Life, unfortunately, doesn't come with instructions. There's no book to explain how to make it from birth to death and everything that falls in between. One of the hardest things you have to deal with every single day is exercise.
You may equate exercise with sweat, pain and tight clothes that announce every unsightly bulge. Maybe you plan on exercising every day but, somehow, never actually get to it. The truth is, exercise doesn't have to hurt and it doesn't have to occur in a health club. Exercise can happen anywhere: at work when you're walking up and down the stairs or at home while you're walking the dog, cutting the grass or vigorously cleaning out your garage. Once you understand that there are ways to incorporate exercise into your life without even once pulling on anything made of Spandex, you're on your way to a healthier life.
The Basics
First, you should understand the components of fitness before you get started. The following should be included in any fitness routine:
1. Cardio Endurance - How well your heart and lungs work to supply your body with oxygen during your workout.
Example: How well you're breathing after chasing your terrified dog around the yard before stuffing him into the tub for a bath.
2. Muscular Endurance - How long you can hold a position or repeat a movement.
Example: Carrying 8 bags of groceries, plus a tired child, up 3 flights of stairs and into the kitchen without dropping them.
3. Muscular Strength - Your ability to lift the heaviest weight you can, one time.
Example: The strength required to shove your spouse over in an attempt to stifle the chainsaw-like snoring.
4. Flexibility - How limber you are.
Example: You're ability to reach the top shelf of your bookcase for a quick dust.
5. Body Composition - the proportion of fat compared to bone and muscle. Example: Having a healthy percentage of muscle and fat in your body.
This all adds up to the fact that you should be doing cardio exercise, resistance training, stretching and eating a healthy diet. Oh, you already knew that? Then you're ready to get started.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Jessica Alba Diet Secrets - Learn Hollywood Weight Loss Tips!
One source reports Jessica Alba has been on a diet since the age of 12. Jessica said, "Everyone in my family is heavily overweight. I wanted to be healthier, so I started cooking for myself when I was 12 years old. When I eat breakfast, I’ll have an egg-white omelette and fruit, or cottage cheese and a peach. For lunch, I’ll have a salad. Dinner is usually vegetables and chicken or fish. During the day I’ll have some dried fruit, or I’ll have a chocolate or strawberry frozen yogurt. I don’t really eat desserts or bread."
Regarding her workout routine, Jessica said, "I try to work out every day for 45 minutes to an hour. I start out on the treadmills or elliptical machine for 10 to 15 minutes to get my heart rate up to 180 beats per minute. Then I do 50 lunges and crunches. Next I get back on the machine for another 10 minutes. Then I work on shoulders, biceps and triceps. I do that nonstop for four sets. When I work out, I have energy and feel good about myself."
Paris Hilton Diet Secrets - Learn Hollywood Weight Loss Tips!
Paris Hilton doesn't seem to follow the normal Hollywood trend of eating low calorie food, training with weights or cardio workouts for fat loss. No, Paris is really on her own program when it comes to diet and exercise. Paris says, "I eat at McDonald's or Taco Bell." What does Paris Hilton drink? "I hate the taste of alcohol," Paris says. "When I'm drinking, I'm drinking Red Bull."
Paris Hilton's Hair:
Paris is a definite bottle blonde. And she likes it that way. Her sister Nicky however doesn’t. Apparently Nicky was desperate to distance herself from her look-alike sister PARIS so much, that she dyed her hair brown just so that they’d look different.
But Paris’s hair is probably one of the stronger points of her personal style. Her blonde locks are extremely versatile. She’s gone from a pixie cut, to long extensions, and surprisingly she’s managed to suit them all. Her favorite look at the moment is done with the use of hair accessories. So head down to your nearest department store, supermarket or chemist and pick your self up some flower hair pins, diamante hair clips or a satin hair band. Whether you have an up-do…or let your hair down, an added embellishment will give your style that extra Paris pizzazz.
Paris Hilton's Make Up:
Paris’s bright blue eyes are actually not all they seem. Her eyes are actually a dark green. For whatever reason she chooses to wear colored contact lenses, but you don’t need to go to those extremes to emulate her style.
