Recently, the New York Times featured a growing trend among New York fitness fanatics – working out two to three times day!  I am not talking about working out at the gym but rather taking fitness classes at different boutique studios.  These women are professionals with full-time jobs, who manage to find time to squeeze in these workouts.  Some trekking from one class and across town to another.  You have to admire their dedication because that is some serious motivation!  To meet this demand of mix-and- match workouts, FITiST was created by owner Neda Talebian Funk, offering class packages at partnering studios.

Balance Is Key (Photo from www.cakitches.com)

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As a yoga teacher, I try to constantly evolve in my practice, which does not stop the second I step off my mat.  As I mentioned before, yoga is more than a physical practice (see TIP TUESDAY: Myths vs Facts About Yoga).  It translates to how you live your daily life, which can be incredibly hard, even for me.  The best way to describe this translation is from the Yoga Sutras 1.12-1.16:  Practice and Non-Attachment.  Practice and non-attachment are the two core principles on which the system of yoga rests.  These two work hand-in-hand, with non-attachment as the essential companion to practice.  What does this all mean?

Practice & Non-Attachment (Photo from www.swamij.com)

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I was going to comment on the controversy surrounding the K-E diet, featured in the New York Times last week, but there already has been a conversation.  If you do not know what I am referring to, this is a diet used by brides as a quick way to meet their wedding weight loss goal.  While it is fairly new in the United States, it has been popular for many years in Italy and Europe.  Essentially, for the price tag of approximately $1,500, a nasogastric tube (a tube is inserted through the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach) is used to provide nourishment (with no carbohydrates) for ten days.

There Are NO Short Cuts! (Photo from www.someecards.com)

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Do you truly live your life to its fullest?  This is much more than completing a bucket list.  I am talking about taking care of your body and not taking it for granted.  We are only given one chance in this lifetime, so why would you not treat each day with care?  These thoughts are brought on by the passing of my uncle last week.  He was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer about three years ago.  I remember the day when I found out.  My mom called me as I was walking to catch the bus.  I stopped in my tracks, refusing to believe it and did not understand why.  You hear about people being affected by cancer all the time.  But, until it affects you personally, you really do not put too much thought into it.

Uncle Andy (Photo by Essence Photo & Video)

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I recently had a conversation on twitter with my friends Desiree and Mindy on starting an exercise program.  Some of you may remember Desiree from my profile on her (TIP TUESDAY: Be Passionate About Your Lifestyle).  As usual, Desiree and I were geeking out over TRX exercises.  Mindy comments on how she has no idea what we are talking about, but that it just sounds scary.  She said she is just glad she can get through running a short distance without stopping.  Desiree and I advise her to start somewhere, no matter how small.  If you look at the long climb to your goal, rather than all the steps leading up to it, you can potentially set yourself up for failure or just get discouraged.  With a strong foundation, you can effectively build your strength.  Being patient takes time, hard work, and dedication, but will prevent injuries in the long run.

We Could Not Say It Better! (Photo from www.pinterest.com)

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When you workout, do you stay in the same plane of motion or do you change it?  What do I mean by this?

In our daily activities and in sports, we tend to move in multiple planes of motion.  However, traditional forms of exercise, specifically resistance training, limits our planes of motion.  This poses a problem, especially as we get older.  If a joint is not utilized in a certain plane, it can potentially lock from underuse.

Anatomic Planes (Photo from www.neurosurgical.com)

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I ran across this graphic that illustrates how the toll of prolonged sitting can affect your health.  Think about this for a moment.  How many hours do you sit in a day?  For many of you, eight hours of sitting at your job is inevitable.  Add that with possible one to two hours of work commute time, either in a car or on public transportation.  If you spend time in front of the television, that could be up to an additional three hours.  That is more time spent sitting than sleeping!  Statistics aside, prolonged sitting is not conducive to good posture, while also creating tension in the shoulders, back, and hip flexors.  So, what can you do to reduce your sitting time?

Silent Killer ~ Sitting! (Photo from www.medicalbillingandcoding.org)

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When you think of calcium sources, does only diary come to mind?  When you think of protein, does only animal-based proteins come to mind?  There are many options out there beyond cheese and cheeseburgers.  I get asked these questions when I work with a client’s food diary.  This all boils down to expanding your palate, getting creative and literally thinking out of the packaged food box.  Did you know that quinoa is considered to be a complete protein source?  Or that kale is rich in calcium with powerful antioxidant properties?  These are just a couple of examples of foods that are highly nutritious but overlooked.  When I make these suggestions, clients usually are unsure on how to cook with them.  The most common remark is that kale is too bitter.  If this sounds like you, I challenge you to explore.

Protein Rich Quinoa (Photo from www.organicsurvivalistsite.com)

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