Saturday, July 30, 2011

Video - Intro to American Power Yoga

If you were intrigued by American Power Yoga in Thursday's post, here is a quick video with some more info. This unique 60-day program starts at a basic beginner level, and ramps up just a little every day, until 60 days later, so it never feels to difficult or overwhelming. And the cost is way less than you'd pay for 60 days of yoga classes, even at the YMCA.

The fun, fast paced DVDs include a morning warm up and daily coaching, and are also accompanied by some great bonuses, such as a step-by-step fitness guide to track your progress, and a nutritional guide including a number of yummy and healthy recipes. Check it out, and if you still want more info on the system, just click the link below.

Kurt Johnsen's APY 60 Introductory Video
Introducing Kurt Johnsen's revolutionary APY 60.


To get more info on the APY-60 Workout System, just click here...
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Thursday, July 28, 2011

American Power Yoga: A Complete System for Fitness

Physical fitness doesn’t just apply to how muscular you are. Fitness is the state of the human body when it is in perfect health. When a person is fit they not only look good, but they enjoy having energy, mental alertness, strength, the ability to ward off disease, the ability to de-stress and a sense of well-being. That is why it’s imperative, if you do your work out at home, that you find a fitness routine that considers all these aspects of perfect health, like American Power Yoga (APY 60).

APY 60Fitness programs are designed to help people incorporate certain types of exercise and other health practices into their daily routine. There may be many reasons for taking up a fitness program: to gain strength, to lose weight, to lose body fat, to overcome certain injuries or weaknesses, to gain and sustain energy, to ward off ageing or just to become more happy. A first-rate, well balanced fitness exercise program will focus upon giving you a fully fit body, greater energy, a non-toxic diet and the positive spirit that comes from great health.
Everyone is unique. Even the diet and exercise plans vary per individual. So, what should you look for in an exercise plan?

• Make sure you’re fit to exercise: This is just a precautionary measure to determine if your body is capable of strenuous exercises. Pre-existing medical conditions like heart disease, stroke and Diabetes need a more subtle exercise program

• Assess your fitness level: This is vital for anyone starting out any exercise program. Gradually increase the intensity of your workout when your body tolerates more rigorous exercises.

• Be consistent: To make any exercise program work, you should create an exercise plan throughout the week. Exercising should be fun and something worth doing for the rest of your life.

• Be creative: There are some exercise programs that just aren’t very appeasing over the long term. So use your creative mind when choosing a system. Make sure it is attentive to all elements of fitness as well as a philosophy you can adhere to.

If you choose a complete system that includes not only specific exercise, but also a means of improving your energy and offers you life coaching, it will help you change your outlook on life and enable you to cope with stress naturally. A complete system for fitness can bring you to the optimal health you deserve, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Persons looking for a complete system may want to consider American Power Yoga, developed by Kurt Johnson. The APY60 system is a fusion of martial arts and yoga with a number of other workout methods. It is truly attractive in the creative sense, in that it incorporates Tai Chi in the warm-up, a breathing technique from Tibetan kung fu, yoga poses that are easy to follow and cross training, weights, and jumping rope. The philosophy of the system encourages awareness while developing strength and toning the body. And the nutrition program works to detox the body and change habits – in other words, detox the pantry.

For more on Kurt, and American Power Yoga, visit http://apy60.com.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Why Do Yoga?

As you can probably tell, we love yoga here!  There are many great benefits to yoga, it is something just about everyone can do at some level, and it's also a lot of fun! Yoga creates both flexibility and strength along with cardiovascular health. It creates mental clarity and focus and emotional balance. Yoga is safe for all ages and body types. It facilitates healing from injuries and is a wonderful way to create wellness.

