All posts tagged: Trainers

Want to get your steps in but don’t want to go outside? Try this trainer’s 35-minute walking workout to burn calories and boost your metabolism

Want to get your steps in but don’t want to go outside? Try this trainer’s 35-minute walking workout to burn calories and boost your metabolism

Published by skeptic

As the weather gets colder and less inviting, you may find yourself falling short of your daily step goal. It can be difficult to motivate yourself to go outside when there are gale-force winds and falling snow to contend with. For many of us, this means that our winters tend to be more sedentary than the warmer seasons. However, there is a way to combat this dip in activity, and put a little pep in your step without leaving the comfort of your home: walking workouts. I particularly like this YouTube walking workout from fitness influencer Burpee Girl, because she guides you through each step. There’s also a handy timer on the screen, so you know when the next movement is about to start. It’s equipment-free, low-impact and doesn’t involve any jumping. “It’s perfect for rainy days and a great substitute for the same old treadmill cardio workout,” she writes in her caption. While many online walking workouts (including this one) are aimed toward weight loss, that isn’t the only benefit of walking. It’s a …

I tried this trainer’s 90-second healthier hip workout and felt the difference after just one session

I tried this trainer’s 90-second healthier hip workout and felt the difference after just one session

Published by skeptic

I recently covered a walking workout from trainer Justin Agustin and found myself falling in love with his no-nonsense approach to fitness. So when I was suffering with tight hips after a heavy lower-body lifting session I decided to dig into his previous Instagram reels to see if there was a mobility routine that could help. I found a quick and efficient one-move session from the trainer that was easy to replicate at home. I practiced the 90-second move throughout the day, using my kitchen counter for support as Augustin does in his reel. Here’s how it impacted my hips. How to do the workout My results 1. My hips felt looser My hips are a problem area for me but they felt a lot looser after doing this move. It only took 90 seconds but I no longer felt tightness in my hip flexors or limited movement in my hip joint. Hip health is vital for good aging, and good mobility “is linked to longevity, as it supports proper posture and alignment, reducing the …

This trainer’s sit-ups alternative will work more of your core and boost your mobility, helping you build serious functional strength

This trainer’s sit-ups alternative will work more of your core and boost your mobility, helping you build serious functional strength

Published by skeptic

Sit-ups are a staple of many home workouts. So much so that you might be a bit bored of them by now.  Luckily, there are alternative exercises that offer a more comprehensive core-strengthening effect. Take the side kick-through, for example, which is a favorite of iFit trainer Hannah Eden. It’s a feature of ‘animal flow’ training, which uses animalistic movements to work your joints through a wider range of motion.  The result? More muscle activation and a welcome mobility boost, resulting in functional strength gains galore. How to do the side kick-through Start on all fours, with your knees directly beneath your hips and your hands directly beneath your shoulders.  Brace your core and lift your knees just above the ground. Lift your left hand off the floor and rotate your body to the left. As you do this, bring your right leg forward and under your body, extending it in a straight line to your left so it’s perpendicular to your body.  Reverse this movement to return to the starting position then repeat on …

Cat Deeley wore these trending Adidas Samba trainers & she inspired me to shop a similar pair

Cat Deeley wore these trending Adidas Samba trainers & she inspired me to shop a similar pair

Published by skeptic

Cat Deeley has become a total style icon with her perfectly put-together This Morning outfits, delighting fans with everything from cosy knitwear to statement gold trousers. The presenter recently showcased her Adidas Samba trainers, and they are without a doubt the shoe of the season.  Adidas Sambas have been trending for some time, and every It Girl on social media seems to have a pair in their rotation. Cat opted for the White/ Black Granite colourway for her effortless daytime look, styling the trainers with her red Boden cardigan and a pair of blue skinny jeans.  © ShutterstockCat wore her Adidas trainers with a red Boden cardigan and blue denim jeans Inspired by the 47-year-old’s stylish footwear, I had to pick up a pair of Sambas myself after having them on my wishlist for months. While plenty of influencers have been rocking the bright reds and greens, I kept it simple like Cat and opted for a neutral beige and black pair, as I knew they would work with just about anything in my wardrobe.  …

I tried this trainer’s one move to improve my shoulder mobility, posture and upper back strength

I tried this trainer’s one move to improve my shoulder mobility, posture and upper back strength

Published by skeptic

Anyone who works a desk job knows that your postural muscles can suffer, especially without proper seating support (and sometimes even with it). I have a habit of moving around the house throughout the day and working in spots that aren’t friendly to my back and shoulders. While I enjoy the change of scenery, I find that this can leave me with a sore neck, upper back and tight shoulders at the end of the day. I came across this quick, weighted movement in an Instagram reel shared by personal trainer Stephanie Ridgeway, and decided to give it a try after reading the caption: “If you’re having any upper back or shoulder pain and you’ve tried stretching and massage, but it didn’t help, you may need to try working on strengthening those muscles,” suggests Ridgeway in her reel. “Strengthening your upper back and shoulder muscles will help improve your posture, reduce your pain, and improve your function.” I was sold—time to give it a go. How to do the move My results I did one …

