Post Holiday Stress Release

The Holidays are over. Winter has hit - in full force. If you find yourself a bit stressed this week - try this relaxing yoga routine and you're sure to feel better in short order!

Millions of healthy people practice yoga and enjoy less friction or stress in their hectic lives. You can too.

"Leap and the net will appear."
 --Zen saying

Yoga for Your Whole Being

Yoga has been around for centuries. Millions of healthy people have discovered and enjoyed the benefits of yoga. If you're like me - you may wonder how to get started on this road to better health.

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Want to relax? Feeling a little stressed? Reduce your stress level with this -

Habits for a Better Life

The benefits you can realize from getting in better physical shape are reason enough to start or continue your own fitness program. No need to hire a personal trainer or join that fancy pants health club. You can enjoy better health and fitness by adopting just a handful of healthy habits.

Try these habits for the next 4 weeks and see for yourself:

1 Get at least 6 or 7 hours of sleep every night. ( If you are under age 20 - try for 9 hours of good sleep every night. )

"Yeah right" you may be thinking. Find a way! Heart Doctors say your heart lasts longer with a more sleep! Plus, your muscles need rest to rejuvenate!

2 Eat a healthy variety of natural foods. Skip the fast ( or should we say fat ) food temptation and opt instead for more fruits and vegetables every day! Enjoy some heart healthy cold water fresh caught salmon a couple times a week. Feed your body the healthy , natural fuels it needs.

3 Exercise - in some form - every day. Walking is a great way to start. Try a variety of sports and routines. Whatever you find you like. Invite a friend - enjoy healthy activities with your family. This just might become your favorite new habit!

4. Just get started. Set a goal for yourself for this week. Make it realistic and something you can actually do. Like "I will walk at lunch every day this week." Then do it. No excuses. Soon you'll find ways to make sure you get your daily exercise time.

Next month make your goal(s) a little bit harder. Walk or run a little farther. Get up a few minutes earlier if you can ( without sacrificing your nightly 7 hours of sleep ) and do some early morning exercise. Don't forget to stretch! Grab a protein rich breakfast and you'll be starting your day like the pros.

5. Learn how to stretch. Focus on the muscle(s) you are stretching and go slow. Breathe slowly and deep while you concentrate on how your body feels. Millions of healthy ( and skinny ) people around globe have discovered the joy of Yoga. That might be worth a few hours in a class or grab a free video at your local library and follow along.

Health professionals agree - if you want to enjoy life more and live longer - your odds are much better if you get some exercise most days of the week!

For the best results - try a balanced approach. Combine weight or resistance training every other day with daily aerobic exercise - like running, walking or even riding your bike!

Start building muscles and getting in shape - fast! You'll probably live longer and enjoy life more!

Stressing Out? Try Yoga

Yoga is a great way to relieve stress. For centuries people have enjoyed the many benefits of yoga! Try it - you may just find it complements your current fitness efforts very nicely.

If you're like me - the month of December can seem even more hectic than other months. Finding time for fitness can challenge all of us. Don't let your fitness program suffer due to the hustle and bustle of the Holidays. Stick with it. Write a time down in your planner - and don't let anyone or anything interfere with your time for better health and fitness!

Sometimes you can fit in little bits of exercise at the most unexpected times. Sneak in a morning walk while you're waiting to meet with the boss. The benefits of quick, focused walk can help you keep calm while meeting with even the most difficult boss!

Bring a jump rope and a good pair of jogging or walking shoes to work and sneak in 15 or 20 minutes at lunch. Do the stairs for a healthy boost of energy.

Here are some easy yoga stretches you can do at your desk:



If you find yourself feeling stressed during this wonderful time of year - slow down and smell the mistletoe! Take a kid to lunch or Supper and feel their excitement! Try something new to spice up your fitness!

Try Yoga to help relieve some of the nearly inevitable Holiday stress!

Plan for Better Health

Make a plan for better fitness and stick to it.! Every Day!

You know what you like to do — or want to try. But in order to start creating your very own fitness plan, there are a few things you should know.

Go with a plan

Decide ahead of time your activity plan for the week. Using your very own planner, you can schedule all of your weekly activities and it'll be easier to stick to.

Start slowly and build up to a goal. It could be as easy as continuing to do the activities you're already doing — just more often. Or you can pick a new activity and start working on it. Start with a goal of doing at least 60 minutes of activity a day.

Track your progress

Check your progress by checking off your activities on the calendar after you're done. Reward yourself at the end of week for working so hard.

Don't burn out before you even warm up

Too much of a good thing can be bad. Overloading your schedule can discourage you from meeting your goals and overdoing it is the quickest way to burn out.

Mix it up. Be flexible and don't worry about changing your plan. Take a look at your progress once a week or so and adjust your plan to help you reach your goal! It's OKAY to alter your plan. Just keep moving!

Include different types of workouts , sports, and activities in your plan. Doing the same thing everyday gets boring. There's a ton of other sports and activities that are totally doable for you. Bringing along a buddy is a sure way to keep it fun.

Pick activities that work different parts of the body. If you mostly do activities that require a lot of running, mix in some that build strength or help you be more flexible. Try yoga to keep your muscles flexible!

