by heather | featured guests
On the topic of health this week, I wanted to share with you my new found love for acupuncture and introduce our guest blogger, Adrienne Wei from Inner Peace Acupuncture. Adrienne contacted me about doing some design work for her a few months ago and she encouraged me to give acupuncture a try. If I was going to help her market her business, I needed to understand how it all worked, right? I was nervous at first, but it doesn’t hurt and I leave my sessions feeling so relaxed – like I just had a massage! It truly has improved my overall health in the three months I have ben working with her. I encourage anyone who has never had acupuncture to give it a try. You won’t regret it! Now, here’s Adrienne…
People often ask me what acupuncture is, exactly. Allow me to try and explain:
Several thousand years ago, East Asian practitioners discovered that the body forms disharmonies as a result of the various physical and mental stresses of life. These disharmonies disrupt the movement of the body’s vital energy (qi) along the meridian pathways, which are channels through which the body’s energy is thought to flow. Acupuncture restores the smooth flow of qi. Through the insertion and manipulation of tiny needles, stagnant energy (or qi) that may have been blocked is now released and free to flow properly again. Many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body’s natural painkillers and increase blood flow.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest medical systems used today. It is different from conventional medicine in that it treats the whole person rather than isolating one symptom, and promotes health on the body level as well as the mind and spirit levels. It has two main components, acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Acupuncture works to realign energy imbalances while Chinese herbs target the imbalances of the internal organ systems. Other modalities of treatment include diet, exercise and meditation.
Acupuncture works by activating the body’s own healing powers, so it can be beneficial for many health conditions. Currently, the National Institute of Heath (NIH) has determined that acupuncture is effective in treating over 40 different disease categories, some of which include: pain, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, infertility, headaches, IBS, high blood pressure, insomnia.
ACUPUNCTURE DOESN’T HURT. I get asked that question all of the time too. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and flexible. Most people hardly feel the insertion. And actually, most patients leave their treatment feeling relaxed both mentally and physically.
I have always known that it was my destiny to be a healer. Growing up with a mother who was a prominent Chinese Medicine doctor, I was exposed to the practive of Chinese Medicine at a very young age. Under the influence of my mother, I found my mission in life – to help those who had lost hope and to heal the world with the power of Chinese Medicine. I enjoy helping and working with people, so after enrolling in acupuncture school and attending my first day of classes, I knew I had made the best decision of my life.
Acupuncture has helped me in my personal life and because of that treating Women’s Health has become my passion. I dedicated my practice, Inner Peace Acupuncture and Wellness, to focus on Women’s Health and my specialties include infertility, IUI/IVF preperation, endometriosis, PCOS, menstral irregularities, menopause, anxiety and stress management.
Thank you Sunny Slide Up for allowing me to guest blog and give acupuncutre a try!
by Mandi | creative tips
I am realizing something as I get older… those extra pounds do not come off quite as easily.
A few years ago I would eat healthy for a week or so and maybe throw in an extra work out then, like magic… 5 pounds were gone. Well, not anymore. I am also realizing that it is no longer about looking good in my clothes for that day at the beach or night out with friends, it is about being healthy – taking the best care of my body that I can.
I am making conscious efforts to get outside and get healthy! Eating healthy and working out are part of my life, not just something I have to do from time to time.
I am starting to read my Health magazine a little more closely and wanted to share with you a few pointers that I felt were great take aways from the September issue.
Keep moving…you do not have to run, but you do have to move! Here is an info graphic on Walking, Jogging and Running it off. Just one hour a day to get off those pounds!
And if you want to take your workout to the next level, sign up for a 5K in your neighborhood. These are for all fitness levels and typically support a great cause! My favorite website to look for a 5K or 10K near you is active.com. You can search by your city and surrounding areas.
This month Health Magazine also suggest that you take a few physical tests.
Did you know that the two-mile run is one of the tests the US Military uses to evaluate a potential serviceperson’s fitness level? It is just long enough to test endurance, but also short enough for you to push yourself. If you are between the age of 37 to 51, you should be able to finish in 17:30 or between an 8 and 9 minute mile. For those of you that run on a treadmill, you speed would be set between 6.5 and 7.5. Here is a chart on treadmill speed vs. road time.
