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Apr
13

Not Just for New Age Hippies… Yoga Training for Athletes

I’m sure this would come as no surprise to Swami Vivekananda, but yoga is finding its place among the popular training methodologies for elite athletes in their quest for a competitive edge.

When you consider the mental, emotional and physical benefits of yoga, it’s really no surprise!

Athletic pursuits such as running and jumping, not to mention getting thrown off your feet at a full run by a 350 pound gorilla, tend to tighten and shorten the muscles, inhibiting flexibility and increasing the likelihood of injury.  Health and longevity in any sport are enhanced when the muscles are limber and loose and those of us who practice regularly know that there is nothing like that blissful feeling of length that comes from a session of yoga.

NBA star Blake Griffin attests to the benefits, ”For me, flexibility is huge,” Griffin said. “Staying loose and healthy and staying limber–you can tell a difference when your muscles are tight or when you’re stretched out and completely relaxed. I’ve heard from a lot of guys that flexibility is the key to longevity in this league,” Griffin said. “For those guys who want to play a long time, I think it’s important.”

Along with the physical and medical benefits are the mental and emotional effects as well.  According to a German study published in 2005, 24 women who described themselves as “emotionally distressed” took two 90-minute yoga classes a week for three months. Women in a control group maintained their normal activities and were asked not to begin an exercise or stress-reduction program during the study period. At the end of three months, women in the yoga group reported vast improvements in perceived stress, depression, anxiety, energy, fatigue, and well-being.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/662388#ixzz1rw3PC4xQ

Category: Articles, Blog, health, people, Practice, running, Spirit, strength, Trends, Tri training, yoga  Leave a Comment
Sep
04

Me Likey… Ultima Replenisher: A Sports Drink With A Difference

… 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!

Category: Eating, health, Kids, Products, running, Tri training, weight loss, yoga  Leave a Comment
Mar
01

Look and Feel Younger… Anti-age With Yoga!

Use yoga to stop the clock!

Slow the signs of aging and feel younger with a simple yoga regimen. These are huge claims, but as someone who has had, shall we say, an undulating habit of practice, there’s nothing like the feeling of a body fresh from the mat.  And the various positive effects last throughout the day.  Without a doubt a regular practice has effects that extend far beyond just the hours following….

Eight years ago, when Sharon Gothard Weisman turned 40, backaches, dark undereye circles, forgetfulness, and fatigue made her feel more like 60. In the hope of finding anti-aging relief, Weisman took a yoga class. An hour later, she felt more relaxed than she had in years. She’s been doing yoga three times a week since and says, “I have more energy, strength, and flexibility than most women half my age.”She recently ran into an old high school friend who asked, “Don’t you get older like the rest of us?”

Many women try yoga for stress reduction, but they stick with it because it makes them feel–and look–younger, says Larry Payne, PhD, a yoga director at Loyola Marymount University and coauthor of Yoga Rx. Unlike traditional exercise, yoga blends anti-aging moves that improve circulation, balance, flexibility, and strength with meditative techniques such as deep breathing. “My students call yoga a natural face-lift,” he says. “It cleanses, relaxes, and restores.”
Read more of the advantages of yoga….

Category: Anti-aging, Practice, Tri training  Leave a Comment
Jun
19

Another Event

It’ll be Canada Day and this time just a fun, shorty-sprint Tri with a few cheater options.  It’s the first in our area and in an effort to make it accessible and have it take off for years to come, it’s been made as appealing as possible to draw participants.  In an effort to do our part to support the event, we have signed up.

The only hitch to this event is that, after a comfortable pool swim in our local hot springs, the rest is all up-hill trails.  We have to make our way up to our local ski hill, where we finish at our local Canada Day festivities.  All hot, sweaty-stinky.

Pass the beer!  It’s actually included in my registation fee… and I get a t-shirt… and a burger.  Like I said, a fun event.

I’ve got to get in the habit of practice though.  With the consistent training for these events and this includes a half marathon the second weekend in August, I can feel everything shortening.  My flexibility is lacking badly.

Despite our busy day, I’d like to get in a half hour today.  Even if it’s just a long series of Sun Salutations.  I needs my yoga!!

Category: Blog, Good Intentions, Tri training  Leave a Comment
Jun
13

The Weekend Is Upon Us

We were planning to get a practice in this morning before leaving for the campground.  I don’t think it’s going to happen.  We’ve both been hit with work bits to get in and I have to get to town to make sure we aren’t bouncing cheques as we’re trudging our way around the course over the weekend.

It’d be tough to come home all exhilerated only to be sucked into the overdraft abyss….

So much to do… not to mention all of the packing.  Husband has been sick, so prep has and will continue to be done singlehandedly by… me.  Am I complaining?  Yeah.  A little.

The stress comes in trying to get to the campground near the event before the crowds.  First come, first serve.  Due to sickness, Husband has some catch-up on work before he leaves and will join us this afternoon.  Kids and I will set up camp… assuming we are one of the first to come and therefore first served.  Otherwise we’ll have to find a place along the highway shoulder nearby.
I will have to trust old bod’ to kick it into gear when it’s needed Sunday although we will certainly try to find a place to get in a rejuvenating practice over the weekend before the race.  An early morning at the campsite… in the woods.  That would be a lovely thing.

But, we are ready.  Oh, yes.  Hmmmm….. ready-ish, perhaps.

