FITBOOK https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/ The magazine for fitness, health and nutrition Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:16:00 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Expert Explains: How to Master the Standing Compass Pose in Yoga https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/fitness/how-to-master-the-standing-compass-pose-in-yoga Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:16:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14840 Looking for a new yoga challenge? Try the “Standing Compass,” also known as Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana. Those experienced in yoga might already be familiar with the seated version, the Compass (Surya Yantrasana). This can be a great preliminary exercise for the standing version. FITBOOK author and yoga instructor Nina Ponath explains how you can learn …

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]]> ]]> Looking for a new yoga challenge? Try the “Standing Compass,” also known as Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana. Those experienced in yoga might already be familiar with the seated version, the Compass (Surya Yantrasana). This can be a great preliminary exercise for the standing version. FITBOOK author and yoga instructor Nina Ponath explains how you can learn the elegant Compass Pose, which resembles a compass needle, step by step.

]]> Experience Report: I Never Wanted to Run a Marathon! Then I Won an Entry Spot https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/fitness/i-never-wanted-to-run-a-marathon-then-i-won-an-entry-spot Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:07:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14860 FITBOOK editor Anna Echtermeyer never wanted to run a marathon. Then she won a spot in the Berlin Marathon–and thought, “Challenge accepted!” This Probably Won’t Work As I walk through the urine-scented Tiergarten to the start on Sunday morning, I’ve had a sleepless night from excitement and forced down a toast with jam. I forget …

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]]> ]]> FITBOOK editor Anna Echtermeyer never wanted to run a marathon. Then she won a spot in the Berlin Marathon–and thought, “Challenge accepted!”

]]> Data from 64,193 women analyzed: The Amount of Sex per Week That Leads to Faster Pregnancy, According to a Study https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/health/the-amount-of-sex-per-week-that-leads-to-faster-pregnancy-according-to-a-study Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14857 For those looking to conceive, timing the fertile days is crucial. But does the frequency of sex also play a role? Researchers explored this question using data from more than 64,000 women who planned pregnancies, as recorded in a large Norwegian study. The study indeed suggests a potentially beneficial amount of sex per week for …

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]]> ]]> For those looking to conceive, timing the fertile days is crucial. But does the frequency of sex also play a role? Researchers explored this question using data from more than 64,000 women who planned pregnancies, as recorded in a large Norwegian study. The study indeed suggests a potentially beneficial amount of sex per week for couples trying to have a baby.

]]> Study: What Your Belly Button’s Smell Can Reveal About Your Health https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/health/what-your-belly-buttons-smell-can-reveal-about-your-health Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:48:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14816 The navel is much more than just a leftover from our birth—it could prove to be an unexpected diagnostic window. Researchers from Germany have investigated what the molecules in the navel can reveal about our health. Could they indicate Parkinson’s, COVID-19, or a precursor to dementia? Whether we enter a room, exercise, or are stressed, …

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]]> ]]> The navel is much more than just a leftover from our birth—it could prove to be an unexpected diagnostic window. Researchers from Germany have investigated what the molecules in the navel can reveal about our health. Could they indicate Parkinson’s, COVID-19, or a precursor to dementia?

]]> Study: How a Partner’s Presence at Meals Could Affect Blood Sugar https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/nutrition/how-a-partners-presence-at-meals-could-affect-blood-sugar Mon, 28 Sep 2026 03:43:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14809 Have you ever heard of the concept of social physiology? It describes how social relationships and proximity relate to bodily regulatory processes. The body’s ability to maintain its internal balance despite changing demands is called physiological homeostasis. A study examined whether social proximity actually influences this regulation. Particularly interesting is the focus on blood sugar, …

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]]> ]]> Have you ever heard of the concept of social physiology? It describes how social relationships and proximity relate to bodily regulatory processes. The body’s ability to maintain its internal balance despite changing demands is called physiological homeostasis. A study examined whether social proximity actually influences this regulation. Particularly interesting is the focus on blood sugar, as glucose regulation is a fundamental bodily process. The results suggest that the presence of a familiar person can affect how the body handles a carbohydrate load.

