Archive for April 2007
Spiritual Body-Mind Retreats for Women
More and more women are seeking rejuvenation in body-mind retreats that cater to women’s interests. Yoga was originally an all-male activity. Today, 77% of American practitioners are women, according to the 2005 Yoga in America Survey from Yoga Journal. Women-only retreats focus on issues unique to women’s bodies and nurture the expression of female energy.
Exa…
Penne With Spring Asparagus and Pine Nuts
Nothing says springtime is in full swing better than fresh, green asparagus spears on store shelves. This light and flavorful pasta dish can be served with a tossed green salad and a loaf of crusty
whole-wheat bread for a complete dinner that will appeal to both kids and adults.
8 ounces (oz) uncooked penne or pennette
(mini penne)
2 teaspoo…
Women With Lung Cancer Use CAM
Till now, studies of CAM use by people with cancer have not focused specifically on women with lung cancer. However,
a new study by researchers from several nursing schools throughout the United States and from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston surveyed 189 women with non–small cell lung cancer to determine their use of six complementary and alternative therapies.
p…
States Battling Obesity, Making Progress
Several states are taking positive steps to combat the nation’s obesity epidemic, especially as it affects children. The University of Baltimore Obesity Initiative’s latest report card gave six states—California, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee—an “A” for their legislative and public-policy work in the past year to control child…
Read More“What exercises do you use with clients whose legs have been weakened by neuropathy caused by diabetes?”
This very specific problem should not be approached by the novice trainer. Any personal trainer who works with diabetic clients should have advanced education and/or certifications for training this special population.
Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves through their prolonged exposure to high glucose levels in the blood. Symptoms of this damage may include loss of strength, …
Pilates Meets Belly Dance in BellyCore
Melissa Michalak, a dancer and fitness professional based in New York City, has created BellyCore, a combination of Middle Eastern dance and Pilates exercises. Michalak’s program, offered
in a Cardio Bellydance DVD, starts with a Pilates-based warm-up and then incorporates belly dance moves to provide a cardio workout. The goal is to enjoy the flexibility and spinal mobi…
The Myth of Cooling Leftovers
Many cooks thing it is best to cool leftover foods on the counter before putting them in the refrigerator. They (mistakenly) believe that allowing the food to cool more slowly will reduce the likelihood that the food will spoil or that the hot food will cause the fridge to lose energy. Both of these notions are false and dangerous, according to the FDA.
The FDA is on record as saying th…
Read MoreMedia Morsels
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! That’s the attitude Mayo Clinic researchers took when they measured how much
energy kids expended playing video games. The findings were published in the December issue of Pediatrics (2006; 118 [6], 1831–35).
The study is the first to scientifically measure the energy spent playing video games. Subjects included 15 …
The Future Is Now. What Is Your Plan?
In the worlds of publishing and event planning, it’s imperative that we live in the future or we face the stark reality of going out of business. Our editors started planning this May issue around the time we were all shopping for Thanksgiving turkeys last year. Today, their sights are
already set on articles and themes they can bring you in 2008. On the event side, it can be dice…
Still Time to Be Observant
Although we’re almost at the halfway mark in 2007, it’s not too late to factor in National Health Observances. Health observances are days, weeks or months devoted to highlighting particular health concerns. Think ahead and take advantage of these occasions to offer a special program, contest or celebration. The following list will get you started:
June 11&ndas…
Read MoreBone Mineral Density & Weight Loss
When it comes to maintaining strong bones as we age, is it better to lose weight by severely reducing your caloric intake or by exercising instead? Researchers recently set out to examine whether one weight loss method was superior to the other in terms of lost bone mineral density (BMD).
The researchers observed 48 adults (mean age 57) who were
randomly assigned for a year to o…
First Annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research
Larry Payne, PhD, founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), Richard Miller, PhD, co-founder of IAYT, and 800 participants in the growing field of yoga therapy met in Los Angeles, January 18–21, 2007, to kick off the first annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research.
The symposium provided a forum for yoga teachers, therapists and researchers …
Sample Class: Sweet Sixteen
Are you looking for a new way to motivate your step participants? Take it to the next level by using 16-count combinations in your next class. These options are fun, fast and functional. You can insert them
between blocks of 32-count combinations, giving your class a new feel, or teach them as stand-alone choreography. From dance-based to athletic, these short combos provide a challengi…
Do CPR Chest Compressions Trump Rescue Breaths?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is a requirement for reputable fitness certifications and has been recommended by the American Heart Association for healthcare professionals and the general public for more than 35 years. About 900 Americans die every day from sudden cardiac arrest, so it is always advisable to keep track of suggested changes in the CPR protocol. A recent stud…
Read MoreQigong for Health
Have you heard of qigong (pronounced chee kung)? This gentle Chinese practice dating back several thousand years is finding its way into mainstream American culture. If you are busy, qigong is perfect for you since it requires no apparatus, props or special clothing and can be performed within the space of an office cubicle. What’s more, the exercises can be done sitting, sta…
Read MoreNutrition Needs for Clients who are Pregnant or Nursing
In a typical mom-to-be, the news of a pregnancy is met with excitement, anxiety and a frantic desire to learn everything needed to ensure that her child is born healthy. Whether that newly pregnant woman is yourself, a client, a friend, a workout buddy or a spouse, as a fitness professional, you can serve as a ready source of general information on how she should eat for optimal growth and deve…
Read MoreContraindicated Exercises Revisited
You have undoubtedly heard warnings about the use of exercises referred to as “contraindicated.” Exercises such as the deep squat, unsupported forward flexion, the plow, the hurdler’s stretch, the back bend, and both the full and straight-leg sit-up have typically been considered unsafe for the general population, and you have been encouraged to avoid incorporating them …
Read MoreFirst Steps for the Newly Certified
The newly certified personal fitness trainer (PFT) is much like a college student soon after graduation day. The anticipation of finally being “set free” to move toward carefully crafted hopes and dreams quickly dissipates and is replaced by the fear and anxiety of “What now?”
The road has been arduous—loaded with studying, workshops, practical appli…
Concern Over Yoga in Schools Is Resolved
Simply eliminating Sanskrit terms and chanting practices from yoga classes can be enough to ease concerns that yoga could have religious overtones.
Some instructors wanting to teach yoga in public schools have faced
resistance from worried parents, reports the Associated Press. According to yoga instructor Tara Guber, Christian fundamentalists and secular parents lobbied the sc…
School-Based BMI Screening Programs
We all know that childhood obesity is at an all-time high in many developed nations. Health experts say that the earlier a child is identified as having a weight problem, the earlier interventions can begin to stave off the development of obesity-related conditions, such as type 2
diabetes and hypertension.
A public school in the East Penn School District in Emmaus, Pe…