Archive for the ‘running’ Category

… the biggest being, NO sugar!

My biggest victory as a parent so far (and as the second-guessing, guilt-ridden parent that I am, that’s sayin’ somethin’) is from the moment they started drinking from a sippy cup, they drank water.  No juice, NEVER soda and no sports drinks.  In fact, while when my two younger kids get the chance to swig orange pop they are like little junkies selling their precious Pollys and XBox games for a hit, my eldest rejects everything that isn’t water.

So, the interesting thing when I introduced Ultima Replenisher to the family was getting eldest to open his mind to the possibilities of flavour and getting my younger to open the mind that a “treat” drink doesn’t have to tickle your nose!

While I’ve been tempted to offer sports drinks to my kids during sickness and now with all of them so active in sports, but the amount of sugar was just not worth the compromise to get them anything other than simply hydrated.

Ultima offers a NATURALLY sweet alternative to everything else out there, so you and your child can get valuable electrolytes without also getting jacked up on endless tablespoons of sugar found in other brands.  It’s vegan friendly and gluten free with NO artificial ingredients.  It’s great for everyone, from athletes to pregnant moms and is even recommended by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for keeping cancer patients more effectively hydrated.

Ultima “contains a full complement of electrolytes, not just a ton of sodium. Ultima also contains complex carbs for energy, water-soluble vitamins and vitamin enhancers for day-to-day health maintenance, and antioxidants to protect body systems from free radicals (toxins).”

The flavours are wonderful.  Subtley sweet and just so… so drinkable. Try the assortment pack and get all of them: Kiwi-Strawberry (my fave!), Wild Raspberry, Grape and Lemonade (recommend adding a squirt of lemon juice to amp up the lemon) and then commit to a favourite and go for the 30 or 90 serving cannisters.

I love Ultima packed in my fanny to keep me fresh during long runs and have it closeby for my flow practices.  The younger kids, of course, love it and I feel good allowing a sweet drink occasionally, knowing they’re not over-doing the sugar.  And while eldest still chooses water as his first choice, he surprised me by requesting the Wild Raspberry for swim practice!

The nice weather has finally set in and find myself enjoying running again.  After spending the spring trying to get back into a regular routine of morning runs, there’s something about a clear, sunny morning that beckons… rather than the cloudy, rainy, windy mornings of April and May!

It can be tricky adding regular runs, that can last an hour or more, to an already busy schedule without compromising my practice.  It’s all about remembering how integral regular yoga practice is, not only mentally and spiritually, but to the ol’ bod… that in these advancing years needs it more than ever!

Running is a sport that can, in fact, shorten and tighten muscles.  Stretching is encouraged after warming up before embarking on the main running workout as well as after the run itself to ensure proper muscle recovery and prevent injury.

As we all know yoga enhances our flexibility, loosening, lengthening and strengthening with each posture, and for runners flexibility is key to preventing injury and allowing for full range of motion and increased agility.  Where running works primarily the lower body and some core, yoga engages the entire body, strengthening other important muscle groups that ultimately serve to make a stronger runner.

Often runners fiind meditative benefits to their workouts.  Their is a rythm in the breath and the pace that offers some element of calm and presence, though that is not the focus to running.  Certainly, however, many runners are more likely to find diversion in their thoughts and music pounding through their heads from earbuds allowing the time to pass seemingly faster. Conversely, the goal of yoga is to quiet the mind and focus on the breath offering  a different, deeper, level of meditation providing a valuable spiritual aspect combined with the athleticism.

If runners are looking for an effective cross-training option for their off-days, yoga is a superior choice targeting not only strength and flexibility but also a good semblance of peace, tranquility and quiet in an otherwise hectic day.