For a cheap, DIY training tool, look
no further than your local hardware
store. The PVC pipe is a lightweight
plastic tube—normally used for
plumbing—that has all sorts of cool,
handy fitness uses. Here are three
of them.
• Improve your form:
Hold the
pipe lengthwise along your spine during
exercises like lunges to ensure that
your head and back stay in proper
alignment throughout the movement.
• Boost mobility:
Mimicking barbell
exercises with the superlight pipe is
a safe way to practice full range of
motion without the fear of injury, says
Los Angeles–based fitness trainer
Ashley Borden.
• Challenge your core:
Holding
the pipe above your head during exercises
like overhead squats (pictured)
changes your center of gravity, forcing
your core to keep you stable.
Power Up Your Playlist
Your playlist can do more than motivate
you during workouts: A consistent,
steady beat can help you run longer and
more efficiently, according to new
Dutch research.
And picking up your step
rate just 10%—say, fom 150 beats per
minute to 165—can reduce stress behind
the kneecap by 14%, says a University
of Wisconsin–Madison study. (A quick
turnover causes shorter steps, reducing
impact.)
To achieve both goals, use the
app Cruise Control: Run ($4.99; iTunes).
It changes the beat of any music on your
smartphone to match a steady cadence.
