I flicked through ‘Home and Garden’. Then I searched for an article in ‘Vogue’ amidst the full-page advertisements, and tried to tune out ‘Family Feud,’ a game show that was playing on the TV. Suddenly one of the questions caught my attention. I tossed the ‘Vogue’ down on top of the Carrollwood Gazette, and turned to the TV to listen thinking to myself, “oh, this is going to be good…”

Family Feud is about two families competing against each other. They have to guess the most popular answers that were given to a question posed to one hundred people. The question that shook me out of my waiting room doldrums was, ‘What is the National Food of America?’ Before you read any further, please take a minute and write down seven answers that you think the one hundred people surveyed gave to this question.

Even though I have personally been on a plant-based diet for most of my adult life, I am a fitness professional, and fully aware of the dietary crisis going on in this country today. I felt deeply saddened as the game show family providing the answers jumped up and down with joy for getting all seven right. Knowing that the one hundred people surveyed reflected the views of the nation also deeply concerned me.

Usually I write the articles for my blog with a certain amount of clinical detachment, but I cannot do that this time. Fifteen years ago a surgeon told me that I needed to have my gall bladder removed. Even though I was vegetarian, I still ate free-range eggs a couple of times a week. I also absolutely loved super strong Cheddar cheese; not that yellow plastic, melts like a PVC coat on a candle flame type cheese, but ‘brings tears to your eyes’ sharp Cheddar.

I had a choice to make, have surgery despite the fact that the surgeon couldn’t guarantee that I wouldn’t still have problems afterwards, or give up eggs and cheese. I had already given up milk many years before because it made me sick, and eggs – well I could live without eggs – but cheese? How could I visit my family in England and not eat Cheddar cheese?  In answer to that question; the very thought of eating that greasy fat now makes me feel nauseous – and I still have my gall bladder!

There is another reason why writing this article is a particular passion for me. I regularly work with clients suffering with chronic pain, which is often aggravated by excess weight, type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, etc, etc. I’m not going to list here all the research linking poor dietary choices to these diseases. If you want to see that information please visit www.pcrm.org, or www.pursueahealthyyou.blogspot.com , Dustin just posted a great article there about how your tax dollars are supporting the physical and financial health crisis in this country.

I am going to ask you a couple of questions instead. First, how did your list of the National Foods of America check out against the Family Feuds list?

Hamburger, Pizza, Hot dog, Fried chicken, French fries, Ice cream, and Turkey.

Second question, if you were representing America at a World Health Summit would you feel proud to present this list to the leaders of other countries? What would you say to them when they state that only animal products contain dietary cholesterol, and have zero fiber? Would you be able to defend the fact that dairy products have been linked to cancer growth and calcium deficiency? How about the growth hormones and anti-biotic crisis that we are facing due to factory farming practices?

Over the twenty-five years that I have lived in the States I have observed pharmaceutical drugs become a food group. Debilitating conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are popping up like daisies with no apparent cure, only the offer of disease management. People over the age of fifty (and its getting younger all the time) are expected to be afflicted with things like arthritis, acid reflux, high blood pressure, and loss of strength, hearing, and memory. What was I saying again…

The work that I do with Yoga Therapy and Life Coaching can only go so far. What you put into your body is so profoundly important on so many levels. Producing and eating meat and dairy products causes problems not only for the consumer, but also for the planet. Factory farming causes more pollution that the auto industry! Going green makes sense in every way, for every body.

In Yoga, meat is considered Tamasic – dead, dark, and devoid of energy. The Sivananda Companion to Yoga states about eating a tamasic diet, ‘The body’s resistance to disease is destroyed and the mind filled with dark emotions, such as anger and greed.’ Eating meat is also contrary to the first principle of Yoga – Ahimsa – non-violence. Any human being who considers him or her self to be compassionate, could not fail to be touched by the pain, suffering, and sheer despair of the beings in factory farms, and for what? To bring you a substandard food that is putting you at risk for disease.

