As the days get darker and the air gets colder at the start of the winter months, humanity prepares to celebrate the year they have had and the return of light moving forward with a myriad of religious holidays.

The holidays can be a real challenging time of year for your waistline and fitness routines. You may wonder, “Is it possible to celebrate the season without packing on extra pounds?” The answer is YES!  

Working out can be tough and tiring. Of course, challenging yourself a little more each time you exercise is necessary, but one small thing that can make a big difference is paying attention to your breathing.

As the month of December is here and you find yourself either itching to or procrastinating preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, psychologists say DECORATE AWAY - it can make you more happy. 

There are multiple parts to every exercise - pushing and pulling, raising and lowering. And while it may sound odd to break up a single exercise into multiple parts, there are advantages to understanding each.

November November November … the month of GRATITUDE. With the crisp leaves under our feet and snowflakes/birds soon flying in, it truly is a splendid time of year to reflect, give thanks, and explore the virtue of gratitude.

How many New Year's Eves have you spent vowing to get more fit in the coming year? And how many times have you failed to follow through?  Fall, on the other hand, is a great time to start a fitness program.

Being present throughout the experience of our life is an everyday practice. Many times a day I have to remind myself that it is unnecessary to stress about the future to-do’s or building up expectations.

When it comes to our health and fitness routines, finding balance is top of mind. But something we pay little attention to: how our bodies can slowly but surely shift out of balance just from reacting to daily events.

For over 30 years, October has been recognized as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In Cattaraugus County, one company in particular aims for and aspires to be a consistent anchor for survivors of past or present DV experiences.

When it comes to losing weight, you will find this task is so much more than just adjusting your exercise and diet.  The constant streaming of what is beautiful and healthy and acceptable has made the task of getting healthy very confusing.

I have two of the greatest jobs in the entire world! I am a mom of two boys and a nurse practitioner. Growing up my mother and aunt were both in the medical field which inspired myself and my sisters to also pursue this direction.

Anyone who has experienced a period of prolonged illness or injury will understand the impact such a condition has on the body. When an extended period of inactivity takes place, the body gradually allows muscles to shut down.

If you are one of the many who plan on enjoying these winter sports, you already know that you need more than just good equipment to be a good skier/snowboarder. You need a strong and conditioned body as well.

Have you ever heard the term ‘resilience’? Otherwise known as “bouncing back” or “skating through” times of turmoil, stress, or hardship.

They can hurt, they can heal, they bring us honey and they help bring forth fruits and flowers into this abundant world we live in. Everything that honey bees do benefit something else. Even their stings hold medicinal benefits for those that are not allergic.

This past spring while hiking, I felt something pop in my knee as I was descending a steep and ungraded portion of HoliMont. I had done this route many times but, this time, I could no longer bend my knee at all and hobbled to the bottom. 

As technology advancements, medical breakthroughs, global expansions, and industry growths occur, so does mental health awareness. The spotlight is on mental health and wellness as the narrative shifts to “ending the stigma - you are not alone.” 

We all know that daily exercise is invaluable to keeping our bodies strong and functional.  The old saying, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it” … well, turns out that saying is completely true.

Recently, a friend of mine asked me to put together a list of leg exercises that he could do with bad knees. This friend is an avid skier and cyclist and is only in his 30’s, but as he says, “has the knees of an 80-year-old.”