Yoga and Meditation for Holiday Stress Relief

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The holiday season is supposed to bring a feeling of light-heartedness and good cheer, but many of us fall prey to extra stress and tension brought on by this time of year. Family gatherings, buying gifts, cooking, decorating and a whole host of other things that can cause us to get stressed out, which can make us fall into unhealthy habits such as overeating, drinking, and lack of exercise. Taking time for yourself in the midst of the chaos for a yoga class or some “you” time can make all the difference in the world. Yoga allows us to stop, focus on our breath and our bodies, and become … [Read more...]

Weight Loss For Diabetes Prevention

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Diabetes has become an epidemic in this country and is a disease that has become somewhat second nature to people because we hear so much about it so often. According to diabetes.org “25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3% of the population—have diabetes’’ (1). This statistic is astounding! For those of us whom are fortunate enough not to have this disease we must not loss focus the importance of not developing it either. Weight lose is of utmost importance in the prevention of diabetes! Physical activity and weight loss help the body respond better to insulin. By losing … [Read more...]

Free Weights vs. Machines?

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Q.  If all things are equal will I get faster results from free weights or from machines? A. Unless you have an injury free weights should always be your choice of exercise for several reasons. Here are a few advantages of free weights: – Using barbells & dumbbells are much more effective in strengthing/developing synergistic muscles, e.g. rotator cuff. – Biomechanically free weights match the natural movements of the body. – Overall you will develop greater strength & size using free weights. – Overall power is achieved much more efficiently. Here are a few … [Read more...]

Pink Ribbon Restorative Yoga for Healing and Recovery

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In honor of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this article highlights the amazing work of two Naples, FL yoga instructors, LiRa Bennett and Gretchen Ross. They are the founders of Pink Ribbon Restorative Yoga, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women and men heal and find strength in their journeys with varying illnesses, but who mostly are in recovery from cancer. I had the honor of taking one of their three weekly classes, and I experienced first-hand the love, caring and grace that emanates from these two women. Their class is specially geared to the needs … [Read more...]