Thursday, June 30, 2011

Video - 10 Minute Office Yoga Workout

If you have a desk job, you know how stiff and achy your body can be after sitting all day. Here is a quick and easy yoga workout that can be done right in your office on your lunch break, in under 10 minutes. (Caution: Some of these moves may be hard on your lower back. Be sure to consult with your healthcare practitioner before beginning any new exercise routine, and use common sense - if a stretch or exercise hurts, don't do it!)

Use this quick and easy workout to strengthen, stretch and lengthen your muscles, prevent neck and back strain, and energize yourself during your work day.

Energizing Office Yoga - Inside Yoga Today Ep. 10
Oxygenate your blood, clear your mind, and stretch & tone your muscles with this energizing office workout with Neesha Zollinger. Its quick and can be done at your desk, in business attire.


More Office Yoga Workouts:
    
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Ten Minute "Office Yoga" Tip

Whether you might be staying home with a new baby or working too many hours at the office, anytime is a good time for yoga. You can do yoga stretches and postures in bed, or even while driving to work!

Hundreds of fitness seekers use their lunch hour to squeeze in exercise and take off extra pounds.

Original title and description: "Suryatho...Image via Wikipedia"I occasionally use my lunch hour for Yoga," said Jonie Ray White, 35, who works at the Arkansas attorney general's office. Downward facing dog and sun salutation are two of the postures she practices every day. Practicing yoga in the middle of day is the break that she needs to face the afternoon, said Ray.

Lunch-hour fitness routines become more popular in warm weather. Here are a couple you can try:

Kick Back Log-on Pose
 While seated, interlace your fingers behind your head. Relax your elbows and shoulders. Smile, breathe and stretch your elbows back. Let the tightness release slowly.

E-mail Meditation
While reading your e-mail, remember to breathe slowly and focus your attention on your breath. Make the out-breath two times longer than the in-breath. This will immediately calm you.

Photocopier Stretch
Place your hands on the edge of the copier. Stand back with feet apart. Drop your head and chest. Breathe and relax your shoulders.

Close-the-Deal Warrior Pose
Raise your arms to the sides with fingers pointed. Take a big step to the side, with your right foot out and knee bent, your left foot planted, left leg straight. Keep the upper body straight and strong, shoulders relaxed. Relax into the stretch -- don't hold your breath. Return to a standing position, switch sides and repeat.

For more fun yoga workouts, visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html, or check out some of the resources below.

Good Office Yoga Resources:
     
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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Video - Rotational Box Jump

Here is a fun and challenging exercise from the PACE workout. This one is a bit more difficult than some of the others, so of course use caution and start with a large step or lower box if you need to. Be sure to repeat on both sides, to work both sides of your midsection.

PACE Fitness Exercise - Rotational Box Jump
Certified PACE Instructor, Coach Yari demonstrates Rotational Box Jumps. To learn more about PACE The 12-Minute Fitness Revolution, click www.pacerevolution.com.





Click here for more fun PACE exercises.
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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Exercise for Health and Appearance

There are a lot of different fun types of exercise, depending on your preferences - such as jogging or walking  in the morning, playing basketball or any other sport with friends, taking classes, working out in a gym, or dancing at home to fitness videos.

My beautiful sisters :)Image via WikipediaPhysical exercise is beneficial because it helps maintain and improve ones health from a variety of diseases and premature death.  It can also make a person feel happier and increase ones self esteem, preventing and alleviating depression or anxiety. It has also been shown in many studies that people who live an active lifestyle live longer than those who don’t. And regular exercise contributes to increased blood flow, improving skin tone and elasticity - so it can even make you look younger!

The best exercise plan should incorporate both cardiovascular and weight training exercises. Alternating between these helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase ones metabolism and help with weight loss as well as general overall health.

A person who has never worked out before should begin gradually. (And be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before starting any new exercise program.) Doing it too much at once can lead to injury. Endurance - like Rome - will never be built in a day!