To emulate her eye make up, pick shimmery eye shadow shades in either pale pinks or bronzes. Also use a charcoal shade on your crease, and a white shadow on your brow bone. And don’t forget the all important black liquid eyeliner, and lashings of mascara.
Paris Hilton's Fashion:
"So many tacky trends, so little time." That was just one of the reasons that Blackwell gave for why Paris entered his worst dressed list at number one. I guess he didn’t enjoy the main stays of her wardrobe...sky-high stilettos, butt-baring jeans, mini skirts, diamante studded belts and plunging tops. Lately however she’s been going with a much simpler style…maybe it has something to do with her appearance on The Simple Life. Her skirt lengths are longer, her color choices are more muted (pastels actually feature), and she’s swapped leather for satin.
Paris Hilton's Hair:
Paris is a definite bottle blonde. And she likes it that way. Her sister Nicky however doesn’t. Apparently Nicky was desperate to distance herself from her look-alike sister PARIS so much, that she dyed her hair brown just so that they’d look different.
But Paris’s hair is probably one of the stronger points of her personal style. Her blonde locks are extremely versatile. She’s gone from a pixie cut, to long extensions, and surprisingly she’s managed to suit them all. Her favorite look at the moment is done with the use of hair accessories. So head down to your nearest department store, supermarket or chemist and pick your self up some flower hair pins, diamante hair clips or a satin hair band. Whether you have an up-do…or let your hair down, an added embellishment will give your style that extra Paris pizzazz.
Paris Hilton's Make Up:
Paris’s bright blue eyes are actually not all they seem. Her eyes are actually a dark green. For whatever reason she chooses to wear colored contact lenses, but you don’t need to go to those extremes to emulate her style.
To emulate her eye make up, pick shimmery eye shadow shades in either pale pinks or bronzes. Also use a charcoal shade on your crease, and a white shadow on your brow bone. And don’t forget the all important black liquid eyeliner, and lashings of mascara.
Paris Hilton's Fashion:
"So many tacky trends, so little time." That was just one of the reasons that Blackwell gave for why Paris entered his worst dressed list at number one. I guess he didn’t enjoy the main stays of her wardrobe...sky-high stilettos, butt-baring jeans, mini skirts, diamante studded belts and plunging tops. Lately however she’s been going with a much simpler style…maybe it has something to do with her appearance on The Simple Life. Her skirt lengths are longer, her color choices are more muted (pastels actually feature), and she’s swapped leather for satin.
The Ab Exercise That's A Total waste of Time
I was at a poker party up in North Jersey over the weekend at a friend's house. My friend had moved into this beautiful new home about a year ago, but I had never made it up for a visit until this past weekend.
Well, as they were giving us a tour of the house, we took a peek nto one of their spare rooms which wasn't being used for anything. The only thing they had in this room was one of those infomercial "ab loungers" covered in dust... you know, the ab-chair looking thingy that they hawk on the infomercials as being the end-all solution to a flabby stomach... telling you that you can get a flat stomach and perfect abs just by sitting on this thing and rocking a little bit while you lazily watch tv.
The cleverly marketed infomercials for these products lure you in by showing you the ripped sexy midsections of the male and female fitness models that they hired for the show (who have never actually used these gadgets themselves...they actually got their toned near-perfection bodies through following REAL workouts and strict nutrition!)
Well, since this "ab lounger" was sitting in this vacant room getting dusty, obviously it wasn't actually being used, so it was really a waste of their money that they spent on it.
Regardless, even if it was being used regularly, it would never have given my friends the results they were looking for, because these infomercial ab gadgets (and all ab exercises for that matter), don't accomplish the most important aspect of truly achieving flat six pack abs...
THEY DON'T STIMULATE ANY FAT LOSS AT ALL!
And worse yet, just for kicks, I jumped on this "ab lounger" and gave it a try... I have to say, I've never done any abs exercise where I felt it LESS in my abs... As a matter of fact, this piece of crap lounger didn't even feel like it was making my abs work at all!
It felt more like a lounge chair I should be using to relax with a beer at a barbeque.
