Fitness
Is it true that … you need to take 10,000 steps a day to be healthy?
The fitness benchmark has surprisingly unscientific origins – yet it does contain more than a kernel of truthThe idea that we need to walk 10,000 steps a day originated not in med…
‘This is horrifying. This is madness’: the row over competitive yoga
Some yogis welcome the idea of competition – for others, it is anathema. Will those keen for yoga to become an Olympic sport win the argument?Vaishnavi Saravanakumar describes her…
Going nowhere fast? Personal trainers on why you aren’t seeing results in the gym
From doing too much cardio to wasting time – PTs reveal the common fails stunting your progress, and how to avoid themWe’ve all done it. Launched ourselves head first into a new r…
Women just want to work out in peace. Why all the thigh-rubbing lechery? | Emma Beddington
On Saturday Night Live last week, comedian Shane Gillis made a pathetic ‘joke’ about the clothes women wear to the gym. It was puerile – but also perniciousI’ve spent the morning …
Winter warmers: 10 of Britain’s best heated lidos
From an infinity pool with sauna in Scotland to a restored Victorian gem in Bristol, here are 10 great spots where you can swim in comfort year-roundPortavadie, on the banks of Lo…
Is it true that … muscle turns into fat if you stop working out?
If you take a break from the gym you may lose muscle and gain fat, but it isn’t as simple as one turning into the other‘This is not true,” says Prof Leigh Breen, a specialist in m…
Expert tips to make you a better runner - start slow, enlist a friend, choose strength over stretches
Running is one of the easiest exercises to take up, but it can be easy to lose your mojo and get injured. Coaches give their advice on how to hit your strideWhether you have never…
A 30-Day Beginner Fitness Plan That Won’t Overwhelm You (One Quest at a Time)
Quick Summary Trying to overhaul everything at once is why getting healthier feels overwhelming before you’ve even started. You don’t need a bigger plan. You need the next quest. …
Don’t pay full price for a winter jacket. We found the best deals on Backcountry’s sale (ending tonight!)
We sifted through hundreds of winter boots, jackets and outdoor gear to find the top 12 deals in Backcountry’s saleThe best deals from Amazon’s Prime Day rivals: Coop, Brooklinen,…
Bailiffs and 100 unpaid teachers: inside the collapse of ‘groundbreaking’ yoga studio Triyoga
Formerly a favourite of the A-list, the chain has abruptly ceased trading, leaving teachers and customers blindsidedKate Comer is a single mother with two children, so she is used…
Magnesium is essential for health. But can supplements really help with digestion, muscle pain, anxiety and sleep? | Antiviral
Experts cite inconsistent evidence for supplementing with the essential mineral – and warn taking magnesium without a deficiency has risksRead more in the Antiviral seriesDietitia…
I hiked 100 miles to find the best walking poles, here are my favourites
Trekking poles can improve balance on uneven terrain and reduce stress on joints. Our seasoned adventurer put 10 to the test to find the best• ‘I’d never head out without one’: 10…
Bored With Your Workout? Try a New Level, Not a New Program
Quick Summary When a program gets boring, reaching for a new one feels like a fresh start. It’s also why you feel like you keep starting over and never getting anywhere. New is fu…
Is tech the secret to a more analogue life? How gadgets, apps and tips could actually reduce your screen time
It’s often thought of as the problem, but what if the right technology could help us switch off and live more in the moment?• The best screen-free activitiesWith the continued bac…
‘I’m 100% natural’: how Japan’s 90-year-old bodybuilder is still winning titles
Toshisuke Kanazawa has won 19 national crowns and insists there are more to comeToshisuke Kanazawa is reminiscing about his long and illustrious career when he pauses and makes an…
How to Hold Yourself Accountable Without Beating Yourself Up
Quick Summary The drill sergeant version of accountability (“why did you skip that? do you even want this?”) questions YOU instead of helping you. If being hard on yourself worked…
The viral Hyrox horror: is the ‘go hard or go home’ attitude to exercise finally over?
When an athlete soiled herself at a hybrid fitness event, it sparked a debate about a culture that pushes people to ignore their body’s signals at real costHow far would you go to…
A new start after 60: I’m 92 and cycling is my life – despite the crash that left me unconscious
Arthur Plummer got a bike when he retired at 65 and joined a cycling club as one of its youngest members. Now he is its oldest but still racking up 5,000km every yearWhen Arthur P…
Overwhelmed by Fitness Advice? You Need an Action Plan, Not a Perfect Plan
Quick Summary There is no “perfect” workout plan. Nobody can know what perfect looks like in advance. If you’re too afraid to start and make a mistake, it will keep you stuck at t…
The best resistance bands in the UK to improve mobility and strength on a budget, tested
Loop and tube bands are cheaper than a gym membership and take up less space than weights – our exercise buff put 18 to the test• The best treadmills for your homeMovement breeds …
Are you washing your sportswear wrong? An expert guide to making it last longer
From sweaty kit to grubby trainers, here’s how to wash, repair and care for activewear more sustainably• The best moisture-wicking underwear, socks and base layersAs a running and…
Why You Keep Falling Off Your Fitness Routine (and the 2-Minute Plan That Fixes It)
Expecting yourself to stick to the same fitness routine, no matter what, is why it fails. Because the only predictable thing about life is that it’s unpredictable. A kid gets sick…
Hyrox changes rules and apologises for allowing Australian athlete who soiled herself to continue
Australian Joanna Wietrzyk went on to win fitness race in BeijingHyrox admits making mistake by ‘not reacting immediately’Organisers of the global indoor fitness competition, Hyro…
‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands
Handstands display a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt – and they look cool. Experts share their advice for building up strength and practicingMy aspirat…