How To Get The Most Out Of Your Health

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Your health is one of the most important things that you need to think about in your life, above all, because it's also one of the very little things that you're actually able to control - so make sure that you do so. There are many different things that you'll want to think about when it comes to your health, but here are some of the main areas that you'll want to focus on.

Nourish your body with what it needs

Everyone says that you are what you eat, and this can be as literal as you make it. Your body needs so many different nutrients, minerals and vitamins in order for it to work and function properly. Without consuming these, your body won't be as strong as it can be. You won't have as much energy as you should have, your immune system will be weak and if you're unfortunate enough to get a common cold or bug, it will take a lot longer for your body to repair itself compared to if you were healthy.

Have regular checkups

So many people refrain from going to the doctor for a checkup because they assume that it's not only a hassle, but also people don’t want to feel like they’re wasting someone’s time, or they may feel like a hypochondriac. But the thing is, this tends to be the reason why so many people are ill and get un-diagnosed with a serious issue. Just because you may not feel any specific symptoms doesn't mean that you have none. For example, there are times when individuals do not experience symptomatology from certain forms of cancer, and this is why yearly physicals and well women’s exams and any kind of help from Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Inspire can be a first level of prevention. Of course, these are all worst case scenarios, but you can never be too sure unless you get yourself checked out.

Start active every day   

Exercise is so important - it isn't just about eating well, it's about getting your body moving and you circulating yourself. Get the heart beating and your blood pumping through your veins. Your body needs to move and be active in order to burn off fat and gain muscle. Having said that, it isn't all about getting in shape purely for the aesthetic appearance, but for all the good it does for you on the inside too. It can be anything from running around the block, to signing up for a gym membership, or even just turning on your favorite songs and dancing around the house.


Now that you know what you need to look out for, make sure that you take the time to do so, because above everything else, you need to make sure that you look after yourself, because no one else will if you don't let them. It's all about the little things, but as long as you live your life in moderation, everything should run smoothly.


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5 Ways To Feel Good This Winter

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As much as we’d all love to feel incredible at all times, this isn’t always the case. In fact, you may actually find that it’s just hard for you to feel good at all. When the weather gets a little harsher and the nights are darker, you really aren’t always that motivated to feel good. You lack energy, you’re tired, you feel gross, and it can be tough. But it’s just so important for you to remember that this can be changed and that your mental state really doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, you can work on turning your mind around, on improving how you feel, and boosting your wellness efforts to just feel fantastic.

Let’s take a look at five simple ways that you can work on this today.

1. Pamper Yourself

To start with, something that always works to make you feel good, is to have a good old-fashioned pampering session. Because when you’re able to pamper yourself, you’re going to find that it’s much easier for you to lift your spirits and start to feel incredible. So run a bath, put on a mask, give yourself a manicure - pamper away!

2. Nourish Your Body

But at the same time, what you put into your body can be just as effective as what you put on it. Feeling lethargic and low in energy? Maybe you’re eating too much junk? If you nourish your body with fruits and veggies and whole foods, you’ll find that you start to feel so much better.

3. Take A Break

Now, if one of the reasons that you know you’re not feeling all that good, is because you’re overworked and overwhelmed, then you’re going to need to do something about that and fast. You need to slow down. So take a break. Do what you can to distance yourself from whatever’s stressing you out and don’t put too much pressure on yourself because this will only ever make things harder for you.

4. Be Conscious Of Your Mood

It’s always going to be incredibly important for you to be aware of your mind and your moods at all time. If you are more present, then you’ll have a much better chance of stopping yourself when you start to feel a little off. Or at least pinpoint the problem and here, you can then work on a few simple things to be happy right away. So when you notice your mood slipping, change it.

5. Do Something Fun, Just Because

And then finally, just go crazy! Don’t beat yourself up all the time or be in your head. Live a little. Go for an impromptu dinner. Travel. Go visit family. Just so something fun, because you can. Don’t let yourself get all caught up in the stresses of life all the time. Instead, let yourself have a bit of fun because that’s what life is all about! So make sure that you’re having a bit of fun this winter!


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From Yoga to Yogi: Advanced Yoga Made Basic

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Something simple can quickly become over-complicated; especially when it’s trending and Instagrammers all over the world are crawling into complicated postures, preaching veganism, and attending hour-long meditations in the depths of forests. They seem to get through entire sun salutations entirely on their head, everything they eat is green, and their yoga outfits were last seen on a catwalk a couple of weeks ago.

Some of us would just like to practice in peace. If social media has taken the funk out of your favorite exercise and you’ve positively fallen out of love with your mat, it’s time to get back to basics.

Find comfort in the fact that yoga is more than 5000 years old and simply sniffs at all the hype around it these days. You can practice without having to be perfect - and enjoy its simplicity to the fullest.