]]> No Probiotics: Doctor Reveals His Top Tips for a Healthy Gut https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/health/doctor-reveals-his-top-tips-for-a-healthy-gut Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:02:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14800 Natural yogurt, supplements, or perhaps fiber? There are many tips for a healthy gut, but which ones are effective? FITBOOK Editor-in-Chief Nuno Alves spoke with gastroenterologist and author Prof. Martin Storr to uncover his top tips for gut health. In recent years, the role of the gut in overall health has gained increasing importance. It …

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]]> ]]> Natural yogurt, supplements, or perhaps fiber? There are many tips for a healthy gut, but which ones are effective? FITBOOK Editor-in-Chief Nuno Alves spoke with gastroenterologist and author Prof. Martin Storr to uncover his top tips for gut health.

]]> Mini Study Shows: How Time with Your Cat Affects Your Body https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/mind-body/how-time-with-your-cat-affects-your-body Sun, 27 Sep 2026 02:33:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14748 Cat owners know the feeling: After petting or playing with their cat, they often feel more relaxed. A study from Japan now shows that just ten minutes with your pet can be enough to measurably change your mood. Interestingly, the body reacts differently than many would expect. A research team from Tokyo University of Agriculture …

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]]> ]]> Cat owners know the feeling: After petting or playing with their cat, they often feel more relaxed. A study from Japan now shows that just ten minutes with your pet can be enough to measurably change your mood. Interestingly, the body reacts differently than many would expect.

]]> For Orientation: Squats in the Age Check: How Much Weight Is Realistic? https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/fitness/squats-in-the-age-check-how-much-weight-is-realistic Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:25:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14804 The barbell rests on the shoulders, eyes forward, then a controlled squat follows. Often, the question arises: How much weight is actually appropriate? What might be realistic for a 30-year-old isn’t necessarily a benchmark for a 60-year-old. Personal trainer Markus Bremen has compiled guidelines for individuals, showing that the execution of squats naturally adapts with …

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]]> ]]> The barbell rests on the shoulders, eyes forward, then a controlled squat follows. Often, the question arises: How much weight is actually appropriate? What might be realistic for a 30-year-old isn’t necessarily a benchmark for a 60-year-old. Personal trainer Markus Bremen has compiled guidelines for individuals, showing that the execution of squats naturally adapts with age.

]]> Explanation of the Difference: Which Value Is More Indicative: Cholesterol or Triglycerides? https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/health/which-value-is-more-indicative-cholesterol-or-triglycerides Sat, 26 Sep 2026 01:54:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14798 You hear about cholesterol all the time, especially as you get older. However, triglycerides are mentioned much less frequently. These are also blood fats that play an important role in our health. But which value actually says more about health? And what exactly is behind cholesterol and triglycerides? Which Value Is More Indicative? The question …

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]]> ]]> You hear about cholesterol all the time, especially as you get older. However, triglycerides are mentioned much less frequently. These are also blood fats that play an important role in our health. But which value actually says more about health? And what exactly is behind cholesterol and triglycerides?

]]> Common Virus May Be Key: MS Flare May Be Signaled Months in Advance by Blood Markers https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/health/ms-flare-may-be-signaled-months-in-advance-by-blood-markers Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:08:00 -0400 https://www.fitbook-magazine.com/?p=14796 Almost everyone carries the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Usually, it remains unnoticed in the body for life after infection. New research suggests that the virus could become active again in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) just before a flare-up, triggering processes that promote inflammation. Researchers report this in a recent study in the journal “Nature Medicine.” …

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]]> ]]> Almost everyone carries the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Usually, it remains unnoticed in the body for life after infection. New research suggests that the virus could become active again in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) just before a flare-up, triggering processes that promote inflammation. Researchers report this in a recent study in the journal “Nature Medicine.”1

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