Stew Smith Fitness News

Physical fitness training in schools can be traced back to Plato’s school, the Akademia, in Greece over 2400 years ago, with grappling and calisthenics as the main focus. But the modern Father of Physical Education did not emerge until the early 1800s in Germany. German teacher Friedrich Jahn first introduced students to outdoor physical fitness training, which is still the foundation of what we call gymnastics today. Many pieces of equipment, such as ropes, horses, a balance beam, parallel bars, and rings, were first used in his physical education class and in the first-ever gymnastics club. Fitness Education in America...

As I write this article, I am sitting. I have already worked out, but how long does it take for me to start feeling the effects of sitting too long? Usually, about 30 minutes. Even though I have a standing desk, I prefer to sit while writing creatively, though I can set the desk up for standing when I do more administrative tasks at work. I am not trying to be an alarmist because, as with everything, too much of a good thing is no longer good. While sitting too much can be bad for your health and wellness, smoking...

Life Gets in the Way Sometimes...But Keep Moving. If you are this guy, you may want to do a stress-relieving routine for the day (next few days, perhaps) Life Can Get Busy. Fit Stress Relief into It! - Try this: Walk, jog, or bike for 5 minutes (easy pace), then stretch, holding each of these stretches for 2 deep breath cycles. This cardio/stretch should take you about 8-10 minutes. When stressed, try this once or twice for 10-20 minutes to help you physically manage your stress and put you in a relaxed state, with a better ability to focus on time-sensitive...

Heroes of Tomorrow Training Programs(Information / Location / Updated Year-Round Schedule - Scroll Down)  FREE WORKOUTS!!! The Heroes of Tomorrow program was developed by former Navy SEAL Stew Smith  CSCS / fitness author.  We can help prepare you for ANY profession that requires a Physical Fitness Test and YOU pay nothing for the training!  Warning - it is rather advanced but we can scale it back a bit, teach running and swimming techniques, and help you build up to your goal level of fitness. These Free Workouts are for men and women preparing for military, police, firefighter professions (active duty or veterans...

Recovery Resolution Was a Winner! Feeling Much Better Going into February For the first time in my life, I went into the new year with a clear focus to do less, breathe more, sleep better, and just recover from the end-of-the-year personal, business, social, and medical stresses.  Life is stressful. Acknowledging it is critical to your performance and health. My "New Year's Resolution" this year was to actively pursue recovery, and here is why it mattered. After Thanksgiving, the Army-Navy Game, my dog died, Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, travel, another family function, and a feast at the house, I was...