Nov 13

How Mind and Body Exercise Can Benefit Your Heart Health

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In today’s hectic world, where deadlines loom, schedules overflow and demands never seem to end, taking care of your heart health is often pushed to the back burner. Amidst the stress of daily life, finding moments of calm and balance are important. Mind-body exercises, such as yoga and tai chi, offer a holistic approach to wellness, benefiting mental health and impacting your heart health. “The mind-body connection refers to the relationship between our mental and physical states,” said I-Hui Ann Chiang, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Banner – University Medicine. “It acknowledges that our thoughts, emotions and beliefs influence our physical health, and vice versa.” When we experience stress, anxiety or negative emotions, our bodies respond with physiological changes that can impact cardiovascular health. Taking time to cultivate mindfulness and connection with your body is a valuable investment in your long-term health and happiness. Learn how integrating these exercises into daily life can improve your heart health and well-being.   Understanding mind-body exercises Mind-body exercises are any type of movement that combines mental focus and controlled breathing to improve strength, flexibility and balance. “These exercises, which include yoga, tai chi or qigong and meditation, foster harmony between the mind and body,” […]
Nov 09

7 Daily Habits That Can Transform Your Life

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The key to good health begins with healthy everyday habits, which are simple to follow. Practise them with consistency. Read on to find out more.   Healthy Life Begins With Simple Habits If you wish to transform your health and well-being, and make them better, start with a few simple daily habits and practise them every day for consistency. Functional nutrition practitioner Marina Wright says there are seven activities that can accelerate your journey to a better mind and body. Scroll down to find out all about them.   1. Focus On Habits, Not Goals In an Instagram post, Wright says while goals give direction, daily habits can lead to transformation. This is the most crucial step and you must focus on sustainable everyday habits to meet your goals.   2. Get Out In The Sun Start by taking in some sunlight early in the morning every day. Exposure to natural light can regulate the circadian rhythm, make you feel energetic and boost your mood.   3. Blood Sugar Regulation Focus on eating a balanced meal that has a lot of protein, fibre-rich carbs and fat to avoid energy crashes and mood swings. It can regulate your blood sugar by […]
Nov 06

A 69-Year-Old Fitness Trainer Shares the 6 Exercises That Keep Her Looking Half Her Age

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Boost your strength and fitness with a trainer’s go-to exercises for healthy aging.   Aging gracefully requires following a well-rounded routine, complete with a healthy diet and regular exercise. You may think that getting older means it’s too late to kickstart a fitness routine, but that’s simply not the case. “It’s never too late to begin exercising,” stresses 69-year-old fitness trainer Liz Hilliard, the creator and owner of Hilliard Studio Method. “As a matter of fact, it’s a requirement for healthy aging of your body and mind. Both are inseparable when it comes to the benefits of exercise.” Hilliard shares with Eat This, Not That! a couple of her go-to fitness tips, along with the best exercises she recommends for healthy aging. “My top fitness tips can be summed up in one word: MOVEMENT. As in, do not stop moving,” Hilliard tells us. Her two pro tips include walking every day, anywhere you can. “Get outside as often as possible to walk in nature,” she says. “Bonus points if you walk with a friend. It’s built-in mental and physical therapy which will not only help keep you fit but keep your mood lifted and mind creative.” In addition, strength training […]
Nov 03

9 Simple Ways to Practice Self-Care Every Day (Because You Deserve It)

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Take care of yourself with these simple self-care ideas. Practicing self-care isn’t just about spoiling yourself with a big treat or moment of luxury—like staying at a bougie hotel for the weekend, purchasing an all-new wardrobe, or opting for two desserts instead of one. The art of simple self-care is much more internally nourishing than that, and one that takes some time to get the hang of given our propensity to put others before ourselves. If you’re not quite sure where to begin when it comes to taking care of yourself, these simple self-care tips will help you set off on the right path forward, one day at a time.   Why Is Self-Care Important? Self-care should be more of a daily practice, often made up of small but impactful intentions, that helps keep you energized, gratified, and able to show up for others. “A sustainable self-care practice is about creating moments within each day, week, month, season, and year to practice the kind of meaningful self-care that makes you feel healthy and joyful in mind, body, and soul,” says Shel Pink, author of Slow Beauty, a book on mindful self-care. “When practiced over time, these small rituals add up […]
Oct 31

5 Yoga Poses To Awaken Your Body And Mind

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Yoga is one of the most powerful ways to ensure holistic wellness in life. While International Yoga Day is around the corner, we have handpicked a few yoga poses that you can practise in the morning to start your day on the right note. We spoke to Anchal Rout, a Delhi NCR-based Yoga and Reiki healing expert. Anchal Rout said, “Practising yoga in the morning can help create a positive mood, arrange your energy, and focus your thoughts.”   Simple Morning Yoga Poses Here are five yoga poses recommended to kickstart your day, brought to you by our yoga expert:   Mountain Pose (Tadasana) This is one of the most effective poses as it aids in strengthening and aligning the spine, preparing the practitioner for other poses. To get this position right, you have to join both legs, hands are to be placed near the body, and weight is to be distributed in equal measure. Breathe in deeply, bring your arms above your head, and extend them towards the ceiling like you’re attempting to grab for the sky. This position relieves tension and gives you a centre, a feeling of balance and stability.   Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) This gentle flow […]
Oct 28

How Does Exercise Affect Cortisol Levels?

