Yoga

Yoga is a way of increasing one’s spiritual awareness, as well as increasing mental and physical flexibility. Approximately sixteen million Americans regularly practice yoga. Contrary to what some people think, you don’t have to be “overly-flexible” to practice yoga. If that means you can’t touch your toes, so be it. Good teachers will gently push you to the edge, but not allow you to strain yourself.

Part of the fun of a regular yoga program is constantly challenging the body with new and more difficult poses. Holding new poses may be challenging, and as a result, one may feel the same soreness (and results) that you would normally associate with a strength training workout. Yoga brings you a closer connection with your mind and body, and practicing these lessons over and over again will eventually lead you to deal with stressful situations more easily in day-to-day life.

What is yoga?

Yoga is the practice of asanas (postures) and deep breathing to exercise both the mind and body. Through these asanas, yoga influences the chemical balance of the brain, which can improve one’s mental state of being.

What are the benefits of yoga?

  • Increases circulation and flexibility
  • Releases toxins from the body
  • Strengthens muscles, bones, tendons, and joints
  • Increases intake of oxygen into the bloodstream
  • Enhances the function of the respiratory, digestive, and endocrine systems
  • Diminishes insomnia and other stress-related ailments
  • Reduces back pain and headaches
  • Enhances joint flexibility while reducing joint pain
  • Reduces symptoms of allergies and asthma

We at Optimum Results utilize a “Yin/Yang” approach to yoga sessions. This combination allows clients to attain maximum health by reducing mental stress while gaining physical strength.

We are able to conform sessions to the individual. If you are looking for a more mentally stimulating session, this can be achieved. However, if you need a more active, physical approach to your session, this can be done as well.

Yoga is offered in an individual or small group in-home setting. Yoga can also be offered in a small class setting at an office or fitness center. We strive to form a program that is consistently physically and mentally stimulating, while always keeping the client’s safety as our top priority.

  • Tip of the Month

    June 2010

    Abdominal Workouts: Frequency, Intensity, and Duration

    Over the past 15 years, there has been countless advice on how to “properly” train your abdominals, or core.  There isn’t a fitness magazine out there that doesn’t publish a different abdominal workout each and every issue.  Opinions and research may change over time, but there are a few things you should look at before you alter your workout with each Fitness Magazine you read!
    First of all, it is important to know what your overall fitness and health goal is before designing a strength program for any body part, especially the mid-section.  For overall fitness, it is smartest to treat your abdominal muscles as you would any other muscle group.  The tried and true guidelines for most exercise programs is to work specific muscles to fatigue within a 30-60 second set time limit (intensity and duration,) while giving the worked muscle group at least 24-48 hours of rest (frequency) before working it again.  The amount of sets you do in a given workout (frequency again) can vary from as little as 4 sets to up to 12 for the average workout.  The science behind these theories is sound.  While exercising, pushing your body significantly past the 60 second mark without fatigue generally incorporates aerobic energy, thereby not stressing the muscles most efficiently.  And rest is necessary so that your body can properly rebuild the muscle fibers that you have broken down.  Additionally, you want to be at 100% energy levels for your next workout!

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  • Recipe of the Month

    June 2010

    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

    This healthy update of a traditionally rich ham-and-cheese breakfast strata is made lighter primarily by losing a few egg yolks and using nonfat milk. Gruyère cheese has a delicious, nutty aroma and flavor, which means that with the relatively small amount in this recipe you still get a big impact. To finish the makeover use nutritious, fiber-rich, whole-grain bread instead of white. The results: plenty of flavor, half the calories and one-third the fat of the original.

    4 large eggs
    4 large egg whites
    1 cup nonfat milk
    2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
    1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
    5 cups chopped spinach, wilted (see Tip)
    4 cups whole-grain bread, crusts removed if desired, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1/2 pound, 4-6 slices)
    1 cup diced ham steak, (5 ounces)
    1/2 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers
    3/4 cup shredded Gruyère, or Swiss cheese
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