WellBlog

Repeat the following steps 5-10 times for a workout or simply do this routine once a day to lift your mood, decrease stress, and just feel good!

Great lessons can be learned from the scene in Mary Poppins when the characters sing “I Love to Laugh” and start levitating uncontrollably toward the ceiling. The more they laugh, the higher they float! The metaphor suggests that laughter and happy thoughts can “lighten” your mood along with those around you. Laughing often and freely is a tremendous resource and tool for managing stress, reducing tension, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

Traditionally apples have a peak season in the fall. Thanks to modern transportation and farming techniques, we can enjoy the benefits of this nutritious fruit all year round. In addition to being an excellent, portable snack, apples taste great sliced in salads, baked or poached in desserts, or lend a sweet touch to savory dishes and stuffings.

Warm-up: Side steps with arms going up and down x 20 per side: start standing with legs together and arms at your sides. Step to one side and raise both your arms to where they’re in a “T” shape with your torso. Return to the starting position. Now step to the other side, and repeat the arm movement. Return to the starting position.

Swimming laps, water walking, deep water running and water aerobics are all great ways to get cardio exercise and a total body workout. The buoyancy of the water is beneficial for people of all fitness levels, from beginners and those recovering from an injury to serious endurance athletes.

Try this quick and healthy "Homemade Instant Oatmeal" recipe and cut your morning prep time!

For years the American Heart Association has taught the A-B-Cs, Airway-Breathing Compressions, as the three steps for giving CPR to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The latest research suggests doing chest compressions first is more effective at saving lives. The recommended steps to take for a cardiac arrest are now C-A-B, Compressions-Airway Breathing.

Interval training involves alternating higher intensity bouts of exercise with a comfortable, steady aerobic pace.  In addition to burning more calories, interval training is an efficient and gradual way to boost your cardio fitness and endurance.  It’s fun and challenging and takes the monotony out of a steady cardio workout.

Interval training can be done with walking as the base exercise, both outside or on a treadmill. The shorter bouts of higher intensity can be increasing your pace with a power walk, jog, or run, or you can challenge your intensity with walking uphill, taking stairs, or adjusting the incline on a treadmill. An example of an interval workout you can do outdoors is to fitness walk one lap at a school track and then run up and down the bleacher stairs for the interval portion. Interval workouts can be modified for beginner to more advanced workouts by adjusting the length of time and/or intensity of the intensity intervals.  

Following is a sample 30 minute walking interval workout with 5 four-minute interval cycles and a 5 minute warm-up & cool-down

Sometimes we assume that foods purchased at a health food store or farmers market must be good for us. But with so many different diets, lifestyles and “health foods” today that promote wholesome living, vitality, disease prevention or weight loss, we often make choices by the food label or category instead of the ingredient list. And while many of these foods, diets or lifestyles do in fact promote health, not all foods that fall into a particular category are necessarily healthy.