Blog

No Gym? No Problem: 
You Can Do These Workouts Anywhere!

Staying fit during COVID-19 can feel almost impossible. In many places across the country, gyms are still closed. Others are open, but some people just aren’t willing to take the risk of heading back just yet. However, staying active is as important as ever — if not more. Not only does it keep us healthy and fit, but it’s also one of the best mental health tools at our disposal. Regular exercise significantly reduces the intensity of anxiety and depression. 

Guest Post by: Jason Lewis of StrongWell.org

Photo Credit: Pexels

Staying fit during COVID-19 can feel almost impossible. In many places across the country, gyms are still closed. Others are open, but some people just aren’t willing to take the risk of heading back just yet. However, staying active is as important as ever — if not more. Not only does it keep us healthy and fit, but it’s also one of the best mental health tools at our disposal. Regular exercise significantly reduces the intensity of anxiety and depression. 

Studio B offers fitness treatment and training to help keep you going with your regimen at home. Contact us for more information! 970-422-1761

Clarify Your Goals 

A plan is the first step on the path to success. Without a plan in place, you’re setting yourself up for failure — at worst — and settling back into poor habits that got you here in the first place. Sit down with pencil and paper in hand and clarify your goals.

Warming Up 

The last thing you want is to sustain injury when first jumping into a new workout regimen. Get your body ready to move. 

  • Warm up every time you exercise to prevent injury. 
  • If you exercise in the morning, try a yoga workout to wake your muscles up. 
  • Stretching before and after a workout is important for maintaining your flexibility. 

Upping Your Heart Rate 

Good cardio is one of the core foundations of a long, healthy life. Not only is it important for a healthy heart and increased “good” cholesterol, your endurance will increase, which makes future workouts much less taxing.

  • Figure out your target heart rate and use a fitness tracker to keep tabs on it. 
  • Running, jogging, and biking are all great ways to enjoy cardio outdoors. 
  • Few other types of exercise induce sweating like cardio, so be sure you’re wearing soft, flexible and breathable workout clothes and undies.

Strength Training 

You can gain muscle anywhere. Choose one or more areas to target and use a variety of weights and other equipment to optimize overall body strength.

  • Building muscle allows you to burn more calories at rest. 
  • You can set up a home gym with your favorite equipment.
  • Make sure your home gym stays tidy and decluttered so that you don’t experience jumps in your stress levels during your workouts. 
  • There are also bodyweight routines that provide a great no-equipment solution. 

Eventually, we’ll all be able to get back to normal. Finding ways to stay fit in the meantime, however, will make the transition back to the gym much easier. Don’t let this time set you back! With focus and motivation, you can stay on track no matter where you are. 

Born Tough has proven to be tough and soft at the same time.

A few months ago we were approached by Chris with Born Tough and Elite Sports Clothing lines to test out their fitness clothing and determine if we thought it was a good choice for our customers and clients.

We’re excited to be working with Born Tough and Elite Sports to try out their products!

Over the summer my husband Jeff has been our testing model. He’s been testing out their long sleeved Men’s Core Fit Shirt over washes, places, spaces, and workouts.

And …

he’s loved working out in it. It’s smooth, quick drying, and moves with him through a variety of workout moves.

It’s fitting but not too tight. The cut and material allow for easy movement between strength, functional, and cardio workouts.

It’s a great go to shirt for whole gym experiences, plus moves between workouts and life at his college administration job with no fuss.

As his partner, I really like how soft the shirt is and the fact that it doesn’t smell after a session.

He’s also been able to use it as a comfortable base layer in our chilly mountain air camping and hiking through the Colorado Rockies.

He’s been trying it out in the studio, our cabin in northwestern Wisconsin, and outside in Colorado with similar results even when the weather was hot and muggy on a bike ride by the river.

Here’s a few shots of the shirt (and Jeff) in action.

Check out more clothing options here:

https://www.borntough.com/collections/gym-workout-bags
https://www.elitesports.com/collections/boxing-gloves

4 Science-Backed Ways Exercise Boosts Mental Health

We’ve all been especially challenged lately, whether it’s from the pandemic and its aftereffects, social unrest, a job loss or other economic hurdles. As a sign of the times, drug and alcohol abuse has markedly risen. There is hope and it’s found in exercise, a fact that is based on evidence from a number of studies and research papers.

Photo credit: Pexels

Guest Post by Jason Lewis of StrongWell.org

The health and wellness experts at Studio B present these four science-backed ways exercise can help you get back on track to your old self or even a new, improved self. 