I care about the health of my fellow citizens, not only here, but also in other countries where fast food restaurants are now taking their toll on the populations. If you care about yourself, and the loved ones in your life, please take the time to learn more about how we can change America’s National Foods. If you would like help to make healthier choices in your life, I am here for you. Florida Voices for Animals also has a mentor program, and will be happy to connect you to a personal mentor in your area to help you, www.floridavoicesforanimals.org.

I have never eaten a hamburger, so I do not know what the big deal is all about. However, I gave up Cheddar cheese because I care enough about myself to avoid major surgery. My diet (which just means what I eat every day BTW) is full and varied, and I assure you that I get plenty of protein, calcium, iron, etc. I have never had a weight problem, and despite being born with rheumatoid arthritis, I don’t take medications of any kind.

I truly hope that you care enough about yourself to write a new list of seven, healthy plant based foods. Together we can re-write the state of health for our great nation, and be proud to declare The National Food of America to the world!

The tension experienced by the crowd in the previous scenario was created by the fight or flight response of the nervous system. It is the same mechanism that causes a deer to stand transfixed by car headlights in the middle of the road. Just like that deer in the headlights, no matter how important you believe your job to be, or how technical your toys are, you are still a member of the animal kingdom.

The fight or flight response is an instinct designed to keep you safe. When faced with a danger, your body will prepare itself to either fight your way out, or to run away to safety. Adrenalin pumps into your system, your heart rate goes up, and your muscles tense ready for action. Once the danger is over, your body returns to a state of ease. The entire process is not meant to last longer then a few minutes.

Tension in itself is not a problem. If you didn’t maintain a certain level of muscle tension, you would fall on the ground like a noodle. Good posture requires that muscle tension be in correct balance whether you are sitting, standing, squatting, or bending over. The problem arises when certain muscles become chronically tight, or are firing out of sequence. There are three main causes of incorrect muscle tension: (one) making the same movement over and over again, (two) holding a position for long periods of time, and (three) remaining in fight or flight response for most of the day!

There is no separating your mind from your body; they work together in unison. Therefore no matter where you are, if you are worrying about a difficult project for example, your nervous system hears ‘danger’ and creates the appropriate physical response. You may be thinking, ‘what if I don’t finish the project on time – will I get fired, or be passed over for promotion?’ This kind of worrying keeps you in fight or flight response, more commonly referred to as ‘stress’.

Another common cause of prolonged stress in today’s world is what we call multi-tasking. When you think about doing something, your nervous system is responding to your thoughts. It doesn’t differentiate between something that you are actually doing, and something that you are only thinking about doing. Research has confirmed that when a subject thinks about running, his leg muscles begin to fire even if he isn’t moving yet. Therefore, if you are physically involved in one task, while thinking about doing something else, your muscles will fire erratically. You will be using far more energy than you need to be at any given time.

Another way that tension becomes problematic is when a muscle becomes chronically lengthened, or shortened. This can happen when the body is being held in a certain position for long periods of time. The most common situation that jumps to mind is the one of sitting hunched over a computer. It isn’t sitting at the computer itself that causes the problem; it is sitting without the correct support to maintain good posture. Holding a telephone between the ear and the shoulder can exacerbate the situation. Pain from chronically lengthened, or shortened muscles can also afflict surgeons, dentists, hairdressers, drivers, gardeners, tailors, knitters, painters, jockeys, and anyone else who holds a certain physical position for long periods of time.

The last cause of chronic muscle tension is repetitive motion. Doing something the same way over and over again can set incorrect muscle pattern habits, and lead to chronic pain. The pain can be felt as dull, aching, sharp, or burning, depending upon the movement and the muscles involved. Common causes of repetitive muscle tension are typing, and playing games such as golf, bowling, tennis, and soccer. Not so obvious problems can be caused though by things such as reaching for a telephone over and over again, bending down to pick things up, reaching for a bag in the back seat of the car, or turning the wheel on a sewing machine, or microscope.

