OK, so the men in your life don’t really get this yoga thing, right? They might like that you like it, but can’t really see what’s in it for them. Of course, you know that something is in it for them: health, flexibility, peace of mind and more. If that isn’t enough, Men’s Health takes the time to outline the specific benefits of yoga that might appeal more to men. Read the whole thing at http://www.menshealth.com/yoga/basics/10_best_poses_for_men.php.
DKWIO partner lululemon athletica not only offers outstanding, yoga-inspired athletic clothing, they provide a complete philosophy of life. Founder Chip Miller shares his thoughts regularly on the company web site, and one of his historic entries is worth reading. In it, he details the difference between greatness and mediocrity. Check it out at http://www.lululemon.com/culture/history/mediocrity.
A study recently published
online in the Public Library of Science—a peer-reviewed web journal—actually
shows exercises (like yoga) that induce relaxation response not only reduce
stress, they actually positively change associated gene expressions. For
example, genes that reduce cell-damaging oxidative stress were turned on in as
little as eight weeks. You can find the whole study at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002576,
but the bottom line is that 20 minutes of yoga, tai chi or similar activities
three times per week can quickly make measurable and tangible changes in your health.
Women’s Health presents a great workout regimen that combines the best of yoga and the best of resistance training. The result? A 20-minute workout that improves flexibility, increases strength and reduces stress. With seven moves that increase core body strength and improve flexibility, this integrated group of exercises works the entire body and mind. Check it out at http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/yoga-and-strength-training-workout.
lululemon athletica offers a wide range of yoga-inspired clothing for healthy living. A great company that produces incredible products, lululemon also supports its communities and its consumers by sharing knowledge, resources and balance. The company has a great web site that provides a comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand yoga primer. Check it out at http://www.lululemon.com/culture/yoga/.
Yoga is great for life balance and stress management, but it can also work as a very effective weight loss technique. Prevention magazine highlights five great poses for weight loss: crescent, willow, rocking boat, hover and chair. See the specifics at http://www.prevention.com/cda/article/slim-down-with-yoga/a018d786593b4110VgnVCM10000013281eac____/fitness/yoga.pilates/yoga/0/0/2.
The American Heart Association recently recommended that all heart attack patients undergo depression screening. Doctors have found that the emotional impact of heat attacks can have a dramatic impact—positive or negative—on recovery. More health officials need to recognize that serious health conditions of any kind, obesity included, can cause depression, which can drive even more significant health problems. If you have lost interest in things you normally care about, feel hopeless or suffer from any of depression’s other symptoms, seek professional help and don’t stop exercising. The health of our minds, bodies and spirits are inextricably linked.
MSNBC.com tells us that Yoga can ease many of the symptoms of menopause. After doing Yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditation five days a week for eight weeks, a group of menopausal women enjoyed significant reductions of night sweats, hot flashes and sleep disturbances. The participants also performed better on a series of attention and concentration tests, showing again that Yoga benefits the mind and the body.
We’ve written before about the negative effects of cortisol, one of the hormones released when you face stressful situations. Not only does cortisol make you hungry, it promotes the storage of fat in the midsection. Women’s Health this month presents a comprehensive analysis of why stress causes weight gain and what to do about it. Check it out here: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/stress-and-weight-gain?page=1.
Recent studies show that increasing numbers of kids suffer from liver damage, some even requiring liver transplants. While childhood obesity has other, more obvious, health issues, it’s important to remember the damage it can cause that you can’t immediately see. The American Liver Foundation and other experts estimate that two to five percent of American children older than five have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nearly all of them are obese or overweight. Other silent and less visible obesity-related killers include heart disease, type II diabetes and more.
 | MSNBC: McDonald's courts busy moms as emissaries |
| | Detroit Free Press: No sweat: Obamas work fitness into daily routine |
| | Reuters: Fast-food ad ban could cut child obesity: U.S. study |
| | Associated Press: Burger King limits sodium in kids meals |
| | CNN: More U.S. families struggling to feed children, report says |
| | Detroit News: Nutrition experts shell out praise for walnuts |
| | New York Times: Child Obesity Seen as Warning of Heart Disease |
