DILWORTHNOW.COM FITNESS AND FINENESS



Quick Health Tip
By Liz Johnson

Eating healthy all the time is quite a challenge in our society. Most of us need to be more diligent making better food choices. Picking the best food at the best time is a tough behavior to change. So a good start is to pick one simple eating habit, change it, and stick to it for 3 months. In order to learn more about fat levels in food, I committed to eat only foods with 5% of fat or less for 3 months. I learned to avoid the bad fats which include saturated fats and trans fat. I poured over food lables in the store to find possible candidates to meet this criteria.

I was shocked to find how few options I really had. This led me to the peripheral of the food store where fresh furits and vegtables were awaiting me. Along the way I found some healthy foods with low fat that remain a staple of my diet today. It was suprising to get a real taste of food without the fat to mask the flavor.

After the 3 month trial period I worked to eat food with fat content of 8% or less. After years of changing habits I have found healthy options that taste good. The reason I stick to these habits is simply, I feel better, and have the right fuel to sustain energy and train hard. Give it a try and see what really fuels your body at top perfomance levels!

Through movement we find health
By Demi (Demetra) Yuvanu

One more year has gone by, it's January once again and so many are re-commiting to a healthier lifestyle through some physical activity. It is my understanding that so many of us resist exercizing especially in a group setting for a variety of personal reasons, like fear of not "looking like the rest", "not fitting in" , "not having fun", "being bored", "not being coordinated enough" and the list goes on… What if I told you that there is a workout that will blow all of the above reasons out of the water? A cardiovascular and holistic workout that gives one the opportunity to express emotions through sounding, to move in one's own ability, to have fun while kicking, rumbling, flowing, blocking and dancing in a safe, non judgemental space? It's called NIA. It's not a new fad. It's been around for over 25 years. The "baby" of Debbie and Carlos Rosas, husband and wife until a few years back.

Nia's philosophy: "Through Movement We Find Health, means we believe in the power of self-discovery through movement. In practicing Nia you fall in love with being and moving in your body - you experience the power of Self-Healing. Nia empowers people to make their own movement choices by offering a flexible structure they can personally modify to suit individual needs. The blueprint of Nia is practical, experiential, and focuses on internal guidance to change and develop awareness."

I can't really tell you what it's like. We say that Nia is like chocolate, you have to taste it. Taste the blend of 9 movement forms; Three martial arts, three healing arts and three dance arts, while having fun doing it!

If you decide to give it a try, here's what to expect: Improvement in flexibility, agility, mobility, strength and stability, additionally to all the known benefits of stress reduction. Not to mention the smile on your face, the glow on your skin and the twinkle in your eye that are direct bi-products of a "feeling good" experience via movement and great music!

I love Nia and believe it is "medicine for the body and the soul".

My classes are at the Dowd , Harris and Siskey YMCAs, also at the JCC

My e-mail: themetra@hotmail.com

Demi (Demetra) Yuvanu, Nia licensed instructor.

www.nianow.com

Quotes:

"This lyrical, dance-like routine is deceptively powerful delivering a high-powered workout that will leave you strong and centered." Health Magazine

"Nia is both therapeutic and enjoyable. The movements feel natural and open up insights and feelings that will make you feel like you are discovering yourself in a new way." Bernie Siegel, M.D.

"A fun and comprehensive workout that exercises not only your body, but also your mind and your heart. Whatever your age or body type, Nia offers you a point of entry and enough instant reward to stick with it." Gloria Steinem

"You're burning fat and calories, building your muscles, giving your heart a real workout-but you're not pounding, running or panting. Your feet are planted, your mind is calm, your body is fluid. Welcome to Nia." Natural Health Magazine

Archived Fitness Articles:

  • November 2009
  • June 2009



    • Keep up the good work
    Read me next month,
    Desiree

     

    YMCA of Great Charlotte North Carolina, Dowd

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