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Yoga: How to Find the Right Type for You
Dec 01, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
Yoga is more than just striking a pose or two and saying om a few times at the end of class. It can be incredibly gentle and soothing, or very therapeutic, or a tough demanding workout. Check the list below to see which one appeals to you.
If you like vigorous activity:
Try Ashtanga Yoga, a series of athletic poses. The moves are challenging and are designed to have you sweat impurities out of your system and leave you feeling light and strong. This is also known as Power Yoga.
If you like to find you Zen:
Try Kripalu Yoga, it focuses on developing yoginis at their own pace and helping them find their spiritual core as well as their abdominal core. You’ll definitely feel the workout the next day and you’ll be light and relaxed as you leave the studio.
I like to sweat:
Bikram yoga and other styles of “hot” yoga is your nirvana. Temperatures in the room can go up to 110 degrees to mimic the climate of India. Proponents say Bikram will clean your body of toxins and make stretching easier as your muscles warm up in the heat. You will definitely sweat buckets.
5 Ways to Relax
Nov 22, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
Have you ever been caught up in one of those conversations where you seem to be competing for who’s the most stressed out? Do you have a little flash of pride when you win? This is the definitely the wrong approach! Lots of studies have shown the stress equals death. It can be a major contributor to heart disease, diabetes and a host of other diseases that will eventually kill us. So here’s some ideas to unwind.
Meditation
A host of studies show meditation calms the mind, increases clarity, and improves health. It is something that everyone should consider trying. There are many different types from transcendental meditation to walking meditation to prayer. Try a few to see which one appeals to you most. One type might feel completely wrong and another variation could be a great fit for you. You’ll have to experiment a little.
Get Crafty
Getting Back On Track: What to do if you were slacking off
Nov 12, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
It’s easy to do. Life just gets away from you and you skip one gym workout, then another, then it’s a month later and you’re not sure what happened but you’re feeling a little soft! No worries, it’s easy to get back on the wagon. Here’s some tips.
1. Schedule an Appointment for your workout. Put it in your calendar and give it the highest priority. It’s your body afterall, it should be number one on your list.
2. Talk to your support system to make sure you’ve got the time. It takes a village to get a workout in. Make sure you significant other, your kids and anyone else in your household know that this is important to you. Make sure you do the same for them.
3. Check in with a trainer. If it’s been a while your routine might need to be updated a bit. So consider scheduling an appointment with a trainer to get back on track. Know you have an appointment with someone can motivate you to keep that appointment.
The Good Enough Workout: What to Do When You're In a Rush
Nov 01, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
Traffic held you up on the way to the gym. Or that late afternoon meeting took a bit too long. You’ve missed your group exercise class or don’t have the usual amount of time for your weight routine. Here’s what to do instead. You’ll feel great and keep moving toward your goals.
1. Add intervals to your cardio workout. Hop on a treadmill, elliptical, arc trainer or recumbent bike for as much time as you have. Warm up just enough to break a sweat and then start pushing. Do 60 seconds or all-out work and 90 seconds of recovery. Do as many as you have time for and leave 3 to 5 minutes for the cool down.
2. Do a weight training circuit on the machines. Your usual weight training routine takes too long so just hop over to the circuit and move quickly. Do one set of 12 to 15 reps and try to reach muscle failure by the last rep. Hope immediately up and move onto the next machine. If someone is there, just pick another machine and come back to it later. Keep moving quickly doing just one set and switching machines. If you have time repeat.
How to Read Those Stickers on Your Fruit & Veggies
Oct 24, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
Those PLU codes on your fruits and vegetables are there for a reason. Once you know what the numbers stand for you can easily decide if you’d rather choose organic or “regular” produce.
It’s also how we track food in the US and can be helpful when there is an occasional outbreak of food-borne illness. Here’s what they mean. The last 4 digits of the code label the food for what it is. For instance, a banana is 4011. If the fruit or vegetable only has 4 digits on it that means it’s grown using traditional methods, i.e., pesticides. If the PLU is 5 digits and the first digit is a 9 then you are eating organic. This product was grown using organic methods and is not genetically modified.
If you know you want to eat organic remember this tip “Nine is divine,” and you’ll get it right every time.
How to Come back from a Fitness Hiatus
Oct 18, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
You were doing great at the gym, the Zumba instructor finally learned your name. You were working in like a pro in the weight area of the gym. You were totally in your fitness routine but then… it just kinda ran out of steam and now you can’t remember the name of that great Zumba instructor. You need a little inspiration…
Don’t get upset about your unintended break. It’s not the end of the world. Let it go and get back into your fitness routine. Don't beat yourself up; you're back in the saddle and that's what matters.
Don't double up on workouts. There's no use trying to make up for lost time. Just start where you are and move forward. Going from not much to super intense workouts could lead to an injury.
You didn't lose as much ground as you think. Once you get a base for fitness -- say working out for three to four months -- even if you slack off for a week or two you won't lose that much ground. Expect your first workout back to be tough but after that you'll probably be in pretty good shape. By the third or fourth workout you should feel back into your usual routines.
Making Friends At the Gym
Oct 14, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
Working out at the gym can sometimes feel a bit isolating. You strap on the headphones, get all gross and sweaty, and just keep your head down. But you’re doing all of this in the middle of a whole bunch of people who also like to workout. It’s a great opportunity to make friends and find some workout buddies.
Be Respectful
Are You Ready For Fall Fitness?
Oct 08, 2010 by Alan Smith - 0 comments
Those dark evenings are coming sooner and the crisp fall air is great for exercise, but you’re not sure where your windbreaker is from the spring. This is a good time of year to assess your fitness needs and check your gear.
Set a goal.
Starting a new healthy lifestyle is always difficult.
Oct 06, 2010 by Site Admin - 0 comments
Starting a new healthy lifestyle is always difficult. It’s easy to see the obstacles of a full calendar and to do list. You want to get fit, but you just don’t know how to manage it with everything else on your plate. Dr. James Anessi, of the Atlanta YMCA is one of the premier researchers on how to get and stay on track. He has identified five stages every would-be fitness person must go through.
1. Pre-contemplation: the period of time before you start thinking about an exercise plan. Yes ~ this means you’re a couch potato and you’re happy being a couch potato. Lunges and crunches have not even entered your mind . . . yet.
2. Contemplation: when the person has a desire to start an exercise program and starts thinking about it. You’ve noticed a little bulge over the belt buckle, or it takes a little extra shimmy to get into your nice clothes (you know, the one’s without an elastic waistband). You start thinking, “Maybe I should put down the half gallon of ice cream and think about going to the gym.”