The brain stores patterns to make life easier for you; it also sends you messages to let you know when the patterns are out of balance. Pain is a warning that something is wrong, and will be felt before an injury occurs if you pay attention. Have you been ignoring that occasional twinge, or persistent ache? Have you been loosing your balance, favoring one leg, or feeling stiff after sitting for a while? These are warning signs to let you know that problem patterns are occurring.

According to WebMD, “June 29, 2011 – More than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain at a cost of around $600 billion a year in medical treatments and lost productivity, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM).”

Take the time to relax, take a walk, listen to some pleasant music. If you don’t have a creative hobby, find one that suites you. Spend time with people that you like, and watch TV that makes you laugh. Get out of fight or flight response, and focus fully on what you are doing right now. Most importantly, why continue suffering with chronic pain – when the answer could be as simple as learning how to stretch and strengthen your muscles correctly. Start cutting the tension out of your life, and allowing the balance back in!

www.mariabott.com

Please visit my other blog, www.allcreaturescount.blogspot.com

Pat had been a wiz on the computer – until the virus struck. Several months after her recovery, she was still struggling to send e-mail. Ironically, Pat knew that she used to know how to do it, but the memory just wasn’t there any more. The other day I had an experience that I can equate to how that must have felt. I saw a beautiful red bird in the tree outside my window, but for some reason I couldn’t recall the name of the species. Even though there was no reason for me to remember the bird’s name, all day long I became more and more frustrated as the word eluded me.  

The strongest element of an experience is the emotional part, and the strongest emotion will be remembered over any physical details. When you are recounting a fight that you had with a co-worker yesterday do you begin with a description of the room, or the details of your clothing? Do you repeat the conversation verbatim, with the correct emphasis on every word? Chances are that you couldn’t, even if your life depended on it! It isn’t the physical details that you remember most clearly, or even the words that were spoken, it is the flood of emotions that you were feeling at the time.  

Every choice that you make is based on a combination of information from current circumstances, and memories of your past. You will either consciously, or subconsciously recall what happened last time that you were in a similar situation. How the last conversation went with the person you are about to talk to will be on your mind. That remembered information however, will be subjective; it will be the memory of how you felt last time, based on what you decided to think, say, and do. 

When someone doesn’t say or do what you want them to, you will cast yourself as the victim. In your mind your expectations are completely valid, and that is how you will commit that situation to your memory. Continually wanting other people to fulfill your expectations is inevitably going to lead to painful memories. What you are recalling is your subjective version of the past. The situations that you remember only exist now in your mind, and they are based on your desires, expectations, hopes, and fears. The more positive you think and feel at this moment, the more positive your memories will be of this moment in the future.

The word ‘cardinal’ finally popped out of my mouth, like the cork out of a champagne bottle; what a relief! How could I have forgotten the name of America’s favorite Christmas bird? I don’t have the answer to that question. I do know however, that I can choose to remember the frustration that I felt, or I can recall the moment of joy when the striking red feathers first caught my eye. When you realize that every thought you are having now is creating your memories for the future, you can gain control over how you recall your past. Are you defined by your memories? That is entirely up to you. I personally prefer to define myself by the choices that I am making in my life right now. 

I leave you with this question, ‘if you woke up in the morning with no memory of ever having felt betrayed, used, ignored, judged, or disrespected, which current relationship in your life would instantly improve?’

Maria Bott, Yoga Therapist and Life Coach  www.mariabott.com

Note: Life Coaching sessions are available in groups, one-on-one, over the telephone, and via Skype.

The antonym for peace is ‘uproar’. Therefore it would stand to reason that if you are asking for peace in your life, you must currently be feeling in a state of uproar. I use the word ‘feeling’ deliberately, because both peace and uproar are states of mind that can be chosen.

I read a story once written by a journalist named Annie who found herself in the middle of a riot. It erupted so quickly that her car was suddenly surrounded in all directions by petrol bombs and flying rocks. Annie states that she decided to get through this predicament alive, and a feeling of peace descended over her. Despite what was going on around her, and without any fear of harm, she calmly drove out of the riot zone without a scratch.

