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In part 3 of our series, Healthy Eating on the Cheap, financial blogger Victoria, happens to also be a health food nut who is passionate about organic eating. She has some great tips for buying organic foods if you are buying on a budget.  Thank you for blogging for me today Victoria! Buying Organics on a Budget Perhaps you have decided that purchasing organic foods is going to be a priority for your family. Although your budget may not have much wiggle room, there are ways to make this lifestyle work. Fortunately with more and more interest in organically grown food, there are many options a......
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We stump, stoop, slouch…so much so that the quality of our everyday lives can be directly affected from these posture problems.  I thought of this while sitting at the computer working, and had to stretch to relieve that nagging tightness between my shoulder blades. At the same time, I noticed a whole slew of other bad habits I was committing, and quickly set about practicing what I preach. Why good posture is important: Practicing good posture can improve your breathing, decrease your risk of injury, help you move more easily through the tasks of daily living, and also improve your sports ......
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Did you give yoga a shot once upon a time, only to walk out mid-class, scratching your head and wondering, what was I thinking? It is possible the style you tried didn't match your personality, athletic ability, or just moved at a pace geared more toward advanced yogis than beginners. It isn't uncommon to feel lost during your first several classes, but there is a way to ensure you don't feel too out of place: pick the right style of yoga first. Before you write off yoga for good, try a class that is a better match for your personal style. I've compiled a short list of the most common yoga sty......
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Until about four years ago, I thought Yoga was a waste of time. My Type-A, monkey brain couldn’t handle the slow pace of poses held, well, forever. Then I discovered “power yoga,” and my mind was forever changed, along with my body. Turns out, when you run, and run, and run, the range of motion in your joints becomes limited. Thanks to yoga – specifically, downward facing dog, also known as Adho Mukha Svanasana – I can still run, and run, and run. According to my yoga instructor, Loretta, I have better range of motion than most runners (insert smiley face). Thanks Yoga!

The benefits of Downward facing dog

Provides a good stretch to the upper body, especially the shoulder complex and upper back, as well as the hamstrings and calves. Done correctly, you’ll also notice a nice stretch from your palms to your fingertips, as well as the heel of the foot to the toes.

Experts say this pose improves digestion, helps slow down the central nervous system (thus, reducing stress), and is supposed to help relieve headaches and lower back pain.


The pose

You can begin Downward Dog on your hands and knees, or from a standing position, or following Chaturanga and Cobra poses.

Begin with feet hip-width a apart and place hands on the floor slightly in front of the shoulders.

Exhale, lift your hips, and push your hamstrings away from the floor. Keeping your spine long, lift your tush toward the ceiling, gently nudge your heels toward the floor (it is okay to have a slight bend in the knee if you need to), making sure you can not see your heels (they should be aligned directly under your ankle bone.

Press through the base of your fingers and keep fingers spread out. Keep shoulders wide with shoulder blades down and back (as if you’re pushing them toward your tailbone). Your head should be between your arms.

Experts recommend holding this pose 1-3 minutes, however if done in a sequence (think Power Yoga), you may only hold it for 5-10 seconds.


(Note: if you suffer from carpel tunnel syndrome or have wrist problems, you should not do this pose. Also, if you are pregnant, do not do this pose past your 2nd term. High blood pressure sufferers, consult your physician before beginning a yoga practice. As always, let your instructor know if you have a health conduction.)



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  1. Great post, very informative, thank you for sharing!

  2. MrBarns says:

    I usually don’t post on Blogs but ya forced me to, great info.. excellent! … I’ll add a backlink and bookmark your site.

  3. I’ve really enjoyed reading your articles. You obviously know what you are talking about! Your site is so easy to navigate too, I’ve bookmarked it in my favourites :D http://dominatecafeworld.blogspot.com/

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