Archive for » February, 2009 «

Weightloss and Fitness… The Yogic Connection

yoga for fitness and weightloss

We often hear about the benefits of yoga as it pertains to spiritual and mental health, but is there a tangible connection to one’s fitness and, more specifically, can I lose a few pounds doing it?

I already enjoy the stress busting aspects of a regular… OK, semi-regular… practice, but how much of what I’m doing actually targets my trouble spots- those zones of frustration such as my tummy and thighs… OK, and bum and perhaps, and the fleshy wings accumulating under my newly minted 40 year old arms?

Well, those of us who would like to look to a less intense, non-impact method of achieving a level of fitness, can take heart.  Studies show that yoga lowers levels of stress hormones and increases insulin sensitivity–a sign your body reads to burn food as fuel rather than store it as fat.  Yay!

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Yoga: If Not For the Economy… Then, For You!

from the darknessIt’s a swirl of bad news pretty much every where you look.  Whether it’s fear mongering on the part of cable news to grab viewers or actually accurately portrayed, there are a couple of ways in which we can deal with the onslaught.

1.  Bury your head in the sand.  Ignore or deny it while developing an increasingly unhealthy dependence on your call display.

2.  Buy into the endless flow of negative and allow fear to determine your decisions and the direction of your life.

3. Take steps toward taking back, or maintaining, your sense of control and empowerment over your own circumstances… your self-determination.

In choosing number three, there are a number of steps you can take to promote and propagate a sense of control and empowerment, and you can find the list just about anywhere and everywhere right now, such as: manage and prioritize your spending, don’t spend more than you earn; pay down your debt as soon as possible; scale back, live simply and more frugally; make sure you’re saving; and then maintain that status quo… no sliding back into bad habits with signs of a little money in the bank.

These are the practical ways of covering your butt and without a doubt, they’re essential.  But along with these important, conventional steps you also need to consider the more esoteric, mental and spiritual requirements of feeling in control, empowered and proactive.  This is where developing a regular practice of mindful meditation and yoga comes in.  In times of stress such as these, one’s mental and physical health are paramount to dealing effectively.

The beauty of yoga is that it addresses the spiritual and physical at once, focusing and freeing the mind while strengthening the body.  A regular practice during times of immense stress can offer a refuge from the storm of negativity and fear.  It can make space for clarity in decision making; offer support in relaxation; and open up the creative mind and heart to the multitude of possibilities, perhaps even opportunities, that exist outside our typical concentration on daily practicalities.

Cobra… Serpentine

As a self-proclaimed Baron-o-phile, I like an athletic, robust practice.  In the past when I’ve been away from the mat, it’s Baron who’s brought me back, whether with his Bootcamp in a Box, or my own practice that I’ve designed and memorized, mind and muscle, around his books.  Like I said, a Baron-o-phile.  His was the first practice that resonated with me, that worked for my body and my expectations for a practice.  Athleticism combined with flexibility and a little spiritual thrown in for good measure… it worked for me.

But lately I’ve been looking for something else in a practice to bring me back on a regular basis and here in the sticks, I rely on books, DVD’s and CD’s to do it.  There are programs around, but I have to drive a distance and some days… well, I just don’t trust my reliability… to throw down a mat in my living room, let alone get it together to get in my car and to town… in the dead of winter.  Ahem.

So, as mentioned in a previous post, I decided to go in a new direction.  To Shiva… and her Fluid Power.

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It’s What’s For Breakfast!

By far. By far. BY FAR…

my most favourite oatmealcerealsnackbreakfastcookie!

cookies

It’s all in one.  Perfection:  Tasty.  Nutritious. Filling.   And, above all healthy, healthy, HEALTHY (oh, and low in fat and sugar, high in all the good stuff, including everything fibrous)!  I’ve included a handful of millet ‘cuz I love the gentle pop they give… something like the roe on a sushi roll.  Pop.  Pop.  Pop… a little something in your teeth for later.  Mmmph!

I love it!

Fantastic with my all-important morning coffee… terrific with a little afternoon tea.

These are crunchy, crumbly, chewy blobs of yummy goodness with a little blast of tangy and a tiny nip of sweetness…. and, did I mention easy?
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Practice. Schmactice.

Perhaps if I had a dog that required yoga-ing, I’d take my commitment to a regular practice more seriously.  But, alas, my lovely beast of a dog would rather be walked than yoga-ed.

