by Sandra Koury | Nov 27, 2024 | All, Fun, Home, Wellness
Thanksgiving is an ideal time to reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. It is also a time to recognize that, for many people, this time of year evokes difficult memories and is a time when being with family is not as joyful as it might be for others.
Knowing that with every life there is a unique history, we would like to offer 10 ways to observe Thanksgiving that can be enjoyed by anyone.
Before we dive in, however, we’d like to take a moment to thank you, our gym members, blog readers, and social media followers, for your continued support. We appreciate your trust in our team, your commitment to health and fitness, and the feedback you share to help us give our best!
Thanksgiving ideas to Revive Your Celebrations
Invite a Friend or Family Member Who Might Be Alone for Thanksgiving
Even if your invitation is declined, everyone likes to feel included. Try broadening your invitation list this year and spread some feelings of warmth and welcome!
Try Something Other Than Turkey
Every Thanksgiving, approximately 46 million turkeys are eaten! Save some turkeys from the dinnerplate and try alternative meat or plant-based choices.
You can easily make a main course out of fish, chicken, pot roast, and other meats, or take the vegetarian or vegan route and use hearty ingredients like mushrooms, squash, potatoes, cheese, and cauliflower to craft some delicious courses.
Try Hosting a Friendsgiving
This seems to become more and more of a common practice with every passing year. Friendsgiving is essentially a Thanksgiving dinner that brings together your friends, their friends, and new people who become friends, over good food and great conversation.
With larger events, try asking your guests to contribute to the table by hosting a potluck-style event. This also encourage a diverse dinner spread because everyone’s cooking styles, food choices, and palates are unique!
Spontaneous Exercise Challenge
- Agree on the selection of a word like “Turkey,” “Cranberries,” “Thanksgiving,” or “Gravy”
- Have each person pick a number between 1 and 5
- Have each person pick a basic exercise like push-ups, jumping jacks, or squats
Any time someone says the word you chose in step 1, everyone in the room has to do their selected number of their selected exercise. The number and exercise will stay the same throughout the evening, and you’ll have fun trying to find your way around these common Thanksgiving words!
Plan a Pre-Event Gathering to Help Disperse the Workload
Plan a simple Pre-Thanksgiving gathering with your intended guests before your actual holiday feast. If you are able, walking to the store can help you steer clear of holiday traffic and impossible parking situations. Everyone can carry an item and even help you with some early preparations like decorating or cooking before the main event.
Whether you’re getting together with others or planning to enjoy some time solo, serving others is a great way to participate in the Thanksgiving celebrations.
All you need to do is a quick internet search to find places in your area where you can volunteer. Don’t stop at serving food, however. If you can, sit and talk with the individuals and families who arrive to be served. Hear their stories, treat them like human beings, make eye contact and remember their faces. These small gestures can make a world of difference.
Even your hosts want to enjoy the gathering of their friends and family. You can help make sure that no one is left in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys the festivities by offering your help at least once or twice.
If you are the host, try setting the table the night before. Lay out the plates, cups, napkins, and silverware, and any other items that don’t need to be refrigerated. This can help make your event day run more smoothly and with less last-minute scrambling.
Agree to Leave Debatable Topics at the Door
Some gatherings are particularly difficult because of discussions that become debates and debates that become arguments.
Agree with your guests, prior to your event, that debatable topics should be set aside for the duration of your gathering.
There are tons of simple but memorable things you can do to start a new tradition. It can be something like watching a certain movie, playing a game everyone loves, or creating a handmade addition for your cornucopia and adding a new one each year. This one is especially fun for new families or couples who want to commemorate each year of holidays in a special way.
If you want to go a little further, try signing up for a Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Trot! You can find events in your area, here.
Get Creative with Your Leftovers
In the United States, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday, November 28th. Canada celebrates early in comparison, and observed this holiday on Monday, October 14th. In either case, leftovers are a certainty with any feast.
