5 Reasons Why I Love Yoga
August 11th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Allow me to preface this by saying: I’m no yoga master. However, I’ve spent the past 4 years working on and deepening my practice. Admittedly, there have been day, week, and even month-long breaks I’ve taken from that practice. That said, here’s what I’ve learned.
1. Everything will be better.
Your posture.
Your breathing.
Your stress level.
Your alignment. (No one likes a sore back.)
Your happiness.
The overall way you feel.
Everything.
2. There are no rules.
Don’t feel like doing yoga today? No problem. You’re just not getting your balance poses? Skip ‘em. Just not feeling the rhythm? End early.
And the bonus? You don’t have to feel bad about a single one of those things!
3. You can do it anywhere.
I’ve always thought that practicing in non-traditional places was the best. I’ve recently carved out a cozy spot on my deck to practice, but my favorite place is the beach (and as it turns out, there are a ton of added benefits of practicing there).
The point is: yoga is versatile enough to practice anywhere – the girl in the picture above is on top of a mountain for crying out loud. So, find the places that work for you or, better yet, try some impromptu sessions wherever you go!
4. It’s just as good exercise and stretching as it is meditation and relaxation.
I never feel in better shape than when I do yoga regularly. I never feel as flexible as when I do yoga regularly. And I never feel more relaxed (what I like to call zen Nicki) as when I do yoga regularly.
I’d call that a win-win-win!!
5. It’s all about your own journey.
It doesn’t matter if you’re taking a class or doing yoga on your own, it’s all about you. There are days when I feel like working on my balance or inversion poses, so I do. There are other days where I want stronger warrior poses, so I do more sun salutations (Surya Namaskara) than I’d care to admit.
More than that, though, there’s an even important element at work here. It may sound hippie dippie (ok, it does), but your relationship with your yoga practice is key. Like a relationship with a person, you have to work at your yoga practice to strengthen and enrich it so that you can enjoy all of the benefits I’ve mentioned here. So, make sure you enjoy the journey 
Obviously I can’t say enough good things about yoga. What has your experience been like?
How to Detox Properly and (More Importantly) What I Learned During the Process
July 31st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Last month I completed a ten day detox. My homeopath suggested I try it; “You spring clean your house,” she told me, “It only makes sense you do the same for your body.” Willingly, I accepted the challenge.
Detoxing, the right way
I’m no dietitian, and certainly no doctor. But the way my homeopath explained it, a lot of people do juice detoxing or water fasting – both of which do a great job flushing out your system. The part most people miss, however, is flushing all the toxins out of your body. In order to do that, you need amino acids. So, here’s what my diet was allowed to consist of during my detox. It wasn’t a diet and it certainly wasn’t a fast:
- Take two scoops of BioCleanse everyday. It’s a great source of protein and amino acids, as well as a ton of other good-for-your-body nutrients.
- Eat vegan; ideally organic, whole foods/grains, fruits, vegetables, and olive oil.
- No meat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, (added) sugar, salt (fresh spices are OK), or processed foods.
What I learned
- I had really high expectations. I thought that this would be so easy. Turns out, without my vice (dairy), I am cranky.
- I can live without my morning coffee! I love tea, I’ve always loved tea; it just took not being allowed to drink coffee to realize how much I love it.
- My cookbook is my new best friend. Typically, when I need a new recipe, I’ll look it up on Eating Well, but I finally learned to use the cookbook (The Vegetarian’s Bible) that my Mom gave me a few Christmases ago.
- I need to be able to couple this kind of program with more rigorous exercise. Exercise is important, regardless of what lifestyle you’re rocking. However, during a detox, exercise proves to be nearly impossible.
Have you done a detox? What was your experience like?
Two Years Later: Will My Dog EVER Calm Down?
June 16th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Flash back to August 2009. I brought this little bundle of joy home. I know I’m biased, but he was literally the cutest puppy I’d ever seen.
It didn’t take me long to learn Brady wouldn’t be the calm, lackadaisical labrador that I’d grown up with.
Brady’s a lab who has a big personality and a ton of energy. Regardless of how often I ran him or how much he swam at the lake, it seemed like Brady would never tire.
Needless to say, I was worried. Sure, I was only 22 when I got him, but I knew he’d be around for a while and maybe I’d have kids by the time he was all grown up. So I asked around.
