Thank God for My Neti Pot

Recently, I have been conducting change management workshops for a client. I have been facilitating many sessions for this organization and the classes are held in various rooms. I've noticed that whenever I use the Boardroom for a class, I become extremely congested by the end of the day. My sinuses fill up and I feel like I have a terrible cold.

Yesterday, I finished a class that I had conducted in the Boardroom. My head was totally stuffed up and all I wanted to do was go home and use my Neti Pot so I could get some relief.

I got stuck in rush hour traffic on the way home. (Driving home during rush hour in New Jersey is no picnic.) All I kept thinking as I navigated the traffic was, "I want my Neti Pot."

I finally arrived home and the first thing I did was grab my Neti pot and saline solution and finally I felt it -- relief. My sinuses were open and clear and I could finally breathe again.

Thank God for my Neti Pot.

If you would like to find out what a Neti Pot is and what it does, click here.

That's all for now.

Della
Beauty Fitness Yoga Source

Yoga Eye Pillows

Recently, I attended a new yoga class at my local gym. We went through a challenging asana practice and then came time for final relaxation. I covered myself so I would be warm during the meditation and as I was settling into the relaxation pose, the teacher came over to me and said, "Here, try one of my eye pillows." She then placed a soft, silk eye pillow on top of my eyes to help shut out the light and to allow me to fully relax. The eye pillow was wonderful. What happened next wasn't.

At the end of the class, I returned the eye pillow to her and thanked her for allowing me to use it. And then came the pitch. She sells these eye pillows and she proceeded to try to sell one to me.

While I liked the pillow, I was very put off by her sales approach. I attended the class because I wanted to practice with a new teacher. I did not come to class to buy products.

I think it is very unprofessional for a yoga teacher to try to persuade a student to buy products from him/her. The relationship between a teacher and a student is very important. It should not be sullied by a sales pitch. Even though I enjoyed the class, I have not gone back. I feel very uncomfortable with this teacher so I think I might cross this class off my list even though it fits into my schedule perfectly.

As far as I'm concerned, a good yoga teacher should gently push a student forward in his/her practice. The teacher should not push a student to become a customer of the products that the teacher sells.

BTW - The eye pillow was wonderful and if you would like to see one, go here
Silk Eyebags
.

Until next time -

Della
Beauty Fitness Yoga Source

PS - To find out about how other items can help your meditation click here.

Develop Muscle Strength With Yoga

On Saturday, I picked up the new schedule of classes at my gym. I noted that they were offering yoga on Friday nights and they classified it as a flexibility class.

While it is absolutely true that you can develop amazing flexibility from doing yoga, it is not the only benefit you can gain from it. Yoga helps you to develop strength, stamina, and endurance. The only people who think that yoga is just for stretching have never done it.

Yesterday, I did a power yoga class (using a video) that I have been doing for over a year. It was the first time that I was almost (note the word almost) able to do the whole class without having to get out of some of the poses to take a short rest. This class is extremely intense. And no one is going to tell me that it is not helping to develop my muscles. I know it is because I can feel my muscles tremble and shake from the challenge to them.

Unlike weights which concentrate on separate body parts, yoga concentrates on your entire body. You are simultaneously stretching and strenghtening your body, while also learning how to stay calm in the midst of the stress.

Yoga can definitely help you develop muscle strength and also help you feel terrific and energized in the process. If you want to know more about how you can develop muscle strength while doing yoga click here.

Warmest regards,

Della
Beauty Fitness Yoga Source

Beginning Yoga

Yesterday, I was talking to a client about a stress management program that I would be facilitating for members of her organization. I told her that I would be including some yoga poses that her team members could do a work. She was thrilled with that idea.

As we continued talking, she told me that she had a lot of physical challenges and she thought yoga might help her reduce her pain and sleep better. She said that she had some yoga videos in her home and that she wanted to pull them out and start doing yoga at home.

I love using yoga videos and DVDs. However, I don't think they are the best way to begin practicing yoga unless you have had considerable experience with fitness and body awareness. Although I began practicing yoga with videos, I had also been a certified dance instructor so I was able to pick up the body placement that is very important for yoga practitioners to follow in order to avoid injury. I advised my client to take a few yoga classes with an experienced instructor and then to use the videos at home. If you would like to know what to look for in a yoga class, click here.

I heartily encourage everyone to begin practicing yoga. Just do it safely.

Regards,

Della

Here is additional information about beginner yoga and yoga DVDs.

ADD Symptom

Last night, my 19 year old son Matt and I went to the local community center. He was planning on working out with weights and I was going to take a yoga class. When we got there, he surpised me by asking me if I wanted him to take the yoga class with me. I was thrilled and told him I would be delighted if he joined me.

As we began the class, I was a little concerned that Matt would get bored or create a disturbance. During the practice, I saw Matt struggle to get into some of the poses, but he kept on moving. When we were finished, he came over to me with a huge smile on his face. "I really like yoga," he said. "I feel so relaxed and peaceful." My heart soared with gratitude. Matt has ADD and I always felt that yoga would help him control his impulsivity, his tendency to anger easily, and his edginess. (If youwould like to find out how yoga can help manage ADD symptoms, click here.)

Matt told me that he is going to give up weight lifting and do yoga instead. He convinced his girlfriend to attend yoga classes with him because he feels that she can benefit from them also.

Yoga has numerous benefits for physical challenges and it also helps you feel peaceful and calm. But don't take my word for it; try it for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Regards,

Della
Beauty Fitness Yoga Source

Muscle Fitness Through Yoga and Pilates

Yesterday, as I was cooling down after a 3 mile run at the gym, a guy that I hadn't seen in a while began talking to me. He told me that I looked trimmer since the last time he had seen me. I told him that I had been running, doing Pilates and practicing yoga.

He asked me if I use the weight machines at the gym and I told him no. My main form of strength training is yoga and Pilates. He asked how yoga and Pilates could possibly develop muscles -- weren't they just for stretching?

This is a question I often get -- aren't yoga and Pilates just about stretching and flexibility? Nothing could be futher from the truth. While both yoga and Pilates help with flexiblity, they also develop strength and endurance.

I have been working out for 30 years, and yoga and Pilates are some of the most challenging exercises I have ever done. I have gained greater upper body strength with these forms of exercise than I ever did even after doing years of push ups.

If you would like to know how yoga can develop muscles fitness, click here. If you want to know how Pilates can help your body look and feel great, click here.

Pilates and yoga are great ways to develop muscle fitness, flexibility, and greater body awareness all at the same time. As far as exercise goes, you get a great bang for your buck.

Try them -- I'm sure you'll be hooked.

Della

The Benefit of Pilates

This morning, I was talking to a young woman about exercising and fitness. She told me that she was interested in toning up her stomach muscles so they would look flatter and trimmer. I told her that I have 'cuts' on my abdomen from doing exercise for so many years.

She was interested in seeing my 'cuts' so I picked up the bottom of my shirt to show her my abs. She was amazed. She ran over to get her mother to show her my 'awesome abs.' Then she asked me how she could get those abs too.

This would not seem to be a particularly unusual occurrence except for one thing -- this young woman weighs about the same as I do -- and she is thirty years younger than me.

How am I able to have abs that cause envy in a woman who is young enough to be my daughter? It's simple. I do Pilates. Pilates is a great way to develop sleek, firm abs, while also creating a leaner, longer look.

Pilates is a great way to get in shape for your bikini or swimsuit. If you would like to find out how Pilates can help you look and feel better, check here.

Until next time -

Della
www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com