Spotlight

Plank with Chest and Back Series: Exercise of the Week

In the eighties and nineties we heard the words "six pack" used to describe strong rectus abdominals. In today's fitness industry, the words core strength is commonly being used, but what does the core really consist of? Anatomically, the core consists of the muscles in the hips, deeper muscles in the abdominals such as transversus abdominus (TA), multifidus and others surrounding the spine. One of the most important reasons to strengthen your core is because the structural integrity of the body depends on it. A very efficient method of training called Functional core training challenges the participant in an environment that uses...

Increase Your Energy Tip #2: Clean, Tidy and Let Go!

Ever noticed how you rarely really feel like cleaning? But when you do, you always feel better? I sure do! What I’ve also noticed is that when something is bothering me or I am trying to figure something out in my life - say how to resolve a conflict with someone, or find a creative solution to a problem - cleaning helps. There is something about the state of mind I get into when I clean. Cleaning requires enough focus to keep my mind engaged, but not so much that I can’t think about other things. I find it a meditative...

Bosu Burpie Pushup: Exercise of the Week

If you haven’t already seen this blue and oddly shaped ball in your gym or fitness studio, you will soon because this fitness item is one of the best to hit the gyms in a long time. BOSU stands for “Both Sides Up” or “Both Sides Utilized” depending upon whether you are talking about the BOSU Balance Trainer (the product) or BOSU (the philosophical approach to exercise). Millions of people from all over the world now train with the BOSU Balance Trainer including many of the world’s top athletes. But you certainly don’t need to be a top athlete to benefit...

Raw & Vegan Recipe: Healing Gut Tonic

This raw, vegan and gluten-free “healing” smoothie is a great way to start the day. Papaya is known worldwide as a gut healer. The enzyme papain aids in digestion and helps cleanse the system. Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain, which is naturally anti-inflammatory and helps “calm down” the small intestine. It is also an appetite suppressant. Blend in almond milk for healthy fats and a little protein, and a touch of fresh ginger for vitality for a true tropical “smoothie”. To add a little green nutritional magic- throw in a handful or two of organic spinach. Vegan and Raw, Yum! Ingredients: 1...

Green Smoothies: Food Fit for an Anthropoid

I am enjoying delicious, alkalinizing green smoothies just about daily now. I discovered these creamy concoctions after reading Victoria Boutenko’s, Green for Life. She and her family had been thriving raw foodists for 7 years, having healed themselves from various ailments, including diabetes. After the years passed however, they felt their health fading once again. Victoria decided to stop looking to humans for guidance, seeing as we are by far the sickest species on earth, and instead she turned to our closest genetically related relatives: chimpanzees. We share 99.4% of our genes with these fellow anthropoids. So then, how do chimps...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Are Our Kids Trying To Tell Us Something?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been a hot topic in the pharmaceutical industry over the last several years. And rightfully so. There is an alarmingly high rate of children being diagnosed with ADHD. In fact, there are even adults being diagnosed in recent years! So what’s going on? Is it really possible that such a high percentage of our population has always had these issues, but the medical community is just beginning to recognize it? Or perhaps it’s more plausible to consider that ADHD was essentially non-existent a few decades ago? I’m not going to try to debate the possibilities surrounding why...

Gluten-free vegan oat & chia rolls recipe

This week in Time, Dr. Oz talks about “What to Eat Now”, and gluten-free grains are mentioned. Fifteen percent of Americans are interested in gluten-free foods and one of the top requests I get is homemade gluten-free, dairy-free bread that is transportable to work and school. Eat these rolls now and you will be happy (except raw foodists)! This delicious oat bread is free of many of the common allergens: wheat, dairy, soy, milk, eggs, and peanuts that cause so many people problems, but high in flavor. Each roll contains more than 3 grams of fiber (10% recommended daily intake) and...

Radical Acceptance: Accepting What is, Both in Yoga and Life

Derived from Buddhist philosophy, “radical acceptance” is the life-changing practice of simply accepting what is. You might think this to be an obvious approach – of course you have to accept what is, or you might think this approach sounds too passive to be effective. Well, despite its apparent obviousness, radical acceptance is practiced less often than one might expect; and rather than being viewed as passive, radical acceptance is simply the only approach which is not futile in nature. Before you can cultivate effective strategies with which to change your present circumstances, you must first accept what is. Accepting what...

Gluten-Free Dinners in Less Than 30-minutes: The Science of Sauteing

Gluten Free Dinners in Less Than 30 I have been teaching gluten-free cooking and baking classes for many years and once a new student gets the basic gluten-free substitutions down the next request I get is usually about learning how to prepare healthy delicious gluten-free dinners in 30 minutes or less. My answer is always the same: learn how to roast and saute'. Many people understand the concept of roasting but sauting is something new. I love to saute because the selection is endless. And with More Than Gourmet® Glace & Demi Glace, I am turning out restaurant quality food that...

Preventing Childhood Eating Disorders and Food Anxiety

Childhood obesity is a hot topic in North America, but we should also be discussing the increasing rate of all eating disorders in school age children. Eating disorders such as compulsive eating, binge eating, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia make it harder for our children to experience academic, athletic, and social success. Disturbingly, researchers have found that early dieting puts children at risk for developing these disorders. About 40% of 9 and 10 year old girls are trying to lose weight, according to a study in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. What frightens some researchers is that many...