Perhaps by understanding what your choices are, you can become more clear about what you really want to experience. It is not what is going on around you, or what is happening to you, that determines how peaceful you feel. Annie the journalist is a testament to that statement; she was feeling peaceful while chaos reined all around her. Annie could just have easily reacted with panic, and been traumatized by the violence of the riot.

Even though the word conflict is not specifically an antonym for peace, I believe that it is impossible to feel peaceful while experiencing conflict. How many times a day are you choosing to be in a state of conflict? Let me help you to count them:

• Swearing at the car that pulled in front of you and proceeded to drive along at five miles and hour under the speed limit.
• Engaging in a debate with someone when you say that you don’t get any pleasure out of debating.
• Declaring that you don’t want to hear any more about the problems of the world, then sitting down to watch the news.
• Being nasty to someone because you think that they were nasty to you.
• Eating unhealthy food while thinking to yourself, ‘I really shouldn’t be eating this…’

These are just a few examples of how you might be sabotaging your own desires to live a peaceful life.

Peace on Earth may seem to be a lofty and unattainable goal. Peace in your life however is really not so hard to achieve. Pay attention to the opportunities that pop up for you to decide what it is that you want to feel. You may not be completely clear right now about what the meaning of peace is for you, but I’d wage a bet that you are clear about what it isn’t.

If I could make only one wish for you – I would wish you peace of mind, and the clarity and awareness to choose it.

Maria Bott, Yoga Therapist and Life Coach          www.mariabott.com

Note: Life Coaching sessions are available in groups, one-on-one, by telephone, and via Skype. Please visit my website for further information.

Traditions such as Halloween, and the Day of the Dead promote the misconception that bones are lifeless. During these celebrations fleshless skeletons are propped up, painted on, and ghoulishly displayed to frighten, or amuse people. Your bones however, are not only very much alive, they have an abundant supply of nerves; something you quickly discover should you ever break one of them!

You are never too old to begin taking better care of your skeleton. Osteoporosis does not exhibit any outward symptoms, which is why it is also known as the ‘silent disease’.  Although there are now accurate tests that can be done to determine bone density, a problem is often only discovered after a fracture has occurred. Because bones are made up of living, growing cells – preventing, or slowing down bone loss is a good place to start.  Bone loss is exacerbated by: a sedentary life style, smoking, and consuming excess caffeine, salt, and acid forming foods.

“A recent seven year study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, on 9,000 women showed that those who have chronic acidosis are at greater risk for bone loss than those who have normal pH levels. The scientists who carried out this experiment believe that many of the hip fractures prevalent among middle-aged women are connected to high acidity caused by a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. This is because the body borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For more information on healthy alkaline foods, including a food chart, visit: http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/acid-alkaline.html  

If you think that taking a calcium supplement is enough to protect your bones, think again. What you put into your body is of course paramount to a healthy skeleton, but what you do with your body is just as important. When you exercise you are causing your muscles to pull on the tendons that attach them to the bones. When the bones ‘sense’ this repetitive or continuous tugging by the tendons, they respond by calling for more calcium to become stronger.

You are never too young to benefit from regular exercise. In children, because their bones are growing, they are adding cells more prolifically than they are shedding them. The process of how bones become stronger is still the same though for both child and adult. According to a recent study done by the Medical Journal Pediatrics, “Teens that are sedentary have a lower bone density by the age of eighteen than those who exercise.”

I could write all day about the areas of your life that are made easier through exercising, those such as gardening, shopping, cleaning, climbing stairs, and preventing a fall that could lead to a broken hip! There are many reasons as to why someone would fall down, and exercises for balance, agility, and coordination can help greatly to prevent this. The fact is though that no matter what is done to prevent them, falls are going to happen, and strong, healthy bones make it less likely to experience a fracture as a result.

