EXERCISE...
Good health can not be achieved without fitness as part of its definition. We can all improve our level of fitness through the simple act of exercising. Choose an exercise that appeals to you -- if you like it, you'll do it!
A few programs I enthusiastically support are:
STRETCHING
As we age, we become less and less flexible, a major cause of numerous injuries from twisted backs to broken bones. By gently stretching every day, even twice a day, you maintain a better balance, more flexibility, and less chance of injury. Stretching can be done anywhere at any time, we don't take advantage of that fact often enough! Yet how wonderful a good stretch feels!
REBOUNDING (or otherwise known as mini-trampoline)
6 minutes of rebounding is equal to 1 mile of jogging in aerobic activity. Rebounding squeezes waste matter from the cells and is ideal for blood circulation and great for toning. It internally massages the lymph draining points and helps move the lymph fluid through the body more effectively. The lymph system's job is to remove toxins and waste matter from the body.
YOGA
So many benefits have been attributed to yoga: strength, balance and stress reduction to name a few. Check out your local yoga studies to determine which style of yoga most appeals to you. Remember, if you like it you'll do it!
WEIGHT TRAINING
In my opinion, no exercise program is complete without some form of weight training. Women especially tend to lose muscle rapidly after the age of 35, leaving them at risk of developing osteoporosis. Every pound of muscle burns 30-50 calories per day, every pound of fat burns 2-5 calories per day.
Like so many other programs, weight training can be simple or more extreme (e.g. body building; weight lifting). If lifting free weights at home is inconvenient or unappealing, check out the programs offered by your local health clubs. A personal trainer can be invaluable if you are serious about developing a healthy, fit, new body! Other accessories to assist in weight training include balls, bands, and balance tools. Let a professional help you design a program to meet your goals.
SELF-RENEWAL
BREATHING EXERCISES
In a 24 hour period you breathe 23,040 times. However, most of us do not know how to breathe properly (from deep within our diaphragm) and instead take only shallow breaths. Breathing deeply allows for your blood to be fully oxygenated which will lead to more energy and a higher state of well-being.
MEDITATION
Learning to meditate alleviates stress and creates balance in this hectic world of having too much to do in too little time to do it! Taking 15 minutes each day, or whatever time you deem is effective for you, to 'quiet' your mind (you know, all that 'chatter' that makes so much noise we can't 'think straight'?) will leave you feeling 'refreshed' and balanced. Answers to problems seem to come more readily to those who meditate. If we stop long enough after we've asked the question, we can 'hear' the answer or 'feel' what is right. Most times we're too busy multi-tasking, trying to shorten that to-do-list to pay attention! Allow yourself the gift of a few minutes to clear your thoughts - the rewards are tremendous!
SLEEP
Each hour your sleep before 10:00 pm is worth more than two hours of sleep in the morning. During sleep, our body is in 'recovery' (from the days activity and food we've ingested) and repair. People eating a raw food diet require less sleep typically than those people on the standard American diet.
