Actionable tips to boost your emotions and adrenaline.
1. Move your body regularly.
Engaging in moderate to vigorous exercise — ideally 150 minutes per week — reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, but even a small amount is better than none. Plus, new research suggests that exercise may actually repair the heart in people who are already at risk of heart failure. The conventional advice proves true: “Some is better than none, but more is better.” Ready to make movement a constant in your routine? Commit to fitness and stream a virtual group fitness class at Equinox, from the comfort of your home. STREAM NOW
2. Enlist a Precision Run Coach.
While Precision Run Coaching helps aspiring or long-time runners progress their fitness and tackle loftier goals, this personalized training program is just as valuable for the members who aren’t runners — the heavy-lifting athletes who are uncomfortable outside of the weight floor or those who feel like they simply, well, suck at running. You can expect your Coach to meet you where you’re at and encourage you through a program that has the power to change your relationship with cardio and lead to impressive health benefits. READ MORE
3. Turn up the temp in yoga class.
“Practicing yoga in a hot space has a cardiorespiratory effect, too,” writes Lindsay Carson, the Group Fitness Manager at Equinox Bond St. in New York City. “Heat causes more blood to flow to the skin (helping to create cooling sweat), your breath to deepen, and your heart rate to increase, the latter of which boosts the amount of blood the heart pumps each minute. That means heated spaces not only make a gentle, restorative yoga flow more intense, but they add further physical and mental challenges on top of already-difficult power and sculpt classes. READ MORE
4. Hit the sauna for your heart health.
For when your heart is racing a little too much: Dry saunas have been found to reduce the risk of stress-related syndromes, such as hypertension and insulin resistance, in people in high-stress occupations (think: firefighters and first responders). Taking a sauna after a workout for fifteen minutes three times a week has been shown to improve blood pressure more than exercise alone. And regular use has been linked to longer life spans and fewer serious heart issues, as well as reduced inflammation in some populations. READ MORE
5. Add spicy food to your dinner menu.
Your favorite spicy foods — think: chili and jalapeño peppers — boast effects you can feel after your last bite. While spicy foods can increase your heart rate, they can also trigger an endorphin release, leading to a slight adrenaline rush. Faster blood circulation and a temporarily elevated heart rate are also side effects of incorporating spicy foods into your diet.
6. Expose yourself to new heights.
Heights have a way of stirring a primal fear. It's a healthy evolutionary response, a survival mechanism. But for some, this fear escalates into a full-blown phobia known as acrophobia. "Everyone is going to have some degree of fear, and that's woven into us to keep us safe,” says David H. Rosmarin, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., an associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. "The difference between that and a phobia is when it gets in the way — when you can't do what you need to do." Ready to challenge your fear of heights? Consider a visit to The Edge at Hudson Yards in New York City. READ MORE
7. Channel your competitive side.
Whether you’re looking for a like-minded community or to let out some steam via a sport you’re passionate about, being part of a team — or league — can scratch that itch. Equinox not only offers pickleball, but also basketball. It is important to note, however, that the basketball league isn’t for the faint of heart. “They're always in shape,” says Charles Jackson, the complex sports manager for Equinox Sports Club and East 61st Street. “The jump shot is always ready to go.” Some players even take on the identity of “most hated captain in Equinox,” he adds. Last year, the role went to Rob Marder of Team OnCore. “He always has super teams. He’s won quite often, so he’s taken on that [villain] persona. I think he loves it. He loves the game — he's an avid Knicks fan. And these guys love to compete against one another and have bragging rights.” READ MORE