Category: Blog, Tri training  Leave a Comment
Jun
10

I Do Loves Me Some Flow

This morning’s practice was a good one.  Forty minutes of lengthening lovliness… Sure, there was battle from “Age of Empires” screaming from the office computer beyond… too loud not to be noticed, but hey, when you’re in the flow, it’s all good.

As we stood in Mountain Pose at the beginning of practice, I stated to husband, “Here’s the deal.  You’re on the own for Sun Salutations A and B.  At your own pace.  Five of ‘A’, and then if you need, follow me for ‘B’.  But I won’t be cueing.  Again, you’re on your own here.  Yeah?”

“I’ll follow you.”

And so he did.  But I left it up to him as I really wanted to enjoy my practice today and not interrupt my own flow to speak.  To cue.  While I have now had a little experience in leading a group and speaking my way through, I still haven’t got a good handle on maintaining my own breath and flow while doing so.

Today I just didn’t want to even try.  And it sure felt good.

Which brings me to an email I received this morning from Heather, about to take on leading a class herself, and how I designed the practice for the class I led this winter.  In the spirit of honesty, and as I sheepishly explained to Heather, I really didn’t design much outside of my own practice.  I pretty much just modified what I have been doing in my living room/bedroom/basement/playroom for the last eight years.  I know my practice and its variations like the back of my hand and this is what I felt comfortable presenting to a group.

Understand, Heather, and everyone else, I am not a teacher, certified or otherwise.  But I sure love my yoga and with enough disclaimers to save my crazy ass, I was able to lead a class.  Perhaps I will pursue certification and work on my teaching chops more formally in future, but as it is, I have enough on my plate.  And that goes ditto for taking on another class.

I love my practice.  I used to love it alone.  Now I am enjoying it with hubby.  But leading a group… hmmmmmm….

Category: Blog, Practice, Tri training  Leave a Comment
Jun
09

A Pleasant Reminder….

In the grind that is daily life, along with the added grind that is triathlon training, not only regular yoga practice gets overlooked, but as a result so does maintaining my practice blog. Well, I was pleasantly nudged this morning with the reminder that people are reading….  I shall try to keep on the posting stick.
As per above, practice, until this week has fallen by the wayside. However, yesterday, Hubby felt a need for lengthening and got me up off the couch for a 35 minute session. As I peruse the last several posts, it seems Hubby can take the credit for any semblance of yoga that is getting done. As was the case yesterday.

And thankfully he did. With regular training over these past many weeks, particularly the amount of running I’m doing… Muscles. Shortening. Badly!

Oh Boy! Feel those hamstrings!

I focused on the trusty and reliable sun salutations.  Starting slow and easy, we built heat and gradually… oh, so very gradually, the backs of my legs gave up a little of their tension.  Even as the flow became more vigourous, I didn’t push.  I listen to my muscles.  This day they were definitely scolding- OK, maybe it was more like nagging- “Sure, nurture the the cardio, the endurance, all the glamour of the distance work.  But we’ll show you!  Oh, yes.  Just try to touch your toes!  Ha!  That’ll teach you to ignore the stretch, the lengthen, the cleansing breath… the quiet.  With you it’s all about ‘how far’… you forget about ‘how deep’. “
We are 5 days and counting until event. Yoga is scheduled twice more between then and now in attempt to make ammends. Before Sunday. Whistling dixie, no doubt… but every little stretch- and cleansing ujjayi breath- has to help!

Category: Blog, Practice, Tri training  Leave a Comment
Apr
25

Dog Hair and Popcorn Kernels

Three kids. Now, I know there are those of you out there who manage a regular practice, family, preparing well-balanced meals all while representing NATO and vacuming your living room. I am not one of these.

I blog. I homeschool. I take pictures. I write some. I cook meals. Oh… and none of these on the same day.  Oh no. My head would surely explode… much to the entertainment of said kids.

I squeeze in yoga practice quarterly. It seems, at best. And now, I have taken on a shorty sprint triathlon bearing down mid-June. Wha- how?!?

And on top of it all I want to resume- no, institute- a regular yoga practice. I enjoy it, dammit. My body responds well to it. However, despite these facts that should make for easy prioritization- no go. Despite all of the reasons I have for pursuing an active and regular practice I am also quite attached to the excuse that I don’t have a viable space in this, our little Rocky Mountain cottage house, in which to achieve this noble goal. The reasons for this again come down to prioritization- or keeping yoga space effectively tidy of kids toys, dog hair and old popcorn kernels. It seems hard pressed to happen.

But it will! It must! This nearly 40 year old sack o’ bones needs it in order to make it through this coming event.

Here’s to the power of a blog to assist!

Category: Blog, Good Intentions, Tri training  One Comment
Apr
25

A Little Yogic Rejuvenation

Well, after a couple of months of inactivity- yogic and otherwise- I managed to teach a class at the behest of neighbor teacher who was unable to make it herself, in addition to attending one of hers later in the week.

I’m also back into running. So its a triathlon. So its less than two months away. Just, so…

Running is a good start. The bike and swim training will begin next week. Baby steps.

I would also love to make sure that a regular yoga practise is made a priority as well… to keep my long idle muscles from becoming seized, inflamed, downright angry masses of under-appreciated tissue.

A great week for physical activity, despite the nasty early-March type weather.

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