“Nearly one in two women, and one in four men over fifty will experience an osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetime. A woman’s risk of fracturing a hip is equal to her combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.” ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), Action Plan for Osteoporosis Prevention.

Not all exercises are created equal when it comes to strengthening dem bones. For improving bone density, the exercise needs to be ‘weight bearing’. It was discovered that when astronauts were out in space in zero gravity, they lost bone mass at an accelerated rate. This was because their bones weren’t being stimulated to produce new cells. When it comes to exercising for example, swimming and cycling are not considered to be ‘weight bearing’ because the body is supported. Therefore, even though they are excellent exercises, they are not specific for improving bone health.

“The types of exercises that have a positive effect on bone health include very fast walking, stair climbing or stepping, and aerobic dance. Small benefits all help to prevent fracture” Wolff et al. 1999

Jumping and skipping are great impact exercises for the hipbones, ankle stability, and flexibility, and are recommended in the ACSM, Action Plan for Osteoporosis Prevention. Not everyone is ready to start jumping up and down for joy though! In fact I do not recommend it for anyone who is currently sedentary, experiencing pain, or suspects that they might already have the beginnings of osteoporosis.

To begin with, increase your activity gently, for example with Hatha Yoga. Standing poses are weight bearing, and create isometric muscle contractions to signal the bone to become stronger. Seated poses can also require the arms to bear the weight of the body.

Before beginning Yoga, or any exercise routine, I recommend consulting with a professional to help you to determine the: FITT  [Exercise] Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type. No matter what your current condition, with the correct guidance you can begin a routine that is safe and appropriate for you.

If you are keeping track of your bone density via medical testing, you might want to keep in mind that according to ACSM, Action Plan for Osteoporosis Prevention, “all exercise research studies are a minimum of six months in length, and usually last for one year. This means that you must be patient and persistent, and most of all, you need to find an exercise that you will stick to for a lifetime.”

No talk on bone health would be complete without talking about diet. Just about everyone knows that bones are made up of calcium. There are however, many other minerals and vitamins required to maintain healthy bones, such as Magnesium, and Zinc, and Vitamins D and K. Calcium is considered to be so important because it serves many other vital purposes in the body. When calcium levels in the blood stream drop due to over-acidity for example, your body will pull the calcium right out of your bones to restore balance.

Current research supports that the healthiest way to increase calcium intake, along with the other necessary minerals and vitamins, is to increase your consumption of green foods and beans. The body more readily absorbs the calcium found in plant foods than the calcium added to dairy products. http://www.pcrm.org/health/prevmed/osteoporosis.html

The booklet ‘Parents guide to building better bones’ by PCRM (Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine) references two studies done on calcium consumption and bone health:

“In a 12-year Harvard study of 78,000 women, those who got the most calcium from dairy products actually broke more bones than the women who got little or no calcium from dairy.” Am J Publ Health 1997;87:992-7.

“A 1994 study of elderly men and women in Sydney, Australia, showed that those who consumed the most dairy products had double the hip fracture rate of those who consumed the least.” Am J Epidemiol 1994; 139:493-503.  www.strongbones.org 

The reason for this according to PCRM is that despite the amount of calcium in dairy products, other compounds found in dairy accelerate the loss of calcium. Nutritionists, who are educated by the latest research information available, are now promoting plant-based foods for a healthy skeleton.

In regard to building better bones, nutritionist Adrienne Falcone Godsell says, “Green super-foods are a great source of nutrients, not only for calcium and trace minerals, but also for the immune system.” www.BestofBothWorldsTampa.yolasite.com . You can also find an abundance of information on foods rich in calcium, and other vitamins and minerals at www.pursueahealthyyou.com , a comprehensive site by nutritionist Dustin Rudolph.

Other foods rich in healthy bone building minerals are beans, including soybeans. Per The American Journal of Epidemiology, “A quarter cup of tofu per day can result in a thirty percent reduction in fracture risk.” Singapore Chinese Health Study, AM. J Epidemol 2009; 170 (7): 901:909.

