I read a book recently called A Tale For The Time Being. First of all, it's great. One of the characters is a 104-year-old buddhist nun, and during the course of the book, she tries to teach her granddaughter how to meditate. In doing so, she tells the girl, she will discover her "SUPAPOWER." Wouldn't that be nice, I thought, to be able to discover your personal superpower? Except, unlike every Marvel movie, our superpowers aren't shooting webs or flying through the air. No, these superpowers are dealing with stress, feeling happier, and being kinder and more compassionate to the people around us. That's the kind of superpower we need in 2018. So what is meditation? And what on earth does it have to do with your superpower? Meditation can be an intimidating term. For years, I thought this activity wasn’t for me. Mostly, I was deterred by the idea that I needed to make my mind blank. “A blank mind?” I thought. It sounded impossible, and when I tried it, I found that I wasn’t too successful. As much as I wanted to, there just wasn’t a strategy that helped me find the off switch. It wasn’t until a little while later that I made an important discovery: My mind didn’t have to be blank after all. The other myth I busted? I didn’t have to steer clear of my technology to protect my mental health. Sure, if you’re constantly being bombarded by work emails and texts, you should find a way to get some distance from those. But when I was trying to get started with meditation, my smart phone ended up being a great tool. There were a few apps that I found that helped me get a handle on meditation, but one of the first and best, I think, for those starting out, is Headspace. Headspace is a free app available for any smartphone. If you want to use it regularly, you can upgrade to the paid version. I’m in no way sponsored by them, by the way, so you’re getting an honest opinion here. Headspace markets itself for people trying meditation for the first time. They emphasize the fact that your mind can still be active, and that you aren't trying to get away from something. Done well, meditation is about understanding the mind and coming to know our emotions and stressors from a different perspective. It’s about learning how to let thoughts pass without dwelling on them—not about shutting down your brain completely. Most of all, meditation is about freeing yourself up to experience things differently. When we're all trying to get happier and healthier, it turns out that a few minutes can make the difference. If you're curious, give meditation a shot this month. A little mental care goes a long way toward your physical and emotional health. Plus, it's the way to find your SUPAPOWER! Starting out on a new fitness goal this 2018? Don't let the winter cold derail you! Most athletes are familiar with the impact winter weather can have on training plans. As the days get colder, it's harder to stay on track with our exercise. The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some simple tips to keep you prepared all winter long. Outsmarting the Cold 1. Don't Wear Cotton This fabric holds water and will chill your core. 2. Stop The Wind Stopping the wind is essential, so opt for products that advertise wind stopping material. 3. Stay Dry This step is so crucial. Choose fabrics that offer sweat wicking protection or plan to head home early. 4. Don't Be Afraid to Double Up, Even on Your Socks Adding an extra layer might just be your best option. 5. Get Some Good Gear, Keep It Clean, and Air Dry It Protect your gear. Good winter weather items are costly, and unless you're planning to spend a fortune, it pays to take extra good care of yours. Let these items air dry, wash them on the recommended setting, and store them well. When next winter rolls around, you'll be ready to get out there again. When in doubt, keep those 5 basic rules in mind. It's also important to remember that the cold weather brings with it an extra set of challenges. The extreme temps will force your body to work harder, often causing your paces to slow. That's okay. Additionally, there are just some times when it's flat out unsafe to workout outdoors. Be aware of sidewalk and road conditions, and use your best judgement! The first inklings of an illness can be a warning signal for many of us, an alarm that sends us scurrying through the vitamin section of our local drugstores, all the while downing Emergen-C packets like they’re our morning coffee. While it’s good to take those first steps when you feel your symptoms coming on, it’s even better to avoid those feelings all together. Here are four immune boosting foods to incorporate into your diet so you can fight illness all year long—no icky symptoms required. 1. Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are full of zinc, which helps white blood cells fight off illness. With Halloween right around the corner, it may be a good time to repurpose your decorative seasonal vegetables! There are a lot of great recipes for pumpkin seeds, but my personal favorite is to bake them in the oven until crispy with a small amount of olive oil and salt. They make for a tasty, healthy treat! 2. Sweet Potatoes Can't get enough sweet potatoes this time of year? That's a good thing: Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, which fights free radicals that could weaken your immune system. Just remember to hold the brown sugar and marshmallows! 3. Yogurt The probiotics, found in yogurt and other naturally fermented foods, such as cold culture sauerkraut, kimchee, and kefir, help your body maintain a healthy and strong immune system. The all contain good bacteria that improves your gut health and will help fight off infections. Pick yogurts that are low in sugar and free of artificial sweeteners. 4. Bone Broth Bone broth has been heralded a superfood thanks to the high concentration of minerals. While there are many health benefits of the broth, the bone marrow has been shown to help strengthen your immune system. A Harvard study even indicated that some people with auto-immune disorders experienced a relief of symptoms when drinking bone broth, with some achieving a complete remission. Check out our Bone Broth recipe of the month! Already Sick? Sometimes all of our best-laid plans aren’t enough, and illness finds us after all. When that happens, it’s time to break out the chicken soup – really! Studies have shown that there are illness fighting properties to this time honored, grandmothers’ favorite. First off, we should clarify that we’re talking about homemade (read, unprocessed) chicken soup with vegetables. This soup will contain lots of healthy nutrients, increase hydration, and taste good, too! The chicken in this soothing concoction contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily. The hot steam from the soup will open up your nasal passageways, and the minerals contained in the broth and veggies will be easy for your body to absorb and process. Chicken soup really may be your ticket to wellness! |