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Yoga Tips for Newbies or Plus Sized Folks

9/30/2019

There are so many exercise options for us humans. Movement is important at any size, fitness level, or age. I thing walking and yoga are perfect for folks getting back into exercising after a long absence from fitness activities.

Today we are going to look at yoga for plus sized people or folks who aren’t as fit and flexible as they used to be.

The key to success in any yoga class is to listen to the words, focusing on the exact instructions coming from the instructor. In the class, do as much as one can with out pain. A little discomfort is normal in trying anything new. With time and repetition the flexibility and strength WILL show themselves to the practitioner. As a beginner in any movement class, we tend to pay close attentin to the details. Everything can feel fresh, but also a little scary, and difficult.

The use of a belt made of canvas can be a tool for reaching anchoring certain body moves. A towel can help create a safe grip in a warm room.

Inhaling slowly and exhaling slowly allows one to focus and release fears related to the new activity.

I hope this helps you, dear readers. I am your cheerleader!
Sincerely,
KJ Landis

-Author and Creator of the Superior Self Series
-CPT, CFI, Life and Wellness Coach
-Nutrition Educator
www.superiorselfwithkjlandis.com
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Books available wherever books are sold.

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Juice Cleanse or Whole Body Cleanse?

9/23/2019

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The point of a juice cleanse is to give the digestion a rest. The point of a body cleanse is to clean out the intestines. I have done both and none involve starving! You need energy to take care of your life .

If you have a juicer, take any vegetables that are green and juice them. Add lemon and ginger and an apple to sweeten it up a bit. Add weird vegetables that you think wouldn't normally be juiced. I juice kale, cabbage, basil, cilantro, parsley, broccoli, cucumber, lettuce, arugula, spinach, etc. If you prefer a little sweetness, add frozen berries, kiwi, an orange, pear, etc. Make at least two quarts. If you are hungry, drink the juice. If you are thirsty, drink the juice. Wter, tea, coffee, etc are ok too. I do this a few times a year for seven days. If you don't have a juicer, you can use the blender. It will have a lot of fiber in the blended beverage and will turn into a body intestinal cleanse as well.

The other body cleanse I use is a cheap aloe Vera and cactus vitamin that I get from Walgreens. You can get it from the web too. It's called Tadin company: sabila con nopal. I take two capsules three times a day with water. This just makes me use the restroom three to five times a day but without the diarrhea that laxatives provide. You don't have to change your diet with these. It's about $6.99 a bottle. Finish the whole bottle. I do know that Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid sell plain Aloe Vera Juice by the gallon in the laxative aisle. It's about $12.99. I add eight ounces a day to my gallon of herbal tea and lemons in order to stay regular every day . It has a lot of skin enhancing properties as well.

Tell me your cleansing goals and I can direct you further. In October, I am going on a veggie juice cleanse from 1-7, then followed by clean eating from 8-31. That means no products made from grains or sugar. I tend to stay away from them anyway but sugar and grain products are inflammatory in the human body. Most folks are sensitive or allergic but aren't aware of it.
How else can I help?
Blessings,
KJ Landis

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The Hardest Parts of Motherhood

9/16/2019

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I'm a mother of two glorious teens. Sage is a girl, age 15, and Golden is a boy, age 18. For me, the most difficult part of being a mom is stretching the umbilical cord, so to speak. I love them with every fiber of my being. I work nights so that I can be there for the after school pickups at two schools at two times, help with homework and make dinner before I go to work as a server at night. It is hard to leave them, even at the teenager stage because they are so much fun and great companions. We truly enjoy each other.

I know I have to trust in the way I have raised them, and allow them more freedom. It is difficult to teach my son how to drive and then not bug him every five seconds about safety even after he has his license! I check in on them at home when I'm at work, asking if they have eaten dinner, even though I know they aren't going to starve themselves. It's hard to hold my tongue even though I should, in order for them to be strong and independent thinkers. It is also difficult to stretch the umbilical cord because my son is living near USC in LA, and living his dream as a songwriter and singer. Sage will rapidly follow, being in college in a short two and a half years. I dread thinking about the empty nest syndrome when these two magnificent beings have given me the best years of my life!