Choose sports and workouts based on different types of weather or seasons. That way you can have fun and stay active rain or shine, hot or cold. Or if the weather doesn't cooperate, get some simple home fitness gear and workout at home!

Save Your Money and Improve Your Health

As we entered the local Family Video one of the first signs we saw touted fitness videos for free! Yes - free! All kinds of videos offering various workouts. All free! Everything from Denise Austin to basic yoga.

Did you know that yoga has been around for more than 5,000 years? Today, you see lots of super stars and athletes practicing yoga, but it's a great activity for anyone! No matter what other activities you participate in, yoga can strengthen your abilities by increasing flexibility, staying power (endurance), and your ability to focus. The benefits from Yoga can be quite remarkable!

And all you need to get started is a free video! Or tag along with a friend to a local yoga class. Head out to the library for another source of free fitness videos!

YouTube has free videos covering just about every kind of exercise you might imagine. You don't need to spend a small fortune every year at the local fancy pants health club. ( Although, health clubs are great for meeting other fitness lovers and you can usually get some great advice and tips from others at the gym! )

Invest in some simple fitness gear - a good pair of running shoes, and an exercise mat. Add a few small hand weights and a jump rope. Get a good sturdy exercise ball. If you want to really burn massive calories - invest a good rowing machine or an elliptical trainer. You can burn some serious calories right at home with just a few simple pieces of home fitness equipment! Put a favorite funny video in the video player and laugh away your cares while you enjoy the road to better fitness! Why not have some fun while you're building those ab muscles and sculpting that tighter tummy?

If the weather permits - dust off your bicycle - or find an inexpensive used bike and head out for an evening journey to better fitness! You can goes as fast as you dare and really kick in the fat burners - or just cruise and enjoy the scenery! For the best results - mix in some brief bursts of speed every few minutes or so. You'll give metabolism a boost and burn even more calories for hours after your ride!

The possibilities are nearly endless. Enjoy your journey to better health and fitness while you save your money!

Try Low Impact Exercise

Do you ever feel pain in your knees after running even a short distance? Nagging knee injuries can sometimes seem to only get worse the more we workout and the older we get. Save your knees - try low impact exercise!

Low impact exercise options give us plenty of ways to get in shape and lose weight – all without placing too much stress on our knees and ankles. Save your knees – take advantage of a low impact exercise program! Some easy ideas:

Go for a nice bike ride. It’s that easy to reap the benefits of moderate endurance exercise. Each time you go for a ride, simply travel a little farther. As the weeks pass, gradually increase the pace, or speed, of your adventures. Try to ride on hilly roads for even greater results. Slip in some really fast bursts of speed and you'll burn even more calories!

Lots of people love swimming or water aerobics. Sign up for a water aerobics class at the local pool or YMCA. Water is great for reducing the pressure on your key joints. And you can get a vigorous, muscle building workout in the water! Aerobic workouts in the pool are really great if you need to save your knees! And the resistance in the water helps maximize the effect of your exercise! Spend half an hour swimming for a great, refreshing workout!

Strength training is a great way to sculpt muscle, but if you want to be sleek and strong, why not give Pilates a try? Many fitness experts believe that this workout can help you develop long, strong muscles, a flat stomach, a strong back, and improved posture. And like working out with weights, Pilates strengthens connective tissue (tendons and ligaments). Yoga is another great whole body workout!

Another popular option is widely enjoyed right in the comfort of your own home. Buy some low impact exercise equipment and get an excellent workout – without even leaving home!

Save Money on Health Care

Everyone who pays for health insurance or has to shell out their hard earned money every time they visit the Doctor's office has already felt the effects of rising health care costs. Economists expect our health care costs to continue to go up. One easy way to save your money on health care is start getting in shape. The sooner you get started the sooner your health will improve. Healthy people can expect to spend far less on health care over the course of a lifetime than those who choose to practice unhealthy habits.

An ounce of prevention pays - and keeps paying in the form of health care savings! If you adopt healthy habits - like eating healthy foods and getting plenty of exercise you can avoid expensive Doctor bills for years to come.

Obesity is a growing problem in the USA. The convenience of fast food and the widespread prevalence of sedentary lifestyles have resulted in the fattening of America. Don't let this happen to you.

Take charge of your health! And live a healthier, happier life! You can have so much more fun and lead a more satisfying, energetic life if you get a little exercise most days of the week. You don't have to spend a small fortune of that fancy health club to get in better shape. Start walking or running several days a week.

Try a new sport or two. Invite your family and friends to join you! Share your healthy lifestyle and all the fun you'll have with those you love and enjoy the most!

Many fitness lovers have discovered the beauty of yoga. Yoga can offer you a great total body workout! Be sure to wear comfortable clothing that won't get in the way of your stretching. T-shirts, shorts, sweats, and tank tops are all great to wear for yoga because their fabric is movable and breaths easily.

Bare feet are ideal when you practice yoga, both for the traction they give you for standing poses, as well as the workout your feet will get! Sign up for a beginners yoga class - or grab a Yoga DVD at your local library.

One of the most important things you will need is a yoga or exercise mat to use during seated or floor postures.

With just a few simple pieces of home fitness equipment you can get a great workout without even leaving the house! Start saving your money on health care. Practice healthy habits and you'll be on the road to a better life! And, you'll save a bundle!