Deep Breathing for Weight Loss

June 29, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Time for relaxBreathing might be second nature to us but a lot of people do not know how to practice deep breathing. This is because when we breathe, we do it unconsciously and it results to shallow breathing. Deep breathing makes us more aware of our bodies then this allows us to focus in the steps we need to take to make our bodies the shape and size we want them to be.

Deep breathing for weight loss is possible. Just like food, oxygen is considered as fuel for the body. Plus oxygen has no calories. So breathing well can provide you a sense of satisfaction without the calories that come along with the food. Regular deep breathing helps increase the metabolism which will help you burn more calories and effectively utilize the food to provide you more energy. That increased energy can increase your ability to exercise and reduce weight.

Deep breathing can also assist your body when it comes to fat burning. This is because deep breathing changes the way that oxygen is delivered throughout the body which creates a change in the way that the body works – including improved fat burning. When deep breathing is done to minimize stress, the fat burning abilities of the body increases because the stress factor goes down.

One example of a breathing exercise is done while lying down totally flat on your bed, couch or floor. Allow yourself to relax for a second or two before taking a deep breath. Take a deep breath through your nose while pushing your belly up. Stick your chin on your chest to watch your belly rise. Once you’ve got as much air as you can hold, stop and hold your breath for twenty seconds – You will be able to feel your lungs stretching out. Practice doing this for 5 minutes regularly and you will be able to feel relaxed and refreshed with that extra oxygen that you gifted your body with.

Filed Under breathing, breathing exercises, exercise Tagged With , , , , , , , ,

Floating Therapy

June 29, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

clouds_floating_massageStress is a normal part of our life that we have to deal with whether we want to or not. But even as a passive thing it is still hard to find a way to wind down and relax. Floatation therapy is one way to get some time out and give you relaxation.

Floatation therapy works by you floating on a floatation tank that’s filled with a very dense salt water mixture. The water in the tank is 25 cm deep. With a very high concentration of Epsom salts, the mixture makes it impossible for you to sink so you can float effortlessly.

The floatation tank is usually placed in a room with its own bathroom facilities. You are required to shower before entering the tank and then shower again after you float to remove the salt mixture. Most people do not wear anything when they float which makes it a very private experience. But you are also allowed to wear a swimsuit if you prefer to do so.

The tank has a hatch that allows you to chose if you want to float in darkness by closing the hatch or to leave it open. Some spas also give you the option of floating in silence, with soft and gentle music or with a self-hypnosis audio playing in the background.

When you float, your body instantly relaxes since the external stimuli to your senses are reduced. And since the water in the floatation tank is at skin temperature, the boundary between your body and air and water will be hard to distinguish.

Research has shown that this type of therapy has a number of physical effects on the body. The heart rate and breathing slows. The reduction in gravity causes the muscles to relax and decreases electrical activity in the muscles which allows them to release tension. The blood flow to the muscles also improves. All these factors can lead to faster healing. They also help reduce cardiovascular problems, pain, stress, depression, sleeping problems and fatigue.

Filed Under breathing, breathing exercises, exercise, healing, health Tagged With , , , , , , , , , ,

Aromatherapy

June 24, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

aromatherapy3

Stress can greatly influence ones physical, psychological and emotional well being. In fact, most illnesses are triggered by stress , that is why stress relief is important not only for relaxation purposes but also for ones’ health.

Aromatherapy massage is very similar to massage therapy only that it is used with essential oils that is added to the massage oil or lotion. The essential oils are made from plants that have a sedative and stimulating effect. Aromatherapy is more focused on improving stress or emotionally related conditions by soothing your soul through massage and scents.

It is noticeable that there will be a subtle aroma filling the air and your entire body throughout the massage. This type of therapy stimulates your limbic system which controls emotions and influences your hormones and nervous systems. When you inhale the essential oil molecules, they are sent to your limbic system and affect your heart rate, stress level, breathing, memory, blood pressure, immune system and digestion. Aside from the nose, essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin.

During aromatherapy massage, a consultation is done first to identify which essential oil should be used. Every essential oil has a different healing property. Some are used for calming while some are for cleansing. For instance, chamomile and lavender are used for calming while rosemary is used for energizing. Other essential oils include Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemon, Tea Tree and many others. After identifying which one to use, these oils are then mixed with the massage oil or lotion.

Inhaling the scent then instantly calms and relaxes you. Aromatherapy massage can also be used for insomnia, headache, digestive disorders, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and back pains.

If you’re looking for a great way to relax, you should try getting an Aromatherapy massage. Nothing beats getting a massage and inhaling the scents of nature.

