Exercise

Actor Gerard Butler had to get into superb shape to prepare for his role as King Leonidas, the head of the Spartan Army for Zack Snyder's epic film 300.

Fortunately, the workout that he did in the months leading up to principal photography for the film doesn't require a deadly gauntlet or fighting a live tiger. The exercise regime that he and his fellow actors performed, dubbed "The 300 Workout," consists of a series of repetitive weight-lifting and strength-training reps performed in quick succession. And it only involves simple exercise equipment that just about every home, apartment or commercial gym has at their disposal. Follow these simple strength-training exercises and you'll be as ripped as a Spartan in no time.

The basic workout consists of several exercises such as pull-ups, bench press, jumps, push-ups and squats with various weights. Each exercise is performed one after the one without a rest or cool down period. You should time your session since strength increases will help you shorten your finish time.

1) Start out with a full rep of 25 pull-ups using only your body weight, performing them in quick succession with as few reps...

Do you remember the Presidential Physical Fitness Test when you were in school? Now there's an adult version developed by the President's Council on Fitness and Sports. This can be a great assessment to see how our bodies measure up to the minimum guidelines for adults. The Adult Fitness Test incorporates several of the same exercises that millions of students do each year. The goal with the adult version is the same for the kids -- to measure fitness -- but it compares adults results to other age-group peers.

The test involves three basic components: aerobic fitness, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance. Developed in 2008, this test was a response to baby boomers who kept asking council members whether there was a ...

Are you nature deprived? Yes, you are, according to research that shows obesity, depression, health and fitness can be improved simply by spending more time outdoors.

Outdoor fitness means using nature as our gym. Natural surroundings can motivate us to move more, workout harder and exercise longer. It's also more challenging and more natural to the body. When you workout in a gym – on a machine or treadmill, every movement is exactly the same. Your body is smart and gets used to the repetitive motions, so it goes on autopilot, which means your muscles and cardiovascular system don't work as hard because they've learned how to be overly efficient.

Training outdoors is different. Every day and every place you train is different. Finding your footing on grass, trails, sand, rocks or other uneven terrain activates more muscle fibers for stability –...

Practicing yoga is an excellent way to build strength and flexibility as well as to center and calm the mind, but which style of yoga should you practice? Here is an introduction to several different types of yoga which will help you determine which style is right for you.

Hatha yoga is most likely what comes to mind when you think of yoga. It is a physical yoga discipline which trains the body along with spirituality. The most famous part of hatha yoga is the postures or asanas which are used to stretch, strengthen and tone the body. When you practice hatha yoga, you move through a series of asanas, holding poses and working in a set order to ensure the muscle groups are warmed up and equally worked. Another important part of hatha yoga is its breath work or pranayama. Yoga practitioners are constantly mindful of their breath because control of the breath is vital to the control of the body. Pranayama also encourages an inward focus to develop one's spirituality.

Another type of yoga is vinyasa yoga, which is one of the most commonly practiced forms of yoga in the western world. The literal translation of "vinyasa" is "to arrange,"...

When it comes to your fitness goals, people often get frustrated. Instead of looking to lose weight or gain fitness, they focus on things like not gaining weight. Personal trainers can help you establish realistic goals. They'll help you stay motivated and achieve these goals.

Although you may be on a tight budget, there are five reasons why you should invest in a personal trainer.

1. Your trainer will make sure you're using the equipment properly. You don't have to buy 10 or 20 personal training sessions either. Instead, you can buy three or five sessions, meet on a weekly basis and overcome any excuses you have to not go to the gym.

2. As you visit your health club and utilize your gym membership, your self-esteem will grow. You'll learn that your mind and body are worth investing in. The hours in the gym will also make you think twice about dipping into the dessert tray!

3. You'll become more comfortable in the gym. You might meet other people your trainer works with. And you'll definitely get to meet the gym staff and know them better.

4. Personal trainers also have some experience injury prevention, nutrition and new exercises. You'll learn how to workout and avoid

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