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8/1/2023 0 Comments August 01st, 2023 (
Activities to promote heart health: Tips & guidelines (from the ACLS Training Center) A healthy heart is a healthy life, for most cases at least. Keeping a healthy heart should not be difficult for anyone. There are a lot of activities that we can do to reduce our risk of getting any heart related diseases. It goes without saying that doing cardiovascular exercises promote a healthy heart but there are specific activities that not only promote a healthy heart but are also fun to do which can also contribute to your overall heart health. 1. Running Running is on top of the list because it is the number one recommended activity for anyone who wants to keep a healthy heart. Running is a very easy cardio exercise that anyone of all ages can do. Running not only helps you maintain a healthy weight, it also helps to strengthen your heart muscle. Running also lowers blood pressure and maintains a healthy cholesterol level. These benefits help reduce the risk of heart diseases. The article Heart Health Benefits of Running discusses more on the benefits of running for a healthy heart. 2. Yoga There is no stretching the truth here, yoga does help your heart! Yoga, as a form of exercise, involves lots of stretching and breathing movements. This promotes good circulation and good breathing. Although it is not an aerobic exercise, yoga can offer so much more than being an exercise. Yoga is a good stress relieving outlet. It promotes relaxation of the body and mind. Stress can cause a lot of negative effects in the body, especially the heart. Many reports show that instances of cardiac events stem from too much worrying and depression. Yoga is a way of breathing out all those negative emotional stresses and keeping your heart happy. 3. Dancing Dancing is another cardio exercise that promotes a healthy and happy heart. A lot of exercises nowadays incorporate dancing as part of their promoted lifestyle. Some of the common ones are Tae Bo and Zumba. Because dancing is a cardiovascular exercise, it promotes weight loss, increased flexibility and overall improved physical performance. The benefits of dancing are not limited to the physiology of the heart. Dancing is fun! It promotes stress reduction and diminishes the tendencies of depression. On top of that, you get to meet a lot of new friends! The overall impact of dancing to your heart should be enough to convince you to put on those dancing shoes! 4. Laughing Laughter indeed is the best medicine. The health benefits of laughter is not a myth. Our physiology is all affected by our emotions. Many emotions like stress, depression, loneliness and sadness have an immediate effect on our heart. Stress hormones release chemicals to our body that promote an unhealthy heart. Laughing causes an increase in our heart which makes us take deep and numerous breaths. This promotes healthy circulation and vascular function. So laugh your way to a healthy heart! 5. Gardening This may come as a surprise but gardening is one of the hobbies that can contribute to a healthy heart. Gardening is a labor intensive hobby. It requires you to get sweaty and dirty. Gardening includes pulling out weeds, planting and mowing. This causes you to increase your heart rate and sweat, thus contributing to your vascular functions. Gardening also relieves stress and keeps your mind and hands occupied. Gardening also encourages healthy eating–garden to table food. And because one sooner or later sees the fruit of their gardening, it also promotes self fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment which boosts your overall mental, emotional and heart health. There are many more activities that you can take up to help improve your heart health. Keep in mind that maintaining a healthy heart should not be stressful. A simple chat and laugh with your friends is already a step to helping your heart. References:
This page was written by Lorraine Anne Liu, RN on Jul 10, 2021. Link to the original article/website https://www.acls.net/heart-health
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1/30/2023 0 Comments Yoga and Meditation by Mary Green Yoga and Meditation: Good for Entrepreneurs, Good for Business
There is a lot of discussion these days about the benefits of yoga and meditation practices for entrepreneurs. A growing body of research shows that regular practice can have a profound impact on business owners and their staff, improving everything from productivity to creativity to teamwork. Here are some of the key benefits that have been identified so far. Better LeadershipIn addition to the many other benefits that yoga and meditation offer entrepreneurs, regular practice enhances leadership abilities. Studies have shown that people who regularly meditate or practice yoga tend to be more patient, more compassionate, and more able to stay calm under pressure. They are also more likely to be able to see all sides of an issue and less likely to get emotional when making decisions. These skills can be incredibly valuable for leaders, who often need to make quick decisions in difficult situations. A Focus BoostFor entrepreneurs, focus is key. It's essential to be able to stay on task and focused on your goals in order to be successful. Yoga and meditation can help improve focus by quieting the mind and helping you to concentrate on the present moment. This can be especially helpful for entrepreneurs who are used to multitasking and constantly