Whether you’ve frozen your leftovers from the 14th or are expecting more than you can manage tomorrow evening, you can get creative with your leftovers and enjoy them in inventive ways. Check out these turkey ideas to put a fun and flavorful twist on your post-event meals.
by Rachel Scruggs | Oct 10, 2024 | All, Fitness, Home
In today’s fast-paced world, finding balance and maintaining mental and physical health can be challenging. However, combining exercise and mindfulness offers a powerful approach to achieving holistic well-being. Let’s explore how these practices complement each other and how you can integrate them into your daily routine.
The Benefits of Exercise
Exercise is well-known for its physical benefits, such as improving cardiovascular health, building muscle strength, and enhancing flexibility. But the advantages extend far beyond the physical:
- Mental Health Boost: Regular physical activity releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters. This can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Improved Sleep: Exercise can help regulate sleep patterns, leading to better quality rest.
- Increased Energy Levels: Engaging in regular physical activity can boost your overall energy and reduce feelings of fatigue.
- Enhanced Cognitive Function: Exercise has been shown to improve memory, focus, and overall brain function.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness, the practice of being present and fully engaged in the moment, offers numerous mental and emotional benefits:
- Stress Reduction: Mindfulness helps reduce stress by encouraging a focus on the present rather than worrying about the past or future.
- Emotional Regulation: Practicing mindfulness can improve your ability to manage emotions and respond to situations calmly.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Mindfulness fosters a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings, promoting self-awareness and personal growth.
- Improved Concentration: Regular mindfulness practice can enhance your ability to concentrate and stay focused.
Combining Exercise and Mindfulness
When combined, exercise and mindfulness create a powerful synergy that enhances both practices. Here are some ways to integrate them:
- Mindful Walking or Running: Focus on your breath, the rhythm of your steps, and the sensations in your body as you walk or run. This can turn a simple exercise into a meditative experience.
- Yoga: Yoga is a perfect blend of physical exercise and mindfulness. It encourages you to connect with your breath and stay present in each pose.
- Mindful Strength Training: Pay attention to your form, breath, and the muscles you’re engaging during strength training exercises. This can improve your workout’s effectiveness and make it more enjoyable.
- Breath-Focused Cardio: During cardio workouts, such as cycling or swimming, focus on your breathing patterns. This can help you stay present and enhance your performance.
Tips for Getting Started
- Start Small: Begin with short sessions of mindful exercise and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable.
- Set Intentions: Before starting your workout, set an intention to stay present and mindful throughout the session.
- Be Patient: Mindfulness is a skill that takes time to develop. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey.
- Find What Works for You: Experiment with different types of exercise and mindfulness practices to find what resonates with you.
Integrating exercise and mindfulness into your daily routine can lead to profound improvements in your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By staying present and fully engaged in your workouts, you can transform exercise from a mere physical activity into a holistic practice that nurtures your body and mind. Start today and experience the transformative power of combining exercise and mindfulness.
Note: This blog post is a general guide and should not replace professional advice. Always consult with a fitness professional or personal trainer at LA Fitness for personalized guidance and support.
by Andrew Gabell | May 21, 2021 | Uncategorized
Today is the 3rd Anniversary of the Living Healthy Podcast, presented by LA Fitness.
Hi everyone! I just wanted to give you a quick update on what is going on with the show. We are trying to plan out 3 LIVE podcast episodes covering Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep where you could ask questions directly to our guest. This would be done on Facebook Live and reposted to our normal channels for the podcast. So look for that and thanks for sticking with us!
This podcast should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.
Timecard Markers – Understanding Yoga and Meditation – Podcast Ep. 37
Meditative Intro
0:01
Introduction of Your Hosts: Andrew Gabell and Brittany Welch
2:20
Introduction of LA Fitness Yoga Instructor: John Lyman
3:17
About John – What Introduced Him to Yoga?
4:58
What is the Ultimate Goal of Yoga?
7:56
Do You Have Any Tips for Beginners or People Who Struggle with Stillness?
9:24
How Does Yoga Help You Organize Your Thoughts?
11:57
What’s Your Approach in Your Class?
13:47
What’s the Best Way for Someone New to Experience Yoga?
16:30
Brittany’s Mythical Moment –
Does Yoga or Meditation Increase Your Extra Sensory Perception?