Yoga postures Bhagaritasana.intro.Image via WikipediaYou weight train to gain strength, jog or do aerobics for a cardiovascular workout, practice tai-chi to develop a sense of balance and harmony, stretch to gain flexibility, and meditate to develop peace of mind and relaxation. Yoga is a form of exercise that gives you everything: strength, endurance, balance, flexibility, and relaxation. It is the only complete form of bodywork that does it all. Indeed, yoga is more than stretching and relaxation: it is the ultimate mind-body challenge.

Yoga increases flexibility as it offers positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that aren’t always in the forefront of noticeability. These joints are rarely exercised, however, with yoga, they are!

Various yoga positions exercise the different tendons and ligaments of the body. The body that may have been quite rigid begins experiencing a remarkable flexibility in even those parts which have not been consciously worked upon. Seemingly unrelated non-strenuous yoga positions act upon certain parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When done together, they work in harmony to create a situation where flexibility is attained relatively easily.

A man demonstrating the yoga posture siddhasan...Image via WikipediaYoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate - that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.

By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in the flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as well as providing nourishment up to the last point. This leads to benefits such as delayed ageing, energy and a remarkable zest for life.

Check back later this week for some recommendations on how to get started with a yoga program, if you're a beginner. And if you're already a yoga fan, we'll have some ideas for you to take your workout to the next level, and gain even more benefit from your practice.
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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Video - Relieving Back Pain at Work

Here is a video with some ideas for getting moving, even if you have to sit at a desk all day at work. Sitting all day is VERY bad for your body, and your body was never meant to do that. He offers some good tips for changing positions, moving around, changing seating arrangements, and also a number of quick stretches you can do at work to help prevent back pain.

To view the video click here....
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Tips for Relieving Back Pain At Work

If you suffer from back pain caused by sitting all day, here are some tips for exercises and  other ideas for relieving back pain during your work day. These simple tips don't take long, but they can really help - try a few and see what works best for you. (Be sure to check back later this week, as we will post a great video for relieving back pain at work.) Check these out, and feel free to add your own tips below!

The lumbar region in regards to the rest of th...Image via WikipediaFix Lower Back Pain At Work | News Fire
There are many simple techniques you can use at home and work to help ease lower back pain, which is occurring more often these days. The only way to get relief that lasts is to follow a simple plan of removing both the ...
Publish Date: 07/13/2011 12:20
http://www.news-fire.com/fix-lower-back-pain-at-work/85084/

Lower Back Support - Your Back Pain Saviour? | ArticleField.com
First of all, lower back pain can ruin your sleep. It can also keep you from playing with your kids and minimize your ability to work. Lower back pain is, in fact, one of the most common reasons why people lose some time ...
Publish Date: 07/20/2011 18:01
http://www.articlefield.com/430959/lower-back-support-your-back-pain-saviour/

How Come Back Pain Occurs Frequently? - Health Hub Articles ...
This is the reason back pain is so frequent. The stats say that back pain will certainly affect 80 % of adults at some period and will also be severe enough to affect your daily work schedule. Nonetheless back pain ...
Publish Date: 07/20/2011 12:13
http://www.healthhubarticles.com/how-come-back-pain-occurs-frequently/
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Is Your Job Killing Your Back?

If you’ve ever suffered from back pain (while exercising or otherwise), the problem most likely has nothing to do with your back.

Let me explain...

In today’s world, our bodies are constantly contorted into positions that are abnormal for us. Whether it’s working at your desk for 8... 9... 10 hours a day, commuting to work or relaxing and watching television, your body isn’t meant to stay in the “sitting” position for very long.

What’s the result? Your body becomes misaligned… specifically your hips.

After a prolonged period of time, your hips start to pull on the tendons and ligaments that connect it to your back. And this pulling is what causes the sharp or dull back pain an alarming majority of Americans suffer from.

If you were to go to a regular doctor, you’d probably be told to do some stretches to “fix” your back (or even worse - pop some pills!).

But there’s a problem with this solution.

Most of these stretches are designed to loosen your joints. And the key factor that these doctors don’t know about is that you don’t want loose joints. You want them to be tight. Tight joints mean stable and strong joints. And help prevent injury in the first place.

