Namaste

photo copyright Dancing Mind Yoga

The following post is by guest blogger, Kia Guarino.

Yesterday morning I woke up pleasantly sore, feeling it in muscles I had forgotten about, and thanked our newest discovery, a local hot yoga studio! On Tuesday, we tried out a Baptiste Power Vinyasa yoga studio located in downtown Falls Church and were thoroughly impressed. Dancing Mind Yoga uses a heated (90-95 degrees) yoga studio and the Baptiste style of flow yoga, a relatively fast-paced class that works to create stamina and improve overall health and wellbeing. The high temperatures are designed to increase the benefits of yoga, and to improve circulation and eliminate toxins from the body. It also reduces the chance of injury during the class by keeping your muscles loose. The difference is undeniable – I have found that practicing power vinyasa without heat does not leave me feeling as strengthened and healthy.

I really enjoyed the class, and the studio itself was very pretty and relaxing. The walls are a beautiful, serene turquoise color and their lotus flower symbol captures the feeling that yoga inspires. The instructor was attentive about correcting mistakes, which I enjoyed. There are a lot of benefits lost if the poses are done incorrectly, and she was very good about making sure my arms, legs, and back were positioned for the best results. I really felt good in the morning, enjoying the soreness in my lower back from the Locust pose. We bought an unlimited pass for this month so I will be going as much as possible!

Bikram yoga is a different form of hot yoga in temperature and in structure. Bikram yoga is a series of 26 poses that are very demanding, the first half standing and the rest on the ground, in an intensely heated studio. Bikram yoga was designed for the Western yogi and aims to release stress and help with chronic diseases and injuries. It helps increase focus, stamina and clarity while adding the benefits of exercising (weight loss, increased energy, etc.).

In Connecticut, about 6 years ago, we discovered a Bikram studio in South Norwalk and regularly took classes. Our favorite teacher was Dan Markowitz, who would sing James Taylor songs to us during savasana I have attended a number of classes over the years, including in New Haven, Norwalk, and Danbury, CT, as well as in the Boston area. I have learned that the temperature ranges from about 100-105 (usually) to 115 at one studio (which was VERY intense). When I was able to take Bikram classes a few times a week, I felt great overall and found that I had toned muscles that would have been very difficult to get even with strenuous gym workouts. However, if you are not prepared, it can leave you with a pretty intense headache. As they mention online, it is very important to drink a lot of water before entering a Bikram studio and not to eat for a few hours prior.

While the poses and flow of the classes differ, I find that hot vinyasa does have many similar benefits. There is something extremely relaxing about yoga, even in high temperatures. I am very excited to be getting back into it.

an apple a day

I love this photo from TreeHugger.com!

The following is a guest post by blogger, Julia Guarino.

I know that for me – and I don’t think I’m alone – when I hear or read “H1N1”, I experience an emotional mix of exasperation and fear. I am pretty tired of hearing about the threat, but as a 20-something with asthma, I am classified as “high-risk”, and a raw egg allergy prevents me from receiving a flu shot (about which there are varying opinions). Whether or not the virus poses a threat to me, I have come to the conclusion that I should seek out other methods of prevention; the natural way of course. Here are some tips I came across in my research.

1. Wash your hands, of course! The first tip I came across everywhere; flu season basics. (But it’s best to avoid antibacterial soap!). This tip also goes along with other general flu-season hygiene; keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and nose, and avoid others who are sick. Stay home if you have a fever or don’t feel well! (I know it’s hard, but think of your co-workers).

2. Take care of yourself; sleep, and eat well. Avoid sugar and alcohol, sometimes a difficult feat at this time of year, but it’s worth it! Kurt Williamson, virologist and Assistant Professor of Biology at the College of William & Mary, says that keeping your immune system strong is the best way to keep the flu at bay.

3. Get fresh air, and keep your home and office ventilated; air flow is good for keeping bacteria from lingering.

4. Take your vitamins. Vitamin D helps boost your immune function. Williamson says that the best source of Vitamin D is sunshine! Since it is hard to get sufficient amounts of Vitamin D from diet alone, make sure to get outside whenever you can.

5. Supplement your diet. Zinc, elderberry, and Echinacea have also been shown to have some anti-viral properties.

6. WebMD recommends a sauna. Research has shown some correlation between saunas and lower rates of cold and flu infection; plus they feel good!

Want to learn more about flu prevention? My sources were: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WebMD, LiveStrong, and BlackVoices. You can also visit http://www.flu.gov/.