I know from my research and writing over the years that I must devote Myself to Myself, and that will ease the shift along at a lesser sting. So, off I go to another hot yoga class and writing retreat!

Thank you for allowing me to share.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
-Author and Creator of the Superior Self series
-Check out my latest title: HAPPY HEALTHY YOU: Your Total Wellness Toolkit for Renewing Body, Soul, and Mind (Mango Publishing, 2017)

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Kids and Yoga

9/9/2019

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I am a personal trainer, a wellness coach, a workshop facilitator, and a Bikram yoga practitioner for over six years. I teach hot classic Pilates and Pop Pilates.

At my yoga studio they offer all people under the age of 15 free yoga, so I dragged my kids to the yoga studio every Sunday for two years and all throughout the summer. At first my kids went because they knew it would make me happy. Then they wanted to see if each other would fail at the hot yoga practice. Finally, they went because they enjoyed the heat of the room, the sweat,the challenge, and the calmness with which they left the room afterwards. Let's be honest here. I also took them out to lunch afterwards!

I believe it is important for kids to learn self-discipline and patience with themselves, especially as they learn more difficult poses. Because kids are so active, the hardest pose for my children was the dead man’s pose, which is lying completely still and not moving at all. It is called Sivassana. Going to yoga on a regular basis teach children how to watch themselves grow better and better at something that is not competitive. It teaches them to turn inward and to be quiet.

This teaches me, as a parent, how to practice patience with them as well. I’m learning through watching their growth how to hold my tongue when frustrated (although we all lash out now and again).

I suggest if parents want to take their kids to any yoga class, first seek out the department of parks and recreation in any community. Usually classes are free or very inexpensive. Lots of gyms have yoga for kids and the public school system in many cities offer yoga as a way to take a quick break between classes or as a gym class alternative. I know 24 hour fitness offers yoga for all ages in the San Francisco area. Check your local clubs for offerings.

I hope this helps your family.
Sincerely,
KJ Landis
-Author and Creator of the Superior Self series
-CPT, CFI
-Nutrition Educator
San Francisco, CA
Visit me at www.superiorselfwithkjlandis.com
Superior Self with KJ Landis
This website is a marriage of science and spirituality, nutrition facts, and support to get you to your superior self!
www.superiorselfwithkjlandis.com

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How to Burn More Calories All Day

9/2/2019

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All of us know that we cannot work out all day long. Abs aren't made in the gym anyway. They are made in the kitchen. So how do we keep active to burn more calories all day? Raise the resting rate of calorie burn by building muscle.

We are burning calories even when we are laying down and watching tv. This resting rate of energy usage is called the basal metabolic rate. If we want to burn more calories at the resting level we have to lift some sort of weight, even if it is our own body weight. That means carrying our own laundry and groceries as a way to lift weight. Taking the stairs and hiking up steep hills or streets with steep stairs are using our own body and the resistance up hill as weight lifting. Doing a plank pose as long as one can multiple times a day is weight training. These simple activities increase our calorie burn 24/7.

Try standing and walking around the room when on the phone instead of sitting down and talking. Use a standing desk or a treadmill desk at work if you have a sedentary job. Walk for the lunch hour and eat later at your desk. These are simple tools to burn more calories all day long.

I hope this helps you on your health and wellness quest.
Sincerely,
KJ Landis
-Author and Creator of the Superior Self series
-CPT, CFI
-Nutrition Educator

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Yoga Tips for Newbies or Plus Sized Folks

Juice Cleanse or Whole Body Cleanse?

The Hardest Parts of Motherhood

Kids and Yoga

How to Burn More Calories All Day

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