The deck of cards workout uses a standard deck of playing cards to create a random sequence of exercises. Each suit represents a specific exercise, and the number on the card tells you how many reps to do. Face cards like kings, queens, and jacks are usually assigned a value (e.g., 10 reps), and the joker can be used for a special challenge. It’s fast-paced and unpredictable, but how good is it for burning calories? How Many Calories Can You Burn? It depends on your weight, fitness level, the exercises you do, and how hard you push yourself. On average, you can burn anywhere from 200 to 500 calories in a 30- to 45-minute session. If you really go all out, you could burn even more.    How to Maximize Your Workout Credit: Envato Elements/ AZ-BLT Here are some tips to make your deck of cards workout as effective as...

Massage has been used forever in ancient practices and in Ayurveda. It wasn’t until the 19th and 20th centuries that they became a part of modern medicine. When scientists started studying massages, they discovered how they boost blood flow and improve lymphatic drainage, which is a key process that helps your body flush out toxins.  What Toxins Are Released After a Massage?   Credit: Envato Elements/ YuriArcursPeopleImages   When you hear about “toxins” being released during a massage, it’s not actual poison. It’s the substances that naturally build up in your body from daily activities, stress, or even diet. Here’s a closer look at what these toxins are:   Lactic Acid Lactic acid is what gives you that “burn” when exercising and can leave you feeling sore later. A massage helps break this acid down so your body can flush it out faster. Fun fact: Lactic acid isn’t always a...

Massage is a technique where hands or massage tools are used to relieve muscle tension, pain, and stress. It's usually done by a trained massage therapist who either applies gentle or strong pressure depending on your sensitivity and pain. At home, it's usually performed with massage balls or a chair massage tool. Here’s a quick look at some popular types of massage therapy.   Swedish Massage   Swedish massage is the most popular type of massage therapy, especially for beginners. It focuses on full-body relaxation.   Swedish massage helps to: Reduces muscle tension Promotes relaxation Improves circulation Helps with mild aches and stiffness   Swedish massage therapists use five main techniques: effleurage (long strokes), petrissage (kneading), friction (deep circular movements), tapotement (tapping), and vibration. They usually use some oil or lotion to make the movements smooth and comfortable. Most sessions last between 60 to 90 minutes. You will be asked...

Yoga wheels were invented fairly recently, sometime in 2014 by Sri Dharma Mittra, a well-known yoga teacher, and his son, Yoga Varun. The idea behind them was to provide a tool that could help people, especially beginners, with backbends, deep stretches, and improving flexibility. Since then, yoga wheels have become popular in the yoga world everywhere, with experienced yogis using them for poses that seem impossible to the rest of us. While there are advanced poses you can try, there are also plenty of beginner-friendly options that we’ll cover in this blog. Beginner-Friendly Yoga Wheel Poses If you're new to yoga wheel and are a bit intimidated by them, here are a few yoga poses to help you out: 1) Supported Fish Pose   Credit: Envato Element/ habrovich Sit on your mat with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Position the wheel behind your back, between your...