Fitness & Wellness

We are looking for talented Instructors!

We are looking for talented Instructors!

We are looking for talented instructors for mornings, afternoons, or weekends.
Monday morning has an immediate opening.
If you are one of these:

    • 200 Hr Yoga Instructor
    • Zumba Instructor
    • Group Fitness Instructor
    • Pilates Instructor

For inquiries or if interested, please send a resume indicating which position interests you.

cedfflj@gmail.com
Text & Call: (267) 494-4598


The Ayurvedic Nutrition

The Ayurvedic Nutrition

The Ayurvedic diet, rooted in ancient Indian medicine (Ayurveda), is about personalized eating aligned with your body’s dosha (constitution) and the seasons. It connects you with nature and nourishes your body and spirit.

Understanding Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the “science of life,” is an ancient holistic system. Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) determine your unique attributes and health needs.

The Ayurvedic diet emphasizes seasonal eating for balance. For example, cooling foods in summer, warming in winter.

Ayurvedic nutritionists have the expertise to craft tailored meal plans designed to help you maintain your health and well-being.

Embrace the Ayurvedic diet for timeless holistic well-being, connecting with nature and your inner radiance. Thrive in every season of life.

Reference: AYURVEDIC DIET | 10 Rules for an Ayurvedic Diet | What Is an Ayurvedic Diet?


Tai Chi for Young Adults

Tai Chi for Young Adults

In today’s fast-paced world, Tai Chi has emerged as a valuable practice for young adults seeking balance and serenity. Despite its association with older adults, Tai Chi offers tailored benefits to address the unique challenges faced by the younger generation. In this blog, we explore the captivating world of Tai Chi and why it has become increasingly popular among young adults.

  1. Mind-Body Connection:
    • Tai Chi emphasizes the mind-body connection, allowing young adults to reconnect with their bodies and cultivate mindfulness. Through deliberate movements and focused breathing, Tai Chi helps release tension, improve posture, and enhance physical awareness.
  2. Stress Relief:
    • In a stressful world, Tai Chi provides a serene environment for self-reflection and relaxation. Its slow, graceful movements promote calmness, reduce stress levels, improve mood, and enhance mental resilience.
  3. Physical Fitness:
    • Tai Chi builds strength, flexibility, and balance in a low-impact manner, supporting overall physical well-being and injury prevention as young adults age.
  4. Social Connection:
    • Tai Chi classes offer an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of community, support, and friendship among practitioners.
  5. Personal Growth:
    • Beyond its physical and mental benefits, Tai Chi encourages self-awareness, patience, and perseverance, empowering young adults to navigate challenges with grace and composure.

Tai Chi transcends age boundaries, captivating young adults who seek a holistic approach to wellness. By embracing Tai Chi, they can find solace, improve physical fitness, forge meaningful connections, and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Step onto the path of Tai Chi and discover a newfound sense of balance and serenity within.

Reference: Tai Chi Benefits for Young Adults | The health benefits of tai chi | 5 Reasons Why Millennials Practice Tai Chi


What happens in a Reiki session?

What happens in a Reiki session?

Reiki treatments are typically administered in a serene and private environment, although they can be conducted anywhere. The client remains fully clothed and can either sit comfortably in a chair or lie down on a table.

During a session, the Reiki practitioner will lightly place their hands on or above specific areas of the client’s head, limbs, and torso. These positions are usually maintained for approximately 3 to 10 minutes. In cases of specific injuries like burns, the practitioner will hover their hands just above the affected area.

Advocates of Reiki assert that an energy transfer occurs while the practitioner maintains gentle contact with or proximity to the body. The practitioner may experience sensations of warmth or tingling in their hands during this process. Each hand position is held until the flow of energy is perceived to have ceased.

Once the practitioner senses the dissipation of heat or energy in their hands, they will move them to another part of the body to continue the session.

Reference: What is Reiki? | What Is Reiki, and Does it Really Work? | All About Reiki: How This Type of Energy Healing Works and Its Health Benefits


Balance in Life

Balance in Life

Achieving balance in fitness is essential for our overall health and well-being. It can be challenging to find the right balance between exercise, nutrition, rest, and recovery, but doing so is crucial to reaching our fitness goals and maintaining good health.

To achieve balance in fitness, we must first identify our fitness goals and priorities. This may involve setting specific targets for weight loss, muscle gain, or overall health and wellness. Once we have a clear understanding of our priorities, we can create a plan that will help us achieve those goals while also maintaining balance in our lives.

