Health and the City on Gawker.com

I woke up this morning to a phone call from my friend, alerting me that I was on Gawker.com this morning. Check it out.........

Cut and paste into your browswer:
http://gawker.com/news/the-law-comes-to-town/sex-inand-the-city-the-lawsuit-315179.php

Health Outside of the City

Do you sometimes forget what grass smells like, or how birds sound?

I just got back from my martial arts school's annual weekend retreat, somewhere upstate, in the mountains. I screeched when a chipmunk crossed my path because I thought it was a rat and I woke up to the sounds of a woodpecker, thinking that it was noise from a construction site. I guess I was overdue for a vacation from the city.

We trained outdoors and started the mornings with meditation by a lake. It was definitely a far cry from Chinatown, where I live. No awful odors of decaying fish and sewage from the grates. No crowds of tourists and no salespeople harassing you every ten feet to buy their fake Prada, Gucci and Louie handbags.

Wherever you may live, it is always great to get away, explore new territory or towns. Breathe in fresh oxygen and reconnect with nature. So take time to get away and be yourself. Your work and your worries will be home waiting for you, if you want them to be.

Weight Loss Tip #4: Designing your Exercise Program

Ok. Again, designing any diet or fitness program should be customized to the individual. However, some general guidelines to consider when creating your fitness plan are:

Make sure that you are covering all 3 parts of fitness. Cardiovascular, Strength Training and Flexibility. Most people leave at least one of these out and sometimes two. For example, if you only run, you are missing out on the flexibility and strength aspects. If you only do yoga, while I'm sure you are very mellow, you are missing out on your cardio, and perhaps some strength training.

You can split up these components and divide them into your week. For example: yoga on Monday, Elliptical on Tuesday and Thursday and weights on Friday.

Or find an activity that incorporates all three into one, like martial arts. Yes, I am a HUGE proponent of martial arts because of this fact. It is the most balanced workout, in my humble opinion.

For more info on martial arts you can check out my school called World Martial Arts Center. www.happykicks.com The link is above.

Women's Health Mag May Issue

On page 103 you can find an energizing martial arts workout that I have designed for the magazine. You can do it anymore at anytime, no equipment or experience needed.

Excerpt:
Why it works:
As you slide into that midafternoon slump, you need a mental pick-me-up as much as a physical one. "Martial arts give you energy because they increase focus," says Jennifer Cassetta, a second degree black belt instructor at World Martial Arts Center in New York City. "You're challenging yourself to remember these new moves and combinations."