Tag Archives: relaxation

Finding Inspiration

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I am honored to introduce Michelle Pino who offered to write an inspirational post in honor of National Women’s Week. Sweet Michelle works at Skana Spa in Upstate NY. She truthfully stated to me through e-mail: To me, the daily stresses and life’s challenges, make it so important to make health a priority and inspire us to treat our body right. That motivation morphed into habit once I knew how great taking care of myself felt!

I couldn’t agree more with Michelle. I will let her explain how she keeps health a priority:

Finding Healthy Inspiration

Typically used by wedding and event coordinators, inspiration boards are an assortment of different images that encourage you.  Inspiration boards can be used as a natural way of brainstorming.  Whether your goal is to plan a party or do a closet rehabilitation, inspiration boards will assist you in planning out the necessary steps required to make the process more streamlined.
Here are some easy guidelines to follow when creating an inspiration board:

1. Start looking for images.                                                                                                 This can be done on a poster board or electronically.  Electronically, you can search the web to search your favorite sites to find images.  If you’re creating a tangible poster board, clip images from catalogs or magazines.  The simplest way to do this is by making it a point to not look for any specific thing but rather find images that simply catch your eye.  With the right photos of fitness activities, relaxing destinations, recipes, health food or music lyrics, you can create the perfect inspiration board.

2. Find your focus.
What similarities do your gathered pictures have?  Do you notice a trend?  Is it a particular detail?  A color-scheme?  Find the picture that will be the centerpiece of your creation.

 3. Connect the images.                                                                                               Continue narrowing down your collected items to images that are a better connection to the centerpiece of your project.

 4. Mix it up.
Try a certain combination, look at it for a while and then try another.  Try different combinations of images.  Do this until you find one that satisfies you.  For fresh perspective, you may want to leave your project for a few hours, then come back to it.

 5. Begin creating your inspiration board.                                                                            You can bring your finished board with you when shopping for supplies or selecting new paint.  Don’t be shy about modifying your board as you go, particularly if you discover that some aspect of the board isn’t working and needs tweaking.

 Here is an example board:

Relaxing BoardPhoto Credit: New York Golf Club | Beach Yoga| Paintbrush | Cabin on the Lake |

What inspires me to be active and aspire to live a healthier life is the outdoors.  I love to travel and see new places.  To me, there’s no better feeling than enjoying the outdoors.  I’m really inspired by yoga for a number of reasons.  Yoga focuses the mind and body, teaching ourselves to find a spiritual balance.  I also love that yoga can be done anywhere, even the beach!  Simple yoga poses are simple stretches that can be done in the comfort of your own home or when traveling.  Yoga is great for beginners and the more advanced athlete.  I love the idea of doing yoga on the beach.  The beach is so relaxing, a great place for yoga or walking. 

The outdoors is what truly inspires me and I’ve used for the center of my inspiration.  I’ve been taking lessons near my work at New York golf club, Shenendoah, as a way to spend more time outside. Golf is great because not only is it less strenuous activity, but you also have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.  Another relaxing activity I’d like to try is painting.  I think painting is a great stress reliever, even if you’re not an artist, it can be a relaxing hobby.

It’s hard to make lifestyle changes that stick over time.  The key to persisting with any healthy lifestyle is balance.  Whether you want to eat more organic food, start exercising daily or just master certain fitness goals, an inspiration board can help you figure out those goals and fine tune what makes you tick so that you stay focused on getting your health together.

Michelle Pino has provided these tips in hopes to educate others on how to lead a more motivating and less stressful life.  Michelle believes more focused approach put on our health will result in more balanced life.  Her hobbies include cooking, DIY projects and learning about healthy lifestyles.  Michelle is thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Alison and together share their ideas on “­­­­­­­­­Berry Happy Bodies”.

Thank you Michelle!

