By Nancy Arcayna Most people who are trying to get in shape complain that it just takes too much time. But if you have eight minutes, you have all the time you need to work out with a ROM machine.
By Nancy Arcayna I'm slumped in my chair at work, hunched over my computer, when Lisa Ortega Robertson's words come to mind, reminding me to improve my posture. Roll your shoulders down and back, she said, an act that automatically elongates the spine.
By Nancy Arcayna I'm a princess — I'm the first to admit it. Sure, I can endure sweaty mixed martial arts classes and grueling interval training sessions, but when placed in the great outdoors, I'm a helpless babe in the woods.
By Nancy Arcayna During the late 1940s, Palama Settlement was considered a menacing neighborhood, so a small group of martial artists calling themselves the Black Belt Society met to train and learn from one another.
By Nancy Arcayna Some moms are able to muster the motivation to get back into their regular workout routines, while others find it more challenging to fit exercise into their much-altered lifestyles.
By Nancy Arcayna Sensual, exotic dancing is no longer reserved for strip bars and so-called gentlemen's clubs, and sliding poles shouldn't be limited for use by children on playgrounds or firefighters.
By Nancy Arcayna All through a spin class at Hono­lulu Holo Cycling Studio, I kept thinking, "My butt hurts." I was thankful for the times when we stood up on the stationary bike pedals, which provided some relief from being seated for long intervals.
By Nancy Arcayna Balancing on a Bosu ball is a workout in itself. Standing on the ball while using free weights during a class at the Central YMCA was much more difficult than I had imagined.
By Nancy Arcayna A diverse group, young and old and of all sizes, assembled for the Aqua Fit class at the Kroc Center in Ewa Beach.
By Nancy Arcayna Jogging on the beach, military crawls and leapfrog in the sand make the TRX Boot Camp class quite a challenge.
By Nancy Arcayna It's no wonder I have knots, aches and pains, spending much of the day in a sedentary position, typically on a computer, and driving at least three hours a day. This behavior has been shown to lead to muscle atrophy, a shortening and weakening of the muscles.
By Nancy Arcayna Sitting down is not allowed. A "never quit" attitude is mandatory for all in attendance. Water breaks are limited to 60 seconds. If one participant is late getting back to their workout station, the rest of the group suffers a punishment of more exercises.
By Nancy Arcayna A few years ago, I ventured to a hip-hop class with a couple of my 30-something friends. Most of the students were 16 years old, so we were definitely out of our league.
By Nancy Arcayna Leave the "I can't" attitude at the door if you're planning to check out a BodyPump class at Mana Fitness Studio.
By Nancy Arcayna Sweating it out while stretching and receiving the benefits of yoga appears to be gaining popularity, with at least two new "hot yoga" studios opening here in the past couple of months.
By Nancy Arcayna If running the Honolulu Marathon is on your bucket list or if you just want to prepare for shorter-distance runs, check out the free Hono­lulu Marathon Clinic at Kapiolani Park on Sunday mornings.
By Nancy Arcayna One glimpse around Fitness Ranes Training Studio and you might mistake the place for a torture chamber. Ropes hang from the ceiling and metal contraptions surround the room.
By Nancy Arcayna A shuffle to the left, a grapevine to the right, a kick, step and turn. The intricate footwork during a line-dancing class definitely demanded my attention.
By Nancy Arcayna "Intimidation" best described my feelings about attending Egan Inoue's Fit Body Bootcamp. After all, Inoue is a mixed martial arts champ, and I run only if someone is chasing after me.
By Nancy Arcayna If you're looking to recuperate from stressful holiday activities, consider taking an outdoor tai chi class with Greg­ory Yuen and his assistants.
By Nancy Arcayna Giltzy belts and sultry moves make belly dancing an enticing workout. The time flies by, but don't let that fool you.
By Nancy Arcayna I didn't realize how stressed out I was until I stepped in front of the punching bag at BoxFit808 Boxing and Fitness Training Center.
By Nancy Arcayna Starting an exercise routine can be daunting, so it helps to find a class that fills you more with excitement than dread.
By Nancy Arcayna Until now my fear of heights had kept me away from the Volcanic Rock Gym in Waipio. The towering wall with tiny faux rocks to grab for support had me imagining a horrible fate.
By Nancy Arcayna The Drums Alive class at the Still and Moving Center was all fun and games.