1. Physical exercise can ease symptoms of depression.

Studies have shown that people who have depression or other mental illnesses are more likely to also have problems with substance use and addiction. Finding a treatment option that can treat both depression and addiction is an important part of many recovery programs, and exercise is an excellent way to treat both at the same time. In fact, the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry discussed results from 21 studies, which showed that running could reduce the symptoms and feelings of depression during addiction recovery. Maybe it’s time to hit the pavement. 

Be sure to equip yourself with quality running shoes, a good investment that doesn’t need to break the bank thanks to online coupons and promo codes like those found at Nike.com. The worst thing that can happen if you’re running, jogging or walking in poor-quality shoes is injury to your feet, legs or back, preventing you from following through with a rigorous exercise regimen. Other conditions that may develop by not wearing quality shoes are corns, bunions and plantar fasciitis, all painful enough to make exercise a burden.

2. Exercise can help you grow brain cells.

The hippocampus is a part of the brain that plays a critical role in memory and regulates emotion. Addiction can negatively impact different parts of the brain, and the hippocampus is especially vulnerable to substance abuse. 

What’s more, research has shown that all those burpees and squats could help your brain grow new brain cells. This can help you gain confidence as you move forward in improving your mental health. Exercise is an activity where you can see results instantly and gain motivation to make it a habit.

3. Exercise can reduce cravings.

The relationship between mood and craving can influence relapse and prevent long-term recovery. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that getting out and exercising, even for 10-30 minutes, can reduce cravings and substantially improve mood. You can get gains in more ways than one. Remember that going outside and working out, even for a short time, can help you weather the storm and achieve the long-term goals you want.

$30 Off Your 1st Order

4. Results are seen in improved aerobic power.

Be aware that, if you are on the road to recovering from substance abuse, past addiction may have weakened the heart. In fact, there is a much higher risk of heart disease and premature death when substance use weakens the heart and it can’t pump blood as efficiently. So take it easy when first starting your exercise regimen.

One clinical study evaluated the effects of high-intensity interval training for individuals recovering from substance abuse, and it showed that patients who exercised vigorously were able to increase the volume of blood that their heart pumped, improve their maximal cardiac power and reduce their risk of mortality. This is a fantastic reason to make sure physical fitness is an important long-term part of not only improving your mental health but also your overall recovery routine.

Including physical fitness in your plan to improve your overall health can help grow new brain cells, reduce stress and renew self-confidence. The connection between mental and physical health cannot be overstated. This includes all kinds of exercise, so you won’t need to be a super athlete to exercise safely and efficiently. While each person’s path has its own twists and turns, you’ll find unique self-confidence and opportunities as you persevere.

Studio B is an integrative healthcare studio in Durango, Colo., specializing in individualized treatment and coaching for optimizing your health. To experience a health clinic that feels like a health club, contact us today! (970) 422-1761

How to Plan a Budget-Friendly Self-Care Getaway

We all need a break sometimes but it can be hard to find the money to take a vacation. Here’s some budget friendly ideas to get the rest and self care you need.


Guest Post by Cheryl Conklin at www.wellnesscentral.info

Photo Credit: Pexels

Do you ever feel like you’re just dying for a vacation? It may be truer than you think. Non-stop work with no quality breaks is definitely bad for your creativity, productivity, and even your physical and mental health. However, many of us go for years or longer without taking a trip to get away from it all. This delay often comes down to costs. That said, there are plenty of ways to affordably manage a self-care-focused getaway.

Search for Deals

To get the absolute most bang for your buck, try to find travel deals you can use to help finance your trip. For example, you can book your rental car, hotel stays, and other travel costs through sites like Google Flights, Hotels.com and Hotwire. Another fruitful way to save money on your trip is to check tourist sites and travel companies. These agencies understand the expenses involved in vacation, and by offering discounts, they can bring in customers they otherwise couldn’t reach. So, look around online or reach out to your destination’s tourism office to figure out what kinds of offers are available.

If you want to save even more and will be gone more than one night, consider a private rental. Not only will you have more space, but you’ll also save on dining out since you’ll have access to a kitchen. Plus, privacy is much more attainable when you’re in your own space, meaning you can get more out of your self-care endeavours. 

Hit the Road

One great low-cost way to travel is to go on a road trip. You can make the most of your journey by stopping at plenty of destinations on the way. Not only does this give you the chance to experience places you’d probably never see otherwise, but it’s also relatively low-cost. Roadside attractions know they’re riding on tourist interest, so they have to stay affordable.