That’s why I recommend the following stretches to my clients. It helps realign your hips to relieve stress on your back, but also works to help keep your joints nice and tight to help avoid injury in the future.

Here are some stretches from my friends over at the Healthy Back Institute that you'll want to perform daily to avoid back pain:

Doorway Stretch-Finial position-small.jpg1. Shoulder Stretch: You need to stretch and develop these muscles because they are very susceptible to injury. And tight shoulder muscles contribute to back and neck pain, especially if your head and shoulders droop forward.
      How To: Stand in an open doorway. Raising your arm to a 90-degree angle with palm facing out, press your hand and shoulder against the wall and doorjamb. You should feel the wall against your armpit. Slowly increase the tension as you push forward. Hold for a 10 count. Then repeat with the other arm.

      Kneeling Hip Flexor-Stretch Position-small.jpg2. Hip Flexors: You need to do this stretch, particularly if you sit all day at work. Sitting all day puts pressure on the hip flexor muscles. This is a major cause of minor lower back pain. Stretching your hip flexors muscles several times a week will prevent this kind of lower back pain.
        How To: Stand in a modified runner stance, with right foot forward and left foot back, feet flat on floor. Put your hands on your hips and keep your back and hips in straight alignment. Push forward with your hips, while maintaining your erect posture. Slowly, push your hips forward only until you feel a comfortable level of tension. Hold for a 10 count. Switch sides by reversing your leg stance and repeat.

        Give these a try. They have helped me a lot. Start off every other day and go from there. Consistency’s the key.

        There are other steps you can take to overcome back pain and stiffness naturally, too.

        In fact, Jesse Cannone – a top fitness trainer and co-founder of the Healthy Back Institute – has written a book called The 7-Day Back Pain Cure. It shows you how to get to the root of back pain problems and fix them without drugs, injections, or surgery. It also suggests numerous measures you can take to prevent back pain in the future.

        It's not an eBook or anything like that... it's a real book and it's for sale on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble, but don't go buy it because if you go to his website right now you can get a free copy. You just pay a small shipping fee...

        But it gets even better... a portion of your shipping fee is donated to one of two great charities: Habitat for Humanity or Kiva.org - you choose.

        Get your free copy of this best-selling book here.   

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        Saturday, July 16, 2011

        Video - PACE Tuck Jump

        Here is a variation on the main Tuck Jump exercise from the PACE workout. If you're just beginning, you may want to start at this level and work your way up to the full version. This one is more gentle and easy on the body to start with. (Be sure to check with your healthcare practitioner before beginning a new exercise routine, especially if your fitness level is currently low.)

        PACE Fitness Exercise - Tuck Jump Variation
        Certified PACE Instructor, Coach Scott demonstrates a variation on Tuck Jumps. To learn more about PACE The 12-Minute Fitness Revolution, visit www.pacerevolution.com.




        Click here for more PACE workouts, including the full version of this exercise.
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        Thursday, July 14, 2011

        Get A Killer Body in Just Minutes a Day...

        A Special Message from Dr. Al Sears:

        Cancel Your Aerobics Class and Get a Killer Body
        in Just Minutes a Day


        Do enough aerobics and it will make you sick, tired and old before your time. (And it won’t help you lose weight either!) But Dr. Sears has an antidote to long, tiresome workouts. It’s the most reliable fat burner in the world and the key to avoiding heart attacks, strokes and heart disease. And it’s so much easier than you think!

        In a matter of weeks, you can:
        • Lose pounds of belly fat
        • Build functional new muscle
        • Reverse heart disease
        • Build energy reserves available on demand
        • Strengthen your immune system
        • Reverse many of the changes of aging.
        Hear Dr. Sears as he describes – in his own words and in his own voice – the basics of his PACE® Program. It’s all on his BRAND NEW audio program Supra-Aerobics. You’re just seconds away… Click BELOW…

        Get started TODAY!