But beauty is not only about having muscles which is what people can see. It is also about enhancing the beauty within. We talk a lot here about different aspects of exercise, but one that we don't mention that much is how beneficial exercise can be for your state of mind.

Here are some things one can do everyday to stay beautiful and healthy:
  • Reading books and other interesting and challenging reading material more often keeps the mind sharp just like working out keeps the body in shape.

  • Work no matter what kind it is produces stress. One can reduce this by taking the time out to do something special for yourself like lying in a hot tub, shopping or watching a movie. Studies have shown it is a great stress reliever and helps one looking young.

  • Any piece of real estate can be the subject of...Image via Wikipedia
  • Exposure to pollution is something you often cannot control. However, you can control what you put on your skin. Choose all-natural and non-toxic beauty products, and get yourself a shower filter to reduce your exposure to pollutants and chemicals in the water. There are many great natural beauty products available today, and you can find some more information and suggestions here: http://www.newholisticliving.com/toxicload.html.

  • Another way to stay healthy is to give up some vices. Many people smoke and/or drink. Smoking has been proven to cause lung cancer and other diseases as well complications for women giving birth. Excessive drinking has also shown to do the same.

  • For people who don’t smoke, it is best to stay away from people who do since studies have shown that nonsmokers are also at risk of developing cancer due to secondary smoke inhalation.

  • Lastly, it is best to always start the day with a positive outlook. Just as studies have shown that exercise makes a person feel happier, smiling produces the same effect! A smile can do a lot and it is contagious in a positive sense. It brightens the day of not only one but others as well.
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Water & Exercise

Drinking enough water while exercising is always important, but in the summer even more so. With the additional heat, many people don't realize how much more water they are actually losing, even during less strenuous exercise.

Mineral water being poured from a bottle into ...Image via WikipediaThe human body is made up of over 75% of water, and as we all know, we cannot live without water.  The fact is, we can only survive for a total of 3 days without water - much much less time than we can survive without food.  Water has however, been replaced to a large degree in the American diet by soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened refreshments.  Keep in mind that plain water is a healthier choice overall, and a necessary one for leading yourself towards better health and longevity.

Your own personal need for water can vary greatly due to exercise, weight, and temperature.  Research has proven that over 2/3 of adults don't get the water they need on a daily basis.  By drinking water on a regular basis you can replenish your body and keep it well hydrated and functioning as it should be.

A majority of us wait until we are thirsty before we drink water.  Keep in mind, this way isn't a reliable gauge of the water needs for the body.  By the time you are thirsty you may have already lost two of more cups of the body's water supply.  Therefore, getting into the habit of drinking water regularly is much better than simply waiting until you are thirsty. (I keep a bottle or glass of water on my desk at all times throughout the day while working. This reminds me to drink regularly.)

It is very important that you don't substitute beverages with alcohol and caffeine for water.  The reason behind this is that those types of beverages act as a diuretic and can cause you to lose more water through increased urination.  You may think and feel as if you are getting more water through these beverages, but the fact is that you are letting it go almost as fast as you consume it.

Clean drinking water...not self-evident for ev...Image via WikipediaAnytime you exercise, you need more water. Due to perspiration, your body will lose quite a bit of water.  For each pound lost due to exercise, you need to drink 2 cups of water.  Even when you lay down to sleep, your body loses water.  By drinking a glass or more of water before you go to sleep, you can wake up with your body functioning as it should be.

It should also be obvious that when you are sick you'll need more water than any other time.  When  you get a cold or the flu, your body can become dehydrated quite quickly.  (This is why your doctor will always say to "rest and drink plenty of fluids.") You can help to prevent this by reminding yourself to drink more water when you are sick.

