Stretching is a key factor in keeping your muscles loose for exercise and preventing injuries. But are you stretching the right way? We asked the experts to find the most common stretching mistakes people make -- and how to correct them.

Yes, the number one mistake people make is forgetting to stretch in the first place. "Even professionals don't do it as religiously as we should," says Mary Jayne Johnson, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist and owner of Profound Wellness.

Read the full Huffington Post Article here.

Celebrate little steps.

It feels great to break out the champagne after you’ve met your 6-month goal. But it’s the smaller, more frequent rewards that help you stay focused. "Small celebrations along the way make it easier to reflect on [your progress] when you feel you're not succeeding," says Mary Jayne Johnson, Ph.D., exercise physiologist and certified spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

Exercise physiologist and American Council on Exercise-certified spokesperson Mary Jayne Johnson, Ph.D., says most female gym-goers won’t judge you. “I think a lot of women would say that when they go to the gym, they feel intimidated too,” Johnson says. “Most women just want to go in, get their workout done, and get out. And as far as men go, I think women appreciate guys who are making the effort and trying to be healthy and don’t get too wrapped up in themselves and the gym culture.”

In other words, be yourself.

Read the complete Men's Health Avoid Gym-timidation article.

"Finding someone who understood my limitations was such a relief. When Mary Jayne learned I need a knee replacement, she modified Pilates movements just for me and is helping me maintain a strong leg prior to surgery. Her ability to deliver a safe and effective workout makes me confident that Pilates will be the exercise I return to with my new knee!"

Caryn – Albuquerque

Coverage on SELF.com, reaching 1 million visitors per month, that featured Dr. Mary Jayne Johnson.  Dr. Johnson offered her expertise for a second blog post on this site that addresses guidelines related to post-pregnancy workouts and overall health.  You can view coverage in the attached or this link. Or you can download a pdf of the artcle here.

SELF.COM - Christina Applegate's Hilarious Pre-Natal Pole Dancing!

Is pole dancing a safe option when you're expecting? And, generally, which types of exercise are safe?

This week the students have been reading about Coordination, Motor Control and Psychomotor Skills and how these skills might change as we age. The key issue being discussed is when should an 'older adult" discontinue driving?

What does this have to do with Mother's Day? (keep reading..)

The Japanese have traditionally been a very fit, hard-wroking and prosperous people. In the few times I have been here, I feel saddened by the amount of US tobacco that is consumed in Japan, as well as the increasin prevalence of white, processed sugars and food chemicals. 

But as with so many things, time slipped away from us, and here we are; facing the same challenges of 10+ years ago: An aging baby boomer population, Obesity on the rise, Increased health care costs, and A relatively small percentage of the population choosing to exercise for wellness.

How often have we heard the phrase, "At least you have your health.." Maybe in the past it sounded trite. But now as health care reform has been brought to the forefront of our attention, and as we embark on a New Year with New Resolutions, perhaps the value of health and wellness is becoming more and more evident.

I live in a most wonderful part of New Mexico. The weather is beautiful most days of the year. The skies are blue; the air is clean. Athletes come from around the world to train here. Evidence of an active community is everywhere – from bike trails buzzing with cyclists, to runners and hikers all committed to health and taking advantage of the weather. But today my thoughts linger on a different group of individuals; those who are dealing with life threatening disease and/or chronic pain. I am thinking about those for whom exercise and a lifestyle of wellness means more than fitting in the latest fashion, social groups or competitive event. I am thinking about those who exercise to beat the disease, to forestall surgery, or inevitable disability. True Heroes.