Beauty Fitness Yoga Source

Thank God for My Neti Pot

2005-11-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

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

2005-11-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

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

2005-10-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

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

2005-07-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

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

Featured Yoga Position

2005-06-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

We are starting a new column where we explain in detail a different yoga position. Our Featured Yoga Position is Hero Pose. It is a great pose to stretch your knees and ankles. It also helps energize your legs and it is one of my favorites.

To find out more about it click here.

Happy practicing.

Della

You can also find out the benefit of different types of yoga positions here.

Lowering Blood Pressure Safely

2005-06-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was sitting in the sauna at the gym after I had run 3 1/2 miles. A man came into the sauna and began jogging in place. I asked him why he was doing that. He told me that he was getting aerobic exercise at the same time that he was loosening his muscles. I said that I did not think it was a good idea to jog in such a hot place, that his blood pressure might rise too high.

Then he gave me an answer that almost caused me to fall off my seat. He said that he had very high blood pressure, but it was controlled by medication, and that jogging in the sauna was his way of lowering it! I told him that he could lower it in a safer way if he practiced yoga. He wasn't interested and continued jogging.

I left the sauna so I wouldn't see him collapse on the floor.

While it is a great idea to want to keep your blood pressure under control, doing something as dangerous as this man is crazy and could have disasterous consequences.

Since I have been practicing yoga for the last year, I have lowered my blood pressure to 100/60, which any doctor will tell you is wonderful. Yoga has many benefits in addtion to lowering your blood pressure safely. If you want to learn more about what yoga can do for you click here.

Remember -- exercise is great, but only if it is done wisely.

Until next time -

Della

Breathing for Stress Relief

2005-06-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, as I was relaxing in the jacuzzi after running three miles, I began talking to a woman. She asked me if I knew of anything that could help her deal with a nervous stomach. I told her that deep, yogic breathing is a great way to calm down any part of your body, including your stomach.

She began to inhale and exhale to see if it worked and I noticed that she was breathing the way most people do -- incorrectly. She was breathing high up in her chest and her breathing pattern was reversed from what it should be. I showed her how to breathe correctly and she felt an immediate release of tension in her stomach.

How do you breathe correctly so that your breath oxygenates your entire body? It's easier to describe if you think about a balloon. When you fill a balloon with air, it expands; when you release the air from a balloon, it contracts. It is the same with diaphragmatic breathing. When you inhale, your diaphragm (the lower part of your abdomen) should move out. When you exhale, your diaphragm should move in.

Try it yourself. Put your hands on your diaphram. As you inhale, your hands should move slightly apart and as you exhale they should move closer together. You can use your hands to help you get the idea of proper breathing. Any time you feel stressed, place your hands on your abdomen and inhale and exhale from that spot. You should begin to immediately calm down.

If you are interested in finding out other ways to relax, click here -

Until next time -

Della

Exercising for Energy

2005-05-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

The other day I spent eight hours on my feet facilitating a team building workshop. My nose was congested because of my allergies, my back was aching, and I felt exhausted. To make things worse, it took me over an hour to drive home in the pouring rain. When I got home, all I wanted to do was sit down and take a nap.

Is that what I did? No. I changed my clothes, grabbed my yoga mat and did a yoga practice for 30 minutes. When I first started out, my body was sluggish and I had to almost force myself to continue. By the time the 30 minutes was over, my body felt loose, relaxed, and I had more energy than when I started.

You may not exercise (or at least not as much as you should) because by the end of the day, you barely have enough energy to eat dinner and crawl into bed. What you might not realize is that exercising actually creates more energy. I'm not suggesting that you do a strenuous workout when you feel exhausted, but just doing some yoga poses or light aerobics can give you energy.

It seems strange that when you feel like you don't have energy, the best way to get more of it is to move. Don't take my word for it. Try it yourself and let me know what happens.

Bye for now.

Della

Yoga & Fitness For Fibromyalgia or Pain

2005-05-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was diagnosed with a condition called fibromyalgia. For those of you who might not be familiar with the disease, fibromyalgia causes widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons – the soft fibrous tissues in the body. I've known about this disease for a long time, but I never really believed that I had it because I am able to do so many physical activities (I almost always have varying degrees of pain, but I can still move.) From all the things I have read about fibromyalgia, many people with the disease are incapcitated by it.

One of my doctors told me that I am an atypical fibromyalgia patient. What makes me atypical? I have been exercising for over 30 years. Exercise is one of the main forms of treatment for fibromyalgia because it helps build strong muscles, it keeps joints flexible and allows them to have full range of motion, and it also releases natural chemicals in the body that help control pain. Exercise also promotes better quality sleep, which is a very big problem with patients who have this disease.

My doctor told me that if I hadn't been doing so much exercise and yoga, I would not be able to get on and off the examining table. Exercise literally keeps me moving.

When people think of exercise, they usually think of losing weight, looking good, maybe even relieving stress. I don't think most of them think of it as helping them stay mobile in life.

If you are currently exercising and/or practicing yoga, I encourage you to continue. If you haven't yet begun an exercise/yoga routine, I implore you to start. You don't want to wake up some morning and not be able to move. You know the old saying, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it?" Well it is true. If you don't move your body, some day you might not be able to.

Make a commitment to yourself and your future. Do some form of exercise/yoga every day, no matter how little it may seem. That is one of the best things you can do to ensure that you will have freedom of movement for years to come.

Until next time -

Della
Della

Allergy Relief - A Natural Approach

2005-04-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

Recently I was talking to a student in my yoga class who was complaining about the allergy season. He was very congested, but he didn't want to take any over-the-counter products because they made him sleepy and jumpy. I told him about my favorite method of allergy relief -- and the best part is that it is completely natural.

The way that I deal with congestion is by using a Neti pot. A Neti pot looks like a small teacup with a spout that you put in your nose. You make a solution of water, salt, and baking soda and pour it through each nostril. The result is almost instaneous relief of congestion.

If you want to know more about how to use a Neti pot for allergy relief, check out this article Neti Pot - You Want Me to Put It Where?.

We have other great articles on our website that can help you live a healthier and happier life. Why not check them out anad let us know what you think?

Thanks for visiting.

Della

The Benefit of Yoga

An Unusual Golf Tip for the Woman Golfer

Yoga for Upper Back Pain

Using Yoga to Manage Your ADD Symptom

The Benefit of Yoga - A Personal Perspective

The History of Yoga

Bikram Yoga - How Hot Yoga Can Be A Cool Way To Spice Up Your Yoga Practice

Yoga for a Beginner

Which Type of Yoga Fits You Best?

Yoga Instruction - What to Look for in a Teacher and Class

Yoga Supply - What Do You Really Need?

Yoga Clothes - What Should You Look For?

Yoga Mats - Which is the Best One for You?

Using Yoga DVDs and Videos to Expand Your Practice

Using Yoga Props in Your Practice

Yoga Pose - The Value of Each Type

Child Yoga - What is All the Fun About?

The Benefit of Meditation

Meditation Supply Items - Can They Help Deepen Your Practice?

Muscle Fitness - Can It Be Enhanced Through Yoga?

Welcome to Beauty Fitness Yoga Source

2005-03-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Beauty Fitness Yoga Source. I'll be writing practical tips and ideas about how you can incorporate yoga, fitness and beauty into your life. You can learn more by visiting my site at:

http://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back often.

Regards,
Della