Always make it a habit to drink water on a daily basis.  You should keep a bottle of water with you at all times and drink it throughout the day - and remember to drink extra when exercising. You should also teach yourself to drink water instead of other beverages that don't replenish the nutrients your body needs. If you have been drinking sugary beverages for a while, it may take a bit of time to get used to substituting plain water, but once you do, your body will thank you.
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Saturday, June 11, 2011

Getting the Most out of A Fitness Video

Home exercise can be more fun when done with fitness videos. In fact, I am pretty much a fitness video addict by now!  They are so fun, convenient, affordable, and there is such a huge variety out there, I never get bored. When I get tired of one, I just switch to something different for a while, and keep mixing it up.

Here are some of the great benefits of working out with fitness videos:
    Zumba Fitness
  • Fitness videos are created for home use. Doing workouts at home can be a great alternative to visiting the gym.  For one thing, you have the flexibility of scheduling your workouts when they are best for you. You can do your workouts anytime that is convenient for you, without worrying about how to deal with the crowd of exercisers in a gym. You don't need to wait for the equipment, meet every scheduled class, or worry about what to wear and how you look. Each fitness video can be used as many times as you want without any additional fees. You can also save money on gas since you won't have to drive to the gym.

  • Fitness videos are available in an incredibly wide range of different types of workouts including strength workouts, aerobic workouts, a combination of these first two types (circuit workouts), stretching, yoga, and even mental exercises like meditation. These workouts are also available in different styles which include step aerobics, dance aerobics, Pilates, jump rope, and kickboxing, among many others.

  • Fitness videos are flexible. There are fitness videos for beginners, intermediate, or advanced fitness levels. Many videos even have multiple levels on one video - you pay for it once, and start at the beginner level, and then move up to the next level when you are ready, as it is already included on the DVD. People can also choose videos for particular purposes including workouts for children, for pregnant women, for seniors, and for individuals affected by back pain.

  • Fitness videos often don't require any fitness equipment. Some suggest optional equipment, and you can also find fitness videos which require basic equipment such as rubber tubing, stability balls, mini-trampolines, aerobic steps, body bars, free weights, or even multi-stationed home gyms, if this is something that eappeals to you.

  • Purchasing fitness videos is easy. These items can be found on the internet, department stores, and catalogs on fitness equipments. Shopping is very convenient and effortless. However, keep in mind these three tips:
Dance Off The Inches: Hip Hop Party-    Get fitness videos according to the type of workouts you really enjoy. If you don't like the type of workout, or you find it too difficult, you won't find it fun, and it will be very difficult to stay motivated to continue.

-    Select fitness videos that will meet your fitness goals. For example, if your objective is to overcome stress then tai chi or yoga videos may be good for you; if your goal is weight loss, then aerobic or dance videos will be what you need; if you have previously done aerobics classes, then more advanced dance choreography videos will be fun and challenging.

-    Consider the space needed for doing the exercise. Choose fitness videos that will fit your available area. Aerobic videos need a bigger space compared to yoga videos. Doing aerobic exercises requires forward, diagonal, or backward movements, while most Yoga and Pilates workouts just require enough space to stretch out on the floor.

Fitness videos are good tools for helping people get the right amount of exercise even at home. Structured routines are often given, and they provide various types of exercise in various intensity levels.

Fitness videos can be very effective you use them. But remember it's just a waste of money to buy one and put it on the shelf. Pop one in, turn it on, and get up and moving! You may just find fitness videos as addictive as I do....

Need something to get you started? Here are are some fitness videos I have found to be a lot of fun:
   














Or check out this FREE Pilates DVD!

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Video - 5 Worst Ab Exercises

This video demonstrates some exercises NOT to do for your abs. These exercises can be very harmful for your back, and unfortunately, some of them are quite common exercises. Even watching him demonstrate some of these made me cringe!

The Worst 5 Ab Exercises
www.trainerjosh.com Avoiding these 5 ab exercises will spare your back a lot of problems down the road. These ab exercises are the worst because they put unnecessary strain on the lower back while not working the abdominals effectively. The popularit...


Steer clear of the 5 exercises above, and for an effective AND safe ab workout, check out these exercises instead: Free Abs DVD.