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Runners: Improve Your Distance, Time, and Endurance with One Simple Trick

Running Barefoot

Why don’t we go barefoot more often? Usually it’s because we’ve been told since we were kids that it’s better to wear shoes to protect our feet. When we do take off our shoes, our feet are sensitive and easily hurt. But, we need to forget everything we’ve ever been told before about our feet and going barefoot, say husband and wife team and co-authors Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee.

Running BarefootBoth went against conventional wisdom to become ardent barefoot runners and proponents of the practice. In their book Barefoot Running: How to Run Light and Free by Getting in Touch with the Earth they provide a guidebook to what has become for them an essential part of life. Michael is a best-seller author and an internationally recognized barefoot running and walking coach. Jessica co-founded with Michael RunBare Company, a barefoot wellness school based out of Boulder, Colorado. Here is what they have to share with us about the benefits of barefoot running and how it changed their lives.

Get Impressive Fitness Results With This Revolutionary Kettlebell Program

tracy reifkind, the swing, kettlebell swing, fitness program, lose weight

If losing weight and being in top shape have only been dreams for you, the popular kettlebell workout might be just the magic you’re looking for. In fact, this tool that looks like a cannon ball with a handle has gained popularity with the fit and unfit alike because of its total body workout and impressive results. In kettlebell expert and instructor Tracy Reifkind’s book THE SWING! Lose the Fat and Get Fit with This Revolutionary Kettlebell Program, the author shows how to use the kettlebell for the best results through mind, body and diet. In this Q&A, Reifkind talks about the method and how the kettlebell swing has helped her lose and keep off 120 pounds.

tracy reifkind, the swing, kettlebell swing, fitness program, lose weight, workout routineBOYT: Why did you decide to write The Swing!? What is your goal with the book?

Become The Best Version of Yourself With This Ancient Practice

rainbeau mars, yoga, body and mind, holistic, ra'yoka

To cultivate beauty inside and out, turn to yoga. Nurturing to both body and mind, the ancient practice also foster beauty, says renowned holistic and fitness guide Rainbeau Mars. Founder of Rainbeau Mars Lifestyle, Rainbeau has taken a lifetime of learning and personal growth to teach and support others so they can “become the best version of the individual self.” We asked her to share with us some insight into her fitness system, called ra’yoKa, leading the yoga lifestyle and her new book 28 Days to YOUR SuperStar Glow. She has produced several instructional and inspirational DVDs about health, fitness and beauty.

rainbeau mars, yoga, body and mind, holistic, ra'yokaBOYT:You have a yoga practice you call ra’yoKa. What does the name mean and what is the concept?

Rainbeau Mars:  Ra’yoKa means “integration through the sun.”

ra = sun

yok = integrate

ra’yoKa = integration of the sun

Finally, a Healthy Regime You Can Stick to and Enjoy

mark sisson, primal blueprint, paleo diet, fitness regime, healthy

Between all the fad diets and exercise formulas out there, are you having trouble finding a regime you can stick to and enjoy? Count yourself among the fortunate if you answered “no.” For the rest, there is an approach taken by author and athlete Mark Sisson called Primal Blueprint that might fit the bill. In his book Primal Blueprint he provides background and guidelines to “reprogram your genes” for weight loss, better health and more energy.

mark sisson, primal blueprint, paleo diet, fitness regime, healthyThis comprehensive book goes after conventional wisdom, laying out the argument and methodology for his easy to follow and practical version of the “primal lifestyle.” Mark is a health and fitness expert and publisher of the popular health blog MarksDailyApple.com. His is a former endurance athlete who finished fourth in the Hawaii Ironman World Triathlon Championships.

Do You Have Trouble Meeting a Fitness Deadline? Gina Lombardi Gives You Tips on How You Can Meet Your Deadline

gina lombardi, celebrity fitness trainer, lose weight to meet deadline

When we see a celebrity on film or television we no longer think “How does she do it?” We know why they look so good—hard work and, no doubt, a personal trainer. If you want the inside scoop on just what it is they learn from celebrity trainer Gina Lombardi, just read her new book Deadline Fitness. She breaks down her signature fitness and diet programs used with celebrity clients for whom time is supremely important.

gina lombardi, celebrity fitness trainer, lose weight to meet deadlineWhen she’s not training, you can find Lombardi on television, including as host on Discovery Channel’s FitTV show Fit Nation. Here, she answers our questions about her personal fitness philosophy, her observations and what it means to be a celebrity trainer.  

