Flex It

In Vogue’s “Flex It”, the focus is on maximising fitness results through smarter, not longer, workouts. The article explores expert-backed strategies for improving strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall wellbeing, emphasising efficiency, variety, and the mind-muscle connection. Nutrition, recovery techniques, and stress management are highlighted as essential components for achieving optimal results.

Sydney-based personal trainer Ricardo Riskalla is featured offering insights on the relationship between stress, exercise, and recovery. He explains that high-intensity workouts can backfire if stress levels are already elevated, as the hormone cortisol can interfere with fat metabolism and overall results. Riskalla also underscores the importance of nutrition, noting that quality and quantity of food, along with antioxidants, are key to performance and recovery, challenging the simplistic “calories in versus calories out” approach. Furthermore, he shares practical recovery strategies such as dry body brushing, cold showers, and other modern recovery treatments, emphasising a holistic approach to fitness that balances physical effort with proper care for the body.