Lela A. McDaniel 
Hey there, fellas. Let’s talk about something that might not be on your radar yet—yoga. I get it; for years, I thought yoga was just for flexible folks in leggings chanting in dimly lit rooms. But back in my early 30s, after a rough gym injury left me sidelined from weightlifting, a buddy dragged me … Read more
I’ll never forget my first brush with powerlifting—it was back in college, when a buddy dragged me to the gym for what he called a “real workout.” I was used to messing around with dumbbells, chasing that pump, but he handed me a barbell loaded for squats and said, “Lift heavy or go home.” My … Read more
The bench press is the king of upper-body exercises, targeting your chest, shoulders, and triceps while boosting overall strength. But poor form can lead to stalled progress, shoulder pain, or worse, serious injury. Mastering technique ensures you lift safely, maximize gains, and look like you know what you’re doing in the gym. Perfecting your bench … Read more
Picture this: It’s 2018, and I’m staring at my reflection in the gym mirror, frustrated with the same old routine that’s left me strong but a bit bulky in all the wrong places. I’d been hitting the weights hard for years, but something felt off—no real pop in my step, no that lean, athletic vibe … Read more
Remember those chaotic afternoons when my own kids would bounce off the walls after school, full of pent-up energy from sitting all day? I’d watch them zoom around like little tornadoes, and one day, out of sheer desperation, I rolled out a mat and said, “Hey, let’s pretend we’re trees swaying in the wind.” That … Read more
Ever stepped into a gym and felt like everyone speaks a secret language of “AMRAPs” and “WODs,” while you’re just trying not to trip over a rogue kettlebell? That’s how my first CrossFit class felt—like I’d wandered into a cult meeting disguised as a workout. But after a few sweaty months, I was hooked. As … Read more
I’ll never forget the night I first tried bedtime yoga. It was about five years ago, during a particularly stressful stretch at work where deadlines loomed like storm clouds and my mind raced like a hamster on a wheel long after I hit the pillow. Tossing and turning had become my unwelcome nightly ritual, and … Read more
I remember the first time I watched a Para powerlifting event live—it was during the Rio 2016 Paralympics, streamed on my laptop late at night. The room went silent as Siamand Rahman gripped the bar, his face a mask of pure determination, and hoisted 310 kilograms off his chest. Equivalent to two baby elephants, they … Read more
The first time I tried sprinting full-out on a track, I thought my lungs were staging a full-blown rebellion. Thirty seconds in, my legs burned, my heart pounded, and I was gasping like I’d just run from a bear. But afterward? I felt invincible. That’s the magic of anaerobic exercise—short bursts of intense effort that … Read more
Anaerobic exercise involves high-intensity, short-duration activities that push your muscles to work without relying heavily on oxygen. Think sprinting, heavy lifting, or jumping—efforts where you go all-out for 30 seconds to a few minutes. Unlike jogging or cycling, which are aerobic, these exercises build strength, power, and muscle while boosting metabolism. Your body taps into … Read more