My point of this story is that there are still thousands of people every day that fall for these gimmicks and waste their hard-earned money on every ab-gimmick that comes out next.
So what does it REALLY take to get flat sexy six pack abs?
1. It takes some commitment to doing REAL workouts... full-body multi-joint workouts using strategic combinations of the most effective exercises for stimulating the release of fat burning hormones in your body and increasing your metabolic rate to new levels.
2. It takes introducing yourself to REAL nutrition... not fad diets, not restrictive starvation, not overly processed "diet" foods, not bogus "extreme fat loss" pills... but a truly nutrient-dense natural balanced diet that FEEDS your body with what it needs instead of starving it.
3. It takes the right success mindset to achieve these goals so that you can put everything into action and make it a part of your daily life for good.
If you don't already have a copy, all of these techniques are detailed in my internationally best-selling program - The Truth about Six Pack Abs.
Tens of thousands of users in 143 countries worldwide have already used the program to change their outlook on true fitness for good. Check out more info here to see if this program is a good fit for you...
The Truth About Six Pack Abs
Alright, my stomach is growling for my lunch, so I've gotta go.
My "abs-approved" lunch of the day is:
-A grass-fed bison burger topped with mushrooms and grass-fed
cheddar cheese on an Ezekial sprouted grain bun.
-A side salad of baby lettuce, carrot shreds, olive oil &
balsamic dressing and avocado slices
-A glass of iced green tea
Well, as they were giving us a tour of the house, we took a peek nto one of their spare rooms which wasn't being used for anything. The only thing they had in this room was one of those infomercial "ab loungers" covered in dust... you know, the ab-chair looking thingy that they hawk on the infomercials as being the end-all solution to a flabby stomach... telling you that you can get a flat stomach and perfect abs just by sitting on this thing and rocking a little bit while you lazily watch tv.
The cleverly marketed infomercials for these products lure you in by showing you the ripped sexy midsections of the male and female fitness models that they hired for the show (who have never actually used these gadgets themselves...they actually got their toned near-perfection bodies through following REAL workouts and strict nutrition!)
Well, since this "ab lounger" was sitting in this vacant room getting dusty, obviously it wasn't actually being used, so it was really a waste of their money that they spent on it.
Regardless, even if it was being used regularly, it would never have given my friends the results they were looking for, because these infomercial ab gadgets (and all ab exercises for that matter), don't accomplish the most important aspect of truly achieving flat six pack abs...
THEY DON'T STIMULATE ANY FAT LOSS AT ALL!
And worse yet, just for kicks, I jumped on this "ab lounger" and gave it a try... I have to say, I've never done any abs exercise where I felt it LESS in my abs... As a matter of fact, this piece of crap lounger didn't even feel like it was making my abs work at all!
It felt more like a lounge chair I should be using to relax with a beer at a barbeque.
My point of this story is that there are still thousands of people every day that fall for these gimmicks and waste their hard-earned money on every ab-gimmick that comes out next.
So what does it REALLY take to get flat sexy six pack abs?
1. It takes some commitment to doing REAL workouts... full-body multi-joint workouts using strategic combinations of the most effective exercises for stimulating the release of fat burning hormones in your body and increasing your metabolic rate to new levels.
2. It takes introducing yourself to REAL nutrition... not fad diets, not restrictive starvation, not overly processed "diet" foods, not bogus "extreme fat loss" pills... but a truly nutrient-dense natural balanced diet that FEEDS your body with what it needs instead of starving it.
3. It takes the right success mindset to achieve these goals so that you can put everything into action and make it a part of your daily life for good.
If you don't already have a copy, all of these techniques are detailed in my internationally best-selling program - The Truth about Six Pack Abs.
Tens of thousands of users in 143 countries worldwide have already used the program to change their outlook on true fitness for good. Check out more info here to see if this program is a good fit for you...
The Truth About Six Pack Abs
Alright, my stomach is growling for my lunch, so I've gotta go.
My "abs-approved" lunch of the day is:
-A grass-fed bison burger topped with mushrooms and grass-fed
cheddar cheese on an Ezekial sprouted grain bun.
