Yoga is great for the body,mind and spirit

Yoga is a great way to warm up your body and focus your thoughts which in turn will relax your spirit.

I've been practicing  Yoga off and on since early 2001 when after the birth of my son my weight reached an all time high of 260 lbs. So at first  I began practicing  to loose weight and gain flexibility. Gradually I noticed the serene feeling of Yoga, so I began to meditate after my practice and what an awesome feeling! I really enjoyed it.The steadiness of my thoughts was unbelievable.About 2 years into my practice I had to relocate and my practice was not as regular as I would have liked it to be,but I still found some time in my day to practice.Then things got a little hectic in my life and I had to relocate once again,because of the loss of a job I ended up moving out of state and in with relatives and once again my practice was interrupted.So after a long break from my practice I have become once again reacquainted with my practice and have fallen in love with Yoga all over again. I find that I am much more focused when I practice rather than not. So I am making great efforts to keep up my daily practice. And although since the first time I began practicing I've since injured my lower lumbar I still find it great that when I practice daily my back does not ache as much as when I don't practice. I still have pain and stiffness,especially in the mornings, in my lower lumbar, my hips and legs but, thanks to the different hip openers and sciatic stretches I am functioning quite well.

                                                      photograph courtesy of fitsugar.com


Last month I committed to a 21 day Yoga challenge hosted by Yogajournal.com ,the challenge actually started today. So for the next 21 days I will receive a practice a day in my email and I feel I will be a great success (maybe you'll join me for the challenge). I've also found another great way to stay in daily practice with fitsugar.com where they have all sorts of videos for different types of workouts including Yoga.I'd like to share a great Yoga flow I found over at fitsugar.com with you that has really helped me stay focused and warm up for the hip openers I've been doing for my back and sciatic (you can find the link below).Going between the two sites has really helped me to stay with my practice and I find it to be really convenient and helpful for my practice because I can practice at home.Well I hope this bit of information helps to jump start your practice or give you a bit of inspiration to continue your journey. Thanks for reading and I'll keep you up to date with my 21 day Yoga challenge as well as my practice.Chat you up soon. :-)


10 minute Yoga Flow Series (link for sun salutation A and B, fitsugar.com)




       

Good News, Bad News, and Some Things I Bet You Didn’t Know About Your Gut

Good News, Bad News, and Some Things I Bet You Didn’t Know About Your Gut

Did You Know

Did you know that May is Physical Fitness Month?? Well I just found out, and because I know now I must make sure to keep moving all month long as well as everyday of the year.

Tips for Healthy Living 

Did You Know; 

(1)  Exercise ensures proper distribution of oxygen in the body.

(2) We should move more; walk, dance,stretch, run, swim, etc...

(3 ) Children should have at least 60 minutes of activity everyday.

(4) Adults should have at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week.

(5) Exercise promotes circulation and aids the body in getting rid of toxins.

(6) Stationary jogging 5 minutes for every hour you spend watching television is very beneficial.

Here are a few exercises I do daily

CIRCUITS ( repeat 2-3 x's)

squats - 15- 20 reps
lunges - 15 reps per side
push-ups - 10 - 15 reps
bridge pose (yoga) - 15 - 20 reps
plank pose (yoga) - hold 30 - 60 secs

I hope these tips i've shared today do you and your family some good like they do for me.

Chat you up later :-) PEACE and Blessings to you ALL

Kombucha Update

Hey everyone, just dropping you a few lines to let you know that I'm still in hot and heavy pursuit of KOMBUCHA...I've tried to locate it at a few markets in my area including WALMART...Ha, no luck so far.So I guess I'll have to venture out a little further away from home base.

So i'm going to try looking for it at the local WHOLE FOODS MARKET or maybe its at TRADER JOE'S and if I can't find it there....I will check it out over at

 Herbally Grounded

(702) 558-4372
4441 W. Charleston Blvd.
(Charleston & Decatur in the Walmart parking lot)
Las Vegas, NV 89102

This is the local health food store, the only one in town as far as I know. They are actually having a class on making your own KOMBUCHA, so i'm pretty sure they'll have it there and I will probably be able to get a sample of the stuff before I buy it. They are having an event all day tomorrow (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), with all sorts of classes and activities for the whole family.Its the 8th annual INTERNATIONAL HERB DAY (May 4th,2013). And since i'm going for a more clean diet and lifestyle,i'm sure it won't hurt to show up for the festivities.So if your in the Las Vegas area I guess i'll see you there...

