YOGABODY

You’ve probably heard that VO2 max is one of the strongest predictors of health span and longevity. While your heart plays a central role, VO2 max also depends on your lungs, blood, muscles, and the strength and endurance of your breathing muscles.

The best way to improve VO2 max is through regular aerobic exercise, especially vigorous exercise. But if you’re unable to train hard, or you simply want to strengthen your breathing muscles, inspiratory muscle training can be a useful supplement.

There are many resistance breathing devices on the market, but they need to be cleaned carefully because moisture can allow bacteria and mold to grow. That’s why I like using a simple aluminum straw. It’s inexpensive, easy to disinfect, and can provide breathing resistance without the maintenance challenges of more complex devices.

Want to learn more about breathing?

Spine Reform™ Coach Certification 💪

There’s never been a better time to become a back pain coach.

Whether you’re:
• A yoga teacher
• A fitness professional
• A Pilates instructor
• Or brand new to teaching with a passion for helping people...

Spine Reform gives you the skills and confidence to coach people back to an active, pain-free life.

In this live online certification, you’ll learn how to:

• Build stronger, more resilient spines
• Use evidence-based corrective exercise
• Coach strength, mobility, balance, breath, and mindfulness
• Work one-on-one with clients online or in person
• Launch a meaningful coaching business doing work that truly matters

Back pain affects more than 600 million people every year, yet very few movement professionals specialize in helping them. That creates a unique opportunity to build a rewarding career while making a real difference.

Learn more through the link in bio or visit YOGABODY.com.

When Should You Exercise After an Injury?

The answer is: not today, but also not too long.

For most minor injuries, you want to get back to movement once the initial inflammation settles and you have a better idea of what you’re dealing with.

As a general rule, if discomfort is around 4/10 or less, careful movement is often appropriate:

Walking
Gentle strengthening
Controlled stretching

Movement during recovery can help restore function and provide the mechanical loading that supports collagen remodeling and better tissue organization as you heal. 💪

The goal isn’t to push through pain. It’s to get moving again without waiting until you feel 100%.

Is longevity a big lie?

The idea is simple: eat well, exercise, manage your stress, have good relationships... and you’ll live to 100.

The problem is, that’s not what the data show.

The New England Centenarian Study, one of the best studies we have on people who actually make it to 100, found that exceptional longevity is largely genetic. You really do need to win the genetic lottery.

What’s even weirder is that plenty of centenarians smoked, drank, never exercised, and lived pretty normal lives. They don’t avoid heart disease, cancer, or dementia. They just tend to get them later than everyone else. Their genes seem to buy them another decade.

That’s why I think the longevity movement is a little misleading.

What we’re really talking about is healthspan.

Exercise, good nutrition, sleep, and stress management probably won’t turn you into a centenarian. But they can absolutely help you stay stronger, healthier, and more independent for the years you do have.

Why Are Peptides Everywhere?

1 - Cloud cover for steroids

Many influencers need cloud cover for anabolic steroid use. Peptides give them something else to point to when people ask, “How did you get that physique?”

2 - Pre-approval weight loss drugs

Retatrutide is not currently approved for sale, but it’s maybe the most effective weight loss drug in history, so the gray market is exploding.

3 - Money

All those “links in bio” send affiliate commissions to creators online. Many are small time, but there are 8 and even 9-figure companies selling gray market compounds.

I think adults should take whatever they want to take… but I also think you should know what you’re taking.

Strength Training: Best or Worst Trend?

Strength training is crucial for aging well. It’s crucial for bone health, metabolic balance, hormones and even brain health.

But there’s a catch.

Many people focus only on strength while neglecting cardio and mobility. That’s a mistake.

Our data also shows that most students over 40 have at least two sedentary days every week (less than 5K steps).

That’s not good.

You don’t need to become a hybrid athlete or spend hours training every day. You just need a balanced routine that includes three essentials: strength, cardio, and mobility.

Become a Spine Reform™ Certified Coach 💪

Help people use movement as medicine to recover from back pain and reduce the risk of future injuries.

I’m now accepting applications for my upcoming online certification program, where you’ll learn a practical system for corrective exercise using strength, mobility, balance, and breathing.

Over the past decade, I’ve helped more than 80,000 people improve their backs with home based corrective exercise programs. What I’ve learned is that many people want something more: personalized, one on one guidance from a knowledgeable coach they can trust.

That’s why I created the Spine Reform™ Coach Certification.

Whether you’re an experienced yoga teacher, Pilates instructor, personal trainer, or you’re looking to start a new career in movement, this program will give you the knowledge and tools to confidently coach clients with back pain.

Apply now. Link in bio or visit www.yogabody.com.

Do Antidepressants Weaken Your Bones? 🦴

The answer is: maybe—but it’s complicated.

Studies have found that people taking antidepressants, especially SSRIs, have a higher risk of fractures and, in some cases, lower bone density.

But here’s the catch...

About 1 in 6 adult women in the U.S. take antidepressants. Depression itself is also linked with lower physical activity, poorer nutrition, more inflammation, muscle loss, and a greater risk of falls. Any—or all—of these could contribute to weaker bones.

Researchers are still debating how much of the risk comes from the medication versus the underlying condition.

The takeaway? If you’re taking an antidepressant, get a DEXA scan, talk to you doctor, and do your best to do all the usual bone-health promoting things such as:

• Strength training
• Eat enough protein and calcium
• Get adequate vitamin D

PMID: 38863057

Q: Have you had a DEXA scan?

Got Back Pain?

Back pain rarely improves by doing nothing.

The 21-Day Happy Back Challenge combines corrective strength, balance, and mobility exercises into a simple 15-minute daily practice designed to help you recover, build resilience, and reduce the risk of future flare-ups.

I’ve helped more than 80,000 people use movement to support a healthier spine. As the saying goes, movement is medicine, but like any medicine, the right dose matters. A short, consistent daily practice is often more effective than occasional long workouts.

Start your 21-Day Happy Back Challenge today.

Visit yogabody.com or tap the link in bio.