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        Tuesday, July 12, 2011

        Aerobics is Dead?

        (An interesting article by Dr. Sears....) The biggest mistake of the 1980s is finally over and done with… Jumping around for 45 minutes to an hour won't boost your lung capacity, it won't strengthen your heart – it won't even help you drop weight.
        Even worse, aerobic training—the kind most doctors and even the federal government tout as the path to good health—can actually wreck your body. Do enough, and aerobics will make you sick, tired and old before your time.
        Fox and Haskell formula showing the split betw...Image via Wikipedia
        I can't tell you how many times my patients have come to me thinking that aerobics and long-duration "cardio" is the best and only way to improve their heart and lungs. NOTHING could be further from the truth!
        If you only exercise within your current aerobic limits, you do so without improving your aerobic capacity. In other words, you never push hard enough to stop to catch your breath. This kind of aerobic exercise trains your body for endurance and efficiency.
        That sounds great, right? But this kind of "logic" causes "shrinkage:" Smaller muscles, smaller heart and smaller lungs. What's worse, it wipes out your heart's and lung's reserve capacity.
        Your reserve capacity is what your heart and lungs use to deal with stress.
        Injuries or physical trauma, a shocking emotional blow, a particularly intense session in the bedroom with your partner—these all demand reserve energy.
        Reserve capacity means your heart has the ability to pump more blood, faster in times of stress. Reserve capacity for your lungs allows them to deal with high exertion like lifting, carrying, running or going up stairs.
        Without reserve capacity, you are much more likely to drop dead from a heart attack or pneumonia when faced with stress. No "reserve capacity" in your checking or savings account means bankruptcy. No "reserve capacity" in your heart and lungs means a fatal heart attack or succumbing to what should have been nothing more than bronchitis or "walking" pneumonia.
        But a different kind of exercise builds reserve capacity for your lungs, your heart and your blood vessels… and gives you many other health benefits as well.
        Now YOU can get your hands on an easy-to-learn technique that:
        • Rebuilds Your Lungs – Even if you're an ex-smoker!
        • Reverses Heart Disease – And Prevents Heart Attacks
        • Adds Years – Even Decades – of Healthy Living to Your Life
        • Pumps Up Your Immune System – Making You Virtually Disease Proof
        • Builds Pounds of New Muscle – Without Lifting Weights! 
        PACE® Rediscover Your NativeFitness – shatters all the myths and misconceptions about health, aging and fitness.
        So throw away your jogging shoes, cancel your aerobics class and say goodbye to hours of never-ending workouts. Then round up all your 'diet' books and toss them in the garbage…
        PACE® proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that a strong, disease-resistant body and vibrant health does NOT have to be difficult, time consuming or boring.
        (It's okay to admit that exercising can be pure drudgery – I know you've probably pushed yourself hard at the gym – without seeing the results you wanted – thinking that maybe you were doing something wrong… or worse: feeling like you were wasting your valuable time…)
        Just look at our caveman ancestors. They had incredible strength and survived under punishing and life-threatening conditions – but they didn't make themselves repeat the same movement ten thousand times – day after day!
        So what did cavemen know that mainstream medicine doesn't? Variation… Cavemen followed natural cycles of work and rest – or what I call periods of exertion and recovery. They didn't run for hours on end, starve themselves with ridiculous diets or lift boulders over their heads to build bigger muscles.
        Many of today's greatest athletes know the secret. Carl Lewis, the winner of 9 Olympic gold medals, credits interval training – the basis of my PACE® program – for his record-breaking career. He even recommends it to non-athletes who want to reach their highest potential.
        The concept is simple: Short periods of exertion followed by short periods of rest. But my PACE® program takes it two important steps further…
        Anterior (front) view of heart and lungs.Image via Wikipedia
        By increasing the intensity and varying the duration of each interval according to the program, your heart and lungs get the right challenge they need to transform and stay fit and strong – well beyond the age of 100!
