Ben Stiller Says Yes to Warm-Ups and Cool Downs

I used to be bothered by warm-ups.

I would fast forward the tape ...just to get on with the main work out...the part that mattered.

After all it was not the warm up that burned calories.

Ditto for cool downs. I would just race for the shower and get on with my day.

What changed?
Yoga!

Yoda??

 

No, Yoga!

Although I am sure Yoda is a firm believer of warm ups and cool downs. How else can you live that long?

At the yoga studio you have no choice but do complete a warm up and cool down, you would look like a jerk not to.

Currently, I am now powering through Jillian Michaels' Get Ripped in 30. Even though I am at home, no one is watching, I still do warm ups and cool downs.

I have learned that it is not a waste of time, but rather a gift of time to myself.

A time to transition in and out of the activitiy at hand. And well, it feels pleasant.

Besides, if you warm-up, you need a fancy warm-up suit!

Oh Yah!

Drew Barrymore Reminds us to "Just Breathe"

Yes..Breathe...Just Breathe...

Such a simple thing, a basic thing...

yet...

at times not a natural thing...

instead...

we breathe without thought...

and that seems to be the problem.

We have all forgotton how to breathe.

I have been practicing Yoga for a year.

Never did I think Yoga was something I needed so badly. 

I have become one of "those" people...breathing into all parts of my body, relaxing the mind.

It's a bother for me that we are not told about the miracle of breathing.

Breathing is what settles the mind, grants us courage and reminds us that we are alive.

So whether we are resting at home or meeting Prince Charming...

we need to remember...

Drew was right..."Breathe, Just Breathe"...and the world will be a better place.

Let's Talk About Health Baby!!!

Long ago I used to tell my students...

Indeed we are not just heads walking around but a whole body.
Lately I have been pursuing a complete heatlh makeover. I started with running and yoga last year.  Then I added some Vegan recipes. The current goal is to develop strength and maintain high energy levels throughout the day.  To assist with with this process I have created my own Health Journal/Notebook. I decided to take a plain scribbler and collage images and words on the front. In a way, it turns into a vision board and gives you something to focus on daily. This is how mine turned out:

Making a Health Journal

You will need: scissors, gluestick, a blank journal/scribbler and a health magazine -I used a Yoga Journal.  You might also "Google" for images and type out words. I prefer hunting through magazines and the tactile feel of cutting and glueing.

1.) Cut out phrases and images from your Health magazine. Do not judge this process. Whatever appeals to you...cut them out.
2) Find ads or articles that have interesting backgrounds. Cut out fun shapes, like circles, squares or hearts. Alternatively, you could use wrapping paper or scrapbooking paper.
3) Begin to arrange the words, images and fun shapes on the cover until it looks pleasing.You might want to arrange everything first and then glue it down.
4) It is done!  You might leave a blank page to create a table of contents. The first entry might be a goal statement or letter to yourself. In future posts I will suggest more ideas,

Let me know if you make one yourself. A picture of it would be even better.

Thanks for listening to my bother, I feel better now. :)