-A side salad of baby lettuce, carrot shreds, olive oil &
balsamic dressing and avocado slices
-A glass of iced green tea
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Fitting Your Stomach Exercise Into A Busy Schedule
Make time to exercise? Sometimes there is barely time to sleep. How will you ever fit an exercise regime into your already overbooked, busy schedule? That’s as crazy as saying that there are eight days in a week!
First, you’ve never exercised before and you've never played any sports, not even in high school. All you ever did in high school was participate in the mandatory gym classes, if you want to call sitting on the side lines participation. Second, you’ve never been interested in the fitness crowd because you have far too many better things to do, and third, you’re just too busy to even think about exercising.
In other words, YOU’RE JUST NOT INTO IT.
Of course, some of your friends talk about it and rave about the latest fitness craze, but you’ve seen them go through their fazes all too often. Some of them are on the “on-again-off-again” treadmill or stair master mania, some of them are jogging, some have bought those ab rollers that have rolled right under their beds and have never rolled back out again and you wonder why they haven’t shed those over the belly love handles that they’re so desperately trying to hide with the larger size blouse they just bought at Macy's "because I just couldn't pass up such a great sale!".
Watching the nonsense that your friends go through without seeing any results, helps you justify your lack of interest and lack of time. They are just nonsensical in your eyes.
You’re not the least bit inclined to engage in those circus-soile like contortions, nor are you willing to do those determine, yet mindless, freestyle strokes in the pool. That would only encroach into your already busy schedule of juggling family, home and career. These three combined – husband, children, home and work are all the exercise you can deal with.
Yup, we’ve got a problem.
With that mindset you are likened to a bubbling volcano that’s about to explode. If you stubbornly keep thinking that the “fat to trim” concept is merely a myth concocted my a handful of sport jocks or a dream far off in the distant future, your health could be going into “eruption mode” soon. Just like the restless volcano.
Have you looked in the mirror at you body lately? Bet you have. Have you taken stock of your overall physical well-being? Probably not. You have looked and shrugged it off to deal with, maybe, when the kids are in colledge and you have more time, haven't you.
Before figuring out how to fit an exercise program into your busy schedule, it might be better if we start with some self-evaluation and then get you familiar with the health benefits that come along with exercising, such as preventing illness and disease.
Once you accept the fact that your body needs a make-over, and you understand how vital exercise is for your health, then we can discuss some of the ways that will be easy for you to include exercise into your roller-coaster life.
This article on your screen is your KEY to fitting exercise into your busy life style. This article already knows how busy you are and understands that you have a life to lead; and that’s why the tips in here are specifically designed to fit in with your busy lifestyle!
To keep things organized and simple, this article is broken down into five easy articles that you can read in order or you can read the section that is most relevant to you at the moment:
Section 1: Assessing Your Fitness And Accepting the Necessity of Exercise
Section 2: Including Exercise Into Your Busy Life With Ease
Section 3: On The Road Again? You can Fit Exercise into your Trips
Section 4: Exercise Aids To Go
Section5: Tips for the Hurried and Harried
Regardless of how you choose to read these articles, you can be confident of one thing. Once you apply the advice within these pages, your busy life will include something new and relevant that will actually make you feel good about yourself.
First, you’ve never exercised before and you've never played any sports, not even in high school. All you ever did in high school was participate in the mandatory gym classes, if you want to call sitting on the side lines participation. Second, you’ve never been interested in the fitness crowd because you have far too many better things to do, and third, you’re just too busy to even think about exercising.
In other words, YOU’RE JUST NOT INTO IT.
Of course, some of your friends talk about it and rave about the latest fitness craze, but you’ve seen them go through their fazes all too often. Some of them are on the “on-again-off-again” treadmill or stair master mania, some of them are jogging, some have bought those ab rollers that have rolled right under their beds and have never rolled back out again and you wonder why they haven’t shed those over the belly love handles that they’re so desperately trying to hide with the larger size blouse they just bought at Macy's "because I just couldn't pass up such a great sale!".
Watching the nonsense that your friends go through without seeing any results, helps you justify your lack of interest and lack of time. They are just nonsensical in your eyes.
