Tips To Achieve A Centered Life Through Yoga

Yoga has been proven to relieve stress by using exercises that unify the mind, body, and spirit.

If you are new to yoga, these seven tips will start you on the road to what we believe could become a more centered life.

1. Talk to your doctor: and explain what type of yoga poses you intend to practice. Show your doctor pictures of the poses for illustration. Your doctor may rule out specific poses if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, a history of retinal detachment, or heart disease. Make sure you follow your doctor's recommendations.

2. Find a yoga class: that best fits your abilities. Talk to prospective teachers, and decide whether or not you can handle a program before you sign up. It's very important to take it one step at a time. Try a few beginner classes before you attempt a more vigorous class. Don't move ahead too quickly.

Allow your body to adjust.

3. Listen to your body: and be aware of your physical abilities. You don't want to hurt yourself. Make sure the instructor understands your level of experience and any limitations you may have. Don't allow anyone to push you ahead too quickly. Remember, this is supposed to be fun and relaxing.

4. If you can't find a class that meets your needs:, you can always practice yoga at home. There are many books, programs, and tapes available to help you get started. Search for the best products on the Internet and read reviews. Talk to others for recommendations.

5. Try private lessons: You can book some one-on-one sessions with a teacher in your area. Most yoga instructors offer private classes or can help you design your own program. This is a good way to get started. You can always take group lessons or practice at home after you've had private lessons and learned the basics.

6. Find a yoga buddy: It's nice to practice with someone and it will help with motivation, as well as reduce injuries, while keeping up your enthusiasm and interest.

7. Eat lightly before practice: Wait at least two hours after meals before yoga class or practice. An empty stomach is best, but don't let yourself get too hungry to think. You won't be able to focus on the poses or enjoy yourself during the relaxation or meditation exercises.


Now it's time to grab your mat and a towel and get the most out of your yoga exercises.

Looking for more Yoga Tips? Be sure to check back, as we will be introducing 1st N Yoga Tips

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.

Think Green To Stay Lean

Think losing weight on an all-you-can-eat diet is the stuff of infomercials? Think again.

A recent study showed obese subjects placed on a vegan diet -excluding meat and animal products, but not limiting calories - lost more weight than a control group that followed a low-calorie, low-cholesterol diet.

The veggie edge: approximately 13 pounds lost over 14 weeks for the vegan dieters, versus 8 pounds for the control group.

More recently, the same researchers reviewed 87 studies on vegan or vegetarian diets, concluding that the high-fiber, high-water, low-fat content of vegan or vegetarian diets - not calorie counting per se - was responsible for weight loss. Indeed, overweight individuals who "went vegan" lost about a pound per week, regardless of additional lifestyle changes made.

Other research found that vegetarian women weigh less. After evaluating the diet and health data of 56,000 American women, the same researchers found the meat eaters were significantly more likely to be overweight when compared to their vegetarian peers: 40 percent of carnivores, compared to 25 percent of vegetarians and 29 percent of flexitarians, or semi-vegetarians (those who avoided meat but ate fish and eggs).

If a slimmer figure isn't enough incentive to go greener, how about a longer life? A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a low meat intake was associated with a 3.6-year increase in life expectancy.

Yet another reason to minimize meat and make more room for plant-based protein on your plate: A recent Mayo clinic analysis of data from nearly 30,000 postmenopausal women found a 30 percent lower risk from heart disease among those who ate the most vegetable protein from beans and nuts in place of either carbohydrates or animal protein.

A large-scale analysis of dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk found that animal products such as meat and dairy were the strongest risk factors, while fruit and vegetable consumption had the most protective benefit.

Processed meat may be the unhealthiest of all, the researchers stated those who consumed the most processed meat had a 67 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Diets rich in red meat and pork increased the risk by about 50 percent.

If you're like most Americans, you are probably like most who are not getting enough protein and simple carbohydrates; your challenge (and health opportunity) is to increase consumption of fruit, vegetables and legumes.

Little changes can make a big difference. Add more fruit to your cereal (try frozen berries for convenience and freshness). Make a banana or a fruit cup your morning snack.

Have a vegetable-based soup with your lunch and, you will see that you might just end up eating less. Same goes for dinner: Start with salad and you'll consume fewer calories and far more nutrients.

Written by,

Dwight Obey, Independent AdvoCare Distributor

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.

7 Tips To Help Burn More Calories

You may have heard stories about people who have lost dozens of pounds simply switching their diet soda or walking a few extra minutes each day. These were are all small changes in habits that contributed to a big difference and increased their metabolism over time.

You can increase your weight loss goal quicker and easier by increasing your metabolic rate and burning more calories.

I have listed a few tips below, that I think will help to get you started.

1) Move More

Sedentary people burn about one-third less calories per day.  By simply taking every opportunity to move can make quite a dramatic difference to the amount of calories you burn in one day. Small movements will add up over time to lots of calories.

The trick is to keep moving throughout your day. Write the word move on post-it notes and put them in places you will notice them when you are sitting still. Try a few of these while sitting still:

• Tap your feet
• Swing your legs 
• Stand up and stretch 
• Move your head from side to side 
• Change position 
• Wiggle and fidget 
• Pace up and down 
• Use the restroom upstairs
• Park in the furthest corner of the parking lot
• Stand up while on the phone and step from side to side
• Clench and release your muscles

2) Eat Little and Often

Evidence suggests that eating small meals every 2-4 hours will keep your metabolism burning faster than larger, less frequent meals. When you eat small amounts often your body is constantly working to digest and absorb food which requires energy.

3) Eat Fat

If you want to feel good and keep the fat off you need to first put it in.  Fat not only tastes good, our bodies need it to work efficiently.  By consuming several servings of healthy fats every day you will actually increase your calorie burning potential.

Try incorporating fats like Flaxseed oil, hempseed oil, olive oil, avocados, salmon, albacore tuna, nuts and seeds into your diet daily.

4) Drink Cold Water

Evidence shows that your body might expend more calories trying to raise cold water to the temperature of your body then hot beverages, and being well hydrated will help your body metabolic processes burn quicker.

5) Exercise With Weights

Training with weights boosts your metabolism in a number of ways. By lifting weights you will build muscle tissue, and muscle tissue is metabolically active, so it requires calories even when at rest and helps to increase fat-burning enzymes in your body.

6) Spice up

Eating hot spices might speed up your metabolism.  Just half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day can help boost metabolism and keep blood sugar levels in check. Cant stand the thought of cinnamon in your morning cup of coffee? Spice up with cayenne, crushed red pepper or wasabi instead.

7) Eat More Protein

Protein requires a more complex chemical breakdown by your body in order to be digested and used as fuel. For example, 100 calories of protein may take up to 30 calories to process.   Protein also takes longer to digest and helps to stabilize blood sugar for longer periods of time  and this can help you to not overeat later in the day.

By eating a portion of protein at every meal and as part of your snacks, you can increase the total number of calories you burn each day.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is not to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice or any doctors recommendation. Prior to beginning any weight loss program, individuals must consult a physician for proper diagnosis and/or treatment.