Fitness Archives

Meditation is far better than Medication

Posted on Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Meditation is an ancient practice by which a person focuses on a single thought to quiet the mind of all other thoughts, images and sensations. The purpose of this very healing discipline is to learn how to be still; in the present moment, in the "here and now"; letting go of all mental, physical and emotional analysis. Depending on the philosophy of the practice you choose, you will achieve this altered state of calmness in different ways. For years I thought that "meditating" meant sitting in the lotus position on the floor and chanting! I have since learned that it does not have to feel so unfamiliar, awkward or difficult.

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Feel Younger, The Time Is NOW!

Posted on Sunday, November 7, 2010

"That which is used develops and that which is not, wastes away"
Socrates

Many of your beliefs about health and fitness come from your parents, teachers at school, what you read in books or hear on TV. Unfortunately reports, books, articles and even infomercials on health and fitness are often riddled with outdated or misguided information, often generated by self-serving entities.

Joseph Pilates on the other hand, over 70 years ago, studied the anatomy of movement and recognized that the body, while ruled by the mind, has an intuitive and efficient movement system based on very simple principles.

Let's age gracefully and naturally!

Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010

As we breathe our body uses oxygen to produce energy. In that cellular oxidation reaction we produce highly charged molecules called "free radicals" which scavenge on other molecules in our body, causing inflammation and oxidative damage to proteins, membranes and our genetic DNA.

This ongoing oxidative stress alters the natural reproduction ability of our cells and is purported to cause serious conditions like cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and is the main reason for why we see aging in our body. Baby boomers are getting on so "anti-aging" is of enormous interest to the medical community. If your goal is to not only prolong your life but to make sure that the quality of your older years is productive and vital the evidence exists to support that eating antioxidants is the secret.

My Journey to Wellness by Marjolein

Posted on Monday, October 4, 2010

My Wellness journey

Traditionally health has been described as “a state of being, devoid of disease and infirmity” but in my mind it includes more than just my physical body.

While western medicine readily treats a single symptom, eastern philosophy has always considered that “disease” is an indication of a larger total body imbalance that must not be treated by its symptom but instead by looking at its root cause.

How to live cleaner in a toxic world

Posted on Monday, September 13, 2010

Why do we all feel so tired, lethargic, fat, sick and depressed?

Mainly because our busy, modern lives expose us to thousands of poisons that we cannot adequately eliminate, causing toxic overload which in turn makes us sick and tired.

Gluten Intolerance - Solutions

Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2010

Gluten, which is composed of two protein groups, gliadins, which give dough its flow characteristics and glutenins, which provide dough with its elastic consistency, is found in the grains of wheat, barley, rye and oats.

Gluten sensitivity, one of the most undiagnosed yet prevalent conditions, has also been associated with infertility, miscarriage, autoimmune thyroid disease, dermatitis, depression, immune system disorders, brain development problems in infants and children, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and autism. These conditions are mostly treated with medications when a simple change in diet could really help.

Did you know that your teeth may be making you sick?

Posted on Monday, July 5, 2010

About 22 years ago I learned about the dangers of mercury poisoning and while living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At the time, I decided to have all of my mercury fillings removed. Little did I realize the danger associated with the removal of the fillings and later learned that the dentist whose dedication to this task, died at a very early age after years of Alzheimer's. Today, believe it or not, there are still dentists that use mercury laden amalgam for fillings, even in kid's teeth.

Wellness Dictionary

Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2010

In our attempt to become healthy there are so many words that we are unfamiliar with. Here's hoping that our Wellness Dictionary will provide a solution;

Antioxidant - As our cells use oxygen, they naturally produce damaging free radicals which play a role in aging, genetic damage of cells, heart disease, cancer and inflammation and the "rusting" of our cells. Anti-oxidants like Vitamins C and E; minerals like Zinc and Selenium are found in foods like fruits and vegetables and remove these damaging molecules to prevent disease. read more

Joseph Pilates Magic Isometric Circle

Posted on Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The story was told by Romana Krysonosky, many years ago, while she was teaching us about all the smaller accessories that Joseph Pilates developed that he had an old beer keg in his studio. A student on the reformer whose knees were misaligned needed help to engage her adductor/inner thigh muscles. He walked over to the keg and simply pulled off the metal rim around the top, wrapped some cloth around two sides and voila the 'magic circle' was born.
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Injinji:the socks that adds dexterity to your feet; "foot mitten or glove"?

Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009

Your enthusiasm for my lighterliving Foot Therapy Sandals suggests that you all understand the need for foot exercises and most importantly toe separation. I intend to re-launch a more comfortable and softer version of lighterliving Foot Therapy Sandals in the spring but for fall and winter I am proud to launch a new toe sock that will totally transform how your foot moves, adding dexterity and function to every step.

I have thrown away all my other socks and switched to the profoundly better feeling of Injinji socks. I wear them while performing Pilates and they keep my feet warm while adding traction to any slippery surface without compromising the benefits of the barefoot exercises.

I also wear them in my shoes and cannot express the difference that will totally amaze you as it did me. It is simply the same difference as wearing a glove instead of a mitten on your hand, much better dexterity and function.

Acuball: The most convenient and effective "self help" tool for back pain and tightness

Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Every one of us has recurring tightness and/or pain in our back, neck, shoulders, arms or legs. And even though I often understand the cause and can always feel the origin, I am frustrated by my inability to treat it because I cannot personally reach the spot. Regular massage, Pilates, Alexander and other forms of body work definitely help but how freeing it is to be able to address the problem your self.

It was years ago, in pursuit of my Pilates training, that I first met Sean Gallagher, owner of the Pilates Studio in New York, partner with Roman Kryzanowska and successful physiotherapist to the New York City Ballet. He shared with me a simple tool; two tennis balls tied up in a sock that I could use while sitting on a plane to put pressure on a sore spot in my back to release the tension and relax the muscle.

He also gave me a simple routine once I landed in a hotel room where I simply lay on the balls. With my spine in the middle and using my own body weight, moving the balls up and down my spine looking for tight spots, I could perform trigger point therapy. Instantly the pressure forces the tight point to release, blood flow is restored and muscle length replenished. This is an amazing tool to maintain muscle balance and relieve tension, tightness and pain in those "hard to reach" places.

Is It a Coincidence That Mathius Alexandar Was Born Before Joseph Pilates? Or a Necessity?

Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005

Frederick Mathius Alexander was born in Australia in 1869. He was an opera singer who, in an attempt to heal an inexplicable hoarseness that left him unable to sing, discovered that misuse of the neck muscles was the cause of his throat constriction.

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