Supernatural Botanicals

Lifting weights will burn calories for up to 38 hours after your workout!  Strength train with weights at least twice a weeek to charge your metabolism and burn calories longer, not to mention, give you a long, lean, sculpted body.  If you are a cardio-queen, yet feel like your weight loss is stalling…add two days of strength training to your schedule and watch your body lean down in 3….2….1.

If your workout spark is starting to fizzle, torch it back up and excite your senses by adding some new workout clothes or gadgets to your repertoire.  Nothing makes you want to do yoga or Pilates more than a new pair of great-fitting yoga pants and a shape-hugging yoga top, or taking a step class with a new pair of cool gym shoes, or hitting the treadmill with the shortest girly workout shorts you can find.

By a new piece of equipment such as a jump rope, a new workout DVD, a trampoline, a heart rate monitor, resistance bands, a stability ball, or a Bosu ball to peak your workout erogenous zones.  It changes up your routine, keeps it fresh, and keeps you on your A game.

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Yoga pants by Victoria Secret

If you do a moderately strenuous workout for at least 30 minutes a day (and by moderately strenuous, that means sweating most of that 30 minutes), you can reduce your risk of developing breast, colon and endometrial cancers by 20% – 30%.  Sweet!

Because your entire body makes contact with your yoga mat, it’s something you’ll want to keep very, very clean.  And because your yoga mat makes contact with the floor, especially the gym floor (eck!), you’ll want to be extra vigilant in keeping your yoga mat clean. 

You can avoid germs and dirt by folding your yoga mat in half before you roll it up after a workout.  That way, you’ll avoid getting “yuck” on the side you pose on.  Remember, your face comes in contact with the mat in Chaturanga pose and in pigeon pose….think about that the next time you lay your mat down on the floor.   A simple Clorox wipe to the entire mat will also keep your yoga mat clean and germ-free.   Let the mat dry completely before rolling it up after cleaning.

  “I noticed dramatic changes in my body after I started doing yoga, but I also think you have to shake things up.  I have a Spin bike, an elliptical, and a treadmill, and I do some cardio for at least 20 minutes a day. ”

Wow, talk about a workout, check out the ElliptiGo bike.  It’s a cross between a bicycle and an elliptical machine.  It’s a great alternative for runners because it’s far more knee-friendly than hitting the pavement.  A good workout will burn 600+ calories an hour.  

Bike demos are available in the following cities (see website www.ellipitgo.com for more details)

• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco Bay Area, CA
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Boulder, CO
• New York City, NY
• Seattle, WA
• Spokane, WA

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67i6d9Hxjgg

Eating baked potatoes is actually great for your skin.  Did you know that one baked potato (with the skin) provides 75 percent of your daily copper needs? Copper, when combined with vitamin C and zinc, produce elastin fibers that support skin structure, therefore elasticity. Copper deficiency in your diet can reduce skin’s ability to heal and cause it to become rigid and lifeless.  So if you are feeling bad about carbs, don’t sweat it.  The bright side is… it’s making your skin look beautiful.

Believe it or not, this simple yoga pose has major benefits for your body.  Something that’s easy to do, yet good for you?…..that’s something we can all be on board with. 

To do a leg drain, also known in yoga as viparita karani (inverted action), simply find a wall, lay on your back and rest your legs straight up against the wall.  You can use a folded blanket or towel under your lower back to take strain off of your lower back area.  Stay in the position as long as is comfortable to you. 

Lymph and other fluids flow away from the legs and into the lower belly.  It provides a gentle stretch to the calves, back and neck.  According to the Yoga Journal, the pose also gives blood circulation a gentle boost toward the upper body and head, which creates re-balancing after standing for a long time.

This move is ultra-relaxing to the central nervous system and completely clears your mind, calms the body, and improves your flexibility.  It’s a perfect move to get your day started, or after a long day or work. 

If you exchange bleu cheese for feta in your salad, and skip the dried cranberries and candied walnuts altogether, you’ll save 275 calories!  Simple changes on your plate can mean huge changes to your abs! 

Researchers at Tufts University found that even a 1% to 2% dip in hydration, the point at which you feel thirsty, can make you sluggish.  Your cells rely on water to make and use energy.  It is recommended to drink at least half a cup every hour, or 8 cups throughout the day.