BOYT: How did you become a celebrity trainer? 

Practice Yoga to Stay Healthy, Strong and Flexible

linda sparrowe, the woman's book of yoga and health, meditation, holistic

For those of us who don’t know what kind of yoga to practice—or think we can’t practice yoga—because of pregnancy, menstruation, being overweight, aging or other lifestyle issues, take heart. There are plenty of choices for each of these situations and more, and now they can be found all in one place: The Woman’s Book of Yoga: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness.

linda sparrowe, the woman's book of yoga and health, meditation, holisticBOYT interviewed author Linda Sparrowe who, along with Patricia Walden, one of the most preeminent yoga instructors in the country, created this comprehensive guide to yoga for women. She explains how practicing yoga throughout life not only helps keep us healthy strong, and flexible, but prepares us to handle the stresses that life throws at us.  Linda is the former editor of Yoga Journal.

BOYT: Please give us a little background about yourself. When and how did you first come to practice yoga?

Improve Your Life With Ayurvedic and Yogic Self-Healing Methods

yogi cameron, ayurveda, yoga, healing methods, meditation, willpower

There are many kinds of yoga to choose from, depending on what method works best for you. We asked Yogi Cameron to talk about his journey to becoming a yogi and to explain some of the finer points about the yoga and healing method he follows and teaches: Ayurveda.

yogi cameron, ayurveda, yoga, healing methods, meditation, willpower He left a successful career as a model to devote himself to the practice and teaching of yoga, first studying in India and then completing his training at the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City. His book The Guru in You, endorsed by Ellen DeGeneres and others, is a guide for health and spiritual seekers wanting to start a basic daily practice, find the purpose of their life, and improve their lifestyle through Ayurvedic and Yogic self-healing methods.

Get in Shape with Celebrity Trainer, Gunnar Peterson

Gunnar Peterson, celebrity trainer, cardiovascular, gym equipment, supplement, b

When you’re trying to make that commitment to getting in shape, the idea of hiring a personal trainer can be very appealing. We spoke with Gunnar Peterson to give BOYT readers a glimpse into the life of this popular Beverly Hills personal trainer who works with celebrities, professional athletes and everyday people. Peterson is sought out by clients and media alike for his dynamic mix of expertise, innovative techniques, boundless energy and engaging sense of humor. He emphasizes strength training modalities that his clients can take from the gym into their daily lives.

Gunnar Peterson, celebrity trainer, cardiovascular, gym equipment, supplement, balance lifestyleBOYT: When and how did you get started in the industry once you recognized that transforming the lives of others was your true calling?

Use Minimal Equipment to get the Body You’ve Always Wanted

ramona braganza, fitness, trainer, 321 training method, weight, diet, supplement

An amazing body in a limited time using minimal equipment. Is it too good to be true? Not according to professional trainer Ramona Braganza. She developed her 321 Training Method from techniques fine-tuned while getting Jessica Alba in shape on movie sets all over the world. Today, she’s known as a celebrity trainer, working with clients like Halle Berry and Anne Hathaway. She talked with BOYT about her body, mind and spirit method, which she offers on training DVDs to empower people to lose weight and build strength.

ramona braganza, fitness, trainer, 321 training method, weight, diet, supplementsBOYT: Ramona, we understand that you have trained some of Hollywood’s top bodies including Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway. How did you get your start in the fitness industry?

Tara Stiles, Personal Yoga Instructor to Deepak Chopra, Breaks the Myths of Yoga and Introduces Real Peace of Mind

tara stiles, yoga, strala yoga, slim calm sexy, fitness, work out

BOYT members are exploring all kinds of yoga, from fast-paced Power Yoga to sweat-inducing Hot Yoga. For those looking for a yoga style that’s down-to-earth, you might be interested in what author Tara Stiles has to say. Tara’s approach is a healthy and relatable amalgam of exercise, awareness, nutrition and everyday well-being.

tara stiles, yoga, strala yoga, slim calm sexy, fitness, work outHer book Slim Calm Sexy Yoga is an easy-to-follow guide with more than 200 body-shaping yoga poses, meditations, breathing exercises and 15-minute routines created with the busy, stress-out woman in mind. Tara is personal yoga instructor to Deepak Chopra, the new face for Jane Fonda’s Workout series and producer of the Yoga Anywhere DVD series.

BOYT: Tara, we love your book Slim Calm Sexy Yoga, how is your style and approach to the art of yoga different?