Lifestyle

The Benefits of Yoga for Kids

October 2, 2014

Author: Kerry Moeller

My name is Kerry Moeller aka “Super Kerry” named during one our super hero themed kids yoga classes. I am a Little Pretzels yoga instructor at Power Yoga Canada, as well as being an Education Assistant as my big girl day job. I have only been practicing yoga for a couple of years, as I thought it was some sort of cult for old fogey’s, oh but how wrong I was! My first class not only kicked me in the butt, but also awakened my mind and body to something fresh and new.

Working with children has always been a passion of mine, but to now teach yoga and remind myself what joy children have when bending their bodies, learning to love themselves and having fun using their imagination, is truly a dream!

Working with children with autism, anxiety, ADHD, behaviors, as well as self esteem issues, I knew I had to bring yoga into the classroom/schools. I have recently had the privilege of introducing yoga to several kindergarten classes and it’s been awesome. In both the Little Pretzels class and the classroom, the children are learning breathing and meditation techniques, self regulation/love, how to have fun without the competitiveness of sports, mindfulness, connection to spirit, compassion and being of service in the world (for others). Whether it’s a busy family lifestyle or getting into a argument on the playground, child-stresses aren’t to be minimized. As we continue to see the benefits of yoga in prisons and 3rd world countries, how can we not bring this magical experience of mindfulness to our children?

A study at a Bronx, NY public school on kids with autism that had a daily yoga program, found that the program reduced kids’ aggressive behavior, social withdrawal, and hyperactivity, compared with a control group of kids with autism who did not practice yoga.

Bringing yoga outside of the practice is where you can really see the benefits for your children. They are given breathing and social tools to use when faced with a situation. Learning to breath instead of react is beneficial to anyone in their everyday life. A tool like ‘Lion’s Breath’ teaches them to release negative energy and frustration. Something you may even want to practice yourself! Sit on your knees with your heels together, and breathe in deeply through your nose. As you breathe out, roar like a lion and stick out your tongue. Make a fierce face! Taking a deep breath through the nose instantly calms, and the lion’s roar helps us find our voices, feel strong and release.

When my kids start chanting “yoga,yoga,yoga” when they see their yoga mats, I truly believe a difference is being made. I encourage parents of whatever age your child may be from 3-93, to check out a local yoga studio, Google children’s yoga or roll out a mat and see where your Lion’s Breath takes you!

Namaste
Kerry

Gluten Free Banana Pineapple Muffins

September 22, 2014

Author/Chef: Lindsay Hogg

These muffins are so soft and dangerously delicious you won’t be able to tell they are gluten free! (I seriously had to take them to the yoga studio so I would stop eating them).

INGREDIENTS:

3 large ripe bananas
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups chopped pineapple
1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Dark chocolate (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a blender, mix bananas, eggs, maple syrup and vanilla extract.

3. Slowly add blended mixture to the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together until smooth.

4. Use a non stick cupcake pan or using a napkin with some olive oil on it, grease the entire pan.

5. Pour mixture equally in each cup (should make 12 muffins). Sprinkle a few chunks of pineapple on each muffin and small piece of dark chocolate on top (if you choose to use chocolate).

6. Bake for approx 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Let cool and enjoy!

3 Easy Practices to Becoming a Happier You

September 17, 2014

Author: Lindsay Hogg

Holy shit. It’s easy to be happy… it just takes a little consistent work

Being happy is all about your perspective. You don’t need to add things to your life (a lover, house, new shirt). Right now, you are perfect the way you are and everything you need, you already have.

Haha this dog looks so stoned.

Happiness is a practice and with consistency it can become a habit – Me

It’s all about your frame of mind. Enjoy the things you enjoy and start enjoying the ones you don’t.

I have to go to the gym.

This implies you are being forced to go to the gym or that there is a negative energy around the act of working out. Being at the gym makes you feel good. If you left the gym hating it every day, you wouldn’t go, no matter how much you’re trying to get in shape. So, go into it with the same positive mind you leave the gym with. Don’t make going to do something you enjoy such a hardship. It’s so easy to change your frame of mind and wording.

I get to go to the gym today.
I’m excited to work out.
Working out today is going to feel great.

It sounds kinda silly and simple, but it works. I practice changing my perspective on a daily basis, it’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. Enjoy the things you enjoy. You’re the one CHOOSING to make it hard. Instead, choose to be happy and let yourself enjoy life.

I do not fix problems. I fix my thinking. Then problems fix themselves.” – Louise Hay

Being happy is also about taking ownership of your life. We can’t expect outside sources to make us happy or blame others when we aren’t happy. No one is responsible for your happiness. Not your spouse, your children, your job or your friends.

You can’t control or change people and basing your life or happiness on someone else changing their actions or words is a waste of time. When you find yourself pointing your finger at things or people outside you, that means it’s time to turn that finger around and start looking at what you can do to make yourself happy.

Happiness is a path that takes constant effort. Whether you’re changing jobs, trying to lose weight or learning to love yourself, remember it’s a journey, and enjoy it!

Our lives are always in fluctuation and we will have our ups and downs. It’s how we deal with these changes and whether we react to them that matters. Concentrate on the action, rather than the outcome.