        Where long-duration exercise causes your heart and lungs to shrink, PACE® does just the opposite. PACE® builds up reserve capacity in your heart (the only way to avoid a heart attack) and triggers the expansion of your lungs (your ticket to a long, disease-free life).
        A few years ago, Harvard researchers published the Harvard Health Professionals Study. After studying over 7,000 people they found that the key to preventing heart disease is intensity – NOT long-duration exercise. Those who followed the basics of my PACE® program – short bursts of intensity, followed by short periods of rest – dramatically lowered their risk of heart disease. But that's not all…
        In another Harvard study, intensity turned out to be the key to longevity and reduced risk of death. This study reinforces what I discovered 20 years ago: long-distance runners have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than other athletes.
        When I was in medical school, providing emergency care for marathon races, a young man collapsed just yards from our emergency aid station. His heart continued to violently race, as we put an oxygen mask over his blue lips. Another runner in his 20s made it to our station but had to kneel down to wait for emergency assistance. He was weak, dizzy and frightened – with a dangerously irregular heartbeat.
        Later I came to call this pattern the "Jim Fixx Phenomenon," after the popular fitness guru of the 70's. Fixx claimed that the secret to heart health and long life was endurance running – up until he died of a heart attack – while running!
        Now I know that the "new science" from the 1960s that promoted jogging was a big mistake. Long-duration aerobic training doesn't work. It isn't natural and your body knows it.
        PACE® puts an end to the hardship of exercise. It super-sizes your lungs and bulletproofs your heart. Just what you need to prevent heart attacks and live a disease-free life.
        But the benefits don't end there....
        By reconnecting you to your native fitness, PACE® does more than just extend your life and give you endless reserves of energy. It burns your excess fat more effectively and reliably than any other system out there.
        PACE® actually puts your body into "fat melting" mode. Imagine flicking a switch inside your body that told it to stop making fat – AND melt off all the excess fat you currently had… Now you're starting to get the picture…
        How does PACE® do this? It's all about when you melt fat…
        Nike shoes Carl Lewis OlympicsImage via Wikipedia
        Long-duration exercise melts fat during your workout. Sounds good, right? Guess again… This sends a message to your body that you need a reserve of fat available at all times – so the next time you exercise you'll have something to throw on the fire. This self-defeating cycle ensures that your body makes more fat every time you finish exercising.
        That's why you may have such a hard time dropping fat at the gym. Every time you melt fat during exercise, you body reacts by making more.
        PACE® sessions can be as short as 10 to 12 minutes. And they NEVER last more than 20 minutes. That means your body never has a chance to melt fat during exercise. During PACE®, your body burns carbs from muscle tissue.
        This triggers your "afterburn." When you finish your PACE® session, your body starts to melt fat to replace the carbs it just burned. In fact, your body continues to melt fat for up to 24 hours after you finish!
        After a while, your body stops making fat all together – it simply doesn't need it anymore! This afterburn is the key to getting rid of excess body fat – not long hours of boring exercise.
        Here's a perfect example. One of my patients – Mike F. – dropped over a hundred pounds in just 18 months.
        When Mike first came to my clinic, he weighed 324 pounds. When I measured his body composition, he was 44% fat! To top it off, he was diabetic and had high blood pressure and heart disease. His cardiologist told him he would have to take medications for the rest of his life… and prepare his family for the worst.
        When I told him about PACE®, he was interested but skeptical. He had tried everything… But faced with the alternative, he decided to give it a try.
        Mike got results almost immediately. Within the first week, the fat started coming off. In the first 6 weeks, he dropped 37 pounds. Before he knew it, he had dropped 107 pounds. His body fat went from 44% down to an amazing 6%.
        That was 3 years ago… Today, he still looks and feels great. The fat never returned. Even better, Mike is no longer diabetic and has no trace of heart disease.

