Tag Archives: yoga

5 Reasons to Consider Nighttime Workouts

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There is nothing wrong with a hearty a.m. workout routine if you’re a born morning person, but what about those of us who’d rather fall in a nice, deep hole than get up extra early for a pre-workday run? If you aren’t a morning person, fear no more. The theory that it is better to workout in the morning has recently been debunked, apparently both morning and nighttime workouts have their respective benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the pros to sweating it with the moon instead of the sun:

  1. Your metabolism is better prepared for the ride – studies have found increased endocrine levels and lower blood glucose levels in subjects who exercised later in the day than in the morning, meaning their metabolisms were working more in their favor for the workout. This can make a difference in the long run for those on a weight loss journey.
  2. It makes for a good de-stress after a long day – Wouldn’t it be great to have a productive outlet for the stresses that build up during a day at the office? Well, look no further than a nightly exercise routine to help you shake off the tension of the day while also working on enhancing your bod. So, hit the treadmill, gym or dance studio for an evening fitness session and just watch as your stress rolls off your back (along with the sweat).
  3. You may be more alert and ready to rumble – as you go about the day, you’re gaining nutrients from your meals and most likely picking up more steam than you had in the morning. Because of this, you may be more ready to really hit that workout harder.
  4. It may help you catch some zzz’s – Recent studies refute the theory that nighttime workouts may hinder sleep (unless you’re an insomniac). It appears that generally, working out a couple hours before bed won’t make a difference to your sleep. Doing activities like yoga may actually help induce a deeper, more satisfying sleep.
  5. You’ll have more sleep time in the morning – Few can argue that a major pro to getting your workout done in the evening is that you’re saving yourself precious morning moments for more sleep. If you’re someone who dreads having too many items on your a.m. to-do list, why not cross off working out by saving it for later?

Regular exercise is an essential component of a healthy overall lifestyle and lower disease risks. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter when you workout as long as you do. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense physical activity a week. Thanks for visiting DocChat!

 

 

Yoga – The Benefits Of Becoming A Human Pretzel

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What Is Yoga All About?

It seems like all we hear these days is “yoga, yoga, yoga!” Upon investigation, there are many good reasons for that. Yoga has a plethora of wellness benefits: it can enhance personal spirituality, help physical ailments, as well as aid in mental health and healing. But what exactly is it?

Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. Today it is considered one of the best approaches to fitness and wellness, as it aims to discipline and align the mind, body and soul to help you achieve comprehensive peace, spirituality and balance while fabulously shaping your body.

Choices, Choices, Choices!

There are many different forms, styles, and levels of yoga to choose from such as Ashtanga or Bikram yoga. As it is often referred to as a tree with roots, limbs and flowers, yoga also has six branches:

  1. Hatha yoga: focuses on breathing and postures
  2. Raja yoga: a strict practice of the “eight limbs of yoga”
  3. Karma yoga: a form which focuses on reciprocation of positive energy
  4. Bhakti yoga: centered around positive emotional and mental wellbeing
  5. Jnana yoga: an intellectually-based practice
  6. Tantra yoga: promotes stronger spiritual connections within relationships

According to the Mayo Clinic’s feature on yoga, a great form for beginners and stress management is Hatha yoga because of its steady pace, breathing teachings and versatility.

Make Yoga Work for Your Body

One of the reasons yoga has been so broadly accepted as one of the foremost forms of fitness is because it caters to people of all different fitness levels and capabilities. When you join a yoga class, you are guided through breathing tips and safe ways to partake in the postures. Your instructor will also express the importance of going at your own pace and not pushing something that doesn’t feel right. It is the type of activity that you have control over, as you can modify poses that are outside your range of ability as you see fit. After taking a few classes and getting some proper instruction on how to safely perform yoga, many people even practice in a dedicated area of their home instead of venturing out to a class.

Health Benefits of Stretching It Out

There are almost boundless health benefits to practicing yoga. According to the American Osteopathic Association, some of the frontrunners include:

  • Increased flexibility and muscle strength
  • Balancing your body and metabolism
  • Weight loss and toning
  • Benefits to those with respiratory conditions (such as asthma) by helping to regulate and promote deep breathing, forcing stale air out of the lungs
  • Minimizing chronic fatigue by increasing energy and vitality
  • Cardiovascular benefits – helping to decrease inflammation around the heart in those with chronic heart problems
  • Helping decrease chronic pain such as back pain when practiced safely
  • Minimizing stress and promoting metal wellbeing
  • Decreasing anxiety through meditative practices

Precautions To Be Mindful Of

Yoga has been proven as one of the much safer methods of exercise, but as with anything, it can still be dangerous for people with certain conditions. If you are pregnant or have a herniated disc, history of blood clots, vertigo, severe osteoporosis or other forms of arthritis or uncontrolled blood pressure, you should talk to your doctor (or one of our qualified DocChat physicians) today to see if yoga will be safe for you to practice.

All in all, yoga has so many mental and physical wellness benefits that it can be life-changing. Seems to me that it is well worth a try! Namaste from DocChat!

Loving mature couple making dinner together while in their kitchen at home

Hobbies that Can Help Control Blood Pressure

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Blood pressure issues (high or low) can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. Whether you have been recently diagnosed with an active blood pressure issue or wish to change your lifestyle to prevent health problems in the future, these suggestions will help you improve your daily routine and lower your stress levels.

Stress can worsen blood pressure issues. If you find yourself frequently stressed out then it is time to take steps to reign in your stress levels. Find things which trigger your stress and avoid them if possible and remember stress can be controlled. Step back from stressful situations and put your health first.

The best way to reduce stress is by concentrating on other things. Many experts say that choosing a healthy hobby can help beat blood pressure problems. To help you in this regard, we’ve listed below a myriad of options that might help.

Cultivate Healthy and Relaxing Hobbies
Slow paced hobbies requiring concentration on simple tasks will help you relax.

● Gardening—Reconnect with nature and your nurturing side.
● Cooking—Can be as simple or complex as you want. You will get delicious food and a sense of achievement.
● Photography—Go out and explore the world and capture your journey with pictures.
● Scrap-booking –Create an artistic expression of your life journey.
● Writing—Unleash your imagination and start writing, even maintaining a personal journal is therapeutic and can build perspective.
● Solving Puzzles—A fun solitary or group activity, it will leave you with a sense of accomplishment.
● Listen to Music—Listen to your favorite music; try to expand your tastes by exploring different music styles.
● Reading—Reading allows you to get absorbed in a different world. Turn it into a group activity and join a local reading group.

Make Regular Exercise a Part of Your Daily Routine
This section deserves a heading of its own simply because of its benefits. Exercising can be considered a hobby, and when it comes to ‘exercising to maintain your blood pressure’ it is different from regular workouts and weightlifting.

Aerobic Exercise
Regular aerobic exercise will help you achieve and maintain a strong cardiovascular system. People with blood-pressure issues should make time for some light aerobic exercises, even a brisk 30 minute walk will improve your health.

Yoga
Non-aerobic exercises will also help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. The less vigorous kinds of yoga are the best type of non-aerobic exercise. Yoga has proven to be an excellent form of exercise that helps to achieve mental and physical strength. There are a lot of classes offered where you can learn basic technique and then continue by yourself. Yoga includes some specific breathing techniques which help you maintain a calm mental state. Yoga techniques slow down the heart rate; this is known to help people with hypertensive issues.

We hope this will help you keep your blood pressure under check. However, if you suffer from these issues you can get in touch with us as telemedicine can help in these problems as well.