Filed Under breathing Tagged With , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WHY YOU SHOULD MANAGE STRESS

June 23, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

stress_ball

Chronic stress can do irreversible damage to your health. It is often considered as a silent killer since you won’t even notice it’s there until the symptoms worsen. Here is a list that can show how stress can affect you and your overall health seriously:

Anxiety and Depression

If you are stressed out you could be experiencing uncontrollable levels of anxiety and this can cause many changes in the physiological functioning of the body. These feelings also encourage sadness and laziness which prohibits you from performing well.

Sleep Deprivation

Stress can lead to a restless mind which stops you from getting sleep. Lack of enough rest leads to an inability to maintain focus and can make you irritable.

Diabetes

Diabetes is known as a huge epidemic in the world and both mental and physical stress can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Aside from that, this disease is also linked t heart disease, blindness, liver problems, kidney disease and many more.

Heart disease

Stress is closely linked to heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. This is because when stress is not managed, the body breaks down easily and the heart is impacted.

Obesity

Most people cope with stress through eating. This is more known as “emotional eating”. Stress also prohibits chemicals needed to control the breaking down of fat which slows down your metabolism.

Fatigue

The lack of energy that you feel during stress can affect your work and how you interact with people. This can greatly affect your life professionally and socially.

Sexual dysfunction

It’s been found that stress is one of the main reasons why men become impotent and women lose their libido.

Stress is something that everybody encounters on a regular basis. But little things add up and once it starts to build up, it can cause a negative impact not only in your mind but in your body as well.

Filed Under breathe Tagged With , , , , , , ,

CAN’T SIT STILL?

June 21, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

walking2

There are some people who cannot stand the thought of not moving even for a minute. This immediately zeroes out meditation as a form of relaxation for them. How can you meditate when you can’t keep your body or mind still?

A common misconception of meditation is that you must be seated with your legs crossed and eyes closed, chanting some kind of mantra to go off to a peaceful state of mind while keeping still all at one time.

What most people are unaware of is that the scenario above is just one way of meditating. There is another side of meditating called Active Meditation. An example of which is Walking Meditation.

Walking meditation is done by focusing on the walking itself instead of a mantra or your breathing. In walking meditation, you should be able to notice the pressure on each foot as it touches the ground and feel the relief of that pressure as your foot rises again. Then you should be able to feel the muscle in your legs work like when they tense and when they relax. You may also be able to identify a change in your toes as they meet the ground or how your ankles react as you walk along.

Aside from the stress relief that meditation usually brings, walking meditation can also bring about a feeling of energy and rejuvenation. Aside from that, it also promotes your body’s physical health since walking is a good cardiovascular exercise.

If the thought of sitting still to meditate put you off, then taking up walking meditation instead may be more suitable for you. It does not only relax you and calm you down but it keeps you fit as well. Give it a try and experience the calmness and healthy feeling afterwards.

Filed Under meditation Tagged With , , , ,

DON’T PANIC – BREATHE!

June 19, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

breathe-istock

The way you breathe can be a symptom for stress and other anxieties. Learning how to breathe better can help calm and relieve you from panic disorders. The art of breathing usually requires practice, patience and diligence.

Rapid, shallow breathing is a common indication that something is wrong. They mostly happen to people who are under a lot of stress and also for those who have panic attacks. In rapid breathing, the breath you take is quick and short with very little time in between breaths and many breaths are taken in a second.

People who experience panic attacks usually make the mistake of holding their breath which causes the carbon dioxide levels to drop which eventually leads to hyperventilation.

It helps to practice breathing exercises to help calm you down compared to just using them when your panic attack arises. This is because in times of panic, it is very hard to think straight. It does not take much time and space either. You may find that breathing exercises are very easy to do. Five to ten minutes of your time each day is enough for this exercise.

Here is one example. What you need to do is to increase your habit of taking deeper and slower breaths. You have to breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and then breathe out through the mouth slowly. When you do this for the first time expect to feel a little bit light headed. This is because your body is not used to receiving so much oxygen.

Practicing breathing exercises like this regularly makes proper breathing a second nature to you and allows you to use it properly when the time comes instead of ending up hyperventilating.

Remember, in times of panic – focus and concentrate on your breath. This can help you get better, be more confident and give you more control.

Filed Under breathing, breathing exercises Tagged With , , , , , , ,

New Author

June 18, 2009 By Dan Leave a Comment

You may have noticed that the blog is active again and that there is a new poster – Marie. Marie and I are working as partners on this blog now still providing you with the best information on alternative ways of looking at your health through movement, breathing and nutrition. You can see from the last few posts that she really has some good information to share. Welcome to Marie and thank you from me for being a part of the education of the masses about staying healthy.

Now you know I offer free breathing exercises but coming soon will be an all new ebook about health and how to live longer by adding to your life. So stay tuned it is coming soon. We are working on it right now.

Filed Under Uncategorized Tagged With , ,

Music Soothes the Soul

June 17, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

sheetmusicandviolin_full

Music has the power to touch our souls.

