Hey, Sage here - the “mind/body connection” fitness chick!

Aikido is a modern martial art that is founded by spirituality and philosophy influenced by the Omoto-kyo religion associated with the Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. The etymology of the word Aikido stems from three Japanese characters. “Ai” literally means joining, with “ki” meaning something like spirit, and “do” meaning way. Loosely translated then, the meaning of Aikido is the way of joining the spirit.

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The Aikido way is to align body and mind with the spirit or ki and it said that the only way to be able to do this is through cultivating a relaxed state. It is in this relaxed state that nothing is forced or contrived so the mind and body naturally join the spirit or energy and everything becomes one. It is this oneness and cultivation of relaxation that this martial art paradoxically gets referred to as the art of peace.Its founder Ueshiba was a pacifist and it is said that he taught Aikido as a peaceful means to end aggression.

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Although spiritual and philosophical development is important in Aikido training, it has to be put to practical means and examples in actual practice of Aikido techniques and methods.Aikido training usually consists of two parties. The first is called uke or the receiving body and the other is known as nage (although this term varies depending on the Aikido style being taught) who gives the technique being taught.

This concept of uke and nage can be likened to the Chinese yin and yang because in Aikido, uke and nage are not separate entities. They are two parts of one where the Aikido training can be learned with give and take from both parties.For instance, one of the first techniques taught in Aikido training is how to throw and fall safely. It is the task of nage to prevent injury to uke so he can learn to land safely when thrown.

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Furthermore, in Aikido training, the receiver or uke usually initiates an attack against the nage whose aim is to neutralize the assault with an Aikido move or technique.This way, both the uke and nage learn from each other and the Aikido training is not successfully executed without oneness between the two. It is in the give and take of these two entities in Aikido training that the principles of ki and other fundamentals of Aikido techniques are learned. More on Martial Arts.

Hey, Sage here, the “mind/body connection” fitness chick…

The level of physical activity that you expend during the day is a key ingredient to helping you sleep restfully at night. The more active our body is during the day the more likely you are able to relax fully at night and fall asleep easily.

With regular exercise your sleep quality is better and the transition between the cycles and phases of sleep becomes smoother and more regular. Keeping up your physical activity during the day may also be help you cope with the stress and worry in your life.

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Studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between how much we exercise and how we feel both physically and emotionally by changes in our brain chemistry that occur from regular exercise.

Make an effort to increase your physical daily activity during the day. The goal here is to give your body enough stimulation during the day so that you are not restless at night.

Our bodies need a certain level of physical activity in order to function in a healthy manner. It is important to note that you should not be exercising strenuously three to four hours before bedtime. The ideal time for you to exercise is in the late afternoon or early evening. You want to expend your physical energy long before it is time for your body to rest and ready itself for sleep.

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Make an effort to exercise at least three to four times a week for a continuous period of 30 to 40 minutes. This can include something as simple as walking or something as strenuous as running.
The goal is to increase your heart rate and strengthen your lung capacity. Adding a regular exercise activity to your daily schedule will improve your overall health and benefit you emotionally. This is can help promote a natural remedy for your sleeplessness.

Besides walking and running there are many physical activities that you can add to your life to increase your activity level. Aerobic forms of exercise seem to work best to conquer sleeplessness.

Your goal is to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood. There are many types of aerobic activities to choose from. These include running, biking, using a treadmill or eliptical trainer, jumping rope and dancing.

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Some non-aerobic activities may be helpful to you as you attempt to solve your insomnia problem.
The following activities are relaxing and have other healing properties:

Yoga has a stimulatory effect on your nervous system, particularly the brain. Yoga uses breathing techniques and yoga postures to improve the blood circulation to the brain centre, promoting regular and restful sleeping patterns. Regular practice of yoga will relax you as well as relieve stress and tension.

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Tai Chi is a form of breathing and movement that was developed by ancient Chinese monks. The movements involved in Tai Chi are precise and slow, which is ideal if you have joint pain or are unable to participate in high impact aerobic exercises. Studies have shown that Tai Chi may help people with insomnia by promoting relaxation.

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If you find that you have no time to exercise on a regular basis try sneaking extra moments of activity into your daily schedule. For example take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible. Try parking your car around the corner and walking that extra block to your appointment. There are many small ways that you can incorporate some added activity into your life. Your goal is to have a healthy, well balanced life.

And of course, if you are a parent, you will be a good role model for your child.

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Hey, Sage here - the “mind and body” fitness chick!