An effective fitness plan should include a combination of exercise, nutrition, and rest. This may involve setting aside time each day for physical activity, such as strength training, cardio, or yoga. It’s also important to fuel our bodies with healthy, nutrient-dense foods that support our fitness goals.

In addition to exercise and nutrition, rest and recovery are also crucial components of achieving balance in fitness. Rest days are essential for allowing our bodies to recover and rebuild after intense workouts. Getting enough sleep is also critical for our overall health and wellness.

It’s important to regularly evaluate our fitness goals and adjust our plan as necessary. This may involve increasing the intensity or duration of our workouts, adjusting our nutrition plan, or taking more rest days.

In conclusion, achieving balance in fitness requires a conscious effort to prioritize exercise, nutrition, rest, and recovery. By doing so, we can reach our fitness goals while also maintaining good health and overall well-being.

Reference: How to Create a Balanced Life: 9 Ways to Feel Calm and Grounded | What does it mean to live a balanced life? | 10 Simple Ways to Find Balance and Get Your Life Back


Balance

Balance

The easy description of balance is the ability to distribute your weight in a way that lets you stand or move without falling, or recover if you trip. But how important it is in our daily lives.

As we get older, falling becomes a more serious problem. Balance falls into the same “use it or lose it” category that you associate with movement. There are many things you can do to maintain your muscle strength and flexibility as you age.

Here are some exercises you can do to enhance your balance.

  1. Stand on one leg – try doing this while you are doing some chores.
  2. Balance on a wobble board or Bosu board – these are a few gym pieces designed to challenge your stability.
  3. Take a Tai Chi class or yoga class – these are good exercise forms that are great to increase your balance and stability.
  4. Walk Heel to Toe – The same “sobriety test” used by law enforcement also improves balance.
  5. Do squats – Sturdy legs can help prevent a stumble from turning into a fall? Aim for 3 sets of 10 with a 1 minute break after each set.
  6. Get a good night’s rest. Sleep more than 7 hours a night. Sleep deprivation slows reaction time which can be directly related to falls.

So put some of this balance exercise into practice and head outside to your local park and work on some balance drills.

References: Balance – It’s Important for Everyone! | Why Is Balance Important? | Balance Exercise


Importance of Rest Day

Importance of Rest Day

Why is a rest day important?

When you are in the workout zone it is tempting to skip the rest day. Especially when you are seeing great progress and your energy level is to the roof.

Rest days allow your body – and your mind – time to recover from workouts. They stop you burning out and losing your mojo, and ensure you’re ready and able to give your next session your all. Rest also gives your body time to adapt to your training and grow stronger and fitter, so you’ll be better placed to make the next workout count than if you skip the recovery period.

Here are a few benefits of having a rest day.

  1. Rest days give your muscles chance to heal.
  2. Rest days reduce the chance of injury.
  3. Rest days help you swerve overtraining syndrome.
  4. Rest days can keep you motivated.
  5. Rest days help you sleep.
  6. Rest days can support your immune system.

There you go! Those are a few benefits of having a rest day, so don’t skip out!

Reference: 6 Reasons why rest days are important for high performance | Are Rest Days Important for Exercise?


Strengthening Your Immune System

Strengthening Your Immune System

Having a weak immune system can be bad on your body. It means you are more vulnerable to many diseases that we would not want on our body. In this blog we are going to talk about how you can strengthen your immune system.

Here are a few tips that can help you strengthen your immune system:

Eat Healthy
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and fat–free or low–fat milk and milk products can help your immune system. Eating healthy also means limiting saturated fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.

Being Active
Regular physical activities can help strengthen your immune system. It helps you feel better, sleep better, and reduce anxiety.

Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight can affect how your body functions. Obesity may also lower vaccine effectiveness for numerous diseases, including influenza, hepatitis B, and tetanus.

Get Enough Sleep
Sleep loss can negatively affect different parts of the immune system that can lead to the development of a wide variety of disorders.

Quit Smoking
Smoking can make the body less successful at fighting disease. Smoking increases the risk for immune system problems, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Avoid Too Much Alcohol
Over time, excessive alcohol use can weaken the immune system.

Reference: Six Tips to Enhance Immunity | 7 SIGNS OF A WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM AND HOW TO IMPROVE IT


What are the benefits of Qigong?

What are the benefits of Qigong?

Did you know that Qigong can help your body and mind be strong? Here are a few benefits that Qigong can offer to our body and mind.