I asked friends, family, dog trainers, you name it…will this dog ever calm down?! “Yes,” they said, “around the time he’s 2 years old.”
Today my sweet boy turned two, and boy, has he ever calmed down.
Brady’s never been a destructive dog (thank goodness!), but I’ve noticed a huge difference in the past 6 months. I can do things like leave my shoes out without him bothering them. He will lie down and fall asleep even when there are things going on around him. He’ll even get into his create willingly and (only sometimes) bark to be let out.
He’s no where near perfect (and I love him just the same), but growing up has made a world of difference.
Like children going into adolescence and then adulthood, dogs grow up and mature.
So, for all of you out there who are ripping your hair out with your energetic puppy, it will all be OK. Have patience, work with them, and they’ll eventually grow out of it.
3 Things Coaching College Cheerleading Has Taught Me
May 1st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Those that know me professionally always seem to be shocked that I’m a cheerleading coach. Perhaps it’s because I’m not as blonde as I once was. Who knows.
I’ve been coaching for two years now – my first year, I was the Assistant coach and this past year, I was the head coach – at St. Joseph’s College of Maine.
Coaching, in general, teaches the coach just as much as the kids. At least, being on both sides, that’s what I’ve found. That said, there are 3 huge lessons I’ve learned by coaching.
1. You can still be yourself.
It was hard going from being on the team – even as a leader – to coaching the squad. I had to learn when to be tough and when to have fun with the girls. I think after two years I finally found the balance, but when I first started, I wasn’t myself. I was uptight, and didn’t feel comfortable joking with the team.
I’m goofy, it’s just how I am, so this year I think I was finally able to let the girls see that – at least a glimmer of it. But it’s really a life lesson, you see, because it’s like a lot of things in life: you need to stay true to who you are, no matter what.
2. You have to roll with the punches.
I used to be an uptight person. I still have some OCD in me, but a few years ago, I was admittedly even more uptight. I’ve learned – in thanks to those I’ve coached – that sometimes you just have to roll with things that life throws at you.
Whether it’s a girl who simply can’t be on the team anymore for completely legitimate reasons or another dramatic moment, rolling with life’s little moments and not letting them phase you can make all the difference.
3. At the end of the day, people can still surprise you.
As far as I’m concerned, I can read most people like a book: I can tell what type of person someone is moments after meeting them, and what level of drive they have in life after 10 minutes.
My cheerleaders may have their quirks, their bad days, but there will always be those moments that take my breath away.
This year, that moment came during competition. The girls didn’t have an overly wonderful attitude heading into competition – and it’s a long story as to why – but it all changed after they performed and I’ve never been so proud. Not only did they nail their routine, but they had awesome attitudes and were so pumped up for the following day when they could perform again.
5 Ways to Keep from Getting Sick this Spring
March 31st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
It happens every year.
Spring.
Like clockwork, allergies, illness, and colds start popping up everywhere you look. For instance, I coach college cheerleading, and in the past month, almost every single one of my girls has been out sick. Why? They’re probably not doing everything they can to take care of themselves. How many times have I been sick in the past month? Zero. (Knock on wood.)
While you can’t do much about seasonal allergies without medication, you can do something about getting a cold or the flu – none of which involve shots or medication. There are 5 easy ways to stay healthy and germ-free this spring:
- Get sleep - Lack of sleep will push you over the line of getting sick to calling out of work. We need 6-8 hours a night, and I think it’s best to stick near a solid 8 hours of z-catching goodness.
- Take your vitamins/supplements – With the amount of Vitamin C I take daily, it’s no wonder I don’t end up having to take triple doses of Airbourne if I start feeling under the weather. Being proactive about taking your vitamins is a surefire way to not have to be reactive about it later.
- Eat right – Like #2, if your immune system is already presented with constant pressure from attacking viruses, you need all the help you can get from what you put in your mouth.
- Exercise – Sometimes, it’s just best to sweat out a cold. Again, by being proactive about your health, you can decrease the chances of contracting whatever your coworkers have.
- Wash your hands - I can’t tell you how many times I watch people shake someone’s hand and then later touch their own face. Here’s a better rule of thumb: don’t touch your face without washing your hands first! You give germs a direct path by putting your hands anywhere near your eyes, nose, or mouth…so don’t give them the opportunity! If you can’t get to the sink, keep some antibacterial hand sanitizer nearby!
And there you have it! 5 super easy ways to keep from getting sick this spring!
