice short and simple tools often. Here are some of what you will choose from:

  • Asana/postures
  • Breath and rhythm (via specific breathwork or the rhythm of vinyasa)
  • Meditation
  • Restorative Yoga
  • Self-massage (with hands or therapy balls)
  • Self-touch (simply touching, breathing, and connecting).

You will notice that there is a lot here! There are so many incredible techniques to have in your toolbox. In a studio class, the following tools are easily available to you to meet your needs and intentions. You notice when you lose sight of your intentions and rein yourself back in. Also, as you check-in before and after, check yourself if the class is doing for you what you think it is. Is this class helping you care for yourself? It may be your need to choose another class that is filled with more of the techniques and practices that meet your needs and intentions for care. Experiment.

Within a self-care approach, individual postures are not learned for their own sake but learned as specific tools for specific outcomes. Self-care is sometimes tough love, so it may be that you need a few difficult or demanding postures or techniques thrown into the mix to create a necessary physical or emotional response within yourself that could not be found on a bolster. It is not about doing the most advanced poses, it is the fact that you made it onto your mat. If your mind is calm, you have done everything right. When you are doing a yoga workout, you will literally feel your brain quieting down. It is a beautiful thing!

Find your YOGA for self-care practice. No one style, tradition, or technique of yoga is the most effective form of self-care. Everyone is different and requires different approaches to meet their needs. Find what works for you. Stay curious. Keep practicing. Prepare to feel great!

For more tips on Yoga as Self-care, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Getting Started With Gentle Yoga

23 August 2019

Salem Fitness Gentle Yoga's Staff Pose in Salem, MAWhen you are a brand new to Gentle Yoga, you are likely to have a lot of questions. What you are getting into, including what to wear, what to bring to class, and how to prepare yourself. Knowing what is expected and what works ahead of time, will help you feel more comfortable during your first class. Yoga is intended for all ages, genders, bodies, experience levels and backgrounds.

In preparing for your Gentle Yoga Class, the only thing you need to bring with you for your first class is a positive attitude and an open mind. Of course, there are lots of fun accessories you will add to your yoga arsenal over time. But it is better to start small and keep things simple. There is no better way to learn than by doing. You are learning new physical postures, hearing new terminology, and you are immersed in a new environment. The most important thing is keep breathing and stay focused on yourself rather than those around you.

Everything will become easier with time, so do your best and keep these tips in mind:

  1. Come well-hydrated and avoid caffeinated products (including green and black teas) a few hours prior to a hot class. Caffeine dehydrates the body and can increase heart-rate.
  2. Eat a light snack/meal 1–2 hours before a hot class. Think light!
  3. Eating snacks or meals before a non-heated class depends on each student. Some prefer to have an empty stomach, while others may want a snack prior to class.
  4. Bring a yoga mat. For hot yoga, bring a towel large enough to cover your mat.
  5. You may want to bring an additional towel for showering or to dry off with after class.
  6. Bring at least one large bottle of water.
  7. Wear clothing that is comfortable to move, stretch, and sweat in. Materials that breathe and wick away moisture are most suitable.
  8. For hot yoga, please bring a change of clothes for after class. You will be sweaty and wet!
  9. Shoes and socks are not worn in class. (You may wear socks, but please be aware that you may slip and slide.)
  10. Please get to class a little early or 5 minutes prior to help yourself adjust to the environment. Please respect the other students and teacher in the class by being on time.
  11. Change rooms with showers are available for both women and men. All change rooms have secure lockers and storage areas for your use.

In Gentle Yoga, common sense and common courtesy are the cornerstones of good etiquette in any situation. Adding a healthy dose of respect for the people and places around you and a smidge of kindness and viola you are in. Open yourself to the ways that life flows in and through you. With regular Gentle Yoga Practice in Salem, MA, this “meditation in motion” will change your body, your mind and your life.

The beauty of Yoga is that it requires very little other than your own body. Preparation is simple but allow yourself to be empowered from the inside by this peaceful, healing energy that enlivens you. Move away from self-limiting beliefs and embrace every possibility!

No matter what you do, do it with attention, and intention. Be the love and light for all around you. This is love, this is Yoga. Namaste!