They had a few ideas to help you get motivated…help you stay on track when you are getting healthy or good reminders to keep you going!
I am serious about this, below are a few pictures from this past weekend! We took a trip to Charleston, SC and decided to walk the Cooper River Bridge. This is NOT a walk in the park… let me tell you! I have done the 10K Bridge Run for the past 6 years, but never taken the time to walk and enjoy the views – it is worth it and if you ever make it down there, be sure to check it out!
Time to get moving!!
by heather | feature, fun finds
Music is good for your health. Besides helping you get through your workout, music can also reduce stress, sooth pain, help memory and even boost your heart health! Check out this article from Huffington Post to read about how music helps the body and mind. Did you know that there is even a such thing as a music therapist now? Who knew!
Making mixed CDs and playlists is one of my favorite things. So, on the topic of health I thought I would share some of my favorite workout tunes. I categorize my workout playlists into 3 parts: the warm up, the workout and the cool down. Below is a random selection from my playlists. I like a wide range of music and I mix things up, so I don’t get bored.
The Warm Up – Time to get started. These songs will help ease you into your workout, not too fast, not too slow.
- “Start Me Up” – The Rolling Stones – listen
- “Lights” – Ellie Goulding – listen
- “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers – listen
- “Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey – listen
- “Addicted To Love” – Florence + The Machine – listen
- “Houdini” – Foster The People – listen
- “The Rain” – Missy Elliot – listen
- “Tonight, Tonight” – Smashing Pumpkins – listen
- “Alejandro (The Sound of Arrows Remix)” – Lady Gaga – listen
- “When You Were Young” – The Killers – listen
- “Take On Me” – A-Ha – listen
- “Flashdance…What a Feeling” – Irene Cara – listen
- “Hey Mama” – Mat Kearney – listen
- “Sweet Emotion” – Aerosmith – listen
- “Feel Good Inc.” – Gorillaz – listen
The Workout – Okay, time to kick it up a notch. These beats will have you popping along in your workout and motivated to take it up a notch.
- “Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – listen
- “Sexy Back” – Justin Timberlake – listen
- “Young Folks” – Peter Bjorn and John – listen
- “Bulletproof” – La Roux – listen
- “Spaz” – N.E.R.D. – listen
- “Pump Up The Jam” – Technotronic – listen
- “Hollaback Girl” – Gwen Stefani – listen
- “Cantaloop” – US3 – listen
- “Stronger” – Kanye West – listen
- “Come Out And Play” – The Offspring – listen
- “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO – listen
- “Shake Your Rump” – Beastie Boys – listen
- “Hello” – Martin Solveig & Dragonette – listen
- “Yeah!” – Usher ft. Ludacris & Lil Jon – listen
- “Ooh La La” – Goldfrapp – listen
- “Music” – Madonna – listen
- “Lose Yourself” – Eminem – listen
- “On To The Next One” – Jay-Z – listen
- “Firestarter” – The Prodigy – listen
- “The Stars” – Moby – listen
The Cool Down – By now you are sweating and your heart is pumping fast. Slow it down with these tunes and feel good about the workout you just completed.
- “Breath” – Telepopmusik – listen
- “Send Me On My Way” – Rusted Root – listen
- “Detlef Schrempf” – Band Of Horses – listen
- “My Sundown” – Jimmy Eat World – listen
- “Fake Plastic Trees” – Radiohead – listen
- “Crazy Life” – Toad The Wet Sprocket – listen
- “Creep” – Scala & Kolancy Brothers – listen
- “Glitter In The Air” – Pink – listen
- “Breakdown” – Tom Petty – listen
- “Loving Wings” – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds – listen
- “Blackbird” – Sarah McLachlan – listen
- “Svefn-G-Englar” – Sigur Ros – listen
- “Letting The Cables Sleep” – Bush – listen
- “Just Breathe” – Pearl Jam – listen
- “Skinny Love” – Bon Iver – listen
Enjoy your next workout!