Cold Weather Yoga

December is upon us, Christmas and New Years are fast approaching and the weather is getting colder. Many people, myself included, often feel ache's brought on by the cold weather. But yoga expert Kristen McGee has created a nice series of yoga poses for Health.com that could help you beat the cold aches.

To feel better, I do this soothing sequence: Cow to Cat to Dancing Cat to Extended Child’s Pose. It opens up the hips, back, shoulders, and neck, plus gets the blood flowing without having to stand (the last thing I want to do when I’m creaky). Go through the series (both sides) 3 to 5 times, then stay in the final pose as long as you want. Think of it as a little daily gift to yourself.



Read More: Yoga For An Ache-Free Winter

Yoga For Weight Loss

Many people wish to lose weight, but lack the time or stamina for long workouts or runs. But by doing these 4 simple yoga poses 3 times a week, you can lose weight and relieve stress in less than 10 minutes. By Marianne McGinnis for Prevention.

"Yoga is a known stress buster, but it's also one of the most effective workouts for fighting stubborn fat stores, especially the ones that crop up after age 40. Yes, you can use yoga for weight loss. The reason: Studies show that yoga lowers levels of stress hormones and increases insulin sensitivity--a signal to your body to burn food as fuel rather than store it as fat."

http://www.prevention.com/health/fitness/yoga/yoga-for-weight-loss-5-yoga-poses/article/a018d786593b4110VgnVCM10000013281eac

Add Years to your Life with these 15 minute workouts.

Even people who don't have the time to do a full workout should stay healthy with these nifty tips from Jenny Sugar from fitsugar.com

If your busy schedule doesn't allow for the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise, a large study from Taiwan should make you feel better. The 13-year study tracked 416,000 participants and found that just 15 minutes of moderate exercise increased their life expectancy by three years, compared to those who didn't exercise. Daily workouts lower the incidence of cancer, and therefore lower the risk of cancer-related deaths.

Stay healthy everyone!

Yoga-nna Love It: 5 Reasons To Try Yoga Today!

For thousands of years, Yoga has been used to calm the mind, enrich the spirit, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Yoga can be done nearly anywhere and with minimal equipment. Its physical and psychological health benefits are innumerable as yoga has been shown to increase concentration, promote better breathing, improve posture, tone muscles and improve mind-body awareness. Here are some ways that yoga can help you be a better you!

Flexibility

Yoga is obviously all about flexibility. We’ve all seen pictures of master yogis performing seemingly impossible feats of strength and flexibility which may appear intimidating to the beginner, but the truth is that no matter how inflexible you are, yoga will help you increase range of motion in your joints. Keeping limber is a great way to ward off injuries such as pulled muscles. It also helps relax muscles which can reduce the risk or effects of lower back pain.

Breathing

In yoga, there is much emphasis put on the importance of breathing. As an extremely important bodily function (obviously) it is worthwhile to learn to breath in the most effective manner possible. In most forms of yoga, one is taught to lengthen and deepen their breath which can improve lung capacity. Learning to be a better breather will not only help you in your yogatistical endeavors, but also in any other cardiovascular exercises you might be doing.

Strength

Yoga is always relaxing, but often times it can be very physically strenuous. Almost every yoga position (if practiced correctly) increases core abdominal strength, others focus more directly on triceps, biceps, hamstrings, quadriceps, etc. Increased strength can mean more toned muscles and greater endurance which brings us to my next point.

Posture

With greater range of motion, and increased core strength, good posture (correct alignment of the spine) is more easily maintained for extended periods of time. Over the years, gravity tends to take a toll on most people which causes them to slouch, hunch and slump. Inevitably, detrimental habits are formed. Yoga can help to reteach your body good posture to eliminate back pain.

Psychological

Yoga is proven to reduce stress dramatically due to the release of hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin and reduced levels of hormone neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. This leaves the body with a sense of calm and tranquility. Yoga also emphasizes meditative techniques which can improve one's ability to concentrate effectively over long periods of time. There is also speculation that yoga can help those afflicted by depression and other psychological disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Get out there, give yoga a try and see how it can help you achieve your goals.

*Do you have an idea for an article, have questions or need advice? Please write us at elementfitnessny@gmail.com! Subject: Blog

Welcome (and books!)

Hi, and welcome to Element Fitness's new blog.

I want to start out with a book list -- some of my favorites about body image, especially Health At Every Size, and also food. Because we love good food!

Health At Every Size -- books to help you learn about HAES:

Lessons from the Fat-o-sphere: Quit Dieting and Declare a Truce with Your Body

Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth about Your Weight

Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss--and the Myths and Realities of Dieting

Big Fat Lies: The Truth about Your Weight and Your Health

Just the Weigh You Are: How to Be Fit and Healthy, Whatever Your Size

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls

Good food and nutrition:

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating

The Moosewood Cookbook

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

Enjoy in good health -- and please leave your favorites in the comments, we'd love to hear from you.