Is it true that … there’s no gain without pain?

Feeling the burn is your body’s way of signalling effort, but you don’t always have to suffer to make progress

I ditched the gym and you can too – here are six ways to get fit without it

Whether you enjoy ‘rucking’, walking, running or making your own sandbags, life after winding up your monthly membership can be your healthiest and happiest ever

I vowed to never exercise again. Then along came Ultimate Frisbee

I used to be addicted to exercise in all its most joyless, soulless forms. It took a flying object to show me the magnetic joy of play

Switch on those glutes! Suddenly it’s all about the bass, and for good reason

The gluteal muscles are vital for getting us up and about, yet humanity’s increasingly sedentary lifestyle is leading to neglect of our glute health

The deadlift difference: is this the exercise you need for an active and pain-free future?

Life is easier with a strong, flexible body – and this weightlifting move will help with everything from rearranging the furniture to picking up your groceries. You might even learn to love the barbell

‘Now I do weight training’: how exercise helped one patient stay free of cancer

Margaret Tubridy, 69, took part in landmark study that reveals the role of exercise in preventing return of disease

From strength training in your 20s to yoga in your 80s: how to reach peak fitness at any age

Can you hold a 60-second plank? How about tying your shoelace in mid-air? Here’s how to test your fitness in every decade of life

Walk on the wild side: Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs on their epic hiking movie The Salt Path

Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir about her and her husband’s 630-mile trek around England’s south coast has become a film. Its stars, makers and Winn talk floods, fog and forgiveness

The power secret: simple, everyday moves you need for a healthier and happier life

From preventing serious falls to being able to walk up stairs, it’s power – or how you use your strength – that will bring quality of life as you age

The North review – old friends’ trek through the Highlands might be the ultimate hiking film

Patiently following the progress of two pals’ reunion across Scotland, director Bart Schrijver achieves a majestic drama that never forces its epiphanies

‘The last thing you want is sweaty feet’: the best moisture-wicking underwear, socks and base layers

Running coaches, mountain guides and personal trainers tell us the sweat-wicking kit they swear by, from bamboo running socks to hiking tops

Boredom, injuries and ‘weird guru vibes’: seven signs it’s time to change your workout

It can be hard for gym-goers to know what’s reasonable to expect from a workout or class. Here, trainers and coaches share common problems – and their solutions

Athletes and fitness influencers use creatine, but what is it? And does it work?

We find out if this fitness supplement can be used to build muscle mass, decrease fatigue and improve mental health

Fake fitness influencers: the secrets and lies behind the world’s most envied physiques

The Liver King’s raw-meat-to-ripped-abs regime has been exposed – but thousands of other influencers claim their bulging muscles are just the result of hard, honest graft. Should we believe them?

Want to swim but find it too much of a hassle? Me too – but here’s how I cracked it

What is the equivalent of a Couch to 5k or parkrun for swimmers? Do I need loads of expensive gear? And should I join a club? Here’s how I learned to love the pool