Healthy and Inspired Living
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is more than just the “Winter Blues.” It is a form of seasonal or temporal depression that typically affects people during the winter months of longer nights and less sunlight. If you suffer from SAD, there are many alternative therapies that can naturally help you improve your mood and reduce [...]
We are fortunate to be experiencing a great shift in consciousness in Western Culture, where integrating highlights of Eastern practices such as yoga and meditation are helping us to slow down and adjust the way we experience life. Part of this revolution is the practice of Mindfulness, and part of being mindful is practicing being [...]
Summer is a perfect time to practice chilling out. The world collectively shares this mindset as we see people all around us slowing down, putting their feet up and taking plenty of rest. Even social constructs tend to be more lax, such as the amount of clothing appropriate to wear in public. But by practicing [...]
How can a simple, unassuming four letter word change your life? I found that answer the day I unrolled a yoga mat, had a comfortable seat and took my first conscious deep breaths. Inhale….. Exhale….. It was the spring of 2010. At that time I was completely unaware of the miracle that was about to [...]
Fitness Goop is proud to feature this video by Dove that teaches a vital lesson about how we view ourselves compared to how others see us. Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful. Dove has conducted a social experiment called the Dove Real Beauty Sketches showing that women are more beautiful than they [...]
When you have specific health goals and someone you are closest to isn’t on the same page, it can be a challenge to stay on track. You’ve committed to reducing your cholesterol intake, and over an after-work drink your best friend suggests ordering a plate of nachos. “It’s okay to make exceptions once in a [...]
Planning new fitness goals can be exciting and powerful, but sometimes they’re just lip service. Lip service to ourselves that we promise to get back on track once the holidays are over and life returns to normal. Sometimes words are not enough. Stating goals and writing them down are an important part of the equation, [...]
Stress is the root of many illnesses and bothersome symptoms. Everyone has stress, but it affects us differently. Stimuli (called stressors) cause the stress response to spring into action. Momentary stress can cause temporary tension or nervous energy, such as feeling wired, anxious, or hot. But a prolonged stress response can offset normal body maintenance [...]
Although you might enjoy therapy – who wouldn’t like having someone’s undivided attention and invitation to talk about themselves without need for reciprocation – do you need therapy? While deciding the answer to that question is an inside job each of us has to do for ourselves, if someone were asking me to answer it [...]
Ongoing stress results in the production of cortisol, a steroid hormone produced from the adrenal glands. Cortisol mainly functions to regulate energy production and mobilization; it does so by selecting the right type and amount of macronutrients (carbohydrate, fat or protein) that is needed by the body to meet the physiological demands (eg. stress) that is [...]