20:24
Using Visualization to Get to a Meditative State
24:14
What Other Ways Has Yoga Impacted Your Life?
25:42
How Long Does It Take to See the Benefits of Yoga?
29:13
Have Any of Your Class Members Felt That Yoga Has Significantly Impacted Their Life?
31:01
Actionable Advice
36:17
Outro
38:10
Recommended Podcast Episodes
by DebbieJ MS RDN | Mar 26, 2020 | All, Ask Our Dietitian, Home
This article should not replace any exercise program or restrictions, any dietary supplements or restrictions, or any other medical recommendations from your primary care physician. Before starting any exercise program or diet, make sure it is approved by your doctor.
Some questions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
by Sandra Koury | Mar 4, 2020 | All, Home, Wellness
Spring is rapidly approaching and, with it, those longer days of sunshine! With the exception of Hawaii, a large majority of Arizona, and a handful of U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, the clock will shift forward by one hour this Sunday, March 8th.
With more daylight, you can do a lot more with your evening hours. To enjoy that benefit, you’ll have to exchange your crisp blue morning for a darker one. Here are some tips for how to adjust to the darker morning, and how to make the most of your longer evening.
Your sleep schedule is getting thrown off again, when it seems you’ve only just gotten used to the new routine. Your circadian rhythm regulates your alertness or sleepiness, and it accomplishes this by assessing the light levels in your environment. Because your mornings will now be darker, you may notice greater difficulty with waking up. You might also have more trouble getting sleepy as your usual bedtime approaches because it won’t get dark until later.
Turn on some lights when your alarm goes off in the morning to help you feel more awake and be mindful of the time in the evening so you can give yourself time to wind down before bed.
Take Advantage of the Extra Evening Light
The best thing about extra light in the evening, is that you can actually tackle your to-do list. With the extra daylight, these items no longer have to wait for the weekend.
- Clean Out the Rain Gutters: If you have your own house, you’ve probably needed to clean these out at some point. You probably also know how dangerous it can be to do this job while it’s dark. Use your judgment to determine whether it’s best do this before or after the April showers.
- Do Some Gardening: Unless you really love nighttime critters, it’s a good idea to do your gardening in the daytime. You’ll have a better sense of the bigger picture you’re creating and also better gauge color and plant sizes.
- Food Prep: Sometimes we just can’t get to this on the weekends. A little extra daylight can help give you that boost of energy you need to tackle this one on a weeknight!
- Laundry: Mid-week laundry sessions can help you make up for the times you’ve let things pile up. Just like with food prep, the extra light can keep you energized during this monotonous chore.
- Get Dusting: Natural light can help you see where the dust has been collecting. Take the opportunity to wipe off dusty surfaces and sweep or mop the floors. With allergy season looming, you’ll be glad you did!
Add More Fresh Air to Your Week
Your to-do list isn’t the only thing that can benefit from extra daylight. You can finally enjoy the outdoors again as the weather warms. Here are some ways to add a little more fresh air to your week.
- Go for a Jog, a Walk, or a Cycling Session: Not only is it safer to do this in daylight, it’s also a perfect time for evening exercise. Once summer weather arrives, the day’s heat can make evening workouts far less enjoyable. If you’re accustomed to early morning exercise, make sure you wear bright, reflective clothing because the darker morning will make you less visible.
- Go Out to Watch the Sunset: After a long day, you’ll actually have time to make it out to a good spot to catch the sunset. Don’t waste that opportunity!
- Enjoy Your Dinner Outside: If you live in a part of the country that’s already serving up picnic weather, take your dinner outdoors and banish those wintertime blues.
- Build Something: It’s not fun when you’re sanding, painting, or staining your project in artificial light and later realize it looks nothing like what you expected. Use your precious daylight to work on projects that need a bit of extra care.
- Pause for Playtime: Take your pet to the park or give them some much deserved love and attention at home! Or, enjoy some time with friends or family that isn’t focused on homework or chores.
How will you use your extra daylight? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Stay in-the-know on trending health and nutrition topics and subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly highlights from the Living Healthy Blog!
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