You’re not the least bit inclined to engage in those circus-soile like contortions, nor are you willing to do those determine, yet mindless, freestyle strokes in the pool. That would only encroach into your already busy schedule of juggling family, home and career. These three combined – husband, children, home and work are all the exercise you can deal with.
Yup, we’ve got a problem.
With that mindset you are likened to a bubbling volcano that’s about to explode. If you stubbornly keep thinking that the “fat to trim” concept is merely a myth concocted my a handful of sport jocks or a dream far off in the distant future, your health could be going into “eruption mode” soon. Just like the restless volcano.
Have you looked in the mirror at you body lately? Bet you have. Have you taken stock of your overall physical well-being? Probably not. You have looked and shrugged it off to deal with, maybe, when the kids are in colledge and you have more time, haven't you.
Before figuring out how to fit an exercise program into your busy schedule, it might be better if we start with some self-evaluation and then get you familiar with the health benefits that come along with exercising, such as preventing illness and disease.
Once you accept the fact that your body needs a make-over, and you understand how vital exercise is for your health, then we can discuss some of the ways that will be easy for you to include exercise into your roller-coaster life.
This article on your screen is your KEY to fitting exercise into your busy life style. This article already knows how busy you are and understands that you have a life to lead; and that’s why the tips in here are specifically designed to fit in with your busy lifestyle!
To keep things organized and simple, this article is broken down into five easy articles that you can read in order or you can read the section that is most relevant to you at the moment:
Section 1: Assessing Your Fitness And Accepting the Necessity of Exercise
Section 2: Including Exercise Into Your Busy Life With Ease
Section 3: On The Road Again? You can Fit Exercise into your Trips
Section 4: Exercise Aids To Go
Section5: Tips for the Hurried and Harried
Regardless of how you choose to read these articles, you can be confident of one thing. Once you apply the advice within these pages, your busy life will include something new and relevant that will actually make you feel good about yourself.
Yoga Also Help Tighten and Strengthen up your Muscles.
Yoga is also considered to be an excellent workout program for the whole body. Yoga has a variety of exercises for each of the separate abdominal areas. They start with the simpler moves for the novice and gradually move towards more difficult and intense movements for the more advanced.
As you become more experienced and your body begins to limber up you will be able to perform these more difficult movements with ease, and you will notice your complete body toning up and will gain a more relaxed state of mind. Yoga, again involves the whole body, as any good exercise regime should.
Keep in mind that just because one trainer may consider a specific exercise to be the best stomach exercise, it does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each individual's body is unique and will respond differently to certain movements.
Any one that is serious about working on the abdominal muscles should try a variety for each muscle group to determine which ones they are most comfortable with and that bring the best results. The best scenario is combining the stomach area with other areas of the body for an all around, unified work out system
If one exercise creates too much of a strain and is too difficult to do correctly, or if it feels as though it has not done anything for the muscle group worked, then clearly, that exercise is not the best for you and you should find what does work best. This, however, will not apply to Yoga exercises as they are geared to start out slow and easy. They might feel as if they are not accomplishing their goal, but with time, the movements will become more intense as the body becomes adjusted to the movements.
Whatever routine you should decide on, don't be in too big of a rush to achieve your goal. It is important to remember that, as with all things, it will take time to get the desired results. After all, it took time to get you into the state you are now in. It didn't happen over night.
You will need to make the commitment to stick to whatever program you are comfortable with until you have the flat stomach muscles that you want. The good news is that stomach muscles respond very well to even a little exercise. Add a good healthy diet to your exercise routine, and you will most surely see results.
HATHA YOGA
Hatha Yoga can help you towards a better physic, better health and calm your mind so that you can solve your personal problems. I do want to stress two facts.
Firstly, that the aim of Hatha Yoga is not to get you into prime physical shape, but is the discipline and the purification of the body that we may forget our earthly shell enough to reach a state of heightened awareness through the control of the mind. The physical attributes are a plus that comes with the discipline of the exercises.
