181/365 Stand on Your Head

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Remember when you first learned how to do a 3-point headstand when you were little? Well, there's more to it than looking silly.

There are inversion boots and inversion tables that can get you to the desired upside down position. And why is being upside down something you want? For most of the day you are standing or sitting; blood is constantly working against gravity to get to your brain and your heart. By going upside down, you assist your vascular system to get re-oxygenated. There are other health claims that come with it but since I couldn't find much research supporting it. You can find comprehensive instructions here: (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/481)

Also on this site you will find directions for doing the headstand or Salamba Sirsasana If you've never done this before, I highly recommend doing the beginner version. Once you master this pose, it's a lot of fun and feels so empowering. Yoga Journal recommends that you start off at 10 seconds, work up to 3 minutes, and eventually 5 minutes.

Practice your headstands with confidence. Make sure that you hold the weight of your body in your shoulders and arms, not on your head.

In health,

Lauren

94/365 Mom was Right, Stand Up Straight

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

How are you sitting right now? Are your shoulders back or are you slouched forward? Is your neck perpendicular to the ground or are you reaching towards the screen? Is your head level with the ground or is it tilted up or down? Think about how you walk. If you saw a video of yourself, could you draw a straight line from your hips, through your torso, and through your head?

Let's face it, most of us do not have the best posture all the time. Often we are weighed down by backpacks, purses, or gym bags. Maybe because of the nature of our school work or job we are constantly in the hunched-forward position over our keyboards. Regardless, bad posture is a habit we need to break.

Gravity constantly puts pressure on our body. By adopting good posture habits, we allow our bodies to distribute pressure evenly so that no single joint is taking on too much force. Slouching creates unnecessary stress and strain on our ligaments. Hunching while we stand or crossing our legs while we sit creates compression, an imbalance in our body from stretching one ligament but not the other. Without compression, "The internal organs function properly, respiration deepens, the joints are lubricated, blood flows properly." Of course, people with better posture look leaner, stronger, taller, and healthier, who doesn't want that? Also, good posture is essential for exercise. With added force from weights, it is absolutely essential that you practice good posture and form.

So how do we do this? According to an article featured in associated content we should:
1. Position our feet shoulder width apart with the thighs elongated

2. Watch the lower back and avoid arching or leaning back. The tail should be slightly tucked down.

3. Lift the breast bone, your shoulder blades should move down and create a distance between the hipbone and the rib cage.

4. The chin should be level and the head and upper back should be the highest point on the body.

So stand tall and work what your mama gave you!

In health,

Lauren

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/look-thinner-instantly