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Stress isn’t just in your brain—it’s in your body, too.   The word “stress” just brings up bad vibes, right? So, it makes sense that cortisol—aka the “stress hormone” — would have a bad reputation. Exercise can even have an impact on the hormone, so it’s important to learn the best exercise to reduce cortisol. It’s good to also note that, “cortisol is not, in itself, bad—it’s just a hormone,” says Mike Molloy, Ph.D., founder of M2 Performance Nutrition, who’s studied microbiology and immunology. “But the dosage and amounts of cortisol in the body need to be right.” You may be wondering if your favorite workout, like running, increases cortisol. It is true that one of the things that can throw (or keep) your cortisol levels off is exercise—especially when the rest of your life is stressed out. But that doesn’t mean you should swear off sweating in the name of being stressed. Scroll down for all the details on cortisol, its relationship to exercise, and what you need to know about keeping yours in check.   What Is Cortisol? Cortisol may be nicknamed the “stress hormone,” but this steroid hormone does way more than that. In fact, “cortisol is […]
Oct 25

Exercise can boost your memory and thinking skills

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Exercise benefits health in so many ways. It preserves muscle strength; keeps your heart strong; maintains a healthy body weight; and staves off chronic diseases such as diabetes. But exercise has brain benefits too. Many studies have suggested that the parts of the brain that control thinking and memory are larger in volume in people who exercise than in people who don’t. One finding is that engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions. Exercise can also boost memory and thinking indirectly by improving mood and sleep, and by reducing stress and anxiety. Problems in these areas frequently cause or contribute to cognitive impairment.   Which exercise is the best for the brain? Is one exercise better than another in terms of brain health? We don’t know the answer to this question, because almost all of the research so far has looked at one form of exercise: walking. “But it’s likely that other forms of aerobic exercise that get your heart pumping might yield similar benefits,” explains Dr. Scott McGinnis, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. A study […]
Oct 22

How Indoor Cycling Benefits Your Physical and Mental Health

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Indoor cycling benefits basically every muscle — including your brain. Here’s how to start your own routine and reap the health and fitness rewards.   Like it or not, indoor cycling is a fitness trend that refuses to die down. It feels like pretty much everyone is guilty of flocking to a couple of classes per week or has even made the plunge and added something like a SoulCycle at-home bike to their home gym. And for good reason: Indoor cycling has crazy benefits for ladies and gents alike, from your muscles to your mental health. As any dedicated cyclist knows, there’s a lot more to the sport than flashy indoor bikes with on-demand, interactive workouts. Cycling is one of the best forms of cardio you can do, especially long-term. “Cycling is non-weight-bearing, so it reduces the risk of injuries due to wear and tear on your joints, particularly your knees,” says Robert Mazzeo, Ph.D., associate professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder. Knees are commonly the first joints in the body to show signs of aging, so it’s important to take care of them over your lifetime with healthy, gentle forms of cardio, such as cycling, […]
Oct 19

3 yoga techniques to stay active in monsoon

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Wondering how to stay active during monsoon season and get rid of this gloomy feeling? Try these 3 yoga poses suggested by celeb yoga trainer Anshuka Parwani. The monsoon season has poured into our lives once again. Though it can bring much-needed relief from the cruel summer heat, they also rain down on a lot of our plans. It is no secret that the weather affects our mood and behaviour patterns. In the monsoon, when the days are dark and our activity gets limited, it is easy to feel down. But trust yoga to stay active! I know monsoon is a season for curling up in bed, but not being active makes us susceptible to more infections and the lack of physical activity can have long-lasting effects on our health as well. The rainy season is a good excuse for skipping your morning jog or avoiding the gym, but the tips I have for you here can be done from inside your house while enjoying the rain. All you need is a yoga mat. Motivating yourself to stay active in the gloomy weather can be tough, but these simple yoga asanas and breathwork will provide you with just the boost […]
Oct 16

How Exercise Protects Your Brain’s Health

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Exercise that gets your heart pumping helps keep your body and brain in tip-top shape   You’ve taken to the heart recommendations to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity a week to improve your physical fitness. Or … maybe you haven’t, but you’re looking for another reason to add more movement to your days. What you might not realize is that with every step you take, every mile you pedal or every lap you swim, you’re enhancing your cognitive fitness. Yes. That’s right. Moving your body can help your brain work better. (Does that blow your mind or what?!) “We know that physical exercise, and aerobic exercise in particular, is very beneficial for maintaining brain health, even in people who are at risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” says neuropsychologist Aaron Bonner-Jackson, PhD. “With regular exercise, you can make a major difference in terms of how your body is functioning and, as a result, how your brain is functioning.” We talked with Dr. Bonner-Jackson and physical therapist Christy Ross, PT, DPT, about how exercise boosts your brain health, and how much exercise you need.   The science of exercise and brain health In a recent […]
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