Fitness News.

Fitness News

The Rhythm Method

Listening to music can boost weight loss. That's the news from a recent study from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. For six months, researchers there encouraged obese dieters to walk at least three times a week, either listening to music of their choice or no music at all. Although those who walked without music lost eight pounds and 2 percent body fat on average, the group that walked to a beat lost an average of 16 pounds and 4 percent body fat, probably because they stuck with their new fitness regimen better and longer. "Exercising to preferred music may motivate people to move and distract them from discomforts associated with exercise, such as heavy breathing and sweating," says lead study author Christopher Capuano.

Om Remedy

Yoga may help ease chronic back pain better than other popular methods. In a study from Annals of Internal Medicine, 101 adults with lower-back pain followed one of three 12-week programs. One group did weekly viniyoga; another did weekly aerobics, strength training, and stretching exercises; the third followed the advice of a book about back pain and back care. After 12 weeks, 78 percent of yoga practicers said they were better able to go about their daily activities, versus 63 percent of the exercisers and 47 percent of the book readers. The yoga group also reported less pain. ...