Fitness on Friday 3 May 2013: Daily Energy

Since starting with a beginners Yoga DVD a few weeks ago I've been really enjoying the practise so thought I'd move onto something a little more challenging. I ordered this DVD from Shiva Rea and I LOVE it!

There is a customizable "yoga matrix" from which you can pick and choose which sequences to include in your workout, as well as having the option to choose a pre-set routine.

It is definitely more challenging and has made me realize just how much strength and flexibility we can gain through the daily practise of yoga.

Shiva guides you through the poses and offers simpler alternatives as she contorts herself effortlessly into the most difficult version.

I celebrated yesterday after completing a "Forward Bends" sequence when I was able to sit in forward bend during cobblers pose with  my forehead resting on the ground (for about 5 seconds -  Shiva comfortably rests her head on the ground during every forward bend variation!). I will post up some pictures of my pose successes over the coming weeks as I continue to practise.

I find the routines energizing, inspiring, challenging and a lot of fun. Definitely recommend for anyone looking to move past beginners yoga into something more complex. You can purchase this DVD from Amazon for as little as $15. She has a lot of other DVDs that I may have to add to my collection soon too!

Thought for Thursday 2 May 2013: No such word as can't

I remember my Father saying to me often throughout my life "There's no such word as can't!" (to which I just now realize I should have pointed him towards a dictionary because there clearly is). He liked the saying though and you know what, it helped....

When I tried to play golf

When I was learning to ride a bicycle

The first time I went skiing

My first venture across a playgrounds monkey bars.

Even recently when I was learning to ride a Yike Bike (don't know what that is? Check them out here)

Often when I'm struggling to do something new I will hear the words in my head "Yes you can, there's no such word as can't!" and I power on.

I believe I can do anything that I put my mind to. Do you?

Whatever Wednesday 1 May 2013: Life Application

I spent a large portion of my week this week studying the nervous system for an Anatomy exam. During this frenzy of study I made the time to go out for a run and I found myself relating the decision to exercise back to what I'd been learning.

The nervous system in the human body is the control centre for what our bodies actually do. The body's peripheral nervous system can be further divided into two systems of bodily functions - autonomic and somatic.

Autonomic systems are those functions that occur without us consciously controlling them; our heart continuing to beat, our digestive system doing its job to digest, our diaphragm expanding with the air in our lungs....

On the flipside somatic systems are the functions which are under our control - essentially what we choose to do with our body in regards to it's movement. It's the somatic nervous system that controls our skeletal muscles; and the movements of our bodies limbs.  

What understanding all this did for me while I was running was brought to light the fact that exercising really does all start with conscious thought in the brain.

When we decide to do physical exercise the movements are somatic nervous system functions. We're consciously choosing to move our body in that direction in space. And we can instruct it to keep going when it feels tired. We can instruct it to not give up. We can instruct it to push harder and faster. We can send that message through our nervous system.

We are in control.

Change on Tuesday 30 April 2013: Fruit/Juice?

My husband gave me a juicer for my birthday and it has been GREAT, if I've had any leftover fruit that's a bit mushy I've turned it to juice. I juiced leftover rainbow fruit kebabs from my dinner party (by the way rainbow fruit = brown juice); I've juiced up celery, carrot and even kale for a fast dose of vegetable vitamins in the morning.

One of the things I like about my juicer is I don't lose perspective on just how much is going in. If I put three kiwi fruits, an apple, and a bunch of spinach in there and get one small glass of juice I understand that although it's fast to consume that drink is still a sizeable snack.

This is the problem that we encounter with the bulk juice a lot of families buy from the supermarket. Even if you're buying the freshly squeezed variety (don't even get me started on the nutritional content of supposed fruit 'drinks') if you drink the juice regularly throughout the day in addition to your daily meals there that's a lot of extra sugar and energy you're consuming which you may really not need.

My suggestion? Unless you are having a glass of freshly squeezed in place of a snack or meal reach for a whole piece of fruit instead for less sugar, and more fibre in your daily diet.

A good test to ask yourself is this.... One glass of OJ is made from the juice of about 3 or 4 oranges, so if you don't think you're hungry enough for four oranges on the side of your hot breakfast, eat 1 whole orange and drink a big glass of water instead.

Monday 29 April 2013: Superfood Spotlight: Garlic

I had a flatmate once who would chew on bulbs of raw garlic. Some people might have found that strange, or be repulsed by the odour. Not me. Being a fellow lover of garlic when the familiar smell began to waft around the house I was delighted by it. Though I haven't gotten to the raw bulb chewing stage myself I do love to add minced garlic to just about everything when cooking. And it turns out this is a culinary  habit that is not only a sales goldmine for the chewing gum companies, but good for our health too.

So what is garlic? Garlic is a bulbous plant with the official name Allium Sativum; and is a species of the onion genus. It is widely used around the world in cooking as a seasoning or condiment adn is available in many forms - fresh, frozen, dried, fermented and minced in tubes or jars.

Why does it deserve to wear a cape? Allicin, the active ingredient released when garlic is crushed, simulates our immune system; helping us to fight illness, bacteria and viruses. It also takes care of our heart by dilating blood vessels to lower blood pressure. And if that isn't enough it could actually save your life - the active component of allyl sulphur, slows the growth of cancer cells.

What can I do with it? So many things! As a cooking ingredient garlic can be added to just about anything. For a whole bunch delicious looking recipes that feature garlic click here.

Where can I get it and how much will it cost me? You can buy garlic at your local harvest market, supermarket, grocer, health food store or grow your own! The fresh stuff is currently retailing at Woolworths for around $19 a kilo and you can buy a 250g container of homebrand minced garlic for $1.39.

Sunday 28 April 2013 : How good does this look?

Home-made Vitamin Waters. How good does this look?!

Fitness on Friday 26 April 2013: Power Cardio

I started a new fitness DVD series last week - Zcut Power Cardio instructed by the Youtube fitness sensation Zuzana Light. I chose this workout series because of it's promise of time efficiency - 10-15 minutes of high intensity cardio training combined with strength training and with a warm up and cool down routine on either side.

The workouts have not disappointed me. The DVDs were reasonably priced to buy and can be ordered through http://zuzkalight.com/; otherwise you can also access her Zwow workouts for free on Youtube.

Enjoy!