If you’re excited about spring being in full effect (who isn’t?), you’re probably looking for some fun activities to do to celebrate warmer seasons being on the horizon. So, let’s ring in spring by engaging in some April-themed activities, especially ones that involve getting outdoors, for both you and your family! Don’t let the chirping birds and blossoming flowers hog all the sunshine!
In these economically shaky times, traveling is a luxury few can afford and yet a holiday is the best bet to bust away the blues. Traveling can add so much to your life – from learning new things, expanding your inner vision, making you more appreciative and spiritual and basically making you connect with the beauty of the humanscape, as well as Mother Earth.
Couscous is a staple in my house. The food so nice they named it twice is extremely versatile and amazingly delicious. As the weather is changing from winter to spring, there is no better way to celebrate than with a veggie-filled couscous salad.
There are a multitude of herbs that have reportedly numerous healing properties and can be effective for treatment in a wide array of conditions. Ashwagandha is one of these herbs. Ayurvedic practitioners in India have been utilizing this ancient herb for many issues, especially for conditions that have root in the brain, including memory, cognitive functions in general, the regulation of neurotransmitters and insomnia.
Stomach ulcers or “peptic ulcers” are truly terrible. They are sores that form in the lining of the stomach or in the first part of your small intestine. These sores can be quite painful, and when left untreated, they can become worse. According to WebMD, if peptic ulcers keep coming back, you may have an increased risk of developing serious complications, such as bleeding or even a hole in the wall of your stomach or small intestine.
Why did you start running? If I ask ten people this same question, I’ll receive ten different responses. Some are obvious: to lose weight, to gain cardiovascular benefits, to make friends. Others, however, are less so: to reconnect with my body, to destress, to teach myself dedication. Running has myriad physical benefits, but the psychological benefits are just as numerous. Here are five reasons why running is good for you–mentally.
“Everything in nature is made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. Knowledge of the five elements allows the yogi to understand the laws of nature and to use yoga to attain greater health, power, knowledge, wisdom, and happiness. This arises out of deep intuition of how the universe operates.”
-- Dr. Swami Shankardev Saraswati
Benefits:
Stretches the hamstrings, and calves.
Can strengthen thighs, knees, and ankles.
Helps calm the brain.
Foundation & General Alignment:
Start standing in forward fold, one leg lifted. Hands can be used as second base for balance.
Keep foot of lifted leg facing the ground.
Hips are squared, lifted one is not “popping” out.
Food, Genes, and Culture, by enthnobiologist and agrarian activist Gary Paul Nabhan, is everything you wouldn’t expect in a so-called “diet” book.
Although oats look unassuming, this popular staple grain is actually incredibly nutritious. Not only are they packed with fiber, but they're high in vitamins and minerals and give you that full feeling that can lower cholesterol and aid with weight loss. Yup, oats are pretty much where it's at, and if you have a creative streak, oatmeal is an especially great canvas for adding any add ins you can think of (fruit, nuts, coconut, even chocolate!).