Promoting Healthy Habits or Discrimination?

A controversial program at Lincoln University is drawing criticism and outrage.  30 Seniors who have otherwise satisfactorily completed their coursework at the University will not receive their degrees.  Why?  Because they are overweight and have not met requirements to lose weight or prove a significant effort towards that goal.  http://bit.ly/5GBozU

While I understand where Professor James L DeBoy's intentions arise.  I think he has missed the mark with this program and has led the University to practice discrimination in his efforts to encourage students to adopt healthy habits.  I can understand, and encourage all colleges and universities to require that students pass a basic nutrition course and a basic physical fitness course.  This requires that students are exposed to information that will allow them to make educated decisions about their health.  It may open their eyes to things they did not know about their current lifestyle.  It positions them to ask an expert for advice and even gain a mentor in their quest for health.  What it does not do is force an individual to then adopt those practices or forfeit their degree.

What do you think?  Weigh in on our Facebook discussion board.

An Attitude of Gratitude (part deux)

Here's a little bit more to chew on before your tryptophan and pumpkin pie extravaganza tomorrow, more research evidencing the link between practicing gratitude and increased well being. http://bit.ly/7VQBU8

Healthy Friday - Holiday Stress?!? What Have We Forgotten?

We're still a week before Thanksgiving and I'm already seeing some of my favorite people succumbing to the unnecessary and self-inflicted stress that far too often accompanies this season of gratitude, generosity, grace, reflection and celebration.  Why is that?  Have we completely forgotten what it is we're celebrating?  Have we lost the essence and spirit of the season?

I know for myself, when I find myself stressed during this season it usually has to do with wanting to make holiday accommodations, food, gifts, etc. "perfect" (as if it wasn't already) for the people I care about.  How silly is that?  The people we love don't care about the perfect souffle or the centerpiece being just so.  Of course all of the love and energy that is put into finding the "perfect" gift and creating the "perfect" seating arrangement is noticed and appreciated, but I know that I am perfectly happy just to sit in the company of my family and friends, and I'm certain the feeling is mutual.  I'd rather see my loved ones happy and present while we all enjoy peanut butter sandwiches than have them stressed out over making a seven course meal to impress me.  If the pie burns, so what, we can all have a good laugh and go for a walk together instead of having dessert.

As for those relatives who do make judgments based upon how well you set the table or how moist the turkey is, let's find compassion in our hearts for those people.  How sad and small their lives must be that they are too busy passing judgment to notice the joy that is present all around them in the connections they could be making with other people.

Set the example and be forgiving of yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.  Take a deep breath, settle in and find the perfection that exists in every moment.  Look around and find the many things you have to be grateful for and watch your stress just melt away!

Tomorrow is the Great American Smokeout

Did you know . . .

• Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
• Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths – including 49,400 in nonsmokers.
• Thirty percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to tobacco.
• Smoking also accounts for $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses.
• Great progress is being made in reducing tobacco use in the U.S., with adult smoking rates in 2007 declining among all adults to 19.8 percent.

The American Cancer Society holds the Great American Smokeout every year to support individuals in taking an important step to improve their health, quitting smoking.

Rockin' it!

How do the Radio City Rockettes that only work the traveling troupe during the holiday season stay strong, lean, limber and ready for the next demanding season of performance?  Pilates of course.

The return of Healthy Fridays!

Healthy Fridays are back!

Now that we're heading into the holiday season, I need to remind myself, more than ever, of all of tips and tricks to maintaining my healthy routines and choices in the season of temptation.

I found this great article from the Grand Rapids press with many simple hints for staying true to your ideals of health and wellness while enjoying the holidays. http://bit.ly/2AgjHY

Another great resource is our friend Christa Orrechio, Holistic Nutritionist and founder of the Whole Journey.  Here are her tips for healthy holiday eating http://bit.ly/1UNk99.  She'll be offering healthy holiday tips at our Holiday Open House (Dec 5th - 4PM - 7PM) and will be joining us for a special program in January (more to come on that!)

The Principles: Control

      Do you remember Michael Jordan's gravity defying air time?  How about Michael Jackson's dance moves that no one else could ever quite replicate?  What was it that made Jeanine the top dancer on "So You Think You Can Dance?"  Gymnasts, dancers, runners, swimmers, and even hockey players achieve a level of control over their physical movements that is breathtaking to watch.

     You can breathe a sigh of relief, you don't have to think about attaining that level of control over your physical movements, but you can always work towards increasing and improving your control over your body's motions.  Completing each exercise with control allows you to gain the most out of your Pilates workout and prevent injuries caused by improper movements, and the same principle carries throughout your daily life.

     So what does that mean anyway, moving with control?  To me, control is comprised of and the result of all of the other principles of Pilates: Concentration, Centering, Fluidity, Precision, and Breath.  It means using your intrinsic musculature to stabilize your body as you slowly elevate and lower your limbs rather than flinging them through the air like wet noodles.  It means drawing your deepest abdominal muscles towards your spine as you roll up from the mat, one vertebra at a time, as opposed to the jerking motion of your grandparent's sit-ups and crunches.  It means being aware of how your body is intended to move in each exercise and working towards achieving that movement, even if you can't quite get it today.  It means committing yourself fully to each exercise and moving deliberately and intentionally.  All of the sometimes baffling cues and visualizations you receive from your Pilates instructor -- like "cross the eyeballs of your pelvis," and "keep the bowl of your pelvis from spilling as you move," -- are invaluable feedback that will help you develop control in your unique body.

     Control of movement is not something that can be achieved overnight.  I can't raise my chest as high off the ground in chest lift position as Rael Isacowitz can, nor can I do the swan dive with anywhere remotely near the grace of a swan.  I do, however, work towards control in each movement of my workout, even when I start shaking from the fatigue of muscles that are not used to being worked.  Each time I practice I get a little bit better, incrementally, and so will you as you put your intention towards developing control.  Make a commitment to yourself to gain better control of your body, start with just one repetition of each exercise, or just one exercise in each workout, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.