        Now You Can Benefit from 20 Years of My Own Research
        Real People – Just Like You – melting Fat with No Effort… Living Disease Free for Life…
        Imagine watching your fat melt away doing sessions that last only 12 minutes – just like Mike did…
        Imagine waking up each morning knowing you had ZERO chance of having a heart attack – even if it runs in your family…
        Or having the strength and mobility to travel the world – by yourself – well after retirement… These are the kind of PACE-inspired achievements my patients report.
        These folks no longer worry about being overweight… They don't worry about becoming dependent on others… They have no need for prescription drugs… And they don't fear sickness or disease!
        The PACE® program puts them in a league all their own.
        Very soon, you'll feel the rush of a flat, toned belly – the luxury of surplus energy – and the security of a disease-free life.
        It's a lot easier – and faster – than you think. In the time it takes you to check your e-mail or drink a cup of coffee, you can do an entire PACE® session!

        Join the PACE revolution and your body will soon become naturally strong and resilient. You’ll join the cutting-edge group of thousands who now feel energized, motivated, and ready to take on any challenge. Your muscles will be their intended size, no bigger or smaller. Your chest will be robust, your waist thin, and your breath will be deep and focused

        And the best news is that joining the PACE revolution takes on average only 12 minutes per day. 

        To find out how you can reap the benefits of the PACE system yourself, just click here...

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        Saturday, July 9, 2011

        Ab Workout Tips

        Wrapping up our all-about-the-tummy week, here is an article with a lot of great suggestions and tips for some fun ways to work your abdominals. It doesn't have to all be crunches!  Remember we are big on fun here - there are a lot of great ways to work your abs that are more fun than you would think - from bicycling to dancing, here are some great ideas.  (Or check out one of our favorites - Pilates, Hip Hop Abs, or Yoga Booty Ballet - this one kicks your tummy's butt!)

        Workout Tips – Ab Workouts That Change You
        Dancing is one of the best ab workouts you can do, and different types of dance will work different muscle groups. There are a lot of gyms offering dance classes now and those classes can be quite a lot of fun, ...
        Publish Date: 07/02/2011 5:58
        http://www.hivtips.org/workout-tips-ab-workouts-that-change-you.html


        Some of Our Favorite Ab-Strengthening Workouts:
          
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        Thursday, July 7, 2011

        Video - 15-Minute Abs Workout

        Here is a short but comprehensive ab workout, so you can get that tummy in shape for all your summer pool-side activities. This one has some unique exercises that hit all different areas of your abs for maximum impact. (Be sure to consult with your chiropractor or health care practitioner before beginning any new exercise routine, and go at your own pace - slow it down if needed, or do fewer reps in the beginning.)

        Enjoy, and feel free to comment below on what your favorite ab workout or exercise is - I loved the "Circle Crunch" from this video - hitting all those different ab muscles in one movement!

        15-Minute Abs Workout
        From www.sparkpeople.com, a 15-minute abs workout with our own Coach Nicole!


        A Few Other Fun Ab Workouts:
            

        Tuesday, July 5, 2011

        The Strong Stomach Workout

        Here are a few great exercises for a great, bathing-suit-friendly summer tummy!

        Muscles of the trunkImage via WikipediaWhen beginning an abdominal workout routine, for most people the goal is simple: a flatter stomach. While a smooth, flat stomach looks good, it is less of an accomplishment if the the stomach muscles have not gained any strength. In addition to slimming down around the outer abdominals, it is also important to build strength in the core abdominals. Below are some stomach exercises that work out the core to build strong muscles throughout the abdomen. (As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury. And always use common sense - if something hurts - don't do it!)
             
        Tone Your Torso/Opposite Arm-Leg
        Begin this stomach exercise on all fours, knees and hands on the floor. Keep your stomach pulled in and extend your left arm out in front of you (football fans, imagine a referee signaling first down). Keep this arm outstretched as you extend your right leg out behind you. Switch arms and legs, and repeat for an entire set. Take particular care not to let your pelvis sway out of position.
             