Acupuncture has been used in China for the past 2,000 years for every ailment you can imagine. That means the practice has grown up alongside Eastern medicine’s knowledge of specific ailments ranging from diabetes to fatigue. Now that technology and ease of travel has closed the physical gap between the East and the West, the two medical cultures have spent decades working on how they can fit their practices together holistically. Initially, it may seem a bit difficult to imagine the two philosophies complimenting each other, but once you begin looking into acupuncture, you can begin to see how it can benefit anyone — even you.

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Western medicine is based on removing the malfunctioning part or adding chemical components to poison the invading virus or infection. Eastern medicine is based on making sure that the channels along which a person’s life-energy flows remain unblocked so that the healing-energy can pass through, keeping everything running smoothly. If these channels are blocked, problems will arise.

Along those lines, or meridians, are certain points which act as switches for particular parts of the body. The acupuncturist inserts a thin needle into one of these points and by manipulating it, unblocks the energy flow, enabling the healing life force to travel. To some, that sounds like a fluffy, poetic way of looking at healing. Western students of interpret this phenomenon a little bit differently. As the Western outlook is more chemically based, these students say that the needles are actually causing the body to release chemicals – like endorphins — which inadvertently induce a state of relaxation or relieve pain, thereby promoting health in the entire body.

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Whatever the mechanisms, there are many people who swear by it, if for no other reason other than “it feels good”.

You may at this point be wondering if it’s safe. It is very safe if you visit someone who knows what they’re doing. The best way to ensure that you are in the right hands is to verify that the therapist is licensed. That means that they have satisfactorily completed at least enough schooling to have a Masters degree in healing and acupuncture, and that they passed a test for state certification. Beyond that, you must make sure that they use sterile, prepackaged needles. Asking many questions about their practice and philosophy is also a good idea, as a trustworthy therapist will tend to be more open about what they are doing. In addition, the doctor should be asking you for information about your medical history and current medications.

If you opt for acupuncture, give it some time to work before you decide whether it is time well spent. If you feel great from the beginning, that is a good reason in and of itself to continue.

Hey, Sage here, resident Pilates expert.  Lots of people know about Yoga, but less know the ins and outs of Pilates, and a question I am often asked is, “Does Pilates work?”

Of course, that question, like any question of that nature, depends entirely on the definition of the term “work.”  I first need to know what you expect to get out of it before I know if it will deliver what you’re hoping for.

Pilates is a core strengthening series of exercises which, in some ways, is similar to Yoga.  Like yoga, it is low impact, and also like yoga, it improves your flexibility and stamina.

Many people that become involved in Pilates are looking for a long, lean, toned muscle look - tall and lithe, like a dancer.  Pilates is actually perfect for this because of the way that it lengthens your muscles and strengthens them while stretching them.

Pilates won’t, and wasn’t designed to, build huge muscles like bodybuilding might do.

So, in short, the answer is - yes, if what you are looking to get out of Pilates is something it was designed to do, then it absolutely does work!

Hey, this is Sage here, I’m the “Mind, Soul, Body Connection” fitness chick.

I’m writing to you today about the many yoga benefits that a yoga practice can bring into your life, and it’s a subject that I am so excited to share about!  There are, in fact, so many yoga benefits that it might be hard to fit them on the page, but we’ll try.

YOGA BENEFITS:

1) Flexibility - Yoga stretches and strengthens your muscles and makes them more pliable and flexible.  You may think it’s odd that I listed flexibility as the number one benefit when there are so many others, and for all of us non-gymnasts in the crowd, it doesn’t seem like a very useful day to day skill.  Still, it’s listed first intentionally.  Flexibility is the single biggest predictor of continued mobility into old age.  No one wants to be trapped in a body that you can’t move around as you age.  Mobility is the key to staying young and vibrant, flexibility is the key to mobility, and yoga can be the key to flexibility.

2) Strength - People think of weight training as being the only way to strengthen muscles, but a consistent yoga practice will leave your muscles wiry and strong!  Weight training works by repetition and yoga works by the sustained holding of a single position, but both ways are effective strengtheners.

3) Stamina - Because yoga involves holding positions for extended and ever-building periods of time, it naturally and gradually builds up stamina, and that translates, not only into better health, but into other athletic practices as well!

4) State of Mind - Because yoga is one of the most spiritual physical activities you can engage in, it naturally lends itself to a greater mind/body connection and more centered, peaceful state of mind.

Namaste!