Tag Archives: meditation

It’s American Heart Month. Here are recommended ways to show this tireless organ some love …

As the holidays peak, take time to quickly recharge. Intensify your joy …

by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner Your timely reminder of the importance of exercise … Use this fitness motivation to soar through the season. It is a time of year when much gets in the way of your healthy habits. Often, we let it, with the excuses “It’s only once a year” and “I deserve a break.” A break from health is never needed. So, toss those excuses out with the broken holiday lights. Stay on track with these reminders of why today’s workout is more important than ever. Boost Your Immune System Regular exercise improves the body’s ability to fight off germs. This includes common colds and flu as well as infections and chronic illness. Studies have shown moderate-intensity exercise on a daily basis can significantly reduce the number of colds caught compared to inactive individuals. Exercise is believed to increase white blood cell count, which fights infections. You deserve a healthy holiday. Use your workout as a top defense against sniffles and sneezes. This time of year, you are surrounded in the malls, grocery stores, office, and at that party where Santa’s nose looked redder than usual. A half-hour workout may spare you from several congested days of functioning at minimal …

by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner Summer is quickly fading. Wrap it up on a healthy note with these takeaways … It isn’t over yet. Before you turn thoughts and energy to autumn, use this season’s closure to inspire some health initiatives. When September arrives, you’ll be glad you did. Kick It Up Add an extra workout to the last weeks of August. Dedicate an hour each week to experimenting with various fitness methods. Try a new class, use different equipment, or get in the Center pool. Ask a trainer for suggestions. S/he can spark excitement and provide support as you try new exercises. If your summer schedule interfered with your fitness routine, now is the time to get back on track. By returning to a formal fitness schedule, it will be easier to remain committed as life’s pace increases in the fall. Member Radhika wished she started sooner, as do most after feeling the positive effects of fitness. Through working with her personal trainer, she learned fitness can be a fun experience rather than something dreadful. Thanks to a sustainable workout, she lost 20 pounds and feels stronger, fitter, and slimmer than ever. Why procrastinate feeling fabulous! Go into fall with a …

by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner Stress is a natural part of life. You can’t eliminate it. However, you can learn healthy ways to manage it … Stress usually has negative connotations. It is associated with excessive responsibilities, sick kids, overbooked schedules, and traffic jams. Used effectively though, stress can increase mental and physical functioning. Its release of fight-or-flight brain chemicals can energize us into action. It is impossible to banish all stressors from your life. Avoid the frustration of this futile attempt, and the additional stress it will cause. Instead, focus on better ways to deal with it. Start with these: Sleep Well Lack of quality sleep contributes to stress by exacerbating negative occurrences. Little hassles become disproportionately hard to manage. You are also inclined to make poor decisions and more mistakes when tired, which leads to more stress. Skip the Comfort Food Power up your brain and immune system with food for thought. No stress-attack needs to be fueled by sugar and caffeine. That only leads to a crash. Go for foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like tuna. Snack on nuts and seeds. Essential nutrients improve concentration and help maintain energy. Monitor the amount you eat. Too much food can …