  •  Lowers Blood Pressure
    • Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease. Certain lifestyle habits, such as being physically inactive and chronically stressed, can cause your blood pressure to rise, leading to hypertension over time. Incorporating mind-body practices like qigong into your wellness routine, alongside your mainstream medical care plan (like medications and other forms of conventional exercise), may help move your blood pressure back to a healthy level.
  • Reduces Anxiety and Depression
    • Because qigong involves slowing down and fostering presence, it may benefit your mental health overall. Qigong can help relieve anxiety and stress in healthy people. Qigong may have a more immediate effect on decreasing anxiety levels when compared with only listening to music or performing structured movements.
  • Relieves Chronic Pain
    • When we’re in constant pain, many of us instinctively tighten up and restrict our movements — the body’s way of guarding against further discomfort. The low-impact postures in qigong help introduce gentle movement to tight, achy muscles and joints, where, according to TCM, qi can become blocked. By increasing movement, you increase circulation to facilitate healing, Bouguyon says.
  • Improves Well-Being in People With Cancer
    • A study found that patients with breast cancer who practiced qigong twice a week for 10 weeks reported greater improvements in quality of life than patients who received conventional medical care only. The patients who incorporated qigong into their care routine also reported less tension, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
  • Strengthens the Immune System
    • Thanks to slower movements that are believed to lubricate the joints and promote the circulation of important fluids in the body (like blood, lymph, and synovial), qigong may boost your immune system as a result.
  • Improves Fitness
    • Qigong is generally a gentle, low-impact activity with aerobic and strength components. As such, it can be a beneficial form of exercise for many people, including those with limited mobility.

Practicing qigong may improve fitness, reduce anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, relieve chronic pain, strengthen the immune and respiratory systems, and improve overall well-being.

Reference: 6 Potential Health Benefits of Qigong, a TCM Mind-Body Practice | Qigong: What You Need To Know | Qigong benefits, types, and how to get started


What is Qigong?

What is Qigong?

Qigong, pronounced “chi gong,” was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being.

Qigong has both psychological and physical components and involves the regulation of the mind, breath, and body’s movement and posture.

In most forms of qigong:

  • Breath is slow, long, and deep. Breath patterns may switch from abdominal breathing to breathing combined with speech sounds.
  • Movements are typically gentle and smooth, aimed for relaxation.
  • Mind regulation includes focusing one’s attention and visualization.

There are many forms and styles of Qigong, but they all fit into one of three main categories:

  • Medical Qigong to heal self and others.
  • Martial Qigong for physical prowess.
  • Spiritual Qigong for enlightenment

Generally, all Qigong practitioners incorporate exercises and techniques from all three categories–the only difference is their focus.

Beginners first learn how to coordinate physical movements with breath through the repeated practice of exercises. Once they achieve proper form, students work on turning those exercises into moving meditation, or finding the change in energy within the postures, movements, breathing patterns, and transitions.

Reference: What Is Qigong? A Beginner’s Guide to This Energetic Movement Practice | Qigong | Qigong: What You Need To Know


Getting Fit for Life

Getting Fit for Life

Staying fit is no easy task these days. You have to exert effort to get your dream body and stay healthy. To put it simply, physical activity and exercise is important for everyone. Children, adolescents, and adults of all ages need regular physical activity. Physical activity promotes good health, and you should stay active throughout all stages of your life regardless of your body type. Here are a few tips that can help you stay Fit for Life!

  • Exercise Daily – Exercise daily for at least an hour. You do not have to kill yourself from running, lifting heavy, etc., but you should have some sort of moderate physical activity in your everyday life.
  • Eat the Right Foods and Portion Each Meal – No matter how bad your stomach is telling you to go for candy over healthy food, try to stay away from sweets.
  • Keep Track of Calories and Food Intake Per Day – Keeping track of how many calories you eat in a day will be helpful in planning out your physical exercising.
  • Be Sure to Get Sleep – Even though most of us have eight-hour jobs during the day or night, it is crucial to get enough sleep to recharge the body’s batteries.
  • Stay Motivated – An important key to being in shape is to set goals and keep a positive mindset. If you stay positive, you will be able to push yourself to get that fit body you’ve always wanted.

Some benefits of physical activity on brain health happen right after a session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Benefits include improved thinking or cognition for children 6 to 13 years of age and reduced short-term feelings of anxiety for adults. Regular physical activity can help keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age. It can also reduce your risk of depression and anxiety and help you sleep better.

Reference: 5 Simple Tips for Fitness Success | Benefits of Physical Activity | The Importance of Physical Fitness


Yoga Essentials

Yoga Essentials

Yoga is a Sanskrit word translated as “yoke” or “union.” To yoke means to draw together, to bind together; or to unite. Its aim is to yoke or create a union of the body, mind, soul, and universal consciousness. This process of uniting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ourselves is what allows yogis to experience deep states of freedom, peace and self-realization.

