You've probably experienced a muscle knot at some point in your life. Everyone is susceptible to these annoying knots, regardless of the cause, whether you got them from working out or from spending a lot of time sitting in front of a computer. This guide will cover whatever you need to understand about muscle knots and how to manage them yourself.   What Are Muscle Knots?   Credit: Envato Element/ twenty20photos   A muscle knot, also known as a myofascial trigger point, is a region of contraction in a particular muscle fiber. These knots can form anywhere, although they are most often located in the back, shoulders, neck, and even the gluteal muscles. They may feel large or stiff to the touch. They can also cause soreness in your muscles and joints and be sensitive or unpleasant to the touch. Myofascial trigger points shouldn't be mistaken with myofascial pain syndrome. Although...

  Let's face it, no matter how strongly you want to reach your fitness goals or see results from your workouts, spending the entire day sweating isn't realistic for the majority of people. That's why Tabata-style workouts are so popular these days. But, what exactly is Tabata? Continue reading to find out.   What is a Tabata Workout?   Tabata is a high-intensity interval training technique (HIIT). Initially, it used to be 20 seconds of furious cycling followed by a 10-second rest period. This was repeated eight times, for a total of four minutes. The practice was named after Izumi Tabata, one of the Olympic speed skating team's training coaches who first attempted it. Today, Tabata workouts not only use cycling but any workout that will push you to your limit. The following is the program's structure: Work out intensely for 20 seconds Rest for 10 seconds Complete 8 rounds...

  At times, life can be exhausting and overwhelming. You can feel as if you're losing your mind with deadlines to meet, food to prepare, and a house to clean. That's when yoga can come in handy. If you've ever met or seen a seasoned yogi, you'll notice that they're the calmest, most stress-free individuals you'll ever encounter. Yoga has been practiced for millennia, and with good reason. Let's look at some of the advantages of yoga and why you should try it out right now!   Benefits of Yoga   If you think that yoga is not for you, think again. Here are eight reasons to begin practicing yoga as soon as possible.   1) It’s an Excellent Workout   Credit: Healthshots   To begin with, and perhaps most importantly, yoga is a fantastic physical workout. You can adjust the exercises to your own pace and comfort level. Yoga...

  How many occasions have you woken the next day with sore muscles from a workout? Perhaps a week of sitting at your desk has made you stiff? A massage ball could be the missing piece you've been seeking for. A massage ball is perfect for removing soreness from your muscles, improving blood flow, and speeding up healing by getting into those hard to reach spots and pinpointing certain trigger points.    Benefits of Using Massage Balls   Top athletes have access to massage therapists who can comfort their sore muscles after a hard training session, but the rest of us need a low-cost solution to release trigger points, and release stress in the body — and massage balls are the answer. Some of the benefits of using massage balls are as follows:   1) Target Sore Areas   Credit: OnHealth   Massage balls are particularly effective in targeting trigger...