The heart rate secret: what it reveals about our health – from sleep and alcohol to fight or flight

There are more and more ways to monitor our heart rates, but what do the numbers really mean? Here is everything you need to know

Should I worry about hypothermia when I exercise?

How cold is too cold? There’s nothing wrong with channelling your inner Rocky Balboa, but might you be risking your health – or even your life – by braving the frost?

A moment that changed me: my husband and I split up – and I started walking 15,000 steps a day

My father used to tell me that everything is resolved by walking. He was right. A daily walk became my therapy, and I haven’t stopped yet

The experts: personal trainers on 20 fabulous ways to get fighting fit for free

No expensive gym memberships required – you can get in shape with a simple walking or running regime, with fitness videos, or even by lifting cans of beans

Outdoor saunas, freezing dips and remote hutting: how Scotland fell in love with Scandinavian winters

As many Scots kick back against the distractions of modern life and embrace the great outdoors, Scandi-Scot culture is thriving

The strength secret: how to get seriously fit from scratch – in 12 easy, enjoyable steps

Start with walking in January – then graduate to breathing exercises, circuits and pilates. With a new activity to try each month, you’ll soon improve your flexibility and fitness, without feeling the burn

‘Afterwards I would feel blissful’: how exercise convinced a psychotherapist to become a personal trainer

Therapists and gyms are working both brain and body as the full benefits of fitness are increasingly recognised

Don’t quit booze – just drink differently: 15 ways to change your life without trying all that hard

We ask the experts for the small life changes that can make a big difference

How to hold off the hands of time: the evidence-based guide to ageing well

From skin care to a diet of foods with a neuroprotective quality, there are proven scientific methods to staying healthy

I’m a fortysomething runner. Can I become a flexible person in a month?

Tired of being the loser who couldn’t touch her toes, I consulted the stretching experts for an easy-does-it entry into bendiness

The weird world of celebrity training: how Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Madonna get in shape for their shows

It takes incredible stamina to sing and dance for three hours night after night after night. Fitness professionals talk us through the stars’ regimes

The buddy boost: how ‘accountability partners’ make you healthy, happy and more successful

The idea of a friend who helps you commit to your goals is growing in popularity – whether you want to get fit, write a novel or build your business

Shock of the old: 12 torturous and orgasmic exercise fads

Want to get fighting fit? Try a vibrating belt or a rocking saddle – almost as effective as riding a horse!

I know sitting is bad for me. But how can I cut back when it’s so much fun?

I eat my greens and I look after my gums. There’s not much I won’t do for the sake of my health. But this? Get lost, writes Emma Beddington

My mind was poisoned by diet culture. Then I tried weightlifting

In the Ozempic era, the craze for thinness is everywhere. But if you concentrate specifically on what your body can do, it is sometimes possible to rearrange your brain, writes Zing Tsjeng