A Heart Health Secret That Will Make You Want To Laugh

Would you like to take an approach to heart health care that requires fewer medical office visits, no special dietary or medication requirements and with no arduous daily exercise regimen? Would you also like a health care approach that costs zero dollars? If these questions make you smile, laugh you're on the right track according to the medical experts.

 The saying that laughter is the best medicine is more than just an old adage. 

Experts have rediscovered a secret found in the ancient text of Proverbs compiled by Solomon around 950 b.c. It says "a joyful heart is good medicine." A smile and laughter help you relax and recharge. They reduce stress and increase energy, and allow you to stay focused and accomplish more. Smiles and laughter can chase away distressing emotions. 

Behavioral scientists tell us that you can't feel anxious, angry, or sad when you're smiling and laughing. Researchers also tell us that a smile is contagious, and that laughter is infectious. Smiling and laughing helps your immune system to work better. There is evidence that suggests you can prevent the flu and colds by smiling. Since laughter and smiles protect you from the damaging cardiovascular effects of stress. The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart.

This medicine offers unlimited possibilities, and has the potential to save several millions of dollars annually in health care costs. Many medical experts endorse this as good medicine and have supportive data that confirms a mind-body connection. 

These published articles show that there is an absolute link between anger and hostility and their resultant hypertensive and coronary artery disease effects. Anger seems to increase blood pressure, raise cholesterol, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. However, a smile and laughter can counter the negative effects of anger and hostility on your heart's health. When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure.

Amazingly, a smile does nothing for anybody until it is given away. It is one of the best things in life and it's free. It is God's gift to his image bearers.
Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good.

These endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being. Both smiles and laughter help to protect your hearts against a heart attack by improving the function of blood vessels and increasing blood flow. 

The mind-body connection is real. Smiling is a natural drug, and joyful heart is not only good medicine, but offers everyone affordable health care. Remember you can't overdose or become addicted to this medicine and it's free. Try it and prove it your for yourself. Your heart will thank you.

Source: EzineArticles

Category › Health , motivation

Health and Fitness Tips - Staying Motivated

At the start of every new year many people start a new campaign to get in the best shape of their lives and although the intention is real enough, in reality many give up before the first month has even passed. So why is this the case? Maybe you can relate to this yourself.

 It seems that the more times you try and then give up, this somehow becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. So here are some health and fitness tips to keep you on track.

Health And Fitness Tips - Have a Definite Goal

Many of the great books on self motivation have a very common theme when it comes to success. Successful people seem to have a very definite purpose to their lives and this especially relates to top sportsmen and athletes. The idea of setting a goal is nothing new. However it is the way these are set that often can lead to your downfall. For instance, if you just say I would like to get fit or I am going to try a new exercise regime, this is not sending a strong message to your subconscious mind. In fact, it really is saying that you are not really serious in making the change. So try to be specific. Set timescales and definite goals such as, how much weight you will lose and by when.

Health And Fitness Tips - Keep A Journal

The technique of writing down your goals and then keeping a record of your progress is very powerful. It is a way of reinforcing your intentions and programming your mind to a new way of life. Try to attach an emotion of excitement to keeping these records. In this way you will not think of this as a chore but as a way of feeling good about the changes you are making. Emotion linked to a definite purpose is a powerful combination.

Health And Fitness Tips - Creative Visualization Techniques

I referred to the example of top sportsman and athletes. They seem to naturally use these techniques in taking them to the top. Many a gold medallist will tell you that they visualized over and over again, that moment when they hit the tape first and stepped up to the winners podium. Taking time to visualize your fitness goals and becoming emotionally attached to the outcomes will make your motivation come naturally. You will start to wake up energized with a sense of anticipation. Suddenly the thought of giving up will never enter your head as your new way of being has become part of you.



Source: EzineArticles

Category › Fitness , Health , motivation , Techniques

How Is Moksha Yoga Different Than Other Types Of Yoga?

Hot yoga refers to any type of yoga that's performed inside a heated room of about 100 degrees. The pioneer of hot yoga is Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yoga guru who in the 1970s created a series of 26 yoga poses done in a heated room of 105 degrees in temperature and 40 percent in humidity. This is called the Bikram yoga. Another one that's emerging in popularity is Moksha yoga from Ted Grand and Jessica Robertson from Toronto. These two yoga teachers created Moksha in 2004.

So how does the young Moksha yoga compare to the much older Bikram and other types of yoga? Keep on reading to find out how.

The first and most significant difference is the number of poses. Bikram only has 26 poses while Moksha has 40. Some of the poses in Moksha seem similar to each other. But there's more variation depending on the instructor, unlike with Bikram, which has fixed poses. In Moksha, there are more options like silent practices, Vinyasa or flows and Ashtanga, among others.

As for the class atmosphere, Moksha seems more flexible and free. Even the time duration is not fixed. It can last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. In Bikram, the length of class is always the same at 90 minutes. Plus, it's more rigid as it requires fixed postures with no variation from the instructor. Moksha instructors are also softer and more gentle when assisting their students. Many say that Moksha is less intimidating and demanding the Bikram and other types of hot yoga.

When it comes to benefits, all types of yoga can do so much for one's health. Moksha and other forms of hot yoga strengthen and tone the muscles, improve physical and psychological wellbeing, enhance flexibility, increase mental clarity, detoxify through sweat, burn calories, and alleviate stress, muscular pain, insomnia, asthma, and arthritis. On top of all these, yoga boosts your mood and gives you a sense of happiness and fulfillment since exercise effectively releases happy hormones from the brain.