And as a result of this tender, gentle, affectionate, needy beast’s need for exercise, it is given priority in my day.  Just about every day.  As it should.  On those days that I am unable to fulfill my commitment to her, we both feel it.  Guilty.  Irritable. Just plain not right.

The benefits to walking are abundant.  As are the benefits to yoga.  Unfortunately, however, I don’t have a pair of big, brown doe eyes staring at me, following me, urging me to be sure I get in a practice everyday.  Perhaps there’s a business idea in there somewhere…. What I have is the wondrous feeling, laying in savasana, my body limp and damp, and sinking into the floor, longer, lighter and more invigorated than before.  Not eager eyeballs, just the joy of well-being.

So, as I talk myself down from the “Doh…I haven’t practiced in a week already…” ledge, it is this feeling I have to keep in mind when I am putting it off and putting it off, a seemingly perpetually unchecked activity in my dayplanner, with morning disappearing into lunch, lunch fading into afternoon and afternoon evolving quickly into the mayhem that is the late day activities, supper and bed-time rituals.

It’s the feeling of light and opening… and it’s as essential to me as our walks are to my lovely beast of a dog.

Although, to my credit, my daily meditation has taken hold as something of an early morning habit.  Wonderful.  Not unlike most, mine is a mind full of thoughts and images in freaking TechniColor and SurroundSound, even at five in the morning, I still enjoy aspiring to the stillness.

Just me, a freshly lit fire in the fireplace… and my lovely beast of a dog.

Meditation… What It Can Do For You!

Believe it or not, daily meditation can have a great impact on your sense of calm. Learning how to meditate for only 20 minutes a day can have significant health changes. Whether or not you have a daily meditation in mind or not, regular meditation can create sense out of our hectic lives. This meditation article addresses how to meditate, and how to choose your own daily meditation practices.

Continue reading….

Yoga… Playful and Fun!

yoga kidsIf you thought yoga had to be silent and solemn, you and your kids haven’t tried a new brand of “om.”

Whether your child needs something extra to help manage stress or simply wants an avenue of expression outside of competitive sports, yoga for kids is a top alternative, says Marsha Wenig, founder of the internationally acclaimed YogaKids. “There are about 1,000 poses in traditional, physical yoga,” she says. “We use about 200 of them.”

Continue reading….

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Nasty, Nasty Phthalates!

Is your yoga mat made using PVC?

The manufacture, use, disposal, and recycling of PVC releases some of the most toxic chemicals we know of. Mercury, lead, dioxins and phthalates are all used or released in the manufacturing of PVC. In fact, PVC manufacturing is the single largest use of industrial chlorine. These compounds cause cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive system harm, immune system damage, and other serious health problems.

What is most scary about PVC is that, while these chemicals are especially potent for children, its often used in children’s toys, bottles, mattress covers, and other common household products that off-gas through their life cycle.

Ack!  Scary stuff!

lotuspad

Fortunately, the chemical is recently banned from toys and as of last week, children’s products containing the toxin are being forced off store shelves.

It’s wonderful to see progress as well as a growing list of alternatives, such as LotusPad, a tiny company that believes “a yoga mat should be as special and as beautiful as the practice itself“.  They offer yoga mats their growing  legions of fans have called “yummy”, “luscious”, “stylish” and the “best yoga mat” they’ve tried.  LotusPad’s mats are also biodegradable!  Most importantly though, they are free of the PVC, phthalates, heavy metals, and other toxins found in many plastic yoga mats.Little LotusPad

These mats are also soft with superior grip, reversible and available in a selection of bright, saturated colours and cool, organic designs!

Encouraging the kids?  There’s nothing like their very own mat to get them excited about yoga!  Be sure to check out the adorable Little LotusPad for the tykes and know you’re providing the utmost in safety for your children’s play, exercise and rest.  LotusPad also carries a wide selection of YogaKids DVDs and other books and games to get you and your child moving in a fun, healthy way!

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Etsy Treasures… XcessRize Designs Yoga/Pilates Workout Tote

Yum.  Yum. Yum.

Head to class in unique style with this lovely tote from the treasure chest that is Etsy.

XcessRize Designs

From XcessRize Designs, these happy totes are large enough to hold your favourite mat and a towel and wide, deep interior pockets to take care of your other essentials, like your wallet, keys and cellphone.

Conveniently, the exterior offers deep pockets for your water bottle and the wide strap is adjustable so the bag can be carried tote style or slung over your back as desired.

No more squeezing into a saggy, baggy tube!