With the start of the school year, like many others, you are probably feeling some different emotions as your children return to the classroom. As a mother, I will put my hand up first to say, I have a lot of mixed emotions and quite a few questions. And as a health and fitness professional, the questions that first come to my mind are: Read More→
In my last blog, I didn’t feel that I gave you enough hikes to explore. I felt I wanted to share more hikes that you can enjoy during these last weeks of summer. As promised, here are a few more of our most favorite hikes. Read More→
Hiking in British Columbia has endless opportunities. It seems like everywhere you turn there is a trail, a mountain, a river to explore. Two years ago my family and I moved across the country from Ontario to beautiful BC. As a family we began to explore BC and all it had to offer. Two years later our new hobby has grown to a new level. Read More→
As our fitness centres slowly open we want to make sure you start on the right track to achieve your goals.
1. Start Small – You may find that it’s a bit harder to run as fast or lift as much as you used to. Take time and build your body again. Starting too big can lead to injuries. Read More→
When thinking about exercise we may visualize movement, exerting energy, and possibly sweating. But have you ever considered breathing exercises and its positive affects? In this current environment feelings of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety are overwhelming. Read More→
Some folks will come out of self-isolation as great cooks, others will be relieved to have restaurants open again. Coming up with yet another nutritious meal can seem overwhelming, especially when a quick shop for that missing ingredient is not as convenient as it once was. Read More→
In a world where most of us are in the same spot, feeling the same, wondering when this will all end, questioning how it will affect each one of us, we have a choice. Many of us are at home. Some of us were not given a choice. Others chose to remain at home. Whatever the circumstance, we do not need to sit at home feeling down and gloomy. Today we have the choice to get up, move, smile, eat, be thankful, or wave from a safe distance to the neighbor alone in their home. We can still wake up and make the most of each day.
No matter what is going on around, we can choose to exercise. And if we choose, we must be intentional. I recommend that tonight, before bed, you lay out your clothes and set the alarm so that your workout can be one of the first things you do the next day. You don’t need a gym to move. You can still go outdoors, find a space in your home, or use the patio or the balcony. You can choose to keep moving.
How is your mental wellbeing? Are you stuck to the computer reading every news update, story, statistic, etcetera? If you are feeling down then limit your screen time. Find ways to fill your head with happiness instead. Call a family member or friend, read a book, listen to classical music, or do yoga.
Sleep is another important part of your life and another choice you control, so how much sleep are you getting? If you are an adult, 7 to 8 hours is recommended. Ensure that you are getting adequate hours of rest. Your sleep will energize you for the next day. It will help you wake up feeling rejuvenated, which can then encourage you to choose joy. Did you know that if you move each day and fill your head with positive information and thoughts you will probably have a better night’s sleep?
Most of us want to feel happy, but that is a choice each of us must make. I hope that today, surrounded by uncertainty, you will wake up with joy in your heart, that you will choose to smile, to find laughter, to move daily, and to make the most out of every moment and heartbeat you have been given.
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by MaryAnna Robbins
Improving your health isn’t always about doctor’s visits or prescriptions.
Changing your outlook on life can sometimes work just as well as any medicine. Having a hobby can help you pursue things that enrich, de-stress and otherwise keep you active in your free time. This is important for anyone wanting to improve their well-being, no matter how busy or how bored they are. For a lot of people, the problem is finding a hobby that works for them, so with that said, here are five hobbies that can improve your health and well-being.
Image Source: Unsplash
1. Arts & Crafts
The idea of art therapy has become a very popular phenomenon. Nothing is more beneficial in your free time than creating art. Not only does art provide creative stimulation, it can also be therapeutic for stress and anxiety. In addition, there are no barriers to pursuing art because there are so many varieties of it, whether it’s coloring, pottery, knitting, or digital, whatever strikes your fancy. Investing your time into art not only makes you productive, but it also provides distractions from the pressures of modern living.
2. Dancing
While the prospect could be daunting to some people, dancing does wonders for both your physical and mental well-being. Taking classes in any dance form from ballet to Zumba can help you burn calories and it makes you good. Most forms of dance involve exercising your cardiovascular and muscular systems to boost health. The social contact gained from dancing can also be important as it can lead to finding a new community, building new friendships and sometimes even more.
3. Gardening
Gardening can be thought of as hard work, and for some people hard work can be its own form of relief. Gardening can be scaled to the size you want. Small indoor gardens with potted plants and succulents are just as viable as veggie plots or flower beds. You may have a small area that requires working vertically or a large section that you plan to corner off with a shed or refurbished outhouse. Creativity in how you might plan your garden contributes to the restorative benefits of gardening. Making a project out of gardening can make you feel productive and active, and this is good for your mental well-being.
Image Source: Unsplash
4. Writing
As a passive activity, writing can provide excellent stimulation for the mind. It doesn’t matter what sort of writing you’re interested in; it can be beneficial just to practice it. Journals, poetry and creative writing are popular forms of the hobby, but there are plenty of health benefits in other forms of writing as well. Writing letters, blogs, essays and articles can help the writer express pent up energy or anxiety. Practicing writing as a hobby comes with the benefit of improving your writing skills, which may help you with future opportunities.
5. Natural Walks
In Japan there is a term known as ‘forest bathing.’ It’s based around the idea that simply being present in nature can provide meditative and therapeutic effects. While not a magical remedy of any sort, taking walks through nature does have calming effects on the mind along with physical benefits. If you’re feeling cooped up or under the weather, find a local walking track and spend an hour or so just enjoying the outdoors. It doesn’t cost anything besides your time.
It’s important to balance work with play, so you never feel burnt out. If you’re feeling like your health and well-being aren’t as they should be, consider engaging in some of the hobbies in this article and see how they could improve your life. Hobbies are essential to your well-being because they keep your mind engaged, relaxed and in control.
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Author bio:
Harper Reid is a creative writer based in Auckland, New Zealand. She loves baking, reading novels, and learning fun things – like DIY projects or a new language! Find out more by visiting her blog right here.
Exercise
Go for a run, take a bike ride, create a backyard circuit, climb the stairs, or do some yoga. Stuck indoors? Then live stream an exercise class. If you do not have weights, use your body weight to continue building strength. Read More→
If you have difficulty managing your waistline no matter how much exercise you do, the answer could be with balancing your cortisol, not increasing your workouts.Cortisol is a hormone related to stress that specifically targets the fat cells in the abdominal area. Constant stress produces chronic levels of cortisol, and this could be the very reason that you continue to battle your waistline. Read More→
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