This trainer’s upper-body dumbbell workout will boost your muscular endurance and improve your posture

This trainer’s upper-body dumbbell workout will boost your muscular endurance and improve your posture

Published by skeptic

Dumbbell workouts are a fantastic way to build strength. You can do them at home or in a quiet corner of the gym, and you can adjust the weights you use to suit your fitness level.  Personal trainer Britany Williams recently shared a dumbbell workout on Instagram designed to target the upper body, working muscles in your core, arms, shoulders and back. There are seven exercises to pick from and Williams suggests choosing between five to six to include in a workout. This means you can pick the exercises you need depending on your fitness goals.  How to do Britany Williams’ upper-body dumbbell workout Aim to complete 10-12 repetitions (reps) of five or six movements for three sets in total. If it’s a unilateral exercise, complete the same amount of reps on both sides of the body.  Williams recommends that beginners use an 8-10 lbs load for this workout. Read up on which dumbbell weight you should choose if you need more guidance.   Benefits of this workout You’ll be moving through a moderate amount …

Forget push-ups—try this trainer’s bodyweight alternative to develop your strength and mobility

Forget push-ups—try this trainer’s bodyweight alternative to develop your strength and mobility

Published by skeptic

Push-ups are great, but you might be sick of the sight of them if you train at home. Why? Because they crop up time and time again in equipment-free workouts. If you want an alternative variation to spice up your next session, iFit trainer Hannah Eden recommends the beast push-up.  This animal-inspired move isn’t as ferocious as it sounds, but it does deliver extra benefits compared to your average push-up.  It recruits more muscles and works your joints through a wider range of motion, resulting in more muscle activation, improved mobility, and extra functional strength gains.  How to do the beast push-up Eden shares three of her favorite variations of the beast push-up, with each one tailored to a different fitness level; beginner, intermediate and advanced. She demonstrates each of them in the video above, so pick the one that’s right for you then give it a go. Beginner Start on all fours in a tabletop position with your weight spread evenly between your hands and toes. Your arms and thighs should be vertical, with …

The killer whale trainers who still defend captivity: ‘I’m an endangered species myself’ | Dolphins

The killer whale trainers who still defend captivity: ‘I’m an endangered species myself’ | Dolphins

Published by skeptic

Some people spend a long time deciding what they want to do in life. Hazel McBride feels lucky that she’s always known. As a child in Scotland, she watched a VHS tape of Free Willy on repeat. That was the first time she felt a connection with killer whales. The second time was at age eight, on a trip to SeaWorld Orlando in 2000. Shamu was the animal world’s greatest celebrity, and in the US, SeaWorld ads were ubiquitous. Kids wanted to see the killer whales, and after they saw them, they told their parents they wanted to become killer whale trainers. McBride actually did it. It wasn’t easy. Scotland didn’t have a SeaWorld, or warm water, or anywhere, really, where McBride could get experience with marine mammals. She had horses she cared for, and she was on the national swim team – a modest start. She sent out volunteer applications to local zoos and worked with California sea lions at a safari park. She reached out to trainers online and one told her a …

This trainer’s standing abs workout takes just 10 minutes and will strengthen and tone your core

This trainer’s standing abs workout takes just 10 minutes and will strengthen and tone your core

Published by skeptic

It can be easy to get stuck in a rut with core and abs workouts, doing endless crunches or planks and feeling like you’re not really getting anywhere. This workout from Kat Boley kicks those boring notions out of the park, with dynamic moves that will challenge your core and train your body for everyday life. As a bonus, it only takes 10 minutes and the only equipment you’ll need is a light dumbbell. Give it a go and see if you can keep up with Boley. How to do the workout Perform three sets of 12 repetitions, carefully following Boley’s form to make sure you’re targeting the right muscles. Are there any benefits to standing ab workouts? We spoke to NASM-qualified personal trainer Edward Panganiban, who gave us his opinion on standing ab workouts vs. ab workouts from the ground. “Training the abs while standing engages more stabilizing muscles and encourages better posture than training abs on the ground,” he says. “One of my favorite [standing abs] exercises that I like to do with …

DfE names trainers for maths pilot

DfE names trainers for maths pilot

Published by skeptic

Route for non-graduates will be trialled with ‘up to’ 150 trainee maths teachers from September 2025 Route for non-graduates will be trialled with ‘up to’ 150 trainee maths teachers from September 2025 More from this theme Recent articles The government has named eight teacher trainers that will pilot the new teacher degree apprenticeship from next year. Six universities, plus two partnerships between universities and other providers, will be funded to pilot the route for would-be maths teachers who do not hold an existing degree. The government announced last month that a long-awaited degree apprenticeship will launch next year. The four-year course, which would see apprentices achieve both a degree and qualified teacher status, will be piloted with “up to” 150 trainee maths teachers from September 2025, before a wider rollout. Apprentices will spend around 40 per cent of their time studying and the rest of the time in the classroom. Ministers particularly want to see teaching assistants trained up via the route. Under the pilot, the government will provide grants to cover the training. In …