Here are some basic yoga essentials for everyone to prepare you for your next yoga session.

  • A pair of Leggings
  • Yoga Matt
  • Beverage
  • Yoga Towel

Yoga and two practices of Chinese origin—tai chi and qi gong—are sometimes called “meditative movement” practices. All three practices include both meditative elements and physical ones.

Here are the most basic benefits of yoga:

  • Help improve general wellness by relieving stress, supporting good health habits, and improving mental/emotional health, sleep, and balance.
  • Relieve low-back pain and neck pain, and possibly pain from tension-type headaches and knee osteoarthritis.
  • Help people who are overweight or obese lose weight.
  • Help people quit smoking.
  • Help people manage anxiety or depressive symptoms associated with difficult life situations.
  • Relieve menopause symptoms.
  • Help people with chronic diseases manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Now that you are ready. What are you waiting for visit us at Fit for Life Jenkintown and enroll to our class now!

Reference: Yoga essentials: 8 things every yoga beginner needs | What is yoga? | Yoga: What You Need To Know


Morning Exercise for Everyone

Morning Exercise for Everyone

Exercising in the morning has a lot of health benefits. Besides burning calories, working out in the morning can help you boost your energy in the morning, it helps you improve your focus and cognition, it puts you in a better mood and lower your risk of diabetes.

Morning exercises at home are easier to do when making a habit. Apart from that an early morning workout even before breakfast burns out more calories at a quicker pace and brightens your days. Begin with a few lighter ones as your body is still in snooze mode, and then work it out to pump up your blood.

Here are some great home exercise you can do to start your day:

  • Go for a Walk or a Run
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Push ups
  • Bicycle Crunches
  • Lunges
  • Bicep Curls

Start including these simple exercises on your morning routine that will help you feel better each day!

Reference: The benefits of morning exercise | 20 Morning Exercises That You Can Do At Home | 10 Simple Morning Exercises to Make You Feel Great All Day


Guide to Cardiosculpt

Guide to Cardiosculpt

Cardiosculpt is a fun, fast-paced fitness class that combines cardio exercises with muscle sculpting exercises, including the use of weights and barbells.

In a cardio sculpt class, one is offered the combination of cardiovascular exercises and the muscle sculpting exercises. The class usually lasts for an hour, and consists of different formats of exercises that depend on the fitness coach.

  • Cardio sculpting exercises can help you to lose weight and tone your body in a short period of time.
  • While performing the Cardiosculpt you can increase your muscle tone and look attractive.
  • Compared to other aerobic fitness programs, with Cardiosculpt you can easily see the results in a short period of time.
  • Cardiosculpt can help you to slim down because it helps to increase the body’s metabolism, which means while toning your body fat and putting on muscles you are adding more calorie burning power.

Cardiosculpt gives you a combination of cardio and sculpting exercises, and it can be done in any gym or living room. Just bring a mat or towel, small weights (2-3 lbs), and a timer (which can be found on most smart phones). Altogether, you will raise your heart rate, target and tone every muscle in the body, and increase your flexibility as well.

Reference: Cardio Sculpt & Muscle-Up Fitness Classes | Cardio Sculpt | The Cardio Sculpt Workout


What is Barre?

What is Barre?

So, what is barre? Barre means ‘to bend’. And once you understand that definition, you will also understand why it is a great dance form. Like many of the other moves in dance, barre is named after specific movements; it is an exercise in keeping control of your body while rotating your spine and limbs.

In addition to building strength, this full-body workout also develops agility and flexibility. In some classes, you will use just the barre (or equivalent like a countertop or chair back) and your body weight to churn out rep after rep of muscle-burning move, while others incorporate tools like resistance bands, sliders, ankle weights, free weights, exercise balls, and more.

Barre is a low-impact workout that focuses on the entire body to help tone muscle and improve posture. What kind of person should try it? Anyone who wants an overall toning regimen should try barre. It is also great for those with joint pain or other medical conditions, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.

Barre class is named for the primary piece of equipment: the bar. If you’ve ever been in a ballet studio, this piece of equipment will be familiar. You will also use other equipment, like a mat which you are familiar with if you have ever tried yoga or free weights, exercise bands and exercise balls. You can pick how heavy you want your weights to be, and your instructor will walk you through the proper use of each piece of equipment. They will explain how you can integrate the equipment into the class to get the best workout possible.

Reference: What Is Barre Class All About | What Are Barre And Who Should Try It? | Barre 101