Go Camping

Looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban living? Consider going camping. This is a great way to connect with nature and get some time away from phone screens and car horns. Since campground fees are usually low, you only need to worry about the cost of gear. If you don’t have your own tent, don’t fear — you can rent camping gear through outdoor shops. If nothing like that’s available near you, ask your friends; Someone may have gear you can use. If you need to buy gear, avoid costly camping retail stores and look to sites like Overstock instead. Here, you can find all the equipment you need at a lower price, especially if you can tack on promotions or coupons. 

Go for the Secret Staycation

Getting away doesn’t always require actually getting away. Simply spending time off work and out of your routine can go a long way toward giving yourself the break you need. However, to really nail in these benefits, keep your stay-at-home plans to yourself. Anyone you tell has the potential to stop by or expect you to come hang out since “you’re free, you can make it!” By just saying “I’m on vacation that week” and leaving out any specific details about your time off, you can make a staycation a legitimate retreat.

Consider Voluntourism

Finally, you can get some time away from your regular routine and help the world all at once by embracing voluntourism. These sorts of trips are usually lower cost since you’re not traveling to hit the beach and lounge. These usually come with a lot of hard work and often require significant manual labor. However, when the workday is done, you’re free to explore the area and have some time to yourself. These trips aren’t for everyone, and if you work a physical job, they may not be the respite you really need. However, working with your hands can be a surprisingly effective breather for those who spend most of their days at a desk.

Vacation isn’t just fun; it’s legitimately good for you. Getting some time away from your regular routine is some of the absolute best self-care you can give yourself. By finding affordable ways to travel, you can take the trip you need to recharge your batteries.

How To Banish Burnout At Work And At Home

Burnout is, according to Healthline, “a state of mental and physical exhaustion that can zap the joy out of your career, friendships, and family interactions.” And it is a very real phenomenon that many professionals experience at some level throughout their careers. Fortunately, career burnout is something you can thwart before your light begins to fade. Here are some practical tips to beat burnout both at work and at home.

Image via Pexels

Guest Post By: Cheryl Conklin

At Work

  • Be a better leader. When you have great leadership skills, your employees will never have to question what they need to do, how it needs to be done, and when. They will look up to you as a mentor instead of simply the person that signs their paycheck. Once you refine your leadership skills, you can easily lead your organization through good and bad times with the kind of positive mindset people find contagious.
  • Enhance your education. Leadership is just one business skill you can sharpen to be more effective in the office. It is never too late — and you never have too much or too little experience — to pursue mastery in other areas. Business management and marketing are two of these, and pursuing a business degree online will allow you to continue to work while improving your professional acumen.
  • Improve company morale. Career burnout is often caused in part by the negative attitudes of those within your organization. This is an easy remedy, and you can improve employee morale by maintaining an open line of communication and recognizing a job well done. Connecteam points out that simple recognition motivates more than three-quarters of employees. This can lead to greater productivity and less stress throughout your entire organization.

At Home

  • Vacation often. Taking a vacation — even a quick weekend trip — increases mindfulness and can give your brain a much-needed boost. While you may not be able to enjoy a lengthy sabbatical, do prioritize family vacations or solo sojourns every few months. After each trip, you’ll notice you are much more productive and positive than you were before your sabbatical.
  • Leave work at work. 50 — this is the number of hours that the American Institute of Stress says pushes most American workers toward feelings of burnout. As an executive, you may be tempted to work from the office five days a week and respond to emails and telephone calls in your off-hours. Limit this as much as possible, and make sure that your superiors and subordinates are aware of your boundaries. Remember, you have to have personal time to be most productive during your professional time.
  • Engage in healthy habits. The actions you take each day to better your health will help you keep your flame burning bright at work and at home. Health threats, such as sleep deprivation, malnutrition, and untamed stress, will follow you to the office and stick around long after you’ve clocked out. Do yourself a favor and get plenty of sleep, eat well, and exercise. These — along with other healthy habits, including socializing and keeping a clean home — will go a long way toward beating career fatigue.

Career burnout is an alarming phenomenon that can leave you stagnant in your career, no matter how close to the top you climb. But you can avoid it by taking steps now to improve your work and home environment. The above tips are a great place to start. 

Does burnout have you feeling overwhelmed and depressed? Dr. Stacy’s seven-day course can get you to shift your mindset to get back on track.