bombarded with distractions. The practice of yoga and meditation can also help you learn how to better manage stress, which can be a major distraction. When you're stressed, it's difficult to focus on anything else but the stress itself. When you learn to manage your stress, you'll be able to stay more focused. Enhancing Your Health and FitnessIn addition to the many benefits that yoga and meditation offer entrepreneurs, regular practice can also help improve their health and fitness. Yoga and meditation can help you lose weight, build muscle, and get in better shape. They can also help reduce stress and anxiety, which can lead to better physical health overall. There are many different types of yoga and meditation practices, so it's essential to find one that suits your needs and interests. If you're not sure where to start, seek advice from a yoga or meditation instructor. They can help you find the right practice for you and give you tips on how to get the most out of it. You can also visit a local studio such as Blue Moon Yoga or look online for guided meditation apps. Learning to BreatheAnother key benefit of yoga and meditation is that they help you learn to breathe properly. Many people don't even realize that they're not breathing properly, which can lead to all sorts of health problems. There are several ways to learn how to breathe properly. One of the simplest is to practice deep breathing exercises. To do this, sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Slowly inhale through your nose, counting to four. Hold your breath for a count of four, then slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat this exercise several times. You can also practice deep breathing while doing yoga or meditation. Clarity with TasksThe extra clarity and ability to focus also open new doors for entrepreneurs and their employees. Staff may find they're better able to navigate difficult tasks and even find ways to streamline or improve processes. And entrepreneurs may find more certainty when it comes to growing their businesses, from expanding to new markets to choosing to switch their business designation from a sole proprietorship to an LLC in New Jersey. So, what are the key takeaways for entrepreneurs? Yoga and meditation can offer a range of benefits, from improving leadership skills to enhancing focus and helping to manage stress. They can also improve your health and fitness, breathing habits, and clarity with tasks. If you're not already practicing yoga or meditation, it's worth considering giving them a try. There are many different types of yoga and meditation practices available, so find one that suits your needs and interests. You may be surprised at how much these practices can help you in your business ventures. So, are you ready to incorporate yoga into your business life? Take a class at Blue Moon Yoga and get started. 7/13/2022 0 Comments The Full Buck Moon 7-13-2022 Today is the Full Buck Moon! This is a Supermoon that’s reported to appear approximately 17% larger and 30% brighter than a full moon and this is supposed to be the largest and brightest of the year (or so I’ve heard). It is the third one in this year’s set of four supermoons. It is the Buck Moon in our area because this is the time of year when buck’s antlers are growing in.
The moon is technically full this afternoon, in the sign of Capricorn, so it looked full last night and will look full tonight. Capricorn is an earth sign, introverted and focused on foundations and long-term plans. The energetic feel would be “diving deep”. We have an opportunity for catharsis of deep emotions tied to home, long term goals, and enduring ideals that we’ve kept deep and reserved for ourselves. Full Moon is a great time for releasing things that aren’t serving us; and the moon is uncomfortable in Capricorn, bringing us the catharsis that will allow us to empty out. Each of us will handle this in our own way – crying, laughter, anger, etc. Nurture yourself as these things come up – they really are more about you than about the things that trigger them. (I recently cried over a dead arugula plant in my garden – it wasn’t about the plant; I just needed the release!) Take some time to visit with the moon tonight, meditate, and let go of some things that aren’t serving you! A Full Moon Release Ceremony: Set aside some time tonight. I’m suggesting a fire ceremony because it’s a fast release.
Over the next few days, you may find opportunities and ideas coming to you. The final big event for the week is a conjunction between Mercury and the Sun that occurs on 7/16/2022. It will bring you insight, epiphanies, new ideas, and ideals to fill the energetic space you just prepared at the Full Moon. Between today and Saturday, be clear about what you want. The universe is listening and ready to help you! Let me know how it goes or email me with any questions or for suggestions for an individual situation. Happy Super Full Buck Moon! Blessings ~E Image by Andreas Zedler from Pixabay  Are you wondering what the planets are up to these days? Starting with today’s New Moon, here’s a few details (and a little ceremony or two) to help you navigate the lunar cycle. Personally, it’s been an exceptionally rough go of things for me since the beginning of May, and I don’t know how I would handle everything without help from the planets, meditation, yoga, and energy practices. I’m always happy to answer your questions or set up and energy guidance or reiki appointment! Email me at [email protected].
