“Above all… breathe correctly”
- Joseph Pilates
Breath is the key to pilates.
Pilates was founded by a man named Joseph Pilates, and is now the exercise of choice for many dancers and celebrities. Joseph Pilates first started his pilates program back in World War II as a way to rehabilitate injured soldiers through the use of gentle strengthening and stabilizing exercises.
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Well look who just came out with some new healthy options on their menu? Virgin America! This has been my favorite airline since its launch 2 years ago, so I’m glad to hear that they’re continually finding ways to improve itself. I’m not too happy about the extra fees as of late, but its generally low prices and high tech offerings keep me coming back.
“Virgin America is bringing a quality dining experience back to air travel with a new in-flight menu that uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to create an assortment of refreshing and nutritious meal and snack options,” said Chef Mangan, the man behind the meals.
Read more about Virgin America’s healthy in-flight meals in their press release.
By now, we’ve heard just about every fitness craze there is:
Despite the popularity of yoga over the years, I know there are still some of you out there who are reluctant to give it a shot. Here are my top 10 reasons to Yoga.
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Yes you heard it here… YOGA for DOGS! I came across an article that talked about doga and thought it was a joke at first. Now I know some people take their doga very seriously, so I hope this post doesn’t offend! I am an owner of a Siberian Husky myself, but I guess I never considered yoga to be an exercise dogs would engage in. My own dog is pretty rambunctious and chooses to be still at her own will… God forbid I try to make her doga.
If you want to give doga a try Expert Village has quite a few videos posted on doga. Here’s one for your viewing pleasure:
What is green tea and why is it so popular? Green tea contains a powerful antioxidant called EGCG not found in other teas. Both green tea and black tea come from the same plant, but black teas don’t retain the EGCG antioxidant due to the processing method of the tea.
Green tea is steamed, which prevents the oxidization of the EGCG compound whereas Black and Oolong teas are fermented so the EGCG is converted into other, less effective compounds. This is not to say that the other teas aren’t good for you though! Better tea than soda or sugary juices wouldn’t you say?
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Sometimes there’s just not enough time to make a healthy homecooked meal. I know slaving over a hot stove after a long day of work is not my cup of tea. So what do we do? We settle for quick fixes like fast food and frozen TV dinners.
What usually comes to mind when you think TV dinners? Fatty, high in sodium, tasteless, bland, boring, and on and on. Well, thanks to increased knowledge about nutrition in recent years, not to mention America’s obsession with health and dieting, some delicious and affordable TV dinners have actually hit our local shelves. My favorite of them are Kashi’s Frozen Dinners! In fact, I’ve never been disappointed in anything Kashi makes – from cereals to bars, they do everything well.
I just had this the other night:
At 340 calories, less than 500 mg of sodium and 7 grams of fiber… it’s hard to complain! It actually tastes homecooked too. Time to stock up! What’s your quick fix meal of choice?
There are many different types of yoga out there, but all seek the same goal – to interconnect the body, mind, and soul.
Today’s spotlight is on Vinyasa yoga – the first one I discovered. My first attempts at yoga were done in the Ashtanga Vinyasa style at a studio called Yoga Shakti in the OC. It completely shattered my preconceived image of what I thought yoga would be like. I thought yoga would be slow, tedious, holding poses… and I was both right and wrong.
“Vinyasa” is a sanskrit word that refers to breath and movement. It is a broader term for the types of yoga done in a series of flow-like movements where your breath and movements are synchronized. These movements connect you from posture to posture, so you are moving in fluid motions during the entire yoga experience. It provides a cardio-like effect, bringing your heart rate up while still engaging your muscles and giving you a good stretch. Trust me, you will sweat and you will be sore the next day, and you will love it.
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