To conclude, osteoporosis is a preventable disease, but what you don’t know about it can definitely hurt you. It is never too late, or too early, to make healthy life-style changes that promote bone growth, and prevent bone loss. Don’t wait for the symptoms to show up – remember it’s called the ‘silent disease’ for a reason. Your skeleton not only supports your body, protects your internal organs, and stores your minerals for you, without it you would not even be able to move. Take good care of dem bones, and dem bones will take good care of you!

Maria Bott www.mariabott.com

Certified Personal Trainer www.acsm.org

Certified Yoga Instructor www.vyasa.org

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the word ‘Strength’ means ‘Power, the ability to act or achieve something’. Therefore, whether it is the ability to act when faced with a mental problem, or with a physical challenge, adequate strength is required to achieve the task.

Thousands of years ago in India a society of people recognized the full scope of Strength Training, and its connection to mental as well as physical health. They began writing what we now recognize as the Holistic Science of Yoga.  Yoga practice teaches you how to create a life that is strong and powerful – not just a body that is fashionably bulky!

What is the point of being able to lift a huge dumb bell, if you are suffering with lower back pain? Training with dumb bells, or machines is typically done by isolating muscles, and then completing a set of repetitions. The focus is on finishing the set, often to the point of muscle failure. In Yoga asana (body postures) patterns of tension are created throughout muscle groups in correct balance. The purpose of the pose is to release unnecessary tension, and to improve neuromuscular control and endurance.

Believing that you have to ‘feel the burn’ to benefit from strength training is misunderstanding the process. The ‘burn’ is lactic acid sitting in your muscles as a waste product, and there’s nothing beneficial about that! The deep stretching practiced in Yoga postures increases blood flow to the muscles, washing away the lactic acid before it can cause discomfort.

Using machines to increase physical strength may appear at first blush to be a safe way to train. The problem is that machines can interfere with the integrity of core muscles by artificially stabilizing the body. To fully engage and strengthen your core muscles you need to be aware of your ‘center of gravity’ at all times. Yoga practice works the muscles in balance, including the core, creating a strong and stable foundation, and preventing injury.

Yoga strengthening poses such as Plank, Boat, Bridge, and Reverse Pushup have been ‘borrowed’ by many exercise routines  – because they work! Yoga however, also provides the relaxing and energizing benefits of Pranayama (breathing exercises), and Pratyahara (focused awareness).

The improved posture, muscle strengthening and toning resulting from regular Yoga practice make it a complete strength training modality in and of itself. Yoga also nicely compliments other forms of activity and exercise such as athletics, and weight lifting.

There are some great DVD’s available for home practice, and many group yoga classes at studios to choose from. However, I strongly suggest that you spend time with an experienced teacher when you first start. Learning how to strengthen your mind and body correctly, and safely, in the beginning will create a powerful foundation for the rest of your life!

www.mariabott.com                           www.sunyogatampa.com

The efficiency, or ‘speed’ of metabolism is determined by the following:

• The glandular system and the hormones that they produce, particularly the thyroid
• The digestive system, and the quality of food consumed
• Efficiency of the respiratory and circulatory systems
• Physical activity – type, frequency and intensity
• What is being done to improve all of the above

Every move that you make requires muscle action, and muscles need energy to contract. That energy comes from the ATP that has been converted out of carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Research concludes that calories (energy units) are continuing to be used for several hours following resistance training, whereas that is not the case following cardio type exercise. Check out the article ‘Effects of Strength Training on Resting Energy Expenditure’, in American College of Sports Medicine, Certified News. Go to www.acsm.org and type the name of the article in the search field.

The fact is that you need to flex your muscles if you want to burn fat! Exercises that combine multiple muscle groups against the highest resistance burn the most calories. This is why running on a treadmill for hours is not the most effective way to lose weight.

Eating more animal protein, and cutting out carbohydrates is not going to speed up your metabolism either. Excess protein causes the body to call on more fluid to wash the resulting toxins out. The apparent weight loss is actually water loss, and if maintained for any length of time can lead to ketosis, or toxic overload.