Happy New Moon in Cancer! ~ Eva 6-28-2022 – New Moon in Cancer (at 10:52 pm EDT) – expect emotions to bubble up. The moon is at home in Cancer, supporting meditation. Intuitive and energy work, visioning and vision boarding, or even journaling. Create a personal ritual by getting a cup of tea, lighting a candle, and settling in for some private time to set your intentions and goals for the coming lunar cycle! Notice if you feel a pull toward your ancestors, or, get any messages from them. New Moon is a powerful time for this connection and to communicate. If you have an ancestor altar, set aside some time to sit with them, light a candle or incense. If not, perhaps while you create your ritual for intentions setting, you might think about some memories of ancestors or ask them for creative ideas and support or help. Neptune stations retrograde in Pisces today (until 12-3-2022). The next 5 (ish) months offers the opportunity to review your dreams – Neptune rules dreams, imagination, and ideas. In your quiet/ritual time, align with your intuition. Do your dreams still resonate, or have they changed? Are you on autopilot, moving along with ideas that no longer feed your soul? Buoy up your creative tool basket. What are you called to create over the next few months? What are you called to complete? Experiment. 7-6-2022 – First Quarter Moon (Half Moon Waxing) in Libra – Time to see how your intentions are growing. Have they stalled and need more attention? You may find yourself in the position to make some decisions today – balance between mind and heart is vital to have the most impact (the moon is in Libra after all). 7-13-2022 – Full Moon in Capricorn (at 3:37 pm EDT) Supermoon – Time to look at your intentions and plans for this lunar cycle. Are they on track? What’s shifted? What’s left to do? Create a Full Moon Release ceremony to help you let goof what’s not serving or aiding your intention and to remove blocks. Find a quiet space and time. Get a candle, matches, and a fireproof bowl (or do this at a fire pit if you have one). Make yourself comfortable and take a few deep breaths. Feel into your heart and on a small piece of paper, write down anything you feel is blocking you. You can create as many of these slips of paper as you would like. When you are done, light each paper on fire and drop it into the bowl saying something like “as this paper burns, I release all blocks to my dreams and intentions”. Make it your words. Do this for each item. When everything has burned out, take a few deep breaths and thank the fire element for helping you. 7-19-2022 – Chiron stations retrograde in Aries (until 12-23-2022) – Chiron is the “wounded healer”, and so, has an impact on everyone who has ever been wounded. In other words, all of us. This retrograde will have us healing our relationship with the fire (Aries energy) aspects of ourselves. Do you have fear of taking actions? Have you acted when you shouldn’t have, or not acted when you should have? During this retrograde period, you may be given opportunities to show your courage. Be compassionate with yourself, you may not always feel like you met the task. Create a bedtime ritual (a few minutes) of reviewing your day and give yourself credit for the things you accomplished, especially if they pushed some buttons or you had to move through fear to complete them. 7-20-2022 – Last Quarter Moon (Half Moon Waning) in Aries – we’re still in that fiery energy. Aries will help you through the home stretch of getting your intention for the lunar cycle completed, or at least to the point where you feel good taking a pause at the next new moon. Let Aries fire give you a little burst of energy today! 7-22-2022 – Sun enters Leo – The solar cycles are our outer landscape (while the lunar cycles are our inner landscape). Leo season brings confidence, creativity. You may feel fun, adventurous, and somewhat lighthearted during this period, even if Leo is not your sun sign. 7-28-2022 – New Moon in Leo (at 1:55 pm EDT). We’ll dive deeper into Leo New Moon next time, but be prepared, this New Moon is going to have you looking at leadership in some way! Image by Syaibatul Hamdi from Pixabay 5/10/2022 Mercury Retrograde - May 2022Left photo - Mercury Image by TheSpaceway from Pixabay Right Photo - Lunar Eclipse Image by Brian Garrity from Pixabay
Let me start with an apology for any typos or confusing sentences here – Mercury is in retrograde, and I am feeling it. Are you? Mercury is in retrograde from May 10 to June 3, 2022, and it will be moving through Gemini and Taurus, so we may experience some interesting energies. It may be a little crazier than other retrogrades because there is a Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse this weekend too. Take the usual Mercury retro precautions: backup your computer, expect travel delays, put on your patient demeanor, and be careful to communicate clearly. This retrograde starts in Gemini (from 5/10 – 5/22), whose hallmarks are communication and curiosity. That makes this a wonderful time to study, gain knowledge, or learn a new skill. Don’t expect to master them during this time, but definitely start. Pay attention to not only what you communicate, but how as well, until Mercury moves out of Gemini. Your words may unintentionally cause some harm or hurt feelings now. Prioritize self-care and mental health, not only because of the retrograde, but also because of the Lunar Eclipse this coming weekend. It may be bringing in feelings of insecurity, fear, and doubt. These energies combined may have you feeling unfocused, fuzzy, and ungrounded. It will pass! After 5/22, Mercury moves into Taurus (still in retrograde) and the energy will definitely change. We will naturally be a little more diplomatic and thoughtful, as this is part of the Taurus energy. You may find a little push-pull between Mercury’s energy (a planet of action) and Taurus (a sign of stability). This might feel a little like stress while you’re feeling that you want to rest and ground (Taurus), but your mind is telling you to keep moving (Mercury). Find ways to address both energies as part of your self-care. Practices that are “mindful movement,” like yoga and hiking, might be great choices right now. Now we need to address the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse coming up. This Full Moon is the Full Flower Moon. It is also a super moon and, because of the eclipse, a blood moon. So, would we call it a Super Full Flower Blood Moon, or a Full Flower Super Blood Moon? Whatever you call it, here’s the timing: The event occurs overnight between 5/15 and 5/16. The moon is actually full at 12:14 AM EDT on May 16th (14 minutes after midnight overnight between 5/15 and 5/16). We will be feeling the energy before that, for sure. We will be able to see the eclipse, weather permitting. It starts about 9:32 PM EDT and the moon will be in total eclipse at about 11:25 PM EDT on Sunday night (5/15). This Full Moon is in Scorpio, bringing lots of creative ideas with it, and maybe some chaotic energy. Due to Scorpio’s introspective nature, this info may come from deep within your soul and/or your subconscious. We are being shown that we have energy and creative power, so once we have a support structure and resources, we can move forward with our dreams. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions at [email protected] |