When we go through a hard time it’s only natural to be upset. Give yourself time to grieve, but it soon becomes your choice to stay stuck or continue on. Choose to learn from experiences and know it is all just part of the path you are on.

The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days waiting for better ones ahead.” -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

How Yo-Yo Dieting Affects Your Health

August 12, 2014

AUTHOR: Shannon Boyce

It happens to a lot of us. You lose weight, you gain weight, you lose weight, and yes, you gain weight back again. This is called yo-yo dieting or weight cycling. It happens when you chase after fad diets or even when lifestyle changes don’t seem to stick long term. Going up and down on the scale isn’t just frustrating… it can also have a serious impact on your overall levels of health. How? Here are some of the ways that yo-yo dieting can affect you.

Most Yo-Yo Dieters Gain The Weight Back (And Then Some)

Did you know that yo-yo dieting is actually worse for you than being consistently overweight? One of the reasons for this is that many yo-yo dieters end up gaining all of the weight they lost back, and then some. This can happen due to stress levels and even feelings of shame. Putting the weight back on can cause severe depression and feelings of inadequacy. That in turn, causes many people to turn to food and overeat. It doesn’t take much for the yo-yo cycle to start again and again – and yes, again. It’s an unfortunate reality.

The reason the weight gain happens is usually because the weight loss was a result of lifestyle changes that only work short term. It may also be from doing a fad diet, drinking only smoothies for weeks on end, and so on. They may help you to lose the weight, but those aren’t long-term solutions.

It Can Cause Emotional Health Issues

Constantly thinking about your weight and struggling to keep it off can take a serious toll on your mental health. All day long it’s: Oh, I can’t eat that. I wish I could eat that. I can’t believe I gained weight. Next time, it will be better. I’ll never gain weight again! Yes, yo-yo dieting can leave you to deal with high emotions, distress, and even feeling unhappy with your life. It is incredibly sad, but it happens all the time. When these emotional health issues get worse, it can lead to binge eating…which only furthers the problem.

Yo-Yo Dieting Has Been Linked to Serious Health Issues

You’d be surprised at the many ways that yo-yo dieting can impact your health. It has been linked to several serious medical issues. In fact, researchers found that women who yo-yo dieted more than five times in their lifetime were more likely to develop heart diseases after menopause. Why does this happen? It is thought to be because of the cells that line the blood vessels. They are called the endothelial cells. When weight gain and loss happens over and over again, the cells become damaged. That can increase the risk for dealing with things like heart attack and stroke in the future. In addition, yo-yo dieting can make your metabolism slow down, increase your cholesterol, and decrease your energy levels.

There is nothing good about yo-yo dieting. Unfortunately, it is a pattern that many men and women fall into. To avoid the repercussions of yo-yo dieting, it is important to make realistic lifestyle changes that can be maintained long after the weight is gone.

Does Drinking Alcohol Really Impact Your Health?

July 15, 2014

Author: Shannon Boyce

Every health and fitness book has one main thing in common. What is it? They all urge you to avoid alcohol consumption at all costs. That means no cocktail at dinner and certainly none of those all-nighters! Yes, alcohol is one fitness no-no…. but why? Have you ever wondered why you’re supposed to avoid it? It’s time to find out why and answer the question: does drinking alcohol impact your health?

Effects of Alcohol on Weight Loss

When it comes to drinking alcohol, there are many drawbacks. Regular consumption can actually impact how quickly you reach your weight loss goals. How does it do this exactly? Most alcoholic beverages are full of tons of empty calories, and you’ve got a problem. Believe it or not, it has actually been found that drinking alcohol regularly can affect your digestive system. It can be more difficult for your body to absorb essential nutrients. In fact, it may be much harder for you to get amino acids and B vitamins. Talk about paying for a night out!

If that wasn’t enough, alcohol consumption can also impact your diet in other ways. When you drink, your defenses are down. Even if you’ve been strict with your eating habits, a few drinks, and you are a thousand times more likely to order that plate of extra cheese fries. That can really pack on the pounds. Plus, the fact that most drinks are full of sugar, it isn’t hard to figure out how alcohol can cause you to gain weight, rather than lose it. In order to keep your weight loss goals on track, ditch the liquor. There are simply too many ways that it can ruin your progress.

Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Fitness

It isn’t just your weight that is affected by drinking often. Your fitness can also take a hit. This can happen in a couple of different ways. The first has to do with the fact that alcohol dehydrates your body. If you drink too much, you will likely be desperate for a glass of water! What does this have to do with your fitness? Say you went drinking the night before but still want to get your workout in the next day. Bad idea. Working out creates sweat, which can also dehydrate you. When you are dehydrated from drinking and then further dehydrate yourself, you’ll notice reduced performance in the gym. You are even more likely to overheat your body after you’ve been drinking, so be careful.

Another way that alcohol affects your fitness routine? Less energy. When you drink, your body’s ability to produce energy is altered, giving you low levels of blood sugar. That can make it more difficult to exercise well or have enough energy to exercise at all.

So, does drinking alcohol really impact your health? There are different views about whether a glass of wine a day is beneficial to your health or not. I guess it always comes down to moderation. But if you’re trying to lose weight, drinking regularly can impact those goals as well as your level of fitness.