So which type of hot yoga do you prefer? Those who are strict and serious about their exercise regimen mostly prefer Bikram yoga. They prefer the fixed and never-changing routine and they are more challenged with its demanding nature. On the other hand, those who are beginners usually choose Moksha for being laidback and easy-going. They love the flexibility and the not-so-serious quality of the workout.

If you're thinking about engaging in hot yoga, it's better to give all types a try so that you can decide for yourself, which one suit you best. Try hot yoga and immerse yourself in the vast array of benefits of this form of exercise.

Hot Yoga is a highly-effective form of exercise that was created to workout your body, mind and soul. Experience the benefits of this workout by trying yoga in Winnipeg.

  ©ezinearticles

Category › Fitness , motivation , Weight Loss , Yoga

Using Hot Yoga To Relieve Stress

A little stress from time to time isn't bad for you. In fact, it keeps you on the go and lets you breeze through your work more efficiently. But too much of it can take a toll on your health. Constant stress can weaken your immune defense and put you at risk of a wide array of ailments from simple headaches to something as serious as cancer.

This is why it's imperative to tone down your stress levels. And one effective way to do this is through hot yoga. Hot yoga was developed by Indian yoga guru Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s. It was first practiced in the Yoga College of India, which Choudhury established in Beverly Hills, California.

Hot yoga is called such because the yoga poses are performed inside a room heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity of 40 percent. The main purposes of this form of yoga include injury prevention, muscle pain relief, and of course, stress reduction. Yoga stimulates the body's organs, muscles and joints while relaxing the mind and putting it in a meditative state.

One who has never tried hot yoga would find it hard to figure out how a heated room can provide relaxation. Heat can be more easily linked to stress than relaxation. As anyone can imagine, It's much easier to relax in a cool location than in a hot one.

But practicing hot yoga results in lower heart rate, improved sleep, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, calmed mind, muscle tension release and many more. And all these in turn lead to stress reduction. Here are more information on this matter.

Toxin Release

When a person is stressed, his body releases toxins. Hot yoga is known to be an effective detoxification method that cleanses the body and flushes out toxins. Both the lymphatic system and bloodstream are able to flush out the toxins as the body sweats throughout the entire workout. The hormones caused by stress called cortisol are removed from the body as well.

Breathing

One important thing that you learn from yoga is proper breathing called kapalbhati and pranayama. Deep breathing enables you to release the tension from your body while clearing your mind for more focus and concentration.

Meditation

Apart from breathing, you'll also be taught how to meditate. This can be a challenge especially for people whose minds never stop thinking and talking. Yoga will teach you how to shut it off and clear it completely so that you can relax in the most efficient way possible.

Yoga Positions

All the yoga poses flow seamlessly into the next one and that process is great for toning down stress levels. When pressure points are stimulated throughout the body with each unique pose that you do, you're able to release stress and relax yourself.

Go to hot yoga Winnipeg and experience the stress-reduction benefits of hot yoga. Relaxing should not be a luxury you can't afford.

Hot Yoga is a highly-effective form of exercise that was created to workout your body, mind and soul. Experience the benefits of this workout by trying yoga in Winnipeg.



Source: EzineArticles

Category › Fitness , motivation , muscle , Stress , Workout , Yoga

Top 10 Tips For Staying Motivated With Your Workout Plan

Are you finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning for your daily walk  and are you making up excuses to skip the gym on the way home?

Even the most dedicated exercisers occasionally get bored with their routine. Waning motivation, cutting short and not having your old enthusiasm are signs of a stale exercise regimen.

But that doesn't mean you can't re-energize your routine. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has worked out the following 10 tips for staying motivated to stay active.

1-Vary your routine or change your scenery!

A new variation on your favorite activity -- cardio kickboxing instead of Step aerobics; power yoga instead of working on machines -- may be enough to reinvigorate a stale routine. If you've always exercised indoors, move your workout outside for a welcome change of scenery.

2-Try something entirely new!

Make it something you never dreamed you'd do. If you've always stuck to solitary pursuits, sign up for a team sport. Or tackle something you've shied away from... maybe even rock climbing!

3-Find a workout buddy!

Exercise companions add a social element to any routine. Ask a friend to be your workout partner

 -- you won't skip a workout if someone is waiting for you.

4-Set a new goal!

Working out to stay in shape is fine, but setting a goal -- such as finishing a 10k race or completing a rough water swim -- will give your daily workouts more meaning.

5-Treat yourself to a workout gadget or accessory!

Heart-rate monitors, aquatic toys and other exercise gadgets can make your workouts more fun and challenging.

6-Keep an exercise log to track your progress!

Unsure if your making progress toward your goals? Then start a workout log. It allows you to keep track of your goals, monitor your progress and adjust your routines as necessary.

7-Don't berate yourself if you miss a workout!

Life is full of obstacles. Unexpected appointments, illness and setbacks are bound to happen sooner or later. Don't let a few missed workouts turn into a month of unfulfilled resolutions.

8-Reward yourself!

Reaching a fitness goal or milestone is a great excuse to treat yourself to something new. A massage, an evening out, or some other "indulgence" may be the key to staying motivated.

9-Focus on how good exercise makes you look and feel!

You know that incredibly satisfied and healthy feeling you get immediately after a workout? Remember it! And use it to motivate yourself the next time you're thinking about blowing off that next workout!

10-If all else fails... take a break from exercise!

Sometimes a lack of motivation is your body's way of telling you to take a break. If anything hurts, or if your energy is running low, take a break for a few days before resuming your workouts. A little "R&R" may be just what your body needs to renew your motivation.

  ©ezinearticles

Category › Fitness , motivation , Weight Loss , Workout