Yoga as a way of life

For the best results, you should roll your mat out every day. It’s one of the things that makes yoga so difficult to grasp for those who have barely done it; while a lot of people go for a jog once a day, not everyone is able to incorporate meditation and breathing techniques while they’re at it. Yoga Karmasu Kaushalam means that yoga is perfection in action - one that has practiced for years already will strive towards perfection in their everyday activities, a calm and steady mind throughout the hustle of any week day.

This is perhaps the reason that so many people have been caught up in the hype lately. It is used as a counterbalance to the stressful lives we lead and a way to find peace in the midst of chaos. If this is what you’re looking for, you need to switch off your mind and find peace on your mat for at least half an hour everyday.

It doesn’t help to be inspired to perform an intricate dancer-pose because you saw someone do it and it looked amazing; you’ll just be bringing your expectations with you to the mat. Switch everything off and enjoy perfecting your own postures - if a yogi strives towards anything, it is to fall deeper into each pose and achieve her own goals of perfection.

The Sun and the Moon - Surya Namaskar and Chandra Namaskar

Did you know that there is a moon salutation as well as a sun salutation? While the latter is better known, the moon salutation aims to calm down the body and mind, preparing it for the evening. It is yin and yang where the moon is the yin, and the sun is the yang - energizing and preparing you for a day of activities.

The sun salutation is, of course, the perfect way to warm up before your practice. You might see these two different versions of namaskar as opposites or even independent; the truth is that, just like the sun and the moon, they rely on each other for balance and so should you.

Use the moon salutation to cool down at the end of a long session and as a calm, meditative exercise at the end of a long day.  

Every posture in the sun sequence is made to open your chest, close it up again, and stretch your way to deeper breathing. When you bend forward, your chest is closed; open it up in cobra, and close it again in downward facing dog. It makes sense, right?

The best way to embark on your path to yoga is incorporating at least a couple of sun salutations every day. Although most sessions should be about sixty to ninety minutes, including a warm-up, twists, standing poses, sitting poses, a few inversions, as well as ten minutes of meditation, it’s understandable that few of us are able to devote this much time every day. 

Do a couple of sun sequences on the days you’re a bit busier - and save the longer workouts for when you have the time and attention for it. Whatever you do, don’t rush your session. 

What should I wear?

From yoga pants to bodysuits, the active wear fashion has spread all the way over to our mats - unsurprisingly, perhaps. You should wear something you’re comfortable in, first of all, and avoid anything that’s too loose. 

If you prefer to go to a yoga studio, you’ll quickly notice how the rest of the class have a full view of your sports bra when you’re in an inversion - and you’ll most likely notice it already in downward facing dog. Even if you prefer to exercise at home, that loose-hanging fabric will tickle your nose and be a nuisance in general. 

Choose something tighter; if not to be sexy, then at least to be comfortable. 

Needless to say, you’re not going to be in better shape just by purchasing expensive outfits to exercise in. On the other hand, nice and soft clothes to slip into before your practice is a great way to boost your motivation and will make you feel a lot better than when you’re pulling that old top over your head, yet again. 

A good idea is to look for something discounted, such as the yoga stuff they have at DontPayFull.com so that you can sweat all over your new clothes without feeling bad about it. Find your yoga mat and something cozy to wear, first of all, and forget about the rest of the props; you don’t really need it.

That’s the great thing about yoga. Wherever you go, you’ll be able to enjoy your routine as all you really need is a healthy body. Use the lawn as a mat when you’re away, do it naked if you’re not in public, and love the feeling of not being in need of anything at all.

Breathing Techniques - Pranayama

What most people love about this exercise is that it is holistic. It incorporates your mind as well as your body, in other words, and the breathing techniques can remind a bit about those a therapist would recommend if you struggle with anxiety. Breathing is the single most important thing we do to keep ourselves alive - while we can go days without water and weeks without food, we can barely go a few minutes without breathing.

You should practice this together with a yoga teacher, first of all, and read more about it in yogajournal.com. The basic idea is that, to cool down your mind and stop the train wreck of racing thoughts, you need to bring attention back to the way you are breathing.

Start by lying flat on your back, knees bent, and your hands resting comfortably on your stomach. Breathe in slowly, give it a little pause, and exhale slowly again. Try to notice how the air flows through your body, and feel how your increased attention makes you breathe a bit deeper.

When you practice yoga, every movement should have a breath. It sounds odd when you’re holding a static pose, but the mindset will help you to stretch a bit further when you inhale - and fall deeper into the pose as you exhale. Your entire attention is focused on the pose you’re in, the exact moment you’re breathing in, stretching towards - and release.

The end of your session should include a bit of meditation. It can be as simple as just lying on your back, spine curled naturally and not pressed against the floor, focusing on your breathing, and feeling the calmness of a body that’s been well-exercised.

 

Sit in a few minutes of peace or even stand there if you like, and namaste - the moment is yours.

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