Do you remember a story in the Bible where David eased King Saul’s depression by playing his harp? You do not have to be a holy man to produce music that heals. It turns out that as long as the music is something you are comfortable listening to, it can do wonders to alleviate stress. Study shows that there are changes that happen to a person physically and emotionally when they listen to music.

Music is now being recognized as a powerful tool to help patients relax deeply. It provides a good distraction to those who are deeply agitated and is considered as a significant mood changer and reliever of stress.

Experts suggest that it is the rhythm or the beat of the music that can produce a calming effect on you. This is because when you were a baby in your mother’s womb, you were influenced by the sound of the heartbeat of your mother. The subconscious then associates the music with the safe and relaxing environment of the mother’s womb.

As well as it can be soothing, music can be nerve wracking as well. Choosing what kind of music depends on its individual preferences Some patients would show a good response towards Hard Rock or Heavy Metal music played in loud volumes while some would cringe at the sound of it.

Among the initial stress-fighting signs that occur when you hear music is an increase in deep breathing. Music is found to reduce heart rates and promotes a higher body temperature which is an indication of relaxation.

Some offices even play music in the background to help relieve the stress of their workers. But if you want to take your own “sound bath”, it is recommended that you use headphones to focus your attention to the music for a deeper experience.

Remember that music won’t calm you down unless you like what you hear. Aside from that, experts say that most people like listening to music from their childhood since it breeds familiarity which often results to calmness. Another popular choice of music is sounds of nature like ocean waves or the sounds of a deep forest.

Filed Under healing, meditation, motivational Tagged With , , , , , , ,

COLOR HEALS

June 16, 2009 By marie 2 Comments

spring-colors

Did you know that colors do not only affect your mood but it also can give you a better perspective in life and peace of mind? This is possible through Chromo therapy – or color therapy.

Color therapy is considered as part of ancient science. Egyptians used to build light towers with colored panes of glass that would flood a patient with color once sunlight pass through the glass. And evidently, patients feel well after that.

Today, a therapist trained in color therapy uses light and color to balance energy in the areas of your body that is lacking in physical, emotional, spiritual or mental vibrance with the use of tools like gemstones, candles, crystals, fabrics, or bath treatments.

Here is an example of how color can affect your emotional state:

• Green – considered as the best color for healing since it is nurturing and earthy. It also represents new growth.
• White – it has been proven that white reduces any negative thoughts and produces a clean, fresh and new outlook.
• Blue – wearing blue helps create calmness and serenity. Blue can also be very relaxing.
• Yellow – considered to be the perfect color to wear when the spirit is down due to its cheerful and happy appeal and helps make you be perkier
• Gray or Black – these colors are considered to be depressive and are associated with invisibility and keeping a low profile
• Orange – represents very high energy and urges you to be more fun and playful.
• Pink – most people think pink is just a feminine color but it also expresses compassion
• Purple – wearing purple shows that you want to be noticed and brings out a feeling of uniqueness and specialty.
• Red – considered as the most powerful color, it shows confidence and can be the best color for those who needs a boost in self esteem

Color is an active power that can exert a big influence on your consciousness and spirit since color works through you and shines in your auras. Combined with light, color can help bring your physical and emotional systems in a balanced state. Color is an essence of energy.

,

Filed Under healing Tagged With , , , , ,

Breathe to Relieve Stress

June 12, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

natalia-breathing_full1

Breathing comes naturally to us without much effort. When you breathe in air, your blood cells receive oxygen which allows them to release carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is considered as a waste product in your body and must be exhaled. If you breathe improperly, it can upset the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange and can cause anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue and other disturbances that can affect you physically and emotionally.

Breathing exercises can help you breathe properly and are considered to be one of the best stress relief strategies for the reasons that they can be done anywhere, they work quickly, they can be used anytime and that you do not have to spend a single cent to do them.

One good benefit of practicing breathing exercises is that it can reverse your stress response, helping you avoid chronic stress. Breathing therapy has been successfully applied to conditions like hyperventilation, headache, fatigue, sleeping problems, anxiety and phobia, tension, heart disease, panic disorder and depression. Breathing exercises are now considered to be an effective part of treatments these days.

A simple example of a breathing exercise is Visualization breathing. This is done by breathing deeply through the nose and holding your breath up to 5 seconds. While holding your breath, imagine all the stress building up in your lungs. Then release your breath slowly as you exhale and imagine the stress getting out. Repeat the process until you feel entirely relaxed.

Breathing exercises can be used when you are feeling stressed and you want to clear your mind or calm down quickly, when you want to release the tensions in your body and when you’re feeling frustrated.

But breathing exercises can not solve all your problems. It simply relieves you from overreacting to stressful situations that you may encounter

Filed Under breathing, breathing exercises Tagged With , , , ,
« Older Posts