Secondly, that Hatha Yoga is neither the easiest nor the fastest system of physical culture to show results, however when you first start out your yoga regime, the exercises are simple and fluid until your build your your muscle elasticity.
If Yoga isn't easy why should I choose it?
Why not weight lifting, aerobics, sports, swimming, or even dancing? All of these will improve the circulation, the figure, strengthen the body muscles and yes, tighten your stomach muscles.
What has Hatha Yoga to offer in addition to this?
Simply that Hatha Yoga will provide an extraordinary control over the body and awaken the mind and spirit, the higher self if you like, as no purely physical activity could possibly do.
Also, a large section of the community such as the aged, the infirm, the lame, and the physically frail are unable to perform the above mentioned activities. Those activities involve rigorous and rapid movement. Hatha Yoga does not. It is essentially a static science.
Basically one moves slowly into aYoga position or asana and remains so for as long as possible. Stress is laid on pressure of certain organs, glands and muscles rather than on movement. When movement is used it is always gentle and graceful, similar to a ballet.
Anyone and everyone can benefit from Yoga regardless of age, sex, race, vocation, or religious belief. It is a universal science. It can lead to more abundant living and a new awareness of higher things through ridding your body of the pains and diseases which drag your mind down into the earth when it wants to wing its way upwards towards the light.
Even if you do not aim at mental discipline, and I know, many of you do not, you can still, with disciplined practice, improve your general health beyond belief.
You will find that once you gain Yoga knowledge,it will begin to influence and help you in your daily life, no matter who you are. It will gradually influence every part of your life, from your attitude towards others to the way you sleep, breathe, think, and even eat.
Did I say eat? What has eating to do with Yoga?
It has very much to do with it. It is a strange fact that Yoga’s doctrine of non-violence very soon influences even the most enthusiastic meat-eaters to think again about adapting a vegetarian diet, or at the very minimum cutting out the red meat in ones diet. You will also tend to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains which will have a tremendous impact on your weight.
Whatever your reasons (and there can never be a bad reason for doing something good) for looking into Yoga as a means to tighten your stomach muscles or smooth out your wasteline, Yoga can help you with your everyday problems on all levels. As you grow healthier and more relaxed you become a gentler person, less inclined to fits of irritation and temper. Yoga provides the counter-weight so urgently needed to the ever increasing nervous, mental and physical tensions of our modern life.
As you become more experienced and your body begins to limber up you will be able to perform these more difficult movements with ease, and you will notice your complete body toning up and will gain a more relaxed state of mind. Yoga, again involves the whole body, as any good exercise regime should.
Keep in mind that just because one trainer may consider a specific exercise to be the best stomach exercise, it does not necessarily mean it is the best for everyone. Each individual's body is unique and will respond differently to certain movements.
Any one that is serious about working on the abdominal muscles should try a variety for each muscle group to determine which ones they are most comfortable with and that bring the best results. The best scenario is combining the stomach area with other areas of the body for an all around, unified work out system
If one exercise creates too much of a strain and is too difficult to do correctly, or if it feels as though it has not done anything for the muscle group worked, then clearly, that exercise is not the best for you and you should find what does work best. This, however, will not apply to Yoga exercises as they are geared to start out slow and easy. They might feel as if they are not accomplishing their goal, but with time, the movements will become more intense as the body becomes adjusted to the movements.
Whatever routine you should decide on, don't be in too big of a rush to achieve your goal. It is important to remember that, as with all things, it will take time to get the desired results. After all, it took time to get you into the state you are now in. It didn't happen over night.
You will need to make the commitment to stick to whatever program you are comfortable with until you have the flat stomach muscles that you want. The good news is that stomach muscles respond very well to even a little exercise. Add a good healthy diet to your exercise routine, and you will most surely see results.
HATHA YOGA
Hatha Yoga can help you towards a better physic, better health and calm your mind so that you can solve your personal problems. I do want to stress two facts.
Firstly, that the aim of Hatha Yoga is not to get you into prime physical shape, but is the discipline and the purification of the body that we may forget our earthly shell enough to reach a state of heightened awareness through the control of the mind. The physical attributes are a plus that comes with the discipline of the exercises.