The fat converting mechanism of metabolism requires oxygen to take place. Its effectiveness therefore, relies heavily on how well the respiratory and circulatory systems deliver oxygen to the muscles.

An efficient metabolism also requires healthy glands to produce the necessary hormones. Without hormones to activate the cells within the muscles making them contract, the fuel that has been converted from fat isn’t going to be used, or ‘burnt’. A disease of the thyroid, which could impact your ability to burn calories, needs to be addressed by a medical physician.

Genetic makeup determines the shape of your body, its composition, even the length of your tendons. If genetics were in control of body fat however, no body would be able to lose or gain any of it regardless of how hard they tried.

Now you know in very simple terms how metabolism works. What can you do to put that knowledge to good use? The answer is simple – you can do YOGA!

The science of Yoga has been the subject of research for decades, and is proven to improve the health and efficiency of metabolism. This improvement is achieved through conscious, controlled breathing exercises, body postures and awareness, flowing movements, control of the senses, and meditation.

Regular Yoga practice improves metabolism through the following:

• RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, maximizing blood oxygenation when muscles demand energy
• CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM for blood circulation to carry the oxygen in, and the waste products out (minimizes post exercise discomfort)
• MUSCLE STRENGTH by challenging the nervous system to respond to balanced resistance using body weight against gravity
• FLEXIBILITY through correctly stretching muscles, increasing their blood flow and available oxygen
• GLANDULAR EFFICIENCY through gently massaging internal organs, including the thyroid and pancreas, with specific body postures
• DIGESTION through understanding the nature of foods that support life and create minimal waste. Also through stimulating the digestive process in body postures
• STATE OF BEING, calming the mind, and relaxing tension from the systems of the physical body
• AWARENESS through concentration, focus, and balance

Hatha Yoga is the way to achieve a healthy and effective metabolism  – and I have made it my business to teach it to you!

Live well, be kind, and act with compassion…                                   

Maria

www.mariabott.com

 The children playing outside appeared to be having so much fun, and I’m sure the word ‘exercise’ was far from their minds! Why is it okay for an adult to play something structured like softball, but not to play at jumping up and down with a stick? I’m not suggesting that you need to start knocking Spanish moss off of trees to get your heart rate up.  I am suggesting though that you do something fun, relaxing, or challenging that will achieve the same end. After all, The American Heart Association recommends at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise per day to maintain good health.

 Medical research reports that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to all kinds of problems such as type II diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Another lifestyle related epidemic, one that affects millions of people a year, is the issue of chronic pain. The causes of chronic pain can vary from tight muscles to an unresolved injury. The effects of this problem however, are the same: suffering, discomfort, and distraction. Poor posture, stiff joints, and chronic pain used to be an affliction of the elderly; today it impacts people of all ages after spending hours sitting hunched over some form of technology.

Adding at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise to the top of the daily priority list would produce benefits that are expediential. But how can parents be expected to teach their children the importance of exercise, when they don’t have the know-how or motivation for themselves? Is technology really improving the quality of life today, or is it replacing our natural urge to exercise? Could putting computer time before playtime be escalating the risk for lifestyle related diseases? Next time you feel the urge to hop, skip, and jump over the cracks in the pavement – I suggest that you throw caution to the wind and go for it!

live well, be kind, and act with compassion…

Maria

www.mariabott.com

As an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, I have access to cutting edge research in the field of exercise and fitness. More relevant to me though is my experience as a Personal Yoga Therapist. Yoga is not about exercise, or even about stretching, it is a practice of the ‘Citta’, which means ‘the workings of the mind’.  Written thousands of years ago, Yoga upholds the law of attraction; what you think about, you will experience. Through Yoga you create Strength, Flexibility, and Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.

If you are interested in getting better as you get older, then I invite you to join me on the exciting path to achieving just that!

Live well, be kind, and act with compassion…

Maria Bott, Yoga Therapist and Life Coach

www.mariabott.com