Precision Wellness

Something I’ve read almost daily the last year…

Precision Wellness — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:43:18 +0000

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice –
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do –
determined to save
the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Great Danes

Precision Wellness — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:36:20 +0000

I don’t think there exists a better breed of dog than the Dane. My first was Savannah Belle, and though she didn’t make it past four years, she was the smartest and best I have ever known. Harmony is my new puppy, and she amazes me daily. She came home with me at 7 weeks and never had an accident in the house. She seemed to “get” the housebreaking concept immediately.

Nothing makes me happier than getting work done at the computer with my Great Dane sleeping at my feet. It is always my feet, these days. She may have a comfortable bed, a sofa she is welcome to, and a pile of toys, but Harmony prefers my feet. I’m glad.

If my dog is barred by the heavenly guard
We’ll both of us brave the heat!

W. Dayton Wedgefarth

Precision Wellness — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 04:49:17 +0000

Top 10 Reasons to Pick Up the Weights:

You Will Be Physically Stronger.

Everything gets easier when you are more physically
capable! Research studies conclude that even moderate weight training can
increase a woman’s strength by 30 to 50 percent.

You Will Lose Body Fat.

As your lean muscle increases so does your resting metabolism, and you burn more calories all day long. Generally speaking, for each pound of muscle you gain, you burn 35 to 50 more calories each day. That adds up!

You Will Gain Strength Without Bulk.

Women do not have testosterone hormones to “bulk up.”
You will, however, develop muscle tone and definition.

You Strengthen Your Bones.

Weight training coupled with an adequate amount of
dietary calcium can be a your best defense against osteoporosis.

You Will Improve Your Athletic Performance.

Whatever sport you play, strength training has been
shown to improve overall performance as well as decrease the risk of injury.

You Will Reduce Your Risk Of Injury, Back Pain and
Arthritis.

Strength training not only builds stronger muscles,
but also builds stronger connective tissues and increases joint stability

You Will Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease.

Weight training can improve cardiovascular health in
several ways, including lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increasing
HDL (“good”) cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. When
cardiovascular exercise is added, these benefits are maximized.

You Will Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes.

It Is Never Too Late To Benefit.

Women in their 70s and 80s have built up significant
strength through weight training and studies show that strength improvements
are possible at any age.

You Will Improve Your Attitude And Fight Depression.

Women who strength train commonly report feeling more
confident and capable as a result of their program, all important factors in keeping
a smile on your face.

Strength Training for Women

Precision Wellness — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 04:30:00 +0000

Admit it, you’ve heard women tell you that they only do cardio because they
don’t want to see a dramatic increase in their physical size. Anyone who has
ever dedicated some time to weight lifting will tell you that is physically
impossible for women to naturally get the bodybuilder look, and nothing strips
fat and sculpts physique like a little iron.

New site!

Precision Wellness — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 05:26:01 +0000

Precision Wellness will be getting a website makeover as I move to Tuscaloosa, AL. Stay tuned for new class schedules & offerings!

Yin Yoga

Precision Wellness — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 16:17:06 +0000

When things change dramatically in my life, I try to slow down and remember those things that make me happy. It can be so easy to forget to be grateful for the good when you lose touch with yourself because you are mourning a loss. In an attempt to slow down and get out of my own head, I went to a long yin yoga seminar today. Quietly spending up to 5 minutes at a time in a twisty-bendy posture brings me back to my breath, to my center, and to myself.

It is great to love other people, necessary in fact. But when you love to make other people happy, you can give all your energy away. Do you ever forget that you are important to yourself? Do you ever forget that there is a truth and wisdom inside you that requires no outside input? I do.

The instructor kept encouraging us to honor our body’s limits. Although often tempted to engage in competitive yoga, I didn’t look left or right, but just closed my eyes and focused on what I was doing. I came away feeling more at peace than when I arrived. Maybe I will find some answers & wisdom in there next time.

Spending a litte time with myself doesn’t mean I forget everyone I love; it just makes me a better version of myself next time they need me!

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) -e. e. cummings

Finding some balance …

Precision Wellness — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:50:45 +0000

I’ve always had trouble in balance poses. I’m not terribly balanced in general - I’ve been accused of being OCD by loved ones many a time. One of the main reasons I’m a wobbler became clear to me last month – I’ve never grasped the concept of engagement with the ground as muscles hug in towards my bones. I love to try to muscle through things with sheer force of will. Non-attachment? hah. A busy, slightly scattered person, I always thought I was doomed to stink at tree pose or teeter in Lord of the Dance. I had trouble finding a focal point, hated quieting my mind while fighting to balance and wiggling my ankle to try to stay steady. I always felt like it was such a noticeable and public failure, that everyone in yoga class saw me moving and falling.

I think my problem was in the forcing. I have had to realize I can’t force much of anything.

Life has forced me to slow down in the last year, and really think about where I am placing each step. On the yoga mat, this has manifested itself in my balance poses. The concept of grounding really helped me when I attempted to think through it slowly, placing the foot down on the ground in a four-step process, quieting panicky thoughts by simply focusing on the physical act of foot placement. Focusing on rebounding and connecting with the ground underneath that carefully placed foot became helpful, and it made me think about how there really is always ground underneath us, even when we feel lost.

I was able to practice tree pose for the first time this month in the light, liberating manner in which it is meant to be practiced. Feeling strong and steady in the pose could not have come at a better time for me, and I have been adding it to every class since I learned to do it with joy. What a difference that lightness and stability makes!!! And if I fall over a bit, that is fun, too!

Sometimes uncertainty about the future overwhelms us all – happens to me several times a day, leaving me forgetful and shaken. I never would’ve thought that the answer might be letting go of my notions of stability. Confidence in myself, the ground underneath me, and acceptance of my own strength and weakness has been the meaning of tree pose for me this month. I feel a lot more balanced when I am ok with falling over in front of people.