 

Balance

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Life has it’s ways of throwing us off balance.  Like swimming in the rapids of a rushing river, when you really just want to be floating along in a inner tube soaking up the rays. Of course, we all strive to swim with the stream, floating over and around obstacles effortlessly. Inevitably, some days are better than others. Sometimes we find our self off course, and swimming upstream.

pinchya balance

In the past when this would happen I would freak out, wondering when my next breath would be. Over time I developed tools to pull me back into balance, and back into my flow. I also began to realize, swimming up stream is not always such a bad thing. In the middle of the experience, it may be difficult to breathe, my muscles may burn, and my center maybe off. However, it is during the letting go and just moving forward that I grow and learn from the struggle. Then when I make it to smoother currents,  I realize how much I’ve overcome and how much stronger I am.

pinchya balance3

The tools to help you find the current to drift again vary from person to person, or even day to day. For me, when I feel my heart rate quicken and anxiety rise I to take a step back. Then I slow my breathing and focus on a solution. If it is a situation that may take days or weeks to resolve I find maintaining good nutrition, exercise, meditation, downtime and sleep in as close to my normal rhythm as possible helps me to just take it day by day.  It is not always perfect and some days many deep breaths are needed, but overall I feel I am better able to drift with the ups and downs of life.

 

pinchya balance2

Happy Holidays

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Hi Friends!

The holiday season is upon us. And, on it’s heels the start of the a New Year.

Whether you are injured, or healthy it is the perfect time to slow down and spend quality time by yourself reflecting, or with loved ones. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle, and loose sight of the purpose of the holidays.

Mammoth Relaxation

Over the years I have learned to slip in health as I can. Here are some tips that work for me:

  • Wear workout gear while traveling. That way if there is a long delay you can sneak in a walk and stretches, which will help to destress and keep your joints and muscles from stiffening. Plus, usually this attire is super comfy.
  • Pack workout gear. Even if you are away from your Gym, or Yoga studio you can still do a home program or go for a walk. When I visit my family I love to go for a walk with my family and friends to catch up.
  • Use moderation. So hard, with all the temptations around. Don’t deny yourself, just go small. You won’t feel deprived, and your pants will fit much better.
  • Ask the local gym or yoga studio in the area where you are traveling if they have a holiday special. Many will have a holiday package deal, or offer free passes for visiting family.
  • Music. Make mixes to keep you motivated, or help you unwind. Sometimes staying with family you don’t have as much down or alone time. Use music to get motivated to workout, or unwind before bed.
  • Take advantage of your library. Borrow some books for traveling. Learn a new hobby for 2013, a new recipe or workout routine, or unwind with Fiction.

Happy Holidays

 

 

Start Now with Gaiam TV

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Why wait for the New Year to start your “resolutions”? I understand this is a busy and chaotic time of year. I’m going to put a friendly, little bug in your ear, reminding you it is better to get started now.

Why? When I rush around, and do not take care of myself as I should, I end up making poor decisions. For example, poor food choices lead me to feel sluggish, heavy and anxious, putting my health at risk. Or, I end up making impulse gift purchases, which will not serve those I care about the way I would truly desire.

This then leads to a cycle of stress, sleepless nights, difficulty taking care of myself, and generally feeling overwhelmed.

How about a positive change instead? Let’s end 2012 on a good note, and start 2013 on an even better one.

How? Use the resources and tools available to us.

Gaiam TV just launched their online streaming site. I love their well rounded mix of holistic content. Depending on what mood I’m in, I can practice energizing Yoga, challenging Pilates, motivational speakers and videos, and learn even more about nutrition and food.

Check out there inspirational site. Right now they are offering a 10 day free trial.

Learn how to open your heart with Kathryn Budig’s Aim True video.

If you want to take your flexibility to the next level, and keep your hamstrings and hipflexors in balance then practice your splits safely. You can also enter into strengthening arm balance poses with a Rodney Lee and Colleen Saidman video. These definitely keep me motivated as I continue to progress….

Let’s change our days and evenings by watching TV the active way. If you need more inspiration go to their site, or if you have Twitter or Instagram view their #activeandwell hashtag for more pictures, and follow me on twitter or Instagram.

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.

Holiday Relaxation

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This time of year sounds like a oxymoron (who says that?).

But, if you think about it. Being relaxed during the holidays is how it should be.

One way to get into a peaceful mindset is to receive a massage. You can either decrease the stress about gift giving by giving loved ones a gift certificate, or treat yourself to one. Or even better, both! source

The biggest roadblock I hear to receiving a massage is the cost. However, during this time of year there are frequently discounts through Groupon or Social Living. And remember you can’t take care of your loved ones, if you are not taking care of yourself.

To learn the answers to popular questions I received working as a Massage Therapist please check out Joyful Shimmy where I made a guest appearance today!