Secondly, that Hatha Yoga is neither the easiest nor the fastest system of physical culture to show results, however when you first start out your yoga regime, the exercises are simple and fluid until your build your your muscle elasticity.
If Yoga isn't easy why should I choose it?
Why not weight lifting, aerobics, sports, swimming, or even dancing? All of these will improve the circulation, the figure, strengthen the body muscles and yes, tighten your stomach muscles.
What has Hatha Yoga to offer in addition to this?
Simply that Hatha Yoga will provide an extraordinary control over the body and awaken the mind and spirit, the higher self if you like, as no purely physical activity could possibly do.
Also, a large section of the community such as the aged, the infirm, the lame, and the physically frail are unable to perform the above mentioned activities. Those activities involve rigorous and rapid movement. Hatha Yoga does not. It is essentially a static science.
Basically one moves slowly into aYoga position or asana and remains so for as long as possible. Stress is laid on pressure of certain organs, glands and muscles rather than on movement. When movement is used it is always gentle and graceful, similar to a ballet.
Anyone and everyone can benefit from Yoga regardless of age, sex, race, vocation, or religious belief. It is a universal science. It can lead to more abundant living and a new awareness of higher things through ridding your body of the pains and diseases which drag your mind down into the earth when it wants to wing its way upwards towards the light.
Even if you do not aim at mental discipline, and I know, many of you do not, you can still, with disciplined practice, improve your general health beyond belief.
You will find that once you gain Yoga knowledge,it will begin to influence and help you in your daily life, no matter who you are. It will gradually influence every part of your life, from your attitude towards others to the way you sleep, breathe, think, and even eat.
Did I say eat? What has eating to do with Yoga?
It has very much to do with it. It is a strange fact that Yoga’s doctrine of non-violence very soon influences even the most enthusiastic meat-eaters to think again about adapting a vegetarian diet, or at the very minimum cutting out the red meat in ones diet. You will also tend to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains which will have a tremendous impact on your weight.
Whatever your reasons (and there can never be a bad reason for doing something good) for looking into Yoga as a means to tighten your stomach muscles or smooth out your wasteline, Yoga can help you with your everyday problems on all levels. As you grow healthier and more relaxed you become a gentler person, less inclined to fits of irritation and temper. Yoga provides the counter-weight so urgently needed to the ever increasing nervous, mental and physical tensions of our modern life.
Tighten other Sections (Leg, Arm, Hip, Torso)
Vertical Leg Crunch
This is a variation on the traditional crunch that focuses more specifically on tightening stomach muscles and reducing belly fat. To begin this stomach exercise, first lie on your back on a flat surface, such as the floor. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine, if need be. Put your hands behind your head, with elbows out far enough that they are out of sight. Now lift your legs straight up into the air, crossing your ankles and bending your knees slightly. Contract your abdominals, pulling them towards the floor, as you lift your shoulders, head and upper back up to about a thirty degree angle. Be aware of not lifting with your hands or leading with your head. Do not create any stress on the back of the neck with your hands, as you are using your shoulders to lift.
Hold for a count of 5 and while remaining in total control return back to a flat position on the floor. Repeat 5 times. If it is too difficult to do 5 then do what ever is comfortable without straining yourself. Every day try to increase until you are able to do to 5. repetitions. Increase repetitions to 10 when you are able.
Long Arm Crunch
For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor with your knees bent, facing the ceiling, and feet flat on the floor. Lie back and extend your arms straight back on the floor as though you are reaching above your head. Contract your abs, pulling them towards the floor, and slowly lift your arms, head and shoulders off the floor to about a thirty degree angle. Hold it for a count of 3, then slowly lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat 5 times. Be careful not to lead with your arms, keeping them straight and alongside your head. If 5 is too difficult then do what ever is comfortable without straining yourself. Every day try to increase until you are able to do to 5 repetitions. Increase repetitions to 10 when you are able.
Hip Lift
You will need to stay on your back for this stomach exercise. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up to the ceiling. Put your legs straight up in the air so that the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling and your legs make about a ninety degree angle with your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. Now, contract your ab muscles so hat it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor. Raise your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight upward. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.