        Butt Burner/Bridge
        You will need to lie on your back for this exercise. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Bend your knees so your feet are flat on the floor, and position your arms at your sides. Squeeze your buttocks as you lift your pelvis off the floor. Keep the rest of your body in line. Raise your pelvis to about forty-five degrees, so your upper body from your head to your knees makes a straight, flat ramp. Hold this for three to five seconds before slowly lowering your pelvis back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.
             
        pilatesImage by rozic via FlickrCrunchless Crunch
        This stomach exercise is fairly simple in theory but can be fairly difficult to perform. Essentially, it involves trying to pull the belly button in towards the spine. This can be tricky, as it involves using muscles which you may not be used to activating. To start, either lie or on your stomach or kneel. You might want to try both ways and see which helps you feel the exercise better. Relax your body as much as possible, then try to use only the lower abdominals to move your belly button toward your spine. Hold for ten seconds. If this feels easy, hold for a longer period. The goal is to hold the contraction until you either cannot feel it, or you feel other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When you feel this, let the contraction out.
             
        Scissor Kicks
        This stomach exercise also requires lying on the floor. Position your hands under your butt, keeping your back pressed against the floor. Slowly raise one leg to a height of about ten inches, then slowly lower it back to the floor. As your lower one leg, raise the other. Be sure not to let your back arch up off the floor. Repeat this motion for an entire set. Maintaining control throughout is important, not allowing momentum to get the better of you. Your upper body should remain on the floor through the entire move.
             
        These are just a few of great strength building stomach exercises. If you are looking to build strength in your midsection, look for any exercise that works your core, especially the transverse abdominal muscles. Many components of Pilates are good for this also, and many Yoga workouts target these areas as well.

        (For some great suggestions for Yoga and Pilates workouts, visit: http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html, and click on the "Videos" section.)
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        Saturday, July 2, 2011

        Safety in the Summer Sun

        This time of year, you may be exercising outside quite a bit, so this timely article can help you make the most of your time in the sun, and protect your little ones as well.

        Severe sunburn and blisters on a shoulder, thr...Image via WikipediaPrecautions should be taken year-round to protect skin from the harsh affects of the sun.  But this is especially important in the summertime when the sun is at its hottest.  Aside from sunburns, heatstroke and dehydration are additional hazards to watch out for - especially in young children.  But with a few safety steps and by planning ahead you can avoid sunburns and the like.

        The best way to prevent sunburns, heatstroke and dehydration is to stay out of the sun.  But that isn’t practical or very fun.  Buy sunscreen that is specifically made for children and be sure to apply it at least 30 minutes prior to going outside.  This gives the sunscreen time to work.  Once outside, reapply every two hours or more frequently if there is swimming or a sprinkler involved.  However, many people are becoming aware of the dangers of sunscreen itself - be sure to check out our recent article featuring EWG's sunscreen guide, to find one that is both safe and effective, and doesn't expose you or your little ones to harmful and potentially cancer-causing toxins.

        Happy Children Playing KidsImage by epSos.de via FlickrOnce outside, a hat is still important.  Ideally the hat will cover the face, ears and the back of the neck – all very sensitive body parts that are prone to getting burnt.  Wearing a hat will also protect you and the kids against heatstroke.  Have water available for each child - and for yourself - when playing outside.  The combination of exercise  and the hot sun can quickly dehydrate little bodies.

        Staying out of the sun from 11:00 a.m. until after 3:00 p.m. is the best prevention.  This is the hottest time of the day when the sun is at its peak.  By avoiding the outdoors at this time of day you can prevent sun related illnesses.  If this isn’t possible seek out some shade to take a break in.  Avoiding the sun isn’t always the best solution -- it is being smart when you are out in it.

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