Well that's it for now, chat you up later :-)

Sending out PEACE and Joy to you all

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Benefits and Risks

Let's Talk :Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

What is Apple Cider Vinegar? Well,Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a type of vinegar made from apple cider and has an amber color. Organic,raw,unfiltered and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar has a cobweb like substance in it called the "mother", which is comprised of enzymes and minerals.Organic apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries as a "folk or home remedy". It can be used as a dietary supplement, it aids in weight loss,to ease digestion, reverse the aging process and wash toxins from the body.It is rich in potassium which is a key component for growth,muscle building and heart activity.One of its main ingredients is acetic acid which is said to slow the digestion of starch and lower glucose levels in the blood. It is also rich in vitamins A,C,E,P,B1,B2 and B6.

The Benefits of ACV

Some really positive things have been associated with the consumption of apple cider vinegar. During my research of ACV , I found a doctor that published a book back in the late 50's about it. His name is Dr. D.C. Jarvis and the name of the book is "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide To Good Health", the doctor's studies showed that drinking two (2) teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar plus two (2) teaspoons of raw honey mixed in an eight ounce (8 oz.) glass of water taken daily to prevent illness.The doctor also stated that the pectin in ACV promotes healthy bowels,help with arthritis,gout,acne,colds and many other ailments.

Since adding ACV into my diet,about 8 weeks ago, I have noticed an increase in energy,easier bowel movements,and  my skin has really cleared up.I chose to add ACV to my diet after many weeks of research about the stuff.I wanted to find out as much as I could about it before I tried it out for myself. I was curious to find out how its made,what others say about it as well as the benefits and risks that are associated with it. I highly recommend that if you are considering adding it to your diet  that you consult your doctor,especially if you have any pre-existing diseases or ailments such as diabetes or brittle bones.

Some Risks Associated With ACV

During my research I did find a few draw backs associated with the consumption of ACV, and this is the reason I suggest discussing it with your doctor before adding it to your daily routine. I found out that there are risks associated with it  (1) throat and stomach irritations,(2) bone loss,(3) mineral deficiencies,(4) medication side effects and (5) it may pose a danger to some diabetics.

5 Ways I use ACV

(1) I dilute 2-4 teaspoons in 8-16 ounces of water for all day energy.

(2) To help my son with his hay fever and asthma symptoms, I dilute 1 teaspoon of ACV in an 8 ounce glass 

of water daily.

(3) To assist my mother with her insomnia I have mixed some raw honey and ACV with warm water at bedtime.

(4) For a sore throat, I gargled 3 teaspoons of straight ACV...it really worked to get the soreness out.

(5)A cup of ACV in a warm bath has helped to give my sister an energy boost, moisturize her skin and helps with the exfoliation of hair bumps on her legs between shaves.

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha,Kombucha,Kombucha....people have been raving about this stuff all over the internet,and I didn't exactly know what it was. So I decided to do a little investigation of my own.

Kombucha is a fermented sweetened tea drink that some folks say has medicinal qualities. Kombucha is a living drink. It is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast and  is said to have originated in Northeastern  China around 2000 years ago and has spread all over the globe.

Kombucha is supposed to have all sorts of cool vitamins in it and is reported to have a fizzy feel in your mouth. It contains multiple species of bacteria and yeast along with organic acids and active enzymes. I guess that's why its said to be a living drink.

Kombucha is said to have many health implications, some say it boosts your immune system and detoxifies the body and energizes the mind.Although there's no scientific proof of the benefits. I've read articles from the medical community that it may be lethal if taken in large doses (more than a 1/4 cup a day). In people who have pre-existing medical conditions it is said to cause acute conditions such as, lactic acidosis (low pH in the blood and body tissues with a build up of lactate).

Although i've heard all sorts of wonderful things and some not so wonderful things about the living drink, I believe I will give it a try and see what all the buzz is about.I'll get back to you with a follow up story once i've taken on the task of drinking it for myself.

Catch you later, Peace and Joy to you :-)