Yoga 101

It happened two days ago. I couldn’t remember a friend’s name. The cold grip of terror descended upon me as I struggled to recall her name. My mind was a total blank, except for the one word that I had no problem remembering…dementia.

As a baby boomer who has witnessed the cognitive decline of many of the “greatest generation”, I am ever on red alert for signs of decline.

This was my motivation for attending a yoga class this morning.  (People who exercise are less likely to develop dementia and other cognitive diseases.)

What I did recall during the class is how much I dislike the discomfort that I experience during yoga classes…all that stretching, contorting, and twisting my body into positions that seem totally unnatural. After all, my body prefers reclining.

However, tonight I feel smug and self righteous…and maybe a little smarter.

Self Directed Weight Loss…Just A Month Away

I recently developed an easy to follow “ Self Directed Weight Loss Program” for baby boomer women who fantasize about losing ten pounds.

Why mention this in early December, and play upon the guilt from carbo-loading at all of those Christmas parties ? …because if December comes, can January be far behind? …and January means resolutions…fresh starts…redemptions.

So “ Ho Ho Ho”  yourself through December, but remember that the promise of losing those dreaded ten pounds is just a keystroke away. Until then…

www.tenpoundslost.com

Happy Holidays!

Are You An Introvert?

I just read with some amusement Psychology Today’s description of an introvert as someone who regarded going to a party as being held in a holding cell. That may sound dramatic, but for some introverts, this may be the case.

Socially, the biggest different between introverts and extroverts lies in their expression…not their sociability. For example, an introvert may be having a scintillating conversation inside his own mind, with his own flowery asides about what is going on at the party. “Oh, there’s Fred…haven’t seen him in years! Wonder who he’s with?…yada, yada, yada.” To the casual extroverted observer, it appears that the introverted partygoer is bored or even wallflowery. This usually prompts the dreaded question, “Are you having fun?”

Fun for an introvert is a small group gathering where ideas can be exchanged and pondered. Large parties are simply tolerated. Parties require quick off-the-cuff responses. This is where the introvert brain is constantly playing catch up. Introverts filter their thoughts and then decide which thoughts to share. Extroverts share almost every thought with little filtering. Extraverts are more likely to say things like, “Oh, I really wish I hadn’t said that,” while introverts say, “This is what I should have said.”

Introverts usually need downtime after socializing. So, if you are an introvert and you’re going to a party, I have four words for you…take your own car.

Cinematherapy

I accidentally watched “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” yesterday. I started mindlessly watching, but was drawn in by recollections of my own high school days. There is something oddly sentimental about movies that take you back to more carefree times.

What was apparent to me was the impulsive nature of most of their decisions. I guess this is understandable given that they lacked the wisdom that experience bestows upon you if you’re on the planet long enough.

I remember reading that the human brain is not fully developed until the age of 25. …that until age 25 people lack a full and complete understanding of the consequences of their behavior.

I suppose that’s part of what makes the teenage years both so fool hardy and so much fun. You don’t see too many anxiety disorders in the under 25 group. That’s probably what keeps the oldies music stations on board…a trip back to our own Ridgemond Highs.

The Power of Words

“In the beginning was the word…” Words are powerful. What we tell ourselves is powerful. Our words are so powerful that they even have the power to affect our immune systems. How? I tell myself a negative thought. My hypothalamus immediately reacts by sending out a cascade of chemicals to alert my immune system to get ready to attack an unknown invader. Since there is no invader, what does it attack? My healthy cells! Make no mistake…stress is not a benign condition. I’d like to share a video which speaks to the power of words. Watch your words. They count!

http://us.mg3.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.gx=1&.rand=9je4mq3meig0h

Want to curb your cravings for sweets and carbs?

Click here  to find out how

Tone Up With Virtual Exercise?

In a segment on Frontline, kids who used virtual reality equipment to swim with whales actually believed they had been swimming with whales when questioned weeks later. The power of the mind to incorporate belief systems and then act on them is pretty amazing.

I’ve read that by imagining yourself doing strength building exercises, you can increase your muscle size over time the same as if you’d actually been  lifting weights.

 Does virtual exercise really work? What do you think?

Do You Know Your Numbers?

You may feel perfectly healthy. You may look perfectly healthy. But are you really?  How many times have you heard of someone in the prime of life dying suddenly of a heart attack or stroke? It’s happening more often than you think…and not just to people over 40. In increasing numbers, young people are being affected by hardening of the arteries and cardiovascular trauma.

Although women visit their doctors with more frequency than men, many women are still unaware of their risk factors. Ignorance may feel like bliss, but it’s more like playing Russian Roulette with your longevity.

The answer lies in knowing your numbers. What numbers? Your cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, glucose, and your waist size. For example, waist size in women should be 35 or less to stay in the safe zone. Knowing your numbers is as simple as  having your doctor order a blood test.

Heart disease and stroke don’t usually sneak up on you. Most of the time, these conditions are years in the making. They’re preventable.

Do you know your numbers?

How To Create Stress: Watch scary flicks

I just read an article listing movies that create anxiety. The first movie on the list was, aptly named, “High Anxiety”. No problem for me as  I decided long ago to skip the scary flicks entirely. After all, I reasoned, “Why pay to be scared?”

The human body is a highly hypnotizable machine. They call it “the willing suspension of disbelief” during which you totally forget that you’re sitting in a movie theatre and your body responds as if you’re actually in the terrifying situation.

I remember the strong urge to throw up as I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. I also remember nearly jumping into the stranger’s lap beside me during a particular scene of “Wait Until Dark”. Since I was in my early 20′s at the time, there wasn’t much chance of an actual heart attack, but my heart did feel like it absolutely froze for several seconds. And I don’t think I’ll ever live long enough to overcome the posttraumatic stress after watching “Psycho”.

Movies are meant to play with the emotions. After the film, Avatar, some people who were interviewed leaving the theatre expressed sadness at having to return to the “real” world.

There are always those thrillseekers among us who seek out this very type of movie. But, if you don’t fall into that category, know that during a scary flick you’re taking your body on a cortisol ride. If you have any serious chronic ailment that is exacerbated by stress, do your body a favor by finding a less jolting flick for your cinematherapy.

Baby Steps

I am feeling very self-righteous at this moment after 30 minutes on  the eliptical. Although I tout the benefits of exercise for both physical and mental health, I basically hate exercise. As a Diabetes Coach and a Mental Health Counselor, I know that I’m not alone. Finding the motivation to exercise is tough.

What motivated me this morning was a stressful email from my bank about new conditions for free checking. In these economic times, I’m not the only person paying close attention to the effects of the recession on the common man.

 Exercise takes a big bite out of the stress by calming down the central nervous system. Stressors are everywhere. You can’t escape them. But you can chop them down to size. I’m not talking about 30 minutes of exercise. I’m talking about baby steps. If you can’t manage 30 minutes, start with a 10 minute walk. Excuse yourself to go the bathroom and search for a bathroom on another floor. It’s do-able.

Start with baby steps. You’ll notice the difference.