Did you know that holding your body in a prone position just a few inches off the floor is both challenging and great for your physique? That’s right, planks are all the rage, replacing crunches as the go-to core exercise. Everyone's planking these days—elite athletes, my mom and dad, and even 71-year-olds breaking world records. We can thank our yoga and Pilates instructors for this one!

"If You Think You Can't, You Can."

Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme running event. This fierce running series is held on the most challenging and rugged terrain across the globe. And now, it’s also a great way to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital save children from cancer and other deadly diseases.

With spring suddenly upon us, I’m sure many of you are looking to take your fitness to the next level. After all, we all want to look lean and fit for the summer, right? And many of us want to perform at our best when it comes to training and competition too! Whether you’re looking to run a few extra miles outside, join a new boot camp class, or get back into your favorite warm weather sport, one thing is for certain—you need to adequately fuel your body.

Though some people may vehemently disagree, weight loss is relatively easy to accomplish. If you really want to lose weight and you commit to taking in fewer calories than you expend, the weight is very likely to come off. So then, what's the tricky part? Maintenance. Let's discuss.

How big a role is your Survival Instinct playing in your life?

In a world with more creature comforts, we see more impatience, discomfort, anxiety and depression. In a world that provides us tools for connection, the paradox is that we are technologically hyper-connected yet disconnected from ourselves. What is the effect of being on alert constantly-handling a barrage of emails, texts, and a never ending to do list?

"You won't stick to a diet that omits your favorite foods"

Writing about the importance of sleep at 3am, or gaining 22 pounds while authoring a weight loss book might not make sense. But it shows that even David Grotto struggles to put his health knowledge into practice. A Registered Dietician and author of The Best Things You Can Eat, David says that a healthy diet doesn't have to mean sacrificing your favorite foods. He hosted a live radio show on health and nutrition for over 10 years along with a health-focused television show for 2 years. David calls himself an "Edutainer" - he enjoys educating people through entertainment.

"My body was telling me something. Hint: It always does"

Have a migraine? Upset stomach? Sore joints? It could be that your body is trying to communicate with you. Functional Medicine looks at the core problem of a symptom, rather than a "quick fix." Sometimes it requires altering your diet or cutting out certain daily items from your routine. Either way, its not easy but Katie Jasper is here to shed light on this new approach to helping people feel better.

"A good personal trainer will listen to your story."

Shannon Fable, Director of Exercise Programming, shares her story about helping people achieve their fitness goals through personal and group training. She is changing the perception of personal trainers by helping them develop meaningful relationships with a "love your job or get out" attitude. Looking for the right personal trainer can take some time, but will pay off once you find that perfect connection. Shannon also explains why group fitness can be the happy medium between personal training and individual workouts.