For more tips on Yoga, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Be The Best Version of Yourself By Using Pilates

16 August 2019

Salem Fitness - Kickboxing, Salem, MAPilates is a most efficient form of low-impact exercise. Pilates has something to offer to people of all ages. Just doing the Pilates workout few times a week is enough to create positive changes. Once the benefits of Pilates starts kicking in, many of you will be inspired to do it again. Pilates, as those who participate will attest, is oddly addictive. There are principles of Pilates that are part of what makes it unique in the fitness world:

  1. Centering. The focus of this exercise is the center of the body the powerhouse area between the lower ribs and pubic bone. Pilates exercises are sourced from the center.
  2. Concentration. If you bring full attention to the exercise, and do it with full commitment, you will get maximum value from each movement.
  3. Control. Every Pilates exercise is done with complete muscular control. No body part is left to its own devices. It is all a conscious movement that the mind is controlling.
  4. Precision. In this exercise, awareness is secured throughout each movement. There is an specific placement, alignment related to other body parts of the body.
  5. Breath. The lungs strongly pump the air fully in and out of the body. This exercise coordinates with the breath, and using the breath properly is an integral part of Pilate exercise.
  6. Flow. In a flowing manner, fluidity, grace and ease are goals applied in this exercise. The energy of this exercise connects all body parts and flows through the body in an even way.

As a result of using Pilates, one can experience balance, grace and ease. To get in shape is to take responsibility of your total health. Once your body is in good alignment, it is easier to activate the right muscles to move. Improve how you move and good health follows. Take it from other people Pilates is a satisfying fitness regimen. It is a true multi-tasking workout for a sexier body and an alert mind. A total workout that will bring out the best in you!

To learn more tips about Pilates, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Everything Seems Better When You Dance Zumba

9 August 2019

Salem Fitness Center - Boxing in Salem, MAGrooving to the beats of salsa, flamenco, and merengue music feels more like a dance party than a workout. That is exactly what makes Zumba so popular. With Zumba, a workout does not feel focused on working out, it feels more like a fun social dance party. But the physical benefit is undeniable. The music is fast, upbeat and contagious. So you cannot help it but keep moving. There is no right or wrong way to do Zumba. As long as you move to the beat of the music you are participating in the exercise.

Being one of the most fun and versatile fitness crazes to come along in a long time, Zumba can be geared for just all fitness levels. Though most Zumba involves high-impacts moves like bouncing and jumping, it certainly can be governed down to meet your needs. The Zumba health fitness benefits are many:

  1. Calorie and fat burning - Zumba classes provide a large calorie burn through aerobic activity done with interval training in mind. The workout is choreographed to provide intervals of intensity in both pace of music and type of movements which your energy is maximized for fat-burning benefits. With the tagline “Ditch the Workout, Join the Party”, the workout emphasizes moving to the music and having a good time, no rhythm required.
  2. Improved coordination. Attending a Zumba Exercise in Salem, MA, you will definitely improve your coordination. This is extremely important maintaining as you grow older. Since the intensity of Zumba is scalable - you are moving on your own to the beat of the music. It is a workout that everyone will do at your own intensity Fitness level.
  3. Full body-workout. Zumba is both a dance class and a fitness class. It provides a workout from head and shoulder rolls that loosen up the neck and warm up the upper body to footwork. It strengthens and stretches calves and ankles too. It involves movement of the entire body. You will get a full body workout that does not feel like work.
  4. Mind boosting: This is the perfect workout to take if you want to get rid of all that stress you accumulate during the day. The upbeat moves specific to this type of workout favor the release of those mood-improving endorphins. Such joining Zumba exercises, you will surely be able to feel your worries melt away as you lose yourself in the music.

You will improve your quality of life with Zumba Fitness Workout. As you enjoy the high-intensity workout led by music, you feel every beat, sync every move and work every muscle. It provides not only health benefits, but also social benefits of a group workout too thus enjoying with these combined perks.

To learn more tips on ZUMBA, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Boxing Fitness 101: How To Hit The Speedbag

31 July 2019

Salem Fitness Center - Boxing in Salem, MASpeedbag work is not just about how hard and how fast you hit it. It is more about rhythm and timing. So when you accept that timing is key in fitness boxing and speedbag work then you’ll want to consider these few tips on how to improve your boxing rhythm:

  1. Stand square to the bag
  2. Strike with the outside of fist (hammer-fist style)
  3. Work the bag on a three-count rhythm
  4. Circle your first in a short, perpetual motion

One of the challenges in boxing fitness training is developing good technique. The sport requires lots of fast and varied movements. Workouts vary in the exercise that is never a steady pace like a run for an hour. The pace is changing constantly. Time is normally long at least an hour to fit in a warmup, conditioning and drills. Rest is very important but you need to be able to perform under pressure.

In Boxing Workout you need to be patient and confine yourself to the present moment. Let the flow of your movements get you there at the right time. Be patient, your time will come when you will get frustrated because things are not progressing fast enough. But when you focus on the journey over the destination, not only you will find more peace but you will be achieving much more and realize that it all happens at the perfect time.

The greatest destination will only be achieved by being present during the journey. When it comes to boxing workout equipment, nothing is as tried and true as a speedbag. They can be used for everything from toning the body to self-defense training.

Feel the rhythm in your punches and improve your hand and eye coordination with the speedbags. It does not matter how long it takes you as long as you get to the finish line. Boxing is a fun and addicting workout especially as you enjoy rapid results. For more boxing workout tips, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Boxing Workout Tips To Maximize Your Training

26 July 2019

Salem Fitness Center - Boxing in Salem, MAMany women are drawn to boxing workout because it often delivers dramatic weight loss and significant improvement to general health. But to reap the optimum benefit, you need to invest in complimentary behavioral disciplines such as the following:

  • In order to last more rounds, stay calm, don't panic, maintain a correct form and make your punches brisk and sharp.
  • Don’t skip workout sessions. Push yourself each day. If you keep on slacking on your workout, you will likely flunk out your training.
  • Drink lots of water. The workout is definitely sweat-pouring so make sure to hydrate every now and then.
  • Make friends with other participants. They can offer you tips and tricks so you can get the hang of the training in no time.
  • Use your entire body not just your arm when giving away a punch.
  • Throw short hooks and uppercuts but long jabs.
  • Don't overdo your combo punches. A maximum throw of 3-5 punches will suffice so it will not drain your energy fast.

Boxing is a fun and addicting workout especially when already get the hang of it. For more boxing workout tips, contact Answer is Fitness.

Punch Away Calories With Cardio Kickboxing

19 July 2019

Salem Fitness - Kickboxing, Salem, MAAre you looking to integrate a new cardio workout to your fitness regimen, something different than the standard treadmill? Looking for something challenging and engaging? Then step up to the challenge of our Cardio Kickboxing Workout.

Cardio kickboxing is a high-intensity workout that involves combination of punches such as jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercuts. Also includes lower body movements like knee strikes, front kicks, roundhouse kicks, side-kicks and back-kicks. The class always starts with warm-up exercises, dynamic or static stretching and ends with a cool down.

Although the name of the workout seems combative, it is a non-contact workout. All your strikes are thrown into the air or onto punching bags. This dynamic workout can help you burn up to 450 calories an hour. The workout can rise your heart rate into an intense zone which induces cardiovascular conditioning. Cardiovascular conditioning can aid in having daily calorie deficit, allowing for fat loss that includes stubborn belly fat.

This workout is open for all ages and fitness levels. Beginners start slowly working their way up to full intensity. To learn more about cardio kickboxing workout, contact Salem Fitness Center.

Why Seniors Must Have A Daily Fitness Regimen

12 July 2019

Salem Fitness - Sweating to the Oldies in Salem, MAIf you question the need to work out because you think your too old for it, you should rethink that conclusion. Older adults must stay physically active for a host of reasons to include (but not limited to) balance, to prevent mental decline, muscle maintenance, and other ailments that result from a sedentary lifestyle. Here are five specific reasons why daily fitness directly benefits senior adults:

  • Boosts Cardiovascular Health - Working out can help improve blood pressure to hypertensive people
  • Relieves Arthritis - It help enhances bone joint function and reduces bone pain
  • Improves Strength and Balance - Inactivity is in fact the culprit behind weakness and loss of balance. Working out can help restore strength and equilibrium.
  • Keeps Independence - With an improved overall health, older adults can manage to do things on their own with lesser help.
  • Boosts Mental Functioning - Exercise promotes normal brain functioning. This helps delay mental decline or prevents developing dementia.

At least 20-30 minutes moderate aerobic activity daily is recommended to senior adults to keep them physically and mentally active.

For seniors who want to develop a fitness regimen, contact Salem Fitness Center. We can provide you safe workouts that you can perform daily.

Boxing Training For Women Relieves Stress

28 June 2019

Salem Fitness Women’s Boxing Training in Salem, MAIt's common knowledge that exercising helps relieve stress. If you are looking for a workout which offers a substantial degree of stress relief, boxing training sets itself apart from other fitness regimens in terms of stress relief. A mere one-hour session can abruptly diminish strains and tension in the body. Striking a punching bag does wonders for stress relief as many of our members comment about how our boxing workouts relieve their anxiety, frustrations and anger. Joining a boxing class is not simply a path to weight loss and stress reduction. It serves as superb personal safety training as you gain confidence from learning how to throw a punch and kick with focused energy.

The mental benefits that our boxing training for women are undeniable. It’s so much more than physicality. Some of our most ardent proponents of our boxing training programs will tell you that they never thought this sport would be for them. That is, until they gave it a try. But be careful, you just might get hooked. Contact Salem Fitness Center here in Salem to get started today.