Where to Nurture Yourself in Nature in Philadelphia

Nature landscape view from mountain peak
Trees help clean the air, but they also release a chemical that’s been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve immunity when you breathe it in. In Japan, the practice of immersing yourself in nature is known as Shinrin-yoku, which translates to “forest bathing.” Nature therapy is about intentionally connecting with your natural surroundings to improve your physical and mental health....
Read More

Fellas, Invest in Yourself: Schedule a Checkup with a Doctor

A senior patient and a female doctor meet in a medical clinic while wearing protective face masks to avoid the transfer of germs.
According to the World Health Organization, the average life span for women is about six to eight years longer than that of men, hinting that men’s hesitance to seek medical care can be dangerous. But many of the diseases that commonly plague men can be prevented or at least detected through one simple action: scheduling a checkup with a doctor....
Read More

Do This, Not That: Debunking Myths to Make Running More Efficient

A woman takes a break from running to have some water in front of a concrete wall
You may have seen the episode of The Office, “Fun Run,” when Michael Scott carbo-loads minutes before a charity 5k with a container of fettuccine alfredo. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t end well for him. The beloved manager of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company fell for one of the biggest myths in the running world....
Read More

Heart Smarts: 4 Tips for Lifelong Heart Health

Selection of food that is good for the heart, rustic wood background
Half of all Americans have one of the top three risk factors for heart disease — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Are you one of them? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, but the news isn’t all bleak. Take a minute to improve your heart smarts to help you keep your ticker in tip-top shape: 1....
Read More

Make the Most of Your 2019 Blue Cross Broad Street Run Experience

Colin Barrett crossing the finish line at the Blue Cross Broad Street Run
Crossing the finish line during a rainy 2016 Blue Cross Broad Street Run. As a six-time Blue Cross Broad Street Run (BCSBR) finisher, I’m excited to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the race. Although I run races of various distances, including half marathons and marathons, the BCBSR is easily my favorite race of the year....
Read More

Broad Street Beats: 40 Years Running Edition

Every year, we release a Blue Cross Broad Street Run Beats playlist that’s compiled by members of the Blue Streaks running club. These songs help them stay motivated to keep running while they train for the big race. This year, we wanted to try something different to celebrate 40 years of the Blue Cross Broad Street Run....
Read More

Start Exercising, No Matter Your Condition

A woman smiles while opening a bottle of water on a bridge during her workout.
Fitness…exercise…moving around. Whatever you want to call it, everyone needs regular physical activity to maintain their health — young, old, overweight, healthy, managing chronic disease, or disabled. So if you’re thinking that routine exercise is only for fitness fanatics and those who are trying to lose weight, think again! By now you’ve probably heard many of the good things that can happen when you start exercising,...
Read More

How Can Seniors Stay Strong? SilverSneakers!

During a recent train ride into work, I experienced the funniest reminder about exercise. For those of you who don’t take the train, let me set the scene… The sun hadn’t come up quite yet, and the weather was cold and dreary. The train car was filled with early morning commuters who were bundled up and,...
Read More

Game On: 6 Sports Safety Tips for Student-Athletes

Sports safety tips for student-athletes.
According to a National Council of Youth Sports survey, more than 40 million young athletes ages 6 – 18 participate in organized sports. And while there are countless benefits to organized sports, there are also the inevitable injuries that come with the territory. I recently spoke with Ron M. Hillian, MS, of EXOS, Human Performance about tips to keep student-athletes as healthy as possible....
Read More

Beach Vacation Workouts Shore Can Make You Feel Good

Creative beach vacation workouts can help you burn off extra calories from eating treats like pizza, ice cream, and salt water taffy.
If you’re heading to the beach for your vacation, it’s tempting to spend most of your time in a lounge chair soaking up the sun. But sitting for long periods isn’t good for you, so use the change of scenery as an inspiration for beach vacation workouts — like running or yoga on the sand, walking and biking on the boardwalk,...
Read More