By Janet Lunder Hanafin

Are you getting a little jaded with the same step aerobics class, three times a week on the elliptical walker, and counting reps on the cybex machines? Whether you have a long-standing exercise habit, or are deciding that you want to embark on a fitness adventure, several new techniques may be just what you need to pep up your enthusiasm.

If you are skeptical about an exercise routine because of aches and pains, the Feldenkrais Method can help you get started and enjoy moving your body again. Described by one student as “a user’s guide to the human body,” Feldenkrais does not replace traditional workouts, since it is not cardio/aerobic, strength training, or stretching. Rather, said Nick Strauss-Klein, a Feldenkrais instructor, “through awareness and better movement habits, it refines your workout and increases your comfort, stamina, and joy in moving your body.”

By Mary Beth King, Medica

What do headaches, backaches, heartburn and arthritis all have in common? The answer: pain.

Far from a rare sensation, pain is something that most of us experience every day. It can be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent, localized to one part of the body or a general ache that makes us hurt all over.

Although pain is never pleasant, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Pain can help us identify harmful situations and dangerous conditions. Burning pain tells you that you need to remove your hand from a hot surface, while chest pain may alert you to the fact that you’re having a heart attack.

If you suffer from chronic pain, however, finding a “pleasant” aspect to your discomfort is difficult. Chronic pain may be associated with a specific health concern, such as injury, infection, osteoporosis or cancer, or it may not have any identifiable source at all.