Seated Torso Twist
Stay on the floor for this stomach exercise, getting into a seated position. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are pointing upward towards the ceiling. Position your feet about hip width apart. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, interlocking your fingers. Contract your abdominals and lean back about forty-five degrees. Holding the contraction, rotate your torso as far to one side as you are comfortably able. Use your abdominals to control this motion so that your upper body moves at once, do not lead with your arms. Remember to keep your arms in from of you with fingers locked-- pretend you are aiming an imaginary gun. Once you have rotated as far as you feel comfortable, rotate back to center, then to the other side. Repeat these steps for an entire set of 3 on each side, alternating left first, then right for a total of 6. Take care to go slow and keep a controlled movement. Do not allow your momentum to twist you.
Broomstick Twist
Sit upright, holding a stick across the back of your shoulders. Twist from side to side, slowly, first to the left and hold for 5 counts while keeping spine straight, and head and eyes looking forward, then to the right and hold for 5 while keeping spine straight, and head and eyes looking forward.
This is a variation on the traditional crunch that focuses more specifically on tightening stomach muscles and reducing belly fat. To begin this stomach exercise, first lie on your back on a flat surface, such as the floor. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine, if need be. Put your hands behind your head, with elbows out far enough that they are out of sight. Now lift your legs straight up into the air, crossing your ankles and bending your knees slightly. Contract your abdominals, pulling them towards the floor, as you lift your shoulders, head and upper back up to about a thirty degree angle. Be aware of not lifting with your hands or leading with your head. Do not create any stress on the back of the neck with your hands, as you are using your shoulders to lift.
Hold for a count of 5 and while remaining in total control return back to a flat position on the floor. Repeat 5 times. If it is too difficult to do 5 then do what ever is comfortable without straining yourself. Every day try to increase until you are able to do to 5. repetitions. Increase repetitions to 10 when you are able.
Long Arm Crunch
For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor with your knees bent, facing the ceiling, and feet flat on the floor. Lie back and extend your arms straight back on the floor as though you are reaching above your head. Contract your abs, pulling them towards the floor, and slowly lift your arms, head and shoulders off the floor to about a thirty degree angle. Hold it for a count of 3, then slowly lower your shoulders back to the floor. Repeat 5 times. Be careful not to lead with your arms, keeping them straight and alongside your head. If 5 is too difficult then do what ever is comfortable without straining yourself. Every day try to increase until you are able to do to 5 repetitions. Increase repetitions to 10 when you are able.
Hip Lift
You will need to stay on your back for this stomach exercise. Use a mat or towel to cushion your spine. Put your arms at your sides with palms facing up to the ceiling. Put your legs straight up in the air so that the soles of your feet are facing the ceiling and your legs make about a ninety degree angle with your torso. Keep your knees unbent and as straight as possible. Now, contract your ab muscles so hat it feels like your belly button is being pulled toward your spine, while at the same time gently lifting your hips off the floor. Raise your hips to height of a few inches, keeping your legs extended straight upward. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips back to the floor. Repeat for an entire set.
Seated Torso Twist
Stay on the floor for this stomach exercise, getting into a seated position. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are pointing upward towards the ceiling. Position your feet about hip width apart. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, interlocking your fingers. Contract your abdominals and lean back about forty-five degrees. Holding the contraction, rotate your torso as far to one side as you are comfortably able. Use your abdominals to control this motion so that your upper body moves at once, do not lead with your arms. Remember to keep your arms in from of you with fingers locked-- pretend you are aiming an imaginary gun. Once you have rotated as far as you feel comfortable, rotate back to center, then to the other side. Repeat these steps for an entire set of 3 on each side, alternating left first, then right for a total of 6. Take care to go slow and keep a controlled movement. Do not allow your momentum to twist you.
Broomstick Twist
Sit upright, holding a stick across the back of your shoulders. Twist from side to side, slowly, first to the left and hold for 5 counts while keeping spine straight, and head and eyes looking forward, then to the